As of the 2000 census, there were 443,728 people, 156,341 households, and 114,052 families residing in the borough / county. The population density was 2,929.6/km² (7,587.9/mi²). There were 163,993 housing units at an average density of 1,082.7/km² (2,804.3/mi²). The racial makeup is 77.6% White, 9.7% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 5.7% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.1% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.1% of the population.
According to the 2005-2007 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, White Americans made up 75.7% of Staten Island's population; of which 67.4% were non-Hispanic whites. Blacks or African Americans made up 10.1% of Staten Island's population; of which 9.5% were non-Hispanic blacks. American Indians made up 0.2% of the borough's population; of which 0.1% were non-Hispanic. Asian Americans made up 7.4% of the borough's population; of which 7.3% were non-Hispanic. Pacific Islander Americans made up less than 0.1% of the population. Individuals from some other race made up 5.5% of the borough's population; of which 0.3% were non-Hispanic. Individuals from two or more races made up 1.1% of the borough's population; of which 0.6% were non-Hispanic. In addition, Hispanics and Latinos made up 14.7% of Staten Island's population. Also, there are just over 100,000 foreign-born individuals making up 20.9% of the population. Individuals who speak a language other than English at home make up 29.5% of the borough's population.
Some main European ancestries of Staten Island, 2007:
| Italian | 44.8% |
|---|---|
| Irish | 14.8% |
| German | 5.8% |
| Polish | 4.3% |
| Russian | 3.7% |
| English | 1.9% |
[3] Since the 2000 census, a rather large Russian community has been growing in Staten Island, particularly in the South Beach and Great Kills area.
The vast majority of the island's African American and Hispanic residents live north of the Staten Island Expressway, or Interstate 278. In terms of religion, the population is largely Roman Catholic, and the Catholic Church exerts strong influence on many aspects of the island's social and cultural life. The Jewish community is large enough that it would be significant in most other parts of the country, but it is relatively small compared to other parts of the New York Metropolitan Area.
Staten Island
Population by year
1900 - 67,021
1910 - 85,969
1920 - 116,531
1930 - 158,346
1940 - 174,441
1950 - 191,555
1960 - 221,991
1970 - 295,443
1980 - 352,029
1990 - 378,977
2000 - 443,728
2005 - 464,573 (est.)
There were 156,341 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% are married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.31.
The population is spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household is $55,039, and the median income for a family was $64,333. Males had a median income of $50,081 versus $35,914 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,905. About 7.9% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Staten Island Compared
| 2000 Census | Staten Island | NY City | NY State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 443,728 | 8,008,278 | 18,976,457 |
| Population density | 7,587.9/mi² | 26,403/mi² | 402/mi² |
| Median household income (1999) | $55,039 | $38,293 | $43,393 |
| Per capita income | $23,905 | $22,402 | $23,389 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27% | 27% | 24% |
| Foreign born | 21% | 36% | 20% |
| White | 78% | 44% | 62% |
| Black | 10% | 27% | 16% |
| Hispanic (any race) | 12% | 27% | 14% |
| Asian | 6% | 10% | 6% |