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Roosevelt Island
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Map showing the location of Roosevelt Island in New York, United States, with surrounding states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts labeled. An inset globe in the top left highlights the region's position in the northeastern United States. Map of central New York City focused on Manhattan, displaying major streets, neighborhoods, parks such as Central Park and Riverside Park, subway lines, bridges, tunnels, and points of interest including museums and landmarks. Surrounding boroughs like Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx are partially visible.
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Map showing the location of Roosevelt Island in New York, United States, with surrounding states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts labeled. An inset globe in the top left highlights the region's position in the northeastern United States.
Roosevelt Island, New York

Roosevelt Island

island, New York, United States
Also known as: Blackwell’s Island, Minnahanonck, Welfare Island(Show More)
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Britannica Editors
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History

Roosevelt Island, island in the East River, between the boroughs of Manhattan and Queens, New York City. Administratively part of Manhattan, it is 1.5 miles (about 2.5 km) long and 1/8 mile wide, with an area of 139 acres (56 hectares). In 1637 the Dutch governor Wouter van Twiller bought the island from Native Americans, who called it Minnahanonck. In 1828 the city acquired it and built a workhouse and penitentiary, which became notorious. Formerly known as Blackwell’s Island, it was renamed Welfare Island in 1921, and in 1973 its name was again changed to honour President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1934 the old institutions were replaced by city hospitals. In the 1970s the island was connected to Manhattan by an aerial tramway system, and moderate-income housing and shopping complexes were constructed there. A bridge connects the island to Queens.

(Read Eleanor Roosevelt’s Britannica essay on Franklin Roosevelt.)

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