formerly (until 1921) Blackwell's Island and (1921–73) Welfare Island
Island in the East River , between the boroughs of Manhattan and Queens , New York, New York, U.S .
Administratively part of Manhattan, it has an area of 139 acres (56 hectares). In 1637 the Dutch bought the island from the Indians. In 1828 the city acquired it and built a penitentiary there. It was renamed in 1973 to honour Pres. Franklin Roosevelt . Now the site of moderate-income housing and shopping complexes, it is connected to Manhattan by aerial tramway and to Queens by bridge.