Staten Island

This borough and island covers roughly 150 square kilometers (58 square miles) at the entrance of New York Harbor, separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and from Brooklyn by the Narrows. Residential neighborhoods spread across gentle hills and along the shoreline, while parks and nature reserves occupy large portions of the interior.

The Dutch colony named the land Staten Eylandt in 1661 after the parliament of the Netherlands. It became part of New York City in 1898, though growth accelerated after the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge opened in 1964.

Families gather at the Staten Island Zoo and the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, where community events and art exhibitions take place year-round. Italian restaurants and bakeries shape several neighborhoods, where neighbors meet in pizzerias and cafés to share daily life.

The Staten Island Ferry connects the St. George Terminal to Lower Manhattan daily at no charge, offering harbor views during the crossing. The island is also reachable via the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge from Brooklyn and through several bus routes from New Jersey.

The former Fresh Kills Landfill site transforms into a park of nearly 900 hectares (2,200 acres) with wetlands, walking trails, and environmental education programs. The Greenbelt, a network of forests and trails, runs through the center and provides habitats for deer and foxes.