Population (Estimate 2006) 2,508,820 Brooklyn: Full of Surprises
Brooklyn History: Brooklyn was one of the original six towns of Kings County, when the county/town system was established in 1683. It was included as a borough of New York in1869.It is coextensive with Kings County and situated at the southwestern end of Long Island. It nestles within the borough of Queens on the north and east and is surrounded by water on the other sides. Brooklyn is both an important industrial center, with extensive deepwater harbor facilities, and a densely populated residential area, the most populous borough of New York City.
The first European settlement of the area took place in 1636, when Dutch farmers purchased tracts of land near Gowanus Bay and founded the community of Amersfort (present-day Flatlands). In 1646 a settlement not far from the site of Borough Hall was patented and named Breucklen (Dutch for "marshland") after a town in Holland. Other settlements followed, including Gravesend, Flatbush (originally Midwout), New Utrecht and Bushwick (originally Boswyck). In 1801 the New York Naval Shipyard was established on Wallabout Bay. Ferry service across the East River to Manhattan began in 1814, and the population began to increase rapidly. In 1834 the village of Brooklyn and several surrounding communities were incorporated as a city. The opening of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883 further stimulated residential and industrial development. Brooklyn's oldest church, the Flatbush Reformed Protestant Church was built in 1654 and rebuilt 1796. Brooklyn Today:
Topping the list of things to do should be taking a walk on the 123-year-old Brooklyn Bridge, formerly known as New York and Brooklyn Bridge. Doing this allows you to virtually see the entirety of Manhattan and Brooklyn. But make sure to stay on the pedestrian side of the bridge, for your own safety, in case the breathtaking view distracts you. Walking through the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden is another worthwhile activity to do while in Brooklyn. If you're up to it, visit the spooky 168-year-old Green-Wood Cemetery. The thought of visiting a cemetery may be eerie, but you absolutely can’t miss the area’s striking architecture and sculpture! To make your visit to Brooklyn complete, Coney Island should also be on your schedule. America's classic amusement park features rides and games that will surely bring out the child in you. And if you’re in Brooklyn during June, you could catch the Mermaid Parade. You also cannot afford to miss Brooklyn Museum's First Saturday events. World-class music, art and entertainment are featured – for free! While indulging yourself with an events’ features, you can enjoy an endless supply of food, and make new friends. Speaking of food, Brooklyn has mouth-watering dishes that will make you keep coming back there, for more. Your first stop should be Grimaldi, for their pizza. They don't deliver and don't accept credit cards but that doesn’t stop their pizzas from being a major crowd drawer. The coal oven-baked crust, sauce and homemade mozzarella cheese are the best of the best! Then there's Juniors, which offers the best cheesecake in town. Choose from a wide variety, according to your taste buds. Junior’s guarantees that it’s worth the wait. It's hard to get a table at Peter Luger Steakhouse. But once you do, you’ll know why; Their thick and juicy steaks are certainly New York City's best! Brooklyn Museum --- Brooklyn Botanic Garden --- Brooklyn Borough President |
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You may think that it's impossible to find a place that’s warm and quiet, amid a bustling environment. But that’s what Brooklyn is like.
You don't really need to make huge plans just to enjoy Brooklyn, also known as the City of Kings. How is that possible? The area is meant to be low-key, despite having a population of roughly 2.5 million. Still, you can find a few good reasons to have fun and yet have the peace and quiet you’re looking for, in an independent city like Brooklyn. 