Overview
Staten Island − merged with New York City in 1898, is the most suburban of the five boroughs of NYC. Sometimes, the borough is called ‘the forgotten borough’ because it’s inhabitants feel the government neglects the region.
The Island, together with other smaller islands form the borough of Staten Island and Raymond County of New York City. The borough lies between New Jersey and Brooklyn, south of Manhattan in the New York harbor. It is connected to Manhattan by the Staten Island Ferry and to Brooklyn by the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. This bridge − opened in 1964, launched the explosive development of the island, both commercially and residentially.
History
In 1524, the island was discovered by an Italian explorer, Giovanni da Verrazzano. However, before that, Unami Indians inhabited the area. The Unami Indians are of a native American tribe commonly called Lenape. The tribe was later named Delaware by the English because they lived on the shores of the Delaware River.
Three separate attempts made by the Dutch (from 1639 to 1655) to set up settlements ended in conflicts with the Indians. Nonetheless, in 1661, the Dutch West Indian Company established the first settlement by giving lands to a small group of Dutch and French families.
In 1667, the Dutch gave over New Netherlands to the English in a treaty (The Treaty of Breda). Thus, the island, Staaten Eylandt, got modified to Staten Island. The Island thus became a part of the English colony of New York. Following this development, the Dutch settlements expanded and the population increased; growing to about two thousand inhabitants in 1771.
Soon enough, in 1898, the towns on the island got dissolved and merged into the City of Greater New York. Hence, becoming one of the five boroughs in the city.
Demography
Although Staten Island is the third-largest borough of the five boroughs in NYC, it is the least populated. The area is populated with about 500,000 inhabitants − most of them being non-Hispanic whites. According to a community survey carried out in 2009, Italians and Irish were the top European ancestries. To date, the borough holds pride in being identified as the borough with the highest number of Italian Americans than any county in the US.
Staten Island covers a total land area of 60.9 square miles −7.3 miles wide and 13.9 miles long. Most of the land on the island is home to a diverse population of wildlife and large acres of parklands.
Top Attractions in Staten Island
Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry is a three-tiered orange-colored vessel that freely commutes visitors and tourists to Staten Island. The ride offers passengers a free and clear view of the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbour, and the Lower Manhattan skyline.
Staten Island Museum
The museum, founded in 1881, remains the only general-interest museum in the city. It is home to thousands of artifacts from ancient times to date. The museum is rich in arts, natural science (consisting of minerals and crafted structures of native animals), and the region’s local history.
Historic Richmond Town
Historic Richmond Town offers visitors the chance to experience the colonial times in the 16th and 17th centuries when the Dutch still inhabited the island. Visitors can visit the oldest schoolhouse dating as far back to 1695, a general store, and a courthouse.
St. George Theatre
The theatre, completed in 1929, is a host to a large variety of community events. The theatre maintains a bustling calendar that could range from children’s shows to concerts. Diana Ross, Joan Rivers, and Chris Rock are some celebrities that have graced the stage. Its grand interior boasts of beautiful features such as chandeliers, grand staircases, Spanish/Italian Baroque-style paintings, and a magnificent dome.
September 11 Postcards Memorial
The 9/11 memorial is found along the Esplanade, which is a short walk from the Ferry terminal. In honor of the 275 Staten Islanders who lost their lives during the infamous attack on September 11, 2001, the memorial was created. The memorial honors each victim with a profile on a granite plaque. On each plaque, the names, date of birth, and place of work of the victims can be seen.
Famous Restaurants
The Staten Island cuisine scene is rich and diverse. With impressive Spanish, and Italian restaurants located strategically around the community. The top restaurants are:
- Enoteca Maria
They serve some of the best Italian dishes in the region.
- Beso
Visitors can count on Beso to offer incredible seafood dishes.
- Denino’s Pizzeria
Denino’s pizzeria makes pizzas with age-old Italian recipes that guarantee to make mouths water.
- Bayou Restaurant
This restaurant serves incredible comfort food that makes up a perfect Sunday brunch.
- Vida
The Mexican café captures the heart of folks with dishes that are a blend of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisine.
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