A Guide to the Diverse Neighborhoods of Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City. And incidentally, Brooklyn is New York's most populous borough. While technically part of New York City, Brooklyn has managed to maintain a character and vibe that is distinctly its own. In fact, Brooklyn has its own distinct neighborhoods, with the downtown Brooklyn neighborhood being the third-largest central business district in New York City after Midtown and Lower Manhattan.

The Northwestern Brooklyn neighborhoods are made up of Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Carroll Gardens, Clinton Hill, Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Fort Greene, Gowanus, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Red Hook, Vinegar Hill and Windsor Terrace. These neighborhoods are known for their historic brownstones that line the streets. You will find easily accessible subway stops in these neighborhoods, as well as a plethora of restaurants and artsy shops. It is widely known that the higher income bracket Brooklynites live in these neighborhoods.

The Northern Brooklyn neighborhoods consist of Bushwick, East Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Ridgewood, and Williamsburg. Williamsburg is sometimes referred to as North side and South side Williamsburg by locals. Due to the influx of 'hipsters' in the late 90s, Williamsburg is known as an artist community with a cultural mix of inhabitants. Upcoming developments are threatening the artist enclave, which originally moved in from Manhattan's East Village.

Northeastern Brooklyn neighborhoods are City Line, Cypress Hills, East New York, Highland Park, New Lots, Spring Creek, and Starrett City.

Central Brooklyn is where the majority of the neighborhoods in Brooklyn are located. They include Bedford, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Beverly Square East and West, Brownsville, Crown Heights, Ditmas Park and Ditmas Park West, Ditmas Village, East Flatbush, Farragut, Fiske Terrace, Flatbush, Kensington, Lefferts Manor, Manhattan Terrace, Mapleton, Midwood, Ocean Hill, Ocean Parkway, Parkville, Pigtown, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Prospect Park South, Remsen Village, Rugby, Weeksville and Wingate. Ditmas Park has been officially designated as an historic district, which consists primarily of old Victorian Homes. Flatbush was the last Brooklyn home of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Borough Park, Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton, New Utrecht and Sunset Park are the neighborhoods of Southwestern Brooklyn.

Southern Brooklyn is home to the neighborhoods of Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend, Homecrest, Manhattan Beach, Plum Beach, Sea Gate and Sheepshead Bay.

And the last area of Brooklyn, Southeastern Brooklyn, is where you will find the neighborhoods of Barren Island, Bergen Beach, Canarsie, Flatlands, Georgetown, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Mill Island and Paerdegat Basin.