Day 195: Little Manila, Queens, New York
📌APIA Every Day (195) - Little Manila in Woodside, Queens, began forming in the 1970s when Filipino immigrants, many recruited by Elmhurst Hospital due to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, settled in the area. New York hospitals faced nursing shortages and recruited from the Philippines, bringing many Filipino nurses and their families to Queens. Those who worked at Elmhurst Hospital settled in the surrounding neighborhoods, including Woodside, where the Filipino community has since thrived. By the 1990s, 72% of Philippine immigrants in New York were registered nurses. The nearby Catholic church, St. Sebastian’s, also supported their integration, and over time, the neighborhood developed a distinct Filipino presence with numerous Filipino-owned businesses and cultural establishments.
The official recognition of Little Manila came with the co-naming of the intersection of Roosevelt Avenue and 70th Street as "Little Manila Avenue." This recognition followed a two-year advocacy effort that was triggered by a mural honoring Filipino healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A community petition led to the city council passing a bill for the co-naming in December 2021.
Currently, Little Manila is known for its Filipino businesses, including Phil-Am Food Mart and various restaurants. The area is home to approximately 85,000 Filipinos in New York City, making them the third-largest Asian group in the city. In such a diverse state, it is important to recognize and preserve the contributions of ethnic neighborhoods like Little Manila through place-based historic preservation practices.
LEARN MORE:
Sunnyside Post: Filipinos in Queens Celebrate Unveiling of ‘Little Manila Avenue’ in Woodside
Brick Underground: Woodside's Little Manila offers a piece of the Philippines in Queens
HistoryPin: Little Manila, Queens, NYC, USA Collection
HistoryPin: Little Manila, Queens, NYC, USA
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