Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City. It occupies the southwestern extremity of Long Island and lies southeast of the borough of Manhattan. Known as Kings County, it is separated from Manhattan by the East River and borders the borough of Queens to the north and the east. To the west lies the Narrows and Upper New York Bay. To the south is the Atlantic Ocean and Jamaica Bay. Brooklyn is connected to Manhattan by three bridges, The Brooklyn Bridge, The Manhattan Bridge and The Williamsburgh Bridge. Brooklyn is connected to the borough of Staten Island by the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, the world's longest suspension bridge.
Brooklyn has a land area of approximately 73 square miles, with a population of over 2.3 million, and is the largest provider of homes in the City of New York. There are three beaches running along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean in Brooklyn, Coney Island Beach, Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach. The borough accommodates hundreds of parks and playgrounds, many with tennis courts, soccer fields, football fields, basketball courts, bocce courts, cricket fields and hundreds of softball fields and handball courts, providing ample opportunity for fitness and fun. Borough residents benefit from a suburban lifestyle, coupled with the conveniences of urban living.
Brooklyn is home to many areas of manufacturing, particularly the garment district, whose workers represent a large portion of the borough's manufacturing employment. While Brooklyn has its share of major retailers, which is increasing every day due to the growing number of 'big box stores', it is still home to many small businesses, including "Mom and Pop" establishments that continue to benefit the community, by supplying generation after generation with specialty goods and services.
Located in the growing downtown area of Brooklyn, the recently developed MetroTech Center is a 1.3 billion dollar office and technology complex that employs over 12,000 people. It is projected that this complex, in conjunction with many new downtown developments, will create more than an abundance of new jobs in the borough by the year 2000. The combined benefit of high tech businesses and research and academic facilities sustained at Metro Tech has attracted many prestigious firms to this location.
The borough of Brooklyn offers both resident and visitor a plethora of culture and beauty second to none. The arts are truly alive and well in Brooklyn, New York where cultural institutions, large and small, abound. The arts community plays a major role in the stability of the borough, inviting tourism from near and far. Brooklyn boasts such cultural icons as The Brooklyn Academy of Music, one of New York City's paramount arts centers for performing artists. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden will titillate the senses with its deluge of colorful blooms and sweet bouquets. The renowned Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation, located in Coney Island, is the oldest public aquarium in the nation. Right next door you'll find the world famous Cyclone Roller Coaster. And, what would a day at Coney Island be, without a visit to the original Nathan's Famous, partaking of that celebrated Nathan's hot dog and french fried potatoes? Coney Island still remains the city's top amusement attraction, drawing over sixteen million visitors each summer to its shore, boardwalk, amusements and rides.
In Brooklyn, getting from here to there is quite simple. Public transportation, via trains and buses, allows for ease of access throughout the borough (or into Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.) The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) maintains the New York City subway system, which consist of trains that run overhead on elevated lines, trains that run at ground level and trains that run underground. The many MTA bus routes that network throughout the borough (and into the other boroughs as well) can also take you where you want to go. Be sure to pick up a Metro Card that allows you free transfer from bus to subway and can deliver you to the multi-cultural entity that is Brooklyn, New York, an eclectic mix of old and new that has always embraced diversity in its populace, its traditions and its commerations. We invite you to come celebrate Brooklyn.
Prior to Henry Hudson's arrival into New York Harbor in 1609, the wooded land of what we now know as Brooklyn, New York was inhabited by various Indian tribes. Thereafter, the Dutch, who settled throughout the area, called it "Breuklen", after an ancient town in Holland. Under English influence, the name was changed into Brooklyn as we know it today. The names of the communities of Brooklyn date back three centuries. Many evidence the influence of the early Dutch settlers, while others manifest the influence of England, the mother country. The borough of Brooklyn, officially established as one of the five boroughs of New York City on January 1, 1898, is rife with history, as many of the descriptions that follow will substantiate.
Along with the historical aspect of the various Brooklyn communities, are some places of significance within the individual communities that embody the culture and development that permeates Brooklyn. And for the trivia fans among us, we've added a smattering of noted Brooklynites who have risen to fame from the roots of their Brooklyn youth.
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Named for the famous watering place of Bath, England, this territory consisted mostly of farmlands and forests until the 1870s when affluent families built summer homes in the area. It was considered part of Bensonhurst until the construction of the Bath Beach-Coney Island Railroad, which served to make the area more accessible. For a time, Bath Beach became a stylish amusement park frequented by the upper and middle class. But by the 1930s, unable to contend with the favored Coney Island, it met its demise and all that remained were abandoned mansions and hotels. The end of World War II brought a volume of returning soldiers to the area. Out of necessity, a large portion of the marshland was extended by landfill. Thereafter, rapid construction of homes began. Today Bath Beach is a thriving working middle class community.
Served by Community
District 11
Zip Code: 11214
Was originally part of a tract of land that was purchased from the Nyack Indians in 1652 and settled by the Dutch in 1653. It lies at the southwestern tip of Brooklyn. The area was originally called Yellow Hook for the yellow clay found there. But after an outbreak of yellow fever in 1853 its name grew out of favor and it became known as Bay Ridge, elaborating upon the area's most prominent geographical features, the magnificent views furnished from a ridge towering above the entrance to New York Bay. As the 20th century neared, Bay Ridge evolved into a wealthy residential community. Many rich industrialists built summer mansions along the hills overlooking the entrance to New York Harbor. What is now Fort Hamilton High School (Shore Road & 85 St) was then the Crescent Athletic Club, a private club that attracted wealthy Manhattanites who then became the center of Brooklyn's high society. The arrival of the Fourth Avenue subway line in 1915 altered the complexion of Bay Ridge; once a rural suburban retreat, it evolved into a more urban community. Most of the mansions and villas built near the turn of the century gave way to high rise apartment buildings. Fontbonne Hall Academy (9901 Shore Road) still remains. Today, homes situated on the peak of the Ridge between 80 and 83 Streets, and Colonial to Shore Roads, are still among the most expensive in the city. Most of the houses in Bay Ridge are well cared for one and two family brick, brownstone, limestone, or frame houses, with bay or bow fronts, garages, basements and well manicured lawns. Many of the older apartment buildings have interior court yards. The Bay Ridge Special Zoning District, established in 1978, mandated that only buildings of three stories or less be allowed on residential streets and buildings of no more than eight stories be allowed on avenues. Bay Ridge, bordered to the west by the water of the Narrows, still affords its residents a grandstand seat to beautiful views.
Served by Community
District 10
Zip Code: 11209, 11220
Named after the Duke of Bedford and the town of Stuyvesant (namesake of New Amsterdam Governor, Peter Stuyvesant), the area was originally part of the land purchased by the Dutch in the 1640s. This farmland turned residential after the American Revolution. The area was originally comprised of two distinct sections with two separate histories. Bedford was a modest Dutch village established in 1663, while Stuyvesant was an upscale community built in the 1890s, which boasted lavishly designed structures, in the style of London's Bloomsbury Square. In 1835, a portion of Stuyvesant was sold, thus combining the two, to form Bedford-Stuyvesant. Over the years, this area has seen several declines. More recently, ongoing renovation has resulted in the restoration of many of the historic brownstones.
Served by Community
District 3
Zip Codes: 11216, 11221
Originally settled by the Dutch in 1661 as part of the town of New Utrecht, today it is bordered by 61 Street, McDonald Avenue, Gravesend Bay and 14th Avenue and includes the areas known as Mapleton and New Utrecht. It is an established community whose origins date back to the late 1880s when the Benson farm was parceled into 20 x 100 foot lots and sold to newly arrived immigrants, thus establishing the suburb of Bensonhurst. The 1890s saw a sizable population growth as wealthy landowners built summer homes and marinas among the farm and woodlands. It was hoped that the Bath Beach-Coney Island railroad, built along the shore, would further the community of "Bensonhurst by the Sea", particularly in light of the success of the Coney Island amusement area, but tourism efforts were unsuccessful. With the arrival of the Fourth Avenue subway line in 1915, many immigrants fled the Lower East Side of Manhattan to build homes in Bensonhurst, a place that would prove to be much more affordable. Bensonhurst took shape in the early 1930s with the construction of high-rise apartment buildings. Today, it is a community abundant with single family detached and attached houses and multi-family dwellings. From its beginnings to the present, Bensonhurst has always been a haven for middle class families with strong roots. It is not unusual to find two or three generations of the same family living on the same block or a few blocks away; nor is it unusual to find Bensonhurst residents who have lived in the same house for more than 25 years. Attractive houses stand along tree-lined streets, reminiscent of the Victorian era.
The area of 18th Avenue, between 67 Street and Bay Ridge Parkway, adds an old world charm with its many cafes, pastry shops, food shops and restaurants. The many outdoor fruit and vegetable markets running along 86 Street, beneath the elevated "B" subway line are reminiscent of the simplicity of years gone by.
The rows of benches running along the Belt Parkway, facing the ocean waters, offer an invitation for sun and relaxation to residents and visitors alike. Many can be seen fishing from the waters, while others offer their kites to the wind. Both young and old can be found, bicycling, roller blading or walking along the path that runs along the Narrows.
Served by Community
District 11
Zip Code: 11214
Bensonhurst has contributed significantly to the American entertainment industry:
Named after the descendants of Hans Hansen Bergen, a Dutch settler of the 17th century. In close proximity to the Mill Basin area are the communities of Bergen Beach and Mill Island, where the urban gives way to the suburban. Large homes, with lush lawns sit upon vast waterfront properties This suburban retreat, within the confines of the city, began in the early 1960s and lives on today where opulence abounds.
Served by Community
District 18
Zip Code: 11234
Settled in the 1880s by major landowners in the area, it was originally named Blythebourne, while a neighboring expanse of land was called Borough Park. The influx of more and more Eastern Europeans into Borough Park caused its expansion into, and overtaking of, the Blythebourne area. Today, the name of the local post office is the only evidence of the Blythebourne area.
Served by Community
District 12
Zip Code: 11219
Bounded by 4 Avenue, State, Warren and Court Streets, this area was named for the colonial farm of the Dutch Boerum family. Developed in the mid-1800s, following the arrival of ferry service from Manhattan to Brooklyn, it is a working class community characterized by row houses. Residents enjoy and make use of its contiguity to the downtown area. It is an up and coming area, where property values have increased ten fold over the past few decades, and continue to do so.
Served by Community
District 2
Zip Code: 11217
Named after the British sea resort Brighton. Once home to the elegant Hotel Brighton and Brighton Beach Race tack, it equaled the celebrated Coney Island seaside amusement area at the turn of the century. However, the erection of many apartment buildings in the 1930s, forever changed the complexion of the area. World War II saw its decline, but the 1970s, '80s and '90s, brought a new influx of immigrants and the area arose anew. Today, the Brighton Beach Boardwalk, connecting Brighton Beach with Coney Island, is lined with restaurants and cafes, inviting banquet sized appetites to partake of the hearty fare.
Served by Community
District 13
Zip Code: 11235
Once known as Clover Hill, was one of New York's first suburban areas. This high ground offers a clear view of the glorious Manhattan skyline. It was first settled in 1642 by Dutch farmers after the completion of Manhattan's Peck Slip ferry. At the foot of what is now Montague Street, once stood the Revolutionary War headquarters of General George Washington's troops. In 1816, upon Brooklyn's recognition as a municipality, the enterprising and wellborn Hezekiah Pierpont (Pierrepont) had streets laid out and directed that all homes built, be constructed of brick and stone, creating a select area in which the monied elite could settle. Property was advertised for sale to businessmen working in lower Manhattan. This marked the beginning of the area's aristocratic period when many large and elegant homes and hotels were built. Some still stand today along Willow and Pierrepont Streets. Family and church were the cornerstone's of this patrician existence, as were formalities, replete with pomp and circumstance. The end of WW I marked a noted change in the area. The arrival of the automobile and the allure of the suburbs, succeeded in taking many from the area. By the 1950s, many homes were subdivided into rooming houses and the area underwent a decline. Unfortunately, area clearance projects resulted in the demolition of many rows of historic brownstones. But collective community efforts were successful in salvaging a large part of the area, and the Promenade, a walkway with an impressive view of the Manhattan skyline, was developed. In recent years, this neighborhood has become one of the city's most exclusive neighborhoods, populated by many of society's upper echelon, including Wall Street bankers and attorneys. Well-kept brownstones, historic churches, and the many shops and cafes along Montague Street all succeed in attracting residents and visitors to this upscale area.
Served by Community
District 2
Zip Code: 11201
From its very beginnings to the present day this area has always attracted the creative, the poetic and the visionary, including:
Named after Charles S. Brown, a mid-19th century real estate developer who built houses in the area. In 1885, developers purchased land and built tenements in the hope of enticing garment makers from Manhattan's lower east side to the area. The opening of the Fulton Street elevator line in 1889, prompted the development of two family dwellings most of which were small tenements with storefronts, many housing sweatshops and pushcarts. The area was devoid of sewers or paved streets. These poor conditions contributed to the labor movement's cause, reinforcing workers' needs for improved working conditions. The 1950s saw a sharp decline in area population. But by the 1980s, immigrants permeated the area, renewing it once again. Concerted revitalization efforts have resulted in the development of one and two family homes on what were once vacant lots.
Served by Community
District 16
Zip Code: 11212
Claims to Fame:
One of the original Dutch towns of the borough. Peter Stuyvesant named it Boswijck, Dutch meaning "town of the woods". Originally, it included Greenpoint, Williamsburgh and Ridgewood. Today it is bordered by Flushing Avenue, Queens County, the Cemetery of the Evergreens and Broadway. It was an agricultural community that housed factories as well. The 1840s brought a large influx of immigrants, who brought with them their proficiency for brewing. For nearly thirty years there were over ten breweries operating within a fourteen block radius. However, the need for automation, in combination with the decline of the area, caused the last of these breweries to close its doors in 1976, ending the era of Brooklyn beer.
In the early 1900s, The Eastern District of Bushwick supported many of the city's best playhouses and, at that time, it was considered to be somewhat of an alternative to Manhattan's Theater District. The end of the Great Depression brought a new influx of immigrants to the area, as did the end of World War II. This is an area that has undergone, and continues to undergo, rapid change.
Served by Community
District 4
Zip Code: 11221
So called from the French word, canard, meaning duck, the symbol of the Indian tribe that lived on the edge of Jamaica Bay, where ducks were plentiful. The area was originally a part of the town of Flatlands, where fishing and farming prevailed. In the 1870s the influx of immigrants that came to the area turned their attentions to mining the oyster beds and fishing the fertile waters of Jamaica Bay. Canarsie soon became a fashionable seaside resort and amusement area, drawing throngs to its vaudeville theaters and speakeasies. But, by the 1930s, the effects of the Depression, added to the pollution of Jamaica Bay, forced many to move on. Soon after, the amusement area burned to the ground. In 1939 the entire area was razed to make way for the Belt Parkway, a major highway. The end of World War II brought new immigrants to the area, many occupying one and two family homes. Rowhouses and duplexes rose, establishing a more urban area.
Served by Community
District 18
Zip Code: 11236
The area is said to be named for Charles Carrol, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. It is bordered by Degraw, Hoyt and 9th Streets and Hamilton Avenue. Until the 1960s, the area was considered part of Red Hook. Separated from Red Hook by the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, it took its name from the Carroll Gardens Association, an organization formed to improve the community. This neighborhood, within walking distance of the downtown business area, has managed to retain an old world charm. It boasts an Italian flavor where bocce is the game of choice and the aroma of fresh brewed expresso fills the air. Brownstones, where flourishing flower gardens spill over into well kept front yards, come alive with color.
Served by Community
District 6
Zip Code: 11231
In northwest Brooklyn was named after the family of New York's Governor De Witt Clinton. The area was originally farmland that was parceled and sold for development in the mid-19th century to prosperous merchants who had been forced out of Brooklyn Heights, prompting the creation of "Millionaire's Row" along Clinton Avenue. Charles Pratt, founder of Pratt Institute and, at that time, one of the area's most influential residents had five mansions erected on Clinton Avenue, one for himself and four others, bestowed as wedding gifts to his sons. Four of the Pratt mansions still stand today at 229, 232, 241 and 245 Clinton Avenue. By the late 1800s the area flourished. But the much-celebrated borough of Manhattan lured many of the wealthy, and the 1920s saw the desolation of many of these old residences. Many of the area brownstones that remained were restored in the 1970s. Today the area's charm remains in evidence, as does its history.
Served by Community
District 2
Zip Code: 11206
Among the many notable sites in the area are:
Named for the cobble stones disposed in the area from ships that carried them over from Europe as ballast and for the steep hill that served as a look out for American forces during the Revolutionary War, this area lies between Brooklyn Heights and Carroll Gardens. Until the early part of the 19th century, the area consisted largely of orchards and farms. The establishment of the ferry at the base of Atlantic Avenue in 1836, was instrumental in the area's development, as was the area's incorporation in 1834 into the then-independent city of Brooklyn. Suburban mansions, that stood side by side with rural homesteads, were the first structures to be erected along Henry street, none of which remain. Cobble Hill Park, one of the city's first parks, was built to prevent the erection of a supermarket on its site. Renovated in 1990, it prevails as one of the most enchanting parks in the borough.
Served by Community
District 6
Zip Code: 11201
Originally an island that was heavily populated with rabbits, named by the Dutch "konyn" meaning rabbit; transformed to become "conyne" and then coney. The area is bounded by Coney Island Creek, the Belt Parkway, Ocean Parkway and the Atlantic Ocean. At the turn of the century, three amusement parks opened along Surf Avenue. They were Steeplechase Park constructed by George C. Tilyou in 1897, Luna Park, replicating the city of Baghdad, and constructed in 1903, and Dreamland, whose claim to fame was the nations's largest ballroom, erected in 1904. This began the era of fun in the sun. The start of the 20th century brought a multitude of visitors to the shore. With subway access beginning in the 1920s, millions of people visited the area each day. Dreamland burned to the ground in 1911 and in 1944, Luna Park was destroyed by fire. Steeplechase Park, acclaimed for its racing steeplechase horses and its dauntless parachute jump (whose structure remains), closed in 1964. This ended the heyday of Coney Island. Today, few remnants of the grandeur of the Coney Island of yesteryear remain, although two amusement areas have endured. The adventurous can still ride The Wonder Wheel at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park (3059 West 12 Street) or thrill to the exhilarating 85 foot drop of the world renowned Cyclone Roller Coaster at Astroland (1000 Surf Avenue) designated as an historic landmark. In addition to these two long standing attractions, these parks provide rides, spook houses, arcades, and video games for today's more sophisticated patron.
Served by Community
District 13
Zip Code: 11224
Once home to Ebbet's Field, home of the beloved (and, to some Brooklynites, reviled) Brooklyn Dodgers from 1912 through 1957, this area, which lies on the glacial ridge, was formerly called Crow Hill, and was the site of a prison. It was a quiet, sparsely populated settlement in the original Dutch town of Breukelen. The 1800s saw its development as an upper middle class suburb. In the early twentieth century, its name was changed , perhaps intending to elevate its status. Today, it is bordered by Atlantic, Ralph and Flatbush Avenues and Empire Boulevard and is home to a diverse mix of residents.
Served by Community
District 8 - 11213, Community
District 9
Zip Code: 11213
Originally named Union Place for a famous area racetrack built in 1821, it was renamed for the abundance of cypress trees that grew in the hilly area.The remains of many Civil War veterans are entombed in eighteen cemeteries throughout the nearby Highland Park area. Also buried here are Mae West, Harry Houdini and Edward G. Robinson. Today this small community consists mostly of two story homes lining narrow streets.
Served byCommunity
District 5
Zip Code: 11208
Home to state and federal courts, the newly developed MetroTech complex, and Brooklyn Borough Hall, this area is the hub of the borough and is currently undergoing an economic boom. Presently underway are the construction of the Renaissance Plaza Hilton Hotel and a 500,000 square foot office tower. Livingston Plaza provides 500,000 square feet and twelve floors of retail and office space. The recently completed nineteen story Morgan Stanley Building at Pierrepont Plaza was built from brick and limestone to blend with the existing area design. Brooklyn Borough Hall (209 Joralemon Street), which underwent extensive restoration in 1989, was formerly City Hall for the independent City of Brooklyn. The MetroTech complex, a commercial site that encompasses four million square feet, including shops, restaurants and open air space used for concerts and outdoor events, was the result of a long term effort to revitalize the downtown area. It houses the offices of Chase Manhattan Bank, the City's Emergency Medical Services and the offices of the Internal Revenue Service, to name a few. The new Atlantic shopping center at Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues includes a host of major retailers. Nearby is the ongoing development of thousands of condominium units.
Served by Community
District 2
Zip Code: 11201
Said to be named for dikes built by the Dutch that aided in the draining and reclaiming of the marshland, this area lies sandwiched between Fort Hamilton and Bensonhurst. It was primarily a rural area until the early 20th century when developers built one and two family houses. Mansions built along 11 Avenue (some of which still stand today) provided splendid views of the Narrows.
Served byCommunity
District 10
Zip Code: 11228
Originally settled by the Dutch in the 1600s, the area was rural until the early 1800s. It was selected by John R. Pitkin for the site of his shoe factory, and named such for its eastern end location in metropolitan NYC. Pitkin hoped to turn the area into a rival of Manhattan by drawing businesses and residents to the area. But a financial panic altered his plan. In 1852, the town of New Lots was incorporated, absorbing the smaller surrounding communities. Soon after, it was annexed by the City of Brooklyn. In 1903, upon the opening of the Williamsburgh Bridge, the area experienced an increase in population, as it did again in 1922 with the advent of the subway. The population of the area continued to surge into the 1940s. The 1950s and 1960s saw a significant decrease in area population, prompting various Urban Renewal Programs.
Served by Community
District 5
Zip Code: 11207
Part of one of Brooklyn's original Dutch towns established in 1652. It's name derived from the Dutch vlachte, with bios, a "flat plain" with "woods", anglicized to Flatbush. It included areas now known as Kensington, Windsor Terrace, East Flatbush, Brownsville, East New York, New Lots and Cypress Hills.
Begun as a rural farming community, it grew into a religious, educational and cultural center. After the Civil War, Flatbush was transformed from a colonial village into a suburban area, in large part due to the development of Prospect Park. The neighborhood quickly expanded as a result of the appearance of the Railroad in 1880, windmills and homesteads giving way to progress. In 1894 it became part of the City of Brooklyn. The 1920s saw the construction of high rise apartment buildings along Ocean Avenue, mixed in among historic one family homes, built to accommodate masses of immigrants.
This area, located in the middle of the borough, epitomizes Brooklyn's diverse and cultural mix. The Flatbush of the 1940s was oft depicted in Hollywood movies, as is today's Flatbush.
Served byCommunity
District 14
Zip Codes: 11203, 11226
Another of the original Dutch towns, established in 1693 as Nieuw Amersfort. Its name was derived from the flat terrain. It included areas now known as Canarsie, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin and Marine Park. It was founded in 1647 and remained farmland until 1875 when horse-car service began along Flatbush Ave, connecting the area to Downtown Brooklyn. Development in this area was somewhat slow as it was not serviced by the railroad. The advent of the automobile resulted in increased development.
Served byCommunity
District 18
Zip Code: 11234
The area, and the park of the same name, were named in honor of Nathaniel Greene, American General in the Revolutionary War. To mark the tomb containing the remains of thousands of colonial prisoners who had been captured and confined aboard rotted hulking vessels and left to die by the British, The Prison Shop Martyrs' Monument proudly stands. This area is rich in history and culture, exhibiting many forms of architecture. Today, Fort Greene continues as an area rich in culture and diversity, with a growing population of artists and musicians.
Served by Community
District 2
Zip Code: 11205
Named after Alexander Hamilton, colonial patriot and first Secretary of the Treasury, and for the federal installation that still stands. Today, the fort, built in 1831 to protect the Narrows, still dominates. Strategically situated at the entrance to New York Harbor, it was the site where the Continental Army barraged the British ship H.M.S. Asia in 1776. The fort remains an operating army base, utilized as a military induction center, a service center for reserve units and a home to military families. It houses the Fort Hamilton Officers' Club, a popular spot for community events.
The Verrazano Narrows Bridge, completed in 1964, connects Staten Island and Brooklyn at Fort Hamilton.
Served by Community
District 10
Zip Code: 11209, 11228
Was established in 1814 by Robert Fulton as a landing area for ferries. By 1872, it saw numerous daily crossings across the east river. In 1924, after 110 years, the ferry service came to an end. The opening of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883, contributed greatly to the demise of what was once a national center of industry. In the mid-1900s much of the area was demolished to accommodate the building of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
Served by Community
District 2
Zip Code: 11201
Named after Wolphert Gerritsen, who, having been granted 15,000 acres of land from the West India Company, settled there before the Revolutionary War. In 1665, his descendant, Hugh Gerritsen, a farmer, built a tidewater mill off Burnett Street. A century later, the mill was still operational and supplied Washington's troops with food supplies. It burned down in 1931. In 1899, 67 acres of the Gerritsen property was purchased and, along with a refurbished 150 year old mansion, was used as a racing lodge for the adjacent Sheepshead Bay Race Track. This lodge still stands at Burnett Street, between Avenue V and Whitney Ave. The Shell Bank Canal was developed in 1920s, along with roadways, sidewalks and subdivided lots, spurring further development. Gerritsen Beach was purchased by The Gerritsen Beach Property Owners' Association in 1965. It is a closed community for residents only with private beach, complete with concessions and bandshell. Many homes in the area have waterside yards. The summer time waters flourish with boats, jet skis, swimmers and fisherman.
Served by Community
District 15
Zip Code: 11229
From the Saxon words, grafes, meaning groves, and ende, meaning end, it is the one original English town in Brooklyn. It originally included the communities of what are now Kings Highway, Sheepshead Bay, Gerritsen Beach, Sea Gate, Coney Island, Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach. Gravesend is triangular in shape. To the north is Foster Avenue and East 17 St. On the west it runs through Bay Parkway to 78 Street, then south to Bay 37 Street & Gravesend Bay. On the east it extends to Avenue L on East 17 Street, then over to Olean Street, running southeast to Community Home Sales Avenue and Madison Place at the beginning of Marine Park at the head of Gerritsen Bay. Its southern boundary is the Atlantic Ocean. Noblewoman, Lady Deborah Moody, came from England to the colony at Lynn, Massachusetts where she was shunned for her political and religious views. In 1643 she arrived in the Dutch province of New Amsterdam. She and her following were granted refuge and issued a charter for the establishment of a town. She named the town after her estate in Kent, England, thus Gravesend came to be. In 1645 she received the charter for Gravesend. This charter was unique in many ways. Lady Moody was the first woman in the New World ever granted a charter; it was the only charter written in English (the others were written in Dutch); it allowed her and her followers absolute freedom of conscience, in addition to granting religious freedom within its confines, well before this liberty was granted to all of Dutch America via the Flatbush Remonstrance in 1657; it allowed her to set up her own government and hold town meetings. She then divided the land into four equal squares, with a common yard to each, apportioning the land like slices of pie to her followers and making her home at 27 Gravesend Neck Road. Lady Moody died in the 1650s.
Infiltrated by British troops landing on its shores, Gravesend played a major role in the Revolutionary War.
The 1800s saw Gravesend prosper, due in large part to the attraction of Coney Island. Area development boomed, prompting investment and exploitation, in addition to sheer enjoyment. Ocean Parkway, still a major thoroughfare today, was built in 1880. The inception of the Sea Beach and Culver rail lines reduced travel time to Manhattan, prompting further residential development for the working middle class. Gravesend was annexed to the City of Brooklyn in 1894.
Gravesend housed the first film Studio in America, Vitagraph Studios, located on East 15 and Locust Avenue. Many silent movies were filmed there, using the shores of Coney Island for desert scenes. With the advent of the "talkies", the clamor of the trains and trolleys brought the studio to its end.
Today, Gravesend is primarily a working class community, comprised of residential properties, with many business districts dispersed throughout the area.
Served by Community
District 15
Zip Code: 11229
The northernmost point in the borough, across from Manhattan, it was named for the greenery that covered the land. It lies on Newtown Creek and was originally a meadow-like area. This area was bought by the Dutch in 1638 and saw rapid development in the mid-1800s. Two ferry lines opened in the 1850s, providing access to Manhattan's East Side. In 1855, the area was incorporated into the City of Brooklyn, and served as a center of shipbuilding and trade. Street names like Java and India are reminiscent of the burgeoning spice and coffee trade. The Union warship, Monitor, was built and launched from Greenpoint in 1862 where it engaged in battle with the Confederate ship, Merrimac in what was the first contest of ironclad ships.
In the 1880s many immigrants worked in the factories and warehouses along Kent Avenue. Greenpoint houses the only licensed storage depot for radioactive materials, as well as the largest sewage treatment plant in the northeast. Today Greenpoint is a modest working class community.
Served by Community
District 1
Zip Code: 11222
A residential area development named after a western borough of London, Kensington is a small community that lies within Borough Park along Ocean Parkway from Caton Avenue to Avenue H. It was once part of the town of Flatbush. It developed in 1885, after the completion of Ocean Parkway. Small apartment buildings dominant the area, most built in the 1920s.
Served by Community
District 12
Zip Code: 11218
Encompassing the major business and residential area around the thoroughfare of the same name. It was one of the first highways in the borough, part of the colonial mail route from the Narrows to Jamaica and was named for King George III.
A large expanse of shopping extends along the length of Kings Highway, from Coney Island Avenue through Ocean Avenue.
Zip Codes: 11223, 11229, 11234, 11203
Go to TopOnce a famous seaside resort and fashionable residential area, named after Manhattan Island, many of its streets bear British names. It is located on a peninsula on the eastern end of Coney Island. Developed by Austin Corbin, President of the Long Island Rail Road, who opened the Manhattan Beach Hotel in 1877 and the Oriental Hotel in 1879. Among his usual hotel guests were the likes of William Vanderbilt and Diamond Jim Brady. In 1911, soon after many of the area racetracks closed, the Manhattan Beach Hotel was demolished. Manhattan Beach today is a lavish residential area, dotted with mansion-like homes, sitting atop huge parcels of land, with close proximity to the beach. Diverse opulence is the style, where tudors, colonials and elaborate, modern residences are in attendance. Some bungalows still remain, many of which have been refurbished.
Served by Community
District 15
Zip Code: 11235
Residential area adjacent to the park of the same name situated in the marine area of Jamaica Bay. The area of Marine Park was developed during the 1930s after construction of the Belt Parkway, a major highway, was completed and Flatbush Avenue was extended. In 1970, the completion of Kings Plaza, then the first suburban and largest indoor shopping mall in Brooklyn, transformed the neighborhood.
Served by Community
District 18
Zip Code: 11234
Part of old Flatbush, situated between the towns of Gravesend and Flatlands, from the Dutch midwout, for "middle woods", was a forested area, settled in 1652. The area remained mostly undeveloped until its annexation as part of New York City in 1898. In the early 1900s apartment buildings and detached homes were constructed. In 1953 The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) set up television studios in the area, (Avenue M & East 14 Street) which still stand today, and are used for taping soap operas and other television fare.
Served by Community
District 14
Zip Code: 11230
Named after the many tide mills set up in the area. Situated along Jamaica Bay, Mill Basin was called equandito (broken land) by the local Canarsee Indians, who sold the land to developers in 1664. It became part of Flatlands, and remained a rural area until 1890, when a lead-smelting plant was built. The main industry remained fishing for the crabs, oysters and clams that lived in Jamaica Bay, until 1909 when the ill effects of heavy industry resulted in the filling of the marsh land. After World War II, development companies bought up the land and residential development began. Today, Mill Basin is an exclusive neighborhood with posh homes, private boat basins and docks connected to many of the properties.
Served by Community
District 18
Zip Code: 11234
The eastern end of original Flatbush. Settled in 1670 by Dutch farmers migrating from western Flatbush, then called Old Lots, hence New Lots. Adjacent to East New York, this area has been striving for revitalization for the past few decades. Community organizations are hard at work in an effort to attract new businesses and residents to the area.
Served by Community
District 5
Zip Code: 11207
The area sloping away from the glacial ridge that cuts through adjacent Prospect Park. It was never developed by the Dutch and remained rural until Prospect Park was completed in the 1860s. Development of the area soared after the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883. The rows of brownstones that remain, many with original attributes, are characteristic of middle-class Brooklyn rowhouses built in the late 19th century. The 1970s saw this area gain tremendous popularity, which continues today. Park Slope is considered a most desirable neighborhood, luring many Manhattanites to its confines. The area is a cosmopolis whose residents hail mostly from areas other than Brooklyn. Prestigious and upscale stores, shops, restaurants and cafes line the wide avenues, while elegant browstones and limestones adorn quiet tree-lined streets.
Served by Community
District 6
Zip Code: 11215
The proximity to Prospect Park and location on part of the glacial ridge inspired the name. The area, less than one-quarter square mile, is central to The Brooklyn Museum, Grand Army Plaza, The Brooklyn Botanical Garden and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The area was developed in the 1870s, after Prospect Park was built. It holds many classic brownstones, most of which have been restored, having survived riots and arson that plagued the area after World War II. In the 1980s the city sold off many abandoned buildings in an effort to prompt the extension of middle class housing. This resulted in expansive renovation of the neighborhood which served to promote further growth. Today, this area is still a growing, diverse community.
Served by Community
District 8
Zip Code: 11238
Named after its highest point, Prospect Hill, (also known as Lookout Hill), is the second highest point in the borough at 188 feet. (The highest point, at 200 feet, is in Greenwood Cemetery.) Its peak offers a panaramic waterfront view of the borough. The Maryland Monument, which stands on the hill, honors the regiment that afforded General Washington's troops a safe retreat from the British and was erected in 1895.
The park, a work of art, occupies the center of Brooklyn, and consists of 256 acres of grassland, lakes and trees. Outdoor enjoyment prevails, by boat, by horse, by bike or by foot. It is a children's paradise, complete with a zoo, a wildlife center, and archaic Carousel, where fifty cents will buy you a giddy whirl. Here you can enjoy a pastoral retreat amongst the hustle and bustle of the city.
Zip Codes: 11215, 11218, 11226, 11225, 11238
Go to TopA hook of land on the Upper Bay, originally named Roode Hoek for the color of the clay found there. It is surrounded on three sides by water and on the fourth by the Gowanus Expressway. It was settled in the 1630s by the Dutch. In the 1850s, with the opening of the Atlantic Basin, it became one of the nation's busiest merchant centers. Throughout the Civil War its harbor serviced many ships in need of supplies and repair. In 1936, The Red Hook Housing Complex was developed to accomodate the families of the many dockworkers. As a sometime home to Al Capone, the area has long held a tough image, as portrayed in such classic movies as "On The Waterfront". Today it holds a growing artist community intent on refurbishing the area.
Served by Community
District 6
Zip Code: 11231
At the gateway to the Atlantic Ocean, this private, 43 square block, 900 home, walled community is situated at the western tip of Coney Island. Once known for its affluent residents, today it is mostly composed of multi-ethnic middle income residents who are most fortunate to have the Atlantic Ocean in their back yards.
Served by Community
District 13
Zip Code: 11224
Was the site of a large Canarsee Indian village and was named for the principal fish catch of the time, the sheepshead. Once famous for seafood from its waters, the fish are now long gone, depleted or killed off by pollution. In 1877 farmlands were subdivided and developed, prompting permanent growth in the area. The area was once home to the Coney Island Jockey Club, which was then replaced by Sheepshead Speedway, which was demolished in 1923. In 1931, in an effort at conservation, the city took possession around the basin to preserve and revitalize the area. The piers along Emmons Avenue were built in the 1930s. Today, the many fishing boats moored to these piers cast off into the ocean waters in search of striped bass, flounder, fluke and blues. On a summer's day lone anglers can be seen casting their lines into the water.
The entire wharf area is customarily brimming with people in the warm summer evenings. The many fine restaurants in the area, seafood and otherwise, provide outdoor tables for alfresco dining. Patrons can choose their preferred bill of fare, including a variety of raw shellfish, a full meal, or a frothy cappuccino, accompanied by any one of a variety of dissolute desserts.
Served by Community
District 15
Zip Code: 11235
Is the largest federally funded housing project in the nation. It maintains its own power plant, security force and cable television station. Built on a large tract of land along Jamaica Bay in 1970, it is comprised of 46 high rise apartment buildings, housing some 15,000 residents, surrounded by ball fields, shopping centers, playgrounds, schools and churches. Spring Creek is a nearby community which has become more heavily populated since the 1980s. Some of the apartment buildings house extensive medical facilities that serve the area and surrounding communities.
Served by Community
District 5
Zip Code: 11239
Situated between Bay Ridge and Gowanus, its name was taken from the local park built in the area in the 1890s. The area's growth was directly affected by the development of Bush Terminal (32- 41 Streets), a complex of warehouses, factory lofts and piers built in 1890, used to host visting circuses and wild west shows, and by the establishment of the Brooklyn Army Terminal (58-63 Streets) built in 1919. Today, both are in the midst of major renewal to accomodate the mass of small businesses that are relocating here. The Gowanus area, within Sunset Park, was so named for the Gouwane, the Indian tribe that made its camp around what is now 39 Street and 3 Avenue. The construction of the Gowanus Expressway in 1941, served to separate the industrial and residential areas of the neighborhood. The industy of the area includes light manufacturing, and wholesale meat markets, in addition to the recently established Costco discount warehouse.
Served by Community
District 7
Zip Code: 11220, 11232
Designated as an historic district in January, 1997, the area is renowned for its 200 year old brick Greek Revival rowhouses. This newly designated district, particularly three groups of rowhouses along Front Street, Water Street and Hudson Avenue, has arisen as a residential survivor, proudly reminiscent of the 19th century neighborhood that once ran from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The earliest houses in the area were built by John Jackson, a shipbuilder and developer who bought land in the area in the late 1770s. Jackson sold 40 acres of the land to the US Government. He built simply designed houses in the early 1800s, many of which were used to house Navy Yard personnel. The architecture of these homes exhibits the Federal and Greek Revival styles of the period. The area was named in honor of the last battle of an Irish-English conflict.
Served by Community
District 2
Zip Code: 11201
Was originally part of the town of Boswijck. Williamsburgh was founded in 1827 and named after a nephew of Benjamin Franklin, Jonathan Williams, an army engineer who laid out early settlements in the area. Development began when ferry service was established from Manhattan to what is now North 2 Street. This spurred the creation of a fashionable suburb, drawing society's elite, with the waterfront becoming a base for many of the largest business firms in the nation. The opening of the Williamsburgh Bridge in 1903, brought with it an influx of many of the working class, densely populating the area. Tremendous overcrowding, resulted in the quick conversion of many houses into multiple dwellings.
Served by Community
District 1
Zip Code: 11211
Windsor is named so from England's Windsor Castle, terrace is from the terrace work that had to be done to make this steep area between the high points of Prospect Park and Greenwood Cemetery habitable. This half mile square that lies between Prospect Park and Greenwood Cemetery is chiefly composed of limestones and brownstones. It was originally inhabited by the Gouwane and Werpos Indians. In the 17th century the Dutch made a land grant to John Vanderbilt and settlement in the area began. After Vanderbilt's death, the land was divided into two large farms. Robert Bell, who laid out the settlement, bought both farms in 1851. Bell, quite progressive, succeeded in helping to establish the village's own fire department and public school by century's end. Although Windsor Terrace is thought to be an extension of Park Slope, residents of the area are considered to be somewhat less pretentious than their Park Slope neighbors and the area is more affordable. It is a place where old and new form a contented mix, earnestly enjoying the company of each other.
Served by Community
District 7
Zip Code: 11215