New York is one of the largest cities in the world. It is made up of five major areas called “boroughs” that in some cases are separated by rivers and are connected through ferries and bridges. They include Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and The Bronx. Each borough is also a county within the state of New York.
History of the Five Boroughs
Modern-day New York, as we know it to be, was created when the independent city of Brooklyn, a segment of Westchester county known as the Bronx, Staten Island, and large parts of Queens county was added to Manhattan in line with the results of a referendum. This expansion led to a quick doubling of the initial population of the City.
The first use of the term ‘’borough’’ can be traced to 1898 when it was used to describe a form of governmental administration for the five essential constituents of the newly consolidated city. The nature of the boroughs as defined under the 1898 City Charter adopted by the New York State Legislature, as municipal corporations created when a county is merged with populated areas within it. In essence, each borough is a smaller government entity within the city’s broader system of government with its borough president and governing powers.
The borough presidents have limited executive powers and no legislative powers at all. The administrative structure of New York is such that the executive functions in the City are the responsibility of the Mayor while legislative functions lie within the New York City Council.
The duties of borough presidents range from being advocates, and ceremonial leaders by presenting budgets and allocating money to community organizations and projects, they also appoint the members of advisory community boards in the city’s various neighborhoods. In Brooklyn and Queens, borough presidents also appoint trustees to the local public library systems in those boroughs.
Manhattan
Manhattan is commonly referred to as the synonym of New York. It is the home of skyscrapers, museums, and popular monuments that attract the over thirty million tourists that visit New York annually. It is a small, narrow island in the center of the boroughs. Some of the attraction sites include Times Square, Broadway shows, Harlem, Central Park among many other sites. Manhattan is New York’s most famous borough.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn was once known as “Kings County”. It was also known for poverty and crime in the 20th century. It is likely the second most famous borough of New York after Manhattan. It is located just south of Queens and west of Manhattan through the famous Brooklyn bridge.
The stereotype in this county is affluent families. This explains the fact that it is the home of many entertainers and figures in American history. It also has a rich history and affiliation with many of the Italian Diaspora, the borough is also home to a rich and vibrant African American community, alongside a historically Hasidic Jewish community.
Like Manhattan, Brooklyn also has a heavyweight of cultural influence in a far more relaxed setting. It is known for its beautiful parks, amazing watering holes, and dining experiences. Unlike Manhattan, Brooklyn neighborhoods and homes are not cramped and are generally known to be more peaceful and comfortable.
The Bronx
The Bronx is located in the North of Manhattan and is connected over the Harlem River in New York City, It is famous for being the home to the New York Yankees, a huge park, and the Bronx Zoo. It has a rich history of Puerto Rican heritage, it is also nicknamed, ‘’El Bronx’’. The Bronx has the greatest number of Art Deco buildings in the world.
It is the home of hip hop and contributes its quota to the many attractions in New York City. Some of the most interesting sites in The Bronx, include Pelham Bay Park, Bronx Zoo, Yankee Stadium, and a plethora of other sites to experience culture in its many diversities. While the Bronx is an interesting place to visit and live, the transportation system which is mainly the subway that usually takes people back and forth to Manhattan, is known for being ponderous and uncomfortable to use.
Queens
Queens is the largest borough in New York City. It is located on the eastern side. It is known for having a suburban feeling which also reflects in the food, music, and popular culture within the borough. It is far less famous than Manhattan and Brooklyn yet it is the fastest evolving district of New York and also the most populous.
New York is generally known as a home for diversity in all its forms. Queens is a perfect reflection of that as it is well known for its melting pot of culture with people of South Asia, that is India, Pakistan and Nepal, Chinese, Latino and many different immigrants who historically made Queens their home from both South America, the Caribbean, and Latin American communities. It is also interesting that Queens have people of more cultural variants even within these diversities.
Staten Island
Staten Island is the least popular borough in New York, so much that it is referred to as the forgotten borough. It is located in the southernmost part of the city. It is connected to Manhattan by a ferry. Its high points for visitors as well as settlers are the suburban, family-oriented lifestyle it offers. Its attraction sites include a zoo, botanical gardens, and pools.
While it is not the most-visited part of New York, its attraction sites are known for displaying the beauty of nature and art. Staten Island Zoo is home to kangaroos, birds of prey, and snakes. The Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden feature flower beds, Greek revival buildings, and art galleries. Its grounds also include the Staten Island Children’s Museum.
The above information was brought to you by:
Telligent Marketing LLC
385 Van Siclen Ave, Brooklyn
NY 11207
877-688-0615
https://ny.telligentmarketing.com