In the 19th century the area was part of the Town of Newtown (now Elmhurst). The adjacent area of Winfield was largely incorporated into the post office serving Woodside and as a consequence Winfield lost much of its identity distinct from Woodside.
Throughout its history, Woodside has been the largest Irish American community in Queens. In the early 1930s, the area was approximately 80% Irish. Even as the neighborhood has seen growth in ethnic diversity today, the area still retains a strong Irish American presence. There are Irish pubs/restaurants scattered in Woodside.
In the early 1990s, many Asian American families moved into the area, particularly east of the Woodside–61st Street. Woodside's population is now 30% Asian American. Woodside has a large population of Korean Americans, Chinese Americans and Filipino Americans (see Koreatown, Chinatown, and Filipinotown), each with their own respective ethnic enclaves. There are also South Asian Americans, particularly Indian Americans, Bangladeshi Americans, and Pakistani Americans, as well as a large Latino population, mostly immigrants from Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
Reflecting its longtime Irish flavor, the neighborhood is filled with Irish pubs. It is also home to some of the city's most popular Thai, Filipino, Colombian, and Ecuadorian eateries. A rather unofficial Little Manila stretches from 63rd-71st Streets at the strip of Roosevelt Avenue, where many Filipino businesses have flocked to serve Woodside's large Filipino American community.
Woodside's diversity lends itself to a number of festivals and street fairs. It commemorates Saint Patrick's Day with a parade prior to the famous celebration in Manhattan. The parade in Woodside is known for being an all-inclusive event, embracing many ethnic and cultural groups, notably including LGBTQ contingents excluded from the larger Manhattan St. Patrick's Day Parade. Woodside also hosts several events in the summer, including an Independence Day street fair.
The neighborhood has many places of worship, as well as many schools (including PS 11, PS 12, PS 151, PS 152, PS 229, IS 125, Corpus Christi Elementary School, and Saint Sebastian's Elementary School). The parks in the area include Doughboy Park, Windmueller Park, Big Bush Park, and Laurel Hill Park. Winfield Reformed Church is also located in Woodside.
Woodside is easily accessed from the rest of the city. The IRT Flushing Line (7) of the New York City Subway has stations at 52nd, 61st and 69th Streets on Roosevelt Avenue; the IND Queens Boulevard Line local services (E G R V) make stops at Northern Boulevard and 65th Street along Broadway. In addition, the LIRR makes a stop at Woodside station, which provides a direct connection to the 7 train at 61st Street. The Q18, Q39, Q45, Q53, Q60 and Q32 buses connect Woodside to the rest of Queens, while the latter two run to Manhattan. Access by car is provided by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (I-278) and Long Island Expressway (I-495).