Empire State University (ESU) is a fictional university in New York City that serves as a prominent setting in Marvel Comics. Despite its fictional nature, ESU has been depicted as being located in different boroughs of New York City over the years, leading to confusion among fans.
Manhattan: The Original Home of ESU
In the early Marvel comics, ESU was consistently portrayed as being located in Manhattan. This was most evident in the “Amazing Spider-Man” comic book series, where Peter Parker, the alter ego of Spider-Man, attended ESU as a science major. The university’s campus was often depicted in the bustling streets of Manhattan, near landmarks such as the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building.
Notable Locations in Manhattan
- The main campus of ESU was located at 35 Waverly Place, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan.
- The university’s science labs and research facilities were housed in the Baxter Building, located at 42nd Street and Madison Avenue.
- The ESU student union was located in the Empire State Building.
Queens: A Later Relocation
In later years, Marvel Comics began to depict ESU as being located in the borough of Queens. This change was most likely made to provide a more diverse setting for the university and to reflect the growing population of Queens in the real world.
Notable Locations in Queens
- The new campus of ESU was located in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens.
- The university’s science labs and research facilities were moved to the Flushing Meadows Park Science Museum.
- The ESU student union was relocated to the Queens Center Mall.
Current Location: Back to Manhattan
In recent years, Marvel Comics has reverted to depicting ESU as being located in Manhattan. This change was made in order to align with the original depiction of the university and to provide a more iconic setting for the Spider-Man stories.
Notable Locations in Manhattan (Current)
- The main campus of ESU is now located at 110th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan.
- The university’s science labs and research facilities are located in the new Science and Technology Building, which is part of the Morningside Heights campus.
- The ESU student union is located in the newly renovated Student Center.
Which Borough is ESU In?
The answer to the question of which borough Empire State University is in depends on the specific Marvel comic book or storyline being referenced. In the early comics, ESU was located in Manhattan. In later years, it was relocated to Queens. However, in recent years, Marvel Comics has reverted to depicting ESU as being located in Manhattan once again.
Additional Information
- Founding: Empire State University was founded in 1928 by the philanthropist Norman Osborn.
- Enrollment: ESU has an enrollment of over 30,000 students.
- Academics: The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in the arts, sciences, and humanities.
- Athletics: ESU’s athletic teams are known as the “Thorpes” and compete in NCAA Division I athletics.
- Notable Alumni: Some of the most famous alumni of ESU include Peter Parker (Spider-Man), Ben Grimm (The Thing), and Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic).
