The Story of Astoria

Astoria was originally named Hallett's Cove after the landowner William Hallett who lived there in 1659. Hallet's Cove was then renamed after John Jacob Astor in order to convince him to invest $2,000 in the place, but Astor only invested $500. Astor never visited the neighborhood that he invested in. A long fight over naming the neighborhood finally ended with the help of Astor's friends and supporters so the neighborhood was named Astoria. Astor became the wealthiest man in America by 1840 with a net worth of over $20 million. He lived in his summer home called Hell Gate in Manhattan on East 87th Street where he could see the village that was named after him. During the 19th century, many wealthy New Yorkers built large houses in Astoria Village (12th and 14th Street) which is now considered Old Astoria. In 1839 Steven Halsey founded Hallet's Cove and created a ferry service from Hallet's Cove to Manhattan 92nd Street. Hallet's Cove became a leisurely place for the affluent New Yorkers to relax. In the late 1800s, there was an increase in the industrial life that brought German immigrants who were furniture and cabinet makers. The most famous settler was Henry Steinway who founded the Steinway Piano Company in 1853 and also built a sawmill, foundry, and streetcar line. The family created Steinway Village for their workers. Astoria and near villages were added to Long Island City in 1870. Long Island City was then incorporated to New York City in 1898.