Far Rockaway, Queens

Far Rockaway, Queens is a neighborhood located on the Rockaway Peninsula in the New York City borough of Queens. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the south, Jamaica Bay to the north, and the neighborhoods of Arverne to the east and Bayswater to the west, near Nassau County. The area is home to many notable residents, including Mohandas Gandhi's friend and Indian independence movement supporter, Samuel Evans, who lived in the nearby Hempstead, New York, and Malcolm X, who attended Queens College.

Geography

Far Rockaway, Queens is situated on a narrow peninsula, with the Atlantic Ocean to the south and Jamaica Bay to the north, near the Gateway National Recreation Area. The neighborhood is bounded by Beach Channel Drive to the north, Nassau Expressway to the east, and Rockaway Beach Boulevard to the south, with nearby John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. The area is also close to the Queens-Nassau County border and the neighborhoods of Inwood and Lawrence, with the Hudson River and East River nearby. Notable geographic features in the area include the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Rockaway Beach, and the Marine Parkway–Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge, which connects to Brooklyn.

History

The history of Far Rockaway, Queens dates back to the 17th century, when it was inhabited by the Lenape Native American tribe, who also lived in nearby Staten Island and Manhattan. The area was later settled by Dutch colonists, including Peter Stuyvesant, who established the Dutch West India Company in nearby New Amsterdam. In the 19th century, the neighborhood became a popular resort destination, with the construction of the Long Island Rail Road and the Rockaway Beach Hotel, which was visited by notable figures such as Theodore Roosevelt and Mark Twain. The area was also home to the Edgemere Park development, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central Park and Prospect Park.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the demographics of Far Rockaway, Queens are diverse, with a population that includes residents of African American descent, such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, who lived in nearby Harlem, as well as residents of Hispanic and Latino descent, including Puerto Rican and Dominican American communities, similar to those found in nearby Washington Heights and Jackson Heights. The neighborhood is also home to a significant population of Jewish residents, including those from Israel and Russia, with nearby Yeshiva University and Hebrew Union College. Other notable residents have included Ella Fitzgerald, who performed at the Apollo Theater in nearby Harlem, and Louis Armstrong, who lived in nearby Corona.

Economy

The economy of Far Rockaway, Queens is driven by a mix of industries, including healthcare, with nearby Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and St. John's Episcopal Hospital, as well as retail and tourism, with the Rockaway Beach Boardwalk and the Jacob Riis Park. The neighborhood is also home to a number of small businesses, including restaurants and shops, such as those found in nearby Astoria and Jackson Heights. Notable companies with a presence in the area include MTA Regional Bus Operations, which operates bus routes to nearby Manhattan and Brooklyn, and National Grid, which provides energy services to the neighborhood.

Transportation

Far Rockaway, Queens is accessible by a number of transportation options, including the A train and the Long Island Rail Road, which connect to nearby Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal. The neighborhood is also served by several bus routes, including the Q22 and Q35 buses, which connect to nearby Brooklyn and Manhattan. In addition, the area is close to John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, with flights to destinations such as London and Paris on airlines including British Airways and Air France. The Marine Parkway–Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge also connects the neighborhood to Brooklyn.

Education

Far Rockaway, Queens is served by a number of educational institutions, including Beach Channel High School and Far Rockaway High School, which are part of the New York City Department of Education. The neighborhood is also home to a number of private schools, including St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy and Yeshivah of Far Rockaway, as well as nearby Queens College and York College. Notable educational institutions in the area include the City University of New York and the State University of New York, with nearby Columbia University and New York University. The neighborhood is also close to the Queens Library and the New York Public Library, with branches in nearby Jamaica and Flushing.