RICHMOND HILL, LONG ISLAND

Richmond Hill, Long Island

Richmond Hill is a neighborhood located in the central-southern Queens, Long Island, New York. It is split between Queens Community Board 9 and 10. The neighborhood is surrounded by Kew Gardens to the north, Woodhaven and Ozone Park to the west, South Ozone Park to the south, and South Jamaica to the east. Richmond Hill is now a residential area. It is particularly favored by Europeans who find the homes and streets not dissimilar to their surroundings in their original homes. The latitude of Richmond Hill is 40.7N. The longitude is -73.831W. It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Elevation is 59 feet.

A New York attorney bought the farm that existed here and converted the land in to a suburban residence in 1869. The origins of the name are not definite but some of the earliest 19th century homes stand to this day. Some people said it was inspired either by a suburban town near London, England or it was taken from a landscape architect named Edward Richmond who designed much of the neighborhood in the mid-1800s. In later years, there were several establishments constructed such as streets, schools, a church, and a railroad, thus making the area one of the earliest residential communities in Long Island. The area was first developed in 1918, when the BMT Jamaica Avenue elevated train line was extended in the neighborhood. Richmond Hills is known for its rich in history. In fact, The Battle of Long Island, one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War was fought here in 1776 along the ridge now in Forest Park, near what is now the golf course clubhouse. In 1950, the neighborhood received national attention for a rail accident in which 79 people died.

Many German, Italian, and Irish families had originally lived in Richmond Hill. Today, the neighborhood has many Punjabis, Trinidadians, Hispanics, Guyanese, South Asians, and some Europeans living in the community. But majority of its population are Guyanese which is often thought of as "Little Guyana". Richmond Hill just like other Queens communities is served by the New York City Department of Education. There are several of student opportunities in the Elementary and Middle schools in the area. The Richmond Hill High School stands at its original site, though its shape and structure have been altered. The Forest Park is among the best parks in town has over 500 acres of thick forests. The Park has a virtual elevation over most of the rest of Long Island and overlooks Jamaica Bay. It has trails for horseback riding, a carousel for children, plenty of picnic spots, golf, tennis and courts for all the popular ball games. The Richmond Hill Historical Society celebrates the lives of important area residents of the past, and works to conserve key parts of the neighborhood's heritage. They are concerning with the future and accomplishments to build a better and stable tomorrow in Richmond Hill.