What do you know about Jackson Heights? For starters, more than 160 languages are spoken, making it the most diverse neighborhood in the city. About half the population was born abroad, and Jackson Heights is home to large numbers of South Americans (particularly Colombians and Ecuadorians), as well as Indians, Pakistanis, Tibetans, Nepalis, and Bangladeshis.
When Jackson Heights was first developed by the Queensboro Corporation in the early 1920s as a garden community, it was advertised to Manhattan’s upper-middle- and middle-class white Anglo inhabitants as an escape from crowded city life. . The original plans outlined a restricted community: the developers prohibited African-Americans and Jews from living in the area. Fast forward to 2023, and over 60% of the community was born abroad.
Jackson Heights has historically been home to a vibrant LGBTQ community. As the community first developed in the 1920s, it became a haven for Broadway creatives and actors. A horrific hate crime in 1990 led to a movement that created the district’s gay pride parade. Most recently, storytelling hour brought protesters (many believed to be from outside the neighborhood) to the Jackson Heights library, but they were met by supporters from the community.
Jackson Heights is one of the neighborhoods considered the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis in the city. The nearby Elmhurst Hospital became the center of it, with lines of people circling the building seeking care during some of the city’s darkest days. Through the pandemic, the hospital’s CEO tells NY1, healthcare workers have earned the trust of the community and are building a healthier future ahead.
The lack of green space led to the start of Open Streets. Jackson Heights is home to the longest car-free block in the city. Twenty-six blocks are part of the plan. While some in the community have protested the idea, organizers say many have come to accept the additional space.
And Jackson Heights has become a destination for foodies. Within the various restaurants, traditional flavors are fused with a fusion of cultures and cuisines, allowing customers to travel the world to eat, all without a passport.
