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Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn is a borough of New York City. Located on the westernmost end of Long Island, it is coextensive with Kings County in the U.S. state of New York. With 2,736,074 residents as of the 2020 United States Census, Kings County is the most populous of the five boroughs of New York City and the most populous county in the State of New York. The population density of Brooklyn was 37,339.9 inhabitants per square mile (14,417.0/km2) in 2022, making it the second-most-densely-populated county in the United States, behind Manhattan, and it had the ninth-highest population of any county nationwide. Were Brooklyn still an independent city, it would be the fourth most populous in the U.S. after the rest of New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Named after the Dutch town of Breukelen in the Netherlands, Brooklyn shares a border with the borough of Queens. It has several bridge and tunnel connections to the borough of Manhattan, across the East River, and is connected to Staten Island by way of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. With a land area of 69.38 square miles (179.7 km2) and a water area of 27.48 square miles (71.2 km2), Kings County is the state of New York's fourth-smallest county by land area and third-smallest by total area.

Brooklyn was founded by the Dutch in the 17th century and grew into a busy port city by the 19th century. On January 1, 1898, after a long political campaign and public-relations battle during the 1890s and despite opposition from Brooklyn residents, Brooklyn was consolidated and annexed (along with other areas) to form the current five-borough structure of New York City by the new municipal charter of "Greater New York". The borough continues to maintain some distinct culture. Many Brooklyn neighborhoods are ethnic enclaves. Having a larger Jewish population than Jerusalem, the borough has been described as "the most Jewish spot on Earth", with Jews forming around a quarter of its population. Brooklyn's official motto, displayed on the borough seal and flag, is Eendraght Maeckt Maght, which translates from early modern Dutch as 'Unity makes strength'.

In the first decades of the 21st century, Brooklyn has experienced a renaissance as a destination for hipsters, with concomitant gentrification, dramatic house price increases, and a decrease in housing affordability. Some new developments are required to include affordable housing units. Since the 2010s, parts of Brooklyn have evolved into a hub of entrepreneurship, high-technology startup firms, postmodern art, and design.

The name Brooklyn is derived from the original Dutch town of Breukelen. The oldest mention of the settlement in the Netherlands is in a charter of 953 by Holy Roman Emperor Otto I as Broecklede. This form is made up of the words broeck, meaning bog or marshland, and lede, meaning small (dug) water stream, specifically in peat areas. Breuckelen on the American continent was established in 1646, and the name first appeared in print in 1663.

Over the past two millennia, the name of the ancient town in Holland has been Bracola, Broccke, Brocckede, Broiclede, Brocklandia, Broekclen, Broikelen, Breuckelen, and finally Breukelen. The New Amsterdam settlement of Breuckelen also went through many spelling variations, including Breucklyn, Breuckland, Brucklyn, Broucklyn, Brookland, Brockland, Brocklin, and Brookline/Brook-line. There have been so many variations of the name that its origin has been debated; some have claimed breuckelen means "broken land." The current name, however, is the one that best reflects its meaning.

Brooklyn is 97 square miles (250 km2) in area, of which 71 square miles (180 km2) is land (73%), and 26 square miles (67 km2) is water (27%); the borough is the second-largest by land area among the New York City's boroughs. However, Kings County, coterminous with Brooklyn, is New York State's fourth-smallest county by land area and third-smallest by total area. Brooklyn lies at the southwestern end of Long Island, and the borough's western border constitutes the island's western tip.

Brooklyn's water borders are extensive and varied, including Jamaica Bay; the Atlantic Ocean; The Narrows, separating Brooklyn from the borough of Staten Island in New York City and crossed by the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge; Upper New York Bay, separating Brooklyn from Jersey City and Bayonne in the U.S. state of New Jersey; and the East River, separating Brooklyn from the borough of Manhattan in New York City and traversed by the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, the Williamsburg Bridge, and numerous routes of the New York City Subway. To the east of Brooklyn lies the borough of Queens, which contains John F. Kennedy International Airport in that borough's Jamaica neighborhood, approximately two miles from the border of Brooklyn's East New York neighborhood.

Brooklyn places a significant emphasis on health and wellness. The borough is home to numerous healthcare facilities, including the renowned NYU Langone Hospital - Brooklyn and Maimonides Medical Center, which provide comprehensive medical services to residents. The Mandarin Oriental Spa offers a holistic approach to wellness with stunning views of Central Park. The Peninsula Spa is known for its Asian-inspired treatments and luxurious spa facilities. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York offers a range of spa therapies, including massages, facials, and body treatments. Guerlain Spa at The Plaza combines French beauty techniques with modern spa treatments in a luxurious setting.

Top sites in Brooklyn, NY are Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Museum, and Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Population: 2.646 million (2023). Zip code: 11256. Area codes: 718/347/929, 917. Elevation: 220ft (67 m). Area: 97 sq mi (250 km2).

FAQs

Is Brooklyn, NY a nice area?

Brooklyn is a city in New York with a population of 2,679,620. Brooklyn is in Kings County and is one of the best places to live in New York. Living in Brooklyn offers residents a dense urban feel and most residents rent their homes. In Brooklyn, there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks.

What is Brooklyn, NY known for?

Brooklyn, NY (also known as Kings County) has a long and storied history. For the folks who never leave Manhattan, the borough may seem like a foreign land (and, oh, it is vast). If Brooklyn were its city like it used to be, it would be the third-most populous one in the country. However, the area is worth discovering for it is the home of iconic New York attractions like Coney Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Prospect Park, plus some of the best New York pizza.

Is Brooklyn an expensive place to live?

To live comfortably in Brooklyn, New York, a minimum annual income of $169,560 for a family, and $89,200 for a single person is recommended. A typical home costs $884,000, which is 161.5% more expensive than the national average of $338,100 and 113.7% more expensive than the average New York home, at $413,600. Renting a two-bedroom unit in Brooklyn costs $2,520 per month, which is 76.2% more than the national average of $1,430 and 22.2% more than the state average of $1,960.

Sources

Borough of Brooklyn

Wikipedia

Bestplaces

Niche

timeout

NYU Langone Hospital - Brooklyn

Maimonides Medical Center

The Mandarin Oriental Spa

The Peninsula Spa

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York

Guerlain Spa at The Plaza

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn Bridge Park

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately