Old Town, Staten Island
Encyclopedia
Old Town is a neighborhood in the New York City
borough
of Staten Island
, located on its East Shore
. Old Town was established in August 1661 as part of New Netherland
, and was the first permanent Europe
an settlement on Staten Island. Originally described as "Oude Dorpe" (old village in Dutch
), much of its original territory makes up what is present-day South Beach
, with parts of Midland Beach and Dongan Hills. The area was settled by a group of Dutch, Walloon
(from what is now southern Belgium and its borders with France) and French Protestants (Huguenot
s) led by Walloon Pierre Billiou.
Present-day Old Town is typically described as the neighborhood bordered by Grasmere
to the north, Dongan Hills
to the south, South Beach to the east, and Concord to the west. The neighborhood is served by the Old Town
station of the Staten Island Railway
. The neighborhood is also served by the S78 and S79 buses on Hylan Boulevard
and the S74 and S76 buses on Richmond Road.
, located on Old Town Road
, opened in 2010.
The neighborhood is home to the campus of Staten Island's largest circulation daily, the Staten Island Advance
, a newspaper
that likes to refer to Old Town as either Grasmere or Dongan Hills, even though its residents refer to it as Old Town.
The Academy of St. Dorothy, a private Roman Catholic elementary school
sits on Hylan Boulevard in Old Town.
Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center (formerly Carmel Richmond Nursing Home), a Roman Catholic nursing home
sits on Old Town Road. The home was established by the sisters of the Carmelite Order in the 1970s.
A Very Special Place, a school for developmentally disabled children was opened on Quintard Street in the late 1990s.
, an American politician and member of the New York City Council
is a former resident of Old Town.
's Old Town station. It is also served by the S78/S79 buses along Hylan Blvd, as well as the X1, X2, X3, and X9 express buses.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of 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...
, located on its 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....
. Old Town was established in August 1661 as part of New Netherland
New Netherland
New Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the 17th-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
, and was the first permanent Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an settlement on Staten Island. Originally described as "Oude Dorpe" (old village in Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
), much of its original territory makes up what is present-day 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...
, with parts of Midland Beach and Dongan Hills. The area was settled by a group of Dutch, Walloon
Walloon
Wallon may refer to:*Henri-Alexandre Wallon , a French historian and statesman*Henri Wallon , a psychologist and grandson of Henri-Alexandre Wallon...
(from what is now southern Belgium and its borders with France) and French Protestants (Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
s) led by Walloon Pierre Billiou.
Present-day Old Town is typically described as the neighborhood bordered by Grasmere
Grasmere, Staten Island
Grasmere is the name of a neighborhood located on the East Shore of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City.Grasmere although crossed by major roads has retained its quiet suburban character. The area and adjoining Concord was dotted with lakes and ponds similar to the English...
to the north, Dongan Hills
Dongan Hills, Staten Island
Dongan Hills is a neighborhood located within New York City, USA's borough of Staten Island. It is on the Island's East Shore.The neighborhood was originally known by two separate names, the western half being called Hillside Park and the eastern half Linden Park...
to the south, South Beach to the east, and Concord to the west. The neighborhood is served by the Old Town
Old Town (Staten Island Railway station)
Old Town is a Staten Island Railway station in the neighborhood of Old Town, Staten Island, New York. It is located on an embankment at Railroad Avenue on the main line. It has two side platforms, and metal orange canopies and walls...
station of the Staten Island Railway
Staten Island Railway
The Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, publicly known as MTA Staten Island Railway or SIR, is the operator of the lone rapid transit line in the borough of Staten Island, New York City, USA...
. The neighborhood is also served by the S78 and S79 buses on Hylan Boulevard
Hylan Boulevard
Hylan Boulevard is a major northeast-southwest boulevard in the New York City borough of Staten Island. It is approximately long , and runs from the North Shore neighborhood of Rosebank to the South Shore neighborhood of Tottenville....
and the S74 and S76 buses on Richmond Road.
Unique features
The New York Tattoo MuseumNew York Tattoo Museum
The New York Tattoo Museum is a museum that opened in 2010. Located at 203 Old Town Road in Staten Island's Old Town neighborhood, it is reported to be the first tattoo museum to open in New York City.-External links:*...
, located on Old Town Road
Old Town Road
Old Town Road is a short but primary east-west artery in East Shore, Staten Island.It is known to provide the shortest route between Richmond Road and Hylan Boulevard....
, opened in 2010.
The neighborhood is home to the campus of Staten Island's largest circulation daily, the Staten Island Advance
Staten Island Advance
The Staten Island Advance is a daily newspaper published in the borough of Staten Island in New York City. The only daily newspaper published in the borough, and the only borough to have its own major daily paper, it covers news of local and community interest, including borough politics. As of...
, a newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
that likes to refer to Old Town as either Grasmere or Dongan Hills, even though its residents refer to it as Old Town.
The Academy of St. Dorothy, a private Roman Catholic elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
sits on Hylan Boulevard in Old Town.
Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center (formerly Carmel Richmond Nursing Home), a Roman Catholic nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
sits on Old Town Road. The home was established by the sisters of the Carmelite Order in the 1970s.
A Very Special Place, a school for developmentally disabled children was opened on Quintard Street in the late 1990s.
Notable residents
James OddoJames Oddo
James S. Oddo is a Republican politician from Staten Island, currently serving as Minority Leader in the New York City Council. He is one of five Republicans serving on the Council.-Early life and career:...
, an American politician and member of the New York City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
is a former resident of Old Town.
Transportation
Old Town is served by the Staten Island RailwayStaten Island Railway
The Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, publicly known as MTA Staten Island Railway or SIR, is the operator of the lone rapid transit line in the borough of Staten Island, New York City, USA...
's Old Town station. It is also served by the S78/S79 buses along Hylan Blvd, as well as the X1, X2, X3, and X9 express buses.