Hoffman Island

Hoffman Island
Geography
LocationLower New York Bay
Coordinates40°34′44″N 74°03′13″W / 40.578873°N 74.053688°W / 40.578873; -74.053688
Area11 acres (4.5 ha)
Administration
United States
State New York
CityNew York City
BoroughStaten Island

Hoffman Island is an 11-acre (4.5 ha) artificial island in the Lower New York Bay, off the South Beach of Staten Island, New York City. A smaller, 4-acre (1.6 ha) artificial island, Swinburne Island, lies immediately to the south. Created in 1873 upon the Orchard Shoal by the addition of land fill, the island is named for former New York City mayor (18661868) and New York Governor (18691871) John Thompson Hoffman.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Hoffman and Swinburne Islands were used as a quarantine station, housing immigrants who, upon their arrival at the immigrant inspection station at nearby Ellis Island, presented with symptoms of contagious diseases.