Day 216: Little India, Jackson Heights, New York

📌APIA Every Day (216) - Jackson Heights, a neighborhood in Queens, New York City, is known to have its own Little India on 74th street. The area, initially built around 1916 for middle-class white families seeking alternatives to Manhattan's density, developed into a diverse community. During the 1980s, the neighborhood became home to many LGBTQ+ residents from Manhattan's theater district and saw increased ethnic diversity, though it also faced periods of elevated crime rates. This transformation of the area into a South Asian community was primarily driven by the Immigration Act of 1965. This federal legislation, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, created an immigration system based on professional qualifications and family reunification. Subsequently, professionally qualified Indian immigrants began establishing themselves in New York City, with Jackson Heights emerging as a preferred location. This led to the development of Indian commercial enterprises, including restaurants, retail stores, and cultural centers.

While initially characterized by its Indian population, the neighborhood has seen substantial growth in its Bangladeshi community. This demographic change has led to an increased presence of Bengali language signage, Bangladeshi food establishments, and Muslim cultural institutions. Because of these demographic changes, Little India now functions as a commercial and cultural center for South Asian immigrants. The district contains specialty grocery stores, restaurants, clothing retailers, and vendors of cultural goods serving the South Asian population, providing a sense of familiarity for those settling in the U.S.

LEARN MORE:

Untapped New York: NYC’s Micro Neighborhoods: Little India in Jackson Heights, Queens’

Madras Courier: How a Block in Manhattan’s East Village Came to Be Known as Little India

India Currents: The Constant Overhaul of New York’s Little India

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