Brownsville, Brooklyn

Brownsville
The Samuel J. Tilden Houses, one of many NYCHA public housing developments located in Brownsville, circa 2005
Location in New York City
Coordinates: 40°39′43″N 73°54′32″W / 40.662°N 73.909°W / 40.662; -73.909
Country United States
State New York
CityNew York City
BoroughBrooklyn
Community DistrictBrooklyn 16
Parceled1858
European settlement1861
Founded byWilliam Suydam
Named afterCharles S. Brown
Area
  Total
3.01 km2 (1.163 sq mi)
Population
 (2010)
  Total
58,300
  Density19,000/km2 (50,000/sq mi)
Economics
  Median income$31,252
Ethnicity
  White3.8%
  African American68.4%
  Hispanic American25.6%
  Asian0.9%
  Other1.3%
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
11212, 11233
Area codes718, 347, 929, and 917

Brownsville is a residential neighborhood in eastern Brooklyn in New York City. The neighborhood is bordered by Crown Heights to the northwest; Bedford–Stuyvesant and the subsection of Ocean Hill to the north; East New York to the east; Canarsie to the south; and East Flatbush to the west.

The 1.163-square-mile (3.01 km2) area that comprises Brownsville has 58,300 residents as of the 2010 United States Census, with an estimated population of 128,369 residents in 2019. Founded in its current incarnation in 1858, Brownsville was initially a settlement composed of Jewish factory workers. The neighborhood underwent a major demographic change in the 1950s that saw an influx of African-American residents. Since the late 20th century, Brownsville has consistently held one of the highest poverty and crime rates of any neighborhood in New York City.

Brownsville is part of Brooklyn Community District 16, and its primary ZIP Code is 11212. It is patrolled by the 73rd Precinct of the New York City Police Department. Politically it is represented by the New York City Council's 42nd and 41st Districts.