South Shore, Staten Island, Residential district in Staten Island, US
South Shore is a residential district in southern Staten Island that stretches along Raritan Bay and Richmond Creek with suburban streets and waterfront areas. The area sits between hilly inland regions and the shoreline, mixing residential neighborhoods with open water spaces.
This area remained largely rural until the Verrazano Bridge opened in the 1960s, after which it rapidly transformed into a residential region. That infrastructure change brought thousands of new residents and reshaped the entire landscape.
The neighborhoods of Great Kills, Tottenville, and Annadale show their roots in Italian, Irish, and English communities through local celebrations and traditional practices. These areas keep their heritage alive in family-run shops and gatherings that shape everyday life.
Getting to Manhattan from this area works through express buses on main roads or the Staten Island Railway, which connects to the ferry terminal. Most places are reachable by car or bus, and the waterfront access makes it easy to navigate the area.
The waters offshore were one of the major oyster harvesting grounds during the 1800s and shaped the local economy for generations. This rich maritime past is barely visible today but lives on in local museums and historical records.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
