Huguenot is a neighborhood on the
South Shore of
Staten Island, New York City
Staten Island ( ) is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull and ...
. Originally named "Bloomingview", it was later named for the
Huguenot
The Huguenots ( , also , ) were a religious group of French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, the Genevan burgomaster Bez ...
s, led by
Daniel Perrin
Daniel Perrin (1642–1719) was one of the first permanent European inhabitants of Staten Island, New York. Known as " The Huguenot", he arrived in New York Harbor from the Isle of Jersey on July 29, 1665, aboard the ship ''Philip'', under the c ...
, who settled in the area during the late 17th and early 18th centuries to escape religious persecution. Huguenot is bordered by
Arden Heights to the north,
Woodrow to the west,
Prince's Bay to the south, and
Annadale to the east. The neighborhood is represented in the
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of New York City. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs.
The council serves as a check against the mayor in a mayor-council government model, the performance of ...
by
Joe Borelli, who was born and raised there. Huguenot is represented in the
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is the upper house of the New York State Legislature; the New York State Assembly is its lower house. Its members are elected to two-year terms; there are no term limits. There are 63 seats in the Senate.
Partisan compo ...
by
Andrew Lanza
Andrew Joseph Lanza (born March 12, 1964) is an American lawyer and Republican politician. He currently serves as a member of the New York State Senate, representing the 24th district, which encompasses most of Staten Island. He was first ele ...
and in the
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits.
The Assemb ...
by
Michael Reilly.
History
The community was named after
French Protestants
Protestantism in France has existed in its various forms, starting with Calvinism and Lutheranism since the Protestant Reformation. John Calvin was a Frenchman, as were numerous other Protestant Reformers including William Farel, Pierre Viret ...
fleeing persecution in Catholic-dominated France who settled in the area in the 17th century, and formed one of the first permanent settlements on Staten Island.
The
Huguenot station
The Huguenot station is a Staten Island Railway station in the neighborhood of Huguenot, Staten Island, New York.
History
The station opened on June 2, 1860, with the opening of the Staten Island Railway from Annadale to Tottenville. The st ...
along the
Staten Island Railway
The Staten Island Railway (SIR) is a rapid transit line in the New York City borough of Staten Island. It is owned by the Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority (SIRTOA), a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and ...
opened when
the railroad was extended to
Tottenville
Tottenville is a neighborhood on the South Shore of Staten Island, New York City. It is the southernmost settlement in both New York City and New York State. Tottenville is bounded on three sides by water: the south side abuts New York Bight wh ...
in 1860. This station was given the name "Huguenot Park", even though no park was actually located nearby, and by 1971 the word "Park" had been dropped. The name survives in the Huguenot Park branch of the
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second largest public library in the United States (behind the Library of Congress) ...
was opened one block west of the station.
Religion
The local
Roman Catholic parish, Our Lady Star of the Sea, is one of the largest parishes on the
South Shore, and has experienced overcrowding problems for many years because of the rapid boom of new residents in the area.
Library
The
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second largest public library in the United States (behind the Library of Congress) ...
(NYPL) operates the Huguenot Park branch at 830 Huguenot Avenue, near the intersection with Drumgoole Road East. The branch opened in January 1985, replacing what was once the smallest New York Public Library building just east of the station (still standing). The Huguenot Park branch was possibly named in honor of the nearby Staten Island Railway station's former name.
Transportation
Huguenot is served by the
Staten Island Railway
The Staten Island Railway (SIR) is a rapid transit line in the New York City borough of Staten Island. It is owned by the Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority (SIRTOA), a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and ...
at the
Huguenot station
The Huguenot station is a Staten Island Railway station in the neighborhood of Huguenot, Staten Island, New York.
History
The station opened on June 2, 1860, with the opening of the Staten Island Railway from Annadale to Tottenville. The st ...
. Huguenot is also served by the local buses on Luten Avenue, and the local buses on Hylan Boulevard. Express bus service is provided by the along Huguenot Avenue and Woodrow Road, the along Woodrow Road, the along Foster Road, and the along Huguenot Avenue.
References
{{Staten Island
Neighborhoods in Staten Island
Huguenot history in the United States