The name “Elmhurst” was inspired by the Elm groves that were scattered between the Maspeth and Newtown Creeks before settlement began. The neighborhood is made up of a mix of detached or multi-family houses, rowhouses, apartment buildings, and large developments like LeFrak City. Commercial areas can be found along Queens Boulevard, Broadway, and Grand and Corona Avenues.
Elmhurst's Chinatown is rapidly expanding and is now the second largest in Queens after Flushing's. This area was originally a small collection of Chinese shops on Broadway between 81st Street and Cornish Avenue but has since grown to include 45th Avenue and Whitney Avenue. The Flushing Chinatown is a major influence on this area's development, but there are also many Southeast Asian businesses and shops in the area.
Elmhurst is home to several historically significant buildings, including the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge Number 878, which was once the largest Elks lodge in the Eastern United States. The Reformed Church of Newtown, established by Dutch immigrants in 1731, is one of the oldest wooden churches in New York City. St. James Church, built in 1735, is the oldest surviving Anglican building in the city.
The neighborhood has two large shopping malls, Queens Center and Queens Place Mall, as well as several parks. Elmhurst Park, opened in 2011, is located on 57th Avenue west of 80th Street and features a children's playground, walking paths, and a lawn atop a hill. The park is also home to the Queens Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Moore Homestead Park, located between Broadway and 45th Avenue, offers a children's playground as well as areas for basketball, handball, and chess. Other parks in the area include Frank D. O'Connor Playground, Veterans Grove, and Horsebrook Island.
