Queens, New York: The World's Borough

Queens is the easternmost and largest of the five boroughs of New York City. Known for its immense cultural diversity and vast geographic scale, it serves as a critical gateway to the United States. Settled in 1683 and named after Catherine of Braganza, Queens has evolved from a collection of colonial townships into a global hub of commerce, aviation, and residential life.

Key Facts

Queens Boulevard, looking east from Van Dam Street, in 1920. The newly built IRT Flushing Line is in the boulevard's median.

Total Area: 178 square miles, making it the largest NYC borough by area.
Population: Approximately 2,405,464 (2020 Census).
Economy: A total GDP of US$111.143 billion as of 2024.
Global Gateways: Home to both John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports.
Diversity: One of the most ethnically diverse urban areas in the world, with significant Spanish, Chinese, and Bengali speaking populations.

Geography and Climate

Queens is a coterminous borough and county, spanning 109 square miles of land and 70 square miles of water. Its landscape ranges from the dense urban corridors of Long Island City to the residential greenery of Forest Hills Gardens. The highest natural elevation in the borough reaches 258.2 feet.

Location of Queens (red) within New York City

The climate is characterized by four distinct seasons. Based on data from JFK Airport, the borough experiences a wide temperature range, with record highs reaching 104°F and record lows dropping to −2°F. Annual precipitation averages 43.29 inches, distributed relatively evenly throughout the year.

Aerial view of Queens looking north from John F. Kennedy International Airport

A Mosaic of Neighborhoods and Culture

Queens is celebrated for its ethnic enclaves, where various global cultures coexist. Long Island City, located in the west, is one of the city's fastest-growing neighborhoods, while Astoria is well-known for its Greek-American community.

Long Island City, a neighborhood in western Queens

Other notable areas include the Elmhurst Chinatown, Little India in Jackson Heights, and the large Puerto Rican community in Ridgewood. This diversity is reflected in the languages spoken; while English is primary, Spanish, Chinese, and Bengali are the most prominent non-English languages.

The Elmhurst Chinatown (艾姆赫斯特唐人街) at the corner of Broadway and Dongan Avenue

The borough's cultural landscape is further enriched by institutions such as the Museum of the Moving Image, MoMA PS1, and the New York Hall of Science. Public art is also a staple, exemplified by the Rocket Thrower sculpture in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park.

Rocket Thrower (1963) at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park

Economy, Infrastructure, and Transportation

Astoria, a largely Greek-American neighborhood

The economy of Queens is bolstered by a mix of corporate headquarters, such as JetBlue, and massive tourism and entertainment venues. The borough is a powerhouse for sports and events, hosting the New York Mets at Citi Field and the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets

Transportation is the backbone of the borough. Queens hosts two of the world's busiest airports: John F. Kennedy International (JFK), the primary international gateway to the U.S., and LaGuardia (LGA), which has undergone a multibillion-dollar reconstruction.

Five jumbo airplanes wait in a line on a runway next to a small body of water. Behind them in the distance is the airport and control tower. — John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens, the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States

Public transit is comprehensive, featuring the MTA subway system, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), and the JFK AirTrain. Major bridges, including the Triborough Bridge, connect Queens to Manhattan and the Bronx, facilitating the movement of millions of residents and commuters.

The Triborough Bridge connects Queens with Manhattan and The Bronx.

Borough Overview Summary

Queens Borough Statistics and Demographics
Category	Detail
Total Population (2020)	2,405,464
Land Area	109 sq mi
GDP (2024)	US$111.143 Billion
Borough President	Donovan Richards
Primary Airports	JFK, LaGuardia
Major Sports Venues	Citi Field, Arthur Ashe Stadium

Frequently Asked Questions

Ridgewood is home to a large Puerto Rican community

JetBlue's corporate headquarters in Queens

Long Island City is one of New York City's fastest-growing neighborhoods.[133]

Resorts World New York City in Jamaica is the only casino hotel in New York City

Arthur Ashe Stadium during the 2014 US Open

Queens County Courthouse was built in 1938 and houses the borough's Supreme Court, Surrogate Court, and County Clerk.[150]

Queens borough president Donovan Richards

Queensbridge Houses, a public housing development in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens

LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens

Queens College is part of the City University of New York.

A branch of the Queens Public Library in Flushing

A multibillion-dollar reconstruction of LaGuardia Airport was announced in July 2015.[174]

46th Street – Bliss Street subway station

Newtown Creek with the Midtown Manhattan skyline in the background

Air Train JFK path above the Van Wyck Expressway

Cross-street signs for a single-named boulevard and a co-named avenue in Queens

Who is the current Borough President of Queens?

The current Borough President of Queens is Donovan Richards.

Which airports are located in Queens?

Queens is home to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

What are some of the most spoken non-English languages in Queens?

The most common non-English languages spoken in the borough are Spanish, Chinese, and Bengali.

What is the largest sports stadium in Queens?

Queens hosts several major venues, including Citi Field (home of the New York Mets) and Arthur Ashe Stadium (home of the US Open).

How does the population density of Queens compare to other NYC boroughs?

With a density of approximately 22,068 people per square mile, Queens is less densely populated than Manhattan or Brooklyn, but more dense than Staten Island.