East Elmhurst, Queens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
East Elmhurst
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Neighborhood of Queens
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Astoria Boulevard, a wide boulevard that serves East Elmhurst
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| City |  New York City |
| Borough |  Queens |
| Community District | Queens 3 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.795 km2 (0.693 sq mi) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 23,150 |
| • Density | 12,897/km2 (33,403/sq mi) |
| Race/Ethnicity | |
| • Hispanic | 63.5% |
| • Black | 25.4% |
| • White | 4.7% |
| • Asian | 4.4% |
| • Other/Multiracial | 2.1% |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
11369, 11370, 11371
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| Area codes | 718, 347, 929, and 917 |
East Elmhurst is a homey neighborhood in the northwest part of Queens, one of New York City's five boroughs. It's located near Jackson Heights and Corona to the south. To the north and east, it's bordered by Bowery Bay, and to the west by Woodside and Ditmars Steinway. A big part of the neighborhood is also home to LaGuardia Airport, which sits right on the shore of Flushing Bay.
This area is part of Queens Community District 3. Its main ZIP Codes are 11369, 11370, and 11371. The local police department, the New York City Police Department's 115th Precinct, helps keep the neighborhood safe. However, the airport has its own police force, the Port Authority Police Department. Sometimes, East Elmhurst and its neighbor Corona are called "Corona/East Elmhurst" together.
Contents
- Discovering East Elmhurst's Past
- Exploring East Elmhurst's Location
- Understanding East Elmhurst's People
- Arts and Culture in East Elmhurst
- Parks and Recreation in East Elmhurst
- Education in East Elmhurst
- Media in East Elmhurst
- Getting Around East Elmhurst
- Fire Safety in East Elmhurst
- Notable People from East Elmhurst
- See also
Discovering East Elmhurst's Past
From Swamp to City: Early Days
A long time ago, from when America was first settled until the early 1900s, the area we now call East Elmhurst was a big swampy area known as Trains Meadow. As New York City grew, more homes were needed, and the city started spreading out. In 1909, a company called Queensboro Corporation bought a large piece of undeveloped land. They named it Jackson Heights, after a respected local businessman.
Fun Parks and Flying Fields
The neighborhood used to have a fun amusement area along Bowery Bay Beach, which was later called North Beach. It opened in 1886. A famous amusement park called Gala Amusement Park was built by William Steinway right where LaGuardia Airport is today. This park was once known as the "Coney Island of Queens" and even had the first Ferris wheel on the East Coast.
Gala Amusement Park eventually closed down. In 1929, it was taken apart and turned into a private flying field called Glenn H. Curtiss Airport, later known as North Beach Airport. Starting in 1937, a big government project transformed this airport into LaGuardia Airport, which officially opened in 1939.
Building Homes and New Communities
The very first houses in East Elmhurst were built in 1905. These were small homes, and some even had private beaches along the bay. The first shops and businesses appeared on Ditmars Boulevard during World War II.
Another airport, Holmes Airport, opened in 1929 near the western part of East Elmhurst. It closed in 1940, a year after LaGuardia Airport opened. Today, that area is home to the Bulova Corporate Center and many houses.
In the 1960s and 1970s, many African American families moved to East Elmhurst. It was one of the few places in the city where they could buy homes.
Facing the Storm: Hurricane Ida
In September 2021, a big storm called Hurricane Ida caused severe flooding in East Elmhurst and nearby areas. President Joe Biden visited the neighborhood to see the damage and talk with local leaders and residents. He saw how many common driveways were completely flooded by the storm.
Exploring East Elmhurst's Location
The exact borders of East Elmhurst can be a bit tricky to define, like many neighborhoods in New York City. However, the name usually refers to the area right south of LaGuardia Airport. Some people think East Elmhurst is bordered by the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) and 70th Street to the west, Northern Boulevard to the south, and Flushing Bay to the north and east.
Understanding East Elmhurst's People
Based on information from the 2010 United States Census, East Elmhurst had a population of 23,150 people. This was an increase of about 9% from the year 2000.
The neighborhood is very diverse! Here's a look at the different groups of people living there:
- Hispanic or Latino people made up about 63.5% of the population.
- African American people were about 25.4%.
- White people were about 4.7%.
- Asian people were about 4.4%.
- Other groups made up the rest.
In 2011, it was found that people in one part of East Elmhurst had lived there for a very long time. The average year they moved in was 1974, which was the oldest average move-in year for any area in New York City!
Arts and Culture in East Elmhurst
Famous Residents and Community Spirit
During the 1950s and 1960s, East Elmhurst was home to many famous African American musicians, civil rights leaders, and athletes. Some well-known names include Malcolm X, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Willie Mays. Later, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, several New York Mets baseball players, like Ed Charles and Tommie Agee, also lived here.
East Elmhurst is also where former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and former Queens Borough President Helen Marshall grew up.
Celebrating the Nepali Community
On March 9, 2019, the intersection of 75th Street and 31st Avenue was given a special co-name: "Mount Everest Way." This was done to celebrate the Nepali American community living in East Elmhurst and nearby areas like Jackson Heights and Woodside.
Places to Worship
East Elmhurst has many different places where people can worship:
- Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church, a Catholic church.
- First Baptist Church, located along Astoria Boulevard.
- Masjid Abu Huraira, a mosque.
- St. Gabriel Roman Catholic Church, another Catholic church.
- The Episcopal Church of Grace and Resurrection, on 32nd Avenue.
- The Korean Church of Queens, a Korean church.
- SDMS Shiva Mandir, a Hindu temple. This temple is especially important for Indo-Caribbean Americans who practice Hinduism. It was one of the first Hindu temples in New York City.
Notable Buildings and Landmarks
East Elmhurst is home to several interesting landmarks:
- The Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia Airport is a historic building. It's recognized as a New York City designated landmark.
- The Bulova Corporate Center was once the main office for the Bulova Watch Company. Now it's an office building.
- The Lent Homestead and Cemetery is an old house and cemetery in the Astoria Heights part of East Elmhurst. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- St. Michael's Cemetery is a large cemetery shaped like a triangle, surrounded by major highways.
Parks and Recreation in East Elmhurst
East Elmhurst has several parks and green spaces where people can relax and play:
- Louis C. Moser Playground (formerly Bulova Park)
- Gorman Playground
- LaGuardia Landing Lights Fields
- Flushing Bay Promenade (now called Malcolm X Promenade)
- Planeview Park
- East Elmhurst Playground
- There's also a park called "One Room Schoolhouse Park". It's named after the last one-room schoolhouse in Queens, which was located there from 1879 to 1934.
Education in East Elmhurst
Public Schools for All Ages
The New York City Department of Education runs the public schools in East Elmhurst.
- P.S. 127 Aerospace Science Magnet School is an elementary school for students from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade.
- East Elmhurst Community School serves younger students from pre-kindergarten to 3rd grade.
- I.S. 227 Louis Armstrong Middle School is a middle school for grades 5–8, which students from all over Queens can apply to attend.
Private Schools in the Neighborhood
- Our Lady of Fatima School is a Catholic school for nursery to 8th grade.
- Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School is a Catholic high school.
- Lexington School and Center for the Deaf is the oldest and largest school for the deaf in New York.
Colleges and Learning Centers
East Elmhurst is home to Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, which is located near LaGuardia Airport.
The Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center is a special place. It was created by the people of the Corona-East Elmhurst community. This library has one of the biggest collections of African American art and literature. It's part of the Queens Library system and also houses the Black Heritage Reference Center. This center provides many books and materials about Black culture.
Media in East Elmhurst
The Corona East Elmhurst News was a local newspaper that started in 1959. It later became the Queens Voice and was published until 2002. This weekly newspaper shared news and stories about the social and political activities of the African American communities in Corona and East Elmhurst.
Getting Around East Elmhurst
Public Transportation Options
East Elmhurst does not have any New York City Subway stations nearby. However, there are many MTA Regional Bus Operations bus routes that serve the neighborhood. These include the Q19, Q23, Q33, Q47, Q48, Q49, Q66, Q69, Q72, and M60 SBS buses.
Major Roads and Pathways
Highways:
- Grand Central Parkway
- I-278 (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway)
Important Streets:
- Ditmars Boulevard
- Astoria Boulevard
- Northern Boulevard
- 94th Street (which turns into Junction Boulevard further south).
Pedestrian Bridges:
- 73rd Street Pedestrian Overpass Bridge: This bridge goes over the Grand Central Parkway. It connects Astoria Boulevard North to St. Michael's Cemetery.
- There are two pedestrian bridges along the Flushing Bay Promenade, one at 27th Avenue and another at 31st Drive.
Bike Lanes for Cyclists
About 11% of the roads in Queens Community District 3 have bike lanes. In East Elmhurst, you can find bike lanes on:
- 31st Avenue
- 32nd Avenue
- 81st and 82nd Streets
- 88th Street
- 27th Avenue to the Malcolm X Promenade
Special Street Names
Some streets in East Elmhurst have been given special co-names to honor people or communities:
- Father Eugene F. Donnelly Corner: At 80th Street and 25th Avenue, honoring a beloved parish priest.
- Marcellus Matricciano Way: At 75th Street and 30th Avenue, remembering a person lost on September 11, 2001.
- Mount Everest Way: At 75th Street and 31st Avenue, celebrating the growing Nepalese community.
- Emma Brandt Way: At 74th Street and 30th Avenue, honoring a longtime community leader.
- Arthur Hayes Way: At 32nd Avenue and 104th Street.
- Leverich Memorial Church Way: At 32nd Avenue and 102nd Street, near the Leverich Memorial Church.
LaGuardia Airport
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LaGuardia Airport is a major airport located right in East Elmhurst.
Post Offices and ZIP Codes
East Elmhurst uses three main ZIP Codes: 11369, 11370, and 11371 (for LaGuardia Airport). The United States Post Office has two locations in the neighborhood:
- East Elmhurst Station – 9107 25th Avenue
- Trainsmeadow Station – 75–77 31st Avenue
Fire Safety in East Elmhurst
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) helps keep East Elmhurst safe. There are two fire stations that serve the area. Engine Co. 316 is located at 27–12 Kearney Street, and Engine Co. 307/Ladder Co. 154 is located at 81–19 Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights.
Notable People from East Elmhurst
Many well-known individuals have connections to East Elmhurst, including:
- Harry Belafonte (1927-2023), a famous singer, actor, and activist.
- Ed Charles, a baseball player.
- Keith David, an actor.
- Ray Felix (1930–1991), a professional basketball player for the New York Knicks.
- Eric Holder, who served as the 82nd United States Attorney General.
- Langston Hughes, a celebrated writer and activist.
- Christopher Martin and Christopher Reid, both rappers and actors.
- Jackie Robinson, a legendary baseball player.
- Charlie Shavers, a jazz trumpeter.
- Howard Stern (born 1954), a famous radio host.
- Malcolm X (1925–1965), an important African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist.
See also
In Spanish: East Elmhurst (Queens) para niños
