Jamaicais a middle-classneighborhoodin theNew York CityboroughofQueens.It was settled underDutchrule in 1656 inNew NetherlandasRustdorp.Under British rule, Jamaica became the center of the "Townof Jamaica". Jamaica was the county seat of Queens County from the formation of the county in 1683 until March 7, 1788, when the town was reorganized by the state government and the county seat was moved toMineola(now part of Nassau County). In 1814, It became the first incorporated village on Long Island. When Queens was incorporated into theCity of Greater New Yorkin 1898, both the Town of Jamaica and the Village of Jamaica were dissolved, but the neighborhood of Jamaica regained its role as county seat. Today, some locals group Jamaica's surrounding neighborhoods into an unofficial Greater Jamaica, roughly corresponding to the former Town of Jamaica, includingRichmond Hill,Woodhaven,St. Albans,Rosedale,Springfield Gardens, Hollis, Laurelton,Cambria Heights,Queens Village,Howard BeachandOzone Park.
Jamaica Center, the area aroundJamaica Avenueand 165th Street, is a major commercial center, as well as the home of the Central Library of theQueens Borough Public Library. TheNew York Racing Association, based atAqueduct Racetrackin South Ozone Park, lists its official address as Jamaica (Central Jamaica once housed NYRA'sJamaica Racetrack, now the massiveRochdale Villagehousing development).John F. Kennedy International Airportand the hotels nearby also use Jamaica as their address.