Considered New York City’s forgotten borough, Staten Island flies past many people’s heads when they’re thinking of an exciting place to visit during the summer. Despite being relatively less popular than Brooklyn or the Bronx, Staten Island has a lot to offer!
From the beaches of East Shore to the abandoned buildings smack dab in the middle of the island, here are five interesting things that you probably didn’t know about Staten Island!
Staten Island is New York’s Wealthiest Borough!
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, with an annual median income of around $72,156 to $82,783, Staten Island is the most well-off borough in New York City. Although Manhattan is also at the top of the list, the disparity between the poor and the rich is more alarming in Manhattan than in Staten Island!
With a lower poverty rate than the rest of New York’s boroughs, Staten Island has amazing residential areas and surprisingly lower rent than the three other boroughs.
Staten Island is the Greenest Borough in New York
Home to a whopping 170 parks, Staten Island, has over 12,300 acres of protected land that’s used as a place of recreation by its community. If you love going on walks, picnics, or quick jogs to get your body moving, Staten Island is an amazing place to live.
A Ride on the Staten Island Ferry Wasn’t Always Free
You’ve probably hitched a ride on the Staten Island Ferry for free if you’ve ever been to Staten Island. But what if we tell you that you actually had to pay for a ticket to hop on board the Staten Island Ferry?
Up until 1997, a ride on the Staten Island Ferry would cost you a whopping 50 cents
Staten Island is Home to Many of America’s Oldest Buildings
Richmondtown is historically known for housing 30 restored buildings that have been dated back to the early 17th century! From the Alice Austen house on the North Shore to the oldest schoolhouse in America—the Staten Island has mastered the art of preserving remnants of its rich history.
If you want to explore Staten Island’s history for yourself, the borough is one 30-minute ferry ride away!
The Italian-American Population in Staten Island is Massive!
Considering that only roughly 475,000 people live on Staten Island, the fact that over 175,000 are Italian-Americans is insane. Covering over one-third of the island’s population—Staten Island has a heavy Italian-American influence on both its culture and cuisine!
With loads of incredible Italian restaurants in this underrated New York borough, sitting through a 30-minute ferry ride seems like a fair trade-off to having an excellent meal out.
That’s all for our list. Do you have any more facts about Staten Island that you’re itching to share? Let us know in the comments below! Staten Island is full of mysteries that are waiting to be revealed to the rest of the world.
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