Staten Island

Staten Island is a borough of New York City. Fewer than half a million people live there, the smallest population of any of the five boroughs. Three bridges connect Staten Island to New Jersey, and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge connects to Brooklyn. A passenger railroad runs along the south shore to the northeast end of the island, which is called Saint George. The borough has the same boundaries as the county Richmond County.

Staten Island Richmond County
Borough of New York City and County
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, looking toward Staten Island from Brooklyn
Flag
Nickname(s):  "The Forgotten Borough"
Location of Staten Island, shown in red, in New York City
Coordinates: 40°34′34.61″N 74°8′41.42″W
Country	United States of America
State	New York
County	Richmond (coextensive)
City	New York City
Settled	1661
Named for	Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond (Richmond County)
Seat	none
Government
• Type	Borough (New York City)
• Borough president	Vito Fossella (R) — (Borough of Staten Island)
• District Attorney	Michael McMahon (D) — (Richmond County)
Area
• Total	102.5 sq mi (265 km2)
• Land	58.5 sq mi (152 km2)
• Water	44 sq mi (110 km2)  43%
Population  (2016)
• Total	476,015
• Density	8,112.1/sq mi (3,132.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern Daylight Time)
Zip code prefix	103
Area code	718/347/929, 917
Website	www.statenislandusa.com

The free Staten Island Ferry carries 21 million passengers each year the five miles (eight km) across New York Harbor between Saint George and Manhattan.[1] Nine ferry boats provide the service which began in 1817.

When England took control of New Netherland in the Second Anglo-Dutch War in the 17th century and split it into New York and New Jersey, Staten Island became part of New York.