The New York City Farm Colony on Staten Island began as a poor farm and later formed part of a larger institution with Sea View Hospital. Its history links local welfare and health-care services with an early-20th-century historic district; the site is about a 13-minute drive from a three-star hotel on Staten Island.
- Origins: Richmond County Poor Farm, established in 1829.
- Later name: New York City Farm Colony, from 1902.
- Closure: The Farm Colony closed in 1975.
- Historic designation: The district was designated in 1985.
What the Farm Colony was
The Farm Colony was a place where socially vulnerable people received room and board in exchange for work on its farm and agricultural fields.
It began in 1829 as the Richmond County Poor Farm, on the west side of Brielle Avenue. The institution took the name New York City Farm Colony in 1902. As its population grew, it expanded twice between 1900 and 1940, adding dormitories and service buildings.
In 1915, the Farm Colony’s administration merged with that of Sea View Hospital, which had been established to treat tuberculosis. The combined institution was called Sea View Farms. The Farm Colony closed in 1975.
Why the site matters to Staten Island history
The Farm Colony is part of a historic district that preserves the story of public institutions serving people in need of social and medical care.
On March 26, 1985, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the New York City Farm Colony–Seaview Hospital Historic District. Its boundaries include the Farm Colony and Sea View Hospital building complexes, remnants of the Farm Colony Cottage Community, the former Richmond County Isolation Hospital, and Staten Island’s Potter’s Field.
The commission’s designation report presents the district’s institutional architecture as an early-20th-century expression of the city’s efforts to improve social and health-care services for dependent New Yorkers. It also points to the role of the area’s abundant space and landscaped setting in shaping institutional designs, describing them as among New York City’s finest early-20th-century architecture with a social purpose.
Access, preservation and current status
The historic-district designation establishes the site’s preservation significance, but it does not by itself confirm that visitors can enter the grounds or buildings.
The designation covers several complexes and historic remnants, so treat the Farm Colony as a district with a layered history rather than assuming every part is open to the public. Before making a visit, check the official site of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission for the district map and current access guidance.
Other Staten Island landmarks include the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art.
How do you get from the hotel to the Farm Colony area?
The Farm Colony is about a 13-minute drive from the hotel. You can use the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission’s Staten Island historic-district map to identify the district’s boundaries and orient yourself around the area.
Graniteville Quarry Park is another Staten Island landmark.
Keep the distinction between the historic district and public access in mind when planning a visit: the district’s designation describes its historic scope, not an open-grounds policy.
FAQs
When did the Farm Colony close?
The Farm Colony closed in 1975. It had previously operated as the Richmond County Poor Farm and later as part of Sea View Farms.
What is included in the Farm Colony–Seaview Hospital Historic District?
The district includes the Farm Colony and Sea View Hospital building complexes, remnants of the Farm Colony Cottage Community, the former Richmond County Isolation Hospital, and Staten Island’s Potter’s Field.
Can you visit the Farm Colony buildings?
The historic designation does not establish current visitor access to the grounds or buildings. Check the official site of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission before you go.