JAMAICA AVENUE

'Jamaica Avenue' or 'The Ave.', as it is called by locals, is a major avenue in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States. Jamaica Avenue starts off from Fulton Street (replacing East New York Avenue) in the East New York neighborhood in Brooklyn, and goes all the way to the Cross Island Parkway in Bellerose, Queens where it turns into Jericho Turnpike to service the rest of Long Island. Though it is certain where Jamaica Avenue begins, its absolute ending runs for blocks in Queens and Nassau County.

Contents

History

Commerce

Intersecting transport systems

External Links

History

Jamaica Avenue was part of a prehistoric trail for tribes from as far away as the Ohio River and the Great Lakes, coming to trade skins and furs for wampum. It was in 1655 that the first settlers paid the Native Americans with two guns, a coat, and some powder and lead, for the land lying between the old trail and "Beaver Pond," later, Baisley Pond. Dutch Director-General Peter Stuyvesant dubbed the area "Rustdorp" in granting the 1656 patent. The English, who took it over in 1664, and renamed it "Jameco," for the Jameco (or Yamecah) Native Americans.

Commerce

Jamaica Avenue is very well known for its the shopping center, which by no coincidence, is located in the heart of Jamaica, Queens. Shopping on The Ave. is said to be on of the best in the city for the lower prices. Many attribute this to the market place atmosphere which is presented.
Jamaica Avenue is also the main shopping strip for many other neighborhoods it runs through as well, including Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, and Queens Village.

Intersecting transport systems

Jamaica Avenue is the starting point of many major streets in Queens, such as Myrtle Avenue, Metropolitan Avenue, Hempstead Avenue, Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, Farmers Boulevard, and the infamous Queens Boulevard. Many bus lines run down Jamaica Avenue, including the Q56, Q112, and Q36. The J Train also runs above Jamaica Avenue throughout its stretch in Woodhaven and Richmond Hill. Many bus depots in Queens are also located near Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica.
Jamaica intersects with many other major streets in Queens as well, including Woodhaven Boulevard, Lefferts Boulevard, Sutphin Boulevard, Parsons Boulevard, Francis Lewis Boulevard, and Springfield Boulevard.
Jamaica Avenue is also (along with Hillside Avenue) the closest subway stop - Jamaica–179th Street - for a lot of the people in eastern Queens.
Jamaica Avenue is said to be the "Queens Boulevard" for the Eastern section of Queens. It is also said to be the Queens equivalent to Brooklyn's Fulton Street.

External Links

http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com/bigmap/queens/jamaica/jamaicaave/index.htm