Tottenville

Book excerpt: Tottenville, located at the southernmost point in New York State, has long been considered the forgotten town in the forgotten borough of New York City. The area was first populated in the 1600s by the Lenni Lenape Indians who summered on its shores, assured of a bountiful harvest from the sea. Bordered on three sides by water, the town had its roots in the oyster fishing, shipbuilding, and ship repair industries and grew rapidly. The Verrazano Bridge, opened in the 1960s, connected Staten Island to Brooklyn and caused a building boom island-wide. Despite the tremendous growth in population, Tottenville retains its small-town feel and offers residents an oasis from big city life in the form of a welcoming and tight-knit community.