Elmhurst, Queens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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. Before its inclusion into the City of Greater New York The village was established in 1652 by the Dutch as Middenburgh (Middleburgh), and was a suburb of New Amsterdam in New Netherland.
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, 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 the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in New York City. By the 1980’s, there were persons from 112 nations in residence. 20% of the total is of Chinese origin, with large percentages also from Colombia, Korea, India, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Pakistan, Peru, and Guyana.
Three 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.
- First Presbyterian Church of Elmhurst (Originally of Newtown) (Queens Boulevard and 54th Avenue) which was built in 1893.
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. Accessible subway stations are Woodhaven Boulevard, Grand Avenue–Newtown and Elmhurst Avenue, all served by the G, R, and V trains of the IND Queens Boulevard Line. In addition, the IRT Flushing Line, served by the 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.
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.
[edit] Sources
- AIA Guide to New York City, 3rd Edition (1988) ISBN 0-15-104040-0 (Hardcover); ISBN 0-15-603600-6 (Paperback).
- The Encyclopedia of New York City (1995) ISBN 0-300-05536-6 .
