Staten Island is one of the most obscure neighborhoods in New York City. It is the most geographically remote and at the same time the least populated of all the districts of the city. Despite this, it has a rich history, and there are attractions worth visiting.
History
The Lenape Native Americans lived here, and in the 17th century it was settled by Dutch colonists. Staten Island was part of the original 12 counties of New York. Until 1898, it was united with New York City, and until 1975, the area was called the Richmond Borough, then it was renamed the Borough of Staten Island.
Locals informally call Staten Island the "forgotten area" because it is not as developed as others. From 1947 to 2001, there was a landfill in this place, and then work began on the reclamation of the territory. Director James DeMonaco made a film of the same name about the peculiarities of islander life.
Description
The area is 265.5 square kilometers, of which 151.5 square kilometers is on land, including small islands, and the rest is occupied by the water area. There is no industrial production here. Staten Island is called a park district because of its nearly 5,000 hectares of protected park areas and more than 170 parks.
The population is about half a million people, which is small for a megalopolis. These are mostly middle-income people who work in other areas of New York, where they travel by ferry for free. There are many Russian-speaking immigrants and Italians living here.
Until 1964, the ferry was the main means of transportation. The construction of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which began in 1959, helped bring the island closer to other areas in the city. But even in 2025, there is no access to the subway. Some people find it inconvenient, while others, on the contrary, like it.
What can I see
Richmond Town is a historical village museum where you can get acquainted with the American way of life of the XVIII century. Its area is 100,000 square meters, where 15 buildings, including residential buildings and public buildings, have been restored. It is noteworthy that the staff are dressed in costumes of that time.
Fort Wadsworth occupies a special place among the sights of Staten Island, considered one of the first military buildings in America, the fortress reliably guarded the entrance to New York Bay. Now there is a museum here, and a panorama of Brooklyn opens from the wall. Antique shops are located near the pier.
The first zoo in the United States, which began construction in 1933 and was completed in 1936, operates all year round except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. There are more than 1,500 animals of about 350 species living here. This is the only zoo in the country where all kinds of rattlesnakes are represented. Families with children love visiting the petting zoo, where you can see goats, sheep and other farm animals.
How to get
A ferry runs hourly between Staten Island and Manhattan every half hour during the day and at night. Brooklyn can be reached via the Verrazano Bridge, which was named after the Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano. The New York Marathon, which usually takes place in November, begins from the bridge. At this time, it is completely closed to traffic.
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