Richmond County, County in Staten Island, New York
Richmond County is a county in New York State that covers the entirety of Staten Island, bordered by Upper New York Bay to the north and Raritan Bay to the south. It is one of the five counties that make up New York City, and the only one that occupies a single island separated from the other boroughs by water.
Richmond County was established in 1683 as one of the original twelve counties of New York State, when the land was mainly used for farming and small settlements. The opening of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in 1964 brought a wave of new residents and changed the character of the island more than any other single event in its history.
The name Richmond County comes from the English city of Richmond, a reminder of the area's colonial ties that still surfaces in some older neighborhood names. Walking through the borough today, you notice a slower pace than Manhattan, with front yards, local diners, and a strong sense of community that feels closer to a small town than a big city.
The easiest way to reach Staten Island is by the Staten Island Ferry, which departs from Lower Manhattan and runs throughout the day. Once on the island, buses cover most neighborhoods, though some areas are easier to explore by car if you have access to one.
Although Richmond County is part of New York City, it shares no land border with any of the other four boroughs, and its closest land neighbor is actually New Jersey. This means that every trip into the rest of the city requires crossing water, whether by bridge or by boat.
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