‘Flushing’ is the English form of Vlissingen, the Dutch city it was named after.
The settlement was founded in 1645 as part of New Netherland and named Vlissingen; by 1657 residents called it ‘Vlishing’, and the English name Flushing was eventually settled upon. Main Street was created in the 17th century as one of Flushing’s main roads; its crossing with Northern Boulevard is one of the oldest modern intersections in the United States.