When you think of the name “Jamaica”, you probably picture a tropical island, with palm trees and white sandy beaches. This, however, is not the Jamaica located in New York City, in the vibrant borough of Queens. Less tropical, the Jamaica located in the middle of Long Island is a wonderful, unique place to live, with a lot to offer. The rich history of this community is a source of local pride, and families that live in Jamaica love that they get to live in a city with such a vibrant culture and history.
For a long time, Jamaica was the location of the Queens County seat, though now that Queens is technically a part of New York City, the overall structure has changed. That being said, there are many important county and city government buildings still located in Jamaica, and it is still seen as an important center of sorts.
The history of Jamaica goes all the way back to the seventeenth century, when immigrants were settling in this part of what would soon be the United States. Jamaica, specifically, was settled by a large group of Dutch immigrants, who came to this part of the world seeking more freedom than was given them in their mother country. Of course, before these Dutch immigrants could claim the land, they had to pay for it. Trading only a few goods to the local tribes of Native Americans that called this land home, Jamaica was “purchased” and developed. A popular trail that transported Native Americans from across the eastern part of the country for trading and hunting was soon turned into “Jamaica Avenue”. Today, Jamaica Avenue is one of the most highly trafficked streets in the city.
When it comes to public transportation, Jamaica is considered to be a hub where many different train, subway, and bus lines converge. This is very convenient for local Jamaica citizens, who have access to all of these lines of transportation. Not many residents own cars, as it is much easier to simply take the subway or the bus wherever you need to go throughout the community and throughout New York City as a whole. Most of the commuters that live in Jamaica and work elsewhere rely on public transportation to get to work each day.
Served by the New York Department of Education, Jamaica’s students have access to high quality public schools throughout their education. Beyond elementary school, middle school, and high school, Jamaica is also home to several high quality colleges and universities, including York College and Queens College. Besides public schools, there are a number of private schools available for local students as well, including several Catholic schools to choose from. For students attending any local schools of any grade level, local Jamaica tutors are available. These local tutors are a tremendous local resource and can help each student achieve their educational goals.