Williamsburgh.
Centuries ago, the Dutch West India Company purchased land in Brooklyn from Native Americans, and from then, Williamsburg slowly developed into a shipping and manufacturing township, and flourishing community. From natural landscape to shipyards and production to a lively neighborhood, Williamsburg is now a rustic area that brings together the blue-collar forging of days past and the excitement of populous city living.
In 1638, the Dutch first acquired the land in Brooklyn from the Canarsee Indians, trading their European tools and wampum for the real estate [1]. The waterfront property was a part of the chartered township of Boswijck (1661) and in 1664, the English took ownership of the land, and so the town’s name was changed to Bushwick [2]. For majority for this period, farms were prominent in the area. Towards the end of the 18th century, Richard Woodhull owned a ferry service on the Bushwick Shore and purchased some acres in Brooklyn to support the service. And in 1802, renamed the area Williamsburgh in honor of his surveyor, Jonathan Williams [3].
The town began to expand into a suburb in the 1800s. The land was an optimal location for ship-building and manufacturing. It was on the coast across the river from Manhattan and connected to a deep inlet. Brooklyn Navy Yard started to be built in 1801, for instance. As a result, people would invest in developments in the area, a post office was built and other public services were being established [3]. In 1827, the Village of Williamsburgh was incorporated, as part of Bushwick. And during the consolidation into Brooklyn in 1855, the “h” was dropped.
One of the major contributions to the area was the Williamsburg Bridge completed in 1903. Soon after the City of New York consolidated the 5 boroughs, this grand bridge connected the Lower East Side and Williamsburg in Brooklyn. It caused many tenement dwellers in Manhattan to move across the river for better living conditions as well strengthen the business relationships between Brooklyn and Manhattan. To add, in the early 1900s, many Eastern Europeans moved into the area and the neighborhood became one of the most densely populated areas in the city. Factory jobs and continued road development continued to promote many demographical changes during the century and it continues to be a flourishing neighborhood [4].
Currently, Williamsburg is one of the liveliest neighborhoods in the city. It can be divided along Grand Street into the Southside and the Northside, and East Williamsburg. Real estate prices have skyrocketed in the last decades, after a period of crime and emigration. Manufacturing in the area has since dropped significantly, although there is still an industrial area in East Williamsburg. Many artists and professionals live in the area to take advantage of the waterfront neighborhood and lofts of the old buildings, and the subway, ferries, tunnels and bridges easily connect Williamsburg to the city. There are now many top restaurants and shops throughout the main streets. Williamsburg is definitely in a prime location and a very historical place to live.
By Nick Borak
Places to Visit
Williamsburg Bridge
A massive steel bridge connecting Williamsburg and East Village over the East River.
Tenement Museum – East Village
A building preserved to portray the living conditions of tenements in industrial New York City of the 20th century.
Sources
[1] Marton, Janos. 10 Fun Facts About Williamsburg Brooklyn’s Early History. Untapped cities; rediscover your city. 19 February 2019.
https://untappedcities.com/2015/07/09/10-fun-facts-about-williamsburg-brooklyns-early-history/
[2] History of Williamsburg Brooklyn. Like a Local Tours. Like a Local. 9 July 2015.
https://www.likealocaltours.com/williamsburg-brooklyn-history/
[3] O’Reilly, Edward. Who put the “Williams” in Williamsburgh? From the Stacks. New-York Historical Society Museum & Library. 30 May, 2012.
http://blog.nyhistory.org/who-put-the-williams-in-williamsburgh/
[4] Williamsburg. Our Brooklyn. Bklyn Public Library—Brooklyn Collection. 19 February 2019.
https://www.bklynlibrary.org/ourbrooklyn/williamsburg/index.html
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