History of Staten Island in Timeline
Staten Island is the southernmost borough of New York City, sharing the same boundaries as Richmond County. It also represents the southernmost part of New York State. Geographically, Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and Kill Van Kull waterways, and from the rest of New York City by New York Bay.
5 hours ago : Staten Island Shipyard Explosion: Sixteen Injured in Fire and Blast
A fire and explosion at a Staten Island shipyard injured at least 16 people, with three sustaining serious injuries. Emergency responders rescued people from the scene after the blast.
1917: Discovery of Clovis Culture Artifacts
In 1917, archaeological evidence of Clovis culture activity, dating back approximately 14,000 years, was first discovered in the Charleston section of Staten Island.
1923: Staten Island Tunnel construction began
In 1923, construction started on the Staten Island Tunnel, intended as a subway tunnel.
1924: The Ritz Theater Opened
In 1924, The Ritz Theater in Port Richmond was built by Isle Theatrical and opened as a movie theater and vaudeville venue.
1927: The Stadium Theatre Opened
From 1927, the Stadium Theatre was a 1,037-seat movie theater in Tottenville.
1927: Daily News Golden Gloves Tournament started
In 1927, the Daily News Golden Gloves Tournament was founded.
1929: Stapletons join NFL
In 1929, the Stapletons, also known as the Stapes, joined the National Football League (NFL).
1932: Stapletons last season in NFL
In 1932, the Stapletons played their last season in the NFL, finishing last in the league and tying the eventual champion Chicago Bears.
1933: Zoo Construction Commenced
In 1933, construction of the Staten Island Zoo commenced as part of the Federal Government's works program.
June 10, 1936: Staten Island Zoo Opens
On June 10, 1936, the Staten Island Zoo opened as the first zoo in the U.S. specifically devoted to an educational mandate.
February 10, 1938: Lane Theater Opens
On February 10, 1938, the Lane Theater in New Dorp opened.
1940: Staten Island Vote
Since 1940, Staten Island has voted for a Democratic presidential nominee only four times: in 1964, 1996, 2000, and 2012.
January 1, 1942: Jail System Transferred
On January 1, 1942, control of Staten Island's jail system was transferred from the county sheriff to the Department of Correction.
1942: Jail system transferred
In 1942, the Staten Island County Sheriff's jail system was transferred from the County Sheriff's Department to the New York City Department of Corrections.
1944: Frank Umont in the NFL
In 1944, Frank Umont played in the NFL, continuing until 1948.
1947: Fresh Kills Landfill Opens
In 1947, the Fresh Kills Landfill opened as a "temporary landfill".
1947: Start of Little League Tournament
Since 1947, which marked the start of the tournament, Three Mid-Island Little League teams and six overall from Staten Island have reached the tournament.
1948: End of Frank Umont's NFL career
In 1948, Frank Umont finished his NFL career, later becoming an MLB umpire.
1949: Eppie Alonzo wins Golden Gloves
In 1949, Eppie Alonzo, living and training at the Mount Loretto Home for Boys, became the first Staten Islander to win a Daily News Golden Gloves championship in his division.
1950: Eppie Alonzo wins Golden Gloves again
In 1950, Eppie Alonzo won his Daily News Golden Gloves division for the second time.
1951: St. George Terminal rebuilt
In 1951, the St. George Terminal, originally opened in 1886, was rebuilt.
1953: Stock car races begin at Weissglass Stadium
From 1953, stock car races were held weekly at Weissglass Stadium from May until October.
1953: North Shore Branch passenger service ends
In 1953, passenger service ceased on the North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway.
1954: Frank Umont becomes MLB umpire
In 1954, Frank Umont became an MLB umpire after his NFL career.
1957: The Stadium Theatre Closed
Until 1957, the Stadium Theatre was a 1,037-seat movie theater in Tottenville.
1960: Population Count
In 1960, Staten Island's population was recorded at 221,991.
1961: First swim around Staten Island
In 1961, a lifeguard became the first person to swim around Staten Island.
1964: Staten Island Contains Arthur Kill Bridge
From 1964, Staten Island was home to the longest vertical lift bridge in the world, the Arthur Kill Vertical Lift Bridge. It remained so in 1977.
1964: Staten Island Vote
In 1964, Staten Island voted for a Democratic presidential nominee.
1964: Mid-Island Little League wins World Series
In 1964, Staten Island's Mid-Island Little League won the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
1964: Supreme court's "one man, one vote" decision
In 1964, the Supreme Court's "one man, one vote" decision was cited in Board of Estimate of City of New York v. Morris (1989), which led to the declaration that the Board of Estimate was unconstitutional.
1968: Carolyn Cudone wins U.S. Senior Women's Amateur
In 1968, Carolyn Cudone began her record-setting streak by winning the first of five straight U.S. Senior Women's Amateur championships.
January 1969: The New Stadium Theatre Reopened
In January 1969, the Stadium Theatre reopened as the New Stadium Theatre, a rock music venue.
1969: Joe Moresco President of the Metropolitan PGA
In 1969, Staten Island native Joe Moresco became President of the Metropolitan section of the PGA.
1970: The Ritz Theater agreement with a Manhattan club
From 1970, the Ritz Theater had an arrangement with a Manhattan club that enabled them to bring top names to the location.
1970: Joe Moresco Continues as President of the Metropolitan PGA
In 1970, Joe Moresco served his second year as President of the Metropolitan section of the PGA.
July 1, 1971: MTA buys Staten Island Railway
On July 1, 1971, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority bought the Staten Island Railway from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O).
1971: Joe Moresco is Professional of the Year
In 1971, Joe Moresco was named the Metropolitan section's Professional of the Year.
1972: Carolyn Cudone wins fifth U.S. Senior Women's Amateur
In 1972, Carolyn Cudone concluded her record-setting streak by winning her fifth straight U.S. Senior Women's Amateur championship.
1972: Mike Siani's NFL Debut
In 1972, Mike Siani began his NFL career, which lasted until 1980.
1972: New York Times Article
In 1972, a New York Times article noted that parts of Staten Island still maintained a bucolic atmosphere despite having 333,000 residents.
1972: End of stock car races at Weissglass Stadium
In 1972, stock car races at Weissglass Stadium ended.
1972: The Ritz Theater agreement with a Manhattan club
Until 1972, the Ritz Theater had an arrangement with a Manhattan club that enabled them to bring top names to the location.
1973: Frank Umont's last season as MLB umpire
In 1973, Frank Umont worked his last season as an MLB umpire after transitioning from the NFL.
1973: Ed Murphy runs for Borough President
In 1973, former intelligence agent and peace activist Ed Murphy, sponsored by the Staten Island Democratic Association, ran for the Office of the Borough President. Murphy's campaign spurred the emergence of more liberal politics on Staten Island.
1974: Gabe Perillo Jr. wins Golden Gloves
In 1974, Gabe Perillo Jr. won a Daily News Golden Gloves championship.
1975: Rooney and Tobe win Golden Gloves
In 1975, Kevin Rooney and Al Tobe won Daily News Golden Gloves championships.
1975: Name Officially Changed
In 1975, the Borough of Richmond's name was officially changed to Borough of Staten Island.
1976: P. J. Carlesimo coaches Wagner College basketball
From 1976, National Basketball Association (NBA) coach P. J. Carlesimo coached the Wagner College men's basketball team.
1976: Johnny Verderosa wins Golden Gloves
In 1976, Johnny Verderosa won another Daily News Golden Gloves championship, adding to his win from the previous year.
1976: Arthur Kill Correctional Facility opened
In 1976, the New York State Department of Correctional Services opened the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility on Staten Island.
1977: Staten Island Had Longest Bridges
In 1977, Staten Island contained the longest vertical lift (Arthur Kill Vertical Lift Bridge), steel arch (Bayonne Bridge), and suspension (Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge) bridges in the world.
1980: Mike Siani retires from NFL
In 1980, Mike Siani retired from the NFL after playing since 1972.
1982: End of Carlesimo's coaching at Wagner College
P. J. Carlesimo ceased coaching the Wagner College men's basketball team in 1982.
1985: Terrance Bailey leads NCAA Division I basketball
In 1985, Terrance Bailey led NCAA Division I basketball in scoring as a junior in 1985-86.
1985: New York Slapshots join ACHL
In 1985, the New York Slapshots entered the Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL) at the start of the 1985–86 season.
1985: Last Democratic Mayoral Vote
Staten Island last voted Democratic in New York City mayoral elections for incumbent mayor Ed Koch in the 1985 election.
November 1988: Theater Interior Landmarked
In November 1988, the interior of the Lane Theater was landmarked.
1988: David Richards' NFL Debut
In 1988, David Richards began his NFL career, playing until 1996.
1988: Reference to margin of victory since 1988
In 2016, Republican Donald Trump carried Staten Island by 15.1%, the largest margin of any presidential candidate since 1988.
1989: Board of Estimate of City of New York v. Morris
In 1989, the Supreme Court of the United States declared the Board of Estimate unconstitutional in Board of Estimate of City of New York v. Morris. This was due to the fact that Brooklyn, the most populous borough, had no greater effective representation on the board than Staten Island, the least populous borough, violating the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.
1990: David Dinkins mayoral term
During David Dinkins' mayoral term starting in 1990, a secession movement gained traction after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the New York City Board of Estimate.
1990: Population Demographics
In 1990, 79% of Staten Island's population was non-Hispanic White.
1990: Borough president acts as advocate
Since 1990, the Borough president has acted as an advocate for the borough before mayoral agencies, the City Council, the New York State government, and corporations.
1991: James Jenkins' NFL Debut
In 1991, James Jenkins began his NFL career, which lasted until 2000.
1992: Kamala Harris underperformed Bill Clinton's 1992 vote
In 2024, Kamala Harris became the first Democrat to not get at least 40% of the vote since Bill Clinton in 1992.
1993: Secession Referendum
In 1993, 65% of Staten Island residents voted to secede from New York City, but implementation was blocked in the State Assembly.
1993: Giuliani's Victory
In 1993, Staten Island's high Republican turnout is considered one of the major factors that helped Rudy Giuliani win against incumbent Democratic mayor David Dinkins.
1994: Naval Base Closure
In 1994, Naval Station New York on Staten Island was closed through the Base Realignment and Closure process.
1996: David Richards retires from the NFL
In 1996, David Richards retired from the NFL after starting in 1988.
1996: Staten Island Vote
In 1996, Staten Island voted for a Democratic presidential nominee.
1997: Staten Island Ferry becomes fare-free
Since 1997, the Staten Island Ferry has been fare-free.
1998: Joe Andruzzi's NFL Debut
In 1998, Joe Andruzzi started his NFL career, which lasted until 2006.
1998: New York Predators inception
In 1998, the New York Predators of the semi-pro Regional American Football League were founded on Staten Island.
1998: Concerts at the Theater
Starting in 1998, several concerts were hosted at the Lane Theater.
1999: Staten Island Yankees start playing
In 1999, the Staten Island Yankees began playing in the New York–Penn League as a Class-A Minor League affiliate of the New York Yankees.
2000: Religious Demographics
As of the 2000 census, the borough's population was largely Roman Catholic, peaking near 60%.
2000: Gary Stark Jr. wins Golden Gloves
In 2000, Gary Stark Jr. won a Daily News Golden Gloves championship.
2000: James Jenkins' NFL Retirement
In 2000, James Jenkins retired from the NFL after starting in 1991.
2000: Staten Island Vote
In 2000, Staten Island voted for a Democratic presidential nominee.
2000: Population Count
In 2000, Staten Island's population had doubled to 443,728.
2000: Community Census
Since the 2000 census, a large Russian community has been growing on Staten Island, particularly in the Rossville, South Beach, and Great Kills areas.
2001: Grounded for Life
From 2001, the Fox and WB sitcom Grounded for Life was centered on a family of Irish heritage living on Staten Island.
2001: Frank Ferrara's NFL Career Begins
In 2001, Frank Ferrara began his NFL career, playing until 2003.
2001: Gary Stark Jr. wins Golden Gloves again
In 2001, Gary Stark Jr. won his second Daily News Golden Gloves championship.
2001: Bloomberg's Victory
In 2001, Staten Island's high Republican turnout is considered one of the major factors that helped Michael Bloomberg win against Mark Green.
2001: Landfill Closure and Reopening
In 2001, the Fresh Kills Landfill was closed but briefly reopened for debris from Ground Zero after the September 11 attacks.
2001: Fresh Kills Landfill Closing
In 2001, the Fresh Kills Landfill was the world's largest landfill before closing, though it temporarily reopened that year to receive debris from the September 11 attacks. It is being redeveloped as Freshkills Park.
2001: "The EleMent" Nightclub Opens
In 2001, the Lane Theater briefly hosted "The EleMent" nightclub.
2001: College of Staten Island Baseball Complex home to Yankees
Until 2001, the College of Staten Island Baseball Complex served as the home of the Staten Island Yankees.
2002: Gary Stark Jr. wins Golden Gloves for third time
In 2002, Gary Stark Jr. won his third Daily News Golden Gloves championship.
2003: Frank Ferrara's NFL Career Ends
In 2003, Frank Ferrara's NFL career ended after starting in 2001.
2005: Voter Registration
In 2005, 44.7% of Staten Island's registered voters were registered Democrats and 30.6% were registered Republicans, despite the Republican Party holding a majority of local public offices.
2005: Staten Island Rapid Transit Police consolidated
In 2005, the Staten Island Rapid Transit Police was consolidated into the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department.
2005: Grounded for Life
Until 2005, the Fox and WB sitcom Grounded for Life was centered on a family of Irish heritage living on Staten Island.
2006: Joe Andruzzi retires from NFL
In 2006, Joe Andruzzi retired from the NFL after playing since 1998.
2006: ISC abandons race track plan
In 2006, the International Speedway Corporation (ISC) abandoned its plan to build a race track on Staten Island due to financial concerns.
2006: Staten Island Film Festival
In 2006, the Staten Island Film Festival (SIFF) held its first four-day festival, conceived by the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation.
February 20, 2007: Mayor Bloomberg perpetuates the Billopp tale
On February 20, 2007, Mayor Michael Bloomberg perpetuated the myth of Captain Billopp's seamanship securing Staten Island to New York at a news conference in Brooklyn.
September 4, 2007: MTA offers bus service to Bayonne
Beginning September 4, 2007, the MTA began offering bus service from Staten Island to Bayonne, New Jersey, over the Bayonne Bridge via the S89 limited-stop bus.
December 3, 2007: A Walk Around Staten Island
On December 3, 2007, a documentary series, A Walk Around Staten Island with David Hartman and Barry Lewis, premiered on public television station WNET.
2007: Lewis Sanders' Last Season in NFL
In 2007, Lewis Sanders played his last season in the NFL after joining in 2000.
2007: PlaNYC launches Ocean Breeze park project
In 2007, the PlaNYC launched the project to create the 110-acre Ocean Breeze regional park, including the athletic complex.
2007: Nickname "The Rock" appears in print
In 2007, the nickname "The Rock" for Staten Island first appeared in print in a New York Times article.
2008: Walsh and Caramanno win Golden Gloves
In 2008, Amanda Walsh and Anthony Caramanno won Daily News Golden Gloves championships.
2008: White-tailed Deer Population
In 2008, the white-tailed deer population on Staten Island was approximately 24.
2008: Staten Island Vote
In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain won 52% of the vote in Staten Island, compared with Democrat Barack Obama's 48%.
2009: American Community Survey
According to the 2009 American Community Survey, 75.7% of the borough's population was White, and 15.9% were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
2009: Renovations Completed
After renovations were completed in summer 2009, Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club opened at the Lane Theater.
2009: Tourism Program
In 2009, Borough President James Molinaro started a program to increase tourism on Staten Island. The program included a new website, a video, and informational kiosks at ferry terminals.
2009: Judicial Independence
In 2009, Staten Island secured Judicial Independence when a new law was signed, creating New York's 13th Judicial District.
2009: Foreign-Born Population
In 2009, approximately 20.0% of Staten Island's population was foreign-born, and 28.6% spoke a language other than English at home.
2009: First Black Official
In the 2009 election for city offices, Staten Island elected its first black official, Debi Rose, who defeated the incumbent Democrat in the North Shore city council seat in a primary and then won the general election.
2009: Income Statistics
Per the 2009 American Community Survey, the median household income in Staten Island was $55,039, and about 7.9% of families were below the poverty line.
2010: Population Census
According to the 2010 census, 468,730 people lived in Staten Island, and 64.0% of the population was non-Hispanic White.
2010: Language Spoken at Home
As of 2010, 70.39% of Staten Island residents age 5 and older spoke only English at home, while 10.02% spoke Spanish, 3.14% Russian, and 3.11% Italian.
2010: Anthony Caramanno wins Golden Gloves
In 2010, Anthony Caramanno won a Daily News Golden Gloves championship.
2011: Arthur Kill Correctional Facility closed
In 2011, the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility on Staten Island was closed.
2011: Impractical Jokers
Since 2011, all four cast members of truTV hidden camera reality TV show Impractical Jokers hail from Staten Island. The show features many references to Staten Island, and filming often takes place there.
2011: Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club Closed
Until 2011, Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club operated at the Lane Theater.
October 29, 2012: Hurricane Sandy
On October 29, 2012, Staten Island experienced severe damage, loss of life, and destruction of many homes during Hurricane Sandy.
2012: Umarova, Trabuscio and Caramanno win Golden Gloves
In 2012, Nafisa Umarova, Chad Trabuscio, and Anthony Caramanno won Daily News Golden Gloves championships.
2012: Staten Island Vote
In 2012, Staten Island voted for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, who took 51% of the vote to Republican Mitt Romney's 48%.
2012: Smash Films at St. George Theatre
In 2012, the NBC musical drama Smash series filmed several scenes at the St. George Theatre.
2012: Crossroads Church Opens
In 2012, the building became the home of the Crossroads Church.
2013: Secession Interest Revival
After the election of Bill de Blasio as Mayor in 2013, interest in secession was revived on Staten Island.
2013: ISC sells land
In 2013, the International Speedway Corporation (ISC) sold the 676-acre parcel located in Bloomfield after abandoning plans to build a racetrack.
2014: McAlarney all-time high-school boys' scoring leader
As of 2014, Kyle McAlarney was Staten Island's all-time high-school boys' basketball scoring leader with 2,566 points.
2014: Frank Esposito wins PGA Tour Champions
In 2014, Frank Esposito, who learned the game on Staten Island, won the PGA Tour Champions National Qualifying Tournament.
2014: New Frog Species Described
In 2014, a new species of frog, the Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog (Lithobates kauffeldi), was described from Staten Island.
November 19, 2015: Ocean Breeze Complex certified
On November 19, 2015, the Ocean Breeze Track and Field Athletic Complex became the first facility in the United States to be recognized as a certified International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) facility.
2015: Car ownership on Staten Island
As of 2015, 82% of Staten Island households owned a car, the highest rate of any borough in New York City.
2015: Museum Developments
In 2015, the National Lighthouse Museum opened an educational center and the Staten Island Museum opened a new branch in Snug Harbor.
2015: Staten Island's all-time basketball team listed
In 2015, the New York Post listed Staten Island's all-time basketball team as Warren Fenley, Kyle McAlarney, Bill Murtha, Kevin O'Connor, and Kenny Page.
2016: Secession Interest Revival
After the success of the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom in 2016, interest in secession was revived on Staten Island.
2016: Staten Island Vote
In 2016, Republican Donald Trump carried Staten Island by 15.1%, the largest margin of any presidential candidate since 1988. Trump became the first-ever presidential candidate to receive over 100,000 votes out of Staten Island, with 56.1% of the island-wide vote.
2017: White-tailed Deer Population
In 2017, the white-tailed deer population on Staten Island had increased to approximately 2,000.
2018: Population Estimate
As of the 2018 estimate, 22.2% of Staten Island residents are foreign-born. The average per capita income was $33,922, while the median household income was $76,244.
2018: Matthew Titone Elected Surrogate Judge
In 2018, Matthew Titone, a Democrat and member of the New York State Assembly for the 61st District, was elected Surrogate Judge for Richmond County, which covers all of Staten Island.
2018: Sean Kelly takes medalist honors
In 2018, Sean Kelly, a regular golfer at Silver Lake Golf Course, took medalist honors at both the First and Second Stage of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament.
2019: Secession Study Bill
In 2019, New York City councilman Joe Borelli announced his plan to introduce another set of bills to study the feasibility of secession.
2019: CGP Grey Addresses Staten Island Race
In 2019, YouTuber CGP Grey addressed the story of the Staten Island race and its historical discrepancies in a video, suggesting Gabriel Disosway originated the false legend.
2019: What We Do in the Shadows
Since 2019, the FX comedy horror series What We Do in the Shadows is centered on a group of vampires who live on Staten Island.
2020: Nicole Malliotakis Elected
In 2020, Republican Nicole Malliotakis was elected to represent New York's 11th congressional district, defeating Democrat Max Rose 53% to 47%.
2020: Staten Island Yankees eliminated
In 2020, the Staten Island Yankees were eliminated during Minor League Baseball's restructuring.
2020: Population Census
In the 2020 census, Staten Island had a population of 495,747, making it the least populated New York City borough.
2020: Staten Island Vote
In the 2020 election, Staten Island delivered 56.9% and a record of more than 123,000 votes to President Donald Trump.
November 2021: Vito Fossella Elected
In November 2021, Vito Fossella, a Republican, was elected as Staten Island's Borough President. Fossella is the only Republican borough president in New York City.
2022: Secession Study Bill
In 2022, New York City councilman Joe Borelli announced his plan to introduce another set of bills to study the feasibility of secession.
February 6, 2023: Impractical Jokers Day
On February 6, 2023, the borough declared the first Monday of every February "Impractical Jokers Day" in honor of the show Impractical Jokers.
2023: Congressional District
As of 2023, Staten Island lies entirely within New York's 11th congressional district, which also includes part of southwestern Brooklyn.
2023: City Council Composition
As of 2023, Staten Island's city council delegation comprises two Republicans and one Democrat.
2023: First woman to swim around Staten Island
In 2023, Leslie Hamilton became the first woman to swim around Staten Island, completing a 37-mile (60 km) swim in 14.5 hours.
2024: Staten Island Vote
In 2024, Donald Trump's margin expanded significantly, getting 63.9% of the vote in Staten Island. Kamala Harris became the first Democrat to not get at least 40% of the vote since Bill Clinton in 1992.
2024: What We Do in the Shadows
Until 2024, the FX comedy horror series What We Do in the Shadows is centered on a group of vampires who live on Staten Island.
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