Jamaica is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City. In New York City, a borough is a unique form of government which administers the five fundamental constituent parts that make up the consolidated city The City of New York It was settled under Dutch rule in 1656 in New Netherland as Rusdorp. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands New Netherland (Dutch Nieuw-Nederland, Latin Novum Belgium or Nova Belgica) 1614–1674 is the name of the former Dutch territory on the eastern coast ^[1] Under British rule, it became the center of the Town of Jamaica. Administrative divisions of New York State differ from those in certain other countries and most U Jamaica was the county seat of Queens County from the formation of the county in 1683 until March 7, 1788, when the town was reorganized by the state government and the county seat was moved to Mineola (now part of Nassau County). Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus Year 1788 ( MDCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap Mineola is a Village in Nassau County, New York, USA. The population was 19233 at the 2000 census When Queens was incorporated into the City of Greater New York in 1898, both the Town of Jamaica and the Village of Jamaica were dissolved, but the neighborhood of Jamaica regained its role as county seat. The City of Greater New York, was a term commonly used originally to refer to the expanded city created on January 1, 1898 by the incorporation into the city of The neighborhood is part of Queens Community Board 12. The Queens Community Board 12 is a local government in the New York City borough of Queens, encompassing the neighborhoods of Jamaica ^[2]

Previously known as one of the predominantly African American neighborhoods in the borough of Queens, Jamaica in recent years has been undergoing a sharp influx of other ethnicities. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa It has a substantial concentration of West Indian immigrants, Indians, Arabs, Russians, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans as well as many long-established African American families. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding The Russian people (Русские— Russkie) are an East Slavic Ethnic group, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries A few East Asian families are also known to have recently put down roots in Jamaica.

The neighborhood of Jamaica is completely unrelated to the Caribbean nation of Jamaica (although Jamaican immigrants do live in the area); the name similarity is a coincidence. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. The English, who took it over in 1664, named the area "Jameco," for the Jameco Native Americans, who resided on the northern shores of Jamaica Bay, and whose name means "beaver" in Algonquian languages. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States See also Geography and environment of New York City Jamaica Bay is a Lagoon that lies in the shadow of New York City 's skyscrapers and is adjacent The Algonquian (also Algonkian, and pronounced both and) languages are a subfamily of Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the Algic ^[3]

Jamaica is the location of several government buildings including Queens Civil Court and the civil branch of the Queens County Supreme Court. The New York City Civil Court is a court hearing civil cases within New York City. The Supreme Court of the State of New York is New York State 's Trial court, and is of General jurisdiction. Jamaica Center, the area around Jamaica Avenue and 165th Street, is a major commercial center, as well as the home of the Central Library of the Queens Borough Public Library. Jamaica Avenue or The Ave, as it is called by locals is a major avenue in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United The Queens Borough Public Library, also known as the Queens Library is the Public library for the Borough of Queens and one of three library

Some locals group Jamaica's surrounding neighborhoods^[4] into an unofficial Greater Jamaica, roughly corresponding to the former Town of Jamaica, including Woodhaven, St. Albans, Springfield Gardens, Hollis, Laurelton, Queens Village, Howard Beach and Ozone Park. Woodhaven is a mostly residential upper middle-class neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. St Albans is a residential community in the New York City borough of Queens around the intersection of Linden Boulevard and Farmers Boulevard Springfield Gardens is a Neighborhood in the southeastern area of the New York City borough of Queens, bounded to the north by St Hollis is a neighborhood within the southeastern section of the New York City borough of Queens. Laurelton is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. Queens Village is a middle-class neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens, covering the zip codes 11427 ( Hollis Hills) 11428 (central Howard Beach is a middle class neighborhood in the southwestern portion of the borough of Queens in New York City. Ozone Park is a New York City neighborhood located in the southwestern section of the borough of Queens bordering Woodhaven, Richmond The New York Racing Association, based at Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, lists its official address as Jamaica (Central Jamaica once housed NYRA's Jamaica Racetrack, now the massive Rochdale Village housing development). The New York Racing Association is the non-profit management group that runs the three largest Thoroughbred Horse-racing tracks in the state of New History The racetrack opened in 1894 and was rebuilt in 1959 the 1959 design was by noted racetrack architect Arthur Froehlich of the architecture firm Arthur Froehlich Rochdale (also called Rochdale Village) is a 20-building 5860-apartment residential Cooperative designed

Contents 1 History 2 Demographics and neighborhoods 3 Economic history and development 4 Transportation 5 Major throughfares 5.1 Jamaica Avenue 5.2 Hillside Avenue 5.3 Sutphin Boulevard 6 Education 6.1 Colleges and universities 6.2 Primary and secondary schools 6.2.1 Public schools 6.2.2 Private schools 6.2.3 Libraries 7 Notable residents 8 References 9 External links

History

Jamaica Avenue was an ancient trail for tribes from as far away as the Ohio River and the Great Lakes, coming to trade skins and furs for wampum. Jamaica Avenue or The Ave, as it is called by locals is a major avenue in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United The Ohio River is the largest Tributary by volume of the Mississippi River. The Laurentian Great Lakes are a chain of freshwater lakes located in eastern North America, on the Canada–United States border. ^[5] It was in 1655 that the first settlers paid the Native Americans with two guns, a coat, and some powder and lead, for the land lying between the old trail and "Beaver Pond" (later Baisley Pond). Dutch Director-General Peter Stuyvesant dubbed the area "Rustdorp" in granting the 1656 land patent. This is a list of Directors, appointed by the Dutch West India Company, of the 17th century Dutch province of New Netherland ( Nieuw Nederland Peter Stuyvesant (originally Pieter or Petrus, Peter is never mentioned in historical records (c A land patent is evidence of Right, title, and/or interest to a tract of land usually granted by a central, federal, or State

The English took over in 1664, renamed it "Jameco" for the Jameco (or Yamecah) Native Americans, and made it part of the county of Yorkshire. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Yorkshire County was an original county of the English Province of New York, established in 1664 soon after English control of the area was established In 1683, when the British divided the Province of New York into counties, Jamaica became the county seat of Queens County, one of the original counties of New York. The Province of New York (1664-1776 (Provincie New York resulted from the capture of the Dutch Republic colony of Provincie Nieuw-Nederland by the

Colonial Jamaica had a band of 56 Minutemen that played an active part in the Battle of Long Island, the outcome of which led to the occupation of the New York City area by British troops during most of the American Revolutionary War. Minutemen were members of teams of select men from the American colonial militia during the American Revolutionary War. Background On March 17 1776 the British fleet retreated to Halifax Nova Scotia to refit after the end of the year-long Siege of Boston. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" In Jamaica, "George Washington slept here" is indeed true — in 1790, in William Warner's tavern. Rufus King, a signer of the United States Constitution, relocated here in 1805. Rufus King ( March 24[[ 755]] - April 29[[ 827]] was an American lawyer politician and diplomat The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States. He added to a modest 18th-century farmhouse, creating the manor which stands on the site today. King Manor has recently been restored to its former glory, and now houses King Manor Museum.

By 1776, Jamaica had become a trading post for farmers and their produce. For more than a century, their horse-drawn carts plodded along Jamaica Avenue, then called King's Highway. The Jamaica Post Office opened September 25, 1794, and was the only post office in the present-day Boroughs of Queens or Brooklyn before 1803. Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France Year 1794 ( MDCCXCIV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a ^[6] The public school system started in 1813, funded for $125 and a year later, Jamaica Village was incorporated. By 1834, the Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad company had completed a line to Jamaica. The Atlantic Avenue Railroad was a Railroad company is the US

In 1850, the former Kings Highway (now Jamaica Avenue) became the Brooklyn and Jamaica Plank Road, complete with toll gate. A plank road or puncheon is a dirt path or road covered with a series of planks similar to the wooden sidewalks one would see in a Western movie In 1866, tracks were laid for a horsecar line, and 20 years later it was electrified, the first in the state. A horsecar was an animal-powered Streetcar or Tram. The first passenger services in the world were started by the Oystermouth Railway in On January 1, 1898, Queens became part of the City of New York, and Jamaica became the county seat. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1898 ( MDCCCXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The City of New York

The present Jamaica station of the Long Island Rail Road was completed in 1913, and the BMT Jamaica Line arrived in 1918. The Jamaica Line (earlier also Broadway Line or Broadway (Brooklyn Line) is an elevated Rapid transit line of the B Division of the New The 1920s and 1930s saw the building of the Valencia Theatre (now restored by the Tabernacle of Prayer), the "futuristic" Kurtz furniture Store and the Roxanne Building.

Demographics and neighborhoods

Jamaica is very large and expansive area with a wide array of diversity in its population. Although formerly predominantly African American, it is reported that 27. 69% of the population is now Asian, 25. 01% white, 24. 34% other, and 22. 14% black. While the corresponding figures represent a certain portion of Jamaica, official statistics differ by the area's numerous zip codes such as 11432, 11433, 11434, 11435, and 11436. The total population of Jamaica is estimated to be a bit over 90,000 with all neighborhoods taken into consideration.

Jamaica was not always as diverse as it is today. Throughout the 19th to early 20th centuries, Jamaica was mainly populated with whites as new Irish immigrants settled around the places known today as Downtown and Baisley Pond Park. However in the 1950s, what was later called white flight began and middle-income African Americans started taking their place. White flight is a term for the demographic trend in which working and Middle-class White people move away from Suburbs After the 1970s, as housing prices began to tumble, many hispanic and west Indian immigrants moved in. These ethnic groups tended to stay more towards the Jamaica Avenue and South Jamaica areas. Yet it wasn't until the late 1990s and early 2000s that immigration from other countries became widespread. Gentrification and decrease in crime attracted many families toward Jamaica's safe havens. Gentrification, or urban gentrification, is the change in an Urban area associated with the movement of more affluent individuals into a lower-class Hillside Avenue is a complete reflection of this trend. Along 150th to 161st streets, much of the stores and restaurants are of South American and Caribbean culture. Heading further east is the rapidly growing East Indian community. Mainly spurred on by Jamaica Muslim Center, Bangladeshis have flocked to this area due to easy transit access and the numerous Bengali stores and restaurants lining 167th and 168th streets. ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially Neighborhood analysts have concluded that Bangladeshis are becoming the most rapidly growing group. Other areas where they are known to reside include Merrick Blvd. and Sutphin Blvd. in South Jamaica. Yet heading down this same direction, you will find numerous churches, stores, salons, and hair-braiding shops thriving in the hip-hop and African-American cultures. A few Chinese, Japanese and Koreans are also known to have settled in the Jamaica area.

Economic history and development

Economic development was long neglected. In the 1960s and 1970s, many big box retailers moved into suburban areas where business was more profitable. Such retailers included brand name stores, commercial strips and movie theaters that once thrived in Jamaica's busiest areas. Macy's and the Valencia theater were the last companies to move out in 1969. Macy's is a chain of mid-range American Department stores Its Flagship store in Herald Square, New York City has been billed The 1980's brought in the crack epidemic which created even more hardship as well as crime. The crack epidemic refers to a six year period between 1984 and 1990 in the United States during which there was a huge surge in the use of Crack cocaine in major Prime real estate spaces were replaced by unsuccessful hair salons and 99 cents stores. Furthermore, existing zoning patterns and inadequete infrastructure did not anticipate future development. However since then, the government reaction towards fighting crime and the recent decrease of the crime rate have provided a positive reaction to potential entrepreneurs who plan to invest in the area. The Greater Jamaica Development Corporation (GJDC) is a long-standing nonprofit organization that has done an excellent job in promoting development. They have acquired valuable real estate and sold them to national chains in order to expand neighborhood opportunities for advancement. As well they have completed underway proposals by allocating funds and providing loans to potential investors who have already established something in the area. One Jamaica Center is a mixed-use commercial complex that was built in 2002 housing Old Navy, Bally Total Fitness, Gap, and a 15-screen multiplex theater. Old Navy is a Brand of clothing and chain of stores owned by Gap Inc Bally Total Fitness is an American fitness club chain with four hundred Gyms in seventy cities and claims four million customers. The Gap Incorporated ( is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco California, and founded in 1969 by Donald Fisher Banking has also made a strong revival as Bank of America, Sterling National Bank, Washington Mutual, and Carver Federal Savings Bank have each created at least one branch along various major streets: Jamaica Avenue, Parsons Boulevard, Merrick Boulevard, and Sutphin Boulevard. Banc of America Securities Bank of America () is the largest bank by asset and second largest commercial Bank by deposits and Market capitalization in United Washington Mutual Inc (abbreviated to WaMu) ( is a savings bank holding company and the former owner of Washington Mutual Savings Bank, which was the A $75 million deal with Home Depot cleared the way for a new location at 168th St. and Archer Ave.

The most prominent piece of development has been the creation of the Sutphin Boulevard transit hub aka "Jamaica Station" which was fully completed in 2003. It includes the Sutphin Blvd. E, J, and Z subway subway station, LIRR, and the Airtrain JFK which provides a 5-7 minute direct ride from Jamaica to John F. Kennedy International Airport. AirTrain JFK is an 81- Mile (13- km) People mover system in New York City that connects John F John F Kennedy International Airport is an International airport located in Queens County on Long Island in southeastern New York City about 12 miles (19 The Airtrain station remains the central figure for ongoing economic progress. With the growing number of riders each day passing through this station, the city is providing some major changes to the surrounding blocks of this massive hub of transport.

Currently Jamaica has great potential to be a premier business center in New York City following the examples of major redevelopment occurring in Long Island City, Flushing, and Downtown Brooklyn. Long Island City (often abbreviated LIC) is the western-most neighborhood of the borough of Queens in New York City. Flushing, founded in 1645 is a neighborhood in the north central part of the City of New York borough of Queens, ten miles (16 km east of Manhattan Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower by DSJPG|thumb|The Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower is a prominent symbol of Downtown In 2005, the New York City Department of City Planning drafted a plan that would rezone 368 blocks of Jamaica in order to stimulate new development, relieve the overwhelming traffic situation, and shift upscale amenities away from low-density residential neighborhoods. The plan includes up-zoning the immediate areas around Jamaica Station to accommodate passengers traveling through the area. To improve infrastructure the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation has agreed to create more greenery and open spaces to allow pedestrians to enjoy the scenery. At the same time, the city has reserved the right to protect the suburban/residential charm of neighboring areas. Several blocks will be down-zoned to keep up with the existing neighborhood character. On September 10,2007 the City Council overwhelmingly approved the plan. Structures of up to 28 stories can be built around the main transit hub as well as residential buildings of up to 7 stories can be built on Hillside Ave. As of today, there are a few up and coming projects. The city economic development corporation has issued an RFP for redevelopment of a 45,000 sq. ft. abandoned garage located at 168th St. and 93rd Ave. Plans are underway to convert this space into retail and parking spots. "TechnoMart Queens" has been the first ever declared approved project. Located at Sutphin Blvd. and 94th Ave. , Korean Based Prime Construction Corp. , Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, and several other partners have signed a deal to create a 13-story Mega-mall. 9 floors will be dedicated towards wholesale electronics, 3 floors to retail space for shopping, and it is estimated to contain parking for up to 800 cars. Groundbreaking on this site will initiate in late 2008 and is slated for completion by mid-2011. The GJDC has announced in their newsletter that another site adjacent to the mall will be converted into a hotel for Airtrain passengers. Official groundbreaking information has not been released nor declared yet its completion is set for 2010.

Transportation

Jamaica Station is a central transfer point on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), which is headquartered in a building adjoining the station; all but one of the commuter railroad's lines (the Port Washington Branch) run through Jamaica. Jamaica Station (often referred to simply as Jamaica) is the major hub and headquarters of the Long Island Rail Road, and is located in Jamaica Queens The Port Washington Branch is an electrified two-track Rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U

The New York City Subway's IND Queens Boulevard Line (E F) terminates at 179th Street, at the foot of Jamaica Estates, a neighborhood of mansions east of Jamaica's central business district. The New York City Subway is a Rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency The Queens Boulevard Line is a fully underground line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan and Queens, New York City The E Eighth Avenue Local is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. The F Sixth Avenue Local is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. Jamaica–179th Street is a station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. The Archer Avenue Line, which opened in 1988, (E J Z) terminates at Jamaica Center–Parsons Boulevard. The Archer Avenue Line is a Rapid transit line of the New York City Subway, mostly running under Archer Avenue in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) The E Eighth Avenue Local is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. The J Nassau Street Express and Z Nassau Street Express (earlier Jamaica Express) are two Rapid transit services of the B Division of the The J Nassau Street Express and Z Nassau Street Express (earlier Jamaica Express) are two Rapid transit services of the B Division of the Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer is the northern terminal station on the IND Archer Avenue Line and BMT Archer Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, located Jamaica Center is not just a transit hub; it is also the name of a business and government center that includes a federal office building, and a shopping mall and theater multiplex (One Jamaica Center), and is adjacent to various other businesses and agencies, such as the main forensic laboratory facility for the New York City Police Department.

Jamaica's bus network provides extensive service across eastern Queens, as well as to destinations as distant as Hicksville in Nassau County, Q44 serves to western Bronx, the Rockaways, and Midtown Manhattan. Hicksville is a hamlet in the Town of Oyster Bay and Census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, United States. There is also a Town of Nassau in Rensselaer County. Nassau County is a suburban county in the New York Metropolitan The Rockaway Peninsula, also known as The Rockaways, is the name of a peninsula of Long Island, most of which is located within the borough of Queens See also Manhattan Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial Nearly all bus lines serving Jamaica terminate there; most do so at the 165th Street Bus Terminal or the Jamaica Center subway station.

Jamaica, a large, sprawling neighborhood, is also home to John F. Kennedy International Airport—one of the busiest international airports in the United States and the world— public transportation passengers are connected to airline terminals by AirTrain JFK, which operates as both an airport terminal circulator and rail connection to central Jamaica at the integrated LIRR and bilevel subway station located at Sutphin Blvd and Archer Avenue. John F Kennedy International Airport is an International airport located in Queens County on Long Island in southeastern New York City about 12 miles (19 AirTrain JFK is an 81- Mile (13- km) People mover system in New York City that connects John F

Major streets include Archer Avenue, Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Liberty Avenue, Merrick Boulevard, Parsons Boulevard, Guy R. New York State Route 25B is a 725 mile (1167 km long east-west State highway located on Long Island in the U Jamaica Avenue or The Ave, as it is called by locals is a major avenue in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United Merrick Road, named Merrick Boulevard inside New York City, is a road running from Jamaica Queens New York east through Merrick New York to Brewer Boulevard (formerly known as New York Boulevard), and Sutphin Boulevard, as well as the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678) and the Grand Central Parkway. Interstate 678 (abbreviated I-678) is a north-south Spur route in the Interstate Highway System that runs 14 miles (23 km entirely within two boroughs The Grand Central Parkway is a Parkway that stretches from the Triborough Bridge in New York City to Nassau County on Long Island.

Neighboring areas are Jamaica Estates, Jamaica Hills, Cambria Heights, St. Albans, Hollis, Queens Village, South Ozone Park, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, Laurelton, Rosedale, Brookville, Rochdale, South Jamaica, Springfield Gardens, South Flushing, and Woodhaven. Jamaica Estates is located in the New York City borough of Queens and is a wealthy neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens Jamaica Hills is a small Neighborhood in the east central portion of the former Township of Jamaica Queens in New York City, USA Cambria Heights ( Zip Code 11411 is a neighborhood in the southeastern portion of the New York City borough of Queens. St Albans is a residential community in the New York City borough of Queens around the intersection of Linden Boulevard and Farmers Boulevard Hollis is a neighborhood within the southeastern section of the New York City borough of Queens. Queens Village is a middle-class neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens, covering the zip codes 11427 ( Hollis Hills) 11428 (central South Ozone Park is a neighborhood in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Queens. Kew Gardens is a neighborhood in central Queens bounded to the north and east by the Jackie Robinson Parkway (formerly Interborough Parkway) Queens Richmond Hill is a neighborhood in central-southern Queens, New York City, USA. Laurelton is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. Rosedale – (Zip Code 11413 and 11422 is a neighborhood in New York City in the southeastern portion of the borough of Queens. Rochdale (also called Rochdale Village) is a 20-building 5860-apartment residential Cooperative designed South Jamaica, known Colloquially as Southside, is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens, located south of downtown Jamaica Springfield Gardens is a Neighborhood in the southeastern area of the New York City borough of Queens, bounded to the north by St Woodhaven is a mostly residential upper middle-class neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens.

Major throughfares

Jamaica Avenue

Jamaica Avenue is Jamaica's busiest thoroughfare, and of course the neighborhood's namesake. Jamaica Avenue or The Ave, as it is called by locals is a major avenue in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United Jamaica Avenue actually begins in Brooklyn, near the boundary of the East New York neighborhood. East New York is a low-income residential neighborhood located in eastern Brooklyn, a borough of New York City. Jamaica Avenue enters Jamaica east of the Van Wyck Expressway, and it brings the traveler to the Social Security Administration Building, courthouses and the main branch of the Queens Public Library and many discount stores offering a variety of goods. Much of the shopping and commercial activity occurs here. Stretching from 148th St. to 171st St. , it is Queens' prime source to get everything you need rivaling both Woodhaven and Queens Blvds. Jamaica Avenue also sets the tone for historical and cultural amenities. The 200-year-old King Manor Museum, once home to Rufus King, a founding father of America, is located at the corner of 153rd St. Rufus King ( March 24[[ 755]] - April 29[[ 827]] was an American lawyer politician and diplomat and Jamaica Ave. It includes a 2-story museum with over an acre of land and a public park. Directly across from the Museum is the Jamaica Performing Arts Center which was completed in 2007 and has since opened. ^[7]

Hillside Avenue

Hillside Avenue is located along the northern boundary of Jamaica. It is served by the F train which runs all the way from Sutphin Blvd. to 179th St. where it terminates. Hillside Ave. starts off in the Richmond Hill area and runs east bypassing Ozone Park, running throughout Jamaica, and into Queens Village and Long Island. Ozone Park is a New York City neighborhood located in the southwestern section of the borough of Queens bordering Woodhaven, Richmond Queens Village is a middle-class neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens, covering the zip codes 11427 ( Hollis Hills) 11428 (central It consists of a wide 6 lane street with numerous commercial activity. The Q43 Bus runs its entire length starting off in Sutphin Blvd. Today, Hillside Ave. is recognized to be a neighborhood within itself with respect to Jamaica known simply as "Hillside", "Hills", or "Jamaica Hills". The enormous cultural diversity is well foreseeable in this region. Within every couple or so blocks, there is a unique transition of one ethnic group to another. From 148th St. to 150th St. , you will find numerous wholesale and merchandise shops with a well amount of family oriented restaurants of South American descent. From 151st St. and into 164th St. , there is an unprecedented amount of groceries and restaurants pertaining to the West Indies. Mainly of Guyanese and Trinidadian origin, these stores serve their respective population living in and around the Jamaica Center area. Lastly, advancing east from 167th St. to 171st St. , there is an enormous amount of East Indian shops. Mainly invested by the evergrowing Bangladeshi population, hundreds of South Asians come here to shop for Eastern goods not found anywhere else in Queens. Also restaurants such as "Sagar", "Ghoroa", "Desi Shaad" and countless more resemble the Bangladeshi stronghold here. Some people actually refer to this area as being another "Little India" similar to that of Jackson Heights. Jackson Heights is a Neighborhood in north-western portion of the borough of Queens in New York City, USA.

Sutphin Boulevard

Sutphin Boulevard is Jamaica's second busiest throughfare. It is home to the E, F, J, and Z trains, the LIRR, Airtrain, and 2 Queens Courthouses. It begins at Hillside Ave. and 147th Pl. in the north and works its way downward connecting with Jamaica Ave. , Archer Ave. , Liberty Ave. , South Rd. , Linden Blvd. , and finally terminates at Baisley Blvd. At first it is a small 4 lane street, but when reaching the downtown area it curves into a complete 6 lane passageway. At 95th Ave. , it reemerges from the LIRR underpass and becomes a 4 lane street once more until its endpoint.

Education

Colleges and universities

Several colleges and universities make their home in Jamaica proper or in its close vicinity, most notably:

• York College, a Senior College of the City University of New York
• St. John's University (Queens Campus), A private, Roman Catholic University founded by the Vincentian Fathers (Lazarists)

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Jamaica's public schools are operated by the New York City Department of Education. York College of The City University of New York is one of several senior colleges in the City University of New York (CUNY system The City University of New York (CUNY Acronym ˈkjuːni is the public University system of New York City. Lazarites ( Lazarists, Lazarians, or in English -speaking countries Vincentians) are the popular names of the members of the Congregation The New York City Department of Education ( NYCDOE) is the branch of municipal government in New York City that manages the city's public school system

Public high schools in Jamaica include:

• Thomas A. Edison Vocational and Technical High School
• Hillcrest High School
• Jamaica High School
• Queens High School for the Sciences at York College
• Andrew Jackson High School
• Queens Gateway for the Health Sciences High School
• High School for Law Enforcement and Public Safety

Public Elementary Schools in Jamaica include:

• P.S. 50 Talfourd Lawn Elementary School
• P.S. 86
• P.S. 131 Abigal Adams Elementary school
• P.S. 160
• P.S. 182 Samantha Smith
• I.S. 238 Susan B Anthony

Private schools

Private schools in Jamaica include:

• Archbishop Molloy High School
• The Mary Louis Academy, a private, Catholic, girls' high school run by the Sisters of St. Joseph
• Immaculate Conception School, a co-ed Catholic school from Pre-K to 8th grade. Hillcrest High School is a four-year Public high school located in Jamaica, in the New York City borough of Queens. Jamaica High School is a secondary school in New York City, United States. The Queens High School for the Sciences at York College (QHSSYC is one of the nine specialized high schools in New York City that admit students based on their scores Archbishop Molloy High School (also called Molloy, Archbishop Molloy, or AMHS) is a Co-educational Catholic school for grades The Mary Louis Academy is an all-girls private, Roman Catholic High school in Queens, New York. for the order of the same name founded in Alsace in 1845 see Sisters of St There are multiple schools with the name Immaculate Conception School:;Canada Immaculate Conception School (Delta, Delta British Columbia The school is a local landmark located on the property of Immaculate Conception Church and Monastery, run by The Passionist Congregation of Priests.

The local Catholic schools are administered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes territory that was previously part of the (now Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, was established as a separate

Libraries

Queens Borough Public Library operates the Central Library in Jamaica. The Queens Borough Public Library, also known as the Queens Library is the Public library for the Borough of Queens and one of three library The Baisley Park Branch and the South Jamaica Branch are also located in Jamaica.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Jamaica include:

• Cecily Adams, actress
• Rafer Alston, basketball player
• Lloyd Banks, rapper from South Jamaica
• Bob Beamon, Olympic gold medalist. Cecily April Adams ( February 6, 1958 – March 3, 2004) was born in Jamaica Queens New York, the daughter of comic actor Don Rafer Jamel Alston, also known as Skip To My Lou or Skip 2 My Lou (born July 24 1976 in Queens, New York City) is an Christopher Charles Lloyd (born April 30 1982) better known by his stage name Lloyd Banks, is an American Rapper and member of the Robert "Bob" Beamon (born August 29, 1946) is an American former Track and field athlete best known for his long-standing ^[8]
• Yummy Bingham, singer
• Paul Bowles, writer and composer
• Jimmy Breslin, author and columnist
• Mike Bruhert, New York Mets pitcher in the late 1970s
• Sri Chinmoy, philosopher and spiritual teacher
• Mario Cuomo, former governor of New York 1983-1995
• Nelson DeMille (1943-), author. Elizabeth T Wyce Bingham aka Yummy is an American R&B / Hip hop singer Songwriter and music executive. Paul Frederic Bowles ( December 30, 1910 – November 18, 1999) was an American Expatriate Composer, Author, Jimmy Breslin (born October 17, 1930) is a Pulitzer Prize -winning American Columnist and Author. Sri Chinmoy Kumar Ghose ( August 27, 1931 &ndash October 11, 2007) was an Indian spiritual teacher and philosopher who emigrated to Mario Matthew Cuomo (born Queens New York, June 15, 1932) served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994 Nelson Richard DeMille (born August 23, 1943) is an American author ^[9]
• Rocco DiSpirito, chef
• Alan Dugan, poet
• Ann Flood, actress
• Grafh, rapper
• Milford Graves, free-jazz drummer
• Marc Iavaroni, basketball player, head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies
• 50 Cent (Curtis James Jackson III), rapper from South Jamaica
• James P. Johnson, pianist and composer
• Crad Kilodney, writer
• Rufus King, signer of the United States Constitution
• Nyce, rapper from South Jamaica
• O.C. (rapper),
• Lamar Odom, basketball player
• Letty Cottin Pogrebin, writer/journalist
• Freddie Roman, comedian
• Heathcliff Slocumb, former pitcher
• Nuttin' But Stringz, violinist
• Donald Trump, real estate developer
• Ali Vegas, rapper from South Jamaica
• Marinus Willett, mayor of New York 1807-08
• Tony Yayo, rapper from South Jamaica
• The Lost Boyz, rap group
• Rex Kandhai, famed filmmaker

References

External links

• Greater Jamaica Development Corporation (the source of much of the historical information in this article)
• The Cultural Collaboration of Jamaica JAMS sponsor
• York College Web Site
• King Manor Museum, home of anti-slavery Founding Father Rufus King
• A Road Not Taken, Much NY Times City Section, April 15, 2007
• Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning
• Queens Library

• Jamaica, Queens is at coordinates 40°42′13″N 73°48′07″W / 40.703546, -73.802032 (Jamaica, Queens)Coordinates: 40°42′13″N 73°48′07″W / 40.703546, -73.802032 (Jamaica, Queens)
• Map of Queens neighborhoods

A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system.

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