Midland Beach, Staten Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Midland Beach
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Neighborhood of Staten Island
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Hylan Boulevard
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| City |  New York City |
| Borough |  Staten Island |
| Community District | Staten Island 2 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.66 km2 (2.187 sq mi) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 21,456 |
| • Density | 3,787.9/km2 (9,810.7/sq mi) |
| Neighborhood tabulation area | |
| Economics | |
| • Median income | $72,868 |
| ZIP Codes |
10305, 10306
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| Area code | 718, 347, 929, and 917 |
Midland Beach (once called Woodland Beach) is a neighborhood on Staten Island in New York City. It's located along the east-central coast of the island. People often call this area the "Mid-Island" or the "East Shore".
Midland Beach is next to Grant City to the northwest and New Dorp Beach to the southeast. To the northeast are Graham Beach and South Beach. The main roads that run through Midland Beach are Father Capodanno Boulevard and Midland Avenue.
This neighborhood is part of Staten Island Community District 2. Its ZIP Codes are 10305 and 10306. The New York City Police Department's 122nd Precinct helps keep the area safe.
Contents
History of Midland Beach
A Popular Resort Area
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Midland Beach became a popular vacation spot, or "resort," in the 1890s. This happened when the Staten Island Railway's South Beach Branch train line reached nearby Wentworth Avenue. From there, visitors could take trolleys to reach the beach.
The resort had a very long pier, stretching about 1,700 feet (518 meters) into the Atlantic Ocean. From this pier, people could catch a steamboat called William Story to the Battery in Lower Manhattan. The pier was so long that a special miniature railroad, run by the Midland Beach Railway Company, carried fishermen and other visitors all the way to the end!
Midland Beach was a fun place, easily seen from Coney Island across the water. Visitors could even watch fireworks from Coney Island at night. Like its neighbor South Beach, Midland Beach offered many exciting things to do. There were theater shows, a sandy beach, picnic spots, and places to buy snacks. It also had an "Aquarama" (a type of panorama show) and many hotels and small bungalows where people could stay.
The attractions were similar to those at a modern amusement park. You could find Japanese bowling, a scenic railway ride, a dance hall, a carousel, a circle swing, and a theater. There was also a boardwalk for strolling. Three different wooden roller coasters were built along Midland Beach. Usually, there was no entry fee. However, in June 1918, a small 10-cent fee was charged for a carnival, and the money went to the American Red Cross. A saltwater swimming pool was added in 1924.
Challenges and Changes
Midland Beach, like South Beach, faced several large fires and other serious events. For example, a big fire in 1916 damaged many parts of the resort. There were also incidents on the rides, like a person left hanging from a roller coaster in 1917. In 1918, a miniature train went off its tracks, injuring 12 people. A huge thunderstorm in 1923 caused lightning to set several buildings on fire. The storm surges also washed away trolley tracks.
The resort's popularity began to decline after two major fires in 1924. In August 1924, two fires on the pier severely damaged it, making it harder for boats to reach Midland Beach. A few weeks later, in late September, another large fire destroyed or damaged 15 summer bungalows, four hotels, and most of the rides at the Midland Beach Resort. Many owners couldn't rebuild because they didn't have insurance.
The next year, a man named James S. Graham bought much of what was left and rebuilt many attractions. These included a scenic railroad, a "Barrel of Fun," an "Old Mill" ride, skee-ball, and other smaller games. However, another fire in 1929 destroyed a quarter of the rebuilt park. After this, Midland Beach was mainly used for swimming. The beach was restricted, and visitors were charged a 25-cent fee, but this fee was removed by the city in 1930.
Midland Beach Today
Today, the small bungalows that were once summer homes are now owned or rented by people who live there all year round. In the 1970s, Midland Beach sometimes had flooding problems because it's close to the coast and didn't have proper storm drains. In 1979, New York City installed a large new storm sewer system, which helped solve the flooding for most of the newer homes.
The neighborhood once had its own small post office, but it closed in 1949.
A new, strong pier called the Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier opened in September 2003. It's made of steel and concrete and is about 835 feet (255 meters) long. It's the biggest oceanfront pier built in the New York City area in over a hundred years!
Sadly, Midland Beach was hit very hard by the storm surge from Hurricane Sandy on October 29, 2012.
People of Midland Beach
Midland Beach is part of a larger area called New Dorp-Midland Beach for census information. In 2010, about 21,896 people lived in this area. Most people living here are White, but there are also Asian, African American, and Native American residents. About 14% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
The people in Midland Beach and nearby Mid-Island neighborhoods generally live long lives, with an average life expectancy of about 81.2 years. Many residents are young people and middle-aged adults.
The average household income in Midland Beach is around $80,412. This means that Midland Beach is considered a middle-class neighborhood compared to other parts of New York City.
Midland Beach Bluebelt
The Midland Beach (New Creek) Bluebelt is a special project being built by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. It's part of the bigger Staten Island Bluebelt system. This project is designed to help with flooding in the northern part of the neighborhood, where many bungalows are located.
A "Bluebelt" is a natural way to manage stormwater. It uses wetlands (areas of land covered by water) to soak up rainwater and prevent floods. This land will be protected for people to enjoy nature. Stone bridges, culverts, walls, and new tree plantings will make the area more beautiful and help solve the flooding problems that have affected this low-lying area for many years.
Safety and Services
Fire Safety
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) helps keep Midland Beach safe. Engine Co. 165/Ladder Co. 85 is located nearby at 3067 Richmond Road. Engine Co. 165 is special because it's the only Engine Company on Staten Island that has special gear and training to deal with hazardous materials (dangerous substances).
Post Office and ZIP Codes
Midland Beach uses the ZIP Codes 10305 and 10306. The closest post office run by the United States Postal Service is the New Dorp Station post office, located at 2562 Hylan Boulevard.
Education in Midland Beach
Midland Beach and the Mid-Island area have a good number of college-educated residents. About 40% of adults aged 25 and older have a college degree or higher. Most students in Midland Beach and Mid-Island do well in math, and the number of students excelling in math has increased over the years.
Fewer elementary school students in Midland Beach and Mid-Island miss a lot of school days compared to the rest of New York City. Also, a high percentage of high school students in this area graduate on time.
Schools in the Neighborhood
The New York City Department of Education runs these public schools in Midland Beach:
- PS 38 George Cromwell (for students in pre-kindergarten through 5th grade)
- PS 52 John C Thompson (for students in pre-kindergarten through 5th grade)
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York used to operate St. Margaret Mary Parish School in Midland Beach, but it closed in 2011.
Transportation
Midland Beach has several local and express bus routes. The S78, S79 SBS local buses and SIM1, SIM7, SIM10 express buses stop along Hylan Boulevard. The S51, S52, and S81 local and limited buses, along with SIM5, SIM6 express buses, travel along Father Capodanno Boulevard.
Famous Residents
One of Woodland Beach's most famous residents was William Henry Vanderbilt. He was the oldest son of Cornelius Vanderbilt, a very wealthy and famous businessman. In 1855, William Henry Vanderbilt owned a large and successful farm of about 186.7 acres (0.75 square kilometers) here. He built a grand 24-room mansion in the Italianate style on his property. It even had horse stables, a trotting field for horses, and special stands for judges. His son, George Washington Vanderbilt II, helped oversee the property. Today, this area is known as Miller Field and is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area.
Images for kids
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Beachfront at the South Beach–Franklin Delano Roosevelt Boardwalk
See also
In Spanish: Midland Beach (Staten Island) para niños
