Flatbush Brooklyn

Colonial period

In the 16th century, western Long Island was inhabited by the Canarsee people, who referred to it as Sewanhacka. The Canarsee and other related Lenape tribes lived semi-nomadic lives, moving seasonally to follow food sources. Their trails through the area formed early roads for the region. One of their main settlements was located near the current intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Kings Highway, known as Keskachane or “council fire”.

In 1609, Henry Hudson, an Englishman working for the Dutch East India Company, is said to have landed on the island. Following this, the Dutch established trading posts and settlements in their new colony of Nieuw Nederland. They acquired land from the Canarsee, although the Canarsee did not share the Dutch view of property rights, viewing the sales more as leases than final transfers of ownership. One of the Dutch settlements was Midwout, meaning “middle wood” in Dutch. Midwout was established inland in a forested area, surrounded by hills to the north and open plains to the south. The geography of the area was shaped by ancient glaciers, leaving behind hills and a large outwash plain as they retreated. Midwout was settled between 1630 and 1636 and received a township patent by 1652. Over the years, it was also known as Vlachte Bos or Flackebos, meaning “wooded plain”, with various names and spellings used interchangeably for nearly a century.

19th century

Into the 19th century, Flatbush remained a slow-growing farming community. The opening of the Erie Canal led to a shift in cultivation from grains to market produce, making Kings County the second-largest provider of produce in the country until the end of the century, following Queens County. Despite this agricultural success, Flatbush remained somewhat isolated from the growing city of Brooklyn by open countryside. Prospect Park, although partially located in Flatbush, was entirely claimed by Brooklyn.

However, the rural character of Flatbush began to change in the second quarter of the century. A street grid was laid out, and Flatbush Avenue became the main north-south road. Irish and some German immigrants began arriving in the area, comprising the majority of the rural labor force by 1860. Despite not initially supporting Abraham Lincoln’s presidency in 1860, Flatbush residents rallied to support the Union cause during the Civil War. Additionally, during the New York City draft riots, African Americans seeking refuge from violence found safety in Flatbush and nearby Weeksville.

In 1875, Flatbush built a Town Hall, a few years after Flatbush and other towns in Kings County avoided annexation by Brooklyn. The establishment of the Brooklyn, Flatbush, and Coney Island Railway in 1878 connected Flatbush to popular destinations like Coney Island and the Atlantic Coast to the south, as well as downtown Brooklyn and Manhattan to the north. This, along with the opening of bridges connecting Brooklyn to Manhattan, began to transform Flatbush into a suburb.

Towards the end of the century, the value of land for real estate exceeded its value for farming, leading large landowners to start selling off plots. John Lefferts divided his family’s Flatbush homestead into parcels, which became Lefferts Manor, possibly containing the neighborhood’s earliest row houses. Another early development was Vanderveer Park, formed from the Vanderveer family’s holdings, which also capitalized on the Dutch history of the region to attract buyers.

Much of the development in Flatbush focused on areas immediately south and east of Prospect Park, while farther-flung areas remained predominantly rural with scattered wood-framed houses.

20th century

In the early 20th century, Flatbush underwent rapid change as further transit improvements spurred additional development. The electrification of the Brooklyn, Flatbush & Coney Island Railroad (now the Brooklyn & Brighton Beach Railroad) in 1901, along with its extension over the Brooklyn Bridge, provided a more direct connection between Flatbush and lower Manhattan. Subsequent improvements to the line, such as the addition of more tracks and the removal of at-grade crossings, further enhanced transportation in the area. Additionally, five trolley lines operated, connecting Flatbush to Williamsburg in north Brooklyn and the Lower East Side in Manhattan.

The development of the north end of Flatbush was bolstered by the construction of Ebbets Field, the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team. However, construction across Brooklyn slowed during World War I as resources were diverted to the war effort. After the war, the city faced a severe housing shortage, prompting the government to enact various housing and tenant bills. One such measure exempted new residential construction from property taxes until 1932, sparking a housing boom across the borough.

Southern Brooklyn, including Flatbush, experienced significant development during this period due to its relatively cheaper land and improved infrastructure connections to the rest of the city. Existing homes, including some of the neighborhood’s earliest suburban developments, were either converted into multifamily dwellings or demolished to make way for new homes or apartments, showcasing a variety of architectural styles.

Alongside residential construction, commercial developments flourished in Flatbush. This included the establishment of movie palaces like the Loew’s Kings Theatre and department stores such as Sears Roebuck & Company. Entertainment and commercial districts emerged around Church and Flatbush Avenues, as well as at the Junction, located at the intersection of Flatbush, Avenue H, and Nostrand Avenue.

21st century

In the 2000s, Flatbush started to shake off its negative reputation, attracting residents drawn to its affordable housing options and growing retail scene. The redevelopment of the Junction included the addition of Target Corporation’s largest-ever store, revitalizing the area. Demographic shifts continued, with new Jewish residents from Syria joining Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Russian, and Chinese communities.

However, the Muslim community faced challenges following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, leading to an estimated 20,000 residents leaving the area due to immigration crackdowns and other factors. Recognizing the evolving makeup of the neighborhood, the city designated two areas as “Little Caribbean” and “Little Haiti” in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

In 2016, Flatbush gained attention when The Times highlighted it as one of four neighborhoods in the city expected to experience significant real estate growth, driven by buyers seeking more affordable options. The COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on Flatbush compared to wealthier parts of the city. As housing prices have risen, the predominantly black population of the neighborhood has begun to decline.