Brooklyn

by The Linguist

Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs that make up New York City. With a population of over 2.6 million residents as of 2020 according to the Wikipedia page on Brooklyn, it is the most populous borough in the city.

Population and Demographics

Brooklyn has grown rapidly in population over the past few decades. Here is a quick overview of Brooklyn’s current demographics:

  • Population (2020 estimate): 2,648,771
  • Population density: 36,732 people per square mile
  • Racial makeup:
    • 34.7% White
    • 29.8% Black or African American
    • 18.9% Hispanic or Latino
    • 10.9% Asian
  • Median household income (2019): $63,998

Brooklyn has large communities of various ethnic groups, including Italians, Jews, Chinese, Russians, Arabs, Caribbeans, and more. It is known for its diversity and vibrant neighborhoods.

History of Brooklyn

Brooklyn has a long and rich history dating back to the 17th century when it was founded as a Dutch settlement named “Breuckelen” after a town in the Netherlands. It joined the other boroughs in 1898 to form modern New York City.

Some key historical facts about Brooklyn:

  • First settled by Dutch colonists in 1636
  • Home to Battle of Long Island – a major battle in the American Revolutionary War in 1776
  • Became a city in 1834 and had city status until merging into NYC in 1898
  • Home to baseball’s Brooklyn Dodgers from 1913 to 1957 before the team moved to Los Angeles
  • Site of construction of the Brooklyn Bridge from 1869 to 1883, linking Manhattan to Brooklyn
  • Once had its own network of elevated railways and streetcars
  • Emerged as a thriving industrial and manufacturing hub in the early 20th century

To learn more about Brooklyn’s origins and development over the centuries, check out the Brooklyn Collection at the Brooklyn Public Library.

Government

Brooklyn is governed as part of New York City and does not have its own separate government. Residents of Brooklyn vote for the New York City Mayor, City Council members, Borough President, and other citywide offices.

The current Brooklyn Borough President is Antonio Reynoso.

Address:

Brooklyn Borough Hall

209 Joralemon St

Brooklyn, NY 11201

(718) 802-3700

Economy and Major Employers

Brooklyn has transitioned from an industrial manufacturing economy to a service and technology oriented economy over the past few decades. Some major companies headquartered or with large operations in Brooklyn include:

Other major employers:

  • NYU Langone Hospital – 150 55th St, Brooklyn, NY 11220, (718) 630-7000
  • Maimonides Medical Center – 4802 10th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11219, (718) 283-6000
  • Beth Israel Medical Center – 317 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003, (212) 420-2000
  • Verizon – 375 Pearl St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, (718) 522-6878

For more on Brooklyn’s business community and job market, see the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce website.

Attractions and Tourism

As one of New York’s most populous and diverse boroughs, Brooklyn offers a wealth of attractions and things to do for tourists and residents alike:

The tourism board for the borough, Go Brooklyn, provides listings and guides to help visitors experience all Brooklyn has to offer.

Transportation

Brooklyn is well-connected to the rest of New York City through an extensive transportation network:

  • Subway – Many subway lines run through Brooklyn, including the 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, F, G, J, M, N, Q, R, Z trains
  • Buses – A large bus network connects Brooklyn neighborhoods
  • Commuter Rail – LIRR and Metro-North both serve Brooklyn
  • Ferries – NYC Ferry system connects Brooklyn to Manhattan and Queens
  • Bridges – The Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, and other spans link to Manhattan

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) oversees public transportation in Brooklyn and all of New York City.

Sports Teams

Brooklyn is home to various professional, college, and amateur sports teams.

Major professional teams include:

College teams include:

  • LIU Sharks – Division I athletics program competing in the Northeast Conference
  • Saint Francis Brooklyn Terriers – Division I NEC member

School Districts

Public education in Brooklyn is managed by the New York City Department of Education. The borough contains dozens of local school districts, including:

In addition, Brooklyn has many renowned private and religious schools at the K-12 level.

Local Resources

Here are some additional local resources for Brooklyn residents and visitors:

Map of Brooklyn

This map shows the boundaries of Brooklyn within New York City. Brooklyn spans about 70 square miles (181 km2) in area.

Notable Landmarks

Here are the GPS coordinates for 3 famous landmarks in Brooklyn:

  • Brooklyn Bridge – 40.7061° N, 73.9969° W
  • Prospect Park – 40.6609° N, 73.9689° W
  • Coney Island – 40.5749° N, 73.9850° W

Brooklyn County

Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City and is coterminous with Kings County, New York. So while not having its own separate county government, it is equivalent to a county within New York State.

For more information on Kings County government functions like courts, deeds, and records, visit the Kings County Politics website.

Kings County District Attorney’s Office:
350 Jay St #600
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 250-2000