Jamaica Avenue

Jamaica Avenue or The Ave., as it is called by locals, is a major avenue in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States. Jamaica Avenue starts off from Fulton Street (replacing East New York Avenue) in the East New York neighborhood in Brooklyn, and goes all the way to the Cross Island Parkway in Bellerose, Queens where it turns into Jericho Turnpike to service the rest of Long Island. Though it is certain where Jamaica Avenue begins, its absolute ending runs for blocks in Queens and Nassau County.

History

Jamaica Avenue was part of a pre-columbian trail for tribes from as far away as the Ohio River and the Great Lakes, coming to trade skins and furs for wampum. It was in 1655 that the first settlers paid the Native Americans with two guns, a coat, and some powder and lead, for the land lying between the old trail and "Beaver Pond," later, Baisley Pond. Dutch Director-General Peter Stuyvesant dubbed the area "Rustdorp" in granting the 1656 patent. The English, who took control of the colony 1664, renamed the little settlement "Jameco," for the Jameco (or Yamecah) Native Americans.

In the early 19th century the old road through Jamaica Pass was the Brooklyn Ferry Road, and at mid-century became the Brooklyn and Jamaica Plank Road with toll booths. Late in the century the portion west of Jamaica Pass became Fulton Street, and the eastern portion Jamaica Avenue.

Commerce

The part of Jamaica Avenue that runs through Jamaica Center is an important shopping street, the heart of Jamaica, Queens. Prices are said to be low, in an exciting market place atmosphere.

Jamaica Avenue is also the main shopping street for many other neighborhoods it runs through as well, including Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, and Queens Village.

Intersecting transport systems

Jamaica Avenue is the starting point of many newer streets in Queens, such as Myrtle Avenue, Metropolitan Avenue, Hempstead Avenue, Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, Farmers Boulevard, and the infamous Queens Boulevard. Many bus lines run down Jamaica Avenue, including the Q56, Q110, and Q36. The J Train also runs above Jamaica Avenue throughout its stretch in Woodhaven and Richmond Hill. Bus depots are also located near Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica.

Jamaica intersects with other former country roads in Queens as well, now become important urban streets including Woodhaven Boulevard, Lefferts Boulevard, Sutphin Boulevard, Parsons Boulevard, Francis Lewis Boulevard, and Springfield Boulevard.

Jamaica Avenue is also (along with Hillside Avenue) a subway terminus, and thus has the closest subway stop (Jamaica–179th Street) for many people in eastern Queens. Jamaica Avenue is said to be the "Queens Boulevard" for east central Queens and the Queens equivalent to Brooklyn's Fulton Street.

External links

* http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com/bigmap/queens/jamaica/jamaicaave/index.htm