Jamaica is a neighborhood located in the borough of Queens, part of the Metropolitan area of New York City. It is part of Queens Community Board 12. Jamaica is a large, expansive neighborhood and also home to John F. Kennedy International Airport. It is a major station and transfer point for the Long Island Rail Road as well as home to the AirTrain, a train specifically designed for arrival and departure to JFK terminals.
As of the 2000 census, there were a total of 285,000 people residing in the area. Neighboring areas include Jamaica Estates, Jamaica Hills, Cambria Heights, St. Albans, Hollis, Queens Village, South Ozone Park, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, Laurelton, Rosedale, Brookville, Rochdale, Springfield Gardens, and South Flushing.
The intersection of Jamaica Avenue and Francis Lewis Boulevard.
The office of Malcolm A. Smith, Member of the New York Senate from the 10th district. On April 2, 2013, Smith was arrested by the FBI on federal corruption charges.
A man casually sleeps on a street in Jamaica Queens.
In 1655, it was when the first settlers paid the Native Americans with two guns, a coat, and some powder and lead, for the land lying between the old trail and “Beaver Pond”. The former and merged names of Jamaica include Rustdorp. It was took over by English in 1664, and renamed it “Jameco” for the Jameco (or Yamecah) Native Americans, and made it part of the county of Yorkshire. After several years, they divided the Province of New York into counties; Jamaica became the county seat of Queens County, one of the original counties of New York.
Jamaica Queens Post Office for zip code 11423.
Seven Days Food Store Jamaica, NY.
A mural remembering Jam Master Jay, musician, rapper and DJ for hip hop group Run–D.M.C. On October 30, 2002, while recording new music at his studio in Jamaica, Queens, Jason William Mizell (his real name), was shot and murdered by an unknown assailant. He was 37 years old.
Jamaica Village became incorporated in 1814 but it was incorporated in the borough of Queens in New York City in 1898. Jamaica remains the county seat of Queens County, and is the location of many courthouses and other administrative buildings. Jamaica Center, the area around Jamaica Avenue and 165th Street, is now known as a major commercial center, as well as the home of the Central Library of the Queens Borough Public Library.
The Queens County Family court is located at 151-20 Jamaica Avenue across from the Rufus King Park. Jamaica remains the county seat of Queens County, and is the location of many county courthouses and administrative buildings.
Praise Tabernacle Church, 10811 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY.
With many to mention, some residents of Jamaica include Cecily Adams (actress), Rafer Alston (basketball player), Shelley Winters (actress), Grafh (rapper), Milford Graves (free-jazz drummer), 50 Cent (rapper), and Lamar Odom (NBA player). Although formerly predominantly African American, the neighborhood is reported that 27.69% of the population is now Asian, 25.01% white, 24.34% other, and 22.14% black. There are today several colleges and universities which make their home in Jamaica, notably York College and St. John University. Jamaica Avenue is Jamaica’s busiest thoroughfare, and of course the neighborhood’s namesake.
A typical side street in Jamaica Queens.
Praise Tabernacle Church, 10811 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY.
The area actually begins in Brooklyn, near the boundary of the East New York neighborhood. Jamaica has great potential to be a premier business center in New York City following the examples of major redevelopment occurring in Long Island City. In fact, the New York City Department of City Planning drafted a plan that would rezone 368 blocks of Jamaica in order to motivate new development, alleviate the overwhelming traffic situation, and shift upscale amenities away from low-density residential neighborhoods. Jamaica also features low-cost housing structures occupied mainly by lower middle class families, and students attending colleges near by.
