Staten Island identified as New York City’s most haunted borough

Staten Island has been identified as New York City’s most haunted borough by paranormal expert Andrea Janes, founder of the tour company Boroughs of the Dead. Janes describes the area as having “wall-to-wall ghosts,” citing its history of haunted mansions, former asylums, and historic forts.

The borough’s reputation for supernatural activity is largely linked to its historical role as a site for disease isolation. In 1799, the New York Marine Hospital, nicknamed “The Quarantine,” was established to isolate patients from yellow fever and smallpox. The facility was eventually burned to the ground in 1858 following local opposition and fears of infection.

Isolation continued in the 20th century with the opening of Sea View Hospital in 1913. Located near the island’s second-highest point, the facility served as a tuberculosis quarantine center, offering patients fresh air and sunlight in an attempt to treat the disease.