The borough of Queens is home to approximately 2,306,700 people. The boroughs of New York City are occupied by residents of every culture and ethnicity – it is indeed quite the cultural melting pot. Each borough has its own distinct characteristics—whether it is the style of living, restaurants, activities or just the speed of day-to-day life. In Queens, the neighborhoods are as different from each other as much as the boroughs vary. Jamaica, New York is one of the colorful corners of Queens that boasts a population and 200,000 and counting. Ever since its colonial days, Jamaica has been a bustling area of trade and transport. Today, more than ever, people are taking advantage of the low housing prices and moving to Jamaica, New York.
Economy:
Jamaica, New York is a busy transportation hub for the 100,000 people who use the city's Long Island Railroad transfer station, the MTA bus lines and subway lines that with connections throughout the whole of New York City. Jamaica, New York is also home to one of the world's biggest airports John F. Kennedy International Airport. There are over 35 city bus lines that run from Jamaica Center, three lines of the subway and the Air Train system that is currently expanding for additional connections. Over the past three decades, Jamaica, Queens has regained importance as a place with successful small businesses and retail centers. The city has turned into a well-rounded area with a federal court system, transportation center, cultural centers, art institutions and a Business Improvement District that cares, now called the Jamaica Center Improvement Association. With these opportunities, new residents are using Jamaica moving companies to relocate them to this exciting new area.
History:
Jamaica was a Dutch colony as far back as 1656. But under British rule, the Village of Jamaica became the Town of Jamaica, one of the original New York colonies. It was named based on the Native American pronunciation of "Jameco." In Colonial Jamaica, there were active minutemen that participated in the Battle of Long Island, where the British took over the occupation of the New York City region. After the American Revolutionary War, Jamaica had time to develop into a successful trading post for farmers. Banks, post offices and school systems were the seeds of success that sprouted from years of development and construction. Present Jamaica has brought in a diverse group of people and many construction projects.
Tourism:
Within Jamaica, Queens, there are many things to see. The Aqueduct on Rockaway Boulevard has remained a popular destination since it first opened in 1850. The Aqueduct Racetrack originally opened in the neighboring South Ozone Park and moved to a new track built in 1941. It has since become one of the nation's leading horse racing tracks. The art scene is also great and locally driven. The Afrikan Poetry Theatre is a popular locale for the performing arts. The organization hopes to spread recognition of the African community with artistic outreach. The Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning incorporates more than 25,000 people in an array of educational performances and programs annually. The organization was developed also with the purpose of tackling Jamaica's long period of decline in the 1960s. However, arts, business leaders and musicians have stepped up to the plate and revitalized Jamaica – making it a new center for employment, commerce, culture and new residents.