Jamaica, New York, now a neighborhood in Queens, was settled as a town by the English under Dutch rule in 1656 in New Netherland.

Under English rule it became part of the county of Yorkshire, and, in 1683, when the province was divided into counties it became part of Queens County, one of the original counties of New York. It was incorporated in the borough of Queens in New York City on 1 January 1898.

This neighborhood is the county seat of Queens County. Jamaica is a major station and transfer point on the Long Island Rail Road. Jamaica also contains JFK International Airport.