The Europeans settled the area now known as Queens as far back as the middle 1600’s. The area was then known as New Netherlands, and mostly Dutch and English settlers occupied it. The earliest residents of Queens inhabited what are now Flushing, Elmhurst, and Jamaica. It wasn’t until the English captured the colony in 1664 that the area was renamed New York. At that time, all of Long Island, including Queens, became known as Yorkshire.

Originally, the area now known as Nassau County was also included in Queens. Queens was one of the twelve original counties of New York, which were created in 1683. It wasn’t until 1691 that all of the New York counties were redefined, and Queens gained North Brother Island, South Brother Island, and what is now known as Rikers Island. Later, in 1768, Queens also gained two other islands in the Long Island Sound.

Since then, Queens County has enjoyed a long and storied history, with a minor role in the American Revolution. Even after the Battle of Long Island in 1776, Queens remained under British occupation. Though the residents kept their loyalties fairly silent, Queens was largely in favor of the British crown. Many of the private homeowners quartered British soldiers, as allowed by the Third Amendment to the United States Constitution, during times the war.

Kew Gardens didn’t begin to take shape until the late 1800’s. An Englishman named Albon P. Man acquired most of the land that would soon be known as Kew Gardens. It was not until his heirs took possession of the land that the planned community began to take shape. Many of the buildings in Queens are neo-Tudor style, calling to mind the architecture of England. The area is now thriving and teeming with people, and most consider it one of the nicest neighborhoods in all of New York City.