Tompkinsville, Staten Island facts for kids
Tompkinsville is a neighborhood in northeastern Staten Island in New York City. It's named after Daniel D. Tompkins, who was the sixth Vice President of the United States from 1817 to 1825. This area is located on the eastern side of Staten Island, right along the water, facing Upper New York Bay. It sits between St. George to the north and Stapleton to the south. Locals often consider it part of the North Shore of the island.
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History of Tompkinsville
Early Days
Long ago, Tompkinsville was known as the "Watering Place." This was because early European explorers would stop here to get fresh water for their ships. It was also near where a very large British army, with 450 ships and 32,000 soldiers, landed before the American Revolutionary War.
In 1799, the New York state government took about 30 acres of land along the waterfront. They built a special hospital there called the New York Marine Hospital, also known as "The Quarantine." This hospital was used to treat people with contagious diseases and to keep new arrivals from spreading illnesses.
In 1815, New York state governor Daniel D. Tompkins started a settlement next to the hospital. He became Vice President the next year. In 1817, Tompkins built a dock and started a steam ferry service to Manhattan. Later, in 1858, angry residents burned down The Quarantine hospital. This event is known as the Staten Island Quarantine War. Even though no one died, the hospital buildings were completely destroyed.
The 20th Century
In the early 1900s, the local telephone exchange that served the eastern North Shore of Staten Island was named after Tompkinsville. Its name later changed to "Saint George" and then "Saint George 7." Today, the number "727" still exists on the island, which is a part of that old system.
Tompkinsville was also home to a Naval Frontier Base for the US Navy for many years. This base was very busy during World War I. For example, in 1919, several important government officials, including the Vice President, came to Tompkinsville to welcome President Wilson home from a peace conference.
In 1936, the Lyons Pool Recreation Center, a public swimming pool, opened in Tompkinsville. It was built as part of a project called the Works Progress Administration, which created jobs during the Great Depression.
The 21st Century
In recent times, Tompkinsville has become a very diverse area. Many different cultures live here, including a large Sri Lankan community. There are also many Italian-Americans, African Americans, and Mexicans.
In 2019, the area around Bay Street in Tompkinsville was changed to allow for more homes, shops, and offices. This plan was debated, and many local community members and residents did not agree with it.
Culture and Community
Tompkinsville is known for its strong Sri Lankan community. The neighborhood also has several places for live music and art. These include the Everything Goes Book Café, Deep Tanks Studio, and Ink Chyx Tattoo & Art Gallery. The Staten Island LGBT Community Center is also located here. Many of these places participate in the North Shore's monthly "Second Saturday" art walk.
Like much of the North Shore, Tompkinsville feels more like a city than other parts of Staten Island. You can see this in the buildings, which are often tall brick structures, and in the many shops and restaurants. Most of the homes in Tompkinsville are single-family houses built in the early 1900s.
People and Changes
Tompkinsville has a mix of businesses and homes. After the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge was built in 1964, the island's business activity moved more towards the middle of Staten Island. This caused some decline in Tompkinsville. However, there are now plans to improve the waterfront area.
The people living in Tompkinsville are from many different backgrounds. The population includes African-Americans, Hispanics, and White residents. Recently, new immigrants from countries like Albania have also moved here. Tompkinsville is home to one of the largest Sri Lankan communities outside of Sri Lanka itself.
Getting Around
The Tompkinsville station is a stop on the Staten Island Railway. It is just one stop south of the main station at St. George. Unlike most other stations on the railway, you need to use a MetroCard or OMNY to get on or off the train at Tompkinsville. Special gates were put in place in 2009. These gates help make sure everyone pays their fare, especially since some people used to get off at Tompkinsville to avoid paying at St. George.
See also
In Spanish: Tompkinsville (Staten Island) para niños
