Meet your Neighbors

From Wikipedia:

The United States Census estimates that 491,730 people lived on Staten Island on July 1, 2009.^[5] Staten Island has a population density of 8,334.6 per square mile (3,217.2 per km²).

According to the 2005–2007 American Community Survey Estimates, the borough's population was 76.6% White (67.4% non-Hispanic White alone), 10.6% Black or African American (9.5% non-Hispanic Black or African American alone), 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 7.6% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 6.0% from some other race and 1.1% from two or more races. 14.7% of the total population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[20]

As of 2005-2007 the population represented several European ancestries:[2]

• Italian: 47.1%
• Irish: 14.8%
• German: 5.8%
• Polish: 4.3%
• Russian: 3.7%
• English: 1.9%
• Arab: 1.9%

20.9% of the population were foreign born and another 1.8% were born in Puerto Rico, U.S. Island areas, or born abroad to American parents. 29.5% spoke a language other than English at home and 27.1% had a Bachelor's degree or higher.^[20]

As of 2000, there were 464,573 people, 256,341 households, and 214,128 families residing in the borough/county. The population density was 2,929.6/km² (7,587.9/sq mi). There were 163,993 housing units at an average density of 1,082.7/km² (2,804.3/sq mi). The racial makeup was 77.60% White, 9.67% Black, .25% Native American, 5.65% Asian, .04% Pacific Islander, 4.14% from other races, and 2.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.07% of the population.

Staten Island (Richmond County) has a higher percentage of Italian-Americans than any other county in the United States, though it comes in 27th amongst Italian-American communities.^[21] Since the 2000 census, a large Russian community has been growing on Staten Island, particularly in the Rossville, South Beach, and Great Kills area. There is also a significant Polish community mainly in the South Beach and Midland Beach area.

The vast majority of the island's African-American and Hispanic residents live north of theStaten Island Expressway, or Interstate 278. In terms of religion, the population is largelyRoman Catholic. There is a growing presence of Egyptian Copts, the vast majority of whom are members of the Coptic Orthodox Church.^[22]

In our profiles of the neighborhoods of Staten Island, we will begin profiling all the diverse ethnicity this Island really has.  If you have information we can post regarding ethnic places, events and history, please contact us.