Staten Island

Staten Island is one of the five boroughs of New York City and corresponds to Richmond County. It forms the city’s southwestern extent and includes residential neighborhoods, parks and historic districts.

The borough offers waterfront views, large parks and museums. A regular ferry connects the St. George terminal to Lower Manhattan and is widely used for commuter transport and sightseeing; inland areas include a large urban greenbelt and community cultural sites. Historic Richmond Town presents restored buildings and exhibits on local history.

Originally occupied by Indigenous peoples and later settled by Europeans in the 17th century, the island evolved through colonial, agricultural and suburban phases. It was incorporated into New York City during the 1898 consolidation and has since developed as a largely residential borough with growing cultural and recreational amenities.

Located at the entrance to New York Harbor, the island lies between New Jersey and the rest of New York City, connected to Brooklyn by the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and separated from Staten and Manhattan by tidal channels and bays.

• Ferry service: Free passenger ferry service runs between the borough and Manhattan with frequent departures and direct views of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor.
• Major bridge: Connected to Brooklyn by a major suspension bridge opened in 1964, which forms a principal road link to the rest of New York City.

What to See #

• St. George: The Staten Island ferry terminal and surrounding St. George area provide the principal passenger link to Manhattan and views across the harbor.
• Greenbelt: A network of trails, woodlands and parkland protecting large green spaces, offering walking routes and natural habitats within the borough.
• Historic Richmond Town: A living history museum complex with preserved and reconstructed buildings that interpret local life from the 17th century onward.