If you’ve ever taken the A train all the way to the end of the line, you know that specific feeling of emerging into the salt air and realizing you aren't in Manhattan anymore. Far Rockaway is a place of contradictions. It's New York City, but it feels like a beach town. It's got the grit of the outer boroughs but the horizon of the Atlantic. One question pops up more than any other for people moving there or just passing through: what county is Far Rockaway NY in?
It’s Queens.
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Specifically, Far Rockaway sits in Queens County.
That sounds simple enough, right? But the geography of the Rockaway Peninsula is actually a bit of a head-scratcher once you start looking at the borders. People get confused because Far Rockaway is the easternmost section of the peninsula, literally rubbing shoulders with Nassau County. You can walk across a street and suddenly your taxes, your police department, and your school district change completely.
The Queens Connection and Why It Gets Confusing
Far Rockaway is a neighborhood, not a city. It’s part of the Borough of Queens. Because New York City is set up with a "one borough, one county" system, being in Queens means you are in Queens County.
Honestly, the confusion usually starts with the zip codes and the Long Island proximity. When you're in Far Rockaway, you're on Long Island—geographically speaking. The entire Rockaway Peninsula is a landmass that is part of the physical island. But politically? It’s NYC. To make matters more chaotic, the neighborhood of Inwood is right next door. Inwood is in Nassau County. If you’re driving down Mott Avenue or jumping on the 878, you might cross the county line without even realizing it until you see a different style of street sign or a Nassau County Police cruiser.
It’s a weirdly isolated spot.
You’ve got the Atlantic Ocean to the south and Jamaica Bay to the north. You’re essentially on a barrier island connected to the rest of Queens by bridges or a very narrow strip of land through Nassau. Because of this, Far Rockaway often feels like its own sovereign territory.
A Quick History of the County Lines
Back in the day, before 1898, things were different. Before the "Greater New York" consolidation, Queens was much larger. It actually included what we now call Nassau County. When the western parts of Queens decided to join New York City, the eastern parts—Hempstead, North Hempstead, and Oyster Bay—decided they wanted no part of the city life. They split off to form Nassau County in 1899.
Far Rockaway stayed with Queens.
This created the jagged border we see today. If you look at a map of what county is Far Rockaway NY in, you’ll see the city line cuts right through the peninsula. This split defines everything from how much you pay for water to which bus you can transfer to for free.
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Navigating the Neighborhoods of the Rockaways
The "Far" in Far Rockaway isn't just a name; it’s a descriptor. It is the furthest point east. But the peninsula is a long stretch of land with distinct identities. You have:
- Far Rockaway: The urban hub, the end of the A train, and the eastern edge of Queens County.
- Edgemere and Arverne: These areas have seen massive redevelopment lately, especially after Hurricane Sandy.
- Rockaway Beach: The hip, "Rockaway Taco" side of things that gets crowded with Manhattanites in the summer.
- Belle Harbor and Neponsit: The more affluent, residential western end.
- Breezy Point: A private cooperative at the very tip, which feels worlds away from the city.
All of these are in Queens County. Every single one. But Far Rockaway is the one that shares a fence with the suburbs.
Why the Postal Service Makes It Harder
Ever notice how some people write "Far Rockaway, NY" on an envelope while others write "Queens, NY"?
The USPS is partly to blame for the county confusion. In most of New York City, your mailing address is the borough (e.g., Brooklyn, NY or Bronx, NY). But Queens is different. In Queens, the USPS uses "neighborhood" names as the city designation. So, if you live in Far Rockaway, your mail says Far Rockaway. If you live in Inwood (the next town over in Nassau), your mail says Inwood.
Since "Far Rockaway" sounds like a standalone town name—and since it's so close to the Nassau border—people naturally assume it's a separate entity in a different county. It’s not. It’s just the quirky way Queens handles its mail.
The Practical Reality of Living in Queens County
Living in Far Rockaway means you are subject to New York City laws and benefits. This is a big deal for residents. You get the NYC Department of Sanitation. You get the NYPD (specifically the 101st Precinct). You pay NYC income tax—that roughly 3% to 4% hit that people in Nassau County don't have to deal with.
But you also get the NYC subway.
The A train is the lifeline here. It is one of the longest subway rides in the entire system. Taking the train from Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue all the way to 207th Street in Upper Manhattan is a journey of epic proportions. It takes over an hour and a half. Yet, for the price of a standard swipe, you can travel across the entire city. That is a perk of being in Queens County that the folks five blocks east in Nassau County simply don't have. They have to pay for the LIRR, which is significantly more expensive.
The Sandy Impact and Infrastructure
You can't talk about Far Rockaway without talking about Hurricane Sandy. In 2012, the ocean met the bay. The destruction was absolute.
Being in Queens County meant that Far Rockaway was part of the massive NYC recovery effort. Millions of dollars in federal and city funds poured into the "Build It Back" program. The boardwalk was rebuilt with concrete instead of wood. New storm surge protections were installed. If Far Rockaway had been a small, independent village in a different county, the recovery might have looked very different. The sheer scale of New York City's resources is what keeps this vulnerable strip of land habitable.
Common Misconceptions About Far Rockaway's Location
"Wait, isn't Far Rockaway in Brooklyn?"
No. But I get why you'd ask. The Rockaways are physically closer to parts of Brooklyn (like Coney Island) than they are to many parts of Queens (like Astoria). To get to the rest of Queens by car, you often have to drive through Brooklyn or take the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge.
"Is it part of Long Island?"
Geographically? Yes. It's on the island.
Politically? No. It's New York City.
County? Queens.
People often think Far Rockaway is a "forgotten" part of the city. For a long time, it felt that way. Investment was low, and the commute was a deterrent. But in the last decade, that's changed. The city has invested heavily in the Far Rockaway Village project, bringing new housing and retail to the downtown area near the Mott Avenue station.
The "Suburban" Edge
If you go to the very end of Seagirt Boulevard, you hit the border. On one side, you have the high-rises and dense housing of Far Rockaway (Queens County). On the other, you have the sprawling lawns and single-family homes of Lawrence and Atlantic Beach (Nassau County).
It is one of the most abrupt transitions in the New York metro area.
You’ll see the "Welcome to Nassau County" signs, and suddenly the vibe changes. The buses change from the blue-and-white MTA buses to the orange-and-blue NICE (Nassau Inter-County Express) buses. This proximity means that Far Rockaway residents often do their shopping in Nassau County at the Five Towns Shopping Center. It’s a symbiotic relationship, even if the government structures are completely separate.
Real Estate and Taxes: The County Difference
If you're looking at property in this area, the answer to what county is Far Rockaway NY in determines your entire financial life.
In Queens County (Far Rockaway), your property taxes are generally lower than in Nassau County. However, you pay that NYC resident income tax. In Nassau County, your property taxes can be eye-watering—some of the highest in the country—but you don't pay a local income tax.
Also, the schools are a major factor. Far Rockaway is part of the NYC Department of Education (District 27). Just across the line, you have the Lawrence Union Free School District. Parents in the area are hyper-aware of where that county line falls, as it dictates where their kids go to school.
Actionable Steps for Navigating Far Rockaway
If you are planning a trip or a move to this part of Queens, here is what you actually need to do to make sense of the area:
- Check the Zip Code: If it starts with 116, you are in the Rockaways. 11691 is the primary zip code for Far Rockaway proper.
- Understand the Transit: Download the MYmta app. If you’re using the subway, you’re in the city. If you find yourself looking at LIRR schedules for the Far Rockaway station, remember that the LIRR station is actually a few blocks away from the subway and serves a different crowd, mostly commuters heading to Atlantic Terminal or Penn Station.
- Know Your Bridges: If you’re driving from the rest of NYC, you’ll likely take the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge (from Brooklyn) or the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge (from Broad Channel). Both have tolls, though there is a resident program for those living in the area.
- Visit the Beach: The beach at Far Rockaway is often less crowded than the ones at 90th or 116th Street. It’s wider and has a more local, quiet feel.
- Verify Your Services: If you are moving to the border, check your specific address on the NYC Planning "ZOLA" map. It will tell you exactly which city council district, community board, and—most importantly—county you belong to.
Far Rockaway is a place that requires a bit of an adventurous spirit. It’s far, it’s salty, and it’s unapologetically Queens. Knowing the county is just the first step in understanding the complex layout of this coastal corner of New York City. Whether you're there for the surf, the commute, or the relatively affordable city living, you're firmly planted in Queens County.
Don't let the Nassau County signs just a few blocks away fool you; you're still in the Five Boroughs.
To verify a specific address or see the exact demarcation of the county line for legal or real estate purposes, use the official New York City Digital City Map. This tool allows you to toggle layers that show the precise boundary between Queens and Nassau, ensuring you never have to guess which jurisdiction you’re standing in.