Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Bedford–Stuyvesant (/ˈbɛdfərd ˈstaɪvəsənt/), colloquially known as Bed–Stuy,[5] is a neighborhood in the northern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Bedford–Stuyvesant is bordered by Flushing Avenue to the north (bordering Williamsburg), Classon Avenue to the west (bordering Clinton Hill), Broadway to the east (bordering Bushwick and East New York), and Atlantic Avenue to the south (bordering Crown Heights and Brownsville).[6] The main shopping street, Fulton Street, runs east–west the length of the neighborhood and intersects high-traffic north–south streets including Bedford Avenue, Nostrand Avenue, and Stuyvesant Avenue. Bedford–Stuyvesant contains four smaller neighborhoods: Bedford, Stuyvesant Heights, Ocean Hill, and Weeksville (also part of Crown Heights). Part of Clinton Hill was once considered part of Bedford–Stuyvesant.
Bedford–Stuyvesant
7.21 km2 (2.782 sq mi)
157,530
22,000/km2 (57,000/sq mi)
45.6%
29.4%
19.5%
3%
2.5%
$51,907
718, 347, 929, and 917
Bedford–Stuyvesant has the largest collection of intact and largely untouched Victorian architecture in the United States, with roughly 8,800 buildings built before 1900.[7] Its building stock includes many historic brownstones. These homes were developed for the expanding upper-middle class from the 1890s to the late 1910s. These homes contain highly ornamental detailing throughout their interiors and have classical architectural elements, such as brackets, quoins, fluting, finials, and elaborate frieze and cornice banding.
Since the late 1930s, the neighborhood has been a major cultural center for Brooklyn's African American population. Following the construction of the Fulton Street subway line (A and C trains)[8] in 1936, African Americans left an overcrowded Harlem for greater housing availability in Bedford–Stuyvesant. From Bedford–Stuyvesant, African Americans have since moved into the surrounding areas of Brooklyn, such as East New York, Crown Heights, Brownsville, and Fort Greene. Since the early 2000s, Bedford-Stuyvesant has undergone significant gentrification, resulting in a dramatic demographic shift combined with increasing rent and real estate prices.[9]
Bedford–Stuyvesant is mostly part of Brooklyn Community District 3, though a small part is also in Community District 8. Its primary ZIP Codes are 11205, 11206, 11216, 11221, 11233, and 11238.[1][2] Bedford–Stuyvesant is patrolled by the 79th and 81st Precincts of the New York City Police Department.[10][11] Politically it is represented by the New York City Council's 36th District.
History[edit]
Founding[edit]
The neighborhood's name combines the names of what was the hamlet of Bedford, and the Stuyvesant Heights neighborhoods, initially separate neighborhoods which grew together. The 17th century hamlet of Bedford was named after the market village of Bedford in England. Stuyvesant Heights was named for Peter Stuyvesant, the last governor of the colony of New Netherland.
Location
Roughly bounded by Macon, Tompkins, Decatur, Lewis, Chauncey, and Stuyvesant, New York, New York
42 acres (17 ha)
1870
Italianate, Queen Anne, Romanesque
Roughly, Decatur St. from Tompkins to Lewis Aves., Brooklyn, New York
10 acres (4.0 ha)
multiple
Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne
November 15, 1996
December 4, 1975
Subsections[edit]
Neighborhoods[edit]
Bedford is located toward the western end of Bedford-Stuyvesant. Before the American Revolutionary War times, it was the first settlement to the east of the Village of Brooklyn. It was originally part of the old village of Bedford, which was centered near today's Bedford Avenue–Fulton Street intersection. The area "extends from Monroe Street on the north to Macon Street and Verona Place on the south, and from just east of Bedford Avenue eastward to Tompkins Avenue," according to the Landmarks Preservation Commission.[46][47] Bedford is adjacent to Williamsburg, Crown Heights, and Clinton Hill.[48]
Stuyvesant Heights is located toward the southern-central section of Bedford-Stuyvesant. It has historically been an African-American enclave. It derives its name from Stuyvesant Avenue, its principal thoroughfare. It was originally part of the outlying farm area of Bedford for most of its early history. A low-rise residential district of three- and four-story masonry row houses and apartment buildings with commercial ground floors, it was developed mostly between 1870 and 1920,[48][49][50] mainly between 1895 and 1900.[51] The Stuyvesant Heights Historic District is located within the area bounded roughly by Tompkins Avenue on the west, Macon and Halsey Streets on the north, Malcolm X Boulevard on the east, and Fulton Street on the south.[51][52]
Ocean Hill is located toward the eastern end Ocean Hill received its name in 1890 for being slightly hilly. Hence it was subdivided from the larger community of Stuyvesant Heights. From the beginning of the 20th century to the 1960s Ocean Hill was an Italian enclave. By the late 1960s Ocean Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant proper together formed the largest African American community in the United States.
Weeksville is located toward the southeast. Weeksville was named after James Weeks, an ex-slave[53] from Virginia, who in 1838[54] bought a plot of land and founded Weeksville.
Politics[edit]
The neighborhood is part of New York's 8th congressional district,[73][74] represented by Democrat Hakeem Jeffries as of 2013.[75] It is also part of the 18th and 25th State Senate districts,[76][77] represented respectively by Democrats Julia Salazar and Jabari Brisport,[78][79] and the 54th, 55th, and 56th State Assembly districts,[80][81] represented respectively by Democrats Erik Dilan, Latrice Walker, and Stefani Zinerman.[82] Bed-Stuy is located in the New York City Council's 36th and 41st districts,[83] represented respectively by Democrats Chi Ossé and Darlene Mealy.[84][85]
Police and crime[edit]
Bedford–Stuyvesant is patrolled by two precincts of the NYPD.[86] The 81st Precinct is located at 30 Ralph Avenue, serving the area east of Marcus Garvey Boulevard,[11] and the 79th Precinct is located at 263 Tompkins Avenue, serving the area west of Marcus Garvey Boulevard.[10]
Fire safety[edit]
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) operates seven fire stations in Bedford–Stuyvesant.[87][88]
Health[edit]
As of 2018, preterm births and births to teenage mothers are more common in Bedford–Stuyvesant than in other places citywide. In Bedford–Stuyvesant, there were 95 preterm births per 1,000 live births (compared to 87 per 1,000 citywide), and 26.9 births to teenage mothers per 1,000 live births (compared to 19.3 per 1,000 citywide).[66]: 11 Bedford–Stuyvesant has a relatively low population of residents who are uninsured, or who receive healthcare through Medicaid.[89] In 2018, this population of uninsured residents was estimated to be 11%, which is slightly lower than the citywide rate of 12%.[66]: 14
The concentration of fine particulate matter, the deadliest type of air pollutant, in Bedford–Stuyvesant is 0.0081 milligrams per cubic metre (8.1×10−9 oz/cu ft), higher than the citywide and boroughwide averages.[66]: 9 Nineteen percent of Bedford–Stuyvesant residents are smokers, which is higher than the city average of 14% of residents being smokers.[66]: 13 In Bedford–Stuyvesant, 29% of residents are obese, 13% are diabetic, and 34% have high blood pressure—compared to the citywide averages of 24%, 11%, and 28% respectively.[66]: 16 In addition, 22% of children are obese, compared to the citywide average of 20%.[66]: 12
Eighty-four percent of residents eat some fruits and vegetables every day, which is slightly lower than the city's average of 87%. In 2018, 76% of residents described their health as "good", "very good", or "excellent", slightly less than the city's average of 78%.[66]: 13 For every supermarket in Bedford–Stuyvesant, there are 57 bodegas.[66]: 10
There are several hospitals in the Bed-Stuy area, including the Woodhull Medical Center and the Interfaith Medical Center.[89]: 19–20
Post offices and ZIP Codes[edit]
Bedford–Stuyvesant is covered by four primary ZIP Codes (11206, 11216, 11221, 11233) and parts of three other ZIP Codes (11205, 11213, and 11233). The northern part of the neighborhood is covered by 11206; the central part, by 11221; the southwestern part, by 11216; and the southeastern part, by 11233. In addition, the ZIP Code 11205 covers several blocks in the northwestern corner of Bed-Stuy, and 11213 includes several blocks in the extreme southern portion of the neighborhood.[90] The United States Postal Service operates four post offices nearby: the Restoration Plaza Station at 1360 Fulton Street,[91] the Shirley A Chisholm Station at 1915 Fulton Street,[92] the Bushwick Station at 1369 Broadway,[93] and the Halsey Station at 805 MacDonough Street.[94]
