Staten Island is the smallest borough of the City of New York, both in geographical size and population. It is also the furthest away from Manhattan and the least accessible by public transportation and therefore often referred to as the ‘forgotten borough’. It is connected to Brooklyn by the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and to New Jersey by the Bayonne, Goethals and Outer Bridges.

Nearly half of Staten Island residents are Italian - in fact, Staten Island has the largest Italian population of any county in the US. Most of its inhabitants are also Catholic, although there is a Jewish community (fairly small as compared with the rest of New York City), as well as other Christian denominations.

Accommodation

Staten Island is by far the most suburban of all the boroughs, and its available housing reflects that fact. While there are some apartments, condos and co-ops, these are relatively sparse in comparison to other boroughs. Most people live in private homes and townhouses. Staten Island is relatively inexpensive compared with other boroughs - you can still buy a house here for $500,000, although there are many homes for millions of dollars to be found, especially in the upscale neighbourhood of Todt Hill.

Shopping & Amenities

Mall rats will make a beeline for the Staten Island Mall on Richmond Avenue (www.statenisland-mall.com). This retail behemoth is packed with well-known retailers like Macy’s, Sears, Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Borders, the Disney Store and Apple Computers.

Entertainment & Leisure

There are several museums on Staten Island, including the Alice Austen House Museum Conference House, the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, Historic Richmond Town, the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, and the Staten Island Children’s Museum.

The nightlife isn’t going to set your stilettos on fire, but if you’re after good Italian food, this is the place to be. Try the mouthwatering pizza pie at Denino’s, Nunzio’s (718 667 9647) or Joe and Pat’s (718 981 0887).

Health

The two major hospitals on Staten Island are Staten Island University Hospital (www.siuh.edu), which has two locations, and St Vincent’s Catholic Hospital (www.svcmc.org).

Education

Although there are several public schools on Staten Island, it is very common for children to attend one of the numerous Catholic private schools. Colleges on the island include Wagner College, the College of Staten Island, and St. John’s, whose main campus is in Queens.

Traffic & Public Transport

Staten Island is not accessible by any of the subway lines. Those working in other boroughs must drive, take a bus, or ride the Staten Island Ferry, which runs from the Bay Street area to the Financial District in Manhattan. There is one train on Staten Island, but it runs only from the neighbourhood of Stapelton to the ferry station.