Dutch Kills History

Dutch Kills is a community rich in history. Its roots reach
deep into the foundation of an area that has been the homestead
of generations of hard-working, middle class families.

In 1642, licenses were granted to some Dutch citizens to settle
in Queens. "Kill" is a Dutch word meaning "little stream." Since
Dutch men settled around the "Kill," (in Long Island City) the
name Dutch Kills was adopted. The "Kill" (or stream) is a tributary
of Newtown Creek, which divides Queens from Brooklyn.

During the Revolutionary War, British troops were billeted in a
series of farmhouses on 39th Avenue (Bee Bee Avenue).
These houses stood until 1903 when they were torn down to make way
for the railroad. In the early 1900's the
Queensborough Bridge was opened. Proximity to Manhattan,
presence of railroads, and Long Island all contributed
to the importance of Dutch Kills.

Still, as "important" or "industrialized" as the community of
Dutch Kills has become, its residents have never forgotten their history.
So in 1979, when the Dutch Kills Civic Association was revitalized,
organizers of the group adopted the Windmill as part of their logo, in
tribute to those Dutch farmers who planted the seeds, thus establishing
the future of a community.

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