Flushing, Queens, New York
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Flushing is a section of the borough of Queens in New York City, New York.
Before the consolidation of New York City in 1898, Flushing was a town in Queens County. Today, it is a thriving business and residential area, with large Chinese and Korean communities (see Chinatown and Koreatown). The Chinese community in Flushing is in fact now the largest in the New York metropolitan area, having surpassed Manhattan's Chinatown several years ago.
Flushing is one of the most prominent neighborhoods of Queens, along with Jamaica, The Rockaways, Bayside and Long Island City.
Flushing now has many new residential and commercial buildings and is an area that is experiencing rapid development, including many innovative architectural designs. Primary streets in Flushing include: Main Street, Roosevelt Avenue, Northern Boulevard, Prince Street, Parsons Boulevard, Kissena Boulevard, and 164th Street.
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History
Flushing is named after the city of Vlissingen (anglisized as Flushing), found in the southwestern Netherlands, first named when New Netherland was settled by the Dutch in the 1620's. Traces of Dutch history can still be found in Flushing today, such as the John Bowne House on Bowne Street, The Bowne Street Community Church (of the Reformed Church in America), and the Flushing Quaker Meeting House. The Flushing Remonstrance was signed here on December 27, 1657.
The Flushing Cemetery is the final resting place for renowned musician and singer Louis Armstrong and for Bohemian writer Hermann Grab.
Transportation
Flushing is a major transportation hub with major air, rail, and bus links located within a half-mile (800 m) radius of downtown. The New York City Subway IRT Flushing Line's (7 train) terminal is at Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue, with the Port Washington branch of the LIRR located one block away. Over a dozen local buses serve Flushing with destinations in Long Island, the Bronx, Jamaica, and other parts of Queens. La Guardia Airport is located 10 minutes away by car or bus.
Education
Queens College, a major branch campus of the City University of New York, is located in Flushing.
There are many public high schools in Flushing, such as John Bowne High School, Robert F. Kennedy High School, and Flushing High School. John Bowne High School shares facilities with Queens College, as does another high school, Townsend Harris High School.
Flushing High School is housed in an attractive and distinctive building in the Neo-Gothic style. It has been designated as an historic site by the city.
Tourism
The intersection of Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue has many shops, many owned by Korean and Chinese immigrants. There is a large selection of restaurants, most of which feature Asian and Asian-American cuisine. The Queens Borough Public Library is another attraction in Flushing, it is one of two large regional centers (the other is found in the neighborhood of Jamaica). The library has 3 floors, with an auditorium in the basement for many public events.
Flushing is also well-known when it comes to sporting events. Major League Baseball's New York Mets, who play in Shea Stadium, and the USTA Tennis Center, home to the U.S. Open tennis tournament, are located in Flushing, near the border with another Queens neighborhood, Corona.
Flushing's historic Town Hall is located at Northern Boulevard and Main Street. Many small concerts, and cultural events take place in the recently renovated and restored Town Hall.
Interesting facts
- Actress Fran Drescher, and porn star Ron Jeremy were both born in Flushing. A local celebrity, news reporter Lewis Dodd, resides in Flushing.
External links
- A Journey Through Chinatown (http://www.nychinatown.org/flushing/flushing2.html) - Downtown Flushing map