Springfield Gardens was first settled in 1660s, but was an agricultural community until the mid-1800s. The area turned into a residential district when the Long Island Railroad expanded into the region. Today, Springfield Gardens is bordered on the south by John F. Kennedy International Airport, the Rosedale and Laurelton neighborhoods to the east, and St. Albans to the north.

St. Albans

The St. Albans area settled by Dutch immigrants in 1655, and the same four families farmed the land until the early 19th century. St. Albans remained a sleepy farm community until 1898, when a new railway station heralded the beginning of expansion and development, resulting in a golf course, a hospital and residential neighborhoods. Home to musicians from Count Basie to James Brown, Miles Davis to LL Cool J, St. Albans is counted among the birthplaces of hip hop and rap music. Other notable residents include author W.E.B. DuBois, astronaut Anna Tingle Fisher and television meteorologist Al Roker.

Laurelton

Laurelton was named for the laurel trees that used to grow near the train station. The neighborhood was designed to resemble an English village and many early Tudor-style structures still stand. Today, Laurelton retains a small-town ambiance; zoning laws prevent the construction of high-rises and one- or two-family homes line many streets. Notable residents include Meir Kahane, founder of the Jewish Defense League, and sports photographer Neil Leifer.

Rosedale

Like other areas around Springfield Gardens, Rosedale was primarily farmland until the early 20th century. A former connection point for the Brooklyn waterworks, Rosedale still contains elements of the once-extensive aqueduct system. The neighborhood was the subject of a 1976 documentary about racial tensions. Today, this suburban neighborhood is home to more than 30,000 residents, including musician Carole King and actors John, Aida and Nicholas Turturro.