Jamaica Queens

Our People

Like much of Queens, which happens to be the fastest-growing borough of New York, entrepreneurial newcomers from around the world have made a home for themselves in Jamaica. Jamaica is also one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in all of the United States.

For the past 30 years, Jamaica has seen an average of 5,000 new immigrants joining its community annually. This diversity of heritage is part of the recent over 32% over Jamaica's residents are multilingual! Jamaica, as a community that is a conflation of a cornucopia of cultures and ethnicities, is well known for being a beacon of tolerance. Take this sampling of a few of Queens most famous residents as evidence of just how unique this community it: at one point, Donald Trump, and rappers 50 Cent and Nicki Minaj have all called Queens home. This heterogeneity makes Jamaica an accurate symbol of the diversity within New York City.

Furthermore, millions of people have access to Jamaica through its plentiful transportation options. From the Long Island Railroad to the New York City Transit system, the ease of getting to and from Jamaica make it a desirable area for skilled and well-educated people to make a home.

A generally unknown fun fact about our community is that there is a larger population of college-educated workers within 45 minutes of Jamaica than either Wall Street or White Plains!

Historic Jamaica

The area that is now Jamaica Avenue was originally an ancient trail for Native American tribes from as far as the Great Lakes and the Ohio River. Tribes would take the trail long distances to trade goods such as skins and furs for traditional sacred beads. In 1655 the first settlers exchanged two guns, a coat, some powder and lead, and in return the settlers were provided the land lying between the old trail and "Beaver Pond" (later Baisley Pond). The Dutch leader, Peter "Peg Leg" Stuyvesant, then named the area "Rustdorp" in 1656. However, only nine years later, the English came and took over the area, renaming it "Jameco", after the name they gave to the local Native Americans that lived in the area. Hence, "Jamaica" surfaced into existence.

During the Battle of Long Island, Colonial Jamaica had a force of 56 Minutemen who fought against the British. The outcome of this battle led to British troop’s control of the New York City area for most of the Revolutionary War. In Jamaica, the saying, “George Washington slept here” is in fact true in which some residents take great pride! He stayed in William Warner’s tavern in 1790. Rufus King, a signer of the Constitution, relocated to Jamaica in 1805. He added to a modest 18^th-century farmhouse, creating the manor today known as King Manor. King Manor was restored to its former glory at the turn of the 21^st cetury and today houses the King Manor Museum.

Easy Transportation

Jamaica is a well-established transport hub with easy access to Manhattan, Long Island, and Downtown Brooklyn via 9 LIRR lines, 4 subway lines, and 14 bus lines. It is also considered a gateway to the world, as it is just an 8-minute air-train ride to JFK international airport.

Resident Spotlight

Meet Nick and Beth!

Watch a short video on why he loves living at a Zara Home in Jamaica.