College Point facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
College Point
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Neighborhood of Queens
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College Point Boulevard
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| City |  New York City |
| County/Borough |  Queens |
| Community District | Queens 7 |
| Named for | St. Paul's College |
| Population
(2017 ACS Census)
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| • Total | 24,069 |
| Race/Ethnicity | |
| • Hispanic | 40.1% |
| • Asian | 34.3% |
| • White | 21.3% |
| • Other/Multiracial | 2.3% |
| • Black | 2.0% |
| Economics | |
| • Median income | $59,712 |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
11356
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| Area codes | 718, 347, 929, and 917 |
College Point is a busy neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It's a place where many families live, with some industrial areas too. You can find it bordered by the Whitestone Expressway and Flushing to the south. To the east are 138th Street and Malba/Whitestone. The East River is to the north, and Flushing Bay is to the west.
College Point is part of Queens Community District 7. Its special mail code is 11356. The New York City Police Department's 109th Precinct keeps the area safe.
Contents
Discovering College Point's Past
How College Point Got Its Name
College Point got its name from St. Paul's College. This was a special school for religious studies. It was started in 1835 by a reverend named William Augustus Muhlenberg. The college closed around 1850, but its name stuck around. Before that, the area had other names like Lawrence's Neck.
The first European to settle here was Captain William Lawrence. He came to America in the 1630s. He was a big landowner in the original Town of Flushing.
A German Industrialist's Impact
In 1854, a German businessman named Conrad Poppenhusen arrived. He was already successful in making hard rubber products in Brooklyn. He expanded his business to College Point, which was a small farming area then.
College Point became a "factory town" for his workers. Many of them were German immigrants. Poppenhusen was also a philanthropist, meaning he gave money to help the community. He supported churches and libraries. He also helped create the Poppenhusen Institute. This institute was an important learning center in College Point. Poppenhusen is famous for starting the first free kindergarten in America! He also helped connect College Point to Flushing by railroad. Today, a monument on College Point Boulevard honors him.
Growing Pains in the Early 1900s
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In the early 20th century, College Point was known for breweries. It was also a popular place for day trips to the beach. By the 1930s, it started making airplane parts. For a long time, Mill Creek separated College Point from the rest of Queens.
Flushing Airport opened in College Point in 1927. This airport had some problems. It was close to the bigger LaGuardia Airport. Neighbors also complained about noise and accidents. The runways would flood, and it couldn't be used at night. It mainly served private planes and blimps.
Many new homes were built in College Point during this time. For example, in 1926, about 100 houses were built on the Graham estate. Later, in 1938, the College Estates development added fifty more homes.
Changes in the Late 1900s
In 1960, plans began for the College Point Industrial Park. This was a large area for businesses and factories. It was chosen because it was big and easy to reach. By the 1970s, an amusement park called Adventure's Inn was on part of the site. The city closed the amusement park in 1973. The industrial park officially started the next year. It was later renamed the College Point Corporate Park (CPCP).
Flushing Airport closed in 1984. The area around it, especially Linden Place, often flooded. There were ideas to use the airport site again, like for a heliport, but they didn't work out.
In the late 1980s, many new buildings went up in the CPCP. Businesses liked the area because it was close to major transport links. These included LaGuardia Airport and the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge.
By 1994, the CPCP had over 100 companies. A large shopping center was built on 20th Avenue. It opened in 1998 with stores like Target and BJ's Wholesale Club. A big movie theater with 12 screens also opened in 1999. The printing plant for The New York Times newspaper opened here in 1997. This helped the newspaper reach more places. In 1997, College Point also received an award for its efforts to save historic buildings.
College Point Today
In the 1990s and 2000s, more homes were built. By 2003, the corporate park had over 200 companies. There were ideas to turn the old Flushing Airport site into a place for wholesalers. But people in College Point protested these plans. In 2010, the northern shoreline, which was an old oil area, was chosen for a federal cleanup.
A new New York City Police Academy started being built in College Point in 2009. The first part opened in 2015. Linden Place was also rebuilt to be higher than the wetlands. Parts of it reopened in 2015, and the rest was planned for 2022.
What College Point Looks Like
College Point is mostly a place where people live. But it also has many businesses and some old industrial areas. In the southern part, you can find oil storage, a cement plant, and warehouses. The northern shoreline has newer homes built since the 1980s. Most of College Point's homes are single-family houses from the 1920s.
Who Lives in College Point
In 2020, College Point had 33,625 people living there. This was an increase of about 19% from 2010.
The people living here come from many different backgrounds. In 2020, about 40% were Hispanic/Latino. About 34% were Asian, and 21% were White.
Most people in College Point are middle-aged or older. About 22% are between 25 and 44 years old. About 30% are between 45 and 64, and 18% are over 65.
Staying Safe in College Point
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) has a fire station in College Point. It's called Engine Co. 297/Ladder Co. 130 and is located at 119-11 14th Road.
Mail Services
College Point uses the ZIP Code 11356. The United States Post Office has two branches nearby:
- College Point Station – 120-07 15th Avenue
- Linden Hill Station – 29-50 Union Street
Learning in College Point
Schools and Churches
College Point has public elementary schools for kids from kindergarten to 5th grade. These include PS 29 and PS 129.
The community is also home to St. Fidelis Parish, a church founded in 1856. The current church building was finished in 1906. For over 150 years, St. Fidelis had an elementary school. It was a large school with many students. However, due to changes in the neighborhood, the elementary school closed in June 2013.
St. Agnes Academic High School was a private Catholic high school for girls. It operated for over 100 years. It closed permanently in June 2021. This was due to money issues, changes in the population, and the impact of COVID-19.
Today, St. Fidelis Roman Catholic Church, St. John's Lutheran, and The First Reformed Church of College Point are the three largest churches in the community.
Libraries
The Queens Public Library has a branch called Poppenhusen. It is located at 121-23 14th Avenue.
Fun Things to Do
Parks to Explore
- MacNeil Park: This park used to be called College Point Shorefront Park. It has great views of the waterfront. You can find a playground, basketball courts, handball courts, and baseball fields here. A mansion once stood in the park, and Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia used it as his summer home.
- Poppenhusen Playground: This park is perfect for younger kids.
- College Point Park: Located across from the Poppenhusen Library, this park has basketball and handball courts. Many locals still call it "27" after the old school that used to be there.
- Powell's Cove Park: This waterfront park is on the edge of College Point and Malba. It offers a wonderful view of the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge.
- Frank Golden Memorial Park: You'll find this park behind the shopping center on 14th Avenue. It has four baseball fields used by local softball leagues. There's also a playground with swings and slides, plus a basketball court.
Sports and Activities
- College Point Sports Park: This park has a newly rebuilt hockey rink with lights and bleachers. It's part of the larger College Point Fields. The baseball fields and hockey rink are now managed by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.
- College Point Little League: The College Point Little League is a group for boys and girls aged 5 to 18. They learn baseball skills, good sportsmanship, and teamwork. It's an all-volunteer organization.
- College Point Stars: This is a youth baseball team that made it to the 2007 Cal Ripken Babe Ruth League World Series.
Cool Places to See
Historic Buildings and Landmarks
- Academy Mailbox & Intercom Company: This gray warehouse on 15th Avenue was built around 1870. It was first used as an ice house to cool beer from a local brewery.
- College Point Little League Building: This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was once known as Firemen's Hall.
- Farrington's Service Station: This is one of the oldest gas stations in Queens. It started in the 1860s as a blacksmith shop. In the early 1900s, it became a gas station and auto repair shop. It's still open today!
- First Reformed Church: Built in 1872, this church looks like something from a small New England town. It has a bell tower and pretty "gingerbread" trim. It was listed on the National Register in 2018.
- Poppenhusen Institute: Built in 1868 by Conrad Poppenhusen, the founder of College Point. This building has a unique French Second Empire style roof. During the Civil War, it even housed parts of Abraham Lincoln's log cabin! It's famous for having America's first free kindergarten. Today, it's a cultural and historical center.
- Schleicher Court: This mansion was built in 1857. It's the only 19th-century mansion left in College Point that was built for a German-American family. It was made a New York City landmark in 2009.
- Spangelberg Mansion: A yellow and white mansion from around 1860, now divided into apartments.
Shopping and Entertainment
- Farrington's Service Station: (See above in Landmarks)
- Empire Market: This store on College Point Boulevard has sold German meats and groceries since 1920. It's a favorite for kids because of its wide variety of candy in glass jars.
- College Meat Center: This family-owned business has served local residents since 1963.
- Shopping Center on 20th Avenue: This large shopping area has many well-known stores, restaurants, and a supermarket.
- De Point: Opened in 2012, this eco-friendly center on 127th Street has restaurants, a spa, a swimming pool, a hotel, and shops. It offers great views of the Manhattan skyline.
- College Point Multiplex Cinemas: This movie theater has 12 screens and a small arcade.
Other Interesting Places
Flushing Airport opened in 1927. It was a busy airport before LaGuardia Airport was built nearby in 1939. A plane crash in 1977 eventually led to its closing in 1984. The site is now empty, but there have been ideas to turn it into a place for blimps or offices.
The printing plant for The New York Times newspaper is also in College Point. It's located along the Whitestone Expressway.
The Tallman Island Wastewater Treatment Plant is located at 127th Street. Tallman Island used to be a separate island. It had a small resort with a hotel until the 1930s. The wastewater plant was built between 1937 and 1939.
Getting Around College Point
MTA Regional Bus Operations' Q20A, Q20B, Q25, Q50, Q65, Q76, QM2, QM20, QM32 bus lines serve College Point. There are no New York City Subway lines here. The Long Island Rail Road's Whitestone Branch used to run through the area but closed in 1932.
Famous People From College Point
Some well-known people who have lived in College Point include:
- David Gallagher (born 1985), an actor known for playing "Simon Camden" on the TV show 7th Heaven.
- Sebastián Guenzatti (born 1991), a soccer player for the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
- Steve Karsay (born 1972), a Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Conrad Poppenhusen (1818–1883), the founder of College Point, who was a big supporter of education and a successful businessman.
Images for kids
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College Point Boulevard
