Brooklyn History Government Office

Brooklyn, New York's western tip, is a place with a rich and distinguished history that dates back to the 17th Century. Lenapes had lived in the area in the past, but in 1636, the Dutch established Breukelen, a settlement on the banks the East River. Brooklyn, which is now New York City, was a predominantly rural and agricultural area in the early days of European colonization. There were fields and orchards that supplied food for the growing population of New Amsterdam (later renamed New York City).