According to “The Newest New Yorkers” (TNNY), Bensonhurst has the second greatest number of foreign-born residents of any neighborhood in the five boroughs. It’s 77,682 documented immigrants make up 53.9% of the population of Bensonhurst. The immigrant group that makes up the greatest portion of the 53.9% is the Chinese. In a table noting the top 10 neighborhoods for settlement of persons born in China from 2007-2011, Bensonhurst is ranked number one, with 31,658 Chinese immigrants (TNNY). Neighborhoods usually associated with Chinese immigration, such as Flushing and Chinatown, are ranked second and fourth on this list, respectively. Although Bensonhurst accounts for a mere 5.8% of the total population of New York City (TNNY), it accounts for approximately 21% of New York City’s total Asian population (FactFinder); a considerable disparity.

Bensonhurst in Brooklyn. (Jeff Bachner/for New York Daily News)

Sources: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/census/nny2013/chapter3.pdf#page=20 (The Newest New Yorkers)

http://maps.nyc.gov/census/ (Fact Finder)

http://www.urbanresearchmaps.org/comparinator/pluralitymap.htm