Currently, Richmond County (a political sub-division of New York State) is coterminous with the Borough (an administrative district of New York City) of Staten Island. >From 1898 to 1975, what is now called the Borough of Staten Island was called the Borough of Richmond. Geographic History of Richmond County: Richmond County was one of the original 12 counties created in 1683 when the General Assembly of Freeholders reorganized the governmental structure in all of the province of New York into 12 counties, each of which was sub-divided into towns. (The other counties were Albany, Cornwall, Dukes, Dutchess, Kings, New York, Orange, Queens, Suffolk, Ulster and Westchester.) 1683 Richmond County created and includes 4 towns: Castleton, Northfield, Southfield and Westfield. 1860 The Town of Middletown is created from parts of the Towns of Castleton and Southfield. Richmond County now 5 towns: Castleton, Middletown, Northfield, Southfield and Westfield. 1866 The Village of New Brighton incorporated within the Town of Castleton. 1872 Village of New Brighton becomes coterminous with the Town of Castleton. Richmond County still consists of 5 towns: Castleton, Middletown, Northfield, Southfield and Westfield. 1898 The Borough of Richmond is created and is coterminous with Richmond County following the consolidation of the City and County of New York, the City of Brooklyn/Kings County, the western-quarter of Queens County (the City of Long Island City, the Towns of Newtown, Flushing and Jamaica and the Rockaway peninsula of the Town of Hempstead) and Richmond County into the new New York City. 1975 The Borough of Richmond is renamed Staten Island and remains coterminous with Richmond County. I'm including after my name a NYS Geographic Glossary with the NYS definitions of county, city, town, village, hamlet and postal zone. I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Sincerely, Walter Greenspan Great Falls, MT & Jericho, NY Cities, Towns, Villages, Hamlets and Postal Zones in New York State New York State is divided into counties. County A county is a municipal corporation, a subdivision of the state, created to perform state functions; a "regional" government. All counties are divided into cities, towns and Indian reservations. City A city is a unique governmental entity with its own special charter. Cities are not sub-divided, except into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Town A town is a municipal corporation and encompasses all territory within the state except that within cities or Indian reservations. Towns can be sub-divided into villages and hamlets. Village A village is a general purpose municipal corporation formed voluntarily by the residents of an area in one or more towns to provide themselves with municipal services. The pattern of village organization is similar to those of a city. A village is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Hamlet A hamlet is an unincorporated area in one or more towns that is governed at-large by the town(s) it is in. A hamlet is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Postal Zone "City" and "Town" A postal zone "City" and "Town" is an administrative district established by the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the mail. Postal zone "City" and "Town" may not (but are encouraged to) conform to municipal or community borders. Thus, postal zone location does not always determine city, village or hamlet location. Please be aware: In many areas of New York State, the problem of non-conforming postal zones leads to a situation where the majority of places have a different community name in their mailing address than the community where that place is actually located.

This is very important information. Note the time periods that the official designation changed. And my previous comment holds true. No matter what it was called legally, it's been called "Staten Island" locally since the beginning. In my 35+-year residence in New York City, I never once heard anyone say "I live in Richmond." Naturally, when looking for official records, it's important to know the legal designation, but much history (including newspapers) would be missed if one is unaware of the fact that Richmond is known as Staten Island (a google search on "Staten Island Genealogy" produces 113,000 sites). ----- Original Message ----- From: <Soyamaven@aol.com> To: <gen-nys@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2006 8:26 PM Subject: [GEN-NYS] William Douglas Howden > > Currently, Richmond County (a political sub-division of New York State) is > coterminous with the Borough (an administrative district of New York City) > of > Staten Island. > >>From 1898 to 1975, what is now called the Borough of Staten Island was >>called > the Borough of Richmond. > > Geographic History of Richmond County: > > Richmond County was one of the original 12 counties created in 1683 when > the > General Assembly of Freeholders reorganized the governmental structure in > all > of the province of New York into 12 counties, each of which was > sub-divided > into towns. (The other counties were Albany, Cornwall, Dukes, Dutchess, > Kings, > New York, Orange, Queens, Suffolk, Ulster and Westchester.) > > > 1683 > Richmond County created and includes 4 towns: Castleton, Northfield, > Southfield and Westfield. > > 1860 > The Town of Middletown is created from parts of the Towns of Castleton and > Southfield. Richmond County now 5 towns: Castleton, Middletown, > Northfield, > Southfield and Westfield. > > 1866 > The Village of New Brighton incorporated within the Town of Castleton. > > 1872 > Village of New Brighton becomes coterminous with the Town of Castleton. > Richmond County still consists of 5 towns: Castleton, Middletown, > Northfield, > Southfield and Westfield. > > 1898 > The Borough of Richmond is created and is coterminous with Richmond County > following the consolidation of the City and County of New York, the City > of > Brooklyn/Kings County, the western-quarter of Queens County (the City of > Long > Island City, the Towns of Newtown, Flushing and Jamaica and the Rockaway > peninsula > of the Town of Hempstead) and Richmond County into the new New York City. > > 1975 > The Borough of Richmond is renamed Staten Island and remains coterminous > with > Richmond County. > > > I'm including after my name a NYS Geographic Glossary with the NYS > definitions of county, city, town, village, hamlet and postal zone. > > I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. > > Sincerely, > > Walter Greenspan > Great Falls, MT & Jericho, NY > > > Cities, Towns, Villages, Hamlets and Postal Zones in New York State > > New York State is divided into counties. > > County > A county is a municipal corporation, a subdivision of the state, created > to > perform state functions; a "regional" government. All counties are > divided > into cities, towns and Indian reservations. > > City > A city is a unique governmental entity with its own special charter. > Cities > are not sub-divided, except into neighborhoods, which are informal > geographic > areas. > > Town > A town is a municipal corporation and encompasses all territory within the > state except that within cities or Indian reservations. Towns can be > sub-divided into villages and hamlets. > > Village > A village is a general purpose municipal corporation formed voluntarily by > the residents of an area in one or more towns to provide themselves with > municipal services. The pattern of village organization is similar to > those of a > city. A village is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal > geographic > areas. > > Hamlet > A hamlet is an unincorporated area in one or more towns that is governed > at-large by the town(s) it is in. A hamlet is divided into neighborhoods, > which > are informal geographic areas. > > Postal Zone "City" and "Town" > A postal zone "City" and "Town" is an administrative district established > by > the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the mail. Postal zone "City" and > "Town" > may not (but are encouraged to) conform to municipal or community borders. > Thus, postal zone location does not always determine city, village or > hamlet > location. > > > Please be aware: In many areas of New York State, the problem of > non-conforming postal zones leads to a situation where the majority of > places have a > different community name in their mailing address than the community where > that > place is actually located. > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GEN-NYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >