Rikers Island

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The island's history dates to 1664 when Abraham Rycken took possession. The Ricker family owned it until 1884, selling it to New York City for $180,000 after state approval. During the Civil War, it served as a military training ground; the 9th New York Infantry arrived May 15, 1861, followed by the Anderson Zouaves on July 15, commanded by John Lafayette Riker. Their camp was named Camp Astor in honor of John Jacob Astor Jr., who funded the regiment. In 1884, the city purchased the island to build a work-house, with $3,000 split between Long Island City ($2,500) and Queens County ($500). Landfill expansion continued until 1943, adding 200 acres stripped from Rikers to help fill North Beach Airport (later LaGuardia). Much of this landfill was coal ash; spontaneous fires lit the hillsides at night like 'a forest of Christmas trees,' according to a 1934 warden. Robert Moses eventually intervened to clear the rats and garbage, sending refuse to Fresh Kills Landfill.

In Their Own Story

Opened in 1932 to replace the jail on Welfare Island, Rikers initially held men while expanding from 90 to 415 acres. The original penitentiary, completed in 1935 as the House of Detention for Men (HDM), later became the James A. Thomas Center before closing in 2000 due to structural issues. By the 1970s and 80s, violence surged; a 2015 analysis showed 9,424 assaults occurred that year, the highest in five years. In May 2013, Mother Jones ranked it among the 10 worst correctional facilities in the US. The complex now includes ten jails like the Robert N. Davoren Complex for males aged 18–21 and the Rose M. Singer Center for females. It also houses the North Infirmary Command for special health needs and the Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center, an 800-bed barge installed during Mayor David Dinkins' term to handle overflow. The average daily population sits at 10,000, with 85% being pretrial defendants held on bail or remanded.

Reader's Guide

The facility operates under the New York City Department of Correction with a $860 million annual budget as of 2015, employing 9,000 civilian officers and 1,500 other civilians. In 2021, the NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer reported it costs approximately $556,539 to detain one person for a year. The complex holds up to 15,000 detainees but averages 10,000, with daytime populations reaching 20,000 including staff and visitors. Access is restricted to the Francis Buono Bridge (dedicated November 1966 by Mayor John Lindsay) or Q100 bus service; private shuttles connect the south parking lot. Inside, the island functions as a self-contained city with schools, medical clinics, ball fields, chapels, gyms, a bakery, a laundromat, and even a composting facility. In October 2019, the New York City Council voted to close the facility by August 31, 2027.

Did You Know?

• The island grew from under 100 acres to over 400 acres largely because convict labor hauled in ashes for landfill.
• In the 1930s, spontaneous fires from coal ash in the landfill lit up the hillsides at night like a 'forest of Christmas trees'.
• Despite being physically located in the Bronx and politically part of it, Rikers Island uses an East Elmhurst, Queens ZIP code (11370).
• The Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center is an 800-bed floating barge installed to handle overflow during Mayor David Dinkins' term.
• In October 2019, the New York City Council voted to close the entire facility by August 31, 2027.