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107-515: Merrick Road runs east from the Queens neighborhood of Jamaica through Merrick past the county line between Nassau and Suffolk into Amityville , where it becomes Montauk Highway at the Amityville – Copiague village/hamlet line. The easternmost portion of Merrick Road, from Carman Mill Road to its eastern terminus, signed as part of New York State Route 27A (NY 27A). At one time,

214-753: A horsecar line, and 20 years later it was electrified, the first in the state. On January 1, 1898, Queens became part of the City of New York , and Jamaica became the county seat . The present Jamaica station of the Long Island Rail Road was completed in 1913, and the BMT Jamaica Line arrived in 1918, followed by the IND Queens Boulevard Line in 1936 and the IND/BMT Archer Avenue lines in 1988,

321-526: A 6.9 percent margin, becoming the first Republican to carry the county since 1992. In 2020, Trump again won Suffolk County; this time, however, it was decided by just 232 votes out of nearly 800,000 votes cast, making it the closest county in the nation in terms of percentage margin, and representing nearly a seven-point swing towards the Democratic ticket of former Vice President Joe Biden and junior California senator Kamala Harris . In percentage terms, it

428-638: A crime. The local civil courts calendar small claims, evictions, and civil actions. Most non-criminal moving violation tickets issued in the 5 west towns are handled by the Traffic Violations Bureau, which is part of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles , not the court system. School districts (all officially designated for grades K-12) include: Fire Island Lighthouse was an important landmark for many trans-Atlantic ships coming into New York Harbor in

535-677: A delivery to the barrier beaches along Ocean Parkway may enter the Meadowbrook southbound at this road and at no point farther north. The Q5 is the main option for public transportation in Queens , running on Merrick Boulevard between Archer Avenue and Hook Creek Boulevard. The Q84 and the Q85 both serve Merrick Boulevard between Archer Avenue and Baisley Boulevard, and the Q4 serves it between Archer Avenue and Linden Boulevard . Other routes serving

642-566: A four-year term, operates the two Suffolk County correctional facilities (in Yaphank and Riverhead ), provides county courthouse security and detention, service and enforcement of civil papers, evictions and warrants. The Sheriff's Office is also responsible for securing all county-owned property, such as county government office buildings, as well as the campuses of the Suffolk County Community College . As of 2008,

749-450: A high school education and 51% are high school graduates or have some college education. By contrast, 39% of Queens residents and 43% of city residents have a college education or higher. The percentage of Jamaica and Hollis students excelling in math rose from 36% in 2000 to 55% in 2011, and reading achievement increased slightly from 44% to 45% during the same time period. Jamaica and Hollis's rate of elementary school student absenteeism

856-644: A local political leader in 1982), Sutphin Boulevard, and Union Turnpike, as well as the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678) and the Grand Central Parkway . Suffolk County, New York Suffolk County ( / ˈ s ʌ f ə k / SUF -ək ) is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of New York, constituting the eastern two-thirds of Long Island . It is bordered to its west by Nassau County , to its east by Gardiners Bay and

963-492: A low population of residents who are uninsured . In 2018, this population of uninsured residents was estimated to be 5%, lower than the citywide rate of 12%. The concentration of fine particulate matter , the deadliest type of air pollutant , in Jamaica and Hollis is 0.007 milligrams per cubic metre (7.0 × 10  oz/cu ft), less than the city average. Eight percent of Jamaica and Hollis residents are smokers , which

1070-804: A lower crime rate than in the 1990s, with crimes across all categories having decreased by 86.1% between 1990 and 2018. The precinct reported 5 murders, 28 rapes, 156 robberies, 383 felony assaults, 153 burglaries, 414 grand larcenies, and 138 grand larcenies auto in 2018. Jamaica contains four New York City Fire Department (FDNY) fire stations: Major hospitals in Jamaica include Jamaica Hospital and Queens Hospital Center . As of 2018 , preterm births and births to teenage mothers are more common in Jamaica and Hollis than in other places citywide. In Jamaica and Hollis, there were 100 preterm births per 1,000 live births (compared to 87 per 1,000 citywide), and 21.4 births to teenage mothers per 1,000 live births (compared to 19.3 per 1,000 citywide). Jamaica and Hollis have

1177-738: A main span of 600 feet (200 m), with a clearance for boats of 60 feet (20 m). After crossing the State Boat Channel over its 665-foot (203 m)-long bascule bridge , the causeway meets the Ocean Parkway at a cloverleaf interchange. This interchange provides access to Captree State Park , Gilgo State Park and Jones Beach State Park . The Fire Island Inlet Bridge continues the two-lane road, one lane in each direction, across Fire Island Inlet to its terminus at Robert Moses State Park and The Fire Island Lighthouse. Robert Moses Causeway opened in 1964. Suffolk County has

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1284-716: A neighborhood of mansions north of Jamaica's central business district. The Archer Avenue lines ( E ​, ​ J , and ​ Z trains) serve Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport and Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer stations. The Jamaica Yard , at the south end of Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, abuts Grand Central Parkway and the Van Wyck Expressway. Jamaica's bus network provides extensive service across eastern Queens, as well as to points in Nassau County ,

1391-572: A non-fatal assault rate of 68 per 100,000 people, Jamaica and Hollis's rate of violent crimes per capita is more than that of the city as a whole. The incarceration rate of 789 per 100,000 people is higher than that of the city as a whole. The 103rd Precinct has a lower crime rate than in the 1990s, with crimes across all categories having decreased by 80.6% between 1990 and 2018. The precinct reported 5 murders, 31 rapes, 346 robberies, 408 felony assaults, 152 burglaries, 466 grand larcenies, and 79 grand larcenies auto in 2018. The 113th Precinct also has

1498-668: A number of villages, such as Amityville , Lloyd Harbor , Northport , and Westhampton Beach that maintain their own police forces. In 1994, the Village of Greenport voted to abolish its police department and turn responsibility for law and order over to the Southold police department. After the Long Island State Parkway Police was disbanded in 1980, all state parkways in Suffolk County became

1605-698: A partial interchange . Farther east, it serves as the southern end for state roads such as NY 107 , NY 110 , and the Seaford–Oyster Bay Expressway ( NY 135 ). NY 27A begins as a split from NY 27 in East Massapequa , where NY 27 leaves the original Sunrise Gold Circle , which is now Old Sunrise Highway (unsigned NY 900D ) east of the split. NY 27A quickly turns south off Old Sunrise Highway onto Carman Mill Road, which ends at Merrick Road. Merrick Road from that point east continues through Massapequa over

1712-598: A signer of the United States Constitution , relocated to Jamaica in 1805. He added to a modest 18th-century farmhouse, creating the manor which stands on the site today; King Manor was restored at the turn of the 21st century to its former glory, and houses King Manor Museum. By 1776, Jamaica had become a trading post for farmers and their produce. For more than a century, their horse-drawn carts plodded along Jamaica Avenue, then called King's Highway. The Jamaica Post Office opened September 25, 1794, and

1819-569: A study by the non-profit group ERASE Racism, which determined Suffolk and its neighboring county, Nassau, to be the most racially segregated suburbs in the United States. In 2006, there were 469,299 households, of which 37.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.00% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were non-families. 18.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who

1926-482: A victory here in 1992, the county voted for Bill Clinton in 1996 and continued the trend by giving Al Gore an 11-percent victory in the county in 2000. 2004 Democratic candidate John Kerry won by a much smaller margin of under one percent, in 2008 Democratic candidate Barack Obama won by a slightly larger 6 percent margin, 52.5%-46.5%. In 2012, he carried the county by a slightly smaller margin 51%-47%. In 2016, Republican candidate Donald Trump won Suffolk County by

2033-460: A whole, is Jayne's Hill in West Hills , at 401 feet (122 m) above sea level. This low lying-geography means that much of the county is vulnerable to sea level rise . Suffolk County sits at the convergence of climate zones including the humid continental ( Dfa ) and humid subtropical ( Cfa ), bordering closely on an oceanic climate (Cfb). The majority of the county by land area is in

2140-492: Is 56% in Jamaica and Hollis, higher than the boroughwide and citywide rates of 53% and 51% respectively. Based on this calculation, as of 2018 , Jamaica and Hollis are considered to be high-income relative to the rest of the city and not gentrifying . The borough of Queens is one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the world. Jamaica is large and has a diverse population, predominantly African Americans, Caribbean/West Indians, Hispanics, and Asians/Asian Indians. Jamaica

2247-554: Is a NYC BID Association that focuses on these specific developed stores in Jamaica, Queens. The Federal Aviation Administration Eastern Region has its offices at Rockaway Boulevard in South Jamaica, near JFK Airport. Several businesses are at the nearby John F. Kennedy International Airport. North American Airlines has its headquarters on the property of JFK. Nippon Cargo Airlines maintains its New York City offices there. The Northeastern Program Service Center (NEPSC)

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2354-531: Is a central transfer point on the LIRR which is headquartered in a building adjoining the station. All of the commuter railroad's passenger branches except for the Port Washington Branch run through the station. The New York City Subway 's IND Queens Boulevard Line ( E , ​ F , and <F> trains) terminate at the 179th Street station, at the foot of Jamaica Estates ,

2461-460: Is a diversity of citizenship. The District Court and the Town and Village Courts are the local courts of Suffolk County. There are more than 30 local courts, each with limited criminal and civil subject matter and geographic jurisdictions. The local criminal courts have trial jurisdiction over misdemeanors, violations and infractions; preliminary jurisdiction over felonies; and traffic tickets charging

2568-661: Is also an African-American commercial area. Many Sri Lankans live in the area for similar reasons as the Bangladeshi community, reflected by the numerous food and grocery establishments along Hillside Avenue catering to the community. Significant Filipino and African communities thrive in Jamaica, along with the neighboring Filipino community in Queens Village and the historic, well established African-American community residing in Jamaica. From 151st Street to 164th Street, many groceries and restaurants are representative of

2675-479: Is another South Asian ethnic enclave in New York City, as South Asian immigration and the city's South Asian population has grown rapidly. Economic development was long neglected. In the 1960s and 1970s, many big box retailers moved to suburban areas where business was more profitable. Departing retailers included brand name stores and movie theaters that once thrived in Jamaica's busiest areas. Macy's and

2782-704: Is home to Stony Brook University in Stony Brook and Farmingdale State College in Farmingdale . Suffolk County was part of the Connecticut Colony before becoming an original county of the Province of New York , one of twelve created in 1683. From 1664 until 1683, it had been the East Riding of Yorkshire . Its boundaries were essentially the same as at present, with only minor changes in

2889-466: Is located in the Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building at Parsons Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue. The NEPSC serves approximately 8.6 million retirement, survivor, and disability insurance beneficiaries, whose Social Security numbers (SSN) begin with 001 through 134, 729, and 805 through 808. The NEPSC also processes disability claims for beneficiaries age 54 and over for the same SSN series. Constructed in 1989,

2996-410: Is lower than the city average of 14% of residents being smokers. In Jamaica and Hollis, 30% of residents are obese , 16% are diabetic , and 37% have high blood pressure —compared to the citywide averages of 22%, 8%, and 23% respectively. In addition, 23% of children are obese, compared to the citywide average of 20%. Eighty-six percent of residents eat some fruits and vegetables every day, which

3103-664: Is more than the rest of New York City. In Jamaica and Hollis, 22% of elementary school students missed twenty or more days per school year , higher than the citywide average of 20%. Additionally, 74% of high school students in Jamaica and Hollis graduate on time, about the same as the citywide average of 75%. Jamaica's public schools are operated by the New York City Department of Education . Public high schools in Jamaica include: Public elementary and middle schools in Jamaica include: Private schools in Jamaica include: The Catholic schools are administered by

3210-422: Is part of three ZIP Codes: 11432 north of Jamaica Avenue , 11433 between Jamaica Avenue and Linden Boulevard, and 11434 south of Linden Boulevard. The United States Post Office operates four post offices nearby: Jamaica and Hollis possess a lower rate of college-educated residents than the rest of the city as of 2018 . While 29% of residents age 25 and older have a college education or higher, 19% have less than

3317-450: Is patrolled by two precincts of the NYPD . The 103rd Precinct is located at 168-02 91st Avenue and serves downtown Jamaica and Hollis, while the 113th Precinct is located at 167-02 Baisley Boulevard and serves St. Albans and South Jamaica. The 103rd Precinct ranked 51st safest out of 69 patrol areas for per-capita crime in 2010, while the 113th Precinct ranked 55th safest. As of 2018 , with

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3424-458: Is slightly less than the city's average of 87%. In 2018, 82% of residents described their health as "good", "very good", or "excellent", higher than the city's average of 78%. For every supermarket in Jamaica and Hollis, there are 20 bodegas . Jamaica is covered by multiple ZIP Codes . West of Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica falls under ZIP Codes 11435 north of Linden Boulevard and 11436 south of Linden Boulevard. East of Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica

3531-566: Is spelled with a "j" in Dutch, the language of the first people to write about the area; the English retained the Dutch spelling but replaced the semivowel sound with the affricate [dʒ] sound that the letter "j" usually represents in English. The name of the island Jamaica is unrelated, coming from the Taíno term Xaymaca , meaning "land of wood and water" or "land of springs". Jamaica Avenue

3638-738: The Belt Parkway before leaving Queens into Nassau County , where it becomes Merrick Road. The section of Merrick Boulevard in Queens was renamed Floyd H. Flake Boulevard in October 2020, in honor of Floyd Flake , senior pastor of the Greater Allen A. M. E. Cathedral of New York in Jamaica. Merrick Road is one of the old roads along the southern side of Long Island ; it has since been replaced by Sunrise Highway ( NY 27 ) for most through traffic. At Rockville Centre , bridges take it over NY 27, with four directional ramps forming

3745-875: The Dfa zone. Summers are cooler at the east end than in the western part of the county. The hardiness zone is 7a, except in Copiague Harbor , Lindenhurst, and Montauk, where it is 7b. Average monthly temperatures in Hauppauge range from 31.0 °F (−0.6 °C) in January to 74.0 °F (23.3 °C) in July, and in the Riverhead town center they range from 30.1 °F (−1.1 °C) in January to 72.8 °F (22.7 °C) in July, which includes both daytime and nighttime temperatures. On February 9, 2013, Suffolk County

3852-589: The Jamaica station from 2001 to 2006. The station, which served the Long Island Rail Road , was expanded with a transfer to the AirTrain JFK to John F. Kennedy International Airport . A further capacity increase included a platform at Jamaica station. Efforts have been made to follow the examples of major redevelopment occurring in Astoria , Long Island City , Flushing , and Downtown Brooklyn . In 2005,

3959-533: The New York City Department of City Planning drafted a plan that would rezone 368 blocks of Jamaica in order to stimulate development, relieve traffic congestion , and shift upscale amenities away from low-density residential neighborhoods. The plan includes up-zoning the immediate areas around Jamaica Station to accommodate passengers traveling through the area. To improve infrastructure the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation has agreed to create more greenery and open spaces to allow pedestrians to enjoy

4066-672: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn . From its 1975 founding to around 1980, the Japanese School of New York was located in Jamaica Estates , near Jamaica. Several colleges and universities make their home in Jamaica proper or in its close vicinity, most notably: The Queens Public Library operates four branches in Jamaica: An additional two branches are located nearby: Jamaica station

4173-481: The 1970s, more West Indians immigrated to the United States than ever before, most of whom settled in New York City. Many Salvadoran, Colombian, and Dominican immigrants moved in. These ethnic groups tended to stay more towards the Jamaica Avenue and South Jamaica areas. Decrease in crime attracted many families to Jamaica's safe havens; Hillside Avenue reflects this trend. Along 150th to 161st streets, much of

4280-516: The 2016 presidential election season, on September 26, 2016, making Hofstra the first college or university in the United States to host a presidential debate in three consecutive elections. The presence on the 2016 ticket of Westchester County resident Hillary Clinton and Manhattan resident Donald Trump resulted in greater attention by the candidates to the concerns of Long Island. Trump visited Long Island voters and donors at least four times while Clinton made one stop for voters and one additional stop in

4387-502: The 2023 general election, gaining a 12-6 supermajority. Police services in the five western towns ( Babylon , Huntington , Islip , Smithtown and Brookhaven ) are provided primarily by the Suffolk County Police Department . The five "East End" towns ( Riverhead , Southold , Shelter Island , East Hampton , and Southampton ), maintain their own police and other law enforcement agencies. Also, there are

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4494-466: The 932,000-square-foot (86,600 m ) federal building is a 12-story masonry and steel office structure that was built for the agency and was given $ 8.5 million 2017 dollars to consolidate operations to the lower 2 floors and bring other federal leaseholders from other parts of Queens to occupy the upper floors. The funds approved were part of budget cuts proposed during the Obama administration . Jamaica

4601-637: The Bronx , the Rockaways , and Midtown Manhattan . Nearly all bus lines serving Jamaica terminate near either the 165th Street Bus Terminal or the Jamaica Center subway station, except for the Q46 bus, which operates along Union Turnpike, at the northern border of Jamaica. Greater Jamaica is home to John F. Kennedy International Airport, one of the busiest international airports in the United States and

4708-591: The Crown divided the colony of New York into counties, Jamaica became the county seat of Queens County, one of the original counties of New York. Colonial Jamaica had a band of 56 minutemen who played an active part in the Battle of Long Island , the outcome of which led to the occupation of the New York City area by British troops during most of the American Revolutionary War . Rufus King ,

4815-777: The Democratic Party maintained control over the Suffolk County Legislature picking up one seat that had been held by an Independence Party member. In November 2013, the Republican Party gained the 14th district seat, but remained in the minority until 2021, when the GOP flipped the county legislature, picking up three seats with incumbents Robert Calarco (the sitting Presiding Officer) and Susan Berland (the sitting Majority Leader) losing their bids for re-election. The Suffolk GOP built on these gains in

4922-585: The Federal U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York; and has various local municipal courts. The State Courts are divided into Supreme Court, which has general jurisdiction over all cases, and lower courts that either hear claims of a limited dollar amount, or of a specific nature. Similarly, the local courts hear claims of a limited dollar amount, or hear specific types of cases. The Federal Court has jurisdiction over Federal Claims, State Law claims that are joined with Federal claims, and claims where there

5029-758: The Hamptons for donors. After the 2022 midterm election results were counted, Suffolk appears to have moved further to the right. Republican gubernatorial candidate and Suffolk County native Lee Zeldin won the county by more than 17 points over the Democrat candidate Kathy Hochul. Republicans, as of 2023, hold both congressional districts covering that being New York's 1st congressional district represented by Nick LaLota and New York's 2nd congressional district represented by Andrew Garbarino . The 2023 election saw this trend continue, with Republican Edward P. Romaine defeating Democrat David Calone by 14 points to become

5136-523: The Hamptons. In his review, Howard Zinn wrote that the book "[t]akes us beyond the much-romanticized beaches of Long Island to the rich entrepreneurs and their McMansions, the Latino workers, and the stubborn indigenous residents refusing to disappear. The book is important because it is in so many ways a microcosm of the nation." The book won the Association for Humanist Sociology's 2005 Book Prize and

5243-892: The Nassau/Suffolk border into Amityville, Suffolk County , where it becomes Montauk Highway at the Amityville/Copiague village/hamlet line. Amityville is the only town in Suffolk County where southernmost major road is known as Merrick Road (it is known as Montauk Highway in every other settlement along the South Shore of Suffolk County . Both the Meadowbrook State Parkway and the Wantagh State Parkway have interchanges with Merrick Road. A truck needing to make

5350-620: The New York District Office are located in Jamaica. Jamaica Center, the area around Jamaica Avenue , is a major commercial center. The New York Racing Association , based at Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, lists its official address as Jamaica (central Jamaica once housed the Jamaica Racetrack , now the massive Rochdale Village housing development). John F. Kennedy International Airport and

5457-777: The New York state line 3 miles (5 km) south of Fire Island in the Atlantic Ocean. Some Suffolk County towns (Islip, Brookhaven, Southampton, East Hampton, Babylon, Huntington, Smithtown) also employ various bay constables and other local marine patrol, which are sworn armed peace officers with full arrest powers, providing back up to the Suffolk Police Marine Bureau as well as the United States Coast Guard . This includes Fire Island and parts of Jones Island barrier beaches and

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5564-451: The Register , Prospect Cemetery , St. Monica's Church , Sidewalk Clock at 161-11 Jamaica Avenue, New York, NY , Trans World Airlines Flight Center , and United States Post Office are listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Based on data from the 2010 United States Census , the population of Jamaica was 53,751 an increase of 1,902 (3.5%) from the 51,849 counted in 2000 . Covering an area of 1,084.85 acres (439.02 ha),

5671-455: The South. Laurelton ,and Rosedale ,to the southeast; Richmond Hill , South Ozone Park ,and Aqueduct Racetrack to the west;and Southwest. Briarwood to the northwest; and Kew Gardens Hills , Jamaica Hills ,and Jamaica Estates to the north. Jamaicas original designation was for an area greater than the current neighborhoods, was settled under Dutch rule in 1656. It was originally called Rustdorp . Under English rule , Jamaica became

5778-469: The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office employed 275 Deputy Sheriffs, 850 corrections officers, and about 200 civilian staff. Suffolk County has a long maritime history with several outer barrier beaches and hundreds of square miles of waterways . The Suffolk Police Marine Bureau patrols the 500 square miles (1,000 km ) of navigable waterways within the police district, from the Connecticut and Rhode Island state line which bisects Long Island Sound to

5885-450: The Suffolk County website, the county is the leading agricultural county in the state of New York, saying that: "The weather is temperate, clean water is abundant, and the soil is so good that Suffolk is the leading agricultural county in New York State. That Suffolk is still number one in farming, even with the development that has taken place, is a tribute to thoughtful planning, along with the excellent soil, favorable weather conditions, and

5992-407: The Valencia theater were the last companies to move out in 1969. The 1980s crack epidemic created even more hardship and crime. Prime real estate spaces were filled by hair salons and 99 cent stores . Furthermore, existing zoning patterns and inadequate infrastructure did not anticipate future development. Since then, the decrease of the crime rate has encouraged entrepreneurs who plan to invest in

6099-444: The West Indies. Mainly of Guyanese and Trinidadian origin, these merchants serve their respective populations in and around the Jamaica Center area. Many East Indian shops are located east from 167th Street to 171st Street. Mainly supported by the ever-growing Bangladeshi population, thousands of South Asians come here to shop for Bangladeshi goods. Some people call the area "Little South Asia" similar to that of Jackson Heights . Jamaica

6206-417: The area. The Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, the local business improvement district , acquired valuable real estate for sale to national chains in order to expand neighborhood commerce. As well they have completed underway proposals by allocating funds and providing loans to potential investors who have already established something in the area. One Jamaica Center is a mixed-use commercial complex that

6313-419: The bill. Also in February 2019, a court ruled against the Suffolk County jail in the case of a former inmate who was denied hormone replacement therapy by the jail's doctors. Documents introduced in the trial indicate 11 other inmates were also denied treatment. Suffolk County is part of the 10th Judicial District of the New York State Unified Court System ; is home to the Alfonse M. D'Amato Courthouse of

6420-451: The boulevard include the Q1 , Q2 , Q3 , Q6 , Q8 , Q9 , Q17 , Q20A , Q20B , Q36 , Q41 , Q44 , Q76 , Q77 , X63 , n1, n6/n6x, n22/n22x, n24, and n26 . The n4/n4x is the main mode of public transportation on Merrick Road in Nassau County, serving it between Jamaica Center Bus Terminal and Freeport LIRR , running closed door service in Queens, with the n19 serving Merrick Road between Freeport LIRR and Unqua Road. A portion of

6527-443: The boundary with its western neighbor, which was originally Queens County but has been Nassau County since the separation of Nassau from Queens in 1899. During the American Revolutionary War , Great Britain occupied Suffolk County after the retreat of George Washington's forces in the Battle of Long Island , and the county remained under occupation until the British evacuation of New York on November 25, 1783. According to

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6634-453: The census-estimated New York State population of 19,745,289 and 19.0% of the census-estimated Long Island population of 7,869,820. The population density in 2010 was 1,637 people per square mile (632 people/km ), with 569,985 households at an average density of 625 per square mile (241/km ). However, by 2012, with an estimated total population increasing moderately to 1,499,273 there were 569,359 housing units. As of 2006, Suffolk County

6741-406: The center of the " Town of Jamaica"; the name is of Lenape origin and wholly unrelated to that of the country . It was the first county seat of Queens County, holding that title from 1683 to 1788, and was the first incorporated village on Long Island . When Queens was incorporated into the City of Greater New York in 1898, both the town of Jamaica and the village of Jamaica were dissolved, but

6848-582: The country. The many foreclosures and the high level of unemployment of the 2000s and early 2010s induced many black people to move from Jamaica to the South , as part of the New Great Migration . On October 23, 2014, the neighborhood was the site of a terrorist hatchet attack on two New York City Police Department officers; the police later killed the attacker. The First Reformed Church , Grace Episcopal Church Complex , Jamaica Chamber of Commerce Building , Jamaica Savings Bank , King Manor , J. Kurtz and Sons Store Building , La Casina , Office of

6955-430: The county had paid the victim $ 1.5 million in a settlement; it had also paid Burke more than $ 500,000 in benefits and salary while Burke was concealing his conduct. Trotta said that the faithless servant doctrine in New York common law gave him the power to claw back the compensation. The Suffolk County Legislature supported the suit unanimously. The following month Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone signed

7062-426: The county legislature until a landmark election in November 2005 where three Republican seats switched to the Democrats, giving them control. In November 2007, the Democratic Party once again retained control over the Suffolk County Legislature, picking up one seat in the process. In November 2009, the Republican Party regained the seat lost in 2007 but remained in the minority for the 2010-2011 session. In November 2011,

7169-492: The county was $ 26,577. Using a weighted average from 2009 to 2014 about 6.40% of the population were below the poverty line In earlier censuses, the population below the poverty line included 2.70% of those under age 18 and 2.30% of those age 65 or over. In 2003, Democrat Steve Levy was elected county executive, ending longtime Republican control. In 2001, Democrat Thomas Spota was elected District Attorney, and ran unopposed in 2005. Although Suffolk voters gave George H. W. Bush

7276-436: The county. Since the New York state legislature created the New York State University Police in 1999, they are in charge of all law enforcement services for State University of New York property and campuses. The State University Police have jurisdiction in Suffolk County at Stony Brook University and Farmingdale State College. The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office is a separate agency. The sheriff, an elected official who serves

7383-409: The current Suffolk County would comprise a new county to be called Peconic County . Peconic County would consist of the five easternmost towns of Suffolk County: East Hampton , Riverhead , Shelter Island , Southampton and Southold , plus the Shinnecock Indian Reservation . The proposed Peconic County flag showed the two forks at the east end of Long Island separated by Peconic Bay. The star on

7490-492: The early 20th century. For many European immigrants, the Fire Island Light was their first sight of land upon arrival in America. The Fire Island Inlet span of the Robert Moses Causeway connects to Robert Moses State Park on the western tip of Fire Island. The Great South Bay Bridge , the first causeway bridge, had only one northbound and one southbound lane, was opened to traffic in April 1954. The span of 2 miles (3 km) across Great South Bay to Captree Island features

7597-480: The entire length of Merrick Road was signed as NY 27A; currently, the entire portion within Nassau County is currently designated as the unsigned County Route 27 ( CR 27 ). Merrick Road travels along an old right-of-way that was one of the original paths across southern Long Island , stretching from Queens to Montauk Point . Merrick Road's name comes from the Algonquin word "Meroke" , meaning "oyster bed". The section of Merrick Boulevard in Queens

7704-567: The extreme east of the State of New York. The eastern end of the county splits into two peninsulas , known as the North Fork and the South Fork . The county is surrounded by water on three sides, including the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound , with 980 miles (1,580 km) of coastline. The eastern end contains large bays . The highest elevation in the county, and on Long Island as

7811-516: The fastest out of all localities in New York City. The community's median home prices rose 39% in 2015. The median sales price for a small row house in 2015 was $ 330,000, and the median asking rent for a three-bedroom house in 2015 was $ 1,750. Sutphin Boulevard has been described as "the next tourist hot spot". Jamaica's proximity to the JFK AirTrain has stimulated the development of several hotels. The 165th Street Mall Improvement Association

7918-738: The hotels nearby are also located in Jamaica. The neighborhood is located in Queens Community District 12 . It is patrolled by the New York City Police Department 's 103rd and 113th Precincts. The neighborhood was named Yameco , a corruption of the word yamecah , meaning " beaver ", in the language spoken by the Lenape , the Native Americans who lived in the area at the time of first European contact. The semivowel "y" sound of English

8025-499: The island is near sea level, with over 1,000 miles of coastline. Like other parts of Long Island , the county's high population density and proximity to New York City has resulted in a diverse economy, including industry, science, agriculture, fishery, and tourism. Major scientific research facilities in Suffolk County include Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton and Plum Island Animal Disease Center on Plum Island . The county

8132-536: The islands of the Great South Bay . Marine units also respond to water and ice rescues on the inland lakes, ponds, and streams of the District. In February 2019, legislator Robert Trotta (R- Fort Salonga ) put forward a resolution to recover salary and benefits from James Burke, the county's former police chief. Burke had pled guilty to beating a man while in police custody and attempting to conceal it, and

8239-742: The latter of which replaced the eastern portion of the Jamaica Line that was torn down in 1977–85. The 1920s and 1930s saw the building of the Valencia Theatre (now restored by the Tabernacle of Prayer), the "futuristic" Kurtz furniture store, and the Roxanne Building. In the 1970s, it became the headquarters for the Islamic Society of North America . King Kullen opened in 1930, the first self-service supermarket in

8346-411: The most lighthouses of any United States county, with 15 of its original 26 lighthouses still standing. Of these 15, eight are in Southold township alone, giving it more lighthouses than any other township in the United States. At various times, there have been proposals for a division of Suffolk County into two counties. The western portion would be called Suffolk County, while the eastern portion of

8453-409: The nation to vote for Trump. As a whole, both Suffolk and Nassau counties are considered swing counties. However, until 2016, they tended not to receive significant attention from presidential candidates, as the state of New York has turned reliably Democratic at the national level. In 2008 and 2012, Hofstra University in Nassau County hosted a presidential debate. Hofstra hosted the first debate of

8560-453: The neighborhood had a population density of 49.5 inhabitants per acre (31,700/sq mi; 12,200/km ). The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 3.6% (1,949) Non-Hispanic White , 22.2% (11,946) Black or African American , 0.9% (466) Native American , 24.3% (13,073) Asian , 0.1% (66) Pacific Islander , 5.2% (2,814) from other races , and 4.9% (2,647) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 38.7% (20,790) of

8667-745: The neighborhood of Jamaica regained its role as county seat. Jamaica is the location of several government buildings such as Queens Civil Court , the civil branch of the Queens County Supreme Court , the Queens County Family Court and the Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building, home to the Social Security Administration 's Northeastern Program Service Center. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration 's Northeast Regional Laboratory as well as

8774-507: The next County Executive. Republicans also gained a 12-6 supermajority in the County Legislature, seeing a net gain of one seat. * Appointed to complete Cohalan's term. ** Levy was originally elected as a Democrat, but became a Republican in 2010. The county has 18 legislative districts, each represented by a legislator. As of 2024, there are 11 Republicans , 6 Democrats , and 1 Conservative . Republicans controlled

8881-668: The north represents Southold. The stars on the South Fork represent Southampton and East Hampton. Riverhead is at the fork mouth and Shelter Island is between the forks. The secessionist movement has not been active since 1998. The End of the Hamptons: Scenes from the Class Struggle in America's Paradise , by Corey Dolgon (New York University Press, 2005 ) examined the class roots of the secessionist movement in

8988-414: The old pond, and Beaver Road was named for its western edge). Dutch Director-General Peter Stuyvesant dubbed the area Rustdorp ("rest-town") in granting the 1656 land patent . Among its founding settlers was Robert Coe , who was appointed as the first magistrate by the Dutch government, serving until the English took over in 1664, making it a part of the county of Yorkshire . In 1683, when

9095-507: The open Atlantic Ocean, to its north by Long Island Sound , and to its south by the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2020 United States census , the county's population was 1,525,920, its highest decennial count ever, making Suffolk the fourth-most populous county in the State of New York, and the most populous outside of the boroughs of New York City. Its county seat is Riverhead , though most county offices are in Hauppauge . The county

9202-521: The population. The entirety of Community Board 12 , which mainly comprises Jamaica but also includes Hollis, had 232,911 inhabitants as of NYC Health 's 2018 Community Health Profile, with an average life expectancy of 80.5 years. This is slightly lower than the median life expectancy of 81.2 for all New York City neighborhoods. Most inhabitants are youth and middle-aged adults: 22% are between ages 0 and 17; 27% between 25 and 44; and 27% between 45 and 64. The ratio of college-aged and elderly residents

9309-420: The population. In 2006, the county's racial or ethnic makeup was 83.6% White (75.4% White Non-Hispanic). African Americans were 7.4% of the population. Asians stood at 3.4% of the population. 5.4% were of other or mixed race. Latinos were 13.0% of the population. In 2007, Suffolk County's most common ethnicities were Italian (29.5%), Irish (24.0%), and German (17.6%). In 2002, The New York Times cited

9416-566: The present-day Van Wyck Expressway (on the west) and Jamaica Avenue (on the north, later Hillside Avenue ) to Farmers Boulevard (on the east) and Linden Boulevard (on the south) in what is now St. Albans . By 1834, the Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad company had completed a line to Jamaica. In 1850, the former Kings Highway (now Jamaica Avenue) became the Brooklyn and Jamaica Plank Road , complete with toll gate. In 1866, tracks were laid for

9523-767: The responsibility of Troop L of the New York State Police , headquartered at Republic Airport . State parks, such as Robert Moses State Park , are the responsibility of the New York State Park Police , based at Belmont Lake State Park . In 1996, the Long Island Rail Road Police Department was consolidated into the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police , which has jurisdiction over all rail lines in

9630-559: The road is also served by the n1. Jamaica, Queens Jamaica is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens . It popular for a large commercial and retail area,though part of the neighborhood is also residential. Jamaica is bordered by Hollis , St.Albans and Cambria Heights to the East. South Jamaica , Rochdale Village (SouthSide), John F.Kennedy International Airport /( JFK ) and Springfield Gardens to

9737-602: The scenery. At the same time, the city has reserved the right to protect the suburban/residential charm of neighboring areas. Several blocks will be down-zoned to keep up with the existing neighborhood character. In 2007 the City Council overwhelmingly approved the plan, providing for structures of up to 28 stories to be built around the main transit hub as well as residential buildings of up to 7 stories to be built on Hillside Avenue. According to real-estate listing service StreetEasy , Jamaica's real-estate prices are rising

9844-671: The south of Hillside Avenue, Merrick Boulevard passes by the Central Branch of the Queens Library and the 165th Street Bus Terminal . A block to its east, 168th Street provides for westbound traffic. Just south of Liberty Avenue, the two directions join together to form a four-lane, divided Merrick Boulevard. Among the parks that the road passes are Proctor-Hopson Circle , St. Albans Park , and Roy Wilkins Park . Merrick Boulevard gradually turns southeast and east, passing through Springfield Gardens , Laurelton and crossing

9951-472: The stores and restaurants typify South American and Caribbean cultures. Farther east is the rapidly growing East Indian community. Mainly spurred on by the Jamaica Muslim Center, Bangladeshis have flocked to this area due to easy transit access and the numerous Bangladeshi stores and restaurants lining 167th and 168th Streets. Bangladeshis are the most rapidly growing ethnic group; however, it

10058-512: The top 25 richest counties in America. In 2016, according to Business Insider , the 11962 zip code encompassing Sagaponack , within Southampton , was listed as the most expensive in the U.S., with a median home sale price of $ 8.5 million. The median income for a household in the county was $ 84,767, and the median income for a family was $ 72,112. Males had a median income of $ 50,046 versus $ 33,281 for females. The per capita income for

10165-445: The work of the dedicated farmers in this region." According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has an area of 2,373 square miles (6,150 km ), of which 912 square miles (2,360 km ) is land and 1,461 square miles (3,780 km ) (62%) is water. It is the second-largest county in New York by total area and occupies 66% of the land area of Long Island. Suffolk County occupies the central and eastern part of Long Island, in

10272-616: The world. Public transportation passengers are connected to airline terminals by AirTrain JFK , which operates as both an airport terminal circulator and rail connection to central Jamaica at the integrated LIRR and bi-level subway station located at Sutphin Blvd and Archer Avenue. Major streets include Archer Avenue, Hillside Avenue , Jamaica Avenue , Liberty Avenue, Merrick Boulevard , Rockaway Boulevard, Parsons Boulevard, Guy R. Brewer Boulevard (formerly known as New York Boulevard but renamed for

10379-553: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.36. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males. In 2008, Forbes magazine released its American Community Survey and named Suffolk County number 4 in its list of

10486-523: Was an ancient trail for tribes from as far away as the Ohio River and the Great Lakes , coming to trade skins and furs for wampum . It was in 1655 that the first settlers paid the Native Americans with two guns, a coat, and some powder and lead, for the land lying between the old trail and " Beaver Pond " (now filled in; what is now Tuckerton Street north of Liberty Avenue runs through the site of

10593-498: Was besieged with 30 inches of snow, making it the largest day of snowfall on record in Suffolk. Suffolk County has maritime boundaries with five other U.S. counties and is connected by land only to Nassau County. According to the 2010 U.S. census there were 1,493,350 people and 569,985 households residing in the county. The census estimated Suffolk County's population decreased slightly to 1,481,093 in 2018, representing 7.5% of

10700-487: Was built in 2002. Many banks have at least one branch along various major streets: Jamaica Avenue, Parsons Boulevard, Merrick Boulevard, and Sutphin Boulevard. In 2006, a $ 75 million deal between the developers, the Mattone Group and Ceruzzi Enterprises, and Home Depot cleared the way for a new location at 168th Street and Archer Avenue. The most prominent piece of development has been the renovation and expansion of

10807-507: Was lower, at 10% and 14% respectively. As of 2017, the median household income in Community Board 12 was $ 61,670. In 2018, an estimated 20% of Jamaica and Hollis residents lived in poverty, compared to 19% in all of Queens and 20% in all of New York City. One in eight residents (12%) were unemployed, compared to 8% in Queens and 9% in New York City. Rent burden, or the percentage of residents who have difficulty paying their rent,

10914-510: Was named after the county of Suffolk in England, the origin of its earliest European settlers. Suffolk County incorporates the easternmost extreme of both the New York City metropolitan area and New York State. The geographically largest of Long Island 's four counties and the second-largest of New York's 62 counties, Suffolk County is 86 miles (138 km) in length and 26 miles (42 km) in width at its widest (including water). Most of

11021-415: Was not always as diverse as it is today. Throughout the 19th to early 20th centuries, Jamaica was mainly populated with whites as Irish immigrants settled around the places known today as Downtown and Baisley Pond Park. In the 1950s, however, a long period of white flight began that lasted through the 1970s and 1980s with mainly middle-income African Americans taking their place. Beginning in 1965 and through

11128-413: Was renamed Floyd H. Flake Boulevard in October 2020, in honor of Floyd Flake , senior pastor of the Greater Allen A. M. E. Cathedral of New York in Jamaica. Merrick Boulevard, also known as Floyd H. Flake Boulevard, begins at NY 25 (Hillside Avenue) as a two-lane, one-way street heading eastbound (compass south at this point), which continues north of Hillside Avenue as 166th Street. Two blocks to

11235-439: Was the 21st-most populous county in the United States . By 2014, the county's racial makeup was estimated at 85.2% White , 8.3% African American , 0.6% Native American , 4.0% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , and 1.8% from two or more races . Those identifying as Hispanic or Latino , of any race, were 18.2% of the population. Those who identified as "white alone", not being of Hispanic or Latino origin, represented 69.3% of

11342-456: Was the closest county in the state, although Ontario County and Warren County had narrower raw vote margins of just 33 and 57 votes, respectively. Suffolk was one of five counties in the state that Trump won by less than 500 votes. With Tarrant County, Texas and Maricopa County, Arizona flipping Democratic in 2020, Suffolk, along with Collin County, Texas were the most populous counties in

11449-510: Was the only post office in the present-day boroughs of Queens or Brooklyn before 1803. Union Hall Academy for boys and Union Hall Seminary for girls were chartered in 1787. The academy eventually attracted students from all over the United States and the West Indies . The public school system was started in 1813 with funds of $ 125. Jamaica Village, the first village on Long Island , was incorporated in 1814 with its boundaries being from

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