129-618: Cadman Plaza is a park located on the border of the Brooklyn Heights and Downtown Brooklyn neighborhoods in Brooklyn , New York City . Named for Reverend Doctor Samuel Parkes Cadman (1864–1936), a renowned minister in the Brooklyn Congregational Church , it is built on land reclaimed by condemnation in 1935 and was named as a park in 1939. The park borders Cadman Plaza West and Cadman Plaza East and
258-451: A gross domestic product of approximately $ 500 billion. Median household income on the island significantly exceeds $ 100,000, and the median home price is approximately $ 600,000, with Nassau County approximating $ 700,000. Among residents over the age of 25, 42.6% hold a college degree or higher educational degree. Unemployment on Long Island stays consistently below 4%. Biotechnology companies , engineering , and scientific research play
387-531: A plateau on a high bluff that rises sharply from the river's edge and gradually recedes on the landward side. Before the Dutch settled on Long Island in the middle of the seventeenth century, this promontory was called Ihpetonga ("the high sandy bank") by the native Lenape American Indians . Ferries across the East River were running as early as 1642, serving the farms in the area. The most significant of
516-547: A "stoop", a word derived from Dutch. The basement is typically a half-flight down from the street, and was used as the work area for servants, including the kitchen. The first floor would be the location of the public rooms, bedrooms were on the second floor, and servants' quarters were on the top floor. The rear of the lot would feature a private garden. Aside from rowhouses, a number of houses, particularly along Pierrepont Street and Pierrepont Place, are authentic mansions . The concentration of over 600 pre-Civil War houses, one of
645-555: A 34-story condominium, which now contains the smaller library at its base. In the interim, the BPL branch moved to the temporary 109 Remsen Street location, until the new location was completed in 2022. Brooklyn Heights is serviced by numerous subway services, specifically the A and C trains at High Street ; the A , C , F , <F> , N , R , and W trains at Jay Street–MetroTech ;
774-686: A boundary dispute, they drove out English settlers from the Oyster Bay area. However, in 1664, the English returned to take over the Dutch colony of New Netherland , including Long Island. The 1664 land patent granted to the Duke of York included all islands in Long Island Sound. The Duke of York held a grudge against Connecticut, as New Haven had hidden three of the judges ( John Dixwell , Edward Whalley and William Goffe ) who sentenced
903-497: A devastating attack that killed 80 Native Americans. Despite shifting claims to title and absentee land sales, European settlers continued to purchase land directly from indigenous people. In 1655, they split the acquired land amongst themselves and continued to search the island for more land for settlement. On June 10, 1664, other parts of indigenous land were bought, including present-day Brookhaven , Bellport , and South Haven , in exchange for four coats and 6 pounds 10 shilling -
1032-425: A few 2/1/2-story late Federal houses from the early 19th century in the northern part of the neighborhood. Some houses were constructed of brick, but the dominant building material was brownstone or "Jersey freestone", a reddish-brown stone from Passaic County, New Jersey . A typical brownstone rowhouse was three or four stories tall, with the main floor above the street level and reached by stairs, referred to as
1161-566: A firmly middle-class area, which became "one of New York City's most pleasant and attractive neighborhoods." Starting in 2008, Brooklyn Bridge Park was built along the shoreline of the East River. As of 2018 the park was 90% complete, and it is now completely renovated. The Squibb Park Bridge was constructed in 2013 to provide access between the park and the rest of Brooklyn Heights, but had to be demolished in 2019 due to various structural issues. A replacement bridge opened in 2020. By
1290-474: A high school education and 25% are high school graduates or have some college education. By contrast, 40% of Brooklynites and 38% of city residents have a college education or higher. The percentage of Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene students excelling in math rose from 27 percent in 2000 to 50 percent in 2011, and reading achievement rose from 34% to 41% during the same time period. Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene's rate of elementary school student absenteeism
1419-587: A lack of evidence, can only be guessed. However, anthropological models suggest that the leaders did not have overarching authority over the rest of the village. Rather, the leaders often sought advice from the elders. The early settlers of Long Island were likely tied by kinship and did not identify themselves as distinct tribes. These tribes were designated by the Europeans as a method of identifying borders. However, there seems to be two, overlapping, but different cultures. Western Long Island natives probably spoke
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#17327727369331548-708: A large part of Brooklyn Heights was protected from unchecked development by the creation of the Brooklyn Heights Historic District , the first such district in New York City. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Directly across the East River from Manhattan and connected to it by subways and regular ferry service, Brooklyn Heights is also easily accessible from Downtown Brooklyn. Columbia Heights, an upscale six-block-long street next to
1677-507: A medium for cultural expression. The stylistic variations in pottery across different sites on Long Island suggest a rich diversity of cultural identities and the exchange of ideas among various groups. Additionally, this period was marked by participation in trade networks with other Northeastern Indigenous communities. During the Late Woodland Period, there was a noticeable intensification of agriculture, with maize becoming
1806-555: A number of historic buildings to house their staff, including the former Hotel Bossert , once the seasonal home of many Dodgers players, on Montague Street. In 2010, the organization announced plans to begin selling off its numerous properties in the Heights and nearby downtown Brooklyn, given that it plans to relocate itself in upstate New York. The executive offices of the Brooklyn Dodgers were, for many years, located in
1935-400: A plan to use counterfeiting to induce economic sabotage. Long Island's colonists supported both Loyalist and Patriot causes, with many prominent families divided among both sides. During the occupation, British forces utilized a number of civilian structures for defense and were also at times quartered in local homes. A number of structures from this era remain. Among these are Raynham Hall ,
2064-477: A relatively low population of residents who are uninsured , or who receive healthcare through Medicaid . In 2018, this population of uninsured residents was estimated to be 4%, which is lower than the citywide rate of 12%. However, this estimate was based on a small sample size. The concentration of fine particulate matter , the deadliest type of air pollutant , in Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene
2193-505: A resolution of the alderman. In Historically Speaking , Brooklyn borough historian John B. Manbeck says only that these street names "have questionable origins", as does Love Lane , which reputedly gets its name from the meetings that took place there between a pretty girl who lived nearby and her suitors. There have been many noted residents of Brooklyn Heights. The dates listed are their respective birth and death dates. Famous residents include: Notes Long Island Long Island
2322-413: A select neighborhood and circle of society." Where there had been only seven houses in the Heights in 1807, by 1860 there were over six hundred of them, and by 1890 the area was almost completely developed. The buildings were designed in a wide variety of styles; development started in the northern part, and moved southward, so the architecture general changes in that direction as the preferred style of
2451-497: A shift towards a more settled lifestyle, with small bands forming seasonal settlements. The indigenous peoples in the Early and Middle Woodland period began developing horticulture as well as more efficient strategies for hunting and gathering. They established year-round settlements. Pottery emerged as a widespread technological innovation during this era, serving not only practical storage and cooking purposes but also functioning as
2580-718: A significant role in Long Island's economy, including research facilities at Brookhaven National Laboratory , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory , Stony Brook University , New York Institute of Technology , Plum Island Animal Disease Center , the New York University Tandon School of Engineering , the Zucker School of Medicine , and the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research . As a hub of commercial aviation , Long Island
2709-476: A staple crop alongside beans and squash. This agricultural advancement supported larger populations and led to the establishment of more permanent villages characterized by substantial dwellings, mostly wigwams and longhouses . The increased reliance on farming did not eliminate hunting and gathering, which continued to play a crucial role in the subsistence economy. The Long Island natives lived in villages of differing sizes and their governing style, because of
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#17327727369332838-697: A struggle over between the Pequot tribe of Connecticut, who exerted control over eastern Long Island, and the English New England Colonies , reshaped alliances and power dynamics in the region. The defeat of the Pequots left a void in eastern Long Island's political landscape, who were historically under the influence of the Connecticut Pequots for trade and protection. Indigenous leaders such as Uncas and Ninigret , alongside
2967-483: A surveyor and submitted an alternative. In the end, the Hickses' plan was adopted north of Clark Street, and Pierrepont's, featuring 25-by-100-foot (8-by-30 meter) lots, south of it. Thanks to the influence of Pierrepont and other landowners, Brooklyn received a charter from the state as a village in 1816, which led to streets being laid out in a regular grid pattern, sidewalks being laid, water pumps being installed and
3096-431: A value that, accounting for monetary inflation through 2017, is currently worth approximately $ 840. During King Philip's War in 1675, the governor of New York , Edmund Andros , ordered that all canoes east of Hell Gate be confiscated. This was done to prevent local indigenous people from helping their Native allies on the mainland, who were attacking New England settlers there. Notable sachems, such as Tackapousha of
3225-412: Is 0.0088 milligrams per cubic metre (8.8 × 10 oz/cu ft), lower than the citywide and boroughwide averages. Eleven percent of Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene residents are smokers , which is slightly lower than the city average of 14% of residents being smokers. In Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene, 24% of residents are obese , 6% are diabetic , and 25% have high blood pressure —compared to
3354-547: Is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New York state , extending into the Atlantic Ocean . It constitutes a significant share of the New York metropolitan area in both population and land area. The island extends from New York Harbor 118 miles (190 km) eastward into the ocean with a maximum north–south width of 23 miles (37 km). With a land area of 1,401 square miles (3,630 km ), it
3483-624: Is a residential neighborhood within the New York City borough of Brooklyn . The neighborhood is bounded by Old Fulton Street near the Brooklyn Bridge on the north, Cadman Plaza West on the east, Atlantic Avenue on the south, and the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway or the East River on the west. Adjacent neighborhoods are Dumbo to the north, Downtown Brooklyn to the east, and Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill to
3612-402: Is about equal to the rest of New York City. In Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene, 20% of elementary school students missed twenty or more days per school year , the same as the citywide average. Additionally, 75% of high school students in Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene graduate on time, equal to the citywide average. St. Ann's School , a K–12 school, is located in the neighborhood, with
3741-589: Is also translated as "loose" or "scattered", which may refer either to the wampum or to Long Island. The name "'t Lange Eylandt alias Matouwacs" appears in Dutch maps from the 1650s, with 't Lange Eylandt translating it to "Long Island" from Old Dutch . The English referred to Long Island as "Nassau Island", after the House of Nassau of the Dutch Prince William of Nassau, Prince of Orange (who later also ruled as King William III of England ). It
3870-589: Is covered by ZIP Code 11201. The United States Post Office operates two locations nearby: the Cadman Plaza Station at 271 Cadman Plaza East, and the DUMBO Automated Postal Center at 84 Front Street. Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene generally have a higher ratio of college-educated residents than the rest of the city as of 2018 . The majority of residents (64%) have a college education or higher, while 11% have less than
3999-551: Is home to two of the nation's and New York metropolitan area 's busiest airports, JFK International Airport and LaGuardia Airport . Also located on Long Island are Long Island MacArthur Airport and two major air traffic control radar facilities, New York TRACON and New York ARTCC. Long Island has nine major bridges and thirteen navigable tunnels, which connect Brooklyn and Queens to the three other boroughs of New York City. Ferries connect Suffolk County northward across Long Island Sound to Connecticut . Long Island Rail Road
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4128-739: Is located at 74 Middagh Street, serving the northern part of the neighborhood, while Engine Co. 224 is located at 274 Hicks Street, serving the southern part of the neighborhood. A third fire station, Engine Co. 207/Ladder Co. 110/Satellite 6/Battalion 31/Division 11, is located at 172 Tillary Street in nearby Fort Greene . As of 2018 , preterm births and births to teenage mothers are less common in Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene than in other places citywide. In Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene, there were 74 preterm births per 1,000 live births (compared to 87 per 1,000 citywide), and 11.6 births to teenage mothers per 1,000 live births (compared to 19.3 per 1,000 citywide). Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene have
4257-465: Is lower than that of the city as a whole. The 84th Precinct has a lower crime rate than in the 1990s, with crimes across all categories having decreased by 82.3% between 1990 and 2018. The precinct reported 2 murders, 18 rapes, 147 robberies, 184 felony assaults, 126 burglaries, 650 grand larcenies, and 31 grand larcenies auto in 2018. Brooklyn Heights is served by two New York City Fire Department (FDNY) fire stations. Engine Co. 205/Ladder Co. 118
4386-480: Is now New York Bay in 1524, however it is unclear whether he encountered Native Americans from Long Island. In 1609, the English navigator Henry Hudson explored the harbor and purportedly landed at present-day Coney Island . Dutch explorer Adriaen Block followed in 1615 and is credited as the first European to determine that both Manhattan and Long Island are islands. The first recorded encounters between
4515-487: Is separated from Staten Island and the state of New Jersey by Upper New York Bay , The Narrows , and Lower New York Bay . With a population of 8,063,232 residents as of the 2020 U.S. census , Long Island constitutes 40% of New York state's entire population. Long Island is the most populous island in any U.S. state or territory, the third-most populous island in the Americas after Hispaniola and Cuba , and
4644-462: Is the busiest commuter railroad in North America and operates continuously. As the last Ice Age waned with Wisconsin glaciation , early Paleo-Indians ventured into the evolving landscapes of present-day Long Island, marking a significant environmental shifts and laying the groundwork for the region's rich ecosystems. These nomadic hunter-gatherers, equipped with stone tools, navigated
4773-461: Is the largest island in the contiguous United States . Long Island is divided among four counties , with Kings (Brooklyn), Queens , and Nassau counties occupying its western third and Suffolk County its eastern two-thirds. Long Island may refer both to the main island and the surrounding outer barrier islands . To its west, Long Island is separated from Manhattan Island and the Bronx by
4902-475: Is unclear when the name "Nassau Island" was discontinued. Another indigenous name from colonial time, Paumanok , comes from the Native American name for Long Island and means "the island that pays tribute." The very first European settlements on Long Island were by settlers from England and its colonies in present-day New England . Lion Gardiner settled nearby Gardiners Island. The first settlement on
5031-565: The 2 and 3 trains at Clark Street ; and the 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , N , R , and W trains at Borough Hall/Court Street . Although no bus routes actually stop in Brooklyn Heights, many MTA Regional Bus Operations bus routes are located nearby in Downtown Brooklyn. The B25 also stops in Dumbo/ Fulton Ferry , while
5160-556: The Algonquian peoples of Long Island and Europeans occurred with the arrival of explorers in the early 17th century, first contacted by Henry Hudson and his crew. These interactions were initially characterized by curiosity and tentative exchanges, but conflicts later emerged between them. Despite this, mutually beneficial trade ensued, with the Algonquian trading fur for clothing, metal, guns, and alcohol. The Dutch, recognizing
5289-454: The B61 and B63 serve Cobble Hill. In June 2017, NYC Ferry 's South Brooklyn route started stopping at Brooklyn Bridge Park Piers 1 and 6 in Brooklyn Heights. Many of the streets in Brooklyn Heights are named after people who figured prominently in the neighborhood's history. Concerning the "fruit streets" in Brooklyn Heights – Cranberry , Orange and Pineapple Streets –
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5418-479: The East River tidal estuary . North of the island is Long Island Sound , across which lie Westchester County, New York , and the state of Connecticut . Across the Block Island Sound to the northeast is the state of Rhode Island . Block Island , which is part of Rhode Island, and numerous smaller islands extend farther into the Atlantic Ocean . To the extreme southwest, Long Island, at Brooklyn ,
5547-797: The Gold Coast of the North Shore and the Five Towns area on the South Shore . South Shore communities are built along protected wetlands of the island and contain white sandy beaches of Outer Barrier Islands fronting on the Atlantic Ocean. Dutch and English settlers from the time before the American Revolutionary War , as well as communities of Native Americans, populated the island. The 19th century saw
5676-473: The Gold Coast . This period and the area was immortalized in fiction, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby , which has also been adapted in films . The gradual decline in Indigenous authority reached a critical point when it led to the formal obliteration of acknowledgement for many tribes. A poignant example of this phenomenon occurred in 1910, when a legal decree by New York State pronounced
5805-516: The Invasion of Quebec before transferring to the 3rd New York in 1776. Seeing action at Monmouth , Willett then participated in the 1778 Sullivan Campaign . He was made the colonel of the 5th New York in 1780 and the Tryon County militia in 1781, where he fought at Johnstown . On August 22, 1830, Willett died and was buried in the graveyard of Trinity Church . The Willets Point and
5934-782: The Long Island Historical Society , Packer Collegiate Institute , and St. Ann's and the Holy Trinity Church , among other historically notable buildings. A number of bank buildings are concentrated on Montague Street, including the Brooklyn Trust Company Building , the People's Trust Building , and the National Title Guaranty Building . Based on data from the 2010 United States Census ,
6063-645: The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) began service in 1836 from the South Ferry in Brooklyn , through the remainder of Brooklyn, to Jamaica in Queens . The line was completed to the east end of Long Island in 1844, as part of a plan for transportation to Boston . Competing railroads, soon absorbed by the LIRR, were built along the south shore to accommodate travelers from those more populated areas. For
6192-487: The NYPD , located at 301 Gold Street. The 84th Precinct ranked 60th-safest out of 69 patrol areas for per-capita crime in 2010. This was attributed to a high rate of property crimes in the neighborhood. As of 2018 , with a non-fatal assault rate of 40 per 100,000 people, Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene's rate of violent crimes per capita is less than that of the city as a whole. The incarceration rate of 401 per 100,000 people
6321-458: The Outer Lands region, is formed largely of two spines of glacial moraine , with a large, sandy outwash plain beyond. These moraines consist of gravel and loose rock left behind during the two most recent pulses of Wisconsin glaciation during the ice ages some 21,000 years ago (19,000 BC). The northern moraine, which directly abuts the North Shore of Long Island at points, is known as
6450-734: The Oyster Bay home of patriot spy Robert Townsend , and the Caroline Church in Setauket , which contains bullet holes from a skirmish known as the Battle of Setauket . Also in existence is a reconstruction of Brooklyn's Old Stone House , on the site of the Maryland 400 's celebrated last stand during the Battle of Long Island . In the 19th century, Long Island was still mainly rural and devoted to agriculture . The predecessor to
6579-537: The South , were followed by more recent immigrants from Asia and Latin America . Long Island has many ethnic Irish , Jews , and Italians . In later immigration trends, Asians , Hispanics , Afghans , Arabs , and Indians arrived on Long Island. The westernmost end of Long Island contains the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn (Kings County) and Queens (Queens County). The central and eastern portions contain
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#17327727369336708-521: The U.S. House of Representatives , where he served until 1791. Francis Lewis from Brookhaven on Long Island, another signer of the Declaration of Independence , had his home destroyed and his wife Elizabeth arrested by the British after the battle of Long Island. George Washington managed her release by having the wives of two wealthy Loyalists from Philadelphia arrested, and then exchanging
6837-572: The Underground Railroad ". To dramatize the plight of those held in captivity, Beecher once brought a female slave to the church and held an auction, with the highest bidder purchasing not the slave, but her freedom. Beecher also raised money to buy other slaves out of captivity, and shipped rifles to abolitionists in Kansas and Nebraska in crates labelled "Bibles", which gave the rifles the nickname " Beecher's Bibles ". The completion of
6966-638: The WPA Guide to New York City reports that before the Civil War, these streets, along with Poplar and Willow Streets , were named after prominent families, but that a member of the Middagh family expressed her dislike of these families by replacing the street signs with botanical names. The city would restore the proper names, and Middagh would put back her own signs. Several iterations of this game ended when Middagh's new names were given official status by
7095-550: The suburban Nassau and Suffolk counties. However, colloquial usage of the term "Long Island" usually refers only to Nassau and Suffolk counties. For example, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has a district named "Long Island (Nassau-Suffolk Metro Division)." At least as late as 1911, locations in Queens were still commonly referred to as being on Long Island. Some institutions in the New York City section of
7224-452: The 18th-most populous island in the world ahead of Ireland , Jamaica , and Hokkaidō . Its population density is 5,859.5 inhabitants per square mile (2,262.4/km ). Long Island is culturally and ethnically diverse , featuring some of the wealthiest and most expensive neighborhoods in the world near the shorelines , as well as working-class areas in all four counties. As of 2022, Kings, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties collectively had
7353-651: The Brooklyn Heights Promenade, is sometimes considered to be its own neighborhood. Brooklyn Heights is part of Brooklyn Community District 2 , and its primary ZIP Code is 11201. It is patrolled by the 84th Precinct of the New York City Police Department . The New York City Fire Department operates two fire stations near Brooklyn Heights: Engine Company 205/Ladder Company 118 at 74 Middagh Street, and Engine Company 224 at 274 Hicks Street. Brooklyn Heights occupies
7482-469: The Brooklyn Heights branch shared the site with the Business & Career Library. In 2013, BPL announced its intent to sell 280 Cadman Plaza West, and as part of this announcement, the Business and Career Library's functions were relocated to BPL's Central Branch . BPL then sold the Brooklyn Heights branch to developer Hudson Companies. Hudson Companies then demolished the structure and replaced it with
7611-663: The Crown by creating him Lord Alexander of Tullibody and Viscount of Stirling . On April 22 of that year Charles told the Plymouth Colony , which had laid claim to Long Island but had not settled it, to cede it to Alexander. When his agent James Farret arrived in New Amsterdam in 1637 to present his claim of English sovereignty, he was arrested and imprisoned in Holland , but later escaped from prison. The Pequot War,
7740-549: The Delaware-Munsee dialect. The eastern group's language is less well-founded, but it is most likely related to the southern New England Algonquian dialect. The kinship system likely kept Long Island natives together with clans in present-day New Jersey , Massachusetts , Connecticut , and Rhode Island . Giovanni da Verrazzano was the first European to record an encounter with the Lenape people, after entering what
7869-590: The Duke's father, King Charles I , to death in 1649. Settlers throughout Suffolk County pressed to stay part of Connecticut, but Governor Sir Edmund Andros threatened to eliminate the settlers' rights to land if they did not yield, which they did by 1676. All of Long Island along with islands between Long Island and Connecticut became part of the Province of New York within the Shire of York . Present-day Suffolk County
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#17327727369337998-776: The Dutch but released after saying they were mistaken about the title. Through Farret, who received Shelter Island and Robins Island , Alexander in turn sold most of the eastern island to the New Haven and Connecticut colonies. As European settlers proliferated on Long Island, the ecosystem underwent significant transformation, and the dynamics between Native Americans and Europeans shifted. The Europeans cleared vast areas of traditional hunting grounds and introduced livestock that damaged Native crops. Europeans also began to encroach on Native land, and this growing proximity heightened tensions. This culminated in Kieft's War , initiated by
8127-516: The East River, and to this end he became a prominent investor in Robert Fulton 's New York and Brooklyn Steam Ferry Boat Company, using his influence on Fulton's behalf; he eventually became a part owner and a director of the company. Fulton's ferry began running in 1814, and Brooklyn received a charter as a village from the state of New York in 1816, thanks to the influence of Pierrepont and other prominent landowners. The city then prepared for
8256-408: The English settled on the eastern side, buying land from any sachems who were willing to sell to them. The perspectives on these land purchases likely varied significantly between Native Americans and Europeans. Europeans viewed land transactions as opportunities for exclusive ownership and permanent settlement, while the Algonquian peoples viewed the transaction as temporary and communal. Additionally,
8385-416: The European market, particularly through their labor and the dwindling fur and wampum trades. By the 18th century, most native lands had been seized, leaving only small parcels, and many Indigenous people were relegated to roles as domestics, laborers, guides, and seamen. William Floyd was born on Long Island on December 17, 1734. In 1654, his family emigrated to North America. By the time of Floyd's birth,
8514-414: The Hamptons, and for the Montauk Point Lighthouse at the eastern tip of the island. The Pine Barrens is a preserved pine forest encompassing much of eastern Suffolk County. A detailed geomorphological study of Long Island provides evidence of glacial history of the kame and terminal moraines of the island which were formed by the advance and retreat of two ice sheets . Long Island, as part of
8643-401: The Heights could leave the office at three o'clock, have dinner at home at four o'clock, and still have time for a "leisurely drive to the outskirts of town", a "middle class paradise". The community's development was helped by the yellow fever epidemic of 1822, when many of the rich from the city abandoned it for an area that was advertised as "elevated and perfectly healthy at all seasons ...
8772-427: The Heights, near the intersection of Montague and Court Streets. A plaque on the office building that replaced the Dodgers' old headquarters at 215 Montague Street identifies it as the site where Jackie Robinson signed his major league contract. Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims and Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Cathedral are located in Brooklyn Heights, as are the First Unitarian Congregational Society ,
8901-421: The Island's key role in the history of aviation. From the 1920s to the 1940s, Long Island began the transformation from backwoods and farms as developers created numerous suburbs. Numerous branches of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) already enabled commuting from the suburbs to Manhattan. Robert Moses engineered various automobile parkway projects to span the island, and developed beaches and state parks for
9030-438: The Livingston estate, plus the Benson, De Bevoise and Reemsen farms – on what was then called "Clover Hill", now Brooklyn Heights, and built a mansion there. Pierrepont purchased and expanded Philip Livingston 's gin distillery on the East River at what is now Joralemon Street, where he produced Anchor Gin. Wishing to sub-divide and develop his property, Pierrepont realized the need for regularly scheduled ferry service across
9159-720: The Massapequa, saw their influence wane post-King Philip's War in 1675. In the face of escalating tensions between French and English settlers, these Indigenous figures endeavored to mediate and protect their communities. However efforts to maintain land rights were undermined by disease, deceit, infringements of land patents, and cultural misunderstandings. After the Dutch began to colonize Manhattan, many indigenous people moved to Pennsylvania and Delaware . Many of those who stayed behind died from smallpox , which spread to North America via European colonists and resulted in large scale deaths due to lack of antibodies and natural resistance which Eurasian peoples had gained with their exposure to
9288-504: The Montaukett "tribe" extinct, ignoring the presence and testimonies of its members in court. Such decrees were used to facilitate the encroachment on Native American lands with greater ease, granting legal legitimacy to the acts of settler colonialism. In the absence of legally recognized Indigenous territories, settlers could assert ownership over Native lands without engaging in negotiations or offering compensation. This act represented
9417-527: The Native Americans governance style of weak leadership and undefined hunting grounds, did not align with the European's need for strict boundaries. This confusion resulted in conflict and boundary disputes for many years after. In 1640, English colonists attempted to settle Cow Bay in what is present-day Port Washington . After an alert by Native leader Penhawitz , the colonists were arrested by
9546-500: The New England Colonies, vied to fill this vacuum, with the colonists eventually prevailing over their indigenous rivals. In 1639, Lion Gardiner secured the first purchase of eastern Long Island land, an islet off of present-day East Hampton . The period between 1636 and 1648 marked a time of land acquisition in Long Island by Dutch and English colonists. The Dutch occupied a small portion of western Long Island while
9675-676: The Pierrepont (1928), among others – were constructed. By the beginning of the Great Depression , most of the middle class had left the area. Boarding houses had become rooming houses, and the neighborhood began to have the appearance of a slum. During the 1940s and 1950s, the building of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) badly affected the neighborhood, as it took away the neighborhood's northwest corner, destroying whole rows of brownstones . At about
9804-521: The Space Age. Grumman was one of the major contractors that helped to build the early lunar flight and Space Shuttle vehicles. Although the aircraft companies eventually ended their Long Island operations and the early airports were all later closed. Roosevelt Field, for instance, became the site of a major shopping mall , the Cradle of Aviation Museum on the site of the former Mitchel Field documents
9933-454: The accompanying Mets-Willets Point station is named in his honor. Early in the American Revolutionary War , the island was captured by the British from American troops under George Washington in the battle of Long Island, a major battle after which Washington narrowly evacuated his troops from Brooklyn Heights under a dense fog. After the British victory on Long Island, many Patriots withdrew, leaving mostly Loyalists behind. The island
10062-458: The area's major landowners. Pierrepont had accumulated 60 acres of land, including 800 feet which directly overlooked the harbor, all of which he planned to sub-divide. Since his intention was to sell to merchants and bankers who lived in Manhattan, he needed easy access between Brooklyn Heights and New York City, which Fulton's company provided. Pierrepont bought 60 acres (24 ha) – part of
10191-741: The beginning of the 21st century, a number of Long Island communities had converted their assets from industrial uses to post-industrial roles. Brooklyn reversed decades of population decline and factory closings to resurface as a globally renowned cultural and intellectual hotbed. Gentrification has impacted much of Brooklyn and a portion of Queens , relocating a sizeable swath of New York City's population. On eastern Long Island, Port Jefferson , Patchogue , and Riverhead evolved from inactive shipbuilding and mill towns into tourist-centric commercial centers with cultural attractions. The descendants of late 19th and early 20th-century immigrants from southern and Eastern Europe , and Black migrants from
10320-590: The century from 1830 until 1930, total population roughly doubled every twenty years, with more dense development in areas near Manhattan. Several cities were incorporated, such as the "City of Brooklyn" in Kings County, and Long Island City in Queens. Until completion of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883, the only means of travel between Long Island and the rest of the United States was by boat or ship. As other bridges and tunnels were constructed, areas of
10449-508: The citywide averages of 24%, 11%, and 28% respectively. In addition, 14% of children are obese, compared to the citywide average of 20%. Eighty-eight percent of residents eat some fruits and vegetables every day, which is slightly higher than the city's average of 87%. In 2018, 86% of residents described their health as "good", "very good", or "excellent", more than the city's average of 78%. For every supermarket in Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene, there are 12 bodegas . Brooklyn Heights
10578-605: The close of the 19th century, wealthy industrialists who made vast fortunes during the Gilded Age began to construct large "baronial" country estates in Nassau County communities along the North Shore of Long Island, favoring the many properties with water views. Proximity to Manhattan attracted such men as J. P. Morgan , William K. Vanderbilt , and Charles Pratt , whose estates led to this area being nicknamed
10707-587: The compromise plan despite strong opposition from the preservation community, including the North Heights Community Group. As a result, 1,200 residents were removed from their houses and apartments in late 1961 and early 1962 as construction began on the modified plan. One positive development came about when community groups – prominently the Brooklyn Heights Association, founded in 1910 – joined with Moses in
10836-713: The creation of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade , also called the Esplanade, which was cantilevered over the BQE. It became a favorite spot among locals, offering magnificent vistas of the Statue of Liberty , the Manhattan skyline across the East River , the Brooklyn Bridge , the Manhattan Bridge , and spectacular fireworks displays over the East River. Moses originally proposed to build the BQE through
10965-538: The difficulty of building there. They later sold part of their land to John Jackson, who created the Vinegar Hill community, much of which later became the Brooklyn Navy Yard . Brooklyn Heights began to develop once Robert Fulton 's New York and Brooklyn Steam Ferry Boat Company began regularly scheduled steam ferry service in 1814, with the financial backing of Hezekiah Beers Pierrepont , one of
11094-517: The disease. Native American land deeds recorded by the Dutch from 1636 state that the Indians referred to Long Island as Sewanhaka . Sewanhacky and Sewanhacking were other spellings in the transliteration of the Lenape . Sewan was one of the terms for wampum , commemorative stringed shell beads, for a while also used as currency by colonists in trades with the Lenape, and
11223-485: The early 2020s, increasing numbers of celebrities were moving to the neighborhood. Brooklyn Heights was the first neighborhood protected by the 1965 Landmarks Preservation Law of New York City . The neighborhood is largely composed of blocks of picturesque rowhouses and a few mansions. A great range of architectural styles is represented, including Greek Revival , Italianate , Second Empire , Victorian Gothic , Romanesque , Neo-Grec , and Classical Revival , as well as
11352-689: The eastern region of Long Island was first settled by the English, the western portion of Long Island was settled by the Dutch; until 1664, the jurisdiction of Long Island was split between the Dutch and English, roughly at the present border between Nassau County and Suffolk County . The Dutch founded six towns in present-day Brooklyn beginning in 1645. These included: Brooklyn , Gravesend , Flatlands , Flatbush , New Utrecht , and Bushwick . The Dutch had granted an English settlement in Hempstead, New York (now in Nassau County) in 1644, but after
11481-664: The easternmost point of the South Fork (and all of Long Island) is Montauk Point . Long Island's East End remains semi-rural, as in Greenport on the North Fork and some of the periphery of the area prominently known as The Hamptons , although summer tourism swells the population in those areas. The North Fork has developed a burgeoning wine region . In addition, the South Fork is known for beach communities, including
11610-500: The enjoyment of residents and visitors from the city. Gradually, development also followed these parkways, with various communities springing up along the more traveled routes. After World War II , suburban development increased with incentives under the G.I. Bill , and Long Island's population skyrocketed, mostly in Nassau County and western Suffolk County. Second and third-generation children of immigrants moved out to eastern Long Island to settle in new housing developments built during
11739-482: The establishment of a street grid, although there were competing plans for the size of the lots. John and Jacob Hicks, who also owned property on Brooklyn Heights, north of Pierrepont's, favored smaller lots, as they were pitching their land to tradesman and artisans already living in Brooklyn, not attempting to lure merchants and bankers from Manhattan as Pierrepont was. To counter the Hickses' proposal, Pierrepont hired
11868-689: The family was established and wealthy. He was a member of the Suffolk County Militia in the beginning of the American Revolution , and rose to the rank of Major General. In 1774, he was chosen as a representative from New York to the First Continental Congress . After the battle of Long Island , his estate was confiscated by the British army and was used as a cavalry base. In 1789, Floyd was elected to
11997-535: The ferries went between the current Fulton Street and Peck Slip in Manhattan, and was run by Cornelius Dirksen. The ferry service helped the lowland area to thrive, with both farms and some factories along the water, but the higher ground was sparsely used. The area was heavily fortified prior to the Battle of Long Island in the American Revolutionary War . After British troops landed on Long Island and advanced towards Continental Army lines, General George Washington withdrew his troops here after heavy losses, but
12126-479: The final stage in the thorough domination and displacement of Native American communities on Long Island. Charles Lindbergh lifted off from Roosevelt Field with his Spirit of Saint Louis for his historic 1927 solo flight to Europe, one of the events that helped to establish Long Island as an early center of aviation during the 20th century. Other famous aviators such as Wiley Post originated notable flights from Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, which became
12255-402: The first major airport serving New York City before it was superseded by the opening of La Guardia Airport in 1939. Long Island was also the site of Mitchel Air Force Base and was a major center of military aircraft production by companies such as Grumman and Fairchild Aircraft during World War II and for some decades afterward. Aircraft production on Long Island extended all the way into
12384-548: The geographic Long Island itself was on October 21, 1640, when Southold was established by the Rev. John Youngs and settlers from New Haven , Connecticut. Peter Hallock, one of the settlers, drew the long straw and was granted the honor to step ashore first. He is considered the first New World settler on Long Island. Southampton was settled in the same year. Hempstead followed in 1644, East Hampton in 1648, Huntington in 1653, Brookhaven in 1655, and Smithtown in 1665. While
12513-467: The heart of Brooklyn Heights. Opposition to this plan led to the re-routing of the expressway to the side of the bluff, allowing creation of the Promenade. By the mid-1950s, a new generation of property owners had begun moving into the Heights, pioneering the "Brownstone Revival" by buying and renovating pre-Civil War period houses, which became part of the preservationist movement which culminated in
12642-585: The infusion of the wealthiest Americans in the so-called Gold Coast of the North Shore , where wealthy Americans and Europeans in the Gilded Age built lavish country homes. East of Riverhead in Suffolk County, Long Island splits into two peninsulas (colloquially referred to as "Forks"), which are separated by the Peconic Bay . The easternmost point of the North Fork is Orient Point , and
12771-442: The institution of a watch. After 1823, farms begin to be sub-divided into 25-by-100-foot (7.6 by 30.5 m) lots, which were advertised as suitable for a "country retreat" for Manhattanites, leading to a building boom that resulted in Brooklyn Heights becoming the "first commuter suburb ", since it was easier and faster to get to Manhattan by ferry than it was to commute from upper Manhattan by ground transportation. A resident of
12900-511: The island began to be developed as residential suburbs, first around the railroads that offered commuting into the city. On January 1, 1898, Kings County and portions of Queens County were consolidated into the City of Greater New York , abolishing all cities and towns within them. The easternmost 280 square miles (730 km ) of Queens County, which were not part of the consolidation plan, separated from Queens in 1899 to form Nassau County. At
13029-461: The island use the island's names, like Long Island University and Long Island Jewish Medical Center . In 1985, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Maine that Long Island is integrally related to the mainland enough that Long Island Sound and the western part of Block Island Sound constitute a "juridical bay" for the purpose of determining maritime state boundaries. In
13158-551: The largest ensembles of such housing in the nation, and the human scale of the three, four- and five-story buildings creates a neighborly atmosphere. Brooklyn Heights has very few high-rise buildings. Among these buildings are 75 Livingston Street , Hotel St. George , and the Concord Village co-op development on Adams Street. Additionally, Jehovah's Witnesses had its world headquarters in the northern part of Brooklyn Heights at 25 Columbia Heights. The organization restored
13287-474: The main campus at 129 Pierrepont Street. Packer Collegiate Institute , a K–12 school, has also been located in the neighborhood, at 170 Joralemon Street, since its 1845 founding. St. Francis College is located on Remsen Street and occupies half a city block. It was founded as St. Francis Academy in 1859 by the Franciscan Brothers and was originally located on Baltic Street. St. Francis College
13416-568: The neighborhood and the perceived loss of the specialness and "quality" began to drive out the merchants and patricians who lived there; in time their mansions were divided to become apartment houses and boarding houses. Artists began to move into the neighborhood, as well as writers, and a number of large hotels – the St. George (1885), the Margaret (1889), the Bossert (1909), Leverich Towers (1928), and
13545-693: The newly emerging landscapes, hunting large game and gathering from the abundant natural resources. Following the Paleo-Indian period, the Archaic Period marked a broadening of subsistence strategies. The inhabitants of Long Island diversified their diet, exploiting the rich marine and terrestrial environments. The main source of protein came from the sea, consisting of fish and shellfish, oysters being of particular importance. Deer and other wild game and various plant foods also became part of their regular diet. The archaeological record also reveals
13674-439: The now historic Brooklyn Bridge in 1883, the Brooklyn end of which was near Brooklyn Heights' eastern boundary, began the process of making the neighborhood more accessible from places such as Manhattan. The Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT)'s Lexington Avenue subway line , which reached Brooklyn Heights in 1908, was an even more powerful catalyst in the neighborhood's development. The resulting ease of transportation into
13803-603: The passage in 1965 of the Landmarks Preservation Law. In 1965, community groups which later became the Brooklyn Heights Association, succeeded in having the neighborhood designated the Brooklyn Heights Historic District by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission , the first such district in the city. This was followed in the following decades by the further gentrification of the neighborhood into
13932-578: The pastor of Plymouth Church , now the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims. Beecher was a nationally known figure famous on the lecture circuit for his novel oratorical style, in which he employed humor, dialect, and slang. Under Beecher, so many slaves passed through Plymouth Church on their way to freedom in Canada that later generations have referred to the church as the " Grand Central Station of
14061-405: The percentage of residents who have difficulty paying their rent, is 39% in Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene, lower than the citywide and boroughwide rates of 52% and 51% respectively. Based on this calculation, as of 2018 , Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene are considered to be high-income relative to the rest of the city and not gentrifying . Brooklyn Heights is patrolled by the 84th Precinct of
14190-463: The popular media, this has been often misinterpreted as a ruling that Long Island is legally not an island. The United States Board on Geographic Names still considers Long Island an island, because it is surrounded by water. There are few tall buildings on Long Island . Nassau County is more densely developed than Suffolk County. While affluent overall, Nassau County has pockets of more pronounced wealth with estates covering greater acreage within
14319-559: The population of Brooklyn Heights was 22,887, a change of 339 (1.5%) from the 22,548 counted in 2000 . Covering an area of 235.86 acres (95.45 ha), the neighborhood had a population density of 97 inhabitants per acre (62,000/sq mi; 24,000/km ). The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 75.2% (17,210) White , 5.5% (1,259) African American , 0.2% (37) Native American , 8.8% (2,003) Asian , 0% (3) Pacific Islander , 0.4% (82) from other races , and 2.7% (618) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.3% (1,675) of
14448-514: The population. The entirety of Community Board 2, which comprises Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene, had 117,046 inhabitants as of NYC Health 's 2018 Community Health Profile, with an average life expectancy of 80.6 years. This is slightly lower than the median life expectancy of 81.2 for all New York City neighborhoods. Most inhabitants are middle-aged adults and youth: 15% are between the ages of 0–17, 44% between 25 and 44, and 20% between 45 and 64. The ratio of college-aged and elderly residents
14577-474: The post-war boom. Levittown became noted as a suburb, where housing construction was simplified to be produced on a large scale. These provided opportunities for white World War II military veterans returning home to buy houses and start a family. In his 1966 book, My Private America ( Moja prywatna Ameryka ), Kazimierz Wierzyński , a Polish poet who could not go back to Poland after World War II, describes Polish farmers living there, as "walking novels". At
14706-535: The same time, plans began to be developed by New York's "master builder", Robert Moses , wielding the Housing Act of 1949, to replace brownstone rowhouses – which were the typical building form in the neighborhood – with large luxury apartment buildings. A prominent example of the intended outcome is the Cadman Plaza development of housing cooperatives in the northern part of the neighborhood, located on
14835-593: The site where the Brooklyn Bridge trolley terminal once stood. In 1959, the North Heights Community Group was formed to oppose destroying cheap low-rise housing in order to build the high-rise Cadman Plaza towers. Architect Percival Goodman presented an alternate plan to maintain all sound structures, which garnered 25,000 supporters. In early 1961, a compromise proposal came from City Hall calling for two 22-story towers with over 1,200 luxury and middle income units. The Brooklyn Heights Association fully supported
14964-547: The small Korean War Veterans Plaza . South of Johnson, the Kings County Supreme Court Building and Columbus Park , featuring a statue of Christopher Columbus , sit on land formerly used as a station for trolley cars. These parks, together with Walt Whitman Park , form a mall from Brooklyn Borough Hall to the Brooklyn Bridge. In 2015, a "Brooklyn Strand" was proposed to unite these parks. Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Brooklyn Heights
15093-567: The south. Originally referred to as Brooklyn Village , it has been a prominent area of Brooklyn since 1834. The neighborhood is noted for its low-rise architecture and its many brownstone rowhouses , most of them built prior to the Civil War . It also has an abundance of notable churches and other religious institutions. Brooklyn's first art gallery, the Brooklyn Arts Gallery , was opened in Brooklyn Heights in 1958. In 1965,
15222-472: The time changed over the decades. Throughout the 19th century, Brooklyn Heights remained an elegant neighborhood, and became Brooklyn's cultural and financial center. Its development gave rise to offshoots such as Cobble Hill and, later, Carroll Gardens . Prior to the Civil War , Brooklyn Heights was a locus of the Abolitionist movement, due to the speeches and activities of Henry Ward Beecher ,
15351-492: The top baccalaureate colleges in the north. Brooklyn Heights is also the location of Brooklyn Law School , founded in 1901. The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL)'s Brooklyn Heights branch is located at 286 Cadman Plaza West. The branch was formerly located at 280 Cadman Plaza West, which was shared with the Business & Career Library , but that site was sold to a developer and demolished. Brooklyn Heights' first library
15480-597: The two for Mrs. Lewis. Marinus Willett , of Jamaica, Queens enlisted in the colonial militia after the French and Indian War broke out in 1754. He participated in the Ticonderoga campaign and the capture of Fort Frontenac in 1758. Joining the revolutionary Sons of Liberty in the 1770s, Willett shortly thereafter enlisted in the Continental Army in 1775. Serving in the 1st New York , he took part in
15609-616: The value of New England's fur market, forged long-term alliances with the Algonquians in 1613, ushering in permanent settlements. By 1621, the Dutch West India Company established itself in the Northeast. The Dutch West India Company established a foothold in the Northeast, initiating a lucrative trade in wampum —beads of significant cultural and economic importance to Native tribes across the Northeast. The wampum
15738-585: The west and east sides of the plaza, respectively. The Brooklyn War Memorial and William Jay Gaynor Memorial are installed in the park. The plaza is bounded by Cadman Plaza East (formerly Washington Street) and Cadman Plaza West (formerly Ferry Road or Fulton Road), and by the Brooklyn Bridge on the north and Tillary Street on the south. East of the park is the Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse . South of this park, between Tillary and Johnson Streets, lies
15867-422: Was a British stronghold until the end of the war in 1783. General Washington based his intelligence activities on Long Island, due to the western part of the island's proximity to the British military headquarters in New York City. The Culper Ring included agents operating between Setauket and Manhattan. This ring alerted Washington to valuable British secrets, including the treason of Benedict Arnold and
15996-472: Was able to make a skillful retreat across the East River to Manhattan without the loss of any troops or his remaining supplies. After the war, the 160-acre tract of land belonging to John Rapeljie, who was a Loyalist , was confiscated and sold to the Sands brothers, who tried to develop the part of the land on the palisade as a community they called "Olympia", but failed to make it come about, partly because of
16125-779: Was designated as the East Riding (of Yorkshire), present-day Brooklyn was part of the West Riding , and present-day Queens and Nassau were part of the larger North Riding . In 1683, Yorkshire was dissolved and the three original counties on Long Island were established: Kings, Queens, and Suffolk. Following the European colonization of the Americas , including Long Island, the Algonquian peoples found themselves increasingly marginalized, their ancient hunting grounds cleared for agriculture, and their economic systems integrated into
16254-602: Was founded in 1857 by the Mercantile Library Association of the City of Brooklyn. The first BPL branch in the neighborhood, the Montague Street branch, was opened in 1903. The Brooklyn Heights branch building at 280 Cadman Plaza West opened in 1962 and originally contained an auditorium and children's room. It was renovated and expanded from 1990 to 1993, and upon the completion of the renovation,
16383-467: Was lower, at 9% and 12% respectively. As of 2016, the median household income in Community Board 2 was $ 56,599. In 2018, an estimated 22% of Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene residents lived in poverty, compared to 21% in all of Brooklyn and 20% in all of New York City. One in twelve residents (8%) were unemployed, compared to 9% in the rest of both Brooklyn and New York City. Rent burden, or
16512-481: Was primarily made by Long Island Native Americans. The Dutch would thus engage in a triangular trade: purchasing large quantities of wampum from Long Island, exchanging wampum for fur with inland tribes, and shipping the fur back to Europe. This triangular trade created peace amongst the Europeans and the Native Americans for decades. In 1636, Charles I of England , a Stuart , rewarded Scottish courtier , diplomat, and colonial governor William Alexander 's service to
16641-489: Was the first private school in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn . As of 2010 , 2,000 full-time students and more than 400 part-time students from 80 countries attend the college. St. Francis College has been ranked by The New York Times as one of the more diverse colleges in the United States. The college has also been ranked by both Forbes magazine and U.S. News & World Report as one of
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