Sandy Ground is one of the nations founded by freed African Americans, established by a cadre of black oystermen from Snow Hill, Maryland, in the 1830s. Sandy Ground, established initially by free black farmers and joined later by oystermen and their families who came up from Maryland in the 1850’Many of these oystermen had regularly travelled to New York Harbor, selling their shellfish in Manhattan markets, then harvesting Staten Island oyster seed upon their return. Following a wave of repressive laws passed by white Marylanders in the 1820s, many of these Chesapeake oystermen packed their boats and moved northward, settling on a sandy hummock half way between Arthur Kill and Raritan Bay where land was relatively cheap. Sandy Ground reached its height of population and power during the late 19th century when over 150 African American families called the hamlet their home. Buoyed by a booming oyster industry, residents owned homes, property, boats, and businesses. Farmers worked what had been considered “useless” land into impressive hauls of eggplants, asparagus, sweet potatoes, and strawberries.

Sandy Ground was settled in 1833 by African-American oystermen fleeing the restrictive industry laws of Maryland. Located at Bloomingdale Road, between Rossville and Charleston, it became the first free black community in New York. Originally known as Harrisville and later renamed Little Africa, Sandy Ground received its current designation for the poor quality of soil in the area. 1850’Many of these oystermen had regularly travelled to New York Harbor, selling their shellfish in Manhattan markets, then harvesting Staten Island oyster seed upon their return. Following a wave of repressive laws passed by white Marylanders in the 1820s, Especially affected were black oystermen who were prohibited from owning or captaining their own boats. Many relocated to New York State, where slavery had been abolished since 1827, and settled in southwest Staten Island where they could continue their livelihood as oystermen many of these Chesapeake oystermen packed their boats and moved northward, settling on a sandy hummock half way between Arthur Kill and Raritan Bay where land was relatively cheap. Sandy Ground reached its height of population and power during the late 19th century when over 150 African American families called the hamlet their home. Buoyed by a booming oyster industry, residents owned homes, property, boats, and businesses. In addition to oystering in the nearby waters, Sandy Ground’s soil was particularly well suited to growing strawberries, tomatoes, and asparagus, and families prospered by taking their produce by wagon to sell in the Manhattan markets. Others went into business as blacksmiths, boat-builders, and basket makers, whose wares were needed to carry the huge loads of oysters.

Over time these families were joined by other escaped and freed slaves from Virginia, Delaware, and the Northeast. Many had escaped impossible situations and greatly appreciated the opportunity to build a strong and prosperous community. In 1850 the Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church was established and quickly became the “focal point” of the community, which it remains as the Rossville A.M.E. Zion Church to this day. The golden age of Sandy Ground was in the 1880’s and 1890’s when there was a thriving population of 200 and over fifty homes. The community was also home to doctors, dentists, police officers, postmen, midwives, and florists.  

Sandy Ground is considered the third free black settlement in New York, after Seneca Village – located in what is now Central Park – and James Weeks’ property purchased from the Lefferts family in what is now Bedford-Stuyvesant. It has long been thought that Sandy Ground was a station on the Underground Railroad. At a recent exhibition at the Sandy Ground Historical Museum, evidence was presented that well-known Underground Railroad Agent, Louis Napoleon, an associate of the prominent New York abolitionist, Henry Ward Beecher, had lived in Sandy Ground from 1856 The area was also a junction on the Underground Railroad with the Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, built in 1850, used as a central meeting place.