Glendale, Queens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Glendale
Neighborhoods of Queens
Myrtle Avenue in Eastern Glendale
Country	United States
State	New York
City	New York City
County/Borough	Queens
Community District	Queens 5
Founded	1642
Population
• Total	32,496
Race/Ethnicity
• White	61.4%
• Hispanic	33.4
• Asian	3.1
• Black	1.2
• Other/Multiracial	0.9
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	11385
Area codes	718, 347, 929, and 917

Glendale is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It's located in the west-central part of the borough. Glendale is surrounded by other neighborhoods like Forest Hills to the east, Ridgewood to the west, Woodhaven to the south, and Middle Village to the north.

Glendale was first built on a wet, swampy area once called Fresh Pond. Over time, it grew into an industrial area. Today, it is mostly a residential neighborhood with homes and families. Glendale is long from east to west and narrow from north to south. Many cemeteries surround the area, but it also has large parks, including part of Forest Park.

Glendale is part of Queens Community District 5. Its ZIP Code is 11385. The New York City Police Department's 104th Precinct patrols the area. For local government, Glendale is represented by the 30th District of the New York City Council.

Glendale's Borders

Glendale has clear borders that define its area. To the north, the western part of Glendale (Lower and Middle Glendale) is bordered by a section of the Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). In the eastern part (Upper Glendale), Cooper and Metropolitan Avenues form the northern border.

To the east, the border is the Rockaway Beach Branch of the LIRR and Woodhaven Boulevard. Forest Park, along with the Jackie Robinson Parkway and several cemeteries, makes up the southern and western borders. The border with Brooklyn also runs through some of the cemeteries on the western side. Finally, from the southwest, Glendale's borders are completed by the Bay Ridge Branch of the LIRR and Fresh Pond Road.

Glendale's History

Harry Houdini's grave

The land where Glendale is today was originally called Fresh Pond. It was a swampy area and part of a larger region known as Newtown. Newtown was given a charter by the Dutch West India Company in 1642. The name Fresh Pond came from two freshwater ponds that were later filled in during the early 1900s.

19th Century Growth

In 1847, a new law in New York State stopped new cemeteries from being built in Manhattan. This encouraged cemetery owners to build in Brooklyn and Queens instead. Because of this, Glendale quickly became almost surrounded by cemeteries, forming what is known as the "Cemetery Belt".

In 1860, a developer named George C. Schott received a large piece of land in Fresh Pond. He renamed the area Glendale, after his hometown in Glendale, Ohio. Nine years later, a real estate agent named John C. Schooley also bought a lot of land and called it Glendale. Schooley planned out streets and divided his property into 469 lots. He sold these lots for $300 each.

In 1869, a train stop opened at 73rd Street (then called Wyckoff Avenue). This stop was part of the South Side Railroad, which later became part of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) in 1876. The station burned down in 1927 and was never rebuilt. During the 19th century, Glendale became a busy farming community, especially for Germans. It also had many fun places like a bowling alley and saloons. By 1891, steam-powered trolleys ran along Myrtle Avenue, which became Glendale's main street with many family-run stores.

20th Century Changes

After World War I, Glendale's economy changed. It moved from farming to making textiles and beer. The biggest employer was the Atlas Terminal, a huge industrial park with 16 factories. Glendale played a big role in World War II, especially in the Manhattan Project (which created the first atomic bombs). This was because of the skilled workers and small machine shops in the area. Most aircraft and military equipment made on Long Island during the war were shipped through Glendale by train. New homes were also built, and by 1937, the last farm in the neighborhood was being turned into houses.

Between 1933 and 1936, the Interborough Parkway (now Jackie Robinson Parkway) was built through Glendale. This project, led by New York City parks commissioner Robert Moses, moved hundreds of bodies buried in the Cypress Hills Cemetery. The parkway was not popular with local residents.

Originally, Glendale and Ridgewood shared a ZIP Code (11227) with Bushwick. After the 1977 blackout, residents wanted a new ZIP Code to show they were different from Bushwick. They voted, and in 1980, Glendale and Ridgewood were given the ZIP Code 11385. By the 1980s, Glendale was known as a quiet and safe neighborhood. It had well-kept homes and one of the lowest crime rates in New York City. In 1998, the Glendale LIRR station closed because very few people used it.

21st Century Development

At the start of the 21st century, some of Glendale's old industrial buildings were redeveloped. The Atlas Terminal was torn down in 2004. In its place, a shopping center called The Shops at Atlas Park opened in 2006. Other companies like Trader Joe's and Chili's also moved into former industrial buildings.

In 2012, all passenger train service on the Lower Montauk Branch stopped. However, freight trains still run. There has been some debate about trains carrying radioactive waste through the community. All goods shipped by train to Long Island (Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties) must pass through the Fresh Pond/Fremont Yards in Glendale. This area is a major crossroads for several train lines. Today, the biggest things shipped through here are city waste and construction materials.

Glendale's Population

Based on information from the 2010 United States Census, Glendale had a population of 32,496 people.

The neighborhood's population was made up of:

• 61.4% White
• 1.2% African American
• 0.2% Native American
• 3.1% Asian
• 0.2% from other races
• 0.9% from two or more races
• 33.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2018, the average life expectancy in Glendale, Ridgewood, Middle Village, and Maspeth was 81.4 years. This is similar to the average for all New York City neighborhoods. Most residents are young or middle-aged adults. About 22% are under 18, 31% are between 25 and 44, and 26% are between 45 and 64.

In 2017, the average household income in Community Board 5 was $71,234. About 19% of residents in Glendale, Ridgewood, and Maspeth lived in poverty in 2018. This is similar to the average for Queens and New York City. Also, 6% of residents were unemployed. About 46% of residents have trouble paying their rent. This is lower than the average for Queens and the whole city.

Exploring the Neighborhood

The Shops at Atlas Park

Glendale is a working to middle-class neighborhood. It is surrounded by Forest Hills, Ridgewood, Woodhaven, Middle Village, and Kew Gardens. It feels somewhat like a suburb, but it still has subway and bus service. Its streets are lined with trees and feature many different styles of architecture.

Glendale is long and narrow because it is "sandwiched" between cemeteries and Forest Park. Because of its shape, it is often divided into three parts: Upper Glendale, Middle Glendale, and Lower Glendale. Each part has its own special features.

The easternmost part, near The Shops at Atlas Park, is called Upper Glendale. Homes here are generally more expensive, and people tend to have higher incomes. Upper Glendale has detached and semi-attached houses, often with well-kept front yards. Many of these homes were built after the 1920s.

The middle part of Glendale, around Myrtle Avenue, is the main business area. It has a mix of semi-detached, wood-frame houses, as well as multi-family homes and townhomes. Many of these buildings date back to the late 1800s or early 1900s. A lot of them are made of a special yellow brick, similar to buildings in nearby Ridgewood.

The western, or "lower," part of Glendale has three national historic districts. These include the neighborhoods of Evergreen and Liberty Park. Evergreen is mostly flat and has semi-detached, multi-family, wood-frame houses from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many are also made of the yellow Kreischer brick. Liberty Park, built in the 1920s, is on a hill. It has detached, single-family, wood-frame houses with private driveways and backyards.

Glendale's Architecture

In the lower part of Glendale, three areas were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. These are the 75th Avenue-61st Street Historic District, Central Avenue Historic District, and Cooper Avenue Row Historic District. These districts have many buildings from the early 20th century that feature the unique yellow Kreischer brick.

The Cemetery Belt

Glendale is famous for being surrounded by many cemeteries, forming what is called the "Cemetery Belt". In 1986, The New York Times reported that there were more gravestones in Glendale than living residents. In 2011, the Times said these cemeteries act like a "natural fence" that helps Glendale keep its middle-class feel.

Some of the cemeteries include Cypress Hills, Lutheran All Faiths, Salem Fields, Mount Lebanon, Mount Carmel, New Mount Carmel, Beth El (New Union Field), Mount Neboh, and Union Field. Many famous people are buried here, like Jackie Robinson, Mae West, and Harry Houdini. At Houdini's tomb, people gather every Halloween hoping he will return from the grave. Cypress Hills Cemetery is also the site of the New York City Police "Arlington" and has graves of Confederate soldiers. It even has an unusual resident: a circus elephant!

Fire Safety in Glendale

Glendale has a New York City Fire Department (FDNY) fire station. It is Engine Co. 286/Ladder Co. 135, located at 66-44 Myrtle Avenue.

In 1896, Glendale's first fire department was started. It was a volunteer company called the Ivanhoe Park Hose Company. A wealthy businessman named Henry Meyer helped fund it. He owned a cigar factory and a lot of land. Meyer helped pay for uniforms, a hose cart, and the hose. He also built pumping stations to make sure water was available on major streets like Myrtle Avenue. Later that year, the company grew and became Company 10 in the Newtown Fire Department.

Post Office and ZIP Code

Glendale uses ZIP Code 11385. The United States Post Office has a branch called Glendale Station at 69-36 Myrtle Avenue.

How ZIP Codes Changed

For a long time, Glendale and Ridgewood's mail was sent through the main Brooklyn post office. This was because they were closer to Brooklyn than to the main Queens post office in Flushing. When ZIP Codes were created in 1963, these neighborhoods were given Brooklyn ZIP Codes starting with 112. This meant Glendale and Ridgewood had a Brooklyn mailing address, even though they are in Queens. Their ZIP Code, 11227, was shared with Bushwick, Brooklyn.

After the 1977 New York City blackout, Bushwick became known for riots and looting. The communities of Ridgewood and Glendale wanted to be separate from Bushwick. Residents voted, and most wanted a change. So, on January 13, 1980, their ZIP Code was changed to 11385.

In 2007, some Glendale residents wanted their own unique ZIP Code. Sharing a ZIP Code with Ridgewood caused problems with computer systems that automatically fill in addresses. Many Glendale residents received mail addressed to "Ridgewood" and had trouble with deliveries or hiring services. This is because numbered roads in Queens can be broken up by things like train tracks or highways.

In 2012, the effort to get a unique ZIP Code for Glendale was brought up again by Congressman Bob Turner and Assemblyman Mike Miller. They suggested using 11384, which was not in use. The Postal Service said no, but they did offer a compromise. They changed their software to include "Glendale" as a preferred name for the area.

As of 2014, this software change had not been updated on the city's official website, NYC.gov. This means that places several miles from Ridgewood, like The Shops at Atlas Park, are still listed as being in Ridgewood on the city map, even though they are in Glendale.

Parks and Green Spaces

Myrtle Avenue was once famous for its parks, where many people enjoyed picnics. When steam trolleys started running along the Avenue, investors bought land in eastern Glendale. They opened many parks and beer gardens. In the 1890s, places like Schmidt's Woods, Glendale Schuetzen Park, and Tivoli Park opened. These parks attracted large crowds from Glendale and even from Brooklyn, which didn't have many parks at the time.

One part of Glendale, now called "Liberty Park," is on the site of an old beer garden with the same name. Another area, near the LIRR Fresh Pond/Fremont Yards, was named after the Ivanhoe Park beer garden. "Doddies," a beer garden at Cooper Avenue and 74th Street, lasted until the late 1960s. It had an outdoor picnic area and was one of the first bars in the neighborhood to have a television. Redeemer Lutheran School is now on the site of "Hoffman Hall," which was a beer garden and dance hall. In the mid-1920s, many of these parks closed because they couldn't make enough money during Prohibition.

From 1895 to 1898, land was bought to create the new Forest Park, which is about 538-acre (218 ha) large. Many of the old picnic parks became part of Forest Park. A bandstand was built in Forest Park in 1898, followed by a bandshell in 1920. For almost a century, George Seuffert Sr. and his son, Dr. George F. Seuffert, played free concerts there every weekend. The bandshell is now open for public use. Forest Park also has a public golf course and horse riding trails. Forest Park Drive, which runs through the park, is closed to cars in some sections, making it popular for skaters.

Dry Harbor Playground, at Myrtle Avenue and 80th Street, opened in 1934. It has swings, seesaws, a wavy slide, and a flagpole. It was created when Edward Bourcier gave 17 acres (6.9 ha) of his land to Forest Park.

In 1940–41, the land of PS 67 and a nearby lot became the Glendale Playground at Central Avenue and 70th Street. This playground opened in 1942.

In 1949, a former Minor League Baseball field at 65th Place, called Farmers' Oval, was chosen for a new park. The Glendale Farmers Base Ball Club team had played there for 50 years. In 1967, the park was officially renamed the Joseph F. Mafera Park, in memory of a former Queens Borough president. At Mafera Park, you can play roller hockey on the rink.

On the eastern edge of Glendale, between the train tracks of the Rockaway Beach and Montauk Branches of the LIRR, is Seither Stadium. This is the home field for the Ridgewood, Glendale, Middle Village, and Maspeth Little League teams.

South of the Liberty Park section of Glendale is Ridgewood Reservoir. This natural area is part of Highland Park. The New York City government updated it in 2013, adding new lighting and fences.

Education in Glendale

Glendale, Ridgewood, and Maspeth generally have fewer college-educated residents than the rest of New York City. About 33% of adults aged 25 and older have a college degree or higher. In contrast, 16% have less than a high school education, and 50% are high school graduates or have some college education.

The percentage of elementary school students in Glendale, Ridgewood, and Maspeth who are good at math increased from 36% in 2000 to 67% in 2011. Reading skills also improved, from 42% to 49% in the same period.

Fewer elementary school students in Glendale, Ridgewood, and Maspeth miss a lot of school days compared to the rest of New York City. Only 14% of elementary students missed 20 or more days per school year. Also, 82% of high school students in these areas graduate on time, which is higher than the city average.

Schools in Glendale

Glendale has seven schools:

• P.S. 68 Elementary
• P.S. 91 Elementary
• P.S. 113 Elementary
• I.S. 119 The Glendale Intermediate School
• Sacred Heart Elementary
• Central Queens Academy Charter
• Elm Community Charter

Glendale Library

The Queens Public Library has a Glendale branch located at 78-60 73rd Place. There is also a smaller library location at The Shops at Atlas Park.

Getting Around Glendale

Several New York City Subway stations serve Glendale:

• Fresh Pond Road (M train)
• Forest Park, which is partly in Glendale, is served near its southern edge by 75th Street–Elderts Lane (J and ​Z train), 85th Street–Forest Parkway (J train), and Woodhaven Boulevard (J and ​Z train)

The following MTA Regional Bus Operations bus routes serve Glendale:

• B13: to DeKalb Avenue (L train) or Gateway Center via 61st and 62nd Streets, Cooper Avenue and Cypress Hills Street
• Q11, Q21: to Woodhaven Boulevard (Elmhurst) (M and ​R train) or Howard Beach via Woodhaven Boulevard
• Q29: to 82nd Street–Jackson Heights (7 train) via 80th Street
• Q47: to LaGuardia Marine Air Terminal via 80th Street
• Q52 SBS: to Woodhaven Boulevard (Elmhurst) (M and ​R train) or Arverne via Woodhaven Boulevard
• Q53 SBS: to 61st Street–Woodside (7 <7> trains)/Woodside LIRR or Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street (A S trains) via Woodhaven Boulevard
• Q54: to Williamsburg Bridge Plaza Bus Terminal or Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer (E J and ​Z trains) via Metropolitan Avenue
• Q55: to Myrtle–Wyckoff Avenues (L​ and M train) or 121st Street (J and ​Z train) via Myrtle Avenue

The Long Island Rail Road used to have a station at Edsall Avenue and 73rd Street. It opened in 1868 but closed on March 16, 1998, because very few people used it. The closest LIRR stations that are still open are in Kew Gardens and Forest Hills.

Famous People from Glendale

Here are some notable people who have lived in Glendale:

• Richard Arkwright (1732-1792): A pioneer in the spinning industry. PS 91 in Glendale is named after him.
• Big Cass (born 1986): A professional wrestler.
• Daniel Daly (1873-1937): A highly decorated hero of the United States Marine Corps and a Medal of Honor recipient. He lived in Glendale after World War I.
• Harry Houdini (1874-1926): The famous magician, who is buried in Machpelah Cemetery.
• Rafael Ramos (1974-2014): A NYPD officer who lived in Glendale before moving to Cypress Hills.
• Phil Rizzuto (1917-2007): A shortstop who played his entire 13-year baseball career with the New York Yankees.
• Dan Schneider (born 1965): A writer.

Glendale in Pop Culture

Glendale has been featured in several TV shows and movies:

• In 1971, the sitcom All in the Family premiered. The house shown in the opening of the show is at 89-70 Cooper Avenue.
• Part of the 1982 film A Stranger Is Watching, starring Rip Torn, was filmed in a Glendale bar called the Woods Inn.
• An episode of NYPD Blue was also filmed at the Woods Inn in the late 1990s.
• Another Glendale bar, The Assembly, was a main setting in the 1996 film Trees Lounge. This movie was written, directed, and starred Steve Buscemi. The bar served as the fictional bar for the movie.
• Cooper's Ale House (now "Yer Man's Irish Pub") is shown in the TV show The King of Queens as a local bar.