Briarwood | |
|---|---|
 A residential intersection in Briarwood, 85th Avenue and 150th Street | |
 Location within New York City | |
| Coordinates: 40°43′N 73°49′W / 40.71°N 73.81°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| City | New York City |
| County/Borough | Queens |
| Community District | Queens 8 |
| Named for | Briarwood Land Company |
| Elevation | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Population (2000) | |
• Total | 53,877 |
| Race/Ethnicity | |
| • White | 26.7% |
| • Black | 33.3% |
| • Hispanic | 29.3% |
| • Asian | 14.4% |
| • Other/Multiracial | 16.8% |
| Economics | |
| • Median income | $50,157 |
| ZIP Code | 11435 |
| Area code(s) | 718, 347, 929, and 917 |
Briarwood is a middle-class neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. The neighborhood is roughly bounded by the Van Wyck Expressway to the west, Parsons Boulevard to the east, Union Turnpike to the north, and Hillside Avenue to the south.
Briarwood is named for the Briarwood Land Company, headed by Herbert A. O'Brien, who started around 1905 developing the heavily wooded area that gave the neighborhood its name; O'Brien's efforts ended in bankruptcy and development in the area finally started in the 1920s.[2][3] Today, Briarwood contains a diverse community of Asian-American, White American, Hispanic/Latino, and African American and Afro-Caribbean residents. It is part of Queens Community Board 8.[4]
- ^ "Elevation of Briarwood, Queens, NY, USA". Worldwide Elevation Map Finder. Maplogs.com.
- ^ Briarwood Playground, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Accessed January 1, 2024. "The Briarwood neighborhood was developed by Herbert A. O’Brien in 1905, owner of the Briarwood Land Company. The enterprise was initially unsuccessful, and the land was not fully developed until the 1920s, when the lots formerly owned by the company were sold at auction."
- ^ Shaman, Diana. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Briarwood; Queens Area Gaining a Stronger Identity", The New York Times, July 14, 2002. Accessed January 1, 2024. "The name Briarwood goes back to 1907 when an early developer, Herbert A. O'Brien, formed the Briarwood Land Company, giving it that name because the land was covered with woods and briars. The company, however, went broke."
- ^ Queens Boards, New York City. Accessed January 26, 2024.