Far Rockaway, Beachfront residential neighborhood in Queens, United States
Far Rockaway is a beachfront residential area on the eastern part of the Rockaway peninsula in Queens, running between Nassau County and Beach 32nd Street along the Atlantic. Streets run perpendicular to each other and reach down to the sandy shore, while boardwalks and smaller shops shape daily life for residents.
The Dutch West India Company acquired the territory from the Canarsie in 1639 and passed control to the English in 1664, before Richard Cornell Palmer purchased it in 1685. During the 1830s a resort settlement began here, which evolved into a year-round residential area through the 20th century.
The name derives from the Canarsie word Reckonwacky, which likely means sandy place and refers to the coastal terrain. Today single-family homes alternate with multi-story housing complexes, while streets lead toward the ocean and people walk to the beach for a quick break or to meet by the water.
The beach is easily reached on foot, and the area feels quieter than more western parts of Rockaway, especially on weekdays outside summer season. The A subway line connects the area to Manhattan, while bus routes run to Nassau County and other parts of Queens.
The Beach Bungalow Historic District preserves small vacation cottages from the early 1900s that were originally occupied only in summer. Many of these homes were later converted into year-round residences while retaining their characteristic low profile and narrow plots.
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