BROOKLYN TODAY
Brooklyn is the 3rd Largest "City" in America—Larger than Boston, Atlanta, Washington DC & Minneapolis Combined
With nearly 2,736,074 residents living across 70 neighborhoods, Brooklyn is New York City's most populous and fastest growing borough. Brooklyn had the largest population gain of all NYC boroughs from Census 2010 to 2020 (9.2%), and is just short of its record population reached in 1950.
Brooklyn is Home to the 2nd Largest Black Population of Any City in North America
Nearly 730,000 Black people live in Brooklyn—second only to Chicago—and larger than Atlanta and Detroit’s Black population combined. However, Brooklyn’s Black population decreased by 8.7% from 2010 to 2020.
Over 1/3 of Residents were Born in Another Country
Approximately 112,636 Brooklyn residents are undocumented.
Brooklyn is Home to Speakers of over 200 Languages.
Nearly 50% of all households speak a language other than English at home.
Nearly 1 in 5 Brooklyn Residents Lives in Poverty
Brooklyn ranks first in New York City in total number of children living in poverty.
Brooklyn Has the Most Units of Public Housing in New York City
There are 85 NYCHA developments with 54,355 apartments in Brooklyn. Brownsville has the highest concentration of public housing in the nation.
Nearly 30% of Renters Spend More than Half of Their Income on Rent
Brooklyn is home to the highest number of New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity.
1 in 5 Residents over 25 Does Not Have a High School Diploma
37.5% of residents over 25 have a Bachelor's degree or higher.
Nearly 30% of individuals in the NYC shelter system come from Brooklyn.
Brooklynites make up the 2nd highest percentage of individuals in the shelter system, second to individuals from The Bronx.
BROOKLYN FIRSTS & INNOVATION
Brooklyn Has the Longest-Standing Public Library System in All of New York City
Home to 59 libraries, The Brooklyn Public Library system was founded in 1892, before The New York Public Library (1895) and The Queens Public Library (1896).
Brooklyn had the 2nd-largest free Black community in pre-Civil War America
Weeksville—located in the present-day neighborhoods of Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant—was an independent free Black community established by James Weeks in 1838.
Brooklyn has the Oldest Performing Arts Center in the Nation
The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) was founded in 1861.
New York State’s First Black Woman Physician was a Brooklynite
Born in Weeksville, Dr. Susan Smith McKinney-Steward became the first Black woman to ever earn a medical degree in New York State—and the third in the entire nation—when she graduated in 1870.
Brooklyn is Home to the First Children's Museum in the United States
The Brooklyn Children's Museum was established in 1899.
Brooklyn Claims New York City’s First Designated Historic District
The Brooklyn Heights neighborhood was landmarked by the City in 1965.
The Nation’s First Black Congresswoman Was a Brooklynite
Bedford-Stuyvesant’s Shirley Chisholm was elected to the House of Representatives in 1968.
Brooklyn’s Inventions Have Had a Global Impact
Credit Cards, Air Conditioners, Teddy Bears, and Roller Coasters are just a few of the notable inventions to come out of the borough and spread worldwide.
FAST FACTS ON PHILANTHROPY
U.S. foundations’ Annual Funding Focused on Communities of Color ≤ 8.5%
From 2005-2014, total giving by foundations in the United States that was focused on reaching people of color never exceeded 8.5% for any year—and only 1% of those grants were specifically for racial justice.
Black-led Organizations Face Higher Barriers to Accessing Capital than White-led Organizations
Revenues of Black-led organizations are 24% less than white-led counterparts, and unrestricted net assets of Black-led organizations are 76% lower than white-led organizations, according to a recent study.
Philanthropic Spending on Latinx Issues is Disproportionately Low Compared to the Latinx Population in the U.S.
Even as the Latinx population in the United States has risen over the past decade to 18%, the share of philanthropic dollars going to Latinx issues has remained at about 1%, according to a study by Candid.
FAQs
What is Brooklyn's motto? ›
The borough's official motto is Een Draght Mackt Maght, which translates to “In unity there is strength” in Old Dutch.
What is Brooklyn known as? ›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 own city like it used to be, it would be the third-most populous one in the country.
How long is Brooklyn Bridge? › What are some Brooklyn slang words? ›Brooklyn slang | Meaning |
---|---|
A hunnit | Being “100%” truthful; telling the truth |
Bucktown | Brooklyn |
Feening | Putting too much effort into something |
Jatty | A large and attractive butt |
Brooklyn is filled with incredible landmarks and beautiful outdoor spaces that range from serene city parks to the thrilling Coney Island roller coasters. These are just a few reasons why people love living in Brooklyn; its neighborhood feel, sense of community, and access to great outdoor spaces are hard to resist.
Why is Brooklyn popular? ›Brooklyn has been extremely popular among New Yorkers, both as a residential destination and as the best neighborhood where to find top-notch food and drinks. Alas, according to a new study by location analytics company Placer.ai, Brooklyn is slowly but surely becoming even more popular than Manhattan among tourists.
Why is it named Brooklyn? ›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 of Holy Roman Emperor Otto I, namely Broecklede.
What is NYC original name? ›Following its capture, New Amsterdam's name was changed to New York, in honor of the Duke of York, who organized the mission. The colony of New Netherland was established by the Dutch West India Company in 1624 and grew to encompass all of present-day New York City and parts of Long Island, Connecticut and New Jersey.
Is it illegal to honk in New York? ›Is it illegal to honk your horn in New York City, except for in an emergency? Sources from the city's State Comptroller and an NYU study confirm this is false.
Who named New York City? ›The settlement was named New Amsterdam (Dutch: Nieuw Amsterdam) in 1626 and was chartered as a city in 1653. The city came under English control in 1664 and was renamed New York after King Charles II of England granted the lands to his brother, the Duke of York.
What does Dumbo stand for? ›
Dumbo's name is an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, and the span gives the creatively oriented neighborhood much of its character—as do cobblestone streets and dramatic architecture left over from its industrial days.
Is Brooklyn Bridge the oldest? ›Brooklyn Bridge Facts, History and Type. Brooklyn Bridge is a suspension/cable-stay hybrid bridge in New York City that connects Manhattan and Brooklyn. It is one of the oldest suspension bridges in United States (completed in 1883) and a first steel-wire suspension bridge in the world.
How do they say Coffee in Brooklyn? ›Most Popular Words New Yorkers Say Differently
Coffee – Caw-fee – Easily a New York Accent word favorite. The “off” in the word coffee is replaced with an “aww” sound.
The most populous section of Brooklyn was incorporated in 1816 as a village and in 1834 as a city. Williamsburg and Bushwick were annexed to it in 1855. Other communities were absorbed until the city of Brooklyn became conterminous with Kings county (created 1683).
What are Brooklyn girls known for? ›"Brooklyn Girls are renowned for beauty, grace, and wit... To those so unfortunate as to live outside the boundaries of the borough, all its young women are equally charming... But the native knows that each section of the city has its own peculiar type."
What's the nicest part of Brooklyn? ›- Williamsburg. Coming from Manhattan, Williamsburg is the first stop in Brooklyn on the L subway train. ...
- Carroll Gardens. ...
- Bay Ridge. ...
- Prospect Heights. ...
- Brooklyn Heights. ...
- Downtown Brooklyn.
Part of Brooklyn's rise is due to the influx of people who came to Brooklyn after being priced out of Manhattan. And, yes, many of them were creatives, but many were also just people who couldn't afford Manhattan anymore. But beyond that, what's made Brooklyn attractive are things that weren't necessarily brought in.
Is Brooklyn bigger than Chicago? ›Brooklyn population: 2,736,074 Chicago population: 2,746,388 We are 10,314 people shy of being the third largest city in the whole country. Where Brooklyn at?!
Is Brooklyn a rich city? ›As you probably expect, most rich New Yorkers live in Manhattan. Overall, over half of the 50 richest NYC neighborhoods are in Manhattan, including the top 15, while Brooklyn is home to 19 of the city's priciest nabes, and Queens and Staten Island are home to 5 and 1, respectively.
What is Brooklyn culture? ›Brooklyn New York
Unlike the other boroughs of New York City, Brooklyn maintains ethnic enclaves that are celebrated for their cultural heritage. Among these are Jewish, Puerto Rican, Greek, Italian as well as Russian and Ukrainian neighborhoods.
How is life in Brooklyn? ›
Brooklyn is one of the best places to live in New York. With streets lined with brownstones and bustling energy all around it, Brooklyn is a unique place full of fantastic food, live music, waterfronts, street art, Coney Island, Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, and much more.
What is the full meaning of Brooklyn? ›The name Brooklyn is of English origin and means "beautiful brook." It is derived from the English surname, which originally meant "one who lives near a brook".
How large is Brooklyn? › Why NY is called Gotham? ›Etymology. When originally used in England, the meaning of the place name Gotham was literally “homestead where goats are kept”, from Old English gāt (“goat”) + hām (“home”). As nickname for New York City, first used 1807 by Washington Irving in his Salmagundi Papers.
What do call New Yorkers? ›People who live in New York are called New Yorkers and Empire Staters.
What sport do New Yorkers love? ›Football is the city's most followed sport. The city is represented in the National Football League by the New York Giants and New York Jets.
Is it illegal to beep your horn after 11? ›You're not supposed to sound your horn on any 'restricted road' between the hours of 11.30pm and 7am. Within these hours, use of a horn is considered antisocial: it's likely to disturb people trying to sleep.
Is it illegal to Facetime while driving in NY? ›If you use a portable electronic device while you drive (except to call 911 or to contact medical, fire or police personnel about an emergency), you can receive a traffic ticket and be subject to a fine and a surcharge.
Can you honk at a biker? ›Don't Honk Your Horn
Cyclists, however, have the same rights as other motorists and must be treated as so. Startling a cyclist could cause them to lose control of their bicycle and crash. Cyclists may tense up in their neck and shoulders, which impinges their handling of the vehicle.
Pumpkin, peanut, bubby, baby, babe, bae, honey, darling, sugar, sweetie, honeybunch… English is packed full of fun, creative, and cute nicknames to call your loved ones.
Which city does not sleep? ›
Although New York City may be the most prominently recognized city termed "The City That Never Sleeps", and the city's subway system never closes, the term has been applied to other cities.
What do Americans call NYC? ›New York City is known by many nicknames—such as “the City that Never Sleeps” or “Gotham”—but the most popular one is probably “the Big Apple.” How did this nickname come about? Although uses of the phrase are documented in the early 1900s, the term first became popular in the 1920s when John J.
Why is it called the Bronx? ›People often wonder why the Bronx, alone of all New York's boroughs, has “the” as part of its name. It's because the borough is named after the Bronx River and the river was named for a man born in far-off Sweden.
What NYC means? ›abbreviation. Britannica Dictionary definition of NYC. New York City.
Why is it called Manhattan? ›The name Manhattan derives from the Munsee Lenape language term manaháhtaan (where manah- means "gather", -aht- means "bow", and -aan is an abstract element used to form verb stems). The Lenape word has been translated as "the place where we get bows" or "place for gathering the (wood to make) bows".
What does SoHo mean in New York? ›Short for South of Houston (pronounced HOUSE-tin) Street, the neighborhood of SoHo got its name from the catchy naming acronyms that keep popping up. It is also a play on the London neighborhood of the same name. Other New York City acronyms are DUMBO and TriBeCa.
How long of a walk is the Brooklyn Bridge? ›How Long Does It Take to Walk the Brooklyn Bridge? The walk is about 1.3 miles long (one way). It should take you about 60 minutes at a leisurely pace (again, one way), giving you time to take in the views and snap some photos. At a brisk pace, you're looking at 20 to 25 minutes.
Can you walk on Brooklyn Bridge? ›To walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, use the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway which begins at the intersection of Tillary Street and Boerum Place or access the pedestrian walkway via the staircase located in the underpass on Washington Street/Cadman Plaza East and Prospect Street.
Who first lived in Brooklyn? ›Brooklyn, situated at the southern tip of Long Island, was originally inhabited by a group of American Indians who called themselves the Lenape, which means "the People." They included the Nayack and the Canarsee, who planted corn and tobacco and fished in the rivers.
Is there a Brooklyn in England? ›Camden is hip, funky, a little gritty, and full of young people, which is why I call it the Brooklyn of London. It's only a short tube ride from central London and a great place to walk around and get away from the hustle and bustle.
When was Brooklyn founded? ›
Officially incorporated in 1834, Brooklyn was already the third largest city in America by the Civil War.
What is Brooklyn Latin known for? ›Brooklyn Latin is known for its strong academics and driven students, as well as its focus on classics and humanities. The school's guiding principles are based on the proven methods of Boston Latin. Students are called “discipuli,” Latin for student.
Does NYC have a motto? ›The banner shows the State motto--Excelsior--which means "Ever Upward" and E pluribus unum—which means "Out of many one." E pluribus unum was added as part of FY 2021 Enacted Budget.
What does Brooklyn's Dumbo stand for? ›Dumbo, a neighborhood whose name is an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass (no matter what Jerry Seinfeld tells you), is one of the most-visited spots in Brooklyn.
What does Brooklyn stand up mean? ›Arts & Culture. Williamsburg. Enjoy free comedy performances the first Monday of each month at Williamsburg's Paper Box. Brooklyn, Stand Up! is hosted by actress, comedian and writer Kerry Coddett and showcases funny people from Comedy Central, MTV, Conan, Saturday Night Live and more.
When did Brooklyn get its name? ›In 1898, when New York City consolidated, the city of Brooklyn became the borough of Brooklyn.
What are some NYC slangs? ›- Grill (v.) – to stare at someone in a judgmental or angry way; to look at another person for a long period of time. ...
- Kid/Son (n.) – ...
- Real Talk (phr.) – ...
- Guap/Cake/Cheese (n.) – ...
- Mad (adj.) ...
- Frontin' (ger.) – ...
- Dead-ass (adj.) – ...
- Whip (n.) –
The flag of Brooklyn has a white background with a seal at the center. Within the seal is an image of the Goddess of Justice set on a background of light blue, and bearing fasces, a traditional emblem of unity.
Did Brooklyn take her name? ›Brooklyn Beckham took his wife Nicola Peltz's surname after they married because he wanted "to be different".
What does Brooklyn mean for a girl? ›Meaning:water, small stream. Brooklyn is a renowned place name of gender-neutral persuasion with German origins. Largely associated with eclectic vibes and creative diversity, Brooklyn finds its true roots in the Dutch town of Breukelen.
Is Brooklyn a female name? ›
Brooklyn Origin and Meaning
The name Brooklyn is both a boy's name and a girl's name . Extreme makeover: Brooklyn has gone from jokey Borough Boy name in the 1990s to the leading girls' name starting with B.