Jamaica, a neighborhood in Queens, New York City, was settled as a town by the English under Dutch rule in 1656 in New Netherland. It is one of the major predominantly black neighborhoods in the Borough of Queens. True to its name, it has a substantial concentration of West Indian immigrants, as well as many long-established African American families.
Under English rule it became part of the county of Yorkshire, and, in 1683, when the province was divided into counties it became part of Queens County, one of the original counties of New York. It was incorporated in the borough of Queens in New York City on January 1 1898.
This neighborhood is the county seat of Queens County.
Jamaica is a major station and transfer point on the Long Island Rail Road. Jamaica also contains JFK International Airport.
