Kings County · New York City
Brooklyn
Brownstone blocks, waterfront parks and a borough of neighborhoods
Brooklyn is New York City's most populous borough, covering the western end of Long Island and stretching from the East River waterfront south to Coney Island and east toward Jamaica Bay. It is coterminous with Kings County and is made up of dozens of distinct neighborhoods rather than one center.
History
Brooklyn grew from the Dutch village of Breuckelen in the 1640s into a separate city, consolidated with New York in 1898. Its 19th-century waterfront, sugar refineries, shipyards and rowhouse districts were built by waves of immigration, and the borough's West Indian, Jewish, Italian, Arab, Chinese, Latino and Eastern European communities still shape its commercial streets.
Local Character
Brooklyn identity is neighborhood-based. Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope offer brownstone streets near the park, Williamsburg and Greenpoint carry a waterfront restaurant and nightlife scene, Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights have historic rowhouse districts, and southern Brooklyn neighborhoods such as Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Sheepshead Bay and Brighton Beach are known for their ethnic dining corridors.
Restaurants & Shopping
Brooklyn dining is spread across dozens of commercial corridors: Smith Street, Court Street, Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, Graham Avenue in East Williamsburg, Flatbush Avenue, and the restaurant rows of Bay Ridge's Third Avenue and Brighton Beach's Brighton Beach Avenue. Atlantic Avenue, Smith Street, Bedford Avenue, Fifth Avenue and Fulton Street carry independent retail, while Downtown Brooklyn's Fulton Street Mall and Atlantic Terminal serve everyday shopping. Artisan food producers cluster around Greenpoint, Red Hook and Industry City.
Housing & Residential Environment
Brooklyn ranges from 19th-century brownstones and rowhouses to large postwar apartment complexes and new waterfront towers. Prices are highest in Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Park Slope and Williamsburg, with more affordable options deeper into central and southern Brooklyn.
Schools & Education
Public schools fall under the New York City Department of Education, and the borough has strong specialized and selective programs along with parochial and independent schools. Brooklyn College, Pratt Institute, Long Island University, NYU Tandon and Medgar Evers College anchor higher education.
Parks & Recreation
Prospect Park is the borough's signature green space, joined by Brooklyn Bridge Park, McCarren Park, Fort Greene Park, Prospect Park's Long Meadow, Marine Park, Shirley Chisholm State Park and the Coney Island beachfront.
Transportation
The subway connects Brooklyn to Manhattan through the East River tunnels, with the A/C, B/D/F/M, G, J/Z, L, N/Q/R/W, 2/3/4/5 and 7 lines serving the borough. The LIRR runs from Atlantic Terminal, ferries connect the waterfront, and the Belt Parkway and BQE carry traffic.
Neighborhoods & Communities
Getting Around Brooklyn
The subway connects Brooklyn to Manhattan through the East River tunnels, with the A/C, B/D/F/M, G, J/Z, L, N/Q/R/W, 2/3/4/5 and 7 lines serving the borough. The LIRR runs from Atlantic Terminal, ferries connect the waterfront, and the Belt Parkway and BQE carry traffic.
Local Businesses
Brooklyn's independent business base is unusually visible: family-run bakeries, hardware stores, bike shops, design studios, restaurants and contractor firms line the avenues. Commercial corridors such as Fulton Street, Nostrand Avenue, 86th Street and Kings Highway serve neighborhoods that are less visited by tourists.
Popular Attractions
- Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Prospect Park
- Brooklyn Museum
- Coney Island Boardwalk
- Barclays Center
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brooklyn a city?
No. Brooklyn was a separate city until 1898 and is now a borough of New York City, coterminous with Kings County.
Which Brooklyn neighborhoods are closest to Manhattan?
Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Williamsburg and Greenpoint sit directly across the East River, with the shortest subway trips into Lower Manhattan.
Does Brooklyn have beaches?
Yes. Coney Island, Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach are on the Atlantic shoreline, and Fort Tilden and Jacob Riis Park lie just beyond the borough line in Queens.