Belle Harbor, Queens

Belle Harbor, Queens
Name	Belle Harbor
Settlement type	Neighborhood of Queens
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	New York
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	Queens
Subdivision type3	City
Subdivision name3	New York City
Subdivision type4	Community District
Subdivision name4	Queens 14
Population total	~4,500
Population as of	2020
Coordinates	40, 34, 30, N...
Area total km2	1.2
Postal code type	ZIP Code
Postal code	11694
Area code	718, 347, 929, 917
Blank name	Fire Department
Blank info	FDNY Engine 268/Ladder 137

Belle Harbor, Queens. Belle Harbor is a small, affluent residential neighborhood located on the Rockaway Peninsula in the New York City borough of Queens. It is part of the larger Rockaway community and is known for its quiet, suburban character, pristine beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, and a high concentration of New York City Police Department and New York City Fire Department personnel among its residents. The neighborhood is situated within Queens Community District 14 and is bordered by Neponsit to the west and Rockaway Park to the east.

History

The area was originally developed in the early 20th century as a summer resort community by the Rockaway Beach Company, with many homes designed in the American Craftsman and Tudor Revival styles. It was officially incorporated into New York City with the consolidation of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island in 1898. Belle Harbor gained national attention as the site of the American Airlines Flight 587 crash in November 2001, which occurred shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport. The neighborhood was also severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which caused extensive flooding and property damage along its vulnerable shoreline, leading to major federal recovery efforts through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Geography

Belle Harbor occupies a narrow barrier island, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the south and Jamaica Bay to the north. Its geography is defined by a series of east-west oriented residential blocks, with its main commercial corridor along Rockaway Beach Boulevard. The neighborhood includes a portion of the Gateway National Recreation Area, specifically the Jacob Riis Park and Fort Tilden areas to the west, which are part of the National Park Service system. Natural features include the sandy beaches of the Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk and the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, a critical stop on the Atlantic Flyway for migratory birds.

Demographics

As of the most recent United States Census, Belle Harbor has a population of approximately 4,500 residents. The community is predominantly White, with significant populations of Irish, Italian, and Jewish ancestry. It has one of the highest median household incomes in New York City, with many residents employed in civil service roles for the City of New York, including the NYPD and FDNY. The neighborhood is also home to a large number of Orthodox Jewish families, supporting several synagogues and religious institutions.

Education

Belle Harbor is served by the New York City Department of Education. The sole public elementary school is PS 114 Belle Harbor School, which feeds into MS 180 Rockaway Park for middle school. High school students typically attend Scholars' Academy or other specialized schools in Queens or Brooklyn. The neighborhood is also home to Yeshiva of Belle Harbor, a private Jewish day school. For higher education, residents have access to nearby institutions like St. John's University and York College, City University of New York.

Transportation

The neighborhood is primarily served by the New York City Subway's IND Rockaway Line (A and S trains) at the Beach 116th Street station in adjacent Rockaway Park. Local bus service is provided by the MTA Regional Bus Operations' QM16 express bus to Midtown Manhattan and the Q22 local bus. The Marine Parkway–Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge connects the Rockaway Peninsula to Brooklyn, providing a critical vehicular link to the rest of the city. The neighborhood is also accessible via the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge from Howard Beach.

Notable people

Notable current and former residents of the area include television journalist Lester Holt, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and actor James Caan. It was also the childhood home of The Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone and is the residence of many decorated members of the FDNY and NYPD, including veterans of the September 11 attacks response. The neighborhood has been referenced in popular culture, including in songs by Beastie Boys and episodes of *The Sopranos*.

Category:Neighborhoods in Queens Category:Rockaway, Queens Category:Populated places established in 1907