Before the consolidation of New York City in 1898, Flushing was a town in Queens County, and the United States Postal Service still treats Flushing as a separate town. Downtown Flushing is currently a thriving business and residential area, with large Chinese and Korean communities (see Chinatown).
The 7-Flushing Local Train has a terminal station at Main Street in downtown Flushing and a depot nearby. From here, it is a 30-minute ride to Times Square in Manhattan.
Flushing contains La Guardia Airport, one of three major New York area airports; Shea Stadium, home of the New York Mets baseball team; and Flushing Meadow-Corona Park, which includes the Queens Botanical Garden and the site of the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs.