Staten Island

Geography

Staten Island is the third largest borough in New York City, with 59 square miles, and is the least populated with less than 500,000 residents. Staten island has 7,587 residents per square mile. It lies near New Jersey, and is separated from New York by the New York Bay. 
Demographics

• About 35% of Staten Island households have children and 55% have married couples. 
• 25% of residents are under 18
• 30% are 25 to 44 years old
• Median age is 36 years.
• Median income is $55,039 and per capita income is $23,905.
• About 10% of the population lives below the poverty line.
• 77% white
• 12% Hispanic
• 9% black
• The island has a high percentage of Italian Americans, and a growing Russian population.  There’s also a significant Polish popuation. 

Culture

Many artists have found the island’s combination of space and affordable housing an attractive alternative to Manhattan and the more populated boroughs.   Staten Island is a popular location for film and, oddly, has served as the location for a number of gangster movies such as The Godfather, Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco, and Analyze This.

In 1972, much of the island’s remaining green spaces became part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, a National Park. Overall Staten Island has the largest area of parkland in the City. 

Staten Island is home to many museums, including the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, the Conference House, and the Staten Island Children’s museum.  The Staten Island Zoo is also a popular attraction, as is the St. George Theatre.

 Historic Richmond Town is New York City’s living history village and museum complex. Visitors can explore the diversity of the American experience, especially that of Staten Island and its neighboring communities, from the colonial period to the present. The village area occupies 25 acres of a 100-acre (0.40 km²) site with about 15 restored buildings, including homes and commercial and civic buildings, as well as a museum.

The borough is home to the minor league team Staten Island Yankees.
History

The Dutch finally settled Staten Island in 1661 after several unsuccessful attempts, and gave it to the English in 1667 at the Treaty of Breda.  The island played a major part in the Revolutionary War, when General William Howe used the island as a base from which to attack New York City.  American troops withdrew from the island after the Battle of Staten Island, and it remained in British hands until the end of the war. 

The island became a borough of New York City in 1898, and remained laregly rural until the completion of the Verrzano Narrows Bridge in 1964.  Staten Island quickly became suburban as the islands four major bridges provided road access to and from the island. Residents voted to secede from New York in 1993, but the State Assembly blocked the proposal.