People living in el barrio de corona, queens

Introduction

Corona, the neighborhood as we knew it has undergone a tremendous ethnic and cultural transition over the past 10 years. As the new era of children is ushered in; we could only hope that they may learn to treasure it at least, a fraction, as much as we do.
The importance of history can magnified or lessened in direct proportion

to how much of it is shared and discussed. Thedifferent ethnic groups that exist

in Corona, Queens will always be important when re-living or re-telling, parts of

this county’s history.

The Corona Community, although somewhat geographically dispersed, is thought

to be almost tribal like by many. The different aspects such as its history, community,

culture, schools transportation and real estate will be discussed infurther detailed.

History

Corona was first settled by Robert Coe, an Englishman, in 1655. Before the land

between Elmhurst and Flushing was developed in the 1850's, there were only a dozen

families living in the area. From the highest point on a hill 108 feet above sea level, they

could take in fantastic views of Long Island Sound and the isle of Manhattan and could

even seeclear to the Palisades of New Jersey. At the lowest point, Flushing Creek, they

would bring their corn and wheat to be grounded into flour at a grist mill. Farms here also

grew cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, kale, pumpkins, pears, peaches, apples and grapes,

and raised pigs and cows. Hunting for cottontail and grouse, and setting traps in Flushing

Bay for tasty tomcods were alsoways the settlers varied the

food served on their tables.

The Flushing railroad in 1853, was the spark to start the construction of a bustling

commercial, industrial and residential, and create "Flushing West," a name that did not

last long.Thomas Waite Howard discovered that his town's name was confusing to

outsiders and even to the post office. In 1868, he petitioned the postoffice to change

West Flushing's name to Corona as he felt that his neighborhood was the "crown jewel"

of Long Island. The post office granted his request in 1872.

Corona was one of the old towns of Queens, which included Long Island City,

Jamaica, Newtown and Flushing. The LeFrak City housing development is located

within the southwest ending boundaries of Corona and locatedon the north side of the

Long Island Expressway. Corona is bordered on the east by Flushing Meadows-Corona

Park, one of the largest parks in New York City and the site of the 1939 and 1964

World's Fairs.

Community

Located within the park are Citi Field (Citi Field is a stadium located in Flushing

Meadows–Corona Park in the New York City borough of Queens), home of the NewYork Mets, and the USTA National Tennis Center, where the U.S. Open in tennis is held

annually. Jackson Heights to the west, Forest Hills and Rego Park to the south and

Elmhurst to the southwest.

Corona's main thoroughfares include Corona Avenue, Roosevelt Avenue,

Northern Boulevard, Junction Boulevard, and 108th Street. Zip code is 11368. The

neighborhood is part of QueensCommunity Board 4, while the northern most part is

included in Community Board 3.

Corona was a late 19th century development in the old Town of Newtown. The

name allegedly derives from the crown used as an emblem by the Crown Building

Company, which developed in that area. The Italian immigrants who moved into the new

housing stock referred to the neighborhood by the Italianor Spanish word for "crown"

(which is "corona").

Over the last 50 years Corona has seen dramatic ethnic demographic turnovers. In

the 1950’s what was predominately an Italian American and African American

neighborhood began to give way to a very large influx of Dominicans. However a part of

Corona near Spaghetti Park", where older men play bocce, still is a predominately...