Timeline of Queens facts for kids

Queens is one of the five main areas, called boroughs, that make up New York City. It's a big place with a long and interesting past! This timeline will show you some of the most important moments in Queens' history, from its early days to today.

Early History of Queens (Before 1900)

Queens has been an important place for a very long time. Before it became part of New York City, it was a county with its own story.

• 1657: The Flushing Remonstrance was a brave letter written by people in Flushing. They stood up for religious freedom, saying everyone should be allowed to practice their own beliefs.
• 1683: Queens County was officially created. This was a big step in organizing the area.
• 1790: About 16,014 people lived in Queens.
• 1821: A horse racing track opened, showing that people enjoyed sports and entertainment here even back then.
• 1858: Something super cool happened in Corona! The very first all-star baseball game was played here, and it was also one of the first times people paid to watch a game. Imagine seeing that!
• 1860: The population grew to 57,391 people.
• 1870: Queens continued to grow, reaching 73,803 residents.
• 1880: The population was 90,574.
• 1889: The BMT Myrtle Avenue Line train started running, making it easier for people to travel around.
• 1890: The population kept climbing, reaching 128,059.
• 1898: On January 1st, Queens officially became a borough of the new "City of Greater New York." This was a huge change! Part of the old Queens County became Nassau County.

Queens in the 20th Century

The 1900s were a time of massive growth and change for Queens, with new bridges, tunnels, and famous events.

How Queens Grew (1900s-1940s)

• 1900:
  • The King Manor Museum, a historic house, was started in Jamaica.
  • The population reached 152,999.
• 1909: The amazing Queensboro Bridge opened, connecting Queens to Manhattan and making travel much faster.
• 1910:
  • The East River Tunnels opened, allowing subway trains to go under the river.
  • The population jumped to 284,041.
• 1911: The Queens Chamber of Commerce was created to help local businesses.
• 1912: The Chapin Home for the Aging began helping older people.
• 1914: The Murray Hill Theatre opened in Flushing, offering entertainment to residents.
• 1915: The famous US Open tennis tournament moved to Queens, bringing big sports events to the borough.
• 1916: The Queensboro Plaza (New York City Subway) station opened, a major hub for subway lines.
• 1920: The population grew to 469,042.
• 1928: The 7 Train subway line reached Flushing, making it easier for many people to get around.
• 1930:
  • King Kullen, one of the first supermarket chains, started in Queens.
  • The population soared to 1,079,129 people!
• 1933: The IND Crosstown Line subway began operating.
• 1936: The huge Triborough Bridge was built, connecting Queens to Manhattan and the Bronx.
• 1939:
  • April 30: The exciting 1939 New York World's Fair opened in Queens, attracting millions of visitors.
  • The Bronx–Whitestone Bridge was also built, adding another important connection.
• 1940:
  • The Queens–Midtown Tunnel opened, providing another way to get to Manhattan.
  • The Beacon Theater opened in Long Island City.
  • The population reached 1,297,634.
• 1941: The Strand Theatre opened in Astoria.

Queens in the Mid-to-Late 20th Century (1950s-1990s)

This period saw more growth, new sports teams, and important cultural developments in Queens.

• 1950: The population continued to grow, reaching 1,550,849.
• 1953: The Queens Symphony Orchestra was formed, bringing classical music to the borough.
• 1960: The population was 1,809,578.
• 1963:
  • New rules created community boards in each borough, giving local people more say in their neighborhoods.
  • Weight Watchers, a well-known health program, was started.
• 1964:
  • Shea Stadium opened! This brought major league baseball with the New York Mets and football with the New York Jets to Queens.
  • April 22: Another big event, the 1964 New York World's Fair, opened, again drawing huge crowds to Queens.
• 1968: The Queens Historical Society was founded to help preserve and share the borough's history.
• 1969: The Mets won the World Series for the very first time, making Queens proud!
• 1971: The Queens Tribune newspaper began publishing, keeping residents informed.
• 1976: The Afrikan Poetry Theatre was founded, celebrating poetry and culture.
• 1983:
  • Silvercup Studios, a famous film and TV studio, started operating.
  • Gary Ackerman became a U.S. representative for Queens.
• 1985: The Greater Astoria Historical Society was founded to focus on the history of Astoria.
• 1986: The Mets won their second World Series!
• 1990:
  • The Citicorp Building was built. For a while, it was the tallest building between Manhattan and Boston.
  • The population reached 1,951,598.
• 1993: New York Hospital Queens became active, providing important healthcare.
• 1996: Energy Brands, the company that makes Vitamin Water, was started in Whitestone.
• 1997: Arthur Ashe Stadium opened. This huge tennis stadium became the new home for the US Open tournament.
• 1998: Gregory Meeks became a U.S. representative for Queens.

Queens in the 21st Century

Queens continues to be a vibrant and changing borough in the new millennium.

Queens in the 2000s and 2010s

• 2000: The population grew to 2,229,379.
• 2001: The Astoria Performing Arts Center was established, offering theater and arts programs.
• 2007: The Newtown Historical Society was formed.
• 2010:
  • March 10: José Peralta from Jackson Heights made history by becoming the first Dominican-American elected to the New York State Senate.
  • The Queens Memory Project began, collecting stories and photos about Queens' history.
  • The population was 2,230,722.
• 2013:
  • Grace Meng became a U.S. representative for Queens.
  • The famous graffiti art wall 5 Pointz in Long Island City was torn down for new buildings, which was sad for many artists.
• 2014: Melinda Katz became the borough president of Queens.
• 2017: January 20: Donald Trump, who was born in Jamaica, Queens, became the 45th President of the United States.
• 2019: February 14: Amazon announced it would not build a new headquarters in Long Island City, which meant 25,000 new jobs would not come to Queens.

Queens in the 2020s

Queens, like the rest of the world, faced new challenges and made new history in the 2020s.

Further information: COVID-19 pandemic in New York City

• 2020: December 14: Sandra Lindsay, a Registered Nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, became the very first person in the United States to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This was a huge moment in the fight against the pandemic.
• 2021:
  • January 4: Nurse Sandra Lindsay received her second vaccine dose, completing her vaccination.
  • February 10: Citi Field, the home of the Mets, was turned into a large COVID-19 vaccination site, helping many people get their shots.