Briarwood, Queens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Briarwood
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Neighborhood of Queens
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A residential intersection in Briarwood, 85th Avenue and 150th Street
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| City | New York City |
| County/Borough | Queens |
| Community District | Queens 8 |
| Named for | Briarwood Land Company |
| Elevation | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 53,877 |
| Race/Ethnicity | |
| • White | 26.7% |
| • Black | 33.3% |
| • Hispanic | 29.3% |
| • Asian | 14.4% |
| • Other/Multiracial | 16.8% |
| Economics | |
| • Median income | $50,157 |
| ZIP Code |
11435
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| Area code(s) | 718, 347, 929, and 917 |
Briarwood is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It is known as a middle-class area. The neighborhood gets its name from the Briarwood Land Company, which started developing the area around 1905.
Today, Briarwood is home to a diverse mix of people. Residents include Asian-American, white American, Hispanic/Latino, and African American and Afro-Caribbean communities. It is part of Queens Community Board 8.
Contents
Where is Briarwood Located?
Briarwood is in the northwest part of Jamaica. It is one of the highest points in Queens. You can find it between the Van Wyck Expressway to the west and Parsons Boulevard to the east. To the north is Union Turnpike, and to the south is Hillside Avenue.
Who Lives in Briarwood?
Briarwood is a very diverse place. Based on 2010 information, the population includes:
- Asian-Americans (14.4%)
- White people (26.7%)
- Hispanics (29.3%)
- African Americans (33.3%)
This is different from how it was after World War II. Back then, from the 1950s to the 1980s, most residents were white. The neighborhood has many homes for middle-class families. Most businesses are small, like restaurants, delis, and markets.
Schools in Briarwood
Briarwood has several schools for students of different ages.
Archbishop Molloy High School
This is a Catholic high school that moved to Briarwood in 1957. It has about 1,550 students. Many famous people have gone to this school, including:
- Andrew Cuomo, a former New York Governor
- David Caruso, an actor
- Raymond Kelly, a former New York City Police Commissioner
- NBA basketball players Kenny Smith and Kenny Anderson
The school is named after Archbishop Thomas Molloy.
Robert A. Van Wyck M.S. 217Q
This is a middle school for grades 6–8. It has about 1,300 students. The school opened in 1955. It is named after Robert A. Van Wyck, who was the first mayor of the Greater City of New York.
P.S. 117Q
This is an elementary school in Briarwood. It was the first school built in the neighborhood, opening in 1927.
Getting Around Briarwood
You can travel around Briarwood using the New York City Subway and city buses.
Subway
The neighborhood has its own subway station called Briarwood. It is on the IND Queens Boulevard Line and is served by the E, F <F> trains trains. In the 1980s, students from local schools created paintings called "Beautifying Briarwood" for the station. These paintings were removed during a renovation in 2014.
Buses
Several New York City Bus routes serve the neighborhood. These include the Q20A, Q20B, Q25, Q34, Q44 SBS, Q60 buses.
History of Briarwood
The area was once heavily wooded with many brambles, which are thorny bushes. This is how the Briarwood Land Company chose the name.
Early Development
The Briarwood Land Company started building homes around 1905 or 1907. However, the company faced financial difficulties. The area remained mostly empty until 1924. That year, the land was divided and sold at an auction. Lots for homes sold for $300, while lots along Queens Boulevard sold for up to $2,800. Over the next four years, many single-family homes were built. More land was sold in 1928.
Building More Homes
In 1936, a company called Briarwood Estates began building homes. These homes were designed in the Colonial and old English styles. They were located north of 84th Drive and west of Main Street and sold for about $5,000. After World War II ended, more houses were built closer to Parsons Boulevard.
Parkway Village
Around 1947, the United Nations built a large housing complex called Parkway Village. It had 670 units and was meant for their employees. This development is along Union Turnpike. Today, Parkway Village is a co-op and is no longer connected to the United Nations.
Modern Changes
On November 23, 1954, an extension of Main Street opened, connecting it south to Queens Boulevard. Around the same time, new apartment buildings were constructed in the neighborhood.
Famous People from Briarwood
Many notable people have lived in Briarwood, including:
- Ralph Bunche (1904–1971), a United States diplomat who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950.
- Mario Cuomo (1932–2015), who was the 52nd Governor of New York.
- Betty Friedan (1921–2006), a famous author whose book The Feminine Mystique helped start the second wave of feminism.
- Steve Hofstetter (born 1979), a radio personality and comedian.
- John Kerwin, a talk show host.
- Elyakim Rosenblatt (1933–2019), an Orthodox Jewish rabbi.
- Hanna Rosin (born 1970), a journalist and author.
- Steven Weber (born 1961), an actor known for TV shows like Wings and NCIS: New Orleans.
- Roy Wilkins (1901–1981), an important activist in the Civil Rights Movement.
See also
In Spanish: Briarwood (Queens) para niños
