Staten Island is divided into three major parts; North Shore, Midland, and the South Shore. Each of which sounding exactly like what it is. The North Shore is the northern area of the island, Midland is the middle section of the island, and the South Shore is the lower region of the island. 

Contrasting to New York City's reputation of business, the lowest part of the island, South Shore is a beautiful suburban area ready for anyone, especially a family. The South Shore is home to an abundance of a whopping eleven towns. These beautiful towns offer many great aspects of living such as parks, beaches, schools, effortless transportation and much more. If you are interested in moving to one of the eleven towns due to the great locations, feel free to contact your local real estate agent here at Tom Crimmins Realty located conveniently on the wonderful Staten Island!

Annadale 

Annadale is known for being a small, quaint community giving many the very suburban feel in high contrast to city life. Located near the coast, Annadale's homes are high in demand and are known for the beautiful views and the exclusive beaches they have.

Annadale was originally inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans but later on in the 1600's Europeans took over. It later received its name in 1860 from Anna Seguin who was a descendant of French Huguenots, members of the Reformed Church and one of the South Shore's earliest settlers during the mid-nineteenth century. 

It was formerly full of woods and wildlife, however, much of it was cleared to make more urban structures. Although the woods may have been cleared out for suburban life, however, the heart of the city revolves around a former city park which has now been converted into a wildlife preserve. 

Blue Heron Park Preserve is a nature refuge in the Annadale area located on Amboy Road. It was named after the gray-feathered, yellow beaked predatory bird, the Blue Heron. The 250-acre handicap accessible park welcomes all every day of the week. The park is home to an extensive wetlands area with a 1.75 acre Spring Pond. The other several streams, rivers, and ponds empty out into Raritan Bay. The luscious park is home to various wildlife such as several species of birds, bats, chipmunks, fish, frogs, etc. The park is very family friendly and allows for a variety of activities that range seasonally such as hiking, bird-watching, and picnicking. 

Annadale has quite a few selections for school, public and private ranging from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade in high school. Courtesy of GreatSchools, we provide a map and more detailed information about schools in the area, please visit our Local Schools page.

There are numerous modes of public transportation in Annadale. Depending on where your journey leads you, you may be able to catch the bus or the train. The buses that run in this neighborhood is the S55, S59, and S78.The express buses traveling to this area include the X23 and X24. The Staten Island Rail Road or SIRR station for short does stop at Annadale at Sneden Avenue. However, if public transportation doesn't suit you, the Staten Island Expressway, Korean War Veteran Parkway, and I-278 may be the way for you or even just local routes. 

Arden Heights

Located northwest of Annadale, Arden heights is known for being quite the affordable neighborhood. With easy commute due, to the close proximity of the SIRR and other public transportation, and the abundant local amenities, it is certainly a great place to live for a home buyer with a budget. 

Arden heights received its name in 1886 by a local Staten Island Real Estate agent, Erastus Wiman. It was largely rural in the 19th century and even has some homes that predate the civil war. However, in the 1970's it began to see the major construction of townhouses in this area. Later on, it even began urban development such as orphanages. Located right above Village Greens, New York City's first planned urban development St. Michael's Home For Children, a Roman Catholic orphanage that has been in operation since 1971 in the heart of Arden Heights. 

Arden Heights is also home to the Arden Heights Woods which is officially classified as a forested hardwood swamp. With over 183 acres of land, this makes Staten Island home to the largest protected wetlands in all of New York City.  Although it is protected, it is widely open for public use year-round. Featured activities include hiking, bird watching, nature viewing and photographing. There are also single footpaths that run through the park connecting with each other and so you can dog walk, take leisurely strolls, as well as simply view wildlife.  Since it is a protected wetland, there are plenty of wildlife like fauna and animals such as squirrels, chipmunks, white pines, black cherries, and persimmons. For safety regulations, activities such as lumbering, hunting, camping, fishing, or unauthorized off-road vehicles including cars, motorcycles, trucks, and ATV's aren't permitted. 

Transportation in Arden Heights is a breeze. Local buses that run through this area are the S74 and S84, they both run along Arthur Kill Road. The S55 and S56 run along Annadale Avenue and Arden Avenue. Express Buses that serve Arden Heights are the X17, X19, and the X23 which all connect Arden Heights to Manhattan. 

Overall, Arden Heights is an affordable area with a balanced mix of suburban living with a dash of vibrant urban life. Along with the wonderful park, there are thousands of perfect homes for you in this area and if interested, you can visit Tom Crimmins Realty at our three convenient locations on Staten Island to speak to our helpful agents or just give us a call at 718-370-3200. 

Charleston

Charleston is located above Tottenville and is full of shopping areas. Due to the less populated community, there are areas of beautiful greenery which emphasizes the true suburban life exemplified by this neighborhood. 

Charleston was founded by the Androvette family which was the reason why it used to bear the name Androvetteville or Androvettetown throughout the eighteenth century. The name Charleston rose in the early 20th century around the time of World War I, however many locals still reminisce Charleston as Kreischerville due to the arrival of Balthasar Kreischer who was a Baravian immigrant who founded the Kreischer Brick Manufactory in this area. The area grew and prospered due to the clay pits that were used as raw material for the brick manufacturing which eventually spun into a prosperous town on Staten Island. 

Charleston is also home to the soon to be beautiful nature preserve named Fairview Park in 2020. It was planned for over a decade and finally, in June of 2016, it received the money to be built. Its 4.5 million funding will bring a softball field, tennis, horseshoe, and pickleball courts to the area. Similarly to Bloomingdale park, Fairview was also built to sustain sporting needs. 

Transportation in Charleston is similar to Arden Height's, the S74, S78 and S84 run throughout the area along Arthur Kill Road to the Bricktown Mall.

Eltingville

Located directly north of Annadale and south of Great Kills, Eltingville is an inviting neighborhood with a nice mixture of Colonial and Hi-Ranch houses. It is a rather affordable neighborhood with spacious homes.

Formerly known as South Side then later renamed Sea Side, Eltingville later received its current name in the late nineteenth century by the very prominent Elting family who settled in the area. Later on in the early twentieth century, many Scandinavians, predominantly Norwegians, which made the town known as the "Fish Hansen." This was because you could buy barrels of herring fish which is a common delicacy in the Norwegian culture. Later on in the 1960's, Eltingville's farmland was being replaced with urban complexes. In the 1990's, portions of Hylan Boulevard were built in Eltingvile and many local shops set up which led to the bustling traffic we see on Hylan Boulevard today. Much like the rest of the South Shore, the majority of the population in Eltingville is Italian which is why there are so many pizzerias in the area. 

Eltingville is home to an SIRR train station. Located on Richmond Avenue, the station opened on April 23rd, 1860. It has two platforms that can bring you towards Tottenville or Saint George Ferry. There are also a variety of buses in this area. The S59, S78, S79, SBS, and S89 run through the town as well as the Eltingville Transit Center located here. The transit center has many express buses and most local buses on Staten Island stop and lets passengers easily transfer. 

Although there are no local parks in Eltingville, there are several parks in the South Shore that are nearby such as Wolf's Pond Park in Prince's Bay. There is also a Y.M.C.A. that is one of the two on Staten Island and is a very friendly atmosphere. Even without a local park in Eltingville, it's a breathtaking neighborhood that is sure to lure you in. If interested, remember that you local Tom Crimmins Realty is here to help you find your dream home in any area!

Huguenot

Sandwiched between Rossville, Woodrow, and Charleston, Huguenot is a very suburban town like-neighborhood. Houses are more spread apart while healthy vegetation resides between it all. 

Like much of Staten Island, Huguenots name is of European descent. In the early sixteenth century, French Huguenots came over Staten Island and New Amsterdam to escape religious persecution back in Catholic dominated France and Western Europe. However, it was originally called "Bloomingview." Later on in when the SIRR was first built, similarly to Eltingville, Huguenot gained a lot of traction and many new residents flocked to this area making it one of the largest south shore towns on the island. The railroad station was actually given the name "Huguenot Park" before it was just renamed to "Huguenot Station" in the 1970's because Bunker Ponds Park is an actual park in Huguenot. Also, there is a New York Public Library branch in this area which serves the community. 

Bunker Ponds Park is on the edge of Huguenot Avenue and Hylan Boulevard known for the smooth, rolling landscape. Thousands of years ago during the last ice age, enormous glaciers skidded across terrain and ripped through the land. It left Staten Island with its infamous waving hills and when the ice melted, it created ponds including Bunker Ponds Park. Filled with wildlife such as a variety of tree, flowers, birds, snakes, rodents, and fish, Intermediate School 7 or I.S. 7 uses it for their Science Enrichment program. 

Transportation wise, Huguenot is served by many forms open to the public. There is the SIRR train station of the same name, the S54 and S56 buses that run locally, and the express buses the X17 and X19 that bring you to Manhattan. 

Overall, Huguenot is a family friendly area with many amenities nearby to serve the very suburban atmosphere. If you would like to know more about the area, contact your local agent at Tom Crimmins Realty to find out more or just come to one of the three locations to talk to someone in person. 

Pleasant Plains

Pleasant Plains is situated just west of Prince's Bay and is an upscale neighborhood with many stately homes and acres beyond of vacant land. It is also in the center of shopping departments since it is situated near the train station. The rest of the neighborhood is made up of open space, wetlands, and park preserves. Those who love the outdoors will surely enjoy the opportunities available for outdoor recreation in Pleasant Plains. 

Due to the creation of the SIRR, Pleasant Plains became a well known and populated area, much like the rest of the island. In the late 1800s, John Christopher Drumgoole purchased a large piece of land near Mount Loretto and built the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin at Mount Loretto, an orphanage with a farm that was once considered the biggest farm in all of New York State. One of Pleasant Plains' most recognizable landmarks is the Prince's Bay Lighthouse, which was built on the bluffs of Prince's Bay in 1864. Pleasant Plains is also home to a wide variety of outdoor activities due to nature preserves and local parks.

Lemon Creek Park borders Pleasant Plains and Prince's Bay and is one of the last remaining ground-level freshwater creeks in New York. The creek starts to flow from Rossville avenue then goes southward along the Korean War Veterans Parkway until it turns eastward then flows into Porzio's Pond. The park is also home to mallard ducks, black ducks, geese, and swans as well as many other migratory birds seasonally. In the waterfront areas, it inhabits shellfish, striped bass, bluefish, weakfish and many marsh plants. 

Pleasant Plains isn't limited to transportation, in fact, it is served by the SIRR by Amboy Road and is served by the S55 bus, X17 and X22  buses and the express buses bring you directly to Manhattan whilst the neighborhood itself is only ten minutes away from the Outerbridge Crossing. 

Princes Bay

Princes Bay is a small, very sought after, modern neighborhood near the seaside. It is also a diverse area in terms of homes. There is a wide selection from Colonial estates to ornate Victorian styled homes near the ocean with most houses built in the past thirty years. You are sure to find what you are looking for in the charming neighborhood of Princes' Bay.

Much like the other southern Staten Island towns, Princes Bay grew in popularity in the late eighteenth century when the SIRR was built at the corner of Westbury Avenue and Seguine Avenue. The are itself was originally a fishing community. It became so famous for its oysters that the term "Princes Bay Oysters" would often be used in restaurants, even in Manhattan.The coastal area has been revitalized with many upscale single family homes.

As aforementioned, Princes Bay shares Lemon Creek Park with Pleasant Plains however also is home to another park, Wolfe's Pond Park. It is located by Raritan Bay and is one of Staten Island's largest parks. It is also a wildlife and plant life preserve. Twenty thousand years ago, when the last ice age was in full power running amok, ginormous glaciers scraped across the Earth's crust and formed large divots around the world, one of which is the area of Wolfe's Pond Park. 

Although the origins of Princes Bays name is uncertain, Princes Bay will surely be the place for you!

Richmond Valley

Richmond Valley offers some luxury homes, located in the western, Richmond Valley has parks, ponds, and a beach area. Richmond Valley emanates a country atmosphere convenient to the city. Richmond Valley has it all.

Richmond Valley was previously part of the other Staten Island town, Tottenville. It was separated when the SIRR station was established and soon expanded to current day Tottenville in 1860. Now Richmond Valley is most known for being the site where the Outerbridge Crossing resides.

Richmond Valley is composed of residential areas with minor shopping area located on Amboy Road. There is also a veterinarian office for pets which is one of the only on the island for your wonderful pets. Its greatest feature is its lush, natural landscapes. Two parks reside in the neighborhood the Long Pond Park and Butler Manor Woods. Long Pond Park is 115 acres of land contains a pond surprisingly named Long Pond, which is a large water body teeming with life. Butler Manor Woods is part of the Mount Loretto Unique Area, an 18-acre wetland that extends to the shoreline. Both state parks provide access to hiking trails, bird watching, and many more outdoor recreational activities. Other parks including Lemon Creek, Wolfes Pond, and Clay Pits Ponds which were previously mentioned, border the area in the neighboring parts such as of Charleston, Prince's Bay, and Huguenot.

Transportation in Richmond Valley includes the Veterans Memorial Parkway, making it easy for commuters to cross the Outerbridge Crossing into New Jersey. SIR trains stop at the Richmond Valley station on Richmond Valley Road. Local and express buses stop along Hylan Boulevard. Richmond Valley is just south of Pleasant Plains and just north of Tottenville. Richmond Valley is served by the S78 local bus on Arthur Kill Road and the X17, X22, and X22A express buses on Amboy Road.

Rossville 

Rossville was previously comprised of woods and grasslands but in the recent decades, it has transformed into a family oriented neighborhood in the suburbs. Today the area offers a myriad of single family homes and townhouses which are perfect for raising a family. There are no boundaries based on a budget so if interested, be sure to contact your local agent at Tom Crimmins Realty!

Not too long ago, Rossville was a place where only the lush forest and animals resided. However a few decades ago, Rossville started to slowly but surely grow due to people wanting to escape the close by, the chaotic city yet still wanting to be a part of it. Like the rest of the South Shore, Rossville is also an extremely quiet neighborhood just west of Annadale and North of Tottenville. Although quaint, many amenities dot the area such as the golf courses Staten Island is so famous for. 

Rossville was once home to the Raritan Native Americans, yet was Rossville was settled by Europeans in the late 17th-century. After slavery was abolished in New York in 1827, an area was founded named Sandy Ground, a stop along the Underground Railroad which was founded by free Africans who wanted to help any slave from the southern states along their journey to become free. Today, Sandy Ground remains a historical landmark that was once important to the freedom of the United States of America. As the population grew in Rossville, the thriving agricultural community grew larger and larger making the area prosper and soon enough, the SIRR was built. Although there is no actual station in Rossville, the closest station is in Prince's Bay which s why Rossville is colloquially part of Prince's Bay. Without an actual station, Rossville offers an array of buses such as the S74, S84, S55 and X22.  

Tottenville 

Located at the southernmost tip of the Island, Tottenville offers a mix of great homes from luxurious Victorians to more affordable townhouses and condos. With the tree-lined streets of the suburban area and the close proximity to New Jersey, it is the perfect neighborhood for the daily commuter. 

Similarly to much of the South Shore, Tottenville was also once home to the Raritan Native Americans. There is even a Native American burial ground in Conference House Park. In the seventeenth century, Europeans immigrated over and started to take over the area. Soon enough, developments began to spring up in the area and were later named Tottenville due to the Totten family which, eventually brought the quiet neighborhood to existence. 

Although quiet, Tottenville has limitless activities to indulge in, such as visiting Tottenville Shore Park. The park is mainly comprised of woodlands but also leads to the shore where you can plan fun beach time activities. Although it may not seem it, the park has a deep history. For instance, the Perth Amboy Ferry started service in this location in 1860, allowing for people to easily travel to and from New Jersey to Staten Island. Also, the area has a long history of shipbuilding. During the 1900s, there were eight shipyards which helped produce many ships for World War I.  

Transportation in Tottenville is not limited. The last stop, or first stop depending on where you're going to, of the SIRR which was extended to Tottenville in 1860. It is also served by the S59, S78, and S79. The express busses that run through the area are the X17,  X22, and X22A that all go to Manhattan. 

As you can see, the south shore is replete with activities and exquisite amenities, making it a perfect family friendly neighborhood. If you are looking for a home in one of these south shore neighborhood or anywhere throughout Staten Island, you can visit our website, Tomcrimminsrealty.com, give us a call at 718-370-3200, or visit one of our three offices at 304 Manor Road, 282 Nelson Avenue, and 111 Main Street.

 

 

Posted by Tom Crimmins Realty, Ltd. on

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