Midland Beach, Staten Island - Definition and Overview

An early 20th century photo of Midland Beach, taken by Alice Austen

Midland Beach is a Staten Island neighborhood. It lies along the east-central coast of the island, in the area known locally as the "South Shore", or, according to some, the "East Shore." To its immediate west is Grant City, and South Beach borders it on the north.

Like much of Staten Island, Midland Beach is mostly Italian-American, but also has a significant Hispanic (primarily Puerto Rican) population. Rainstorms on the island can cause wind or water damage (such as flooded basements) in Midland Beach, due to its proximity to the coast. During the late 19th and early 20th century, Midland Beach was a popular beach resort. Today, the bungalows built as summer homes are owned or rented by locals for permanent residence, and many have fallen into disrepair (according to data compiled by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the parish of St. Margaret Mary, which serves Midland Beach, is the poorest parish on Staten Island based on per capita income).

The neighborhood once had its own post office branch, bearing the postal code "Staten Island 11, New York." The building that housed the post office, located at 553 Lincoln Avenue, was one of the smallest (in terms of square footage) post offices in the entire United States at the time. It was closed in 1949.

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