Riverdale was mostly poor-quality farmland until the 1830s-40s, when cholera epidemics forced well-to-do Manhattanites to this northern neighborhood. The establishment of a Hudson River Railroad station in 1849 further spurred growth, and by the turn of the century the area was dotted with numerous villas and grand mansions. Today, Riverdale is still the most affluent section of the Bronx, but it offers a range of housing options, from multi-million-dollar single-family homes to one- bedroom apartments for $850 per month. There's been a large Jewish population in Riverdale since the post-WWII period, as evidenced by the community’s many temples, religious schools and kosher eateries. The Riverdale Community Association is a strong force in keeping the area from becoming overdeveloped, but an abundance of stores and ethnic restaurants blanket Riverdale’s main thoroughfares. Only ten miles from midtown Manhattan, Riverdale is a 30-minute commute on the 1 or 9 line or a 45-minute trip on the Liberty Line Express Bus.