Queens

Queens Queens County, New York
Boroughand county
Unispherein Flushing Meadows–Corona Park John F. Kennedy International Airport LaGuardia Airport Downtown Flushing Addisleigh Park Historic District Long Island City Queensboro Bridge Citi Field Arthur Ashe Stadium
Flag Seal
Interactive map outlining Queens
Queens Location within New York City Show map of New York City Queens Location within the State of New York Show map of New York Queens Location within the United States Show map of the United States Queens Location on Earth Show map of Earth
Coordinates:40°45′N73°52′W / 40.750°N 73.867°W /40.750; -73.867
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Queens (coterminous)
City	New York City
Settled	1683
Named for	Catherine of Braganza
Government
• Type	Borough (New York City)
•Borough President	Donovan Richards(D) —(Borough of Queens)
•District Attorney	Melinda Katz(D) —(Queens County)
Area
• Total	178 sq mi (460 km2)
• Land	109 sq mi (280 km2)
• Water	70 sq mi (200 km2) 39%
Highest elevation [1]	258.2 ft (78.7 m)
Population ( 2020) [2]
• Total	2,405,464
• Density	22,124.5/sq mi (8,542.3/km2)
Demonym	Queensite[3]
GDP [4]
• Total	US$103.325 billion (2022)
ZIP Codeprefixes	111--, 113--, 114--, 116--
Area codes	718/347/929and917
Congressional districts	3rd,5th,6th,7th,14th
Website	Official Website of the Queens Borough President

Queensis aborough of New York City, coextensive withQueens County, in theU.S. stateofNew York. Located near the western end ofLong Island, it is the largest of the fiveNew York Cityboroughs by area. It is bordered by the borough ofBrooklyn^[5]and byNassau Countyto its east, and shares maritime borders with the boroughs ofManhattan,the Bronx, andStaten Island, as well as withNew Jersey.^[6]Queens is the mostlinguisticallyandethnically diverseplace in the world.^[7][8][9]

With a population of 2,405,464 as of the2020 census,^[2]Queens is the second-most populous county in New York state, behind Kings County (Brooklyn), and is therefore also the second-most populous of the five New York City boroughs. If Queens were its own city, it would be thefourth most-populous in the U.S.afterNew York Cityitself,Los Angeles, andChicago. Queens is the fourth-most densely populated borough in New York City and the fourth-most densely populatedU.S. county. It is highly diverse as about 47% of its residents areforeign-born.^[10]

Queens was established in 1683 as one of the original 12 counties of theProvince of New York. The settlement was named after the English Queen and Portuguese royal princessCatherine of Braganza(1638–1705).^[11]From 1683 to 1899, the County of Queens included what is now Nassau County. Queens became a borough during theconsolidation of New York Cityin 1898, combining the towns ofLong Island City,Newtown,Flushing,Jamaica, and westernHempstead.^[12]All except Hempstead are today considered neighborhoods of Queens.

Queens has the most diversified economy of the five boroughs of New York City.^[13]It is home to both of New York City's airports:John F. KennedyandLaGuardia. Among its landmarks areFlushing Meadows–Corona Park;Citi Field, home to theNew York Metsbaseball team; theUSTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, site of theU.S. Opentennis tournament;Kaufman Astoria Studios;Silvercup Studios; and theAqueduct Racetrack.Flushingis undergoing rapidgentrificationwith investment by Chinese transnational entities,^[14]whileLong Island Cityis undergoing gentrification secondary to its proximity across theEast Riverfrom Manhattan.

The firstEuropean settlementin the region was theDutch, who established the colony ofNew Netherland. The first settlements were established in 1635 followed by further settlement atMaspethin 1642 (ultimately unsuccessful),^[15]and Vlissingen (nowFlushing) in 1645.^[16]Other early settlements included Newtown (nowElmhurst) in 1652 andJamaicain 1655. However, these towns were mostly inhabited by English settlers fromNew Englandvia easternLong Island(Suffolk County) who were subject to Dutch law.^[17]After the capture of the colony by the English and its subsequent renaming asNew Yorkin 1664, the area (and all of Long Island) became known asYorkshire.^{[18]: xi–xii}

TheFlushing Remonstrancesigned by colonists in 1657 is considered a precursor to theUnited States Constitution's provision onfreedom of religionin theBill of Rights. The signers protested the Dutch colonial authorities' persecution ofQuakersin what is today the borough of Queens.

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v t e

Originally, Queens County included the adjacent area now comprisingNassau County. It was an original county of New York State, one of twelve created on November 1, 1683.^{[18]: 121–122}The county is presumed to have been named afterCatherine of Braganza, since she was queen of England at the time (she was Portugal's royal princess Catarina, daughter of KingJohn IV of Portugal).^[11]The county was founded alongsideKings County(Brooklyn, which was named after her husband, King Charles II), andRichmond County(Staten Island, named after his illegitimate son,the 1st Duke of Richmond).^[19][20][21]However, the namesake is disputed. While Catherine's title seems the most likely namesake, no historical evidence of official declaration has been found.^[22]On October 7, 1691, all counties in theColony of New Yorkwere redefined. Queens gainedNorth and South Brother Islandsas well as Huletts Island (today known asRikers Island).^[18]: 268On December 3, 1768, Queens gained other islands in Long Island Sound that were not already assigned to a county but that did not abut onWestchester County(today'sBronx County).^{[18]: 1062–1063}

Queens played a minor role in theAmerican Revolution, as compared to Brooklyn, where theBattle of Long Islandwas largely fought. Queens, like the rest of what became New York City and Long Island, remained under British occupation after the Battle of Long Island in 1776 and was occupied throughout most of the rest of theRevolutionary War. Under theQuartering Act, British soldiers used, asbarracks, the public inns and uninhabited buildings belonging to Queens residents. Even though many residents opposed unannounced quartering, they supported the British crown. The quartering of soldiers in private homes, except in times of war, was banned by theThird Amendment to the United States Constitution.Nathan Halewas captured by the British on the shore ofFlushing BayandhangedinManhattan.

From 1683 until 1784, Queens County consisted of five towns: Flushing,Hempstead,Jamaica, Newtown, andOyster Bay. On April 6, 1784, a sixth town, theTown of North Hempstead, was formed through secession by the northern portions of the Town of Hempstead.^[23][24]The seat of the county government was located first in Jamaica,^[25]but the courthouse was torn down by the British during the American Revolution to use the materials to build barracks.^[26]After the war, various buildings in Jamaica temporarily served as courthouse and jail until a new building was erected about 1787 (and later completed) in an area nearMineola(now in Nassau County) known then as Clowesville.^[27][28][29]

The1850 United States censuswas the first in which the population of the three western towns exceeded that of the three eastern towns that are now part of Nassau County. Concerns were raised about the condition and distance of the old courthouse, and several sites were in contention for the construction of a new one.^[30]

In 1870,Long Island Citysplit from the Town of Newtown, incorporating itself as a city, consisting of what had been thevillage of Astoriaand some unincorporated areas within the town of Newtown. Around 1874, the seat of county government was moved to Long Island City from Mineola.^{[31][32][33][34]}

On March 1, 1860, the eastern border between Queens County (later Nassau County) andSuffolk Countywas redefined with no discernible change.^[35]On June 8, 1881,North Brother Islandwas transferred toNew York County.^[36]On May 8, 1884,Rikers Islandwas transferred to New York County.^[37]

In 1886, Lloyd's Neck, which was then part of the town of Oyster Bay and had earlier been known as Queens Village, was set off and separated from Queens County and annexed to the town of Huntington in Suffolk County.^[38][39][40]On April 16, 1964,South Brother Islandwas transferred to Bronx County.^[41]

The New York City borough of Queens was authorized on May 4, 1897, by a vote of theNew York State Legislatureafter an 1894 referendum on consolidation.^[42]The eastern 280 square miles (730 km²) of Queens that becameNassau Countywas partitioned on January 1, 1899.^[43]Queens Borough was established on January 1, 1898.^[44][45][46]

"The city ofLong Island City, the towns ofNewtown,FlushingandJamaica, and that part of the town ofHempstead, in the county of Queens, which is westerly of a straight line drawn through the middle of the channel betweenRockaway BeachandShelter Island, in the county of Queens, to the Atlantic Ocean" was annexed to New York City,^[12]dissolving all former municipal governments (Long Island City, the county government, all towns, and all villages) within the new borough.^[47]The areas of Queens County that were not part of the consolidation plan,^{[33][48][49][50][51][52][53]}consisting of the towns of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay, and the major remaining portion of the Town of Hempstead, remained part of Queens County until they seceded to form the newNassau Countyon January 1, 1899. At this point, the boundaries of Queens County and the Borough of Queens becamecoterminous. With consolidation, Jamaica once again became the county seat, though county offices now extend to nearbyKew Gardensalso.^[54]

In 1899, New York City conducted aland surveyto determine the exact border of Queens betweenthe RockawaysandLawrence. This proved difficult because the border was defined as "middle of the channel between Rockaway Beach and Shelter Island" (now called Long Beach Island), and that particular channel had closed up by 1899. The surveyors had to determine where the channel had been when the consolidation law was written in 1894. The surveyors did so in part by speaking with local fishermen and oystermen who knew the area well.^[53]

From 1905 to 1908, theLong Island Rail Roadin Queens became electrified. Transportation to and fromManhattan, previously by ferry or via bridges in Brooklyn, opened up with theQueensboro Bridgefinished in 1909, and with railway tunnels under theEast Riverin 1910. From 1915 onward, much of Queens was connected to theNew York City Subwaysystem.^[27][55]With the 1915 construction of theSteinway Tunnelcarrying theIRT Flushing Linebetween Queens and Manhattan, and the robust expansion of the use of theautomobile, the population of Queens more than doubled in the 1920s, from 469,042 in 1920 to 1,079,129 in 1930.^[56]

In later years, Queens was the site of the1939 New York World's Fairand the1964 New York World's Fair.^[57]LaGuardia Airport, established on a site in northern Queens that had been a seaplane base, opened in 1939, named for mayorFiorello La Guardia, who pushed for the development of a modern airport in New York City.^[58]Idlewild Airport, in southern Queens, opened in 1948 on the site of a former golf course and was renamedJohn F. Kennedy International Airportin 1963.^[59]In one of several notable incidents,TWA Flight 800took off from the airport on July 17, 1996, and exploded in midair off the coast of Long Island, killing all 230 on board theBoeing 747.^[60]American Airlines Flight 587took off from the latter airport on November 12, 2001, but ended up crashing inBelle Harbor, killing all 260 on board and five people on the ground.^[61]In late October 2012, much ofBreezy Pointwas damaged by a massive six-alarm fire caused byHurricane Sandy, the largest fire of residential homes in FDNY history, destroying 126 homes in an area where every building was damaged by either water, wind or the resulting fires.^[62]

Queens is located on the far western portion of geographicLong Islandand includes a few smaller islands, most of which are inJamaica Bay, forming part of theGateway National Recreation Area, which in turn is one of theNational Parksof New York Harbor.^[63]According to theUnited States Census Bureau, Queens County has a total area of 178 square miles (460 km²), of which 109 square miles (280 km²) is land and 70 square miles (180 km²) (39%) is water.^[64]

Brooklyn, the only other New York City borough on Long Island, lies just south and west of Queens, withNewtown Creek, anestuarythat flows into theEast River, forming part of the border. To the west and north is the East River, across which isManhattanto the west andThe Bronxto the north.Nassau Countyis east of Queens on Long Island.Staten Islandis southwest of Brooklyn, and shares only a three-mile-long water border (in the Outer Bay) with Queens. North of Queens areFlushing Bayand theFlushing River, connecting to theEast River. The East River opens intoLong Island Sound. The midsection of Queens is crossed by theLong Island straddling terminal morainecreated by theWisconsin Glacier. TheRockaway Peninsula, the southernmost part of all of Queens, sits between Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, featuring 7 miles (11 km) of beaches.^[65][66]

Under theKöppen climate classification, Queens has ahumid subtropical climate(Cfa) with partial shielding from theAppalachian Mountainsand moderating influences from the Atlantic Ocean. Queens receives precipitation throughout the year, with an average of 44.8 inches (114 cm) per year. In an average year, there will be 44 days with either moderate or heavy rain.^[67]

An average winter will have 22 days with some snowfall, of which nine days have at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of snowfall.^[67]Summer is typically hot, humid, and wet. An average year will have 17 days with a high temperature of 90 °F (32 °C) or warmer.^[67]In an average year, there are 14 days on which the temperature does not go above 32 °F (0 °C) all day.^[67]Spring and autumn can vary from chilly to very warm.

The highest temperature ever recorded atLaGuardia Airportwas 107 °F (42 °C) on July 3, 1966.^[68][67]The highest temperature ever recorded atJohn F. Kennedy International Airportwas 104 °F (40 °C), also on July 3, 1966.^[68][69]LaGuardia Airport's record-low temperature was −7 °F (−22 °C) on February 15, 1943, the effect of which was exacerbated by a shortage ofheating oilandcoal.^[67][70]John F. Kennedy International Airport's record-low temperature was −2 °F (−19 °C), on February 8, 1963, and January 21, 1985.^[69][71][72]On January 24, 2016, 30.5 inches (77 cm) of snow fell, which is the record in Queens.^[73]

Tornadoesare generally rare; the most recent tornado, anEF0, touched down inCollege Pointon August 3, 2018, causing minor damage.^[74]Before that, there was a tornado inBreezy Pointon September 8, 2012, which damaged the roofs of some homes,^[75]and anEF1tornado inFlushingon September 26, 2010.^[76]

FourUnited States Postal Servicepostal zones serve Queens, based roughly on those serving the towns in existence at the consolidation of the five boroughs into New York City: Long Island City (ZIP codesstarting with 111), Jamaica (114), Flushing (113), andFar Rockaway(116). Also, theFloral Parkpost office (110), based in Nassau County, serves a small part of northeastern Queens. Each of these main post offices has neighborhood stations with individual ZIP codes, and unlike the other boroughs, these station names are often used in addressing letters. These ZIP codes do not always reflect traditional neighborhood names and boundaries; "East Elmhurst", for example, was largely coined by the USPS and is not an official community.^{[citation needed]}Most neighborhoods have no solid boundaries. TheForest HillsandRego Parkneighborhoods, for instance, overlap.

Residents of Queens often closely identify with their neighborhood rather than with the borough or city. The borough is a patchwork of dozens of unique neighborhoods, each with its own distinct identity:

New York City's five boroughs v t e
Jurisdiction		Population	Land area		Density of population		GDP
Borough	County	Census (2020)	square miles	square km	people/ sq. mile	people/ sq. km	billions (2022 US$)2
The Bronx	Bronx	1,472,654	42.2	109.2	34,920	13,482	51.574
Brooklyn	Kings	2,736,074	69.4	179.7	39,438	15,227	125.867
Manhattan	New York	1,694,251	22.7	58.7	74,781	28,872	885.652
Queens	Queens	2,405,464	108.7	281.6	22,125	8,542	122.288
Staten Island	Richmond	495,747	57.5	149.0	8,618	3,327	21.103
City of New York		8,804,190	300.5	778.2	29,303	11,314	1,206.484
State of New York		20,201,249	47,123.6	122,049.5	429	166	2,163.209
Sources:[88][89][90][91]and see individual borough articles.

Racial composition	2020[92]	2010[93]	1990[94]	1970[94]	1950[94]
White	25.8%	39.7%	57.9%	85.3%	96.5%
—Non-Hispanic	22.8%	27.6%	48.0%	n/a	n/a
Black or African American	16.8%	19.1%	21.7%	13.0%	3.3%
Hispanic or Latino(of any race)	27.8%	27.5%	19.5%	7.7%[95]	n/a
Asian	27.5%	22.9%	12.2%	1.1%	0.1%

Historical population Census Pop. Note %± 1790 16,014 — 1800 16,916 5.6% 1810 19,336 14.3% 1820 21,519 11.3% 1830 22,460 4.4% 1840 30,324 35.0% 1850 36,833 21.5% 1860 57,391 55.8% 1870 73,803 28.6% 1880 90,574 22.7% 1890 128,059 41.4% 1900 152,999 19.5% 1910 284,041 85.6% 1920 469,042 65.1% 1930 1,079,129 130.1% 1940 1,297,634 20.2% 1950 1,550,849 19.5% 1960 1,809,578 16.7% 1970 1,986,473 9.8% 1980 1,891,325 −4.8% 1990 1,951,598 3.2% 2000 2,229,379 14.2% 2010 2,230,722 0.1% 2020 2,405,464 7.8% U.S. Decennial Census[96] 1790-1960[97]1900-1990[97]1990-2000[98]2010-2018[10]2020[2]

At the2020 census, 2,405,464 people lived in Queens. In 2018'sAmerican Community Survey, the population of Queens was estimated by theUnited States Census Bureauto have increased to 2,278,906, a rise of 2.2%. Queens' estimated population represented 27.1% of New York City's population of 8,398,748; 29.6% of Long Island's population of 7,701,172; and 11.7% of New York State's population of 19,542,209. The 2019 estimates reported a decline to 2,253,858.^[99]In 2018, there were 865,878 housing units, and 777,904 households, 2.97 persons per household, and a median value of $481,300. There was an owner-occupancy rate of 44.5.^[99]In the2010 United States census, Queens recorded a population of 2,230,722. There were 780,117 households enumerated, with an average of 2.82 persons per household. Thepopulation densitywas 20,465.3 inhabitants per square mile (7,901.7 inhabitants/km²). There were 835,127 housing units at an average density of 7,661.7 units per square mile (2,958.2/km²).

The racial makeup of the county in 2010 was 39.7%White, 19.1%BlackorAfrican American, 0.7%Native American, 22.9%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 12.9% fromother races, and 4.5% from two or more races. A total of 27.5% of the population wereHispanic or Latin Americanof any race. Thenon-Hispanic whitepopulation was 27.6%.^[93]In 2019, non-Hispanic whites made up an estimated 24.4% of the population, and Blacks or African Americans were 17.3%.^[99]The largest minority groups for the borough were Hispanic and Latin Americans (28.2%), and Asians (26.0%).

In Queens, residents consisted of 6.2% under 5, 13.9% 6–18, 64.2% 19–64, and 15.7% over 65. Females made up 51.5% of the population. An estimated 47.5% of residents are foreign-born in 2018. The per capita income was $28,814, and the median household income was $62,008. In 2018, 12.2% of residents lived below the poverty line.

The New York City Department of City Planning was alarmed by the negligible reported increase in population between 2000 and 2010. Areas with high proportions of immigrants and undocumented aliens are traditionally undercounted for a variety of reasons, often based on a mistrust of government officials or an unwillingness to be identified. In many cases, counts of vacant apartment units did not match data from local surveys and reports from property owners.^[100]

As of 2023^[update], illegalChinese immigrationto New York City, especially to Queens and itsFlushing Chinatown, has accelerated.^[101]

According to a 2001 Claritas study, Queens was the most diverse county in the United States among counties of 100,000+ population.^[102]A 2014 analysis byThe Atlanticfound Queens County to be the third most racially diverse county-equivalent in the United States—behindAleutians West Census AreaandAleutians East Boroughin Alaska—as well as the most diverse county in New York.^[8]Meanwhile, a 2017 study byAxiosfound that, although numerous smaller counties in the United States had higher rates of diversity, Queens was the United States' most diverse populous county.^[9]

In Queens, approximately 48.5% of the population wasforeign bornas of 2010. Within the foreign born population, 49.5% were born inLatin America, 33.5% in Asia, 14.8% in Europe, 1.8% in Africa, and 0.4% in North America. Roughly 2.1% of the population was born inPuerto Rico, a U.S. territory, or abroad to American parents. In addition, 51.2% of the population was born in the United States. Approximately 44.2% of the population over 5 years of age speak English at home; 23.8% speak Spanish at home. Also, 16.8% of the populace speak otherIndo-European languagesat home. Another 13.5% speak a non-Indo-EuropeanAsian languageor language of thePacific Islandsat home.^[103]

Among the Asian population in 2010, people ofChinese ethnicitymade up the largest ethnic group at 10.2% of Queens' population, with about 237,484 people; the other East and Southeast Asian groups are:Koreans(2.9%),Filipinos(1.7%),Japanese(0.3%),Thais(0.2%),Vietnamese(0.2%), andIndonesiansandBurmeseboth make up 0.1% of the population.^[104]People ofSouth Asiandescent made up 7.8% of Queens' population:Indians(5.3%),Bangladeshi(1.5%),Pakistanis(0.7%), andNepali(0.2%).^[104]In 2019, Chinese Americans remained the largest Asian ethnicity (10.9%) followed byAsian Indians(5.7%).^[99]Asian Indians had estimated population of 144,896 in 2014 (6.24% of the 2014 borough population),^[105]as well asPakistani Americans, who numbered at 15,604.^[106]Queens has the second largestSikhpopulation in the nation afterCalifornia.^[107]

Among the Hispanic or Latin American population,Puerto Ricansmade up the largest ethnic group at 4.6%, next toMexicans, who made up 4.2% of the population, andDominicansat 3.9%.Central Americansmade up 2.4% and are mostlySalvadorans.South Americansconstitute 9.6% of Queens's population, mainly ofEcuadorian(4.4%) andColombiandescent (4.2%).^[104]The 2019 American Community Survey estimated Mexicans and Puerto Ricans were equally the largest groups (4.5% each) in Queens, and Cuban Americans were the third largest single group. Other Hispanic and Latinos collectively made up 18.9% of the population.^[99]The Hispanic or Latino population increased by 61% to 597,773 between 1990 and 2006 and now accounts for over 26.5% of the borough's population.

Queens has the largestColombianpopulation in the city, accounting for over 35.6% of the city's total Colombian population, for a total of 145,956 in 2019;^[85]it also has the largestEcuadorianpopulation in the city, accounting for 62.2% of the city's total Ecuadorian population, for a total of 101,339. Queens has the largestPeruvianpopulation in the city, accounting for 69.9% of the city's total Peruvian population, for a total of 30,825. Queens has the largestSalvadoranpopulation in the city, accounting for 50.7% of the city for a total population of 25,235. TheMexicanpopulation in Queens has increased 45.7% since 2011 to 71,283, the second-highest in the city, after Brooklyn.^[108]

Queens is also home to 49.6% of the city's Asian population. Among the five boroughs, Queens has the largest population ofChinese,Indian,Korean,Filipino,BangladeshiandPakistani Americans. Queens has the largestAsian Americanpopulation by county outside theWestern United States; according to the 2006 American Community Survey, Queens ranks fifth among US counties with 477,772 (21.18%) Asian Americans, behindLos Angeles County, California,Honolulu County, Hawaii,Santa Clara County, California, andOrange County, California.

Some main European ancestries in Queens as of 2000 include:Italian(8.4%),Irish(5.5%),German(3.5%),Polish(2.7%),Russian(2.3%), andGreek(2.0%). Of theEuropean Americanpopulation, Queens has the third largestBosnianpopulation in the United States behind onlySt. LouisandChicago, numbering more than 15,000.^[109]Queens is home to some 50,000Armenian Americans.^[110]

TheJewish Community Study of New York 2011, sponsored by theUJA-Federation of New York, found that about 9% of Queens residents were Jews.^[111]In 2011, there were about 198,000Jews in Queens, making it home to about 13% of all people in Jewish households in the eight-county area consisting of the Five Boroughs andWestchester,Nassau, andSuffolkcounties.^[111]Russian-speaking Jews make up 28% of the Jewish population in Queens, the largest in any of the eight counties.^[112]

In Queens, the Black and African American population earns more than non-Hispanic whites on average.^[113]Many of these Blacks and African Americans live in quiet, middle-class suburban neighborhoods near the Nassau County border, such asLaureltonandCambria Heights, which have large Black populations whose family income is higher than average. The migration of European Americans from parts of Queens has been long ongoing with departures from Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Bellerose, Floral Park, and Flushing (most of the outgoing population has been replaced with Asian Americans). Neighborhoods such as Whitestone, College Point, North Flushing, Auburndale, Bayside, Middle Village, and Douglaston–Little Neck have not had a substantial exodus of white residents, but have seen an increase of Asian population, mostly Chinese and Korean. Queens has experienced areal estateboom making most of its neighborhoods desirable for people who want to reside near Manhattan but in a less urban setting.

According to the office of theNew York State Comptrollerin 2000, 138 languages are spoken in the borough.^[114]The 2021American Community Surveyby theUnited States Census Bureau, found that – of those over the age of five residing in Queens – 54.53% spoke a language other than English in the home. The following tables shows the 15 most common non-English languages in Queens, with the most prominent beingSpanish,Chinese, andBengali.

In 2010 statistics, the largest religious group in Queens was theDiocese of Brooklyn, with 677,520Roman Catholicsworshiping at 100 parishes, followed by an estimated 81,456Muslimswith 57 congregations, 80,000OrthodoxJews with 110 congregations, 33,325non-denominational Christianadherents with 129 congregations, 28,085AMEMethodists with 14 congregations, 24,250Greek Orthodoxwith 6 congregations, 16,775Hinduswith 18 congregations, 13,989AoGPentecostals with 64 congregations, 13,507Seventh-day Adventistswith 45 congregations, and 12,957MahayanaBuddhists with 26 congregations. Altogether, 49.4% of the population was claimed as members by religious congregations, although members of historically African American denominations were underrepresented due to incomplete information.^[115]In 2014, Queens had 738 religious organizations, the thirteenth most out of all U.S. counties.^[116]

Queens has been the center of the punk rock movement, particularly in New York;Ramonesoriginated out of Forest Hills,^[117]it has also been the home of such notable artists asTony Bennett,Francis Ford Coppola,Paul Simon, andRobert Mapplethorpe.

Queens Poet Laureates (generally, 3-year appointments):

• 1997–2001: Stephen Stepanchev (inaugural Poet Laureate)
• 2001–2004: Hal Sirowitz (born 1949)
• 2004–2007: Ishle Yi Park
• 2007–2010: Julio Marzan
• 2010–2014: Paolo Javier
• 2015–2019: Maria Lisella^[118]

Queens has notably fosteredAfrican American culture, with establishments such as The Afrikan Poetry Theatre and the Black Spectrum Theater Company catering specifically to African Americans in Queens.^[119][120]In the 1940s, Queens was an important center ofjazz; such jazz luminaries asLouis Armstrong,Charlie Parker, andElla Fitzgeraldtook up residence in Queens, seeking refuge from the segregation they found elsewhere in New York.^[121]Additionally, many notable hip-hop acts hail from Queens, includingNas,Run-D.M.C.,Kool G Rap,A Tribe Called Quest,LL Cool J,MC Shan,Mobb Deep,50 Cent,Nicki Minaj,Tony Yayo,Tragedy Khadafi,N.O.R.E., Lloyd Banks,Capone,Ja Rule,HeemsofDas RacistandAction Bronson.

Queens hosts various museums and cultural institutions that serve its diverse communities. They range from the historical (such as theJohn Bowne House) to the scientific (such as theNew York Hall of Science), from conventional art galleries (such as theNoguchi Museum) to unique graffiti exhibits (such as5 Pointz). Queens's cultural institutions include, but are not limited to:

The travel magazineLonely Planetalso named Queens the top destination in the country for 2015 for its cultural and culinary diversity.^[122]Stating that Queens is "quickly becoming its hippest" but that "most travelers haven't clued in... yet,"^[123]theLonely Planetstated that "nowhere is the image of New York as the global melting pot truer than Queens."^[124]

The cuisine available in Queens reflects its vast cultural diversity. The cuisine of a particular neighborhood often represents its demographics; for example,Astoriahosts manyGreek restaurants, in keeping with its traditionally Greek population.^[125]Jackson Heightsis known for its prominentIndian cuisineand also manyLatin American eateries.^[126]

TheQueens Night MarketinFlushing Meadows–Corona Park, operating since 2015 on Saturdays from April to October (with a break from late August to mid-September), offers samples of food capped at $6 from dozens of countries with attendance of up to 20,000 a night.^{[127][128][129]}

Queens has the second-largest economy of New York City's five boroughs, following Manhattan. In 2004, Queens had 15.2% (440,310) of all private-sector jobs in New York City and 8.8% of private-sector wages. In 2012, private-sector employment increased to 486,160.^[130]Queens has the most diversified economy of the five boroughs, with occupations spread relatively evenly across the health care, retail trade, manufacturing, construction, transportation, andfilmandtelevision productionsectors, such that no single sector is overwhelmingly dominant.^[13]

The diversification in Queens' economy is reflected in a large amount of employment in theexport-orientedportions of its economy—such as transportation, manufacturing, and business services—that serve customers outside the region. This accounts for more than 27% of all Queens jobs and offers an average salary of $43,727, 14% greater than that of jobs in the locally oriented sector.

The borough's largest employment sector—trade, transportation, and utilities—accounted for nearly 30% of all jobs in 2004; in 2012, its largest employment sector becamehealth careand social services.^[130]Queens is home to two of the three major New York City area airports,JFK International AirportandLaGuardia Airport. These airports are among the busiest in the world, leading the airspace above Queens to be the most congested in the country. This airline industry is particularly important to the economy of Queens, providing almost one-quarter of the sector's employment and more than 30% of the sector's wages.

Education and health services were the next largest sector in Queens and comprised almost 24% of the borough's jobs in 2004; in 2012, transportation and warehousing, and retail were the second largest at 12% each.^[130]The manufacturing and construction industries in Queens are among the largest of the city and accounted for nearly 17% of the borough's private sector jobs in 2004. Comprising almost 17% of the jobs in Queens is the information, financial activities, and business and professional services sectors in 2004.

As of 2003^[update], Queens had almost 40,000 business establishments. Small businesses act as an important part of the borough's economic vitality with two-thirds of all businesses employing between one and four people.

Several large companies have their headquarters in Queens, including watchmakerBulova, based inEast Elmhurst; internationally renowned piano manufacturerSteinway & Sonsin Astoria;Glacéau, the makers of Vitamin Water, headquartered inWhitestone; andJetBlue Airways, an airline based in Long Island City.

Long Island City is a major manufacturing and back-office center.Flushingis a major commercial hub for Chinese American and Korean American businesses, whileJamaicais the major civic and transportation hub for the borough.

Queens is home of theNew York MetsofMajor League Baseball.^[132]Founded in 1962 as an expansion team, the Mets have won 2World Serieschampionships and 5National Leaguepennants.Citi Fieldis a 41,922-seat stadium opened in April 2009 inFlushing Meadows–Corona Parkthat is the home ballpark of the Mets.^[133]Shea Stadium, the former home of the Mets and theNew York Jetsof theNational Football League, as well as the temporary home of theNew York Yankeesand theNew York Giants Football Teamstood where Citi Field's parking lot is now located, operating from 1964 to 2008.^[134]Queens is the future home of thenew stadiumforNew York City FCofMajor League Soccer, which is expected to be completed in 2027.^[135]

TheU.S. Opentennis tournament has been played since 1978 at theUSTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, located just south of Citi Field.^[136]With a capacity of 23,771,Arthur Ashe Stadiumisthe biggest tennis stadium in the world.^[137]The U.S. Open was formerly played at theWest Side Tennis ClubinForest Hills.^[138]South Ozone Parkis the home ofAqueduct Racetrack, which is operated by theNew York Racing Association, and offersThoroughbredhorse racing from late October/early November through April.^[139](TheBelmont Parkracetrack and the adjacentUBS Arena(home of theNew York Islandersof theNational Hockey League) sit entirely inNassau County, just over the City line; however, small sections of the properties of both venues are in Queens, as is theBelmont Park stationof theLong Island Rail Road.)

United States presidential election results for Queens County, New York ^{[140] [141] [142]}

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	212,665	26.92%	569,038	72.03%	8,278	1.05%
2016	149,341	21.76%	517,220	75.35%	19,832	2.89%
2012	118,589	19.92%	470,732	79.08%	5,924	1.00%
2008	155,221	24.25%	480,692	75.09%	4,224	0.66%
2004	165,954	27.41%	433,835	71.66%	5,603	0.93%
2000	122,052	21.95%	416,967	75.00%	16,972	3.05%
1996	107,650	21.05%	372,925	72.94%	30,721	6.01%
1992	157,561	28.34%	349,520	62.87%	48,875	8.79%
1988	217,049	39.70%	325,147	59.47%	4,533	0.83%
1984	285,477	46.38%	328,379	53.34%	1,722	0.28%
1980	251,333	44.81%	269,147	47.98%	40,443	7.21%
1976	244,396	38.95%	379,907	60.54%	3,200	0.51%
1972	426,015	56.34%	328,316	43.42%	1,756	0.23%
1968	306,620	40.03%	410,546	53.60%	48,746	6.36%
1964	274,351	33.59%	541,418	66.28%	1,059	0.13%
1960	367,688	45.07%	446,348	54.71%	1,863	0.23%
1956	466,057	59.39%	318,723	40.61%	0	0.00%
1952	450,610	57.11%	331,217	41.98%	7,194	0.91%
1948	323,459	50.58%	268,742	42.02%	47,342	7.40%
1944	365,365	55.33%	292,940	44.36%	2,071	0.31%
1940	323,406	52.68%	288,024	46.91%	2,524	0.41%
1936	162,797	33.02%	320,053	64.92%	10,159	2.06%
1932	136,641	34.32%	244,740	61.47%	16,760	4.21%
1928	158,505	45.87%	184,640	53.43%	2,411	0.70%
1924	100,793	53.57%	58,402	31.04%	28,974	15.40%
1920	94,360	68.71%	35,296	25.70%	7,668	5.58%
1916	34,670	50.54%	31,350	45.70%	2,575	3.75%
1912	9,201	16.49%	28,076	50.32%	18,521	33.19%
1908	19,420	44.13%	20,342	46.22%	4,246	9.65%
1904	14,096	41.44%	18,151	53.36%	1,770	5.20%
1900	12,323	43.94%	14,747	52.58%	976	3.48%
1896	18,694	58.03%	11,980	37.19%	1,539	4.78%
1892	11,704	41.71%	15,195	54.15%	1,161	4.14%
1888	11,017	45.95%	12,683	52.90%	275	1.15%
1884	8,445	43.80%	10,367	53.76%	471	2.44%
1880	8,151	43.73%	10,391	55.74%	99	0.53%
1876	6,970	40.99%	9,994	58.77%	41	0.24%
1872	6,083	51.74%	5,655	48.10%	19	0.16%
1868	4,973	43.77%	6,388	56.23%	0	0.00%
1864	4,284	44.24%	5,400	55.76%	0	0.00%
1860	3,749	46.05%	4,392	53.95%	0	0.00%
1856	1,886	27.73%	2,394	35.20%	2,521	37.07%
1852	2,209	43.06%	2,904	56.61%	17	0.33%
1848	2,444	53.66%	1,310	28.76%	801	17.59%
1844	2,547	48.07%	2,751	51.93%	0	0.00%
1840	2,522	49.70%	2,550	50.26%	2	0.04%
1836	1,399	45.82%	1,654	54.18%	0	0.00%
1832	1,400	45.83%	1,655	54.17%	0	0.00%
1828	1,379	54.98%	1,129	45.02%	0	0.00%

Party affiliation of Queens registered voters

Party	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996
Democratic	62.94%	62.52	62.85	62.79	62.99	62.52	62.30	62.27	62.28	62.33
Republican	14.60%	14.66	14.97	15.04	15.28	15.69	16.47	16.74	16.93	17.20
Other	3.88%	3.93	3.94	3.86	3.37	3.30	3.10	3.20	3.02	2.78
No affiliation	18.58%	18.89	18.24	18.31	18.36	18.49	18.13	17.79	17.77	17.69

Since New York City's consolidation in 1898, Queens has been governed by theNew York City Charterthat provides for a strongmayor–council system. The centralized New York City government is responsible forpublic education, correctional institutions,public safety, recreational facilities, sanitation, water supply, and welfare services in Queens. TheQueens Libraryis governed by a 19-member Board of Trustees, appointed by theMayor of New York Cityand theBorough Presidentof Queens.

Since 1990 the Borough President has acted as an advocate for the borough at the mayoral agencies, the City Council, the New York state government, and corporations. Queens' Borough President isDonovan Richards, elected in November 2020 as aDemocrat.Queens Borough Hallis the seat of government and is located inKew Gardens.

The Democratic Party holds most public offices. Sixty-three percent of registered Queens voters are Democrats. Local party platforms center on affordable housing, education, and economic development. Controversial political issues in Queens include development, noise, and the cost of housing.

Each of the city's five counties has its criminal court system andDistrict Attorney, the chief public prosecutor who is directly elected by popular vote.Richard A. Brown, who ran on both the Republican and Democratic Party tickets, was theDistrict Attorney of Queens Countyfrom 1991 to 2018. The new DA as of January 2020 isMelinda Katz.^[144]Queens has 12 seats on theNew York City Council, the second-largest number among the five boroughs. It is divided into 14 community districts, each served by a localCommunity Board. Community Boards are representative bodies that field complaints and serve as advocates for residents.

Although Queens is heavily Democratic, it is considered a swing county in New York politics.Republicanpolitical candidates who do well in Queens usually win citywide or statewide elections. Republicans such as former MayorsRudolph GiulianiandMichael Bloombergwon majorities in Queens. Republican State SenatorSerphin Malteserepresented a district in central and southern Queens for twenty years until his defeat in 2008 by Democratic City CouncilmanJoseph Addabbo, Jr.In 2002, Queens voted against incumbent RepublicanGovernor of New YorkGeorge Patakiin favor of his Democratic opponent,Carl McCallby a slim margin.^[145]

On the national level, Queens has not voted for a Republican candidate in a presidential election since 1972, when Queens voters choseRichard NixonoverGeorge McGovern. Since the1996 presidential election, Democratic presidential candidates have received over 70% of the popular vote in Queens.^[146]Since theelection of Donald Trump, Queens has become known in the United States for its surge inprogressivepolitics and grassroots campaigning.^[147]

As of 2024, five Democrats represent Queens in theUnited States House of Representatives.^[148]

• Tom Suozzi(first elected in 2016) representsNew York's 3rd congressional district, which covers the northeast Queens neighborhoods ofLittle Neck,Whitestone,Glen Oaks,Queens VillageandFloral Park. The district also covers theNorth ShoreofNassau County.^[148]
• Gregory Meeks(first elected in 1998) representsNew York's 5th congressional district, which covers the entireRockaway Peninsulaas well as the southeast Queens neighborhoods ofBroad Channel,Cambria Heights,Hollis,Jamaica,Laurelton,Rosedale,Saint Albans,Springfield Gardens, andSouth Ozone Park. The district also includesJohn F. Kennedy International Airport.^[148]
• Grace Meng(first elected in 2012) representsNew York's 6th congressional district, which includes the central and eastern Queens neighborhoods ofAuburndale,Bayside,Elmhurst,Flushing,Forest Hills,Glendale,Kew Gardens,Maspeth,Middle Village,Murray Hill, andRego Park.^[148]
• Nydia Velázquez(first elected in 1992) representsNew York's 7th congressional district, which includes the Queens neighborhoods ofMaspeth,Ridgewood,Woodhaven,SunnysideandLong Island City. The district also covers central and westernBrooklyn.^[148]
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez(first elected in 2018) representsNew York's 14th congressional district, which includes the northwest Queens neighborhoods ofAstoria,College Point,Corona,East Elmhurst,Jackson Heights,Woodside, and Elmhurst. The district also covers theEast Bronx.^[148]

The borough's diverse housing ranges fromhigh-riseapartment buildings in some areas of western and central Queens, such asForest Hills,Jackson Heights, Flushing,Astoria, and Long Island City; to lower-rise neighborhoods in the eastern part of the borough.^[149][150]There were 911,957 housing units in 2022^[151]at an average density of 8,388 units per square mile (3,239/km²). Affordable rental and co-operative housing units throughout the borough were created under theMitchell–Lama Housing Program.^[152]Public housing is administered by theNew York City Housing Authority, which accounts for more than 30,000 residents in more than 15,300 units in 2023.^[153]

Elementary and secondary school education in Queens is provided by a vast number of public and private institutions. Non-charter public schools in the borough are managed by theNew York City Department of Education,^[154]the largest public school system in the United States. Most private schools are affiliated with or identify themselves with theRoman CatholicorJewishreligious communities.Townsend Harris High Schoolis a Queens public magnet high school for the humanities consistently ranked as among the top 100 high schools in the United States. One of the nine Specialized High Schools in New York City is located in Queens. Located in theYork College, City University of New YorkCampus in Jamaica, theQueens High School for the Sciences at York College, which emphasizes both science and mathematics, ranks as one of the best high schools in both the state and the country. It is one of the smallest Specialized High Schools that requires an entrance exam, theSpecialized High Schools Admissions Test. The school has a student body of around 400 students.

• LaGuardia Community College, part of theCity University of New York(CUNY), is known as "The World's Community College" for its diverse international student body representing more than 150 countries and speaking over 100 languages. The college has been named a National Institution of Excellence by thePolicy Center on the First Year of College. In a 2003 benchmark survey, in the Large Community College category (8,000–14,999 students), LaGuardia was one of threecommunity collegesranked number one, nationally.^[155]The college hosts theLaGuardia and Wagner Archives.
• Queens Collegeis one of the elite colleges in the CUNY system. Established in 1937 to offer a strong liberal arts education to the residents of the borough, Queens College has over 16,000 students including more than 12,000 undergraduates and over 4,000 graduate students. Students from 120 countries speaking 66 different languages are enrolled at the school, which is located inFlushing. Queens College is also the host ofCUNY's law school. The Queens College Campus is also the home ofTownsend Harris High Schooland the Queens College School for Math, Science, and Technology (PS/IS 499).
• Queensborough Community College, originally part of theState University of New York, is in Bayside and is now part of CUNY. It prepares students to attend senior colleges mainly in the CUNY system.
• St. John's Universityis a private, coeducational Roman Catholic university founded in 1870 by theVincentian Fathers. With over 19,000 students, St. John's is known for its pharmacy, business and law programs as well as its men's basketball and soccer teams.
• Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technologyis a private, cutting edge, degree-granting institution located across the Grand Central Parkway from LaGuardia Airport. Its presence underscores the importance of aviation to the Queens economy.
• York Collegeis one of CUNY's leading general-purpose liberal arts colleges, granting bachelor's degrees in more than 40 fields, as well as a combined BS/MS degree in Occupational Therapy. Noted for its Health Sciences Programs York College is also home to the Northeast Regional Office of theFood and Drug Administration.

TheQueens Public Libraryis the public library system for the borough and one of three library systems serving New York City. Dating back to the foundation of the first Queens library in Flushing in 1858, the Queens Public Library is one of the largest public library systems in the United States. Separate from theNew York Public Library, it is composed of 63 branches throughout the borough. In the fiscal year 2001, the Library achieved a circulation of 16.8 million. The Library has maintained the highest circulation of any city library in the country since 1985 and the highest circulation of any library in the nation since 1987. The Library maintains collections in many languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Haitian Creole, Polish, and six Indic languages, as well as smaller collections in 19 other languages.

According to 2011–2015ACSmicrodata, 38% of Queens households did not own a car; the citywide rate is 55%.^[156]

As of 2019, the city had about 80,000 for-hire vehicles, of which, two-thirds wereride-hail–Uber,Lyft,Via, andJuno.^[157]Until theCOVID-19 pandemic, the ride-hail car offered aride-shareoption. There are about 13,500 traditional taxis (yellow cabs withmedallions) in the city, 7,676boro taxis, 38,791 black cars, 21,932 livery cars, 288 commuter vans, and 2,206 paratransit vehicles.

Zipcar, and others, entered New York City market in 2002 offeringroundtripcar sharingfrom private locations, mostly from parking garages. In 2018, the city partnered with the roundtrip car share companies, led by Zipcar, to launch the nation's largest on-street car-sharing program with the greatesttake-upinThe Bronxand in Queens –Jackson Heights,Jamaica, andFar Rockaway.^{[158][159][160][161][162]}In 2020, during beginning throes of theCOVID-19 pandemic,Enterprise CarSharesuspended service in New York City. Among the traditional car rental locations in Queens, both international airports harbor larger fleets, conveniently close to Queens residents.

Citi Bike– a docked-bikeand e-bike sharing company had, as of July 2019, 169,000 annual subscribers. In 2021, theDepartment of Transportationand Citi Bike announced that, as part of its Phase 3 expansion, it was doubling its service area to 70 square miles and tripling the number of bikes to 40,000. The expansion includes 52 new docking stations in Astoria, as well as new stations in Sunnyside and Woodside.^[163]

Non-docked e-mopedservice was launched in the city byRevelin 2019. Companies such asBird,Lime, VeoRide introduced non-dockede-scooter-sharingin 2021.^[164]

Queens has crucial importance in international and interstate air traffic, with two of theNew York metropolitan area's three major airports located there.John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), in 2019, before theCOVID-19 pandemic, served 62.6 million passengers (enplanements + deplanements) – 34.3 million of which were international, ranking it thebusiest airport in the United States by international passenger traffic. In response to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the United States imposed travel restrictions, first, in January 2020, on travelers from China and, in the following months, on travelers from other countries. 2020 annual passenger traffic at JFK dropped to 16.6 million (−73.4%) – 8.4 million (−73.4%) of which were international, still ranking it the busiest airport in the United States by international passenger traffic.^[166][167]

JFK is owned by the City of New York and managed, since 1947, by thePort Authority of New York and New Jersey. The airport's runways and six terminals cover an area of 4,930 acres (2,000 ha) onJamaica Bayin southeastern Queens.^[168]The airport's original official name was New York International Airport, although it was commonly known as Idlewild, with the name changed to Kennedy in December 1963 to honor theassassination of John F. Kennedy, November 22, 1963.^[169]

LaGuardia Airportis located inEast Elmhurst, in northern Queens, onFlushing Bay. Originally opened in 1939, the airport's two runways and four terminals cover 680 acres (280 ha), serving 28.4 million passengers in 2015.^[170]In 2014, citing outdated conditions in the airport's terminals, Vice President Joe Biden compared LaGuardia Airport to a "third worldcountry".^[171]In 2015, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey began a $4 billion project to renovate LaGuardia Airport's terminals and entryways. The project is expected to be complete by 2021.^[165]

Queens is served by theNew York City Subway, with 81 stations located within the borough.^[172]Two physical lines — theIRT Flushing Lineand theIND Queens Boulevard Line— serve as the primary east–west trunk lines in the borough, with all services on the two lines continuing across the East River into Manhattan. Two additional lines are wholly within Queens: theBMT Astoria Line, which serves the neighborhoods ofAstoriaand Ditmars–Steinway, and theIND Rockaway Line, which provides access toJohn F. Kennedy International Airportand theRockaways. In addition, five other New York City Subway lines — theBMT Jamaica Line,BMT Myrtle Avenue Line,BMT/IND Archer Avenue Line,IND Crosstown Line, andIND Fulton Street Line— run between Brooklyn and Queens.

TheA,G,J/Z, andMroutes connect Queens to Brooklyn without going through Manhattan first. TheF,N, andRtrains connect Queens and Brooklyn via Manhattan, while theE,W, and7/<7>trains connect Queens to Manhattan only. TheLtrain briefly enters Queens atHalsey Street, connecting Queens to either Brooklyn or both Brooklyn and Manhattan, depending on the direction.^[172]In addition, theRockaway Park Shuttleoperates strictly in the neighborhoods ofRockaway ParkandBroad Channel.^[172]

TheLong Island Rail Road, also part of theMTA, operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays – carrying an average of 301,000 customers a day (80 million a year, adjusting downward for weekends) on about 735 scheduled trains.^[173]It is the busiest commuter rail hub in the United States. Most of its branches originate or terminate atPenn Station. All but one of its branches (thePort Washington Branch) pass throughJamaica. Within theCity Terminal Zone, Queens has stations inLong Island City,Hunterspoint Avenue(inLong Island City),Bayside,Forest Hills,Flushing,Woodside, andKew Gardens. There are also two stations where LIRR passengers can transfer to the subway.

Until 1998, the LIRR served 5 stations on the Lower Montauk branch between Jamaica and Hunterspoint Avenue. The LIRR used the track for non-stop service between Jamaica and Hunterspoint until 2012, when service was rerouted onto the main line and the line was leased to theNew York and Atlantic Railway.^[174]

Sunnyside Yardis used to storeAmtrakintercity andNJ Transitcommuter trains from Penn Station in Manhattan. The US$11.1 billionEast Side Accessproject, which brought LIRR trains toGrand Central Terminalin Manhattan, opened in 2023; this project created a new train tunnel beneath theEast River, connectingLong Island Cityin Queens with theEast Sideof Manhattan.^[175][176]

The elevatedAirTrainpeople moversystem connects JFK International Airport to the New York City Subway and the Long Island Rail Road along the Van Wyck Expressway;^[177]a separate AirTrain system is planned alongside theGrand Central Parkwayto connect LaGuardia Airport to these transit systems.^[178][179]Plans were announced in July 2015 to entirely rebuild LaGuardia Airport itself in a multibillion-dollar project to replace its aging facilities, and this project would accommodate the new AirTrain connection.^[165]

2019 bus ridership, citywide, on the MTA system, was 2.2 million per average weekday – about 678 million for the year. In Queens, theQ58andQ44Select Bus Servicewere the seventh and tenth, respectively, citywide, busiest local lines in 2019.^[180]In addition to regular bus lines servingLaGuardia Airport, the MTA offers twoSelect Bus Services, regular fare, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TheM60– terminalsA,B,C,D– to and fromManhattanviaGrand Central Parkwayand theTriborough Bridge– inHarlem, along125th Street(with a stop at the125th Street Metro-North station), ending inMorningside Heightson theUpper West Side, a few blocks south ofColumbia University. TheQ70– terminalsB,C,D– through Queens, ending inWoodsideat 61st Street andRoosevelt Avenue. Overall, about100 local bus routesoperate within Queens, and another20 express routesshuttle commuters between Queens and Manhattan, under theMTA New York City Bus and MTA Busbrands.^[181]

Astreetcarlineconnecting Queens with Brooklynwas proposed by the city in February 2016.^[182][183]The planned timeline originally called for service to begin around 2024.^[184]In September 2020, Mayor de Blasio deferred decisions on the project to after the2021 New York City mayoral election.^[185]

New York Water Taxioperates service across theEast RiverfromHunters Pointin Long Island City to Manhattan at34th Streetand south to Pier 11 atWall Street. In 2007, limited weekday service was begun betweenBreezy Point, the westernmost point in the Rockaways, to Pier 11 via theBrooklyn Army Terminal. Summertime weekend service provides service from Lower Manhattan and southwest Brooklyn to the peninsula'sGatewaybeaches.

In theaftermathofHurricane Sandyon October 29, 2012, ferry operatorSeaStreakbegan running a city-subsidized ferry service between a makeshift ferry slip at Beach 108th Street andBeach Channel DriveinRockaway Parkand piers in Manhattan and Brooklyn.^[186]The service was extended multiple times.^[187]finally ending on October 31, 2014.^[188]

In February 2015, MayorBill de Blasioannounced that the city government would begin a citywide ferry service calledNYC Ferryto extend ferry transportation to communities in the city that have been traditionally underserved by public transit.^[189][190]The ferry opened in May 2017,^[191][192]with the Queens neighborhoods of Rockaway and Astoria served by their eponymous routes. A third route, theEast River Ferry, servesHunter's Point South.^[193]

Queens is traversed by three trunk east–west highways. TheLong Island Expressway(Interstate 495) runs from theQueens Midtown Tunnelon the west through the borough to Nassau County on the east. TheGrand Central Parkway, whose western terminus is theTriborough Bridge, extends east to the Queens/Nassau border, where the roadway continues as theNorthern State Parkway. TheBelt Parkwaybegins at theGowanus Expresswayin Brooklyn, and extends east into Queens, pastAqueduct Racetrackand JFK Airport. On its eastern end at the Queens/Nassau border, it splits into theSouthern State Parkwaywhich continues east, and theCross Island Parkwaywhich turns north.^[194]

There are also several major north–south highways in Queens, including theBrooklyn-Queens Expressway(Interstate 278), theVan Wyck Expressway(Interstate 678), theClearview Expressway(Interstate 295), and the Cross Island Parkway.^[194]

Queens has six state highways that run west–east largely on surface roads. From north to south, they areNew York State Route 25A(Northern Boulevard),New York State Route 25B(Hillside Avenue),New York State Route 25(Queens Boulevard, Hillside Avenue, and Braddock Avenue),New York State Route 24(Hempstead Avenue), andNew York State Route 27(Conduit Avenue). The only state highway that primarily uses an expressway isNew York State Route 878, which uses the Nassau Expressway in southern Queens.^[194]

The streets of Queens are laid out in a semi-gridsystem, with a numerical system ofstreet names(similar to Manhattan and the Bronx). Nearly all roadways oriented north–south are "Streets", while east–west roadways are "Avenues", beginning with the number 1 in the west for Streets and the north for Avenues. In some parts of the borough, several consecutive streets may share numbers (for instance, 72nd Street followed by 72nd Place and 72nd Lane, or 52nd Avenue followed by 52nd Road, 52nd Drive, and 52nd Court), often confusing non-residents.^[195]Also, incongruous alignments of street grids, unusual street paths due to geography, or other circumstances often lead to the skipping of numbers (for instance, on Ditmars Boulevard, 70th Street is followed by Hazen Street which is followed by 49th Street). Numbered roads tend to be residential, although numbered commercial streets are not rare. A fair number of streets that were country roads in the 18th and 19th centuries (especially major thoroughfares such asNorthern Boulevard,Queens Boulevard,Hillside Avenue, andJamaica Avenue) carry names rather than numbers, typically though not uniformly called "Boulevards" or "Parkways".

Queenshouse numberingwas designed to provide convenience in locating the address itself; the first half of a number in a Queens address refers to the nearest cross street, the second half refers to the house or lot number from where the street begins from that cross street, followed by the name of the street itself. For example, to find an address in Queens, 14-01 120th Street, one could ascertain from the address structure itself that the listed address is at the intersection of 14th Avenue and 120th Street and that the address must be closest to 14th Avenue rather than 15th Avenue, as it is the first lot on the block. This pattern does not stop when a street is named, assuming that there is an existing numbered cross-street. For example,Queens Collegeis situated at 65–30 Kissena Boulevard, and is so named because the cross-street closest to the entrance is 65th Avenue.^[195]

Many of the village street grids of Queens had only worded names, some were numbered according to local numbering schemes, and some had a mix of words and numbers. In the early 1920s, a "Philadelphia Plan" was instituted to overlay one numbered system upon the whole borough. The Topographical Bureau, Borough of Queens, worked out the details. Subway stations were only partly renamed, and some, including those along theIRT Flushing Line(7and<7>trains), now share dual names after the original street names.^[196]In 2012, some numbered streets in theDouglaston Hill Historic Districtwere renamed to their original names, with 43rd Avenue becoming Pine Street.^[197]

The Rockaway Peninsula does not follow the same system as the rest of the borough and has its own numbering system. Streets are numbered in ascending order heading west from near the Nassau County border, and are prefixed with the word "Beach." Streets at the easternmost end, however, are nearly all named.Bayswater, which is on Jamaica Bay, has its numbered streets prefixed with the word "Bay" rather than "Beach". Another deviation from the norm isBroad Channel; it maintains the north–south numbering progression but uses only the suffix "Road", as well as the prefixes "West" and "East", depending on location relative toCross Bay Boulevard, the neighborhood's major through street. Broad Channel's streets were a continuation of the mainland Queens grid in the 1950s; formerly the highest-numbered avenue in Queens was 208th Avenue rather than today's 165th Avenue in Howard Beach & Hamilton Beach. The other exception is the neighborhood of Ridgewood, which for the most part shares a grid andhouse numberingsystem with the Brooklyn neighborhood ofBushwick. The grid runs east–west from the LIRRBay Ridge Branchright-of-wayto Flushing Avenue; and north–south from Forest Avenue in Ridgewood to Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn before adjusting to meet up with theBedford-Stuyvesantgrid at Broadway. All streets on the grid have names.

Queens is connected to the Bronx by theBronx–Whitestone Bridge, theThrogs Neck Bridge, theTriborough Bridge(also known as the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge), and theHell Gate Bridge. Queens is connected to Manhattan Island by the Triborough Bridge, theQueensboro Bridge, and theQueens–Midtown Tunnel, as well as toRoosevelt Islandby theRoosevelt Island Bridge.

While most of the Queens/Brooklyn border is on land, theKosciuszko Bridgecrosses theNewtown CreekconnectingMaspethtoGreenpoint, Brooklyn. ThePulaski BridgeconnectsMcGuinness Boulevardin Greenpoint to 11th Street, Jackson Avenue, and Hunters Point Avenue inLong Island City. The J. J. Byrne Memorial Bridge (a.k.a.Greenpoint Avenue Bridge) connects the sections ofGreenpoint Avenuein Greenpoint and Long Island City. A lesser bridge connectsGrand Avenue in Queens to Grand Street in Brooklyn.

TheCross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge, built in 1939, traverses Jamaica Bay to connect the Rockaway Peninsula toBroad Channeland the rest of Queens.^[198]Constructed in 1937, theMarine Parkway–Gil Hodges Memorial BridgelinksFlatbush Avenue, Brooklyn's longest thoroughfare, withJacob Riis Parkand the western end of the Peninsula.^[199]Both crossings were built and continue to be operated by what is now known asMTA Bridges and Tunnels. TheIND Rockaway Lineparallels the Cross Bay, has a mid-bay station atBroad Channelwhich is just a short walk from theJamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, now part ofGateway National Recreation Areaand a major stop on theAtlantic Flyway.

Many public figures have grown up or lived in Queens.^[200]Donald Trump, a businessman who became the45th President of the United States, was born in Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and raised at81-15 Wareham PlaceinJamaica Estates, later moving to Midland Parkway.^{[201][202][203]}He was preceded in the White House by formerFirst LadyNancy Reagan, who lived in Flushing as a child.^[204]Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President, lived atSagamore HillinOyster Bayfrom the mid-1880s until he died;^[205]the area was considered part of Queens until the formation of neighboringNassau Countyin 1899.

Musicians raised in the borough include

• Nas,
• LL Cool J,
• N.O.R.E,
• Nicki Minaj,^[206]
• 50 Cent,
• the Ramones,
• Nina Sky,
• A Tribe Called Quest,
• Ace Frehleyof
• KISS,
• Mobb Deep,
• Onyx,
• Ja Rule,
• Lloyd Banks,
• Tony Yayo,
• Run–D.M.C.,
• PepaofSalt-N-Pepa,^[207]
• Lil Tecca,
• Rich The Kid,
• Action Bronson,
• Nadia Ali,^[208]
• andTony Bennett.^[209]

Jazz greatsLouis ArmstrongandNorman Mappboth resided inCorona, as well asfolk rockduoSimon & Garfunkel^[210]andguitaristsScott IanandJohnny Ramone.^[211]K-poprapperMark Leefrom the boy groupNCTgrew up in Queens before moving to Canada.Madonna, from 1979 to 1980, lived in Corona as a member of the band Breakfast Club.^[212]Actors and actresses such asAdrien Brody,^[213]Zoe Saldaña,Lucy Liu,^[214]John Leguizamo,Susan Sarandon, andIdina Menzel^[215]were born or raised in Queens. ActressMae Westalso lived in Queens.^[216]Writers from Queens includeJohn Guare(The House of Blue Leaves) andLaura Z. Hobson(Gentleman's Agreement). Mafia bossJohn Gottilived in Queens for many years.^[217]Richard Feynman, a scientist who was awarded theNobel Prize in Physics, was born in Queens and grew up inFar Rockaway.^[218]Lee "Q" O'Denat, founder ofWorldStarHipHopwas fromHollis.

Queens has also been home to athletes such as:

• Professional basketball playerRafer Alston^[219]Basketball players
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,^[b][220]Metta World Peace,^[c][221]andCeleste Taylor^[222]were born in Queens, as were Olympic athletes
• Bob Beamon^[223]
• andDalilah Muhammad.^[224]

Tennis starJohn McEnroe^[225]was born inDouglaston.Hall of Famebaseball pitcherWhitey Fordgrew up in Astoria.^[226]JournalistMarie Colvinwas a native of Queens.

Queens has also served as a setting for various fictional characters, includingPeter Parker / Spider-ManfromMarvel Comics. He grew up inForest Hillswith hisAunt MayandUncle Ben,^[227]andArchie BunkerofAll in the Family, who lived at the fictional 704 Hauser Street inAstoria.^[228]

Several large cemeteries in Queens –St. Michaels,Luthern,Calvary,Cypress Hill,Mt. OlivetandMt. Zion– together with several in Brooklyn are collectively known as The Cemetery Belt. There are about five million burials in the borough and Calvary, with about 3 million burials,^[229]has the largest number of interments of any cemetery in the United States.^[230]

• List of tallest buildings in Queens
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Queens County, New York
• Queens directories

• Official History Page of the Queens Borough President's Office
• La Guardia and Wagner Archives/Queens Local History CollectionArchivedApril 22, 2012, at theWayback Machine
• "They Came from Queens".Queens Tribune. Vol. 40, no. 30. August 4, 2010 – viaISSUU.
• Queens Buzz