Is Roosevelt Island considered Manhattan?

Roosevelt Island, according to courts, election boards, and the post office, is within the jurisdiction of Manhattan.



Administratively, yes: Roosevelt Island is part of the Borough of Manhattan in New York City. While it sits in the East River between Manhattan Island and Queens, it falls under the jurisdiction of Manhattan Community Board 8. In 2026, it remains a unique residential enclave known for its tramway, its pneumatic trash collection system, and its status as a state-leased territory managed by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC). Even though it is physically closer to Long Island City, Queens, its zip code (10044) is a Manhattan designation. For 2026 visitors, this means that while you feel "away from the city," you are technically still in the heart of the most famous borough, enjoying the parks and the Cornell Tech campus while staying within the legal and political boundaries of Manhattan.

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Affordable housing – With prices lower than those in Manhattan, find great deals on apartments and homes on Roosevelt Island. There's affordable housing as well as apartments and coops more spacious than most of Manhattan.

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Marble Hill is the northernmost neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Although once part of Manhattan Island, it is now one of the few areas of Manhattan that are not located on the island.

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No one had built neighborhoods there before, so there were no racial or ethnic enclaves (yet), and every unit on the island was rented or sold through affordable-housing programs designed for low- and middle-income New Yorkers.

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Blackwell's Island, now known as Roosevelt Island, has a deep connection to disability and incarceration. For much of the early 1900s, New Yorkers nicknamed the island Welfare Island after the asylums, prisons, and almshouses that were built there.

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Not just for fans of FDR, Roosevelt Island has something for anyone looking for views of midtown, and the peace that comes from green spaces surrounded by water. If you are a fan of the man, make a pilgrimage to the tip of the island and Four Freedoms Park.

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Roosevelt Island is a popular neighborhood for home buyers who can afford to buy a home in the median price range of $925K. If this price doesn't match your budget, expand your search to include homes in popular neighborhoods around Roosevelt Island.

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Accessibility: This paved (asphalt, brick, and cement) trail is typically at least 5 feet wide. There are also unpaved side trails but it is possible to stay along the pavement around the island.

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The tiny island is located in the middle of the East River, parallel to Manhattan's East 46th to 85th Streets. From Queens, you can get there via the Roosevelt Island Bridge—this is the only way to walk or drive onto the island. Its entrance is at Vernon Boulevard and Main Street in Astoria.

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While still a part of Manhattan, Roosevelt Island is its opposite: quiet, homely, and mostly green-colored.

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From Manhattan, you can take the Roosevelt Island Tramway, located at East 59th Street and Second Avenue, for $2.75 one way. If you're coming from Queens, you can drive or walk onto the island via the Roosevelt Island Bridge, or take the Q102 bus line.

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Roosevelt Island Tram Tickets For adults, the ride costs just $2.90 each way. Those with an unlimited MetroCard won't have to pay anything. For a round-trip cost of just $5.80 for an adult, this is an awesome deal for an incredible view!

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There are a few large mammals (like deer and foxes) that live on the island for all or part of the year. Many, many birds either visit the island year round (like woodpeckers, herons, and ducks) or stop in on their way between wintering and summering grounds (like warblers). There are a few snakes on the island.

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