Tompkinsville
Tompkinsville, located in the borough of Staten Island, is nestled between the better known neighborhoods of St. George, home to the Staten Island Ferry, and Stapleton. This up and coming neighborhood is all too often overlooked by locals and tourists alike. Although many locals see Tompkinsville as only a stop along the Staten Island Railway, there is much more to this neighborhood than meets the eye.
Daniel D. Tompkins, founder of Tompkinsville
Although the neighborhood is home to a diverse population, people of Sri Lankan, South American, and West African descent have emerged as the three major ethnic groups in the neighborhood. As it is one of the only areas home to a heavy concentration of Sri Lankan people, the name, “Little Sri Lanka”, has been coined for the neighborhood, and rightfully so. Upon exploring the neighborhood, one can easily see, smell, and even taste Sri Lankan culture that is not readily available in any other neighborhood in the US.
Tompkinsville Train Station
The streets of Tompkinsville are lined with barbers, salons, delis, and restaurants representing a vast amount of different cultures. Like other neighborhoods in New York City, one can easily identify what ethnic group each business is targeting as many proudly display the flag and language of their native land on their awnings and store fronts. Delis and restaurants alike offer one the opportunity to sample the tastes of a distant, foreign land. Each business owner makes it their job to keep their clientele connected to home.
What is probably the most intriguing about this unique neighborhood, is that all of the ethnic groups are able to peacefully coexist in this small are of New York City. Unlike many other areas of the Big Apple, each group seems to be more than willing to help their neighbors of different ethnic backgrounds. Business cards for other local shops and businesses can be found in many of the local stores. This melting pot is the epitome of the foundation of the United States. An area where people of different races, creeds, and colors live in harmony and share their own cultures to create a new, unique culture that cannot be found anywhere else.
