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From Dutch Roots to Vast Melting Pot:

The History of Settlement in Flatbush

Originally under the Dutch-derived name Midwood in the charter, Flatbush was first colonized by Dutch merchants and farmers from 1651 on. In 1656, the town of Flatbush was annexed into the City of Brooklyn in 1894 and then the greater New York in 1898.

With the turn of the 20th century, a new wave of Irish, Italian and Jewish immigrants started settling Flatbush and were soon the major immigrant population.

There was then a third and final shift of demographics during the 1970s towards a heavier African-American and West Indian presence.

Albeit these two final groups have the largest presence in Flatbush today, there is still a very healthy mix of almost all of these past settlement groups and this is very much represented in the variety of religions practiced.

Demographics

Click here to be directed to Census site that this image was sourced from.

• 55.3% of the residents in Flatbush are female.
• The majority (84,665) of residents in Flatbush consider themselves “Black or African American.”
• The average family size is 3.46.
• The median family income is $30,985.

Click here to be directed to New York City Department of City Planning report that these images were sourced from.

• The majority of immigrants in Flatbush come from Haiti
• The Black/African-American population in Flatbush decreased 1.6 percent between 1990 and 2000.
• The Asian population in Flatbush increased by 33.2 percent between 1990 and 2000.
  

  Geography

  The boundaries of Flatbush have changed many times over the years. For the sake of including historical institutions of Flatbush and points of interests, we are using the following borders:

  Northern Boundary – Parkside Avenue
  Southern Boundary – The Bay Ridge Branch freight line tracks below Brooklyn College
  Eastern Boundary – New York Avenue
  Western Boundary – Coney Island Avenue

  The selected area includes parts of Prospect Park South, East Flatbush, Midwood, and Kensington & Parkville.
  
  View Flatbush in a larger map

  Transportation
  Two train lines run along the eastern and western boundaries of Flatbush which provides the residents with easy access to transportation to the city. On the western side, the B and Q trains run along the BMT Brighton Line while on the eastern side, the 2 and 5 trains run along the Broadway-Seventh Avenue Line.

  The local train stations are:
  – Parkside Avenue, Church Avenue, Beverly Road, Cortelyou Road, Newkirk Avenue, and Avenue H on the Brighton Line.
  – Winthrop Avenue, Church Avenue, Beverly Road, Newkirk Avenue, and Flatbush Avenue – Brooklyn College on the Broadway-Seventh Avenue Line.

  B & Q Church Ave Subway Stop	B & Q Church Ave Subway Stop
  2 & 5 Church Ave Subway Stop	B & Q Prospect Park Subway Stop

  Bus:

  Buses run along the main thoroughfares providing connections to the local train stations and to the outskirts of the neighborhood. Most people living east of Flatbush use the bus/train combination as their main method of transportation. The bus routes that serve the area are the B5, B8, B35, B23, B41, B44, B49, B103, and Q35.

  Dollar Vans & Cabs:

  One of the more popular forms of transportation in Flatbush is the dollar cab and dollar van. Customers share a van or taxi and usually pay a minimal fee of $2 per ride. This cheap means of transportation runs along the main bus routes and often provide a faster commute . Dollar vans and cabs normally run along Flatbush Avenue, Church Avenue, and Nostrand Avenue.
  

  Other Information

  Library: Brooklyn Public Library – Flatbush Branch. The library recently added a Caribbean Literary and Cultural Center which is reflective of the neighborhood’s demographics. The center serves as a meeting place to discuss issues relating to Flatbush and the Caribbean, a resource site to help new immigrants transition into the American lifestyle, and as medium for increasing Caribbean awareness.

  Flatbush Public Library - sort of hard to locate when you initially try to find it.

  Flatbush Public Library

  Police Department: NYPD 67th Precinct

  Brooklyn Community Board: No. 14

  Post Office: Flatbush Post Office

  New York Fire Department: Engine 281, Ladder 147 (“Da Pride of Flatbush”)

  Hospitals: SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Kings County Hospital Center

  Convalescence Home: New York Congregational Nursing Home

  Points of Interest

  Historical Institutions:
  Flatbush Town Hall – This Gothic style building was erected to serve as a meeting place for the residents of Flatbush, before the town became a part of Brooklyn. The building was a symbol of pride and independence to Flatbush residents when it was constructed in 1875. It is now a New York City landmark.

  Flatbush Town Hall

  Flatbush Town Hall

  Ebbets Field – A Major League Baseball Park that was home to the Brooklyn Dodgers. The field was erected in 1913 and demolished in 1960. Even though the field is demolished, the memories of the great baseball games still live on in the hearts of Brooklynites.

  Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church

  Victorian Flatbush:

  Flatbush has the highest concentration of Victorian architecture within the United States, with the majority of the houses in the Albermarle Terrace, Kenmore Terrace, and Prospect Park South. The buildings were built at the turn of the 20th century and maintains a suburban atmosphere in the middle of the city.

  Ablemarle Terrace - Victorian House	Ablemarle Terrace - Victorian House	Ablemarle Terrace - Victorian House
  Kenmore Terrace - Victorian House	Kenmore Terrace - Victorian House	Kenmore Terrace - Victorian House

  Recreation and Leisure:
  Prospect Park – The designers of Central Park, architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, gave Brooklynites a similar recreational space to their Manhattanite neighbors. The park provides Brooklynites with space for baseball, basketball, cycling, peddle boating, fishing, volleyball, and horseback riding, among others.

  Prospect Park Walkway - a nice place to walk.	Prospect Park Walkway Sign	Prospect Park - Bicycle Lane
  Prospect Park - Drummer Grove: a public Afro-Carribean drum troupe performs in this very spot every Sunday.	Sunset over the lake in Prospect Park --- so beautiful.	Prospect Park - Entrance

  Parade Grounds and Prospect Park Tennis Center – This 40-acre space south of Prospect Park provides an area for playing baseball, tennis, soccer, basketball, and football. It is used by many local schools, leagues, and clubs.

  Prospect Park Parade Ground Sign

  Prospect Park Parade Ground

  Educational:
  Brooklyn College – Shared by Flatbush and Midwood, Brooklyn College is one of the senior colleges in the CUNY system, and was recently named one of the top ten ‘Best Value Colleges’ by The Princeton Review.” The college’s student demographics is a reflection of the diverse community of Flatbush, with students from over 100 nations and a large percentage of students with Caribbean heritage. Brooklyn College offers a major in Caribbean Studies.

  Erasmas Hall High School – frequently called the “mother of high schools,” was the first high school chartered by the New York Regents and the 3rd oldest in the State. Built in 1787, is a great example of colonial architecture with an ivory towered quadrangle, and hand-carved beams and claspboards. The building is now called the Erasmas Hall Museum and it houses four small schools.

  Erasmas Hall High School

  Erasmas Hall High School

  Festivals:

  Labor Day Parade – Held in Crown Heights on Labor Day, the West Indian Carnival is the largest festival of the mixed Caribbean diaspora in the world. Followed by Caribana in Toronto and the Notting Hill Carnival in the UK. The Labor Day Parade is a colorful and rhythmic celebration of heritage for the Caribbean people.

  Haitian Parade and Festival – In May, Haitian Heritage Month, Nostrand Avenue is transformed into a blue and red for the Haitian Parade and Festival. Similar to the Labor Day Parade, Haitians celebrate their culture by jamming down the streets to the performances of top Haitian artistes, and enjoying local dishes.

  Flatbush Frolic – With an emphasis on community development, Flatbush Frolic is a free open air street fair for a celebration of the community. Flatbush residents showcase their talents by providing live entertainment, exhibiting products from local businessmen, and food is available from local restaurants. by the Flatbush Development Corporation.

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