Laura T. Spagnolo, SRES

Associate Broker & Senior Real Estate Specialist

Brooklyn, NY Area Guide

Brooklyn History

Although New York was originally occupied by the Lenape Indians, the Dutch were the first Europeans to settle in the New York area. The first Dutch settlements included Midwout, Gowanus, Red Hook, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and the Bushwick area in the 1630s. Brooklyn (then known as the Village of Breucklen) was purchased in 1646 and became the first true municipality of New York State. The Province of New York was subdivided into twelve counties which were broken down into towns; Kings County was one of the original counties and was named after King Charles II of England.

In 1776, the Battle of Long Island was fought in Kings County, and was the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War. As a result, New York became a political and military base of operations for the British which attracted loyalists fleeing other colonies to the areas surrounding the city, including Brooklyn.

In 1879 Brooklyn expanded significantly along the East River waterfront, right across from New York City. The county consisted of two cities: the City of Brooklyn and the City of Williamsburg which had been annexed in 1854. With the addition of this new land Brooklyn’s population grew from just 36,236 people to over 96,000 during this time. The area continued to expand exponentially as railways were constructed and the Brooklyn Bridge was completed in 1883. In order to accommodate the growing population, the City of Brooklyn annexed the Town of New Lots, the Town of Flatbush, the Town of Gravesend, and the Town of New Utrecht between the 1880s and 1890s. In 1894, Brooklyn residents voted to join Manhattan, The Bronx, Queens, and Richmond (which later became Staten Island) to become the five boroughs of New York City.

For more information about the history and culture of Brooklyn, please visit the borough’s official website below:
http://www.brooklynonline.com

Brooklyn Attractions

Brooklyn has something for everyone, including historic architecture, a variety of museums, amusement parks, festivals, and an exciting nightlife. There are also plenty of cultural attractions, such as Little Odessa in Brighton Beach, Chinatown in Sunset Park, the Polish Greenpoint area, Caribbean Flatbush, Latin Sunset Park, and the world’s largest Hasidic population in Williamsburg and Crown Heights. Outdoor activities that are popular among residents here include kayaking, paddle boating, and canoeing.

For a complete list of attractions to visit in Brooklyn, please visit the following website:
http://www.visitbrooklyn.org/attractions.php?pagename=Attractions&subpagename=Landing+Page

Brooklyn Parks & Recreation

The parks in Brooklyn are designed to enrich the lives of residents here, both physically and mentally. With approximately 29,000 acres, the parks in New York City offer a variety of venues for fitness and relaxation in an attempt to appeal to the widest possible audience. Popular activities include swimming, skating, birding, pedal boating, and picnicking with family and friends.

For more information about the New York City Parks System, please visit the website below:
http://www.nycgovparks.org

For more information on Brooklyn visit the Brooklyn Tourism and Visitors website by clicking here