History

Originally designed in the 19^th century by a landscape architect Edward Richmond, Richmond Hill has today become one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Queens. The formation of Richmond Hill came about as a result of the 1869 purchase of the Welling and Lefferts farms by a New York attorney named Albon P. Man. The area further developed with the construction of Richmond Hill railroad station on Hillside Avenue. However, the station was closed in 1998 due to low ridership (averaging 1 rider per day). The neighborhood’s first houses were Victorian homes built on today’s Myrtle and 85^th Avenue, while some still stand today in the northern part of the area, others have been remodeled and lost their original characteristics. Although the total area of Richmond Hill was 400 acres during its early years, the neighborhood’s boundaries have significantly changed since then.

Boundaries

Presently, Richmond Hill borders the Van Wyck Expressway to the East, 109th Avenue to the South, 101st Street to the West, and Metropolitan Avenue and Jackie Robinson Parkway to the North (Hughes). With regards to neighborhoods, Kew Gardens, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, and Jamaica share borders with Richmond Hill. Since Kew Gardens, Woodhaven, and Richmond Hill are regarded as a single community district by the NYC Department of City Planning, the actual boundaries between these territories are not completely clear. Atlantic Avenue, running directly through the middle of this territory, is widely considered as the division between North and South Richmond Hill, occupying the zip codes 11418 and 11419, respectively. Containing beautiful Victorian-style homes, the North is the more prosperous part with a solid middle-class, and the South is more working class and densely populated.

Population

 

Based on the 2010 U.S. Census, the total population of Richmond Hill is 90,453, which makes up about 4.1% of the entire population of the Queens borough. In the last 2 decades, this neighborhood has had one of the largest increases in foreign-born population in New York City, and currently 53.5% of the population in this area is foreign-born and 10.6% does not speak English well. Majority of the residents are White and Asian occupying 24% and 20% of the population, respectively (Figure 1). In addition 10% of the population consists of Blacks or African-Americans and 33% identify themselves as Hispanic or a person of two or more races. Out of the entire Asian population in Richmond Hill, Asians Indians, Bangladeshis, and West Indians represent a whopping 80%. Chinese, Filipinos and a small number of Pakistanis take up the rest. This distribution of races is much clearly represented in Figure 1.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, majority of the Hispanics are Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and Ecuadorians occupying the western portion of the neighborhood. The central area of Richmond Hill is home to one of largest Sikh communities outside of India, while Indo-Guyanese and Trinidadian immigrant communities dominate the southern part. The latter has even created its own Little Guyana along Liberty Avenue in South Richmond Hill. Additionally, African-Americans mainly occupy the east.

Household Income

 

As previously mentioned, the northern part of Richmond Hill consists of a strong middle-class while the southern part is occupied by a working class. In 2009, the median household income of this neighborhood was $51,177, compared to the median income of entire New York, which was $54,659. 14.8% of the population was below poverty level (City-Data). Out of the people who are living below the poverty line, 61% of them are foreign-born and the rest are native residents. Since 2000, there has been a 30% increase in average household income for the neighborhood. Figure 2 shows the household income distribution of Richmond Hill ranging from a mere $10,000 to more than $200,000 per year.

In terms of employment, 80% of the employed residents are involved in white-collar jobs, with a majority being in jobs relating to sales and office management (City-Data). Looking at Figure 3, we can see that females have completely dominated the field of Sales and Service, while having minimal participation in any other fields. Males tend to be more spread out, but there is still a clear majority in Sales and Construction. The Sikh population in Richmond Hill has created an occupational niche in the construction industry, which increases the chances of future friends and family members participating in the same industry as well. The fact that a huge part of the Sikh culture is that women are responsible for raising the children and taking care of the family illustrates why there is a low employment of females for the neighborhood compared to the males. Surprisingly, the percentage of females participating in the last five fields listed in the graph is higher than the average percentage for all of New York. When you take into account all of New York, there is a significant number of women employed in the arts and entertainment field, compared to Richmond Hill, which has a measly 1%.

Local Businesses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As mentioned before, Liberty Avenue, extending all the way from Lefferts Boulevard to Van Wyck, is full of restaurants, shops, and houses of worship with roots in Guyana and Trinidad. Not only Liberty Avenue, but the entire area south of Atlantic Avenue is full of small businesses such as Guyanese bakeries and restaurants, sari stores, and fish and vegetable markets (Haller). In addition, there are literally churches next to mosques next to Hindu temples. This can be most clearly seen at the intersection of 101^st Ave and 114^th St, where a Gurdwara (Sikh temple) is on the same block as a Punjabi Church, which in turn is only two blocks away from a temple. Jamaica Avenue, which cuts through the neighborhood, has pizza shops, nail salons, and 99-cent stores with signs mainly in Spanish. Residents typically head to a neighboring Kew Gardens to watch a movie or take the J train to Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas. To eat, some northern residents head across the park to Forest Hills for traditional Italian restaurants. Of course, many of the businesses along Liberty Avenue are catered to the Indo-Trinidadian public. According to Richard David, Executive Director of the Indo-Caribbean Alliance, Guyanese Americans who live in Bronx and Brooklyn also come to visit Liberty Avenue simple to do their grocery shopping. Currently, a shopping center is also being built around Hillside Avenue, along with Dunkin’ Donuts, which has a surprisingly rare presence in the neighborhood.

Housing

While the northern part of Richmond Hill consists of larger houses, many of them fine examples of Victorian architecture, the southern part is made up of single and multi-family homes with a small quantity of apartment buildings. Even though the housing market is slowly improving, home values suffered greatly in this neighborhood during the mortgage crash. Mitra Hakimi, real estate agent working in Richmond Hill, states that before the 2008 financial crisis it was impossible to find a property below $250,000. Now you can easily find one (Haller). Based on the Multiple Listing Service, as of January 2013, there were 159 properties for sale, ranging from high-end Victorian homes costing $779,000 to four-bedroom houses costing $150,000. Ms. Hakimi believes that a house that would’ve sold for $470,000 before 2004 will likely sell for less than $100,000 today. 

29.7% of the housing in Richmond Hill is 2-unit structures with an average price of  $241,459, and 30% of the housing is 5-or-more multi-family units with an average price of $231,408 (City-Data). Figure 4 illustrates the correlation between the type of units and the percentage of these units either owned or rented by the public.

 

As you can see in Figure 4, when it comes to housing greater than 2 units, majority of the population tends to rent rather than own. The median rent in 2009 was $923 and the average household size was 3 people. The least percentage of owner occupied units are 3 to 4, which is also because the average housing value for 3-to-4 unit structures in this neighborhood is $384,113, highest out of all other types of structures and more than $130,000 greater than the average for all of New York. There are plenty of low-unit structures below Atlantic Avenue. This area is lined with block after block of neatly kept homes sharing narrow driveways and backyards. In the northern section, where most homes were built before 1925, price is often determined by proximity to the park.

Schools

When it comes to schools, Richmond Hill High School is on top of the list based on enrollment. Even though the school received a C on its more recent progress report, it enrolls more than 2,500 students, which has significantly dropped since 2005 when it enrolled about 3,500 students (Department of City Planning). The school’s combined SAT average last year was 1156, while the citywide average was 1325. Until June 2012, the city had planned to close the high school, however a court ruling prevented the closure. For middle school, America’s School of Heroes received a C as well and enrolls nearly 2,000 students. 63% of the students who graduate high school continue on to a two or four-year college (Hughes). While there are no colleges or universities in Richmond Hill, catholic and parochial schools continue to be popular. The largest, Holy Child Jesus School, offers nursery school through Grade 8. Tuition rates depend on whether the student is a parishioner. Last year, the school had an enrollment of nearly 400 students. The neighborhood consists of schools catering to other religions as well. For example, Al Ihsan Academy, an Islamic school at Rockaway Boulevard, offers Kindergarten through Grade 12 and has a tuition rate of $330.

Religious Institutions

Richmond Hill is one of those unique neighborhoods with a plethora of churches, temples, and mosques coexisting peacefully. The northern edge of Richmond Hill contains the Church of the Resurrection. This Episcopalian church is an 1874 structure and is the oldest house of worship in Richmond Hill. Churches representing various Christian sects are housed in this neighborhood, such as the Catholic Holy Child Jesus Church and St. Johns Lutheran Church, both close to Jamaica Avenue (Richmond Hill Historical Society). Sikhs attend several temples in central Richmond Hill, but the most prominent one is under construction.

The Sikh Cultural Society is building a block-sized place of worship on 118^th St. next to a temporary Gurdwara. Furthermore, 4 of the 7 Hindu temples in this neighborhood are along 101^st Ave. This avenue has become a melting pot of all Indians coming together and celebrating their culture.

Religion is so strongly ingrained in the Indian culture that these two terms can be used synonymously. This expression of culture is most evident in early spring when the streets of Richmond Hill are taken over by the Phagwah Parade, celebrating the Hindu holiday “Holi.” This parade is considered one of the biggest celebrations in North America, with tens of thousands of people engulfing Liberty Avenue every year

 

 

Politics

Richmond Hill is part of Queens District 28 in the New York City Council. Currently Ruben Wills is the City Council Member representing Richmond Hill after winning a controversial election in 2011 (Kramer and Markey). Wills was competing against Nicole Paultre-Bell, who had the backing of Rev. Al Sharpton and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. While the election was nonpartisan, the ballot itself was designed in a way that forced each candidate to choose a particular party. Wills quickly took the “Democratic” title by getting his signatures in first. As a result, Nicole Bell sued claiming this was unfair and a while later, executive director of the City Board of Elections, George Gonzalez was fired. While the ballot was later reverted to its original design, Wills attributed his success to the hard-working supporters of his campaign, rather than his luck with ballot placement. Recently Wills, along with the entire community of Richmond Hill, spoke out in support of Congressional Member Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu elected congresswoman in America. Because of their large population, the Sikhs also have a significant impact on city politics. This is evident when Mayor Bloomberg specially visited the Sikh Cultural Society to offer condolences after a shooting in a Sikh temple in Wisconsin.

Conclusion

Richmond Hill, in southeastern Queens, is the ultimate study in New York diversity. It is a place to eat Caribbean cuisine, shop for Bollywood movies, worship at a Sikh temple, and stroll through streets lined with Victorian-era houses. The neighborhood is easily accessible by public transportation, and is in close proximity to Forest Park, with its horse-riding trails, carousels, and golf courses. As you walk down, the neighborhood somehow evolves from quiet streets into a vibrant Indian community full of rich history and traditions.

Works Cited

Ballenas, Carl, and Nancy Cataldi. Images of America Richmond Hill. Charleston: Arcadia, 2002. Print

Haller, Vera. Interview with Richard David and Mitra Hakimi. New York Times 13 January 2013: RE7. Print

Hughes, C.J. “Beauty Mark, Yes; Landmark, No.” New York Times 12 Nov. 2006. Web. 10 Mar. 2013

Kramer, Sarah, and Eileen Markey. “After Ballot Controversy, a Winner in Queens Council Race.” WNYC 3 Nov. 2006. Web. 10 Mar. 2013

Multiple Listing Service: America’s Real Estate Portal. n.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013

New York City Department of City Planning. New York City, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013

Richmond Hill Historical Society. n.p., 1998. Web. 10 Mar. 2013

“Richmond Hill, New York Subdivision Profile.” City-Data. Web, n.d. 10 Mar. 2013

Sikh Cultural Society. n.p., 2006. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.

United States. Census Bureau. Population Division. United States Census 2010. Washington: US Census Bureau, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.

 

– Saahil Chugh