Midwood

Midwood is a neighborhood in the south-central part of the borough of Brooklyn, New York City, bounded by Avenue H and Avenue I to the north, Coney Island Avenue to the west, Kings Highway to the south, and Nostrand Avenue and Flatbush Avenue to the east, near Prospect Park and the Ditmas Park neighborhood. The area is part of Brooklyn Community Board 14 and is represented by the New York City Council's 45th district, which also includes the neighborhoods of Bensonhurst, Gravesend, and Sheepshead Bay. Midwood is also close to the neighborhoods of Kensington and Park Slope, and is accessible by the BMT Brighton Line and the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway system, which stop at the Avenue J and Avenue M stations.

Geography

Midwood is situated in the southern part of Brooklyn, near the Jamaica Bay and the Gowanus Canal, and is bordered by the neighborhoods of Ditmas Park and Kensington to the north, Flatbush to the east, and Gravesend and Bensonhurst to the south and west. The area is also close to the Marine Park and the Floyd Bennett Field, a former United States Navy airfield that is now part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. Midwood is accessible by the Belt Parkway and the Kings Highway, which connect the neighborhood to Manhattan and the Bronx via the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge and the Throgs Neck Bridge. The neighborhood is also near the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which connects Brooklyn to Staten Island.

History

The area now known as Midwood was originally settled by the Canarsie Native American tribe, and was later colonized by the Dutch West India Company in the 17th century. The neighborhood was named after the Midwood estate, which was built in the 19th century by the Lott family, who were prominent Brooklyn landowners. During the American Civil War, the area was a major hub for the Union Army, with the 14th Brooklyn Regiment and the 87th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment stationed in the neighborhood. Midwood was also home to the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, who played at Ebbets Field from 1913 to 1957, before moving to Los Angeles and becoming the Los Angeles Dodgers. The neighborhood is also close to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which was a major shipbuilding facility during World War II and is now home to the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation.

Demographics

As of the 2010 United States Census, the population of Midwood was approximately 52,000 people, with a diverse mix of Jewish, Italian-American, and Asian-American communities. The neighborhood is also home to a large number of Orthodox Jewish residents, with many synagogues and yeshivas in the area, including the Yeshivah of Flatbush and the Mir Yeshiva. Midwood is also close to the SUNY Downstate Medical Center and the Kings County Hospital Center, which are major employers in the area. The neighborhood is represented by the New York City Council's 45th district, which is currently represented by Farah Louis, and is part of the New York State Assembly's 42nd district, which is represented by Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.

Transportation

Midwood is accessible by the BMT Brighton Line and the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway system, which stop at the Avenue J and Avenue M stations. The neighborhood is also served by the B41 and B44 buses, which connect Midwood to Downtown Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Bridge. The area is also close to the Long Island Rail Road's Atlantic Terminal, which provides access to Long Island and Penn Station in Manhattan. Midwood is also accessible by car, with the Belt Parkway and the Kings Highway providing connections to Manhattan and the Bronx.

Education

Midwood is home to a number of public and private schools, including the Midwood High School, which is one of the largest high schools in Brooklyn. The neighborhood is also home to the Edward R. Murrow High School, which is a public high school that is known for its strong programs in the arts and humanities. Midwood is also close to the Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center, which are part of the City University of New York system. The neighborhood is also home to a number of private schools, including the Yeshivah of Flatbush and the Mir Yeshiva, which are both prominent Orthodox Jewish institutions.

Culture

Midwood is a diverse neighborhood with a rich cultural scene, with a mix of Jewish, Italian-American, and Asian-American communities. The neighborhood is home to a number of cultural institutions, including the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which are both located in the nearby Prospect Park. Midwood is also close to the Barclays Center, which is a major sports and entertainment venue that is home to the Brooklyn Nets basketball team and the New York Islanders hockey team. The neighborhood is also home to a number of restaurants and shops, including the Di Fara Pizza restaurant, which is known for its classic New York-style pizza. Midwood is also close to the Coney Island amusement park, which is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The neighborhood is also home to the Kings Theatre, which is a historic vaudeville theater that has been restored and is now a popular venue for concerts and performances. Category:Neighborhoods in Brooklyn