Brooklyn History Government Office

On the western tip of Long Island, Brooklyn, New York, has a long and illustrious history that stretches back to the 17th century. Lenape people had previously lived in the region, but the Dutch built Breukelen, a settlement, on the banks of the East River in 1636. The area that is now Brooklyn was predominantly rural and agricultural during the early days of European colonization, with fields and orchards supplying food for the expanding population of New Amsterdam (later renamed New York City).