Brooklyn, Kings County, is the most populous of the five boroughs comprising New York City, with over 2.5 million residents. If it were a city, it would be the fourth-largest in the U.S. Brooklyn was settled in 1634 by the Dutch.
Brooklyn has a distinct culture, thriving art scene, and unique architectural history. In many Brooklyn neighborhoods you can find concentrations of ethnic groups and cultures. While most Brooklyn neighborhoods are ethnically diverse, well known neighborhoods include Bedford Stuyvesant (Bed Stuy), for its African-American culture; Brighton Beach, nicknamed Little Odessa for its large Russian community; Bushwick, the largest Hispanic community; Italian-Americans make up large sections of Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst; Sunset Park has a large Chinese-American community; Orthodox and Hasidic Jews are largely concentrated in Borough Park, and there are large Jewish communities in Borough Park, Williamsburg, Flatbush, Gravesend and Crown Heights; Greenpoint is the home of Little Poland. Other Brooklyn neighborhoods include Bay Ridge, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Vinegar Hill, East New York, Sheepshead Bay, Brownsville, Park Slope, Fort Greene, New Utrecht, Red Hook, Canarsie, DUMBO (Brooklyn's artsy downtown). Historical Brownstone row houses and Victorian houses are found throughout Brooklyn. Mill Basin, along Jamaica Bay, has expensive waterfront homes.
Most Brooklyn residents work in the services industry and small businesses.
