History of Staten Island in Timeline

Staten Island is the southernmost borough of New York City, also known as Richmond County. It is the least populated but third largest borough in land area. Separated from New Jersey by Arthur Kill and Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay, it had a population of 495,747 in 2020. Staten Island is the least densely populated and most suburban of the five boroughs.

1917: Discovery of Clovis Culture Artifacts

In 1917, the first evidence of Clovis culture activity was discovered in the Charleston section of Staten Island through the recovery of tool artifacts.

1923: Staten Island Tunnel Construction

In 1923, construction began on the Staten Island Tunnel, intended to connect Staten Island to the New York City Subway.

1924: 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: Stadium Theatre Opened

In 1927, the Stadium Theatre was a 1,037-seat movie theater in Tottenville.

1927: Daily News Golden Gloves Tournament Started

The Daily News Golden Gloves Tournament started in 1927.

1929: Stapletons in NFL

In 1929, the Stapletons NFL team, also known as the Stapes, started playing in the league.

1932: Stapletons Last Season

During the 1932 NFL season, the Stapletons, last in the NFL, played the eventual season champion Chicago Bears to a scoreless tie.

1933: Staten Island Zoo Construction Commenced

In 1933, construction of the Staten Island Zoo began as part of a Federal Government works program.

June 10, 1936: Opening of Staten Island Zoo

On June 10, 1936, the Staten Island Zoo opened as the first zoo in the U.S. specifically dedicated to an educational mandate.

February 10, 1938: The Lane Theater Opening

On February 10, 1938, The Lane Theater in New Dorp, operated by Charles, Lewis and Elias Moses, officially opened its doors.

1940: Voting Patterns in National Elections

Since 1940, Staten Island has predominantly voted Republican in national elections, with exceptions 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 to the Department of Correction, completing the consolidation process within the City of Greater New York.

1942: Staten Island Jail System Transferred

In 1942, the Staten Island jail system was transferred from the county sheriff's department to the New York City Department of Corrections and eventually closed.

1944: Frank Umont NFL Start

In 1944, Frank Umont started his NFL career.

1947: Little League Tournament Begins

In 1947 the Little League Tournament started. Since its inception, three Mid-Island Little League teams and six overall from Staten Island have reached the tournament.

1947: Fresh Kills Landfill Opening

In 1947, Fresh Kills Landfill opened as a "temporary landfill" for the city of New York.

1948: Frank Umont NFL End

In 1948, Frank Umont ended his NFL career.

1949: Eppie Alonzo Wins Golden Gloves Championship

In 1949, Eppie Alonzo, a Staten Islander, won his division in the Daily News Golden Gloves championship.

1950: Eppie Alonzo Wins Golden Gloves Championship Again

In 1950, Eppie Alonzo won his division again in the Daily News Golden Gloves championship.

1951: St. George Terminal Rebuilt

In 1951, the St. George Terminal, which first opened in 1886, was rebuilt.

1953: Stock Car Races Begin

From 1953, stock car races were held weekly from May until October at a 1/5th-mile asphalt racetrack on Staten Island.

1953: Passenger Service Ends on North and South Beach Branch

In 1953, passenger service ended on both the North Shore Branch and the South Beach Branch of the Staten Island Railway.

1954: Frank Umont MLB Umpire Start

In 1954, Frank Umont started his MLB umpire career.

1957: Stadium Theatre Closed

From 1927 to 1957, the Stadium Theatre was a 1,037-seat movie theater in Tottenville.

1960: Joseph Ryan NFL Start

In 1960, Joseph Ryan started his NFL career.

1960: Population Increase

In 1960, Staten Island's population was 221,991.

1961: First Swim Around Staten Island

In 1961, a lifeguard became the first person to swim around Staten Island.

1964: Bridges Holding Records

From 1964, Staten Island contained the longest vertical lift, steel arch, and suspension bridges in the world: the Arthur Kill Vertical Lift Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, and Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, respectively.

1964: Staten Island Votes Democratic

In 1964, Staten Island voted for a Democratic presidential nominee for the first time since 1940.

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: One man, one vote decision

In 1964, the Supreme Court's "one man, one vote" decision influenced the later ruling on the Board of Estimate in 1989.

1968: Carolyn Cudone Wins U.S. Senior Women's Amateur

In 1968, Carolyn Cudone, raised on Staten Island, won the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur championship.

January 1969: Re-opening of New Stadium Theatre

In January 1969, the Stadium Theatre in Tottenville re-opened as the New Stadium Theatre and was a rock-music venue.

1969: Joe Moresco President of PGA Metropolitan Section

In 1969, Staten Island native Joe Moresco was President of the Metropolitan section of the PGA.

1970: Top Names at The Ritz Theater

From 1970, The Ritz Theater had an arrangement with a Manhattan club that enabled them to bring top names, many of whom are now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, to the location.

1970: Joe Moresco President of PGA Metropolitan Section

In 1970, Staten Island native Joe Moresco was 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 Section's Professional of the Year

In 1971, Joe Moresco was named the Metropolitan Section's Professional of the Year.

1972: Carolyn Cudone's Fifth U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Title

In 1972, Carolyn Cudone won her fifth straight U.S. Senior Women's Amateur championship, a record.

1972: Mike Siani NFL Start

In 1972, Mike Siani started his NFL career.

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: Top Names at The Ritz Theater

Until 1972, The Ritz Theater had an arrangement with a Manhattan club that enabled them to bring top names, many of whom are now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, to the location.

1972: Stock Car Races End

Until 1972, stock car races were held weekly from May until October at a 1/5th-mile asphalt racetrack on Staten Island.

1973: Frank Umont MLB Umpire End

In 1973, Frank Umont ended his MLB umpire career.

1973: Ed Murphy's Campaign for Borough President

In 1973, former intelligence agent and peace activist Ed Murphy ran for Office of Borough President, sponsored by the Staten Island Democratic Association, which facilitated the emergence of more liberal politics on Staten Island.

1974: Gabe Perillo Jr. Wins Golden Gloves Championship

In 1974, Gabe Perillo Jr. won a Daily News Golden Gloves championship.

1975: Golden Gloves Champions

In 1975, Kevin Rooney and Al Tobe, Johnny Verderosa all won Daily News Golden Gloves championships.

1975: Name Change

In 1975, the Borough of Richmond was renamed the Borough of Staten Island.

1976: Johnny Verderosa Wins Golden Gloves Championship

In 1976, Johnny Verderosa won a Daily News Golden Gloves championship.

1976: P. J. Carlesimo Coaching Start

In 1976, P. J. Carlesimo began coaching the men's basketball team at Wagner College.

1976: Arthur Kill Correctional Facility Opened

In 1976, the New York State Department of Correctional Services opened the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility of Staten Island.

1977: End of Record-Holding Span

Until 1977, Staten Island contained the longest vertical lift, steel arch, and suspension bridges in the world: the Arthur Kill Vertical Lift Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, and Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, respectively.

1980: Mike Siani NFL End

In 1980, Mike Siani ended his NFL career.

1982: P. J. Carlesimo Coaching End

In 1982, P. J. Carlesimo stopped coaching the men's basketball team at Wagner College.

1985: Last Democratic Mayoral Vote

In 1985, Staten Island last voted Democratic for incumbent mayor Ed Koch.

1985: Terrance Bailey NCAA Scoring Leader

In 1985, Terrance Bailey led NCAA Division I basketball in scoring as a junior during the 1985-86 season.

November 1988: The Lane Theater Interior Landmarked

In November 1988, the interior of The Lane Theater was designated as a landmark.

1988: David Richards NFL Start

In 1988, David Richards started his NFL career.

1988: Largest Margin Since 1988

In 2016, Donald Trump carried Staten Island by the largest margin of any presidential candidate since 1988.

1989: Supreme Court Decision on Board of Estimate

In 1989, the Supreme Court declared the Board of Estimate unconstitutional in Board of Estimate of City of New York v. Morris, citing a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause because Brooklyn's representation was not proportionally greater than Staten Island's.

1990: 1990 Census Data

In 1990 the census data determined that 79% of the population was non-Hispanic White.

1990: Secession Movement Peak

In 1990, during David Dinkins' mayoral term, the secession movement gained momentum after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the New York City Board of Estimate.

1990: Borough President as Advocate

Since 1990, the Borough president has advocated for the borough at the mayoral agencies, the City Council, the New York state government, and corporations.

1991: James Jenkins NFL Start

In 1991, James Jenkins started his NFL career.

1992: Bill Clinton's vote share

In 2024, Kamala Harris became the first Democrat to not get at least 40% of the vote since Bill Clinton in 1992.

1993: Giuliani Wins Mayoral Election

In 1993, Staten Island's high Republican turnout was a major factor that helped Rudy Giuliani win the mayoral election against incumbent David Dinkins.

1993: Secession Referendum

In 1993, a non-binding referendum was held on Staten Island to consider secession from New York City, with 65% of residents voting in favor, though implementation was blocked in the State Assembly.

1994: Naval Station Closure

In 1994, the United States Navy base on Staten Island, Naval Station New York, was closed through the Base Realignment and Closure process.

1996: David Richards NFL End

In 1996, David Richards ended his NFL career.

1996: Staten Island Votes Democratic

In 1996, Staten Island voted for a Democratic presidential nominee for the second time since 1940.

1997: Staten Island Ferry Fare-Free

Since 1997, the Staten Island Ferry has been fare-free.

1998: Joe Andruzzi NFL Start

In 1998, Joe Andruzzi started his NFL career.

1998: Concerts Hosted at The Lane Theater

In 1998, The Lane Theater began hosting several concerts.

1998: New York Predators Inception

Since their inception in 1998, the New York Predators of the semi-pro Regional American Football League have called Staten Island home.

1999: Staten Island Yankees Established

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: Population Doubling

By 2000, Staten Island's population had doubled to 443,728 from 1960 due to residential and commercial development facilitated by new bridges and highways.

2000: 2000 Census Data

In 2000 the census data determined that there was a 5.6% decrease from the 2010 census data.

2000: Gary Stark Jr. Wins Golden Gloves Championship

In 2000, Gary Stark Jr. won a Daily News Golden Gloves championship.

2000: James Jenkins NFL End

In 2000, James Jenkins ended his NFL career.

2000: Staten Island Votes Democratic

In 2000, Staten Island voted for a Democratic presidential nominee for the third time since 1940.

2000: Residential and Religious Demographics

In 2000, most of Staten Island's African American and Hispanic residents lived north of the Staten Island Expressway (Interstate 278). Religiously, the borough's population was largely Roman Catholic, peaking near 60% in the 2000 census.

2000: Community Demographics

In 2000, the census data determined that there was a significant Jewish community, mainly in the Willowbrook area, a large Russian community in Rossville, South Beach, and Great Kills, and one of the largest Sri Lankan communities outside of Sri Lanka in the Tompkinsville neighborhood.

2001: Frank Ferrara NFL Start

In 2001, Frank Ferrara started his NFL career.

2001: Gary Stark Jr. Wins Golden Gloves Championship Again

In 2001, Gary Stark Jr. won another Daily News Golden Gloves championship.

2001: Bloomberg Wins Mayoral Election

In 2001, Staten Island's high Republican turnout was a major factor that helped Michael Bloomberg win the mayoral election against Mark Green.

2001: The EleMent Nightclub at The Lane Theater

In 2001, The Lane Theater briefly hosted "The EleMent" nightclub.

2001: Grounded for Life Premieres

In 2001, the Fox and WB sitcom Grounded for Life premiered, centered on an Irish family living on Staten Island.

2001: Fresh Kills Landfill Closure and Reopening

In 2001, the Fresh Kills Landfill was closed, although it was temporarily reopened that year to receive debris from the September 11 attacks, and is now being redeveloped as Freshkills Park.

2001: Yankees Leave College of Staten Island

In 2001, the Staten Island Yankees moved from the College of Staten Island Baseball Complex.

2002: Gary Stark Jr. Wins Third Golden Gloves Championship

In 2002, Gary Stark Jr. won his third Daily News Golden Gloves championship.

2003: Frank Ferrara NFL End

In 2003, Frank Ferrara ended his NFL career.

2005: Voter Registration in Staten Island

In 2005, although 44.7% of Staten Island's registered voters were Democrats and 30.6% were Republicans, the Republican Party held a majority of local public offices, highlighting Staten Island's conservative lean.

2005: Grounded for Life Ends

In 2005, the Fox and WB sitcom Grounded for Life, which was centered on a family of Irish heritage living on Staten Island, ended.

2005: Railway Police Consolidated

In 2005, the Staten Island Rapid Transit Police were consolidated into the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department.

2006: Joe Andruzzi NFL End

In 2006, Joe Andruzzi ended his NFL career.

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: First Staten Island Film Festival

In 2006, the Staten Island Film Festival (SIFF) held its first four-day festival, introducing independent and international films to a wide audience.

February 20, 2007: Bloomberg Perpetuates Billop Myth

On February 20, 2007, Mayor Michael Bloomberg repeated the myth of Captain Billopp's race at a news conference in Brooklyn. The story claims Billopp secured Staten Island for New York by circumnavigating it in one day, however historians believe this is folklore.

September 4, 2007: Bus Service to Bayonne, New Jersey Begins

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 Premieres

On December 3, 2007, A Walk Around Staten Island with David Hartman and Barry Lewis premiered on WNET, profiling Staten Island culture and history.

2007: Lewis Sanders NFL End

In 2007, Lewis Sanders ended his NFL career.

2007: Ocean Breeze Park Project Launched

In 2007, the Ocean Breeze Track and Field Athletic Complex was launched as part of Mayor Bloomberg's Design Excellence initiative, part of the PlaNYC 110-acre Ocean Breeze regional park.

2007: Staten Island Nicknamed "The Rock"

In 2007, the nickname "The Rock" for Staten Island appeared in print for the first time in a New York Times article.

2008: Golden Gloves Champions

In 2008, Amanda Walsh and Anthony Caramanno won Daily News Golden Gloves championships.

2008: McCain Wins Staten Island

In 2008, John McCain won 52% of the vote in Staten Island, while Barack Obama received 48%.

2008: White-Tailed Deer Population

In 2008, the white-tailed deer population on Staten Island was approximately 24.

2009: American Community Survey Results

According to the 2009 American Community Survey, Staten Island's population was 75.7% White (65.8% non-Hispanic White alone), 10.2% Black or African American (9.6% non-Hispanic Black or African American alone), 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 7.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 4.6% from Some other race, and 1.9% from Two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race made up 15.9% of the population.

2009: Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club Opens

After renovations in summer 2009, Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club opened in The Lane Theater.

2009: Tourism Program Initiated

In 2009, Borough president James Molinaro initiated a program to boost tourism on Staten Island, including a new website, a video shown at ferry terminals, and informational kiosks.

2009: Debi Rose Elected to City Council

In 2009, Debi Rose was elected as Staten Island's first black official, winning the North Shore city council seat.

2009: Staten Island Secures Judicial Independence

In 2009, Staten Island achieved Judicial Independence with the creation of New York's 13th Judicial District, allowing voters to elect 5 Justices to the New York State Supreme Court.

2009: Demographic Statistics

In 2009, approximately 20.0% of Staten Island's population was foreign born. Additionally, 1.8% of the populace was born in Puerto Rico, U.S. Island areas, or abroad to American parents. 28.6% of the population over five years old spoke a language other than English at home, and 27.3% of the population over twenty-five years old had a bachelor's degree or higher.

2009: Household Income

Per the 2009 American Community Survey, the median income for a household in Staten Island was $55,039, and the median income for a family was $64,333. Approximately 7.9% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line.

2010: 2010 Census Data

According to the 2010 Census, there were 468,730 people living in Staten Island, a 5.6% increase since the 2000 Census. The population was 64.0% non-Hispanic White, 10.6% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 7.5% Asian, and 17.3% Hispanic or Latino.

2010: Anthony Caramanno Wins Golden Gloves Championship

In 2010, Anthony Caramanno won a Daily News Golden Gloves championship.

2010: Language Spoken at Home

In 2010, a significant majority (70.39%) of Staten Island residents aged 5 and older primarily spoke English at home, while other languages like Spanish, Russian, Italian, and Chinese were also spoken by notable percentages of the population.

2010: Planned Race Track Completion Date

The International Speedway Corporation planned for its 82,000-seat race track to host NASCAR races by 2010.

2011: Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club Closes

In 2011, Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club closed in The Lane Theater.

2011: Arthur Kill Correctional Facility Closed

In 2011, the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility was closed.

2011: Impractical Jokers Premieres

In 2011, truTV's hidden camera reality TV show Impractical Jokers premiered, featuring four friends from Staten Island.

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October 29, 2012: Hurricane Sandy Damage

On October 29, 2012, Staten Island experienced severe damage, loss of life, and destruction of many homes during Hurricane Sandy.

2012: Obama Wins Staten Island

In 2012, Barack Obama won 51% of the vote in Staten Island, making it one of the few areas where he gained support compared to 2008.

2012: Golden Gloves Champions

In 2012, Nafisa Umarova, Chad Trabuscio and Anthony Caramanno won Daily News Golden Gloves championships.

2012: Crossroads Church at The Lane Theater

In 2012, the Crossroads Church became the new tenant of The Lane Theater building.

2012: Smash Filmed at St. George Theatre

In 2012, the NBC musical drama Smash filmed several scenes at the St. George Theatre.

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2013: Revival of Secession Interest

Following the election of Bill de Blasio as Mayor in 2013, interest in Staten Island secession was revived.

2013: ISC Sells Staten Island Parcel

In 2013, the International Speedway Corporation (ISC) sold its 676-acre parcel of land on Staten Island.

2014: McAlarney All-Time High School Scoring Leader

As of 2014, Kyle McAlarney was Staten Island's all-time high-school boys' scoring leader with 2,566 points.

2014: Frank Esposito Wins PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament

In 2014, Frank Esposito, who learned the game on Staten Island, won the PGA Tour Champions National Qualifying Tournament.

2014: New Frog Species Discovered

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 IAAF 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: High Car Ownership Rate

As of 2015, 82% of Staten Island households owned a car, the highest rate of any borough in New York City.

2015: Museum Openings

In 2015, The National Lighthouse Museum opened an educational center and the Staten Island Museum opened a new branch in Snug Harbor.

2015: New York Post Names All-Time Basketball Team

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: Trump Carries Staten Island

In 2016, Donald Trump carried Staten Island by 15.1%, the largest margin for any presidential candidate since 1988, and became the first-ever presidential candidate to receive over 100,000 votes out of Staten Island.

2016: Brexit Vote and Secession

In 2016, the success of the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom further revived interest in Staten Island secession.

2017: White-Tailed Deer Population Increase

By 2017, the white-tailed deer population on Staten Island had increased to 2,000 due to a hunting ban and lack of predators.

2018: Demographic Estimate

As of the 2018 estimate, 22.2% of Staten Island residents were foreign born, and 11.9% lived below the poverty line. 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, then a member of the New York State Assembly, was elected Surrogate Judge for Richmond County, and was succeeded by Charles Fall as Assembly member, the first African American elected to the Assembly from Staten Island.

2018: Sean Kelly Medalist at Web.com Tour

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: Borelli Announces Secession Study Bills

In 2019, New York City councilman Joe Borelli announced his plan to introduce another set of bills to study the feasibility of Staten Island secession.

2019: CGP Grey Video on Staten Island Race

In 2019, YouTuber CGP Grey addressed the story of the Staten Island race and its historical discrepancies in a video, concluding that Gabriel Disosway originated the false legend in the mid-1800s.

2019: What We Do in the Shadows Premieres

In 2019, the FX comedy horror series What We Do in the Shadows premiered, centered on a group of vampires living on Staten Island.

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2020: Malliotakis Elected to Congress

In 2020, Nicole Malliotakis was elected to represent New York's 11th congressional district, defeating Democrat Max Rose.

2020: Staten Island Votes for Trump

In 2020, Staten Island voted for Donald Trump, delivering 56.9% and a record of more than 123,000 votes to the President.

2020: Population Count

In 2020, the Census recorded Staten Island's population at 495,747, making it the least populated borough in New York City.

2020: Staten Island Yankees Eliminated

In 2020, the Staten Island Yankees were eliminated during the restructuring of Minor League Baseball.

August 2021: NYC Ferry Route to Manhattan's West Side

Since August 2021, an NYC Ferry route operates between St. George Terminal and Manhattan's West Side, calling at Battery Park City/Vesey Street and terminating at Pier 79/Midtown West. This route charges a fare, unlike the Staten Island Ferry.

November 2021: Vito Fossella Elected Borough President

In November 2021, Vito Fossella, a Republican, was elected as Staten Island's Borough President, becoming the only Republican borough president in New York City.

2021: Limited Public Transportation

As of 2021, public transportation on Staten Island is limited.

2022: Borelli Announces Secession Study Bills

In 2022, New York City councilman Joe Borelli announced his plan to introduce another set of bills to study the feasibility of Staten Island secession.

February 6, 2023: Impractical Jokers Day Declared

On February 6, 2023, Staten Island declared the first Monday of every February "Impractical Jokers Day" to honor the TV show.

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2023: City Council Representation

As of 2023, Staten Island has three City Council members, two Republicans and one Democrat, and three administrative districts served by local Community Boards.

2023: Staten Island's Congressional District

As of 2023, Staten Island is entirely within New York's 11th congressional district, represented by Republican Nicole Malliotakis.

2023: First Woman Swims Around Staten Island

In 2023, Leslie Hamilton became the first woman to swim around Staten Island, covering 37 miles in 14.5 hours.

2024: Staten Island Votes for Trump

In 2024, Staten Island voted for Donald Trump with 63.9% of the vote. Kamala Harris became the first Democrat to not get at least 40% of the vote since Bill Clinton in 1992.