The Bronx is widely recognized as “the Bronx,” with the definite article forming an integral part of its identity both legally and colloquially. Official references, including the “County of the Bronx” and the “Borough of the Bronx,” consistently place the article before the borough’s name, though the United States Postal Service uses the simpler “Bronx, NY” for mailing addresses. The naming convention traces back to the Bronx River, with early references appearing in documents such as the “Annexed District of The Bronx” in 1874, when parts of Westchester County were incorporated into New York City. Further expansions in 1895 and the formal creation of the borough in 1898 reinforced the use of “the” in official contexts.

The definite article’s usage is often attributed to a style of naming places after rivers, with a popular story suggesting it originated from the phrase “visiting the Broncks,” referring to the family of early settler Jonas Bronck. Capitalization rules for the borough vary: the article is typically lowercase except at the start of a sentence or in formal documents, while some historians and organizations, including the Bronx Borough Historian Lloyd Ultan and the Great and Glorious Grand Army of The Bronx, argue that the “The” is part of the proper name and should always be capitalized.

Historically, the Bronx was part of Westchester County and originally inhabited by the Siwanoy people of the Wappinger Confederacy, within the Lenapehoking territory. European colonization began in 1639, led by settlers like Jonas Bronck, who established farms and converted the region into agricultural land. Later annexations from Westchester County—the West Bronx in 1874 and the East Bronx in 1895—eventually created Bronx County, solidifying its identity as a distinct borough of New York City. Today, the definite article in “the Bronx” remains a symbol of the borough’s unique heritage, connecting its colonial roots, historical transformations, and modern-day recognition.