Howard Beach, Queens

Howard Beach, Queens is a neighborhood located in the southwestern portion of the borough of Queens in New York City. It is bordered by the Jamaica Bay to the south, the Belt Parkway and South Conduit Avenue to the north, the Hawtree Creek to the west, and the JFK Airport to the east.

History

Howard Beach was established in the late 19th century by William J. Howard, a Brooklyn glove manufacturer who operated a 150-acre (0.61 km²) goat farm on meadow land near Aqueduct Racetrack as a source of skin for kidd gloves. In 1897, he bought more land and filled it in and the following year, built 18 cottages and opened a hotel near the water, which he operated until it was destroyed by fire in October 1907. He gradually bought more land and formed the Howard Estates Development Company in 1909. He dredged and filled the land until he was able to accumulate 500 acres (2 km²) by 1914. He laid out several streets, water mains and gas mains, and built 35 houses that were priced in the $2,500–$5,000 range.

Demographics

As of the 2010 United States Census, the neighborhood's population was 26,148, with a median household income of $65,029. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 93.8% White, 0.8% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.4% of the population.

Transportation

Howard Beach is served by the New York City Subway's A train at the Howard Beach – JFK Airport station. The Q11 bus also serves the neighborhood.

Education

The neighborhood is part of the New York City Department of Education's District 27 and is home to several public and private schools. Public schools in the area include P.S. 146 Howard Beach and P.S. 232 Lindenwood. Private schools include St. Helen Catholic Academy and Our Lady of Grace School.

Notable people

Several notable individuals hail from Howard Beach, including mobster John Gotti, actor Jack Scalia, and musician Frankie Lymon.

See also

• List of Queens neighborhoods
• History of New York City