Jamaica

Jamaica covers quite a large area of Queens, and the quality of life really varies from section to section. There are extraordinarily expensive upscale homes in some areas while other areas are pretty dingy and not very safe. Throughout the area, there are lots of apartments, co-ops, and private homes on tree-lined streets. While it is predominantly African American, the population is diverse with a pretty good mix of Hispanic, Arab, Asian, and Caucasian residents. There isn't much in the way of shopping, other than some supermarkets and pharmacies, but there are more options in the towns nearby. It does have some great pizza places and delis - try Double J right next to the university for some awesome sandwiches. The main draw for people in Jamaica is the fact that it's the county seat and home to St. John's University. Many of the borough's courthouses and administrative buildings are in Jamaica. If you own a multi-family home, you can attract student tenants. Transportation options are pretty good, with access to the subway on Hillside Avenue and the LIRR station on Sutphin Boulevard. Residents can take buses to either station. There is a great park and a well equipped library.

Jamaica is a neighborhood in Queens that is surrounded by such communities as St. Albans, Hollis, Jamaica Estates, Jamaica Hills, Briarwood, Richmond Hill, South Ozone, and South Jamaica. The area was settled by the English under Dutch rule in 1656 in New Netherland.

The neighborhood serves as the county seat of Queens County and because of this is the location of courthouses and many administrative buildings for the County of Queens. Numerous county and agency jobs have developed as a result of Jamaica’s county seat. Jamaica is not the location of Queens Borough Hall, as some might suspect, which is located in neighboring Kew Gardens.

The area’s major commercial center is known as Jamaica Center. Jamaica Center includes the area around Jamaica Avenue and 165th Street. Here you will also find the Central Library of the Queens Borough Public Library.

There are several museums and learning centers located in Jamaica, including the King Manor Museum located on Jamaica Avenue between 150th and 153rd Streets. The King Manor Museum is a step back in time to the early 19th Century. It is a historic mansion within the 11 acre King Park and is the site for many local concerts and events.

This is one of the most famous neighborhoods of the borough of Queens (the only other one probably being Flushing); it used to be a predominately African-American community, but now there are many West Indian immigrants (as well as Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Indians, Arabs, and Russians), all of which make this neighborhood extremely diverse. This is where the JFK Airport is located, so chances are that just about anyone who has ever lived or visited in the city has been to this neighborhood. It’s a pretty far distance into the city from here – at least an hour on the train (but probably more).