When Was Rikers Island Built?

Rikers Island is a 413.17-acre island in the East River between Queens and the Bronx that is home to New York City's main jail complex. Named after Abraham Rycken, who took possession of the island in 1664, the island was originally under 100 acres in size, but has since grown to more than 400 acres.

What was Rikers Island before it was a jail?

The city expressed a desire to open a jail for men on Rikers Island as early as 1925, in order to replace their overburdened and dilapidated jail on Welfare Island, now Roosevelt Island; the jail was opened in 1932.

When was Rikers Island opened?

The infamous jail complex, which opened in 1932, has a history of abuse and negligence toward its prisoners. The facility was heavily criticized in the 1970s and '80s for its prisoner overpopulation, dangerous conditions and unhealthy practices toward adolescent prisoners.