Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. Located on western Long Island and an independent distinct city until its consolidation into New York in 1898, Brooklyn is New York City's most populous borough, with 2.5 million residents. If the borough were still an independent city, it would be the fourth-largest city in the United States. Brooklyn is coterminous with Kings County, which is the most populous county in New York State, and the second most densely populated county in the United States (after New York County, which is the borough of Manhattan).

Though a part of New York City, Brooklyn maintains a distinct culture, independent art scene, and unique architectural heritage. Many Brooklyn neighborhoods are ethnic enclaves where a particular ethnic group and culture predominate.

History of Brooklyn

main: History of Brooklyn The Dutch were the first Europeans to settle the area on the western edge of Long Island, which was then largely inhabited by the Native American people, the Lenape (often erroneously referred to by the place-name of "Canarsee" in contemporary colonial documents). The first Dutch settlement was Midwout (Midwood) which was established in 1634. The Dutch also purchased land in the 1630s from the Mohawks around present day Gowanus, Red Hook, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and Bushwick. The Village of Breuckelen, named for Breukelen in the Netherlands, was authorized by the Dutch West India Company in 1646 and became the first municipality in what is now New York State. At the time, Breuckelen was part of New Netherland.

The Dutch lost Breuckelen in the British conquest of New Netherland in 1664. In 1683, the British reorganized the Province of New York into 12 counties, each of which was sub-divided into towns. Over time, the name evolved from Breuckelen, to Brockland, to Brocklin, to Brookline, and eventually, Brooklyn. Kings County was one of the original 12 counties, and Brooklyn was one of the original six towns within Kings County. The county was named in honor of King Charles II of England.

In August and September 1776, the Battle of Long Island (also called the Battle of Brooklyn) was fought in Kings County. It was the first major battle in the American Revolutionary War following the Declaration of Independence, and the largest battle of the entire conflict. While General George Washington's defeat on the battlefield cast early doubts on his abilities, keeping the Continental Army intact with a brilliant overnight tactical retreat across the East River is seen by historians as one of his greatest triumphs. The Continental Army withdrew from New York City across the East River at the southern tip of Manhattan. Shortly afterward, and for the remainder of the conflict, it became the British political and military base of operations in North America. This encouraged the departure of Patriots and their sympathizers while attracting loyalist refugees fleeing the other colonies - swelling the population of the surrounding area, including Brooklyn. Correspondingly the region became the focus of General Washington's intelligence activities (see Intelligence in the American Revolutionary War). The British also began to hold Patriot prisoners of war in rotting hulks anchored in Wallabout Bay off the Brooklyn shore. More American prisoners died in these prison-ships than the sum of all the American battle casualties of the Revolutionary War.