Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Bay Ridge is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is bordered by Sunset Park to the north, Dyker Heights to the east, the Narrows and the Belt Parkway to the west, and Fort Hamilton Army Base and the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge to the south. Some people consider the area south of 86th Street to be part of a smaller area called Fort Hamilton.

Long ago, Bay Ridge was part of a town called New Utrecht and had two small villages named Yellow Hook and Fort Hamilton. The name Yellow Hook was changed to Bay Ridge in 1853 because people worried about yellow fever, and the new name came from the shape of the land near a bay. In the mid-1800s, Bay Ridge became a quiet summer spot for people to relax. When the New York City Subway arrived in 1916, more families began to live there year-round.

Today, Bay Ridge is famous for its strong Norwegian community, but many families from Irish, Italian, Arab, and Greek backgrounds also call it home. Smaller groups of Chinese, Russian, and Eastern Europeans live there too. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community District 10 and uses the ZIP Codes 11209 and 11220. It is watched over by the 68th Precinct of the New York City Police Department and is represented in government by the 47th District of the New York City Council.

History

Early settlements

South Brooklyn was first home to the Canarsee Indians, part of the Lenape people who lived by farming and hunting. They had a main village named Nyack and used paths crossing Brooklyn, including one from Fulton Ferry along the East River to Gowanus Creek, Sunset Park, and Bay Ridge.

European settlers arrived in 1636 when Willem Adriaenszen Bennett and Jacques Bentyn bought land between 28th and 60th Streets, now Sunset Park. Dutch settlers arrived in the 1640s, displacing the Canarsee, who left by the 18th century. Present-day Bay Ridge was the westernmost part of New Utrecht, founded by the Dutch in 1657. It included two villages: Yellow Hook to the north, named for its soil color, and Fort Hamilton to the south, named for the military fort there.

Yellow Hook stayed mostly farmland until the late 1840s. In 1848, Third Avenue was widened, and in 1850, artists created Ovington Village, named after the family who owned the land. By 1853, Yellow Hook changed its name to Bay Ridge to avoid yellow fever associations, suggested by James Weir for the area's high ridge view of New York Bay. Wealthy people built homes along Shore Road.

Fort Hamilton, called the Nyack Tract after the local tribe, grew as a resort in the 1830s with stores, houses, churches, and a school. It connected by stagecoach to New Utrecht, Gowanus, and downtown Brooklyn, and by ferry to Staten Island and Manhattan.

In the mid-1800s, many large homes were built along Shore Road facing New York Harbor. The telephone let owners stay connected to their Manhattan businesses. Greek Revival, Italianate, and Gothic Revival villas were built there, often by descendants of the original settlers. Development continued into the 1890s. The Crescent Athletic Club, a football club from 1884, had a summer clubhouse, boathouse, and playing fields. Plans for parkways connecting Bay Ridge to Eastern Parkway, Ocean Parkway, and Prospect Park led to wide, tree-lined streets like 75th Street (now Bay Ridge Parkway), Fort Hamilton Parkway, and Shore Road.

Rapid development and subway construction

Until the late 1800s, Bay Ridge stayed a quiet rural area, reached by stagecoaches and later steam trolleys after 1878. In 1892, Brooklyn's first electric trolley line started at a ferry terminal at 39th Street, running via Second Avenue to 65th Street, then via Third Avenue. The Fifth Avenue Elevated train was extended to Third Avenue and 65th Street.

This raised land prices. The Bay Ridge Improvement Company bought land for $1,000 per acre in 1890 and sold it for $1,000 per lot just years later.

Real estate boomed around 1902 and 1903, with thousands moving from Manhattan and elsewhere. Plans for a Fourth Avenue subway (today's R train) were first proposed in 1903, and a citizens' committee formed in 1905 to support it. The subway announcement caused immediate growth of row houses in Bay Ridge. By 1905 and 1906, realty values jumped about 100 percent, and land values rose due to better transportation promises. Houses were sold even before they were built, and land prices could jump in just hours.

Construction faced delays. The Rapid Transit Commission approved the Fourth Avenue route to Fort Hamilton in 1905, but legal issues and funding questions lasted years. The Public Service Commission (PSC) approved the line in March 1908, but contracts weren't approved until October 1909. A group of 25,000 South Brooklyn residents formed to support only candidates who promised to build the subway. Groundbreaking for the first section, between DeKalb Avenue and 43rd Street, happened in 1909. Negotiations with transit companies followed, and the Dual Contracts were signed in 1913.

The subway opened to 59th Street on June 21, 1915, and reached 86th Street on January 15, 1916, sparking faster growth. Industry grew along the waterfront north of 65th Street, like Bush Terminal (now Industry City), and were considered part of Bay Ridge. By the 1920s, apartment buildings replaced old farms and houses five times over. Schools, churches, stores, movie theaters, and more were built for the growing population. The Fourth Avenue subway reached Bay Ridge–95th Street in 1925, and Bay Ridge's population more than doubled since 1900. By World War II, most large houses were replaced by apartments.

In the 1800s and early 1900s, many Norwegian and Danish sailors moved to Brooklyn, including Bay Ridge and Sunset Park. Eighth Avenue in this area is nicknamed Lapskaus Boulevard after a salted Norwegian beef stew.

Staten Island connection and later years

Plans for a Staten Island Tunnel from Bay Ridge date back to 1890. In the 1910s, two proposals emerged to split from the Fourth Avenue subway in Bay Ridge, either at Fort Hamilton or between 65th and 67th Streets. The 65th-67th Streets plan was chosen, and work began in 1923 but stopped two years later. In 1927, engineer David B. Steinman suggested building a "Liberty Bridge" across the Narrows. The tunnel idea returned with the bridge plan, and both rail and vehicle tunnel ideas were considered. The bridge was disapproved in 1934 but revived in 1936. By 1943, when the bridge was approved, Bay Ridge residents opposed it, fearing harm to their neighborhood.

Robert Moses, head of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, revived plans for the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge in 1947. U.S. Representative Donald Lawrence O'Toole, whose area included Bay Ridge, opposed it, fearing damage to Bay Ridge. The U.S. military approved it anyway. In 1957, Moses suggested expanding the Gowanus Expressway through Bay Ridge via Seventh Avenue, cutting through the neighborhood. This faced strong opposition from residents who wanted the approach to follow the Belt Parkway along Brooklyn's shore. After a hearing, the Board of Estimate approved the Narrows Bridge plan in October 1958, angering Bay Ridge residents because building the approach would displace 7,500 people and destroy Fort Lafayette, part of New York City's defense system. It was replaced by the bridge's east tower base. The Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge opened in 1964.

In 2007, a tornado hit Bay Ridge, damaging eleven houses on 68th Street and Bay Ridge Avenue between Third and Fourth Avenues. Many trees fell on cars and stoops. The 4th Avenue Presbyterian Church lost its large stained glass window. The tornado peeled the roof off a Nissan dealership and deforested 40% of Leif Ericson Park. It was rated EF2 with winds of 111 to 135 MPH.

Demographics

Bay Ridge is a part of Brooklyn, New York City. In the year 2020, about 111,952 people lived there. This is more than in 2010, when around 79,371 people lived in the area.

People in Bay Ridge come from many backgrounds. Most are White, but there are also many Hispanic, Asian, and Black people living there. The area covers about 1,571.96 acres, and about 50.5 people live on each acre.

In 2018, the average life expectancy for people living in this area was 83.1 years, which is a bit longer than the rest of New York City. The median age is 38 years old. Many people between the ages of 25 and 44 live there.

In 2020, the average household income was $105,177. About 19% of people in Bay Ridge and nearby areas lived in poverty, which is a bit less than in all of Brooklyn and New York City.

Climate

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn has different climate types depending on which system is used to classify it. The most popular system for classifying climates is called the Köppen climate classification.

Community

Bay Ridge is famous for its strong Norwegian community. By 1971, around 55,000 Norwegians lived there, making it one of the largest Norwegian communities outside of Norway. People often compared the Norwegian shops along Eighth Avenue to a famous street in Oslo. Every year, the neighborhood holds a big parade for the Norwegian Constitution Day, also called the Syttende Mai Parade. People dress in traditional clothes and walk down Third Avenue to Leif Ericson Park, where a special event ends and "Miss Norway" is chosen next to a statue of Leif Ericson. The statue was a gift from Crown Prince Olav, Prince of Norway in 1939.

Today, Bay Ridge still has about 30,000 Norwegians, along with many people from Sweden and Denmark. Over time, the neighborhood has also become home to many Irish, Italian, Greek, Russian, Polish, Jordanian, Lebanese, Syrian, and Egyptian families. It is now known as a key area for Arab Americans in New York City, with many Muslim residents living especially near Sunset Park. You can find many restaurants from different cultures along Third and Fifth Avenues.

The neighborhood also has many older residents, with about one in five people being 60 years or older. Local newspapers such as The Home Reporter, Sunset News, The Bay Ridge Courier, and Bay Ridge News keep the community informed. In recent years, some older houses were replaced with taller apartment buildings.

Landmarks

Points of interest

• The 8200 Narrows Avenue House, often called the "Gingerbread House", was built in 1917 and is a special city landmark.
• The American Veterans Memorial Pier, also known as the 69th Street Pier, is a popular place for people to enjoy the water. Fishermen come here to fish, and the pier has a special light to remember those who died during the September 11 terrorist attacks. Ferries used to run from here to Staten Island until the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge opened.
• The Bennet-Farrell-Feldman House at 119 95th Street was built in 1847 and is now a city landmark. There is a story that the house was turned around so a special balcony would no longer face the Narrows.
• Doctors' Row is a group of houses along Bay Ridge Parkway between Fourth and Fifth Avenues (see § Doctors' Row).
• Fort Hamilton, an active military base near the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge, is close by (see § Fort Hamilton Army Base).
• The Houses at 216–264 Ovington Ave. were added to a special list of important places in 2007.
• Owl's Head Park, also called Bliss Park, is a big park with a skate park, a place for dogs, a playground, and basketball courts. It was once a private estate.
• The Senator Street Historic District was added to the list of important places in 2002.
• Shore Road Park is where people meet for a weekly run.
• Step streets are special stairs built where the hills are too steep for cars.
• St. John's Episcopal Church was once attended by important historical figures.

Fort Hamilton Army Base

The historic Fort Hamilton Army Base is in the southwest part of Brooklyn, with entrances in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights. It helps support the Army National Guard and Army Reserve in the New York area. Children living on the base go to Bay Ridge schools.

The base has a special place called the Harbor Defense Museum.

Doctors' Row

Doctors' Row is a group of houses on Bay Ridge Parkway between 4th and 5th Avenues, built in the early 1900s. These 54 houses show a mix of architectural styles and became an official historic district in 2019, the first in the neighborhood.

Police and crime

The NYPD’s 68th Precinct is located at 333 65th Street. In 2010, it was ranked as the 7th safest out of 69 patrol areas in New York City. By 2018, the area had fewer violent crimes and fewer people being detained than the city as a whole.

Since the 1990s, crime in the 68th Precinct has dropped a lot. In 2018, there were reports of serious crimes, but overall safety has improved greatly over the years.

Fire safety

The New York City Fire Department has two fire stations in Bay Ridge. One station, Engine Co. 241/Ladder Co. 109, is at 6630 3rd Avenue. Another station, Engine Co. 242, which mainly serves Fort Hamilton, is at 9219 5th Avenue.

Health

In 2018, Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights had fewer preterm births and births to teenage mothers compared to the rest of the city. The area also had a higher percentage of residents who were uninsured or used Medicaid for healthcare.

The air in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights had less harmful particles than the city average. Fewer residents smoked here than in the city overall. The rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure were also different from the city averages. Most people in the area ate fruits and vegetables daily, and many described their health as good or better.

There are no hospitals in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights anymore, but new emergency services have opened recently. Hospitals in nearby areas are close by for anyone who needs them.

Post offices and ZIP Codes

Bay Ridge is mainly in ZIP Code 11209, but the small part north of 65th Street uses ZIP Code 11220. The United States Post Office runs two stations: Ovington Station at 6803 4th Avenue and Fort Hamilton Station at 8801 5th Avenue.

Politics

Bay Ridge has long been known for its conservative views within Brooklyn. A leader of the Conservative Party of New York lived there and ran a liquor store. The area was also seen as a strong support base for the Republican Party, though one Democrat, Sal Albanese, was elected to the City Council in 1983 and served for 15 years.

Over time, especially in the 2010s, Bay Ridge started to support more Democratic leaders, including several City Council members and a state senator. Today, the neighborhood is part of New York's 11th congressional district, the 26th State Senate district, and several State Assembly districts, represented by members from both political parties.

Education

Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights have a similar number of college-educated people as the rest of New York City. About 46% of adults here have finished college, which is a bit higher than the city’s average. Students in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights are doing better in school than before, with more passing reading and math tests.

Most students in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights go to school regularly, and a high number of high school students finish on time. The New York City Department of Education runs the public schools here, including PS 102, PS 170, and Fort Hamilton High School, among others. There are also private schools, such as Poly Prep Country Day School and Fontbonne Hall Academy.

The Brooklyn Public Library has two branches in Bay Ridge. The Bay Ridge Library opened in 1896 and was renovated in 2004. The Fort Hamilton Library, built in 1906, is another local branch that has been updated many times.

Transportation

The area has the R train on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway between Bay Ridge Avenue and 95th Street.

There are also MTA express bus routes X27, X37 that mainly help people travel to Manhattan. The X27 also runs on weekends. The routes X28, X38 serve the eastern part of Bay Ridge. Many people choose the express bus for its comfort, even though it costs more than the subway. Bay Ridge is easy to reach by car, surrounded by the Belt Parkway and Gowanus Expressway. Local bus routes include B1, B4, B8, B9, B16, B37, B63, B64, B70, S53, S79 SBS, S93.

The freight-only Bay Ridge Branch links car floats to the Long Island Rail Road. Plans are for the Interborough Express to be a light metro line running along the Bay Ridge Branch, ending at Brooklyn Army Terminal to the west and going to Queens in the east.

In June 2017, Bay Ridge became the end point of NYC Ferry's South Brooklyn route. In 2025, NYC Ferry's St. George route started serving Bay Ridge.

Notable people

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, has been home to many famous people over the years. Some well-known individuals include Sal Albanese, a politician who served on the New York City Council, and Maria Bartiromo, a Fox News anchor who grew up there. Other notable figures are Bob Berg, a jazz saxophonist, and Jimmy Fallon, a television host and comedian. The neighborhood also saw the early years of Chuck Connors, an actor known for The Rifleman, and Pee Wee Reese, a shortstop for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Many more accomplished people have lived in or come from Bay Ridge, contributing to its rich history and culture.

In popular culture

Books

Several books take place in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad is set in the Arab immigrant community there during Ramadan. Two novels by Lawrence Block featuring Matthew Scudder, When the Sacred Ginmill Closes and A Walk Among the Tombstones, are partly in Bay Ridge. Kenneth H. Brown’s The Narrows is set there in the 1950s. The Fort Hamilton army base is where most of Nelson DeMille’s Word of Honor happens. Tom McDonough’s Virgin with Child is also set in Bay Ridge. Short stories by Hubert Selby, Jr., such as "Liebesnacht" and "Double Feature," along with some of his novels, are set in or near the neighborhood. Gilbert Sorrentino’s novels Steelwork, Red the Fiend, Crystal Vision, A Strange Commonplace, Little Casino, and The Abyss of Human Illusion are also set there.

Films

The movie Saturday Night Fever (1977) is set in Bay Ridge, as well as Sunset Park and Bensonhurst. The film White Irish Drinkers (2010), directed by John Gray, is also set in Bay Ridge.

Television shows

NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan, played by Tom Selleck, on CBS-TV’s Blue Bloods, lives in Bay Ridge; his home is shown in every episode. The 2012 reality series Brooklyn 11223 was set in Bay Ridge. Peggy Olson, a character on AMC’s Mad Men, is from Bay Ridge.