Sandy Ground

Sandy Ground

From Remembering the Forgotten Borough: Finding Refuge in Staten Island

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The Sandy Ground Historical Society. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.
The Sandy Ground Historical Society. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.

Sandy Ground is a historical African American community located in Rossville, Staten Island. Before the pre-Civil War, it was well seen as a prosperous safe haven for African Americans, especially in New York after slavery was abolished there in 1827. It is one of the oldest free black settlements in the United States. Many descendants of the original settlers still live there today. At its height, there were roughly 150 black families living in Sandy Ground. For various reasons, many of their descendants have left the area; however, 10 families remain to carry on tradition and help remember the rich history of the area. Among them, Sylvia D'Alessandro is working to preserve the community's history through the Sandy Ground Historical Society. Historically, the Sandy Ground community interacted with other communities through its involvement in the oyster trade, strawberry farming and the AME Zion Church. It is for this reason that remembering Sandy Ground and all that transpired there is imperative to understanding the African American experience and race relations on Staten Island.

The front lawn of the Sandy Ground Historical Society. Photo taken by Daniel Feldman.
The front lawn of the Sandy Ground Historical Society. Photo taken by Daniel Feldman.



Click the links below to explore different facets of Sandy Ground and its history. By reading each of these perspectives, one can gain a greater understanding of how this rich area has impacted, and still impacts, New Yorkers.


Sandy Ground Perspectives
OccupationsExperiences of Sandy Grounders
Sandy Ground's Connections to Black HistorySandy Ground Today