ROOTED HERE

Beyond the waterfront.
Stories that shaped the neighborhoods.

A harbor arrival, neighborhood kitchens and a greener side of New York. Follow Staten Island from St. George to the South Shore.

People made the city.

Staten Island is one of New York City’s five boroughs, coextensive with Richmond County. It joined Greater New York in 1898. St. George is the ferry gateway; Snug Harbor, Historic Richmond Town and the Greenbelt are distinct destinations. Its shoreline includes beaches; current beach and tide data are not connected here. Read the historical account.

1. Before consolidation

   An island of communities

   Staten Island had distinct towns and communities before the five-borough city was formed. Richmondtown was the county seat.

   NYC DCAS ↗
2. 1898

   Part of Greater New York

   Consolidation brought Staten Island into the newly expanded New York City on January 1, 1898.

   Historic Richmond Town ↗
3. 1904–1906

   A civic center at St. George

   Borough Hall was built as the civic center moved from Richmondtown to St. George. It continues to serve municipal purposes.

   NYC DCAS ↗
4. 1958

   Preserving local stories

   Historic Richmond Town was established as a joint project of the Staten Island Historical Society and New York City.

   NYC DDC ↗

See the history for yourself.

Visit a local museum, then explore the surrounding neighborhood. Check current opening days and access arrangements. Historical source.

For deeper research, the Staten Island library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.

Selected milestones researched September 13, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.