Staten Island

Staten Island is the southernmost of the five boroughs of New York City and is coextensive with Richmond County. It is located at the southernmost point of the State of New York, separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay.

Originally home to the Lenape Native Americans, the island was settled by Dutch colonists in the 17th century and was consolidated with New York City in 1898. Historically called 'Staten Island,' it was formerly known as the Borough of Richmond until its name was officially changed to Borough of Staten Island in 1975. Often called "the forgotten borough" by its residents, it is also known as "the borough of parks" because of its many protected green spaces.

With a population of 495,747 in the 2020 census, Staten Island is the least populated borough but the third largest in land area, covering 58.5 sq mi (152 km²). It is the least densely populated and most suburban borough in New York City. Despite this, its population density is still higher than that of the City of Los Angeles, and its total population exceeds that of cities like New Orleans, Miami, and St. Louis.

The North Shore, especially areas like St. George, Tompkinsville, Clifton, and Stapleton, is the most urban part of the island, featuring historic Victorian houses. The East Shore has the world's fourth-longest boardwalk, the FDR Boardwalk. The South Shore became more suburban starting in the 1960s and 1970s, while the West Shore is mostly industrial.

Staten Island can be reached from Brooklyn by the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge and from New Jersey by several bridges including the Outerbridge Crossing, Goethals Bridge, and Bayonne Bridge. It has Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus lines and the Staten Island Railway, but it is the only borough not connected to the New York City Subway system. The free Staten Island Ferry offers a scenic ride across New York Harbor with views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Lower Manhattan.

History

Staten Island has a long history. Thousands of years ago, Native American people lived there. They were part of the Lenape group and called the island names like "Aquehonga Manacknong," meaning "as far as the place of the bad woods."

Europeans first arrived in the 1500s. Dutch settlers came in the 1600s and set up a small village. The island became part of New York when the Dutch gave control to the English in 1667.

During the American Revolution, British forces used Staten Island as a base. Many people on the island supported the British, while others supported the American side.

In the 1800s, Staten Island was mostly rural with farms. It became part of New York City in 1898. The Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge opened in the 1960s, connecting Staten Island to the rest of the city and bringing more people to live there.

Today, Staten Island is one of New York City's five boroughs. It still has natural areas like wetlands and parks, including plans to turn an old landfill into a huge new park.

Geology

During the Paleozoic Era, two large pieces of Earth’s crust moved together. This created the Appalachian Mountains. Part of the ocean floor got stuck in this crash and became the oldest rocks on Staten Island, called serpentinite.

These rocks are about 430 million years old and contain minerals like antigorite, chrysotile, and lizardite.

Later, a big rock formation called the Palisades Sill formed under part of northwest Staten Island. You can see some of it in Travis at the William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge. This same rock formation can also be found along the Hudson River in Palisades Interstate Park.

Staten Island was shaped by giant glaciers that moved over it. The last glacier left about 12,000 years ago. The rocks and dirt left behind by the glaciers can still be seen in some wooded areas of the island.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Richmond County has a total area of 102.5 square miles (265 km²), of which 58.5 square miles (152 km²) is land and 44.0 square miles (114 km²) (43%) is water. It is the third-smallest county in New York by land area and fourth-smallest by total area.

Although Staten Island is a borough of New York City, the island is geographically part of New Jersey. Staten Island is separated from Long Island by the Narrows and from mainland New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull. Staten Island is positioned at the center of New York Bight, a sharp bend in the shoreline between New Jersey and Long Island.

In addition to the main island, the borough and county also include several small uninhabited islands:

The Isle of Meadows (at the mouth of Fresh Kills)
Prall's Island (in the Arthur Kill)
Shooters Island (in Newark Bay; part of it is in New Jersey)
Swinburne Island (in Lower New York Bay)
Hoffman Island (in Lower New York Bay)

The highest point on the island, the summit of Todt Hill, elevation 401 ft (122 m), is also the highest point in the five boroughs, as well as the highest point on the Atlantic coastal plain south of Great Blue Hill in Massachusetts and the highest point on the coast proper south of Maine's Camden Hills. Ward's Point in the neighborhood of Tottenville is the southernmost point in the state of New York.

Staten Island is the only borough in New York City that does not share a land border with another borough (Marble Hill in Manhattan is contiguous with the Bronx). The borough has a land border with Elizabeth and Bayonne, New Jersey, on uninhabited Shooters Island. It has several maritime borders with New Jersey communities, such as Perth Amboy, Cliffwood Beach section of Old Bridge, Union Beach, and Keansburg.

Wildlife

Staten Island is home to a large and diverse population of wildlife. Wildlife found on Staten Island include white-tailed deer, as well as hundreds of species of birds including bald eagles, turkey, hawks, egrets and ring-necked pheasants. Staten Island is home to Atlantic horseshoe crabs, cottontail rabbits, opossums, raccoons, garter snakes, red-eared slider turtles, newts, spring peeper frogs, leopard frogs, fox, box turtles, skunks, northern snapping turtles and common snapping turtles. In 2014 a new species of frog, the Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog (Lithobates kauffeldi), was described from Staten Island.

Parkland

Staten Island includes thousands of acres of federal, state, and local park land, including the "greenbelt" and "blue belt" park systems and the Gateway National Recreation Area, in addition to hundreds of acres of private wooded areas.

Five sites are part of the 26,000-acre (110 km²) Gateway National Recreation Area, managed by the U.S. National Park Service:

Two New York State parks are managed by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation:

359 acres (145 ha) of State Forests, state wildlife management areas, and Wetlands are managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation:

Saint Francis Woodland
Butler Manor Woods
Arden Heights Woods
Todt Hill Woods
North Mount Loretto State Forest
Lemon Creek Tidal Wetland Wildlife Management Area
Blosers Wetland Wildlife Management Area
Goethal Pond Wetland
Bridge Creek Tidal Wetland
Old Place Creek Tidal Wetland
Oakwood Beach Wetland
Sharrotts Shoreline Natural Resource Area
Sawmill Creek Wetland

The 359 acres (145 ha) of NYS Department of Environmental Conservation land throughout the island are patrolled by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police officers.

The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation manages 156 parks including:

The Fresh Kills Landfill was the world's largest landfill before closing in 2001. The landfill is being redeveloped as Freshkills Park, an area devoted to restoring habitat. The park will become New York City's second-largest public park when completed.

Adjacent counties

New Jersey

Hudson County — north and northeast
Union County — northwest
Middlesex County — west and southwest
Monmouth County — south

New York

Kings County — east
New York County — northeast

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Staten Island

Staten Island is home to many different kinds of people. In 2018, about 22% of people living there were born in another country. The area has the highest number of homes owned by people rather than rented in all of New York City.

In 2010, around 468,730 people lived on Staten Island. Most people there are from European backgrounds, especially Italian and Irish families. There are also many families from other places, like Russia, Poland, and Sri Lanka. Many people speak languages other than English at home, including Spanish, Russian, and Italian.

The area has a strong group of people who follow the Roman Catholic tradition, and there is also a notable group of people who follow Jewish traditions. Overall, Staten Island has a rich mix of cultures and languages.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	3,835	—
1800	4,564	19.0%
1810	5,347	17.2%
1820	6,135	14.7%
1830	7,082	15.4%
1840	10,965	54.8%
1850	15,061	37.4%
1860	25,492	69.3%
1870	33,029	29.6%
1880	38,991	18.1%
1890	51,713	32.6%
1900	67,021	29.6%
1910	85,969	28.3%
1920	116,531	35.6%
1930	158,346	35.9%
1940	174,441	10.2%
1950	191,555	9.8%
1960	221,991	15.9%
1970	295,443	33.1%
1980	352,029	19.2%
1990	378,977	7.7%
2000	443,728	17.1%
2010	468,730	5.6%
2020	495,747	5.8%
2025 (est.)	501,290	1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

Race	2020	2010	1990	1970	1950
White	59.6%	72.9%	85%	94%	97.1%
—Non-Hispanic	56.1%	64.0%	80%	n/a	n/a
Black or African American	10.5%	10.6%	8.1%	5.3%	2.8%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	19.6%	17.3%	8%	n/a	n/a
Asian	12.0%	7.5%	4.5%	0.4%	0.1%
Two or more races	7.8%	2.6%	n/a	n/a	n/a

Government and politics

Since New York City was formed in 1898, Staten Island has been run by rules set in the New York City Charter. This system gives most power to the mayor and city council.

A special job called Borough President was made to give Staten Island some local control. The Borough President talks for the island with city leaders and the state government. Staten Island’s Borough President is Vito Fossella, a Republican who was elected in November 2021. He is the only Republican borough president in New York City.

Staten Island’s politics are different from the rest of New York City. While the other parts of the city usually vote for Democratic leaders, Staten Island tends to support Republican leaders. This makes Staten Island important for the Republican Party in city elections. The island has voted for Republican presidents more often than the other parts of the city.

Staten Island has its own local leaders in the state assembly and state senate. The island also has its own criminal court and District Attorney, who is chosen by voters.

There have been discussions about Staten Island leaving New York City. In 1993, a vote showed many people wanted to leave, but it did not happen. After some city leaders promised to address Staten Island’s concerns, the idea slowed down. But interest in leaving the city came up again after 2013.

Party affiliation of Staten Island registered voters
Party	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996
Democratic (%)	44.70	44.76	45.19	45.39	45.63	45.47	45.51	45.60	46.38	46.15
Republican (%)	30.64	30.47	30.77	30.55	30.68	30.76	31.17	31.60	30.80	31.28
No affiliation (%)	19.00	19.10	18.46	18.54	18.67	18.84	18.67	18.25	18.43	18.48
Other (%)	5.66	5.67	5.58	5.52	5.02	4.93	4.65	4.55	4.39	4.09

Tourism

In 2009, the leader of Staten Island began a plan to bring more visitors to the island. This plan included a new website, a video about Staten Island shown at ferry stops, and information boards at the ferry terminals.

Empire Outlets New York City is a big shopping area in Staten Island with many stores offering lower prices. It is the first shopping area like this in New York City and is close to a major transportation center where ferries, trains, and buses stop.

Staten Island is famous for its many parks, such as Clove Lakes, Silver Lake, Greenbelt, and High Rock. Paulo's Peak, once called Moses Mountain, is a popular spot for its great views and was once the planned path for a road that people successfully stopped from being built. It is now a favorite place for visitors.

Culture

See also: Culture of New York City

Artists and musicians have been moving to Staten Island's North Shore to be close to Manhattan while having affordable space to live and work. Filmmakers also play an important part in Staten Island's art scene, which the local government has recognized. Staten Island Arts is Staten Island's local arts council and supports local artists and cultural organizations. The Staten Island Film Festival (SIFF) held its first four-day festival in 2006.

Historic Richmond Town is New York City's living history village and museum complex. Visitors can explore the diversity of the American experience, especially that of Staten Island and its neighboring communities, from the colonial period to the present. The village area occupies 25 acres of a 100-acre site with about 15 restored buildings, including homes, commercial and civic buildings, and a museum.

The island is home to the Staten Island Zoo. Zoo construction commenced in 1933 and it was opened on June 10, 1936, as the first zoo in the U.S. specifically devoted to an educational mandate.

Snug Harbor Cultural Center, the Alice Austen House Museum, the Conference House, the Garibaldi–Meucci Museum, Historic Richmond Town, Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, the Noble Maritime Collection, Sandy Ground Historical Museum, Staten Island Children's Museum, the Sri Lankan Art & Cultural Museum of NY, the Staten Island Museum, and the Staten Island Botanical Garden, home of the New York Chinese Scholar's Garden, can all be found on the island.

The Staten Island Museum opened a new branch in Snug Harbor in 2015. The Seguine Mansion, also known as The Seguine-Burke Mansion, is located on Lemon Creek near the southern shore of Staten Island. The 19th-century Greek Revival house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of the Historic House Trust; it is home to peacocks and an equestrian center.

Staten Island's local paper is The Staten Island Advance. The newspaper has an affiliated website called SILive.com.

Movies filmed partially or wholly on Staten Island include:

Analyze This
The Astronaut's Wife
Bad Hurt
A Beautiful Mind
Big Daddy
Big Fan
Combat Shock
Cropsey
The Devil's Own
Donnie Brasco
Easy Money
Freedomland
The First Purge
Fur
The Godfather
Goodfellas
Grace Quigley
He Knows You're Alone
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
The Irishman
The Jimmy Show
Joe the King
The Kindergarten Teacher
The King of Staten Island
Little Children
Neighbors
Nerve
The Other Guys
The Perils of Pauline (1914 serial)
Scent of a Woman
School of Rock
Shamus
Sisters
Sleepwalk With Me
Sorry, Wrong Number
Splendor in the Grass
Staten Island
Staten Island Summer
Strong Island
Terrifier
The Eltingville Club
The Toxic Avenger
Three Christs
Trainwreck
Two Family House
War of the Worlds
Wedding Daze
What We Do in the Shadows (TV series)
Who's That Knocking at My Door
Working Girl
Wu-Tang: An American Saga

Lydia Sigourney published her poem "Autumn on Staten Island" in her volume, Scenes in my Native Land, 1845. Her observations accompany it after a visit there in 1843.

World War One poet Alan Seeger, who fought with the French Foreign Legion and was killed in the Battle of the Somme, and author of "I Have a Rendezvous with Death" grew up at St. Marks Place above the ferry stop on Staten Island in the last decade of the 19th century. His poem "The Old Lowe House" described property that would become Low Terrace, St. George. Ki Longfellow was born on the island. Longfellow is the author of The Secret Magdalene and other books. Her Sam Russo historical detective noir novels are set in and around Stapleton.

Lois Lowry, the author of The Gossamer, The Giver, and many other books, attended school on Staten Island. Writer Paul Zindel lived in Staten Island during his youth and based most of his teenage novels on the island. George R. R. Martin based King's Landing on the view of Staten Island from his childhood home in Bayonne, New Jersey.

Staten Island has a local music scene. These venues in the North Shore are part of the art movement mentioned above. Local bands include punk, ska, hardcore punk, indie, metal, and pop punk. Staten Island is known internationally for its hip-hop culture, exemplified by the critically acclaimed Wu-Tang Clan.

Musicians who were born on or live on Staten Island, and groups that formed there, are listed in the list of people from Staten Island.

The Spectrum cable news channel NY1 airs a weekly show called This Week on Staten Island, hosted by Anthony Pascale. The magazine-style show takes content from NY1's hourly newscasts called "Your Staten Island News Now". A documentary series, A Walk Around Staten Island with David Hartman and Barry Lewis, premiered on public television station WNET on December 3, 2007. The hosts profile Staten Island culture and history, including major attractions such as the Staten Island Ferry, Historic Richmond Town, the Conference House, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, and its Chinese Scholars Garden, as well as many more sites.

The Fox and WB sitcom Grounded for Life (2001–2005) was centered on a family of Irish heritage living on Staten Island. All four cast members of truTV hidden camera reality TV show Impractical Jokers (2011–) hail from Staten Island. Joe Gatto, James "Murr" Murray, Brian "Q" Quinn, and Sal Vulcano are four friends who originally met while attending Monsignor Farrell High School, where they formed the improv comedy troupe The Tenderloins. Impractical Jokers features many references to Staten Island, and filming often takes place there. On February 6, 2023, the borough declared the first Monday of every February "Impractical Jokers Day" in honor of the show.

The FX comedy horror series What We Do in the Shadows (2019–2024) is centered on a group of vampires who live on Staten Island. The fact that they live on Staten Island and not more centrally in New York City is a common joke within the series. Their attempts to take over the entire borough have resulted in control of only five houses, according to the group.

The St. George Theatre serves as a cultural arts center, hosting educational programs, architectural tours, television and film shoots, concerts, comedy, Broadway touring companies, and small and large children's shows. Artists who have performed there include the B-52's, Jonas Brothers, Tony Bennett, and Don McLean. In 2012, the NBC musical drama Smash series filmed several scenes there.

The Ritz Theater in Port Richmond, a movie theater and vaudeville venue now a home-improvement showroom, once hosted the biggest names in rock and roll and show business. The theater was built by Isle Theatrical and opened in 1924. From 1970 to 1972, the theater had an arrangement with a Manhattan club that enabled them to bring top names, many of whom are now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, to the location. The Stadium Theatre was a 1,037-seat movie theater in Tottenville from 1927 to 1957. In January 1969, it reopened as the New Stadium Theatre, a rock music venue, but by the 1970s, it had become the site of a roller rink.

The Lane Theater in New Dorp opened on February 10, 1938, and was operated by Charles, Lewis and Elias Moses. The theater's interior has been landmarked since November 1988. Starting in 1998, several concerts were hosted; and the theater briefly hosted "The EleMent" nightclub in 2001. After renovations were completed in summer 2009, Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club opened there and operated until 2011. In 2012 the building became the home of the Crossroads Church.

Sports

Baseball

The Staten Island Yankees played in the New York–Penn League from 1999 to 2020. They were a Class-A Minor League team linked to the New York Yankees before the league changed. The team hopes to start a new team for Staten Island in the independent Atlantic League. Today, Staten Island is home to the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League, who play their games at Staten Island University Hospital ballpark.

The New York Metropolitans played baseball on Staten Island from April 1886 to 1887. Erastus Wiman, who helped build St. George, brought the team to Staten Island at a stadium called the St. George Grounds, near where the Staten Island FerryHawks now play.

Staten Island's Mid-Island Little League won the 1964 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Three Mid-Island Little League teams and six from Staten Island overall have competed in the tournament since it began in 1947.

Basketball

In 2015, the New York Post listed Staten Island's top basketball players as: Warren Fenley, Kyle McAlarney, Bill Murtha, Kevin O'Connor, Kenny Page. As of 2014, McAlarney was Staten Island's top high school boys' scorer with 2,566 points.

Some well-known NBA players from Staten Island include Renaldo Balkman and Mouhamadou Gueye.

Bowling

Staten Island has had many top bowlers and national champions, including Mark Roth, Johnny Petraglia, Mary Ontek, Ben McNevich, Dom LaBargo, and Joseph Berardi. Roth, Petraglia and Berardi are in the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame.

Boxing

The Daily News Golden Gloves Tournament began in 1927. Eppie Alonzo, who lived and trained at the Mount Loretto Home for Boys, was the first Staten Islander to win a Daily News Golden Gloves championship in 1949 and again in 1950. Other winners include Gabe Perillo Jr. (1974), Kevin Rooney (1975), and many others.

College athletics

The Wagner College Seahawks compete in NCAA Division I sports and are part of the Northeast Conference. National Basketball Association coach P. J. Carlesimo coached the men's basketball team from 1976 to 1982. Terrance Bailey led NCAA Division I basketball in scoring in 1985–86. Rich Kotite, a former NFL player and coach, played football at Wagner in the 1960s.

The College of Staten Island Dolphins compete in NCAA Division II sports. The College of Staten Island Baseball Complex was home to the Staten Island Yankees until 2001.

Cricket

The Staten Island Cricket Club, started in 1872, is the oldest cricket club still operating in the United States.

Football

Staten Island once had a National Football League team called the Stapletons. The team played in Stapleton at Thompson Stadium from 1929 to 1932. They beat the New York Giants twice and the Chicago Cardinals once. During the 1932 season, they tied the Chicago Bears in a scoreless game. Ken Strong, a Football Hall of Famer, played for the Stapletons.

Some NFL players from Staten Island include Joe Andruzzi, Frank Ferrara, and James Jenkins. NFL coaches Kevin Coyle and Lou Anarumo were also born on Staten Island.

The New York Predators of the semi-pro Regional American Football League have been based on Staten Island since 1998. They play most home games at St. Peter's H.S.

Golf

Staten Island has four golf courses. La Tourette, Silver Lake, and South Shore are public, while Richmond County Country Club is New York City's only private country club. The New York City Amateur is held each year at La Tourette Golf Course.

Staten Island has been home to many golf courses over the years, including Harbour Hills Golf Links, Clovena Club, and Fox Hills Golf Course.

Ice hockey

The New York Slapshots joined the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in the 1985–86 season. They planned to play in a new arena in Travis, but it was never built, so they played elsewhere and moved to Troy, New York the next season.

Some National Hockey League players from Staten Island include Nick Fotiu, Kevin Labanc, and Zach Aston-Reese.

Motor sports

From 1953 to 1972, stock car races were held every week from May to October at a small racetrack on Staten Island. A big plan to build a large race track there was canceled in 2006 due to money problems.

Olympians

Many people from Staten Island have competed in the Olympic Games, including John Henry Lake in cycling in 1900, Abel Kiviat in athletics in 1912, and Frankie Genaro in boxing in 1920, among others.

Running

The New York City Marathon starts each year on Staten Island. The Ocean Breeze Track and Field Athletic Complex in Ocean Breeze Park is a top indoor track and field facility. It became the first certified International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) facility in the United States in 2015.

Swimming

In 1961, a lifeguard was the first to swim around Staten Island. In 2023, Leslie Hamilton became the first woman to swim around the island, completing 37 miles (60 km) in 14.5 hours.

Tennis

Tennis is believed to have first been played in the United States on Staten Island. The first American National championship was held at the Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club (now the Staten Island Cricket Club) in September 1880. Tennis was introduced to Staten Island by Mary Ewing Outerbridge.

Robert "Bob" Duffield Wrenn, a four-time U.S. singles championship winner, was a member of the Richmond County Country Club. His brother George Wrenn and friend Arthur E. Foote were also members.

Education

Public schools

Non-charter public schools in the borough are managed by the New York City Department of Education, the largest public school system in the United States.

Public middle schools include Intermediate Schools 2, 24, 27, 30, 51, 61, and 75; and 861, a K–to–8 school; as well as part of the Petrides School (which runs from kindergarten through high school).

Public high schools include:

Private schools

Staten Island Academy is the only independent private (non-public, non-religious) grade school on the island and is one of the oldest in the country.

Nondenominational Christian

Gateway Academy (co-educational)

Catholic

Monsignor Farrell High School (all-boys)
Moore Catholic High School (co-educational)
Notre Dame Academy (New York) (all-girls)
St. Joseph by the Sea High School (co-educational)
St. Joseph Hill Academy (all-girls)
St. Peter's Boys High School (all-boys)

Islamic

Miraj Islamic School (co-educational)

Jewish

Jewish Foundation School (co-educational)
Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem, Staten Island campus (all-boys)
Yeshiva Merkaz HaTorah (separate boys and girls)

Colleges and universities

The College of Staten Island is one of the eleven senior colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). The college offers associate's and bachelor's degrees, as well as master's and doctoral-level study.
Wagner College is a co-educational private liberal arts college with an enrollment of 2,000 undergraduates and 500 graduate students.
St. John's University had a campus on Grymes Hill from 1971 to 2024. Notre Dame College occupied the campus from 1933 until its merger with St. John's in 1971.

Transportation

Bridges

Staten Island is connected to New Jersey by three vehicle bridges and one railroad bridge. The Outerbridge Crossing goes to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and the Bayonne Bridge goes to Bayonne, New Jersey. The Goethals Bridge links Elizabeth, New Jersey with Staten Island. The Arthur Kill Vertical Lift Bridge carries freight trains between Staten Island and Elizabeth, New Jersey. The Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge connects Staten Island to Brooklyn.

Roads

In 2015, 82% of households on Staten Island owned a car, more than any other area of New York City. Unlike other parts of the city, Staten Island does not have a grid of numbered streets. Some neighborhoods name their streets in alphabetical order. Major roads include Hylan Boulevard, the longest street in the city.

Public transit

As of 2021, public transportation on Staten Island includes:

The Staten Island Ferry to Manhattan
The Staten Island Railway from St. George to Tottenville
MTA Regional Bus Operations buses

Ferry

The Staten Island Ferry is the only direct way to travel from Staten Island to Manhattan, taking about 25 minutes. It has been free since 1997 and carries over 60,000 people each day. It runs all day and night, every 15 to 20 minutes during busy times and every 30 minutes at other times.

Trains

The Staten Island Railway runs all day and night from the northeastern to the southwestern tip of the island. It opened in 1860 and has been operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority since 1971.

Staten Island is the only part of New York City not served by the subway. There were plans to build a subway tunnel in the 1920s, but it was never finished.

Buses

MTA Regional Bus Operations runs many bus lines on Staten Island. Some buses go across the Verrazzano Bridge to Brooklyn. There is also a bus that goes to Bayonne, New Jersey over the Bayonne Bridge. Express buses to Manhattan are also available.

Freight rail

Conrail Shared Assets Operations runs freight trains on Staten Island, connecting to New Jersey via the Arthur Kill Rail Bridge.

Infrastructure

Hospitals

Staten Island is the only part of New York City that does not have a hospital run by the city. Instead, there are two private hospitals: the Richmond University Medical Center and the Staten Island University Hospital.

Jails

Staten Island also does not have a big jail run by New York City. The city only keeps small jails at its three court buildings for people waiting for their court dates. Local police have small jails too, but they move people to jails in other parts of the city after they are arrested.

In the past, the Staten Island County Sheriff had its own jails, but these were closed in 1942. Later, in 1976, a state jail called the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility opened, but it closed in 2011.

Nicknames

Staten Island has a few fun nicknames. People sometimes call it the "Forgotten Borough" because some feel it gets less attention than other parts of New York City. Another nickname is the "borough of parks" because it has lots of green spaces and over 170 parks. The hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan from Staten Island called it "Shaolin Land." Some people also refer to it as "The Rock," a name that became popular in a New York Times article in 2007.