What is typical for Staten Island?

Answer 1

• Staten Island is the smallest borough in the city of New York, by a long shot.
• It is not connected to the rest of the city by subway at all; the Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan is used by commuters but also tourists.
• It used to have the world's largest landfill, but that area is being transformed into New York's second largest park.
• It was named by English explorer Henry Hudson, who was funded by the Dutch at the time; Staaten Eylandt was named after the Dutch governing body, the Staten-Generaal.
• Over the summer of 1776, more than 140 British ships anchored off Staten Island at the entrance to the harbor; led by Lord Howe, they gathered there to attack New York City, which at the time was just lower Manhattan.
• In 1993, residents voted 65% in favor of seceding from New York City, but it was blocked by the State Assembly.
• Many of its rivers are still called "kills," after the Dutch word for a riverbed.
• The borough of Staten Island includes five small uninhabited islands.
• It is home to Todt Hill, the highest point in NYC.
• It is the only borough with a non-Hispanic majority white population.
• Although more than a third of white Staten Islanders claim an Italian heritage, there are growing Russian, Polish, and Sri Lankan communities.
• About 10% of the population is below the poverty line.
• There are plans to build the world's largest Ferris wheel on the northeast waterfront.
• It is home to the Staten Island Yankees, a Class A minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees.
• The Staten Island Cricket Club is the oldest continuously operating cricket club in the country.