Five cities in one: what is the specialty of each New York borough

New York today is not only huge skyscrapers and famous areas, but also unique places, each of which is like a separate city with its own history and character. Dzen told how the 5 boroughs of New York differ and how they create the unique atmosphere of the city.

New York is one of the most famous cities in the world and the unofficial capital of America. Thanks to its rich history, today's New York is a metropolis where different ethnic groups and cultures coexist.

For a long time it was formed from various nationalities with their own traditions and characteristics, which led to the emergence of 5 boroughs with unique architecture and flavor. The concept of a borough is broader than just a district. Borough can be considered a city within a huge agglomeration. When walking around New York, a tourist may think that he has visited 5 different cities.

History of New York

In 1613, the Dutch merchant Andrian Block had to go ashore in unfamiliar territory because his ship was damaged. The Indians rescued the captain and crew, helped them overwinter and repair the ship.

The new place attracted the attention of the Dutch, and a year later they founded the colony of New Amsterdam here. More and more Dutch began to come here, and rumors of promising lands reached the British Empire. And already in 1664 the British army landed in the colony. She captured the future city and named it in honor of the Duke of York (the future king of England).

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New York experienced many events that made it so colorful and multifaceted: the war for independence from the British Empire, the arrival of tens of thousands of Irish, the American Civil War, the migration boom of the early 20th century, the Great Depression, the post-war period. It withstood all the blows and became a center of economic and financial power.

Gradually, the city became an important commercial, financial and immigration center, also due to its convenient geographical location on the East Coast of the United States.

Brooklyn is the most populous borough

Brooklyn is a place where famous sandy beaches coexist with luxury real estate and unique ethnic neighborhoods. It was in this area that the largest communities of immigrants who came here for the “American Dream” developed.

Russian, Jewish, and Eastern European neighborhoods coexist here. For example, many Brooklyn hospitals are funded by the Jewish community. Immigrants from the USSR live in the Brighton Beach area, and in this place they are at home: magazines, store windows, advertising, posters in Russian.

Brooklyn is home to various enterprises and industries; it is considered the industrial center of the metropolis. For a long time, Brooklyn was a separate city that competed with New York. But the Brooklyn Bridge, which was built in 1883, united the two cities into one.

Manhattan is the most prestigious borough

Manhattan is the financial, entertainment, political and historical center of New York.
Most of the skyscrapers that create the image of business America are concentrated in Manhattan.

In the south of the island, Downtown has developed - the business and socio-political center of the city. Even those who have never been to the USA know the local attractions: Wall Street, Broadway, Central Park. Headquarters of global companies, an incredible amount of office space, trading floors, financial centers - this is all Downtown.

It can be recognized by the appearance of passers-by: the concentration of men and women in business suits with coffee in their hands is off the charts. In Downtown it is impossible not to feel the spirit of money and large-scale transactions.

Another famous place in Manhattan is Harlem. The atmosphere of Harlem is depicted in many American action films. In turbulent times, street clashes, shootouts and brawls did not subside here. Criminal gangs were hiding in inconspicuous buildings. And even now it is dangerous to be in Harlem after sunset, as you can run into a local gang.

The Bronx is the poorest borough

The uniqueness of the Bronx is its location - it is the only territory of New York located on the mainland. It is considered the greenest metropolitan area due to the significant number of parks on its territory. The place was named after farmer Jonas Bronx, the sole owner of this territory. He leased out plots of land, resulting in the growth of a separate city.

At the end of the 20th century, the Bronx was the crime capital of the city. Security in the borough has now improved significantly, but with many troubled ghettos, tourists should be wary of returning to their hotel late.

During Prohibition in the United States, the Bronx was the main place for underground whiskey production. Irish and Italian groups were involved in illegal trade. The Bronx is famous for the zoo of the same name, the largest in the United States and the home stadium of the Yankees, the most successful sports club in the United States. This borough is also considered the birthplace of rap and breakdancing.

Staten Island is the quietest borough

Staten Island is the most sparsely populated borough, unlike other places in New York. There are no skyscrapers here, but there is magnificent nature and one-story houses. Local residents spend quiet evenings here, relax on weekends, and on weekdays go to work in the neighboring boroughs of New York.
The main attribute of local residents is a car, since the nearest store, pharmacy, and school are located several kilometers from home.

This borough boasts the historical territory of Richmond Town. The famous village has preserved the traditional way of life of North American peoples. Here houses with rare objects have survived and the colorful spirit of the 17th century has been preserved.

Queens is the largest borough

Queens consists primarily of residential communities. Real estate in this part of New York is often booked by travelers, as the rental prices here are the most attractive.
The business center is adjacent to quiet streets with low-rise buildings. Almost every house has access to a garden.

The main attraction of the borough is Rockaway, a line of beaches on the coast of Long Island. The Rockaway Sand Strip separates Queens' residential neighborhoods from the Atlantic Ocean.