Livingston, Staten Island
Encyclopedia
Livingston is a name sometimes applied to the northeastern portion of West Brighton
, a neighborhood located on the North Shore
of New York City
's borough of Staten Island.
shoreline on the north, Henderson Avenue on the south, and the Snug Harbor Cultural Center
on the east. It is dominated by large, older homes built before 1900, and its streets are shaded by spreading oak
and elm
trees.
, the second governor of the New York colony, who in 1668 started farming in the area that would become Livingston. The original name for the district was Elliotville, after a renowned ophthalmologist
, Samuel MacKenzie Elliot, who by 1840 had acquired more than 30 homes in the community. The present name of Livingston was coined by officials of the Staten Island Railway
who bought the mansion of resident Anson Livingston and then gave that name to a station built near the current intersection of Richmond Terrace and Bard Avenue. This station was situated on the now-defunct North Shore branch of the railway, on which passenger service ceased in 1953; the tracks on this branch are still there, but all traces of the Livingston
station have been removed, as is the case with the two other former stations on either side (Sailors' Snug Harbor
and West Brighton
).
was a resident of Livingston as were many abolitionists in the 19th century. Several of the 19th century homes, especially those along Davis Avenue, were part of the Underground Railroad
and have remnants such as hiding places. George William Curtis
, who married Shaw's sister Anna, was also a resident.
, which was filmed on Kissel Avenue. The neighborhood was also used for The Education of Max Bickford
television program starring Richard Dreyfuss.
West New Brighton, Staten Island
West New Brighton is a neighborhood of New York City, Richmond County, USA, situated along the central North Shore of Staten Island...
, a neighborhood located on the North Shore
North Shore, Staten Island
The term North Shore is frequently applied to a series of neighborhoods within New York City's borough of Staten Island, USA.- Boundaries :...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's borough of Staten Island.
Geography
While official boundaries do not exist for any designated places on Staten Island, Livingston is most commonly regarded as being enclosed by Bement Avenue on the west, the Kill Van KullKill Van Kull
The Kill Van Kull is a tidal strait between Staten Island, New York and Bayonne, New Jersey in the United States. Approximately long and wide, it connects Newark Bay with Upper New York Bay. The Robbins Reef Light marks the eastern end of the Kill, Bergen Point its western end...
shoreline on the north, Henderson Avenue on the south, and the Snug Harbor Cultural Center
Sailors Snug Harbor
Sailors' Snug Harbor, also known as Sailors Snug Harbor or Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden or referenced informally as Snug Harbor, is a collection of architecturally significant 19th century buildings set in a park located along the Kill Van Kull on the north shore of Staten...
on the east. It is dominated by large, older homes built before 1900, and its streets are shaded by spreading oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
and elm
Elm
Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus Ulmus in the plant family Ulmaceae. The dozens of species are found in temperate and tropical-montane regions of North America and Eurasia, ranging southward into Indonesia. Elms are components of many kinds of natural forests...
trees.
History
One of the first Europeans to settle the area was Francis LovelaceFrancis Lovelace
Francis Lovelace was an English Royalist and the second Governor of New York colony.He was born the third son of Sir William Lovelace and his wife Anne Barne of Lovelace Place, Bethersden and Woolwich, Kent. He was the younger brother of Richard Lovelace, the Cavalier poet...
, the second governor of the New York colony, who in 1668 started farming in the area that would become Livingston. The original name for the district was Elliotville, after a renowned ophthalmologist
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
, Samuel MacKenzie Elliot, who by 1840 had acquired more than 30 homes in the community. The present name of Livingston was coined by officials of the Staten Island Railway
Staten Island Railway
The Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, publicly known as MTA Staten Island Railway or SIR, is the operator of the lone rapid transit line in the borough of Staten Island, New York City, USA...
who bought the mansion of resident Anson Livingston and then gave that name to a station built near the current intersection of Richmond Terrace and Bard Avenue. This station was situated on the now-defunct North Shore branch of the railway, on which passenger service ceased in 1953; the tracks on this branch are still there, but all traces of the Livingston
Livingston (Staten Island Railway station)
Livingston is a station on the abandoned North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway. It had two tracks and two side platforms. It was abandoned on March 31, 1953, along with the South Beach Branch and the rest of the North Shore Branch. It is located in the Livingston section of Staten Island,...
station have been removed, as is the case with the two other former stations on either side (Sailors' Snug Harbor
Sailors' Snug Harbor (Staten Island Railway station)
Sailors' Snug Harbor is a station on the abandoned North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway. It has two tracks and two side platforms. It was closed on March 31, 1953 along with all other stations on the North Shore Branch. It is located in the Livingston section of Staten Island, north of...
and West Brighton
West New Brighton (Staten Island Railway station)
West New Brighton is a station on the abandoned North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway. It had two side platforms and two tracks. It closed on March 31, 1953. It was located in the West New Brighton section of Staten Island, north of Richmond Terrace between North Burgher Avenue and...
).
Notable Residents
Robert Gould ShawRobert Gould Shaw
Robert Gould Shaw was an American officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. As colonel, he commanded the all-black 54th Regiment, which entered the war in 1863. He was killed in the Second Battle of Fort Wagner, near Charleston, South Carolina...
was a resident of Livingston as were many abolitionists in the 19th century. Several of the 19th century homes, especially those along Davis Avenue, were part of the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
and have remnants such as hiding places. George William Curtis
George William Curtis
George William Curtis was an American writer and public speaker, born in Providence, Rhode Island, of old New England stock.-Biography:...
, who married Shaw's sister Anna, was also a resident.
In films
Livingston was a filming location for movies such as The School of Rock starring Jack Black and A Beautiful MindA Beautiful Mind (film)
A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 American drama film based on the life of John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. The film was directed by Ron Howard and written by Akiva Goldsman. It was inspired by a bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-nominated 1998 book of the same name by Sylvia Nasar...
, which was filmed on Kissel Avenue. The neighborhood was also used for The Education of Max Bickford
The Education of Max Bickford
The Education of Max Bickford is a television drama that aired from 2001 to 2002 on CBS. It starred Richard Dreyfuss as the title character, a college professor of American Studies at Chadwick College, an all-women's school in New Jersey. Also starring was child actor Eric Ian Goldberg, who...
television program starring Richard Dreyfuss.
Transportation
Livingston was formerly served by the North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway, but is now only served by local buses. The S40/S90 go on Richmond Terrace and the S44/S94 go on Henderson Avenue.External links
- Livingston Court is at 40.6425°N 74.1093°W