History Of Flushing

Flushing is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. When someone mentions Flushing they usually mean Downtown Flushing which is predominately populated by Asians; people of Chinese descent make up nearly 40 percent of the population.1 Flushing is a large commercial and retail area and is the fourth largest central business district in New York City. The intersection of Roosevelt Avenue and Main Street is the third busiest intersection in New York City, behind only Times Square and Herald Square.2 Flushing is the biggest urban center in Queens and is only getting bigger with perpetual construction projects throughout Flushing.

Flushing has a rich history built on religious tolerance and cultural diversity. In 1645, Flushing was founded and established by English settlers under charter of the Dutch West India Company and was the first settlement in Queens.3 Flushing is considered the birthplace of religious freedom in North America because settlers like John Bowne defied the prohibition on harboring Quakers and allowed them to hold meetings at his establishment. In December 1657, the Flushing Remonstrance was passed by the Flushing settlers protesting religious persecution and eventually led to Quakers and others to worship freely.4 Growing up, I lived on Bowne Street named after John Bowne and right across the street from his home. The Bowne House was built by John Bowne in 1661 and is the oldest landmark in Flushing. It is thought to be the “oldest existing house of worship in America” and is celebrated by many as a “national shrine to religious freedom”.5

In the mid-17th century, the English took over the colony from the Dutch and renamed it the Province of New York. Queens County was established in 1683 and th...

... middle of paper ...

...or since the founding of Flushing.

With the constant change in Flushing, is it beneficial or harmful to many of the residents that have been living in Flushing for decades? There are at least two affordable housing complexes in Flushing and many of the developments are happening around those complexes. As Flushing becomes more and more commercialized, there will be pressures from businesses and from political forces that would like these affordable housing to be relocated.

Flushing has and will be changing for many years to come just like any other neighborhood but at a higher and faster rate. This will squeeze out the lower to middle income families further away from downtown Flushing. Most of these families will be the Chinese families that are changing the landscape right now in Flushing. The landscape and the demographic will continue to change in Flushing.