When a discussion about New York City boroughs comes up, most people think of Manhattan, the Bronx, or Brooklyn before they think of Queens or Staten Island. Staten Island has always had a bad rap with the other borough dwellers. Most consider it the worst borough, and some even refuse to acknowledge its status as one. Let's be honest, they have a point. They speak different and don't even have connection to the NYC subways. Staten Island has the ferry, but that's about it. I have no personal vendetta against the place, but there is no comparison when it comes to the uniqueness, variety, and attractions the other boroughs offer. But what about Queens? Why is it usually considered the fourth wheel, only beating out Staten Island?
The Bronx has Fordham, Yankee Stadium, the Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo. Brooklyn has the accent, Coney Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the best pizza in New York. Manhattan has, well, everything. Queens, however, is often unfairly overlooked even though it has plenty to offer as well. As a Queens native, I feel what stands out the most in this great borough is its diversity.
Hispanics in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst, Greeks in Astoria, Irish Americans in Woodside and Sunnyside, Italian Americans in Howard Beach and Ozone Park, African American and Caribbean populations in Jamaica, Jewish populations is Forest Hills, a heavy mix of European immigrants in Maspeth, the expansive Asian communities in Flushing, and on and on. There are 138 languages spoken in Queens, the most of any borough. It is also the most sizeable borough and the second most populated after Brooklyn.
New York is quite diverse as a whole, but Queens sets the standard. This borough offers an amazing mix of nationalities. As a result, it is filled with a myriad of colorful and unique faces, cultures, places, and dining opportunities. With a persistent flow of immigrants, a high percentage of the population is foreign-born. Queens also has the most evenly divided mixture of various demographic groups. Here is an interesting article that touches on this and more. The writer argues that Queens is not only the most diverse borough, but one of the more diverse places on the entire planet. The writer provides some fascinating facts and statistics to back up her claims.
I grew up in Sunnyside, Queens. This diverse area is made up mostly of Irish Americans but is littered with various other demographic groups, particularly Hispanics and Asians. Students at the elementary school I attended were a representation of this. Kids of all shapes, sizes, and colors filled the school. My group of close friends included a Filipino, a Korean, an Italian, an Indian, and an Ecuadorian. We looked like a miniature UN congregation when we all hung out together. It was a cultural learning experience each time we'd visit a fellow friend's house. Their style, what they ate, and how they interacted with their families varied from person to person. I've never been to a place that matched the diverse range of people that I was exposed to growing up around Sunnyside, Woodside, and Astoria.
Brooklyn can have the accent. Manhattan can have the flare. I'll take the diversity of Queens any day. Sure, my opinions may be quite biased since I was born and raised there. But there is no denying that Queens has plenty to offer and can hold its own in comparison to any of our great boroughs.
- Eric Durasko
queens does rock . you are correct ...
ReplyDeletequeens does rock . you are correct ...
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