Jackson Heights: From Trains Meadow to the World's Neighbourhood

Jackson Heights is one of the most culturally diverse communities I know. Originally called Trains Meadow, Jackson Heights was formed by the Queensboro Corporation in 1909. An ambitious entrepreneur named Edward A. MacDougall bought the 325-acre piece of land because of the booming railroad business, but he didn't know the land was mostly trains and swamps, as the name implied. So, MacDougall renamed the area Jackson Heights to encourage buyers to buy land and start families there. And one law changed everything for MacDougall.

Originally, there existed an explicit rule that banned Black, Jewish, Catholic, and other immigrant buyers from moving into Jackson Heights. When the Fair Housing Act of 1968 passed, it became a federal crime to discriminate in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on race, religion, or national origin, driving immigrants to move into Jackson Heights in large numbers. As a result, a large percentage of white families left Jackson Heights for a more homogeneous neighborhood.

In conclusion, Jackson Heights' transformation from Trains Meadow into one of America's most culturally diverse communities shows how people and the law can change everything about a place and its culture.