Alleya Wharton
My Neighborhood When I tell people that I m from Cambria Heights, oftentimes, most don t even know where I m talking about, so it s hard to give a generalization of what Cambria Heights is known for. The neighborhood has a distinctive West Indian feel, with the aroma of Caribbean food often lingering in the air. Cambria Heights, a suburban area, is typically quiet and calm, with the exception of boisterous, late night summer barbecues. A lovely neighborhood, Cambria Heights is becoming an ideal location for residence.
Brief Description Southeast Queens Bordering on Long Island (Valley Stream & Elmont) Predominantly Middle Upper Middle Class Ethnic enclave for West Indian blacks Name originated in the 1920s when the Cambria Title Savings and Trust Company of Pennsylvania financed early housing development aimed at working families Ranked among the lowest 0.1% of neighborhoods affected by poverty
In Cambria Heights, Detached Tudors are the most common style of house Homes are usually constructed of brick, typically containing 3 bedrooms, 1-2 bathrooms, a basement, an attic, and a 1 car garage
Transportation Began in the late 1920s as a part of Queens s housing boom that offer city dwellers a suburban escape, made newly accessible by the Cross Island Parkway and expanded Long Island Rail Road service. Subway service has never extended to Cambria Heights, due to its predominantly one-family zoning, allowing the neighborhood to be a refuge from overcrowding and congestion Local buses such as the Q4, Q83, and Q84 connect residents to Jamaica Center, a popular subway stop.
Formerly known as Kerosene Hill (before it was equipped with piped gas lines), Cambria Heights s current elevation is 49 feet, making it one of the three highest points in Queens, along with Jackson Heights and Richmond Hill.
Cambria Heights in Current Numbers Population 19,357 Median Age 43.4 Married Population 45% Household Size 3.13 Unemployment Rate 7.4% Median Home Price $357,700 Average Commute Time 47.79
Racial Composition Race 1980 Census 1990 Census 2000 Census 2010 Census Black 18,247 18,968 19,521 17,593 Whites 2,232 1,470 623 407 Amerindians 107 52 55 57 Asian 100 126* 84 156 Pacific Islander 5 126* 4 5 Other 5 224 229 689 *In the 1990 Consensus, Asian and Pacific Islander compositions were combined.
Estimated Household Income 2016 Income Cambria Heights United States Less than 15K 4.19% 12.61% 15K-20K 1.73% 5.33% 20K-30K 6.45% 10.57% 30K-40K 6.16% 9.90% 40K-50K 7.58% 8.95% 50K-60K 7.79% 8.08% 60K-75K 12.88% 10.09% 75K-100K 15.01% 12.25% 100K-150K 21.28% 12.82% 150K-200K 12.54% 4.78% Greater than 200K 4.41% 4.64%
Employment
Occupation Cambria Heights United States Management, business, finance 11.40% 14.36% Engineering, computers, science 2.25% 5.24% Community, social services 3.80% 1.66% Legal 0.75% 1.17% Education, library 7.27% 6.10% Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment 1.02% 1.88% Healthcare practitioners & technology 7.75% 5.49% Healthcare support 6.57% 2.47% Firefighters, law enforcement 7.18% 2.24% Food preparation, serving 1.59% 5.61% Building maintenance 2.62% 3.97% Personal care 4.34% 3.54% Sales, office, administrative support 27.44% 24.89% Farming, fishing, forestry 0.00% 0.73% Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair Population by Occupation 2016 7.22% 8.56%
Changes in Housing In the past decade or so, housing has begun to shift. Around 2000, some residents tried to illegally convert their one-family houses into two or three family houses. And in recent years, multiple family homes have been erected, mainly along the main bus road to the neighborhood. Cambria Heights does not have apartment buildings or complexes, but numerous multi-family homes, which are an eye sore compared to the usual tudor style houses lining the streets.
Businesses Cambria Heights, a small and often overlooked neighborhood, has very few chain businesses, the only of which are fast food restaurants, banks, and 99 cents stores. The main business street, Linden Boulevard is fully equipped with bodegas (popularly called corner stores), Jamaican, Haitian, & Chinese food restaurants, beauty supply stores, hair salons, barbershops, small churches, and miscellaneous small businesses (upholstery, florists, etc.)
Percentages Age Marital Status
Cambria Heights has 3 public schools and 2 private schools. Private School (approximately 300 students each) Sacred Heart School (Pre-K 8 th Grade) Cambria Center for the Gifted Child (K 8 th Grade) Public School Schooling P.S./I.S. 147 (623 students) P.S. 176 (732 students) Campus Magnet High School (formerly Andrew Jackson High School) (519 students)
Schooling (cont.) Students of Sacred Heart School of Jesus used to be German, Italian, and Irish. Now, the school is populated by the Caribbean students who live in the neighborhood.
Education Level Education Level In Numbers Bachelors or Associates 6,944 48% Degree Graduate Degrees 1,598 11% High School Graduate 4,277 29% High School or less 1,744 12% Percentag e
Jewish Presence in Cambria Heights It is not uncommon to see Hasidic Jews in the neighborhood, as there is a Jewish cemetery located within the neighborhood. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Grand Rabbi of the Lubavitch Hasidic movement, is buried in Montefiore Cemetery on Francis Lewis Boulevard. Hasidic Jews have been buying real estate along Francis Lewis Boulevard for their worship.
Cambria Heights Cambria Heights is becoming prime real estate as it has a history of stability. Residence take pride in their homes, maintaining mowed lawns and gardens. Many homes are installing solar panels to become more environmentally friendly. As the area becomes more popular, the demographics of the neighborhood are are beginning to change, but Cambria Heights will always be a self-contained, independent, people-oriented community.