Editing Long Island City (section)

==History==
===As independent city===
{{Multiple image|align=right
|image1=Belcher Hyde Dutch Kills map.jpg |caption1=Early 1900s map of Dutch Kills from [[Greater Astoria Historical Society]]|width1=135
|image2=Long Island City map 1896.jpg|caption2=Map of Long Island City from Greater Astoria Historical Society |width2=115}}
Long Island City was incorporated as a city on May 4, 1870, from the merging of the [[Village (New York)|village]] of [[Astoria, Queens|Astoria]] and the hamlets of [[Ravenswood, Queens|Ravenswood]], [[Hunters Point, Queens|Hunters Point]], [[Blissville, Queens|Blissville]], [[Sunnyside, Queens|Sunnyside]], [[Dutch Kills]], Steinway, [[Bowery Bay]] and Middleton in the Town of Newtown.<ref name="new">{{cite web | title=The New Long Island City--Provisions of the Proposed Charter. | website=The New York Times | date=February 20, 1870 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1870/02/20/archives/the-new-long-island-cityprovisions-of-the-proposed-charter.html | access-date=December 18, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219000822/https://www.nytimes.com/1870/02/20/archives/the-new-long-island-cityprovisions-of-the-proposed-charter.html | archive-date=December 19, 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://nypdhistory.com/whats-the-deal-with-the-history-lineage-of-the-nypds-108th-precinct-long-island-city/ History of the 108th precinct] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408001429/http://nypdhistory.com/whats-the-deal-with-the-history-lineage-of-the-nypds-108th-precinct-long-island-city/ |date=April 8, 2020 }} at nypdhistory.com (Retrieved April 7, 2020.)</ref> At the time of its incorporation, Long Island City had between 12,000 and 15,000 residents.<ref name= new/> Its charter provided for an elected mayor and a ten-member [[New York City Board of Aldermen|Board of Aldermen]] with two representing each of the city's five wards.<ref name= new/> City ordinances could be passed by a majority vote of the Board of Aldermen and the mayor's signature.<ref>{{cite web | title=Long Island City--Ordinances of the Common Council. | website=The New York Times | date=August 6, 1870 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1870/08/06/archives/long-island-cityordinances-of-the-common-council.html | access-date=December 18, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219000908/https://www.nytimes.com/1870/08/06/archives/long-island-cityordinances-of-the-common-council.html | archive-date=December 19, 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Long Island City held its first election on July 5, 1870.<ref name="election">{{cite web | title=The Election in Long Island City. | website=The New York Times | date=July 5, 1870 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1870/07/06/archives/the-election-in-long-island-city.html | access-date=December 18, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218193721/https://www.nytimes.com/1870/07/06/archives/the-election-in-long-island-city.html | archive-date=December 18, 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> Residents elected A.D. Ditmars the first mayor; Ditmars ran as both a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] and a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]].<ref name= election/> The first elected Board of Aldermen was H. Rudolph and Patrick Lonirgan (Ward 1); Francis McNena and William E. Bragaw (Ward 2); George Hunter and Mr. Williams (Third Ward); James R. Bennett and John Wegart (Ward Four); and E.M. Hartshort and William Carlin (Fifth Ward).<ref name= election/> The mayor and the aldermen were inaugurated on July 18, 1870.<ref>{{cite web | title=Inauguration of the Long Island City Officers--Message of the Mayor. | website=The New York Times | date=July 19, 1870 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1870/07/19/archives/inauguration-of-the-long-island-city-officersmessage-of-the-mayor.html | access-date=December 18, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218193524/https://www.nytimes.com/1870/07/19/archives/inauguration-of-the-long-island-city-officersmessage-of-the-mayor.html | archive-date=December 18, 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The Common Council of Long Island City in 1873 adopted the [[coat of arms]] as "emblematical of the varied interest represented by Long Island City." It was designed by George H. Williams, of [[Ravenswood, Queens|Ravenswood]]. The overall composition was inspired by New York City's coat of arms. The shield is rich in historic allusion, including Native American, Dutch, and English symbols.<ref>{{cite web |title=History Topics: LIC Coat of Arms |url=http://www.astorialic.org/topics/coatofarms_p.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707230515/https://www.astorialic.org/topics/coatofarms_p.php |archive-date=July 7, 2018 |access-date=July 3, 2010 |work=[[Greater Astoria Historical Society]]}}</ref>

In the 1880s, Mayor De Bevoise nearly bankrupted the Long Island City government by [[embezzlement]], of which he was convicted.<ref name="unhappy">{{cite web | title=Unhappy Long Island City | website=The New York Times | date=February 18, 1884 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1884/02/18/archives/unhappy-long-island-city.html | access-date=December 18, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219000814/https://www.nytimes.com/1884/02/18/archives/unhappy-long-island-city.html | archive-date=December 19, 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> Many dissatisfied residents of Astoria circulated a petition to ask the New York State Legislature to allow it to secede from Long Island City and reincorporate as the Village of Astoria, as it existed prior to the incorporation of Long Island City, in 1884.<ref name= unhappy/> The petition was ultimately dropped by the citizens.<ref>{{cite web | title=CITY AND SUBURBAN NEWS; NEW-YORK. BROOKLYN. LONG ISLAND. WESTCHESTER COUNTY. NEW-JERSEY. | website=The New York Times | date=March 8, 1884 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1884/03/08/archives/city-and-suburban-news-newyork-brooklyn-long-island-westchester.html | access-date=December 18, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218193605/https://www.nytimes.com/1884/03/08/archives/city-and-suburban-news-newyork-brooklyn-long-island-westchester.html | archive-date=December 18, 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Long Island City continued to exist as an incorporated city until 1898, when the city, the rest of the Town of Newtown (today known as [[Elmhurst, Queens]]) and other Towns in Queens were consolidated into New York City.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Greater Astoria Historical Society |author2=Jackson, Thomas |author3=Melnick, Richard |author-link=Greater Astoria Historical Society |title=Long Island City |series=Images of America |year=2004 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |location=Charleston, SC |isbn=0-7385-3666-0 |page=10}}</ref> The last mayor of Long Island City was an Irish-American named [[Patrick Gleason (politician)|Patrick Jerome "Battle-Axe" Gleason]].

====Mayors of Long Island City, 1870–1897====

{| class=wikitable
|+Mayors
!Mayor
!class=unsortable|&nbsp;
!style="border-left-style:hidden;padding:0.1em 0em"|Party
!Start year
!End year
|-
| A.D. Ditmars<ref name= election/>
| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic-Republican Party}}|
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]{{efn|name=fn1|Ditmars' candidacy was endorsed by the Democratic and Republican parties.<ref name= election/> In 1873, Ditmars unsuccessfully ran for reelection as an [[Independent Democrat]].}}
|1870
|1873
|-

| Henry S. De Bevoise<ref>{{cite news|title=Long Island City Mayorality|id={{ProQuest|93326788}}|work=The New York Times|date=June 15, 1873|page=5}}</ref>{{efn|name=fn2|Mayor Debevoise was temporarily removed from office following accusations of [[embezzlement]] in September 1873.<ref name= impeach>{{cite news|title=City and Suburban News: Long Island|id={{ProQuest|93338351}}|work=The New York Times|date=September 25, 1873|page=8}}</ref> George H. Hunter served as acting mayor until the Board of Aldermen withdrew the articles of impeachment in April 1874.<ref name= impeach/><ref name= municipal>{{cite news|title=Municipal Troubles in Long Island City|id={{ProQuest|93423162}}|work=The New York Times|date=April 25, 1874|page=7}}</ref> }}
| bgcolor=#3333FF|
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|1873
|1874
|-
| George H. Hunter (acting)<ref name= impeach/><ref name= municipal/>{{efn|name=fn2}}
| bgcolor=#3333FF|
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|1873
|1874
|-
| Henry S. De Bevoise<ref name= impeach/><ref name= municipal/>{{efn|name=fn2}}
| bgcolor=#3333FF|
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|1874
|1875
|-
| A.D. Ditmars<ref>{{cite news|title=Long Island City Government|id={{ProQuest|93415612}}|work=The New York Times|date=July 14, 1875|page=5}}</ref>{{efn|name=fn3|Mayor Ditmars resigned due to financial embarrassments, ill health, and intention to move south.<ref name= resign>{{cite news|title=Resignation of a Mayor|id={{ProQuest|93471208}}|work=The New York Times|date=November 12, 1875|page=8}}</ref>}}
| bgcolor=#3333FF|
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|1875
|1875
|-
| John Quinn (acting)<ref name= resign/>
| bgcolor=#3333FF|
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|1875
|1876
|-
| Henry S. De Bevoise<ref>{{cite news|title=Too Much Government: The Affairs of Long Island City—A Demand for the Amendment of the Charter|id={{ProQuest|93795174}}|work=The New York Times|date=February 4, 1879|page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Alleged Ballot Box Stuffing|id={{ProQuest|93876378}}|work=The New York Times|date=November 4, 1880|page=8}}</ref>
| bgcolor=#3333FF|
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|1876
|1883
|-
| George Petry<ref>{{cite news|title=Mayor De Bevoise Ousted|id={{ProQuest|94195573}}|work=The New York Times|date=January 13, 1883|page=5}}</ref>
| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic-Republican Party}}|
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Independent Democrat]], [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Queens County Elections: The Majority of Mr. Otis—Gleason's Defeat in Long Island City|id={{ProQuest|94166052}}|work=The New York Times|date=November 8, 1883|page=2}}</ref>
|1883
|1887
|-
| [[Patrick Gleason (politician)|Patrick J. Gleason]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Long Island|id={{ProQuest|94551555}}|work=The New York Times|date=January 2, 1886|page=2}}</ref>
| bgcolor=#3333FF|
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]<ref>{{cite news|title=The Election in Long Island|id={{ProQuest|94405243}}|work=The New York Times|date=November 3, 1886|page=2}}</ref>
|1887
|1897

|}

===After incorporation into New York City===
[[File:12 St 43 Rd boulder jeh.jpg|thumb|upright=1|[[Ancient Glacier Rock|Ancient boulder]], a [[glacial erratic]], partly blocking 12th Street]]
[[File:Long Island City (20190306141621).jpg|thumb|upright=1|Looking west from an apartment building near [[Queens Plaza (Queens)|Queens Plaza]]]]
The city surrendered its independence in 1898 to become part of the [[City of Greater New York]]. However, Long Island City survives as [[ZIP Code]] 11101 and ZIP Code prefix 111 (with its own main post office) and was formerly a [[sectional center facility]] (SCF). The [[Greater Astoria Historical Society]], a [[nonprofit organization|nonprofit cultural and historical organization]] documenting the Long Island City area's history, has operated since 1985.<ref>[https://astorialic.org/about/ About] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117144239/https://astorialic.org/about/ |date=November 17, 2021 }}, [[Greater Astoria Historical Society]]. Accessed November 17, 2021. "Greater Astoria Historical Society, founded in 1985 is the place to learn and celebrate Long Island City and its neighborhoods."</ref>

Through the 1930s, three subway tunnels, the [[Queens-Midtown Tunnel]], and the [[Queensboro Bridge]] were built to connect the neighborhood to Manhattan. By the 1970s, the factories in Long Island City were being abandoned.

In the 1990s, [[Queens West]] on the west side of Long Island City was developed to revitalize {{convert|74|acres}} along the [[East River]], with plans to bring in as many as 16,000 new residents in a total of 19 new buildings.<ref>Cohen, Joyce. [https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/27/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-living-long-island-city-queens-industrial-places-but.html "If You're Thinking of Living In /Long Island City, Queens; Industrial in Places, but Residential Too"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117144236/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/27/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-living-long-island-city-queens-industrial-places-but.html |date=November 17, 2021 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 27, 2000. Accessed November 17, 2021. "Years of discussion about the future of the Long Island City waterfront -- which benefits from radiant views of Manhattan, directly across the East River -- have had their first major concrete results in the Queens West development. What is planned as a 19-building development will eventually encompass 74 acres on the East River south of the Queensboro Bridge.... When built out in about 15 years, Queens West is expected to add about 16,000 people to Long Island City's population, said Carolyn C. Bachan, president of the Queens West Development Corporation."</ref>

In 2001, the neighborhood was rezoned from an industrial neighborhood to a residential neighborhood, and the area underwent [[gentrification]], with developments such as [[Hunter's Point South]] being built in the area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.queenswestvillager.com/about/detail/history_of_long_island_city |title=Queens West Villager |publisher=Queens West Villager |access-date=June 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222011708/http://www.queenswestvillager.com/about/detail/history_of_long_island_city |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since then, there has been substantial commercial and residential growth in Long Island City, with 41 new residential apartment buildings being built just between 2010 and 2017.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--not stated--> |title=Long Island City's unstoppable development boom, mapped |website=Curbed NY |date=June 28, 2017 |url=https://ny.curbed.com/maps/long-island-city-development-boom-construction-map |access-date=November 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106045900/https://ny.curbed.com/maps/long-island-city-development-boom-construction-map |archive-date=November 6, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NYTimes-HQ2forQueens-2018"/>  A resident of nearby [[Woodside, Queens|Woodside]] proposed establishing a [[Japantown]] in Long Island City in 2006, though this did not occur.<ref>Gill, John Freeman. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/nyregion/thecity/05japa.html?_r=0 For a Big Dreamer, a Little Tokyo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222201158/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/nyregion/thecity/05japa.html?_r=0 |date=December 22, 2014 }}." ''[[The New York Times]]''. February 5, 2006. Retrieved September 5, 2013.</ref> By the mid-2010s, Long Island City was one of New York City's fastest-growing neighborhoods.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-30/nyc-s-fastest-growing-neighborhood-gets-180-million-investment?srnd=premium |title=NYC's Fastest-Growing Neighborhood Gets $180 Million Investment |first=Henry |last=Goldman |publisher=Bloomberg, L.P |date=October 30, 2018 |access-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031005321/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-30/nyc-s-fastest-growing-neighborhood-gets-180-million-investment?srnd=premium |archive-date=October 31, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Historic landmarks===
In addition to the Hunters Point Historic District and Queensboro Bridge, the [[Court Square (New York City Subway)#IRT Flushing Line platforms|45th Road – Court House Square Station (Dual System IRT)]], [[Long Island City Courthouse|Long Island City Courthouse Complex]], and [[United States Post Office (Long Island City, Queens)|United States Post Office]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris" /> [[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission|New York City designated landmarks]] include the [[Pepsi-Cola sign]] along the East River;<ref>{{cite web |title=Pepsi-Cola Sign in Queens Gains Landmark Status |website=The New York Times |last=Dunlap |first=David W. |date=April 13, 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/13/nyregion/pepsi-cola-sign-in-queens-gains-landmark-status.html |access-date=November 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110082000/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/13/nyregion/pepsi-cola-sign-in-queens-gains-landmark-status.html |archive-date=November 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1653.pdf |title=Pepsi Cola Sign |date=April 12, 2016 |publisher=[[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]] |access-date=March 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227040542/http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1653.pdf |archive-date=December 27, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> the Fire Engine Company 258, Hook and Ladder Company 115 firehouse;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/2200.pdf |title=Fire Engine Company 258, Hook and Ladder Company 115 |date=June 20, 2006 |publisher=[[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]] |access-date=March 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227042830/http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/2200.pdf |archive-date=December 27, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> the Long Island City Courthouse;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/0925.pdf |title=New York State Supreme Court, Queens County, Long Island City Branch |date=May 11, 1976 |publisher=[[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]] |access-date=March 12, 2020}}</ref> the [[New York Architectural Terra-Cotta Company]] building;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1304.pdf |title=New York Architectural Terra Cotta Company Building |date=August 24, 1982 |publisher=[[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]] |access-date=March 12, 2020}}</ref> and the [[Chase Manhattan Bank Building]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/2570.pdf |title=Bank Of The Manhattan Company Building |date=May 12, 2015 |publisher=[[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]] |access-date=March 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227044135/http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/2570.pdf |archive-date=December 27, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>