College Point, Queens

College Point, Queens is a working-middle-class neighborhood located in the borough of Queens in New York City. It is bounded by Flushing Bay to the north, the East River to the west, and by the Van Wyck Expressway and Whitestone Expressway to the east and south.

History

College Point was named for St. Paul's College, a seminary founded in 1835 by the Rev. Augustus Muhlenberg. The college closed around 1850, but the name stuck. The history of College Point dates back to the first Dutch and English settlements in Queens. The area was formerly known as Lawrence's Neck and was largely farmland until the late 19th century.

Geography

College Point is a peninsula surrounded by the East River, Flushing Bay, and Powell's Cove. The neighborhood is part of Queens Community Board 7 and is served by the New York City Police Department's 109th Precinct.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, the racial makeup of the neighborhood was 43.8% White, 2.0% African American, 0.1% Native American, 22.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 29.7% of the population.

Education

College Point is served by the New York City Department of Education. Public schools in the area include P.S. 29 and P.S. 129, and the neighborhood is also home to several private and parochial schools.

Transportation

Public transportation in College Point is provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates bus routes through the neighborhood. The closest subway station is the Main Street station in Flushing, served by the 7 train.

Notable people

Notable residents of College Point have included Conrad Poppenhusen, a philanthropist and founder of the Poppenhusen Institute, and Bobby Riggs, a professional tennis player.

See also

• List of Queens neighborhoods
• History of New York City