Staten Island

Island in New York harbour, part of New York City, USA, comprising the county of Richmond and, since 1975, the borough of Staten Island; area 155 sq km/60 sq mi.

Staten Island is the city borough with the smallest population. Although mainly residential, it has oil refineries, docks, diversified manufactures, city garbage dumps, and the new nuclear home port of the US Navy. It is linked to Manhattan by ferry, to Brooklyn by the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and to New Jersey by the Outerbridge Crossing.

Colonial settlement began 1661 by the Dutch; it passed to the English 1664 and became part of the city 1898. Residents petitioned 1989 and voted 1990 to take a step towards separation from New York City, since they feel they are exploited by but inadequately serviced by the city.