149-405: (Redirected from New York World’s Fair ) New York World's Fair may refer to: 1939 New York World's Fair 1964 New York World's Fair Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title New York World's Fair . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
298-504: A dividend to its bondholders. In large part due to inclement weather, some concessionaires considered closing their attractions, and the fair had recorded nearly 3 million fewer visitors during the 1940 season compared with the equivalent time period in 1939. The WFC planned to distribute posters advertising the fair, and bondholders agreed to waive $ 14.5 million of the WFC's debt. The WFC also began selling off materials and memorabilia from
447-446: A $ 4.15 million net profit. In the fair's last week, the WFC hosted extravagant shows such as fireworks displays. The fair had 537,952 visitors on its final day, October 27, 1940. The day afterward, passersby were allowed to tour the grounds for $ 2. In total, the fair had recorded 19,115,713 million visitors during 1940; even accounting for the second season's shorter duration, it had fewer daily visitors on average than in 1939. During
596-721: A 2001 Claritas study, Queens was the most diverse county in the United States among counties of 100,000+ population. A 2014 analysis by The Atlantic found Queens County to be the third most racially diverse county-equivalent in the United States—behind Aleutians West Census Area and Aleutians East Borough in Alaska—as well as the most diverse county in New York. Meanwhile, a 2017 study by Axios found that, although numerous smaller counties in
745-591: A New Day". The 1,202-acre (486 ha) fairground consisted of seven color-coded zones, as well as two standalone focal exhibits. The fairground had about 375 buildings . Plans for the 1939 World's Fair were first announced in September 1935, and the New York World's Fair Corporation (WFC) began constructing the fairground in June 1936. The fair opened on April 30, 1939, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of
894-555: A centrally located Court of Peace, a Lagoon of Nations, and a smaller Court of States. The Hall of Nations consisted of eight buildings, which flanked the Court of Peace. Countries could build their own pavilions, lease space in the Hall of Nations, or do both. Most of the U.S. state pavilions were located around the Court of States, which had a lagoon, and replicated notable buildings or architectural styles in each state. Southwest of
1043-592: A decline to 2,253,858. 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. In the 2010 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. The population density was 20,465.3 inhabitants per square mile (7,901.7 inhabitants/km ). There were 835,127 housing units at an average density of 7,661.7 units per square mile (2,958.2/km ). The racial makeup of
1192-415: A high temperature of 90 °F (32 °C) or warmer. In an average year, there are 14 days on which the temperature does not go above 32 °F (0 °C) all day. Spring and autumn can vary from chilly to very warm. The highest temperature ever recorded at LaGuardia Airport was 107 °F (42 °C) on July 3, 1966. The highest temperature ever recorded at John F. Kennedy International Airport
1341-568: A month and a half before the fair's official opening, Whalen announced plans to spend $ 1 million on shows and miniature villages in the Amusement Area. The lights on the fairground were first turned on that April, three weeks before the fair's scheduled opening. In addition, La Guardia issued a proclamation declaring April 1939 as "Dress Up and Paint Up Month" in New York City. Sixteen thousand workers were putting final touches on
1490-495: A new building was erected about 1787 (and later completed) in an area near Mineola (now in Nassau County) known then as Clowesville. The 1850 United States census was 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
1639-484: A parade celebrating the opening. The fair received 600,000 visitors on its first day, far short of the 1 million visitors that the WFC had predicted. At the time, many major attractions in the Amusement Area were incomplete, and only 80% of the structures were ready. The fair accommodated one million visitors in its first four days. By mid-May, the fair was 90% finished, but many of the amusement attractions were still incomplete. The WFC's operations department oversaw
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#17328014230201788-473: A similar fair. The New York Times attributes the idea for the 1939 New York World's Fair to the civil engineer Joseph Shadgen , who had come up with the idea in 1934 following a conversation with his daughter. By early 1935, a group led by the municipal reformer George McAneny was considering an international exposition in New York City in 1939. Though the date coincided with the 150th anniversary of George Washington's first inauguration , Moses said
1937-685: A sixth town, the Town of North Hempstead , was formed through secession by the northern portions of the Town of Hempstead. The seat of the county government was located first in Jamaica, but the courthouse was torn down by the British during the American Revolution to use the materials to build barracks. After the war, various buildings in Jamaica temporarily served as courthouse and jail until
2086-507: A substantial exodus of white residents, but have seen an increase of Asian population, mostly Chinese and Korean. Queens has experienced a real estate boom 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 the New York State Comptroller in 2000, 138 languages are spoken in the borough. The 2021 American Community Survey by
2235-543: A time bomb at the British Pavilion died when the bomb detonated; the bombing was never solved, and visitors were largely unaware that it had even occurred. Following the bombing, security outside European countries' pavilions was increased. Later the same month, the WFC began surveying the fair's buildings, with plans to demolish them. At the midpoint of the season, in August 1940, the WFC had to postpone paying
2384-496: Is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn and by Nassau County to its east, and shares maritime borders with the boroughs of Manhattan , the Bronx , and Staten Island , as well as with New Jersey . Queens is the most linguistically and ethnically diverse place in the world. With a population of 2,405,464 as of the 2020 census , Queens is the second-most populous county in New York state, behind Kings County (Brooklyn), and
2533-748: Is crossed by the Long Island straddling terminal moraine created by the Wisconsin Glacier . The Rockaway Peninsula , the southernmost part of all of Queens, sits between Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, featuring 7 miles (11 km) of beaches. Under the Köppen climate classification , Queens has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) with partial shielding from the Appalachian Mountains and moderating influences from
2682-741: Is highly diverse. Queens was established in 1683 as one of the original 12 counties of the Province of New York . The settlement was named after the English Queen and Portuguese royal princess Catherine of Braganza (1638–1705). From 1683 to 1899, the County of Queens included what is now Nassau County. Queens became a borough during the consolidation of New York City in 1898, combining the towns of Long Island City , Newtown , Flushing , Jamaica , and western Hempstead . All except Hempstead are today considered neighborhoods of Queens. Queens has
2831-661: Is the East River, across which is Manhattan to the west and The Bronx to the north. Nassau County is east of Queens on Long Island. Staten Island is southwest of Brooklyn, and shares only a three-mile-long water border (in the Outer Bay) with Queens. North of Queens are Flushing Bay and the Flushing River , connecting to the East River . The East River opens into Long Island Sound . The midsection of Queens
2980-671: Is the record in Queens. Tornadoes are generally rare; the most recent tornado, an EF0 , touched down in College Point on August 3, 2018, causing minor damage. Before that, there was a tornado in Breezy Point on September 8, 2012, which damaged the roofs of some homes, and an EF1 tornado in Flushing on September 26, 2010. Four United States Postal Service postal zones serve Queens, based roughly on those serving
3129-411: Is therefore also the second-most populous of the five New York City boroughs. If Queens were its own city, it would be the fourth most-populous in the U.S. after the rest of New York City , Los Angeles , and Chicago . Queens is the fourth-most densely populated borough in New York City and the fourth-most densely populated U.S. county . As approximately 47% of its residents are foreign-born , Queens
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#17328014230203278-422: Is today the borough of Queens. Originally, Queens County included the adjacent area now comprising Nassau County . It was an original county of New York State, one of twelve created on November 1, 1683. The county is presumed to have been named after Catherine of Braganza , since she was queen of England at the time (she was Portugal's royal princess Catarina, daughter of King John IV of Portugal ). The county
3427-522: The 1939–1940 New York World's Fair ) was an international exposition at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens , New York City, United States. The fair included exhibitions, activities, performances, films, art, and food presented by 62 nations, 35 U.S. states and territories, and 1,400 organizations and companies. Slightly more than 45 million people attended over two seasons. It was based on "the world of tomorrow", with an opening slogan of "Dawn of
3576-626: The 1964 New York World's Fair on the same site. The fair hosted many activities and cultural events. Participating governments, businesses, and organizations were celebrated on specific theme days. Musical performances took place in conjunction with the fair, and sculptures and artworks were displayed throughout the fairground and within pavilions. The fairground also displayed consumer products , including electronic devices, and there were dozens of restaurants and concession stands. The exposition spurred increased spending in New York City and indirectly influenced Queens's further development. Artifacts from
3725-518: The 2020 census , 2,405,464 people lived in Queens. In 2018's American Community Survey , the population of Queens was estimated by the United States Census Bureau to 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
3874-901: The Aqueduct Racetrack . Flushing is undergoing rapid gentrification with investment by Chinese transnational entities, while Long Island City is undergoing gentrification secondary to its proximity across the East River from Manhattan. The first European settlement in the region was the Dutch , who established the colony of New Netherland . The first settlements were established in 1635 followed by further settlement at Maspeth in 1642 (ultimately unsuccessful), and Vlissingen (now Flushing ) in 1645. Other early settlements included Newtown (now Elmhurst ) in 1652 and Jamaica in 1655. However, these towns were mostly inhabited by English settlers from New England via eastern Long Island ( Suffolk County ) who were subject to Dutch law. After
4023-710: The Battle of Long Island was 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 the Revolutionary War . Under the Quartering Act , British soldiers used, as barracks , the public inns and uninhabited buildings belonging to Queens residents. Even though many residents opposed unannounced quartering, they supported
4172-617: The Colony of New York were redefined. Queens gained North and South Brother Islands as well as Huletts Island (today known as Rikers Island ). On December 3, 1768, Queens gained other islands in Long Island Sound that were not already assigned to a county but that did not abut on Westchester County (today's Bronx County ). Queens played a minor role in the American Revolution , as compared to Brooklyn, where
4321-622: The Crosley Corporation and WNYC both had radio broadcasting studios there. The WFC hired Exposition Publications to print a guidebook, souvenir book, and daily programs, and it promoted 17 other publications about the fair. The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) retroactively recognized the 1939 World's Fair as an official World Expo, even though the BIE's rules permitted official Expos to run for only one year. Whalen agreed to hire only union laborers to install exhibits on
4470-612: The East River in 1910. From 1915 onward, much of Queens was connected to the New York City Subway system. With the 1915 construction of the Steinway Tunnel carrying the IRT Flushing Line between Queens and Manhattan, and the robust expansion of the use of the automobile , the population of Queens more than doubled in the 1920s, from 469,042 in 1920 to 1,079,129 in 1930. In later years, Queens
4619-676: The European American population, Queens has the third largest Bosnian population in the United States behind only St. Louis and Chicago , numbering more than 15,000. Queens is home to some 50,000 Armenian Americans . The Jewish Community Study of New York 2011 , sponsored by the UJA-Federation of New York , found that about 9% of Queens residents were Jews. In 2011, there were about 198,000 Jews in Queens , making it home to about 13% of all people in Jewish households in
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4768-572: The International Convention Bureau endorsed the 1939 World's Fair, allowing the bureau's 21 member countries to host exhibits there, and Lehman also invited the governors of all other U.S. states. By the beginning of 1937, eleven hundred concessionaires had applied for concessions at the fair, and nine buildings were under construction. The WFC unveiled a model of the fairground at its Empire State Building headquarters that March. Workers had finished grading and filling
4917-517: The Trylon and Perisphere , the fair's symbol and primary theme center. The Trylon and Perisphere were the only structures on the fairground that were painted completely white; the buildings in the surrounding zones were color-coded . The fairground had 34 miles (55 km) of sidewalks and 17 miles (27 km) of roads, in addition to dozens of miles of sewers, water mains, gas mains, and electrical ducts. About 850 phone booths were scattered across
5066-417: The United States Census Bureau , Queens County has a total area of 178 square miles (460 km ), of which 109 square miles (280 km ) is land and 70 square miles (180 km ) (39%) is water. Brooklyn , the only other New York City borough on Long Island, lies just south and west of Queens. Newtown Creek , an estuary that flows into the East River , forms part of the border. To the west and north
5215-1000: The United 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 being Spanish , Chinese , and Bengali . In 2010 statistics, the largest religious group in Queens was the Diocese of Brooklyn , with 677,520 Roman Catholics worshiping at 100 parishes, followed by an estimated 81,456 Muslims with 57 congregations, 80,000 Orthodox Jews with 110 congregations, 33,325 non-denominational Christian adherents with 129 congregations, 28,085 AME Methodists with 14 congregations, 24,250 Greek Orthodox with 6 congregations, 16,775 Hindus with 18 congregations, 13,989 AoG Pentecostals with 64 congregations, 13,507 Seventh-day Adventists with 45 congregations, and 12,957 Mahayana Buddhists with 26 congregations. Altogether, 49.4% of
5364-441: The first inauguration of George Washington . When World War II began four months into the 1939 World's Fair, many exhibits were affected, and some exhibits were forced to close after the first season. The fair attracted over 45 million visitors and ultimately recouped only 32% of its original cost. After the fair ended on October 27, 1940, most pavilions were demolished or removed, though some buildings were relocated or retained for
5513-473: The 1940 season, annuals and trees were added instead of the tulips, and a woodland garden was added. Despite the fair's futuristic theme, the fairground's layout—with streets radiating from the theme center—was heavily inspired by classical architecture . Some streets in the fairground were named after notable Manhattan thoroughfares or American historical figures, while others were named based on their function. A central esplanade called Constitution Mall
5662-534: The 1940 season, attendance had exceeded 100,000 on only 59 days. The fair had attracted just over 45 million visitors across both seasons. The 1940 season also recorded little crime, with 96 arrests and one violent crime (the July 4 bombing). The fairground was divided into seven geographic or thematic zones, five of which had "focal exhibits", and there were two focal exhibits housed in their own buildings. The plan called for wide tree-lined pathways converging on
5811-614: The 1940 season, while most of the exhibitors who had withdrawn were more likely to be renting space from the WFC. The commission also signed agreements with several trade unions to avert strikes and disputes; there was a brief strike in April 1940, while the fairground was preparing to reopen. The fair was rebranded as the World's Fair 1940 in New York for its second season. The WFC decided to focus more heavily on amusement attractions, and it added theaters and free shows. The Amusement Area
5960-455: The Amusement Area to emphasize the rides there. The corporation also tried to attract visitors within an overnight drive from New York City, rather than guests from further afield. At the requests of several U.S. state exhibitors, the WFC halved rent rates for U.S. state pavilions during the second season. Despite the uncertainty caused by the ongoing war, many European countries expressed interest in returning. In January 1940, Finland became
6109-410: 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. An average winter will have 22 days with some snowfall, of which nine days have at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of snowfall. Summer is typically hot, humid, and wet. An average year will have 17 days with
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6258-602: The British crown. The quartering of soldiers in private homes, except in times of war, was banned by the Third Amendment to the United States Constitution . Nathan Hale was captured by the British on the shore of Flushing Bay and hanged in Manhattan . From 1683 until 1784, Queens County consisted of five towns: Flushing, Hempstead , Jamaica , Newtown, and Oyster Bay . On April 6, 1784,
6407-951: The Government Zone was the Food Zone, composed of 13 buildings. Its focal exhibit, Food No. 3, had four shafts representing wheat stalks. The Production and Distribution Zone was dedicated to showcasing industries that specialized in manufacturing and distribution. The focal exhibit was the Consumers Building (also the Consumer Interests Building), an L-shaped structure illustrated with murals by Francis Scott Bradford . Numerous individual companies hosted exhibitions in this region. There were also pavilions dedicated to generic industries, such as electrical products, industrial science, pharmaceuticals, metals, and men's apparel. The Transportation Zone
6556-586: The Nassau County border, such as Laurelton and Cambria 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
6705-496: The Netherlands donated a million tulip bulbs to the fair, though the tulips were destroyed and replaced with other plantings the month after the 1939 season opened. The Washington Post estimated that the WFC spent some $ 150,000 (equivalent to $ 3,286,000 in 2023) on plants at the fair. There were also around 50 landscaped gardens. Some of these fountains included water features such as fountains, pools, and brooks. For
6854-435: The New York City area. The final week was celebrated with a Mardi Gras –themed festival. When the first season ended on October 31, 1939, the WFC had recorded 25,817,265 paying guests. Attendance had exceeded 100,000 on 114 days, or about 62% of the season. At the peak of the first season, the WFC had directly employed about 8,500 people, and exhibitors had employed another 16,500. Including workers on temporary permits,
7003-599: The Queens County Court was temporarily expanded to hear additional criminal cases relating to the fair. For the 1939 season, the WFC charged 75 cents per adult and 25 cents per child; the agency also sold season tickets, multi-visit tickets, and souvenir ticket books. Manhattan borough president Stanley M. Isaacs had wanted the WFC to give students free admission, but Moses opposed the proposal. Whalen began selling discounted advance tickets in February 1939;
7152-565: The U.S. government issued stamps depicting the fair's Trylon and Perisphere . World leaders delivered "greetings to the fair" as part of the "Salute of the Nations" radio program, and the WFC also broadcast 15-minute-long "invitations to the fair", featuring musical entertainments and a speech by Gibson. In addition, the WFC distributed a promotional film, Let's Go to the Fair. The WFC's board of design reviewed several proposed master plans for
7301-808: The United States had higher rates of diversity, Queens was the United States' most diverse populous county. In Queens, approximately 48.5% of the population was foreign born as of 2010. Within the foreign born population, 49.5% were born in Latin 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 in Puerto Rico , a U.S. territory, or abroad to American parents. In addition, 51.2% of
7450-577: The WFC began selling discounted "combination tickets" with snacks and admission to multiple attractions, as well as "bargain books" with food vouchers and admission tickets. At the request of amusement-ride operators, the WFC also considered reducing admission prices. At the beginning of August, admission was reduced to 50 cents during weekends, and the WFC started selling discounted 40-cent tickets at night. The WFC also began allowing railroads to sell 50-cent tickets to groups of 500 or more passengers. With daily attendance averaging 129,000—less than half
7599-450: The WFC leased out the last vacant sites in the fair's Government Zone. Exactly one year before the fair's expected opening, the city hosted a parade with 1 million spectators on April 30, 1938; the WFC also hosted a fireworks show the next week. That May, the WFC began allowing visitors to inspect the fairground on weekends for a fee. By then, many of the buildings were under construction. The structures were all supposed to be completed by
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#17328014230207748-412: The WFC opened more restaurants late that May. Within a month of the fair's opening, several exhibitors had alleged that labor unions had charged exorbitant prices for labor at the fair, and the government of Nevada canceled their exhibit due to high labor-union costs. Due to concerns over sexually explicit content, several of the fair's shows were raided as well. That June, to accommodate high demand,
7897-639: The WFC rescheduled the fair's nightly fountain performances at the Lagoon of Nations, which attracted up to 60,000 observers a night. The same month, the WFC established a committee to oversee the amusement area, and amusement concessionaires agreed to offer discounted ride tickets once a week. The WFC also sold discounted 50-cent tickets to organizations and businesses who bought at least 500 tickets. Lower-than-expected attendance prompted Whalen to fire hundreds of employees in July 1939, and there were also proposals to reduce performers' salaries. The same month,
8046-477: The WFC signed construction contracts for the fairground's first building. At that point, only a small number of fairground buildings had been approved. In November 1936, France became the first nation to announce its participation, and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt urged other nations to join the fair. The city government also began selling bonds for the fair that month, and several nations and hundreds of businesses had expressed interest. That December,
8195-516: The WFC to break even. In contrast to the more formal atmosphere that had characterized the first season, the second season had a more informal, "folksy" atmosphere. Additionally, the international area included exhibits from 43 countries, plus the Pan-American Union and League of Nations . Adults paid 50 cents, while children paid 25 cents; children's admission was reduced to 10 cents on "Children's Days". To entice people to attend
8344-452: The World's Fair site by April, and they began planting trees on the fairground. That month, AT&T became the first company to lease a pavilion at the fair, and work officially began on the first building, the administration structure. In addition, the WFC began auctioning off the fairground's concession spaces, and workers also began planting trees in early 1937. Whalen predicted that
8493-400: The administration building, was completed by the next month. At the time, 89 buildings were under construction, and 86% of the fairground sites had been leased. Utah became the first U.S. state to lease space in the fair's Hall of States that September, while Missouri was the first state to lease space for a standalone building. Whalen also traveled to Europe to invite European countries to
8642-536: The airport on July 17, 1996, and exploded in midair off the coast of Long Island, killing all 230 on board the Boeing 747 . American Airlines Flight 587 took off from the latter airport on November 12, 2001, but ended up crashing in Belle Harbor , killing all 260 on board and five people on the ground. In late October 2012, much of Breezy Point was damaged by a massive six-alarm fire caused by Hurricane Sandy ,
8791-509: The amusement area deterred visitors with more refined tastes. In September 1939, the WFC began inviting foreign exhibitors to return for a second season. At the time, Harvey D. Gibson, who led the WFC's board of directors, did not anticipate that the WFC would encounter any financial issues between the two seasons. The same month, the Carrier Corporation was the first industrial exhibitor to renew its lease. Southern Rhodesia
8940-467: The ash mounds; excavating Meadow and Willow lakes; and diverting much of the Flushing River into underground culverts . The dirt from the lake sites was used as additional topsoil for the park. Workers also transported soil from Westchester County, New York , to the fairground. Four hundred fifty workers were employed on three eight-hour shifts. The rebuilt landscape was to be retained after
9089-442: The attractions were in the central exhibit area, covering 390 acres (160 ha). The pavilions were mostly illuminated by artificial light; most of the illumination came from 30 miles (48 km) of fluorescent lighting tubes, though some attractions used mercury lamps or fluorescent pylons. Additional pinwheel-shaped lights and 10,000 more lightbulbs were installed for the 1940 season. The Trylon and Perisphere theme center
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#17328014230209238-582: The aviation, railroad, and maritime industries. The Amusement Area was located south of the World's Fair Boulevard, covering 230 acres (93 ha) or 280 acres (110 ha) on the east shore of Fountain Lake. This area was shaped like a horseshoe surrounding Meadow Lake, and it lacked a traditional midway ; instead, it was divided into more than a dozen themed zones. The Amusement Area contained numerous bars, restaurants, miniature villages, musical programs, dance floors, rides, and arcade attractions. Due to
9387-510: 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
9536-661: The capture of the colony by the English and its subsequent renaming as New York in 1664, the area (and all of Long Island) became known as Yorkshire . The Flushing Remonstrance signed by colonists in 1657 is considered a precursor to the United States Constitution 's provision on freedom of religion in the Bill of Rights . The signers protested the Dutch colonial authorities' persecution of Quakers in what
9685-619: 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. From 1905 to 1908, the Long Island Rail Road in Queens became electrified. Transportation to and from Manhattan , previously by ferry or via bridges in Brooklyn, opened up with the Queensboro Bridge finished in 1909, and with railway tunnels under
9834-458: The city already owned 586 acres (237 ha) nearby. Mayor Fiorello La Guardia pledged financial support for the fair that October; at the time, Moses estimated that it would cost $ 5–7 million to prepare the fairground and build transit to the fair. The New York World's Fair Corporation (WFC) was formed to oversee the exposition on October 22, 1935, and the Board of Estimate allocated $ 200,000
9983-405: The city finalized its lease of Flushing Meadows to the WFC in June 1936. Work on the World's Fair site began on June 16, 1936, and a groundbreaking ceremony for the fairground took place on June 29. The WFC established seven departments and thirteen committees to coordinate the fair's development. The fair was planned to employ 35,000 people. The construction of the fairground involved leveling
10132-537: The city government to formally lease the Flushing Meadows site to the WFC. Moses warned that the fairground's completion could be delayed due to funding issues; by then, the fair was estimated to cost $ 45 million. That February, McAneny announced that he would organize a committee to devise an architectural plan for the fairground. The committee initially advocated for a single massive building. Brownell requested funding from New York governor Herbert Lehman
10281-436: The city to lease out Flushing Meadows. In April 1936, Grover Whalen replaced McAneny as the WFC's chairman; he was later elected as the agency's full-time president as well. J. Franklin Bell was hired to draw up preliminary plans for the fair, and the WFC appointed a committee of seven men to devise a plan for the fairground. At the end of the month, the city government announced plans to sell $ 7 million in bonds, and
10430-410: The city's total Ecuadorian population, for a total of 101,339. Queens has the largest Peruvian population in the city, accounting for 69.9% of the city's total Peruvian population, for a total of 30,825. Queens has the largest Salvadoran population in the city, accounting for 50.7% of the city for a total population of 25,235. The Mexican population in Queens has increased 45.7% since 2011 to 71,283,
10579-464: The completion of Horace Harding Boulevard , the opening of the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge and Whitestone Expressway , the extension of Grand Central Parkway , and the widening of Queens Boulevard. Markers were placed at intersections throughout the city to direct motorists to the fairground, and several highways to the fairground were outfitted with amber lights. Maps also touted the fairground's proximity to five airports and seaplane bases. During
10728-430: The construction of a new one. In 1870, Long Island City split from the Town of Newtown, incorporating itself as a city, consisting of what had been the village of Astoria and some unincorporated areas within the town of Newtown. Around 1874, the seat of county government was moved to Long Island City from Mineola. On March 1, 1860, the eastern border between Queens County (later Nassau County) and Suffolk County
10877-429: The corporation wanted to sell at least $ 3 million in advance tickets. A thousand retailers in the New York metropolitan area sold advance tickets. The fair initially did not distribute free tickets to anyone, although journalists could visit the fairground free of charge. Advance ticket sales were supposed to have ended on April 23, 1939, but the WFC had to print additional souvenir books due to high demand. Though there
11026-535: The county in 2010 was 39.7% White , 19.1% Black or African American , 0.7% Native American , 22.9% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 12.9% from other races , and 4.5% from two or more races. A total of 27.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latin American of any race. The non-Hispanic white population was 27.6%. In 2019, non-Hispanic whites made up an estimated 24.4% of the population, and Blacks or African Americans were 17.3%. The largest minority groups for
11175-510: The county seat, though county offices now extend to nearby Kew Gardens also. In 1899, New York City conducted a land survey to determine the exact border of Queens between the Rockaways and Lawrence . 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
11324-465: The date was "an excuse and not the reason" for the fair. That September, the group announced plans to spend $ 40 million to host an exhibition at the 1,003-acre (406 ha) Flushing Meadows site. The New York City Board of Estimate approved the use of Flushing Meadows as a fairground on September 23, and Moses directed municipal draftsmen to survey the site. The Flushing Meadows site had been selected because of its large size and central location, and
11473-507: The early 20th century. New York City Parks Commissioner Robert Moses first conceived the idea of developing a large park in Flushing Meadows in the 1920s. Although the neighborhoods around Flushing Meadows contained residential developments, the meadow itself remained undeveloped and isolated. Meanwhile, the 1933 Century of Progress exposition in Chicago had boosted that city's economy, prompting businesspeople in New York City to consider
11622-538: The eight-county area consisting of the Five Boroughs and Westchester , Nassau , and Suffolk counties. Russian-speaking Jews make up 28% of the Jewish population in Queens, the largest in any of the eight counties. In Queens, the Black and African American population earns more than non-Hispanic whites on average. Many of these Blacks and African Americans live in quiet, middle-class suburban neighborhoods near
11771-573: The end of March 1939, giving one month for exhibitors to fit their pavilions out. The WFC awarded contracts to 30 amusement-ride operators in June 1938, following months of disputes over the concessions. Work was delayed for three weeks in July during a labor strike. and the delivery of materials was delayed that September during the New York City truckers' strike . The WFC continued to issue concessions for eateries and amusement rides. By late 1938, workers were painting murals on buildings, and
11920-519: The existing Q-type Queens subway cars were rebuilt to provide additional service on the Flushing Line. A Long Island Rail Road station (now Mets–Willets Point ) was built next to the Flushing Line station. In addition, Queens-Nassau Transit Lines bought 55 buses to serve passengers heading to the fairground, and a water taxi service traveled to the fair from City Island, Bronx . There were also several modes of transit traveling around
12069-453: The fair and flew it around the world in 1938. Helen Huntington Hull led a women's committee that helped promote and develop the fair. New York license plates from 1938 were supposed to have slogans advertising the fair, but a city judge deemed the slogans unconstitutional. New York license plates from 1939 and 1940 also advertised the fair. Local retailers also sold more than $ 40 million worth of merchandise with World's Fair motifs, and
12218-435: The fair had recorded 32.79 million visitors. At the end of the first season, the WFC owed bondholders $ 23.5 million, and it had $ 1.13 million on hand. In addition, the fair had handled 8.52 million phone calls and 3.3 million pieces of mail. Around 150 fairgoers had been arrested during the first season, only one of whom was charged with a felony. After the 1939 season ended, many exhibits were removed for safekeeping, and
12367-548: The fair still exist, and the event has also been dramatized in media. New York City had hosted the United States' first world's fair, the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations , in 1853–1854; the city did not host another world's fair for 85 years. The site of the 1939 World's Fair, Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens , was originally a natural wetland straddling the Flushing River before becoming an ash dump in
12516-564: The fair structures. In addition to the pavilions and amusement rides, the fairground had a marina, as well as hundreds of fountains, toilets, and benches. The fair had about 375 buildings, of which 100 were developed by the WFC; the commission reserved about 500,000 square feet (46,000 m ) for its own structures. The buildings included design features such as domes, spirals, buttresses, porticos, rotundas, tall pylons, and corkscrew-shaped ramps. Many buildings' steel frames were bolted together so they could be easily disassembled. Most of
12665-486: The fair would attract 59 nations. Shadgen, who had devised the idea for the fair, was ousted from the WFC that year. Whalen announced plans in June 1937 for a 280-acre (110 ha) amusement zone at the south end of the fairground, and Moses proposed adding a trailer parking lot and a community interests zone. Work on the first non-commercial pavilion, the Temple of Peace, began in July. The fairground's first structure,
12814-440: The fair's master plan that October, which called for a $ 125 million exposition themed to "the world of tomorrow". The city, state, and federal governments would spend $ 35 million; the WFC was to spend $ 30 million; and the remaining funds would come from individual exhibitors. There were to be ten zones, an amusement area, a central tower with paths radiating away from it, and extensive public-transit improvements. Later that month,
12963-422: The fair, several local business groups and hotels randomly gave 170 automobiles to visitors. The World's Fair reopened on May 11 and recorded 191,196 visitors on that day. The reopening ceremonies were broadcast on radio stations across the U.S., and La Guardia sponsored a citywide celebration for the fair's reopening. In the first few weeks of the 1940 season, the WFC sold off most of its outstanding debt from
13112-552: The fair, the Civil Aeronautics Authority temporarily banned most planes from flying over the fairground, except for planes taking off or arriving at the nearby airports. The fair was themed to "the world of tomorrow". The colors blue and orange, the official colors of New York City, were chosen as the official colors of the fair. The fair's official seal depicted the Statue of Liberty with her torch, which
13261-430: The fair. The city, state, and federal governments also worked on 48 infrastructure-improvement projects, such as highway and landscaping projects, for the fair. To promote the fair, the WFC established advisory committees with members from every U.S. state. Several baseball teams wore patches promoting the fair during the 1938 Major League Baseball season , while the businessman Howard Hughes named an airplane after
13410-759: The fair. A special subway line, the Independent Subway System 's (IND) World's Fair Line was constructed; it operated as a spur of the IND Queens Boulevard Line and was dismantled after the fair ended. The Willets Point station on the Flushing Line was rebuilt to handle fair traffic on the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) and Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit (BMT) systems. A special fleet of 50 World's Fair Lo-V subway cars were built, and
13559-413: The fair. Daily attendance increased gradually, and the fair recorded the ten-millionth visitor of the season at the end of August. By then, Gibson said the fair had made over $ 2.5 million in profit, despite Moses's claim that the fair was about to go bankrupt. The WFC had drawn up detailed plans for clearing the site by the beginning of October, and the corporation's executive leadership agreed to oversee
13708-556: The fair. The WFC reported in October that 62 construction contracts had been finished and that another 63 were in progress. Various fairground buildings were rapidly being developed, as well as the Trylon and Perisphere , the fair's icons. That December, the Ford Motor Company became the first automobile manufacturer to lease space at the fair; by then, the WFC had received commitments from 60 nations. The WFC awarded
13857-463: The fair. In addition, visitors could rent one of 500 rolling chairs, each of which had space for one or two people. Boats also traveled around Fountain Lake (now Meadow Lake), stopping at seven piers. For a fee, visitors could ride a 40-passenger motorboat across Meadow Lake to the Florida pavilion. Several highway and road improvements were conducted in advance of the World's Fair. These included
14006-441: The fairground itself. General Motors manufactured 100 buses specifically for the fair; Exposition Greyhound Lines operated the buses, which connected with each of the fairground's entrances. The original plan called for two bus routes, though this was expanded to seven routes soon after the fair opened. There were also tractor trains that traveled along the fairground's paths, as well as tour buses that gave one-hour-long tours of
14155-403: The fairground was more than 90% complete, but although 95% of the buildings were under construction, work on one-third of the amusement concessions had not started. The fair had attracted 1,300 industrial exhibitors and 70 concessionaires. In addition, 62 nations and 35 U.S. states or territories had leased space at the fair; their flags were flown atop a hill on the fairground. In March 1939,
14304-476: The fairground's utilities were turned off. Most of the fair's 2,800 employees were reassigned to other positions, though the WFC hired a skeleton crew and allocated $ 3.3 million to maintain the fairground during the off-season. The FDNY and NYPD watched over the fairground, and many exhibitors also hired their own security guards. Because of lower-than-expected attendance, the WFC agreed to reduce adult admission prices to 50 cents. The WFC agreed to redesign
14453-469: The fairground, of which more than 97 percent survived the 1939 season. There were no evergreen trees because it was not open during the winter, and the site also did not have rare plants. The fairground contained 1 million plants, 1 million bulbs, 250,000 shrubs, and 10,000 trees. The site had 7,000 American camassias , 48,000 scillas , and 50,000 narcissi , and there were several formal gardens as well, with roses, yew, and other plants. In addition,
14602-464: The fairground, the Flushing River was dredged to create Meadow and Willow lakes. Several of the fair's fountains had water jets with gas burners, which were illuminated by colored lights. Nightly light shows, with music, took place at the Lagoon of Nations as well. Pavilions and attractions generally fell into one of three categories: exhibits sponsored by the WFC or private companies; government exhibits; and amusement attractions. The WFC subleased
14751-412: The fairground. There were 11 entrances to the grounds during the 1939 season and 13 entrances during the 1940 season. From the start, Moses wanted to convert the site into a park after the fair, and the fairground's landscape architect, Gilmore David Clarke , had designed the fairground with this expectation in mind. The central portion of the old Flushing ash dumps became the main fairground, while
14900-441: The fairground; in exchange, several trade unions agreed to buy the WFC's bonds. Free emergency services were provided on site by dozens of doctors and nurses, and there were six first-aid stations, a mobile X-ray machine, and five ambulances. The fairground was covered by a temporary New York City Police Department (NYPD) precinct and a temporary New York City Fire Department (FDNY) battalion with 118 firefighters. In addition,
15049-625: The first country to agree to reopen its pavilion, while West Virginia was the first U.S. state to lease additional space. More than thirty nations had agreed to return to the fair by the end of the next month. Several exhibits were also added, including a China pavilion and a European center. Conversely, 11 nations—several of which had been invaded during World War II—did not return, and nine U.S. states also withdrew. Most commercial exhibitors agreed to reopen their exhibits, and some planned to enlarge or modify their exhibits. Almost all major exhibitors with their own pavilions renewed their leases for
15198-534: The first fair concession in January 1938; by then, Whalen was making plans for the fair's opening ceremony. Whalen wanted to have 100 buildings under construction by the end of April, and the WFC planned to spend $ 10 million on upgrading the fairground's utilities. Work on the Perisphere, the fair's theme building, began in early April, along with work on the first foreign-government structure. The same month,
15347-446: The first season. WFC officials claimed that the late opening date would coincide with warmer weather and the end of the school year. Following requests from organizations, the WFC agreed to open the fair two weeks earlier. The fair's police force was downsized for the 1940 season due to low crime rates, and the overall number of staff was reduced to 5,500. According to Gibson, at least 40 million visitors needed to attend during 1940 for
15496-639: The historical (such as the John Bowne House ) to the scientific (such as the New York Hall of Science ), from conventional art galleries (such as the Noguchi Museum ) to unique graffiti exhibits (such as 5 Pointz ). Queens's cultural institutions include, but are not limited to: The travel magazine Lonely Planet also named Queens the top destination in the country for 2015 for its cultural and culinary diversity. Stating that Queens
15645-488: The home of such notable artists as Tony Bennett , Francis Ford Coppola , Paul Simon , and Robert Mapplethorpe . Queens Poet Laureates (generally, 3-year appointments): Queens has notably fostered African American culture , with establishments such as The Afrikan Poetry Theatre and the Black Spectrum Theater Company catering specifically to African Americans in Queens. In the 1940s, Queens
15794-427: The land to exhibitors, charging different rates based on the sites' proximity to major paths. There were 1,500 exhibitors on the fair's opening day, representing about 40 industries. Because the fairground was built atop swampy land, many of the largest buildings had to be placed on steel-and-concrete decks, pilings , or caissons . Thousands of Douglas fir timbers were driven into the ground to act as pilings for
15943-518: The largest Asian ethnicity (10.9%) followed by Asian Indians (5.7%). Asian Indians had estimated population of 144,896 in 2014 (6.24% of the 2014 borough population), as well as Pakistani Americans , who numbered at 15,604. Queens has the second largest Sikh population in the nation after California . Among the Hispanic or Latin American population, Puerto Ricans made up the largest ethnic group at 4.6%, next to Mexicans , who made up 4.2% of
16092-481: 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%), and Indonesians and Burmese both make up 0.1% of the population. People of South Asian descent made up 7.8% of Queens' population: Indians (5.3%), Bangladeshi (1.5%), Pakistanis (0.7%), and Nepali (0.2%). In 2019, Chinese Americans remained
16241-708: 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. Queens is located on the far western portion of geographic Long Island and includes a few smaller islands, most of which are in Jamaica Bay , forming part of the Gateway National Recreation Area , which in turn is one of the National Parks of New York Harbor. According to
16390-440: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=New_York_World%27s_Fair&oldid=933015387 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages 1939 New York World%27s Fair The 1939 New York World's Fair (also known as
16539-576: The most diversified economy of the five boroughs of New York City. It is home to both of New York City's airports: John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia . Among its landmarks are Flushing Meadows–Corona Park ; Citi Field , home to the New York Mets baseball team; the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center , site of the U.S. Open tennis tournament; Kaufman Astoria Studios ; Silvercup Studios ; and
16688-513: The new borough. The areas of Queens County that were not part of the consolidation plan, 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 new Nassau County on January 1, 1899. At this point, the boundaries of Queens County and the Borough of Queens became coterminous . With consolidation, Jamaica once again became
16837-518: The next day for preliminary work. The WFC elected McAneny as its president, and two contractors were hired that December to conduct preliminary surveys. Several foreign exhibitors had expressed interest in the fair before the end of the year, and the WFC and the New York City Board of Transportation devised plans for public transit lines to the fair. State lawmaker Herbert Brownell Jr. proposed legislation in January 1936, allowing
16986-414: The original estimate of 270,000—the WFC was unsure if the fair would run for another season. The fair's financial standing was so bad that, by mid-August the WFC was asking bondholders to lend it more money, and the bondholders agreed to forgo their right to collect a portion of the fair's admission revenue. A writer for Variety magazine said local residents tended to avoid the fair's restaurants and that
17135-688: The popularity of nude or seminude performances at the Golden Gate International Exposition , similar shows were presented in the Amusement Area. There were two focal exhibits that were not located within any zone. The first was the Medical and Public Health Building on Constitution Mall and the Avenue of Patriots (immediately northeast of the Theme Center), which contained several halls dedicated to health. The other
17284-526: 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 other Indo-European languages at home. Another 13.5% speak a non-Indo-European Asian language or language of the Pacific Islands at home. Among the Asian population in 2010, people of Chinese ethnicity made up
17433-421: The population was claimed as members by religious congregations, although members of historically African American denominations were underrepresented due to incomplete information. In 2014, Queens had 738 religious organizations, the thirteenth most out of all U.S. counties. Queens has been the center of the punk rock movement, particularly in New York; Ramones originated out of Forest Hills, it has also been
17582-466: The population, and Dominicans at 3.9%. Central Americans made up 2.4% and are mostly Salvadorans . South Americans constitute 9.6% of Queens's population, mainly of Ecuadorian (4.4%) and Colombian descent (4.2%). 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
17731-408: The population. 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 largest Colombian population in the city, accounting for over 35.6% of the city's total Colombian population, for a total of 145,956 in 2019; it also has the largest Ecuadorian population in the city, accounting for 62.2% of
17880-462: The previous season. By the end of June, the WFC wished to reorganize itself and pare its workforce due to lower-than-expected revenue; as such, 500 employees were dismissed. In addition, due to an increase in federal tax rates, amusement concessionaires increased the ticket prices for their rides. The fair's restaurateurs generally absorbed the losses from the higher taxes instead of raising food prices. On July 4, 1940, two NYPD officers investigating
18029-431: The remainder of the construction. In early May, the WFC began selling 10-cent children's tickets once a week, which helped increase children's attendance significantly. At La Guardia's behest, the New York City Board of Education operated guided tours in which school classes could visit the fair for free. Concessionaires in the Amusement Area asked the WFC to consider offering reduced-price tickets after 9 p.m., and
18178-495: The same month for "basic World's Fair improvements"; the city and state governments were each supposed to spend $ 5 million on site preparations. The project remained stalled during early 1936 because of disagreements over the fair's location and financing. There was a competing proposal to relocate the fair to Marine Park in Brooklyn. but the New York State Legislature ultimately voted in April to allow
18327-914: The second-highest in the city, after Brooklyn. Queens is also home to 49.6% of the city's Asian population. Among the five boroughs, Queens has the largest population of Chinese , Indian , Korean , Filipino , Bangladeshi and Pakistani Americans . Queens has the largest Asian American population by county outside the Western United States ; according to the 2006 American Community Survey, Queens ranks fifth among US counties with 477,772 (21.18%) Asian Americans, behind Los Angeles County, California , Honolulu County, Hawaii , Santa Clara County, California , and Orange 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%), and Greek (2.0%). Of
18476-406: The site by mid-April, and foreign nations were delivering $ 100 million worth of exhibits to the fair. Thousands of additional workers were employed toward the end of April. The fairground ultimately cost $ 156,000,000 (equivalent to $ 3,417,000,000 in 2023), and Whalen anticipated that 60 million people would visit. Five major newsreel companies were hired to provide newsreel coverage, and
18625-400: The site, and the corporation had relocated the last occupants of the fairground site by August 1936. The WFC launched a design competition for several fairground pavilions that September and selected several winning designs two months later. Before the final master plan was revealed, Whalen said the fair would likely be dedicated to the past, present, and future. The WFC announced details of
18774-465: The site-clearing process. To promote the fair, hundreds of American newspapers printed discounted tickets that could be redeemed on October 6; the promotion attracted nearly 350,000 visitors on that day. The city government also provided free tickets to adults who were receiving welfare payments through the Home Relief program. By the middle of that month, the fair's second season had recorded
18923-465: The southern section of the dumps became the narrow Amusement Area, located on the shore of Meadow (Fountain) Lake. The fairground used up to 400,000 cubic yards (310,000 m ) of topsoil from the New York City area, as well as salty, acidic soil dredged from the bottom of Flushing Meadows Park's lagoons. The fairground included 250 acres (100 ha) of lawns and a wide range of topiary and deciduous trees. Around 10,000 trees were transplanted to
19072-430: The state pledged $ 4.125 million for the project. In addition, the WFC was to sell $ 20 million in bonds; the WFC eventually ended up issuing $ 26,862,800 worth of bonds. The New York City Board of Estimate appropriated $ 308,020 to begin landscaping the site that May, and city officials acquired another 372 acres (151 ha) through eminent domain . The WFC dedicated the fairground site on June 4, 1936, shortly before
19221-470: The subway stations serving the fairground were being completed. That October, the Heinz Dome became the first commercial exhibit to be completed, and 80% of the fairground's 3 million square feet (280,000 m ) of exhibit space had been leased. Leasing lagged in the amusement zone; by that December, only two-thirds of the ride concessions had been leased. Whalen announced in January 1939 that
19370-652: The towns in existence at the consolidation of the five boroughs into New York City: Long Island City ( ZIP codes starting with 111), Jamaica (114), Flushing (113), and Far Rockaway (116). Also, the Floral Park post 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,
19519-443: The towns of Newtown , Flushing and Jamaica , and that part of the town of Hempstead , in the county of Queens, which is westerly of a straight line drawn through the middle of the channel between Rockaway Beach and Shelter Island , in the county of Queens, to the Atlantic Ocean" was annexed to New York City, dissolving all former municipal governments ( Long Island City , the county government, all towns, and all villages) within
19668-442: The upgrades would cost $ 8 million. The WFC began selling one million souvenir ticket books on April 11, 1940, and the next week, it began selling discounted tickets to students across the U.S. By the end of April, all of the attractions in the Amusement Area had been leased, and half a million advance tickets had been sold or ordered. Originally, the second season was supposed to open on May 25, 1940, and be one month shorter than
19817-433: Was 104 °F (40 °C), also on July 3, 1966. LaGuardia Airport's record-low temperature was −7 °F (−22 °C) on February 15, 1943, the effect of which was exacerbated by a shortage of heating oil and coal . John F. Kennedy International Airport's record-low temperature was −2 °F (−19 °C), on February 8, 1963, and January 21, 1985. On January 24, 2016, 30.5 inches (77 cm) of snow fell, which
19966-563: 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. As of 2023 , illegal Chinese immigration to New York City, especially to Queens and its Flushing Chinatown , has accelerated. According to
20115-410: Was an upcharge fee for some of the exhibits and attractions, three-fourths of the original attractions did not charge any extra fees. On April 30, 1939, exactly 150 years after Washington's first inauguration, the fair formally opened with a speech by President Roosevelt. Twenty-eight United States Navy men-of-war arrived in New York City for the fair's opening, and 20,000 people participated in
20264-640: Was an important center of jazz ; such jazz luminaries as Louis Armstrong , Charlie Parker , and Ella Fitzgerald took up residence in Queens, seeking refuge from the segregation they found elsewhere in New York. Additionally, many notable hip-hop acts hail from Queens, including Nas , 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 , Heems of Das Racist and Action Bronson . Queens hosts various museums and cultural institutions that serve its diverse communities. They range from
20413-430: Was available in multiple color scheme. The fair's official flag was originally a triband with a blue bar flanked by orange bars; there was a white seal in the center of the blue bar. Queens Queens is a borough of New York City , coextensive with Queens County , in the U.S. state of New York . Located near the western end of Long Island , it is the largest of the five New York City boroughs by area. It
20562-619: Was designed by Wallace Harrison and Max Abramovitz ; the Trylon was a 610-foot (190 m) tower (originally designed to be 700 feet tall), while the Perisphere was a sphere 180 feet (55 m) across. North of the theme center was the Communications and Business Systems Zone, which was centered on the Communications Building, a structure flanked by 160-foot-high (49 m) pylons. The Community Interest Zone
20711-399: Was founded alongside Kings County ( Brooklyn , which was named after her husband, King Charles II), and Richmond County ( Staten Island , named after his illegitimate son, the 1st Duke of Richmond ). However, the namesake is disputed. While Catherine's title seems the most likely namesake, no historical evidence of official declaration has been found. On October 7, 1691, all counties in
20860-450: Was largely coined by the USPS and is not an official community. Most neighborhoods have no solid boundaries. The Forest Hills and Rego Park neighborhoods, 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: At
21009-428: Was located just east of the Communications & Business Systems Zone. The region's exhibits showcased several trades or industries that were popular among the public at the time, such as home furnishings, plumbing, contemporary art, cosmetics, gardens, the gas industry, fashion, jewelry, and religion. The Government Zone was located at the east end of the fair, on the eastern bank of the Flushing River . It contained
21158-674: Was located west of the Theme Center, across the Grand Central Parkway. It was connected to the rest of the fairground by two crossings known as the Bridge of Wheels and the Bridge of Wings. The focal exhibit of the Transportation Zone was a Chrysler exhibit group. The Transportation Zone also included large exhibits by companies such as Ford Motor Company and General Motors , in addition to buildings for
21307-540: Was planned as part of the fairground, running between the Grand Central Parkway to the west and Lawrence Street in Flushing to the east. A curving road named Rainbow Avenue connected the color-coded zones, linking the paths that radiated from the theme center. At the eastern end of the mall was the Central Mall Lagoon, an 800-foot-long (240 m) elliptical lake with fountains. In the southern half of
21456-517: Was redefined with no discernible change. On June 8, 1881, North Brother Island was transferred to New York County . On May 8, 1884, Rikers Island was transferred to New York County. 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. On April 16, 1964, South Brother Island
21605-497: Was reduced in size and rebranded as the " Great White Way ", a reference to Broadway theatre . The transportation zone was renovated for more than $ 2 million. Several exhibits were added or expanded, and some pavilions were repaired due to deterioration. Twenty thousand hotel rooms were added in New York City prior to the 1940 season, and La Guardia promoted low-cost hotel rooms to fairgoers. Low-cost eateries were also added. The fair's construction superintendent estimated that
21754-519: Was the Science and Education Building, just north of the Medical and Public Health Building. The administration building was at the western end of the fairground, and there was also a Manufacturers Trust bank branch. Whalen predicted in late 1936 that these lines needed to be able to handle as many as 800,000 visitors per day, though he predicted an average of 250,000 daily visitors. As such, several public transit lines were built or upgraded to serve
21903-454: Was the first exhibitor to shutter its pavilion entirely, and other exhibitors curtailed their operations. Whalen also traveled to Europe, asking exhibitors to return in 1940. At the end of September, the WFC notified the city government that it intended to lease the land for a second season, and the WFC reduced admission fees to 50 cents for the rest of the season. In the final weeks of the 1939 season, visitors increasingly came from outside
22052-528: Was the site of the 1939 New York World's Fair and the 1964 New York World's Fair . LaGuardia Airport , established on a site in northern Queens that had been a seaplane base, opened in 1939, named for mayor Fiorello La Guardia , who pushed for the development of a modern airport in New York City. Idlewild Airport, in southern Queens, opened in 1948 on the site of a former golf course and was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1963. In one of several notable incidents, TWA Flight 800 took off from
22201-479: Was transferred to Bronx County. The New York City borough of Queens was authorized on May 4, 1897, by a vote of the New York State Legislature after an 1894 referendum on consolidation. The eastern 280 square miles (730 km ) of Queens that became Nassau County was partitioned on January 1, 1899. Queens Borough was established on January 1, 1898. "The city of Long Island City ,
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