Borough curiosities: Fun Facts About Brooklyn
Think you really know Brooklyn? It's a city with enough pizza spots that could bury Manhattan in mozzarella, slang that is basically its own language, artisanal pickle shops that you'll have to taste to believe, and brownstones that are worth more than your entire bloodline. Let's run through the facts, stats, and bridge-and-tunnel drama that showcase what makes Brooklyn's superiority complex totally earned.
Alexa, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Alexa is a lifelong New Yorker that never left because... well, why would anyone!? She has access to oceans, lakes, vineyards, breweries, museums, and world-class restaurants and entertainment all in her home state. Her most memorable move was buying her first home mid Covid which taught her that hope is not a strategy. She treats BECSPK and everything bagels like fuel, philosophy, and emotional support all in one bite. As the "real Alexa" she has learned to not answer every "Hey Alexa" question within earshot, even though she probably knows the answer. At Snappy Scout she gets to let that knowledge loose, turning lived experience into guidance that actually helps make New York feel a little easier to navigate.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Makes Brooklyn Brooklyn?
The weird, useful, and surprisingly relevant facts that shape everyday life here.
Common nicknames for Brooklyn
BK, Kings County, The Burg, The Borough of Churches, The Borough of Homes and Churches
Local Reality Check
You think everywhere is Williamsburg. Most of it feels like Queens with better PR.
You're most likely moving from
Manhattan (priced out), Long Island (want city life without Manhattan rent), or somewhere in the Midwest (Instagram-inspired)
Strangely large concentration of
Artisanal pickle shops, egg creams, and people who will tell you about their podcast unprompted
Music scene
Brooklyn Steel, Music Hall of Williamsburg, plus endless DIY venues in Bushwick basements
You'll have to see it to believe it
The Coney Island Mermaid Parade, where thousands dress as mermaids each June unironically
Unique Geography
It's the westernmost tip of Long Island (technically) but nobody will admit that
Brooklyn is home to
America's first roller coaster (1884 at Coney Island), Pratt Institute, Nathan's Hot Dogs; formerly the Dodgers
Well known for its
Domino Park waterfront views, hipster vibes, smoked meats, and aggressively expensive vintage furniture stores
Fun history fact
Brooklyn was its own city until 1898 when it merged with NYC
Celebrity sightings
Adam Driver at Target, Steve Buscemi (volunteer firefighter), Lena Dunham's ghost, Michelle Williams
Noteworthy Census stat
Over 2.7 million people crammed into 69 square miles, denser than Los Angeles
Most interesting sub-culture within Brooklyn
Orthodox Jewish communities in Borough Park and Williamsburg
Population
If independent, it would be the 3rd largest city in America after LA
Brooklyn is roughly the same geographic size as
Charleston, South Carolina (both around 70 square miles)
A Local Event Worth Experiencing Once
Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating contest every fourth of July. It's fun, crowded, and slightly chaotic, which is NYC in a nutshell
— Alexa Matthews
New York Local Expert
Ready to See If Brooklyn Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Brooklyn guide for the bigger picture.