Midland Beach, Staten Island
Encyclopedia
Midland Beach is a Staten Island
neighborhood. It lies along the east-central coast of the island, in the area known locally as the "Mid-Island, Staten Island
," or, according to some, the "East Shore
." To its immediate west is Grant City
, south lies New Dorp Beach
with Graham Beach and South Beach
bordering it on the north. The Miller Field border & Prescott Ave is the West border (formerly, a lane called Maplewood Terrace paralleled New Dorp Lane), Poultney Street/Laconia Ave to the North, the Lower New York Bay, to the South, & Seaview Ave to the East. Father Capodanno Boulevard
and Midland Avenue
are Midland Beach's two main arteries.
During the late 19th and early 20th century, Midland Beach was a popular beach resort. In 1896, Midland Beach began attracting residents and tourists who came by trolley or excursion boats from Manhattan and Newark, NJ. Resorts, complete with hotels and amusement attractions, drew thousands daily. Besides its hotels and amusement park, it offered concerts, a fishing pier, vaudeville entertainment and gambling. However, all of this is no longer in existence except for the new Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier which opened in September 2003. The Ocean Breeze Pier is the largest steel and concrete recreational pier built in the last 100 years on the Atlantic Ocean in the New York region.
Unlike much of Staten Island, Midland Beach is mostly Irish American
, and also has a significant Hispanic
population. The 1990s began witnessing a large influx of Russian immigrants. Rainstorms on the island caused wind or water damage (such as flooded bungalows) in Midland Beach in the 1970s, due to its lack of infrastructure and storm sewers and proximity to the coast. But the City of New York installed a new, very large storm sewer system down Greeley Avenue
in 1979, which has resolved the flooding issues for most of the newer housing stock in the neighborhood. Today, the bungalow
s built as summer homes are owned or rented by locals for permanent residence, and many have fallen into disrepair (according to data compiled by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the parish
of St. Margaret Mary, which serves Midland Beach, is the poorest parish on Staten Island
based on per capita income).
The neighborhood once had its own post office
branch, bearing the postal code "Staten Island 11, New York." The building that housed the post office, located at 553 Lincoln Avenue, was one of the smallest (in terms of square footage) post offices in the entire United States
at the time. It was closed in 1949.
) Bluebelt, part of the larger Staten Island Bluebelt, is now being constructed by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
throughout the northern edge of the neighborhood, where most of these bungalows stand. This comprehensive watershed wetlands will alleviate much of the flooding that occurs in this low lying area. The land will be protected for passive residential use and absorb storm water runoff. Stone bridges, culverts, viaducts, walls and tree plantings will beautify the neighborhood and eventually eliminate the blight that has plagued the northern edge of Midland Beach since the 1960s.
, Cornelius Vanderbilt
's oldest son. He maintained a profitable 186.7 acre (0.755548762 km²) farm in 1855 and built an Italianate style 24-room Mansion on the property, complete with horse stables, trotting field and judges stands, which was overseen by his son George Washington Vanderbilt II
. It is now Miller Field, Gateway National Recreation Area
.
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
neighborhood. It lies along the east-central coast of the island, in the area known locally as the "Mid-Island, Staten Island
Mid-Island, Staten Island
Mid-Island is frequently applied to a series of neighborhoods within New York City, USA's borough of Staten Island.Under the definition most commonly adhered to, Mid-Island comprises all of the communities whose ZIP Code is 10314, plus Sunnyside within zip code 10301, along with the western slope...
," or, according to some, the "East Shore
East Shore, Staten Island
The term East Shore is frequently applied to a series of neighborhoods along the Lower New York Bay and the Raritan Bay and within New York City's borough of Staten Island....
." To its immediate west is Grant City
Grant City, Staten Island
Grant City is the name of a neighborhood located on the East Shore of Staten Island, New York, USA. The island comprises one of the five boroughs of New York City.-History:...
, south lies New Dorp Beach
New Dorp Beach
New Dorp Beach is along the shore of the neighborhood of New Dorp, on the south shore of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City.It is between Midland Beach and Oakwood Beach.-History:...
with Graham Beach and South Beach
South Beach, Staten Island
South Beach is the name of a neighborhood located on the East Shore of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, USA. It is situated immediately to the south of the Staten Island side of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge...
bordering it on the north. The Miller Field border & Prescott Ave is the West border (formerly, a lane called Maplewood Terrace paralleled New Dorp Lane), Poultney Street/Laconia Ave to the North, the Lower New York Bay, to the South, & Seaview Ave to the East. Father Capodanno Boulevard
Father Capodanno Boulevard
Father Capodanno Boulevard, formerly called Seaside Boulevard, is primary north-south artery that runs through the Arrochar, South Beach, Ocean Breeze, Midland Beach, and New Dorp Beach neighborhoods of New York City, in the borough of Staten Island, New York...
and Midland Avenue
Midland Avenue
Midland Avenue is a primary east-west avenue in the Grant City and Midland Beach neighborhoods of New York City, in the borough of Staten Island, New York....
are Midland Beach's two main arteries.
History
Unlike much of Staten Island, Midland Beach is mostly Irish American
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
, and also has a significant Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
population. The 1990s began witnessing a large influx of Russian immigrants. Rainstorms on the island caused wind or water damage (such as flooded bungalows) in Midland Beach in the 1970s, due to its lack of infrastructure and storm sewers and proximity to the coast. But the City of New York installed a new, very large storm sewer system down Greeley Avenue
Greeley Avenue
Greeley Avenue is a residential yet important east-west avenue in the Grant City and Midland Beach neighborhoods of New York City, in the borough of Staten Island, New York.-Overview:...
in 1979, which has resolved the flooding issues for most of the newer housing stock in the neighborhood. Today, the bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
s built as summer homes are owned or rented by locals for permanent residence, and many have fallen into disrepair (according to data compiled by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of St. Margaret Mary, which serves Midland Beach, is the poorest parish on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
based on per capita income).
The neighborhood once had its own post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
branch, bearing the postal code "Staten Island 11, New York." The building that housed the post office, located at 553 Lincoln Avenue, was one of the smallest (in terms of square footage) post offices in the entire United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the time. It was closed in 1949.
Bluebelt
The Midland Beach (New CreekNew Creek, Staten Island
The New Creek watershed encompasses on the East Shore of Staten Island, New York. The creek is fed by many natural springs in the area, which were used by the Lenape Indians before the arrival of European colonists in the Seventeenth Century. Many of the springs have been channeled underground...
) Bluebelt, part of the larger Staten Island Bluebelt, is now being constructed by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
The City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation is the department of government of the City of New York responsible for maintaining the city's parks system, preserving and maintaining the ecological diversity of the city's natural areas, and furnishing recreational opportunities for city's...
throughout the northern edge of the neighborhood, where most of these bungalows stand. This comprehensive watershed wetlands will alleviate much of the flooding that occurs in this low lying area. The land will be protected for passive residential use and absorb storm water runoff. Stone bridges, culverts, viaducts, walls and tree plantings will beautify the neighborhood and eventually eliminate the blight that has plagued the northern edge of Midland Beach since the 1960s.
Transportation
Midland Beach is served by the S51/S81 local buses and the X4, X5, X7, and X8 express buses along Midland Avenue. The S78/S79 travel along Hylan Blvd.Notable residents
One of Woodland Beach's most famous residents was William Henry VanderbiltWilliam Henry Vanderbilt
William Henry Vanderbilt I was an American businessman and a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family.-Childhood:William Vanderbilt was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1821...
, Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...
's oldest son. He maintained a profitable 186.7 acre (0.755548762 km²) farm in 1855 and built an Italianate style 24-room Mansion on the property, complete with horse stables, trotting field and judges stands, which was overseen by his son George Washington Vanderbilt II
George Washington Vanderbilt II
George Washington Vanderbilt II was a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family, which had amassed a huge fortune through steamboats, railroads, and various business enterprises. He built and owned Biltmore, the largest home in the United States.-Biography:The eighth son and youngest...
. It is now Miller Field, Gateway National Recreation Area
Gateway National Recreation Area
Gateway National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in the Port of New York and New Jersey. Scattered over Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, New York and Monmouth County, New Jersey, it provides recreational opportunities that are rare for a dense urban environment, including ocean...
.