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[[Image:Queens_Boulevard15.jpg |400px|right|thumb|Queens Boulvard in Elmhurst, Queens NY. Macy's and [[Queens Center|Queens Center Mall]] can be seen in the background.]]'''Elmhurst''' is a [[neighborhood]] in the [[New York City]] [[borough (New York City)|borough]] of [[Queens]]. It is bounded by Roosevelt Avenue ([[Jackson Heights, Queens|Jackson Heights]]) on the north; [[Corona, Queens|Corona]] to the northeast; [[Junction Boulevard]] on the east; [[Rego Park, Queens|Rego Park]] to the southeast; the [[Long Island Expressway]] on the south; [[Middle Village, Queens|Middle Village]] to the south and southwest; and [[Maspeth, Queens|Maspeth]] and the [[New York Connecting Railroad]] on the west; and [[Woodside, Queens|Woodside]] on the northwest. The neighborhood is part of [{Queens Community Board 4]].<ref>[http://www.nyc.gov/html/cau/html/cb/cb_queens.shtml Queens Community Boards], [[New York City]]. Accessed [[September 3]], [[2007]].</ref>
[[Image:Queens_Boulevard15.jpg |400px|right|thumb|Queens Boulvard in Elmhurst, Queens NY. Macy's and [[Queens Center|Queens Center Mall]] can be seen in the background.]]'''Elmhurst''' is a [[neighborhood]] in the [[New York City]] [[borough (New York City)|borough]] of [[Queens]]. It is bounded by Roosevelt Avenue ([[Jackson Heights, Queens|Jackson Heights]]) on the north; [[Corona, Queens|Corona]] to the northeast; [[Junction Boulevard]] on the east; [[Rego Park, Queens|Rego Park]] to the southeast; the [[Long Island Expressway]] on the south; [[Middle Village, Queens|Middle Village]] to the south and southwest; and [[Maspeth, Queens|Maspeth]] and the [[New York Connecting Railroad]] on the west; and [[Woodside, Queens|Woodside]] on the northwest. The neighborhood is part of [[Queens Community Board 4]].<ref>[http://www.nyc.gov/html/cau/html/cb/cb_queens.shtml Queens Community Boards], [[New York City]]. Accessed [[September 3]], [[2007]].</ref>


==History==
==History==
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Once [[Queens]] joined the [[City of Greater New York]] in 1898, it developed into a fashionable district due to a housing development that was built in Elmhurst between 1896 and 1910, north of the Railroad Station, built by the Cord Meyer Development Company. They expanded their holdings between 1905 and 1930, including Elmhurst Square, Elmhurst South, Elmhurst Heights, and New Elmhurst.
Once [[Queens]] joined the [[City of Greater New York]] in 1898, it developed into a fashionable district due to a housing development that was built in Elmhurst between 1896 and 1910, north of the Railroad Station, built by the Cord Meyer Development Company. They expanded their holdings between 1905 and 1930, including Elmhurst Square, Elmhurst South, Elmhurst Heights, and New Elmhurst.


Prior to World War II, Elmhurst had an almost exclusively Jewish and Italian neighborhood. Following the war, Elmhurst evolved into what has been considered the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in New York City.<ref>Kleinman, Dena. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9503E4DE163BF935A35753C1A964948260 " A HOSPITAL WHERE ETHNIC CHANGE IS CONSTANT"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[October 6]], [[1982]]. Accessed [[June 4]], [[2007]]. "Dr. Stanley Bleich had been an intern less than a month at the municipal hospital in Elmhurst, Queens, when he examined a Korean man who had obvious indications of tuberculosis.... The hospital, one of the city's 16 municipal hospitals, is in what immigration officials have described as the city's most ethnically diverse neighborhood."</ref> By the 1980s, there were persons from 112 nations in residence. Approximately 20% of Elmhurst residents are [[Chinese Americans]], with large percentages also from [[Colombia]], [[Korea]], [[India]], the [[Philippines]], the [[Bolivia]], [[Ecuador]],[[Peru]], [[Guyana]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Mexico]].
Prior to World War II, Elmhurst had an almost exclusively Jewish and Italian neighborhood. Following the war, Elmhurst evolved into what has been considered the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in New York City.<ref>Kleinman, Dena. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9503E4DE163BF935A35753C1A964948260 " A HOSPITAL WHERE ETHNIC CHANGE IS CONSTANT"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[October 6]], [[1982]]. Accessed [[June 4]], [[2007]]. "Dr. Stanley Bleich had been an intern less than a month at the municipal hospital in Elmhurst, Queens, when he examined a Korean man who had obvious indications of tuberculosis.... The hospital, one of the city's 16 municipal hospitals, is in what immigration officials have described as the city's most ethnically diverse neighborhood."</ref> By the 1980s, there were persons from 112 nations in residence. Approximately 20% of Elmhurst residents are [[Chinese Americans]], with large percentages also from [[Colombia]], [[Korea]], [[India]], the [[Philippines]], the [[Bolivia]], [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]], [[Guyana]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Mexico]].


==Historic churches==
==Historic churches==
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==Education==
==Education==
Elmhurst is part of New York City's Department of Education Region 4. <ref> http://schools.nyc.gov/OurSchools/default.htm </ref>. Schools in Elmhurst include:
Elmhurst is part of New York City's Department of Education Region 4. <ref> http://schools.nyc.gov/OurSchools/default.htm </ref>. Schools in Elmhurst include:
*P.S. 007 - Louis F. Simeone
*[http://schools.nyc.gov/schoolportals/24/Q007 P.S. 007] - Louis F. Simeone
*P.S. 013 - Clement C Moore
*[http://schools.nyc.gov/schoolportals/24/Q013 P.S. 013] - Clement C Moore
*P.S. 089 - Elmhurst
*[http://schools.nyc.gov/schoolportals/24/Q089 P.S. 089] - Elmhurst
*P.S. 102 - Bayview
*[http://schools.nyc.gov/schoolportals/24/Q102 P.S. 102] - Bayview
*P.S. 127 - Aerospace Science Magnet School
*[http://schools.nyc.gov/schoolportals/30/Q127 P.S. 127] - Aerospace Science Magnet School
*P.S. 148 - Queens
*[http://schools.nyc.gov/schoolportals/30/Q148 P.S. 148] - Queens
*P.S. 228 - ECC
*[http://schools.nyc.gov/schoolportals/30/Q228 P.S. 228] - ECC
*P.S. 877 - 51 Avenue Academy
*[http://schools.nyc.gov/schoolportals/24/Q877 P.S. 877] - 51 Avenue Academy
*St. Adalbert School
*St. Adalbert School
*Ascension School (closed)
*Ascension School (closed)
*St. Bartholomew School
*St. Bartholomew School
*I.S. 005 - The Walter Crowley Intermediate School
*[http://schools.nyc.gov/schoolportals/24/Q005 I.S. 005] - The Walter Crowley Intermediate School
*I.S. 227 - Louis Armstrong
*[http://schools.nyc.gov/schoolportals/30/Q227 I.S. 227] - Louis Armstrong
*Newtown High School
*Newtown High School
*Cathedral Prep Seminary
*Cathedral Prep Seminary

Revision as of 19:39, 3 September 2007

File:Queens Boulevard15.jpg
Queens Boulvard in Elmhurst, Queens NY. Macy's and Queens Center Mall can be seen in the background.

Elmhurst is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It is bounded by Roosevelt Avenue (Jackson Heights) on the north; Corona to the northeast; Junction Boulevard on the east; Rego Park to the southeast; the Long Island Expressway on the south; Middle Village to the south and southwest; and Maspeth and the New York Connecting Railroad on the west; and Woodside on the northwest. The neighborhood is part of Queens Community Board 4.[1]

History

The village was established in 1652 by the Dutch as Middenburgh (Middleburgh), and was a suburb of New Amsterdam in New Netherland. The original settlers of Elmhurst were from the nearby colony of Maspat (now called Maspeth), following threats and attacks by local Indians.

When the British took over Nieuwe Netherland in 1664, they renamed Middleburgh as New Town (Nieuwe Stad) to maintain the Dutch heritage. This was eventually simplified to Newtown, and it was established as the Town Seat for the Township of the same name when it was established in 1683. The village was renamed Elmhurst (Lep Hurst) in 1896 to identify the area with a new housing development, avoid association with the larger Township, and the Creek, and maintain the Dutch heritage.

Once Queens joined the City of Greater New York in 1898, it developed into a fashionable district due to a housing development that was built in Elmhurst between 1896 and 1910, north of the Railroad Station, built by the Cord Meyer Development Company. They expanded their holdings between 1905 and 1930, including Elmhurst Square, Elmhurst South, Elmhurst Heights, and New Elmhurst.

Prior to World War II, Elmhurst had an almost exclusively Jewish and Italian neighborhood. Following the war, Elmhurst evolved into what has been considered the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in New York City.[2] By the 1980s, there were persons from 112 nations in residence. Approximately 20% of Elmhurst residents are Chinese Americans, with large percentages also from Colombia, Korea, India, the Philippines, the Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Guyana, Pakistan and Mexico.

Historic churches

Four churches of historic vintage are still extant and in use, two of which have historical graveyards.

  • St. James Parish Hall (Originally St. James Episcopal Church, at Broadway and 51st Avenue), which was built in 1734.
  • Reformed Dutch Church of Newtown (85-15 Broadway at Corona Avenue), which was built in 1831.
  • St. Adalbert Roman Catholic Church (52-29 83rd St.), which was founded in 1832.
  • First Presbyterian Church of Newtown (Queens Boulevard and 54th Avenue) which was built in 1893 and whose congregation goes back to 1652.

Shopping

Elmhurst is home to two urban shopping malls. The recently expanded Queens Center Mall, the most profitable mall per square foot in the United States, and the recently renovated and expanded Queens Place Mall, a smaller round shopping center originally built as a Macy's branch. It also has many furniture stores adjacent to Grand Avenue on Queens Boulevard, among is a Levitz.

Education

Elmhurst is part of New York City's Department of Education Region 4. [3]. Schools in Elmhurst include:

Transportation

Accessible subway stations are Woodhaven Boulevard, Grand Avenue–Newtown and Elmhurst Avenue, all served by the E, ​F, ​M, and ​R trains of the IND Queens Boulevard Line. In addition, the IRT Flushing Line, served by the 7 and <7>​ train, runs along Roosevelt Avenue, the north border of Elmhurst, with stations at 74th Street–Broadway, 82nd Street-Jackson Heights and 90th Street-Elmhurst Avenue. Buses include the Q53, Q58, Q59, and Q60.

McDowell's, the fictional restaurant depicted in the 1988 film Coming to America, is located in Elmhurst, at a Wendy's that was cosmetically altered for the week-long location shoot. Elmhurst is also known for making superb basketball players, such as Smush Parker (Guard for LA Lakers) and Charlie Villanueva (Forward for Milwaukee Bucks).

For many years Elmhurst was a familiar name due to the Elmhurst Gas Tanks (officially the Newtown Holder Station), a pair of large natural gas storage structures built in 1910 and 1921. Because the Long Island Expressway (LIE) frequently became congested in that area, "backup at the Elmhurst Tanks" became a familiar phrase heard in radio traffic reports. Being literal rather than legal landmarks, the gas holders were removed in 2001.[4][5]

General Manager of the New York Mets, Omar Minaya is also a former Elmhurst resident and Newtown High School Alumni. He still remains active in the community today.

References

  1. ^ Queens Community Boards, New York City. Accessed September 3, 2007.
  2. ^ Kleinman, Dena. " A HOSPITAL WHERE ETHNIC CHANGE IS CONSTANT", The New York Times, October 6, 1982. Accessed June 4, 2007. "Dr. Stanley Bleich had been an intern less than a month at the municipal hospital in Elmhurst, Queens, when he examined a Korean man who had obvious indications of tuberculosis.... The hospital, one of the city's 16 municipal hospitals, is in what immigration officials have described as the city's most ethnically diverse neighborhood."
  3. ^ http://schools.nyc.gov/OurSchools/default.htm
  4. ^ Hevesi, Dennis. " Memory-Filled Tanks; Queens Loses 2 Roadside Landmarks", The New York Times, September 20, 1993. Accessed June 4, 2007. "The Elmhurst tanks -- those 200-foot monoliths that stood sentinel to the changing landscape of Queens and as harbingers of hair-tearing delay on the highway to Manhattan -- are down, deflated forever, their skeletal remains waiting to be dismantled."
  5. ^ Elmhurst gas tanks, Queens Tribune. Accessed June 4, 2007. "But when the beloved landmarks weren’t really doing the business anymore they came down in 1996 and by 2001 there was almost no trace of the tanks that once supplied business and homes across the city."

Sources

  • AIA Guide to New York City, 3rd Edition (1988) ISBN 0-15-104040-0 (Hardcover); ISBN 0-15-603600-2 (Paperback)
  • The Encyclopedia of New York City (1995) ISBN 0-300-05536-6 .
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