Jackson Heights, Queens that bisects the neighborhood. John C. Jackson built the road across what is now Jackson Heights in 1859. The Jackson Avenue name is retained by this major road in a short stretch between Queens Plaza and Queens–Midtown Tunnel in Long Island City. The place was not particularly high, but the name "heights" showed that the place was originally meant to be exclusive. Until 1916, the area was called "Trains Meadow", but contrary to the name, there were very few trains in the area. It is suspected that it was corrupted from "drain". The first land purchase of was completed in
Jefferson Heights, New York York State Route 23 is a four-lane highway through the northern part of Jefferson Heights, leading east to the Rip Van Winkle Bridge over the Hudson River and northwest to Cairo. Interstate 87, the New York State Thruway, runs along the northwest border of Jefferson Heights, and Thruway Exit 21 (Cairo – Catskill - NY Route 23) is in the northern part of the CDP. Albany, the state capital, is to the north by the Thruway, and New York City is to the south. According to the United States Census Bureau, the Jefferson Heights CDP has a total area of