Long Island City
Long Island City, New York, was created in 1870 from the communities of Astoria, Hunters Point, Blissville, Ravenswood, Dutch Kills and Bowery Bay. It is located in the northwest part of Long Island, adjoining the East River.
It is part of the Queens borough.
It surrendered its independence in 1898 to become part of New York City.
However, Long Island City is still one of the four main post offices in Queens.
Long Island City was once home to many factories and bakeries. The bakeries included Sunshine Biscuits, and Silvercup Bread. The Silvercup bakery is now home to Silvercup Studios. The factories included Swingline Staplers, Fisher Electronics, Pepsi-Cola, Chiclet Gum, and Eagle Electric. Eagle Electric, now known as Cooper Wiring Devices is the only major factory left in the area.
The former factories have found new uses; the old Swingline plant is now the temorary headquarters of the Museum of Modern Art, the Sunshine Bakery is now LaGuardia Community College, and Hi-Rise housing is now being built on the former Pepsi-Cola site.
