HOWARD BEACH, LONG ISLAND

Howard Beach, Long Island

Howard Beach is a neighborhood within the southwestern portion located in the borough of Queens, Long Island, New York. It is part of Queens Community Board 10. The neighborhood is surrounded in the north by the Belt Parkway and Conduit Avenue, the south by Jamaica Bay, the east the east by 102nd-104th Streets and the west by 78th Street. Like most other Queens neighborhoods, Howard Beach comprises of several smaller neighborhoods such as Hamilton Beach, Ramblersville, Rockwood Park, Lindenwood, Old Howard Beach, and Howard Park. As of the 2000 census, there were 28,121 people residing in Howard Beach. The latitude of Howard Beach is 40.658N. The longitude is -73.836W. It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Elevation is 3 feet.

In 1890s, the area was established by William J. Howard, a Brooklyn glove manufacturer who controlled a 150 acre goat farm on meadow land near Aqueduct Racetrack, as a source of skins for kid gloves. The former and merged names of Howard Beach include Rambersville. In 1897, Howard purchased more land and filled it in, and the following year he constructed a total of 18 cottages and opened a hotel near the water, which he operated until it was destroyed by fire in October of 1907. He also gradually purchased more land, and created the Howard Estates Development Company in 1909. In the mid 1950s, the northernmost section of Howard Beach was composed of a small wooded area and a dairy farm, approximately 25% of the remaining area has houses on it. The social strife of the 1980s is well and truly behind Howard Beach and the local community can enjoy the fruits of very modest investments needed to own a home here.

Notable residents living in Howard Beach include Lillie Langtry (actress), Joe Massino (mob boss), James Maritato (wrestler), John Gotti (mob boss), and Vitas Gerulaitis (professional tennis player). The racial-makeup of the neighborhood comprises of 92.5% White, 2.3% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.0% African American, 2.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. The constant stream of aircraft using JFK’s runways is literal and figurative flies in the balm of Howard Beach life. But the whine begins to fit in to life by day after some time and even brings a sense of comfort that all is well with the world. The Howard Beach-JFK subway station provides a connection to both the A train and AirTrain JFK. The Cross Bay Boulevard is the main commercial strip of Howard Beach and going northward it eventually turns into Woodhaven Boulevard after Ozone Park. There are several stores and great restaurants can be found within the area as well as entertainment venues on Cross Bay Boulevard. Today, the Federation of Black Cowboys has also become a landmark organization of Howard Beach. It helps kindle an interest in riding amongst young people and take part in parades and ceremonies that need a display of horse-riding skills. The South Conduit Avenue Ranch conveys the pleasant American tradition of Rodeos to the concrete urban atmosphere of much of Queens.