By Jon Davis
Brooklyn is a borough located in New York City. It’s the largest of the five boroughs of New York City, and home to about 3 million people, according to the latest US Census. That’s more people than live in Chicago.
We don’t want to sound like braggers but Brooklyn is often referred to as “the world’s greatest borough”, due to its wide range of cultural offerings, ethnic diversity, dense population, and historical significance.
The name Brooklyn comes from the Dutch word Breukelen (“settlement at the point where two rivers meet”). In 1643, Jacob Leisler named the area Breuckelen after he received permission from local Lenape Native Americans to settle his colony here.
It’s bordered to the north by Queens, east by the East River, south by Manhattan, and west by Long Island Sound.
Why is Brooklyn so Popular?
Brooklyn is known for its diverse architecture, ethnic enclaves, and neighborhoods. There are many parks and green spaces throughout the borough.
Prospect Park, Coney Island Creek, Gowanus Canal, and Fort Greene Park are some of the best-known parks in Brooklyn. The borough also is home to several sports teams, including the Brooklyn Nets basketball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, and the Brooklyn Cyclones hockey team. The Brooklyn Academy of Music, founded in 1869, is the oldest continuously operating music school in America.
Brooklyn is well known for its restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and cafes. Many famous chefs have their headquarters in Brooklyn, including Mario Batali, Michael Anthony, and Danny Meyer. Brooklyn is also home to a thriving arts community.
Museums in Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Museum, the National Center for Jewish Art & Holocaust Studies, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Brooklyn Historical Society, and the Brooklyn Public Library are among the borough’s top attractions.
Brooklyn is also home to the first public aquarium in North America, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.
