Staten Island is only 30 minutes from Manhattan. For the most part, Staten Island is a bedroom community within one of the largest cities in the world. Staten Island is famous for its excellent beaches. It is also the least populated borough in NYC.
Located in the city's southwest portion of New York City, the borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull and from the rest of New York by New York Bay. Staten Island had a population of 495,747 in the 2020 Census.
Today over 50 million tourists visit Staten Island each year. Many take a ride from Manhattan on the Staten Island Ferry and get some of the best views of New York City. The ferry ride to its shores is a cost-effective way of seeing the skyline of Manhattan.
