Roosevelt Island was called Minnehanonck by the Lenape Native Americans. Later, it was called Varkens Eylandt (Hog Island) by people who lived in New Netherland. During Britain's colonization of the United States, the island was named Blackwells Island. It was known as Welfare Island when hospitals were opened on the island between 1921 to 1971. It was renamed Roosevelt Island in 1971, after U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.