Queens New York: a few words of history
The district of Queens was created in 1683 and her name refers to Catherine of Braganza, queen and wife of King Charles II of England. Initially, Queens was colonized by Dutch and English families and the development of this district was slow until 1898, when it became part of New York City.
But in the 20s, 30s and 60s, waves of immigration took place making Queens the second most populous district behind Brooklyn.
Today, it still occupies this second place and it is a district that concentrates more than 130 nationalities. It is therefore by far the most multi-ethnic borough (48% of the inhabitants are foreigners) where a nice mix of culture coexists!
Queens: an incredible demographics
As previously stated, Queens has more than 2.2 million inhabitants and its population consists of over 130 nationalities. In fact, its population continues to grow and over the past ten years more than 500 new people have arrived in Queens. But why is Queens so popular? Quite simply, because it is close to Manhattan and the rents are reasonable.
When it comes to its demographics, Queens is a very large neighborhood part of which is located on Long Island. It also consists of small islands, the majority of which are found in Jamaica Bay. This district has an area of 461 km² and it is connected to Manhattan Island by the Queensboro Bridge.
In total, Queens has about sixty neighborhoods, the main ones being Astoria where the quality of life is pleasant, Long Island City, the district in full evolution and effervescence, Jackson Heights where two communities have settled (Asian and Colombian), North Corona where the South American community took place, but also Flushing Meadows and Chinatown.
What to do in the Queens district?
Walking around the Queens district is very pleasant. The atmosphere is relaxed and there are many activities. Here are the places that are worth a detour.
Stroll through Queens Chinatown
Do you all know Manhattan's Chinatown? Now here is the one from Queens! Here, it's a total change of scenery. It is the largest in New York, but also the least touristy. The tourist shops are also few, it is a place that lives only for its inhabitants. Moreover, here few people speak English, it is the Asian language that is in the spotlight!
During your visit, you will discover shops or even bookstores where books and newspapers are written in Mandarin. Chinese pharmacies are also open and once inside, you will feel like you are in Beijing 🙂 The Queens Chinatown is therefore a unique place that will make you travel for sure!
To get there, take subway line 7 from Grand Central Terminal or Times Square to Flushing Main Street (terminus)
Discover the museums
In Queens, six main museums are worth a look. The first is the Museum of Moving Image where temporary and permanent exhibitions await you! This museum dedicated to cinema, television and all the arts related to the field of images is a fun place where you can learn a lot of things! The Museum of Moving Image will delight all movie lovers, that's for sure! This museum is located in the Astoria district (36-01 35 AvenueAstoria, NY 11106).
Le MoMa PS1 is another famous museum in Queens which is an annex to the famous Manhattan MoMa. This modern art museum offers avant-garde exhibitions and organizes several interesting events. The MoMA PS1 is located in the Long Island City area: 22-25 Jackson Ave. Long Island City, NY 11101.
Le Queens Museum of Art (New York City Building, Queens, NY 11368) is another interesting art museum where you can experience a huge and beautiful model of New York. Otherwise, if you are a fan of jazz, go to Louis armstrong house museum at 34-56 107th Street, Corona, which is none other than the home of the famous trumpeter. During the guided tour, you will discover each room of this house, the well-preserved furniture, the objects ... Another museum dedicated to an artist: The noguchi museum (9-01 33rd Rd, Queens, NY 11106) where 240 of his works are on display and if you have children, head to New York Hall of Science where interactive experiences are offered. The address of this museum is: 47-01 111th St, Queens, NY 11368.
Take to the air at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
During your walk in Queens, visit the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is essential, and for good reason! This famous park is home to the tennis courts used during the US Open, including theArthur Ashe Stadium which can accommodate up to 22500 spectators. But at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, you can also discover The Unisphere, a huge representation of the Earth made of steel and measuring over 42 meters in height. Its circumference is 36 meters, which makes this globe the largest in the world!
Walking in this park is very pleasant. For children, playgrounds have been installed and for fun, enjoy the baseball and soccer fields!
To go to the beach
If you are in Queens during the summer, go to beach to bathe and cool off. That of Rockaway beach is very friendly and will delight all surfers (swimmers, don't worry, there are also small waves 🙂). On this beach, the sand is fine and it stretches for more than 11 kilometers.
Also read: the different beaches in NYC.
Queens New York: where to eat?
In Queens you will have the opportunity to eat different cuisines. You will thus discover flavors from other countries such as China, South America, India… A real culinary journey awaits you!
So, if you want to taste Indian specialties, go to Jackson Diner (37-47 74th Street, Queens, NY 11372) for classic, yet delicious food. The buffet is all you can eat and the prices are affordable. Want to eat Chinese? Restaurant Xi'an Famous Foods at 4110 Main Street in Flushing is for you! Here you can taste delicious noodles and drink exquisite jasmine tea. And for those who want to eat Thai, do not miss the Sripraphai Thai Restaurant (6413`39th Avenue, Woodside, NY 11377-2846).
Of course, you can also eat American specialties like at Court Square Diner (45-30 23rd St, Long Island City, NY 11101), an inexpensive restaurant that offers 100% American and hearty food.
Where is the borough of Queens located?
Queens is a large neighborhood neighboring Brooklyn:
As you can see, Queens is a neighborhood that offers a multitude of interesting activities. In this very cosmopolitan district, you will discover several atmospheres and you will not have time to get bored! Good visit !
