Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

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Bay Ridge is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of Brooklyn, New York, USA. It is bounded by 65th Street on the north, Interstate 278 on the east, and the Belt Parkway-Shore Road on the west. The southern border is 101st Street. The portion below 86th Street is a subsection called Fort Hamilton. A small area east of I-278, bounded by 7th Avenue, is also part of Bay Ridge.

1 Life
2 History
3 The Islamic Society of Bay Ridge
4 Transportation
5 Facts
6 External links

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Life

Image:StPatricksdaybayridge.jpg

Bay Ridge is a mostly middle-class area with strong family presence, one of the few neighborhoods remaining in Brooklyn with a historically strong Republican voting record. Bay Ridge is often thought of as a predominantly Catholic neighborhood, 20% or so of the current residents identify themselves as being of Italian descent, and another 20% identify themselves as being of Irish descent. There is also a large and active Greek-American population. In addition Bay Ridge is home to one of the oldest Arab-American populations in New York, but only makes up a small percentage of the neighborhood population. Several generations ago, the neighborhood was well known for its Scandinavian residents, and the neighborhood still contains several Scandinavian bakeries and hosts an annual Norwegian Day Parade. Since 1990 Bay Ridge has become a popular location for immigrants from the former Soviet Union.

Bay Ridge residents enjoy a great selection of fine eating, and the many quality dining establishments lining 3rd Avenue give it the local nickname of "Restaurant Row". There is also a thriving bar scene, with residents frequenting the Irish pubs abounding along 3rd, 4th, and 5th Avenues, the main commercial strips of the neighborhood.

Educational institutions include P.S. 102, P.S. 185 (Walter Kassenbrock Elementary School), P.S. 104K (called the Fort Hamilton School), I.S. 30 (also known as Mary White Ovington), Fort Hamilton High School, High School of Telecommunications, Bay Ridge Preparatory School, Poly Prep Country Day School, and Xaverian High School.

Most recently, Bay Ridge has become known for its high elderly population. It has been called a NORC or a naturally-occurring retirement community because many of its families have grown-up in the neighborhood while their children move away. This is also a sign for things to come for many other neighborhoods in the United States. In 2006, it was reported that 20% of the population of Bay Ridge is 60 or over. <ref>"Counting Graying Heads." The New York Times. Jan 1, 2006 p6(Local)</ref>

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History

Bay Ridge was originally known as Yellow Hook, for the yellowish soil the original Dutch settlers observed. This name was changed in 1853 after yellow fever struck the area and residents realized what an ill fit it was given the circumstances. The new name was given due to the proximity of the neighborhood to New York Bay, excellent views of which were visible from the ridge that has now become Ridge Boulevard. These views attracted wealthy people, who built extravagant summer homes along Shore Road overlooking the water, many of which are still standing today and worth well over one million dollars. Once the 4th Avenue Subway (now the R line) was extended in 1915, however, many Manhattan workers looking for quieter surroundings began to flow in, transforming the area into a middle-class suburb.

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The Islamic Society of Bay Ridge

Image:The Islamic Society of Bay Ridge.jpg The Islamic Society of Bay Ridge, home to thousands of Muslims in the Brooklyn neighborhood is among the oldest religious institutions of Islam in Brooklyn. Its base is comprised largely of Palestinian, Egyptian, Yemeni, Moroccan and Algerian immigrants. It is better known for suspected connection to highly controversial events in New York City history. On March 1, 1994, Lebanese-born Rashid Baz killed Ari Halberstam, a Hasidic rabbinical student, on the Brooklyn Bridge. Later, when speaking to a psychiatrist, he admitted that he attended an anti-Jewish sermon earlier that day at the mosque. [1] Although anti-Semitism has still been charged at the mosque and its imam, any current accusation has at best conflicting credibility. <ref>"A Brooklyn Imam: Conflicting Views." The New York Times. March 12, 2006 pWK11(Local)(Letter to the Editor)</ref> No serious ties to the crime or to terrorism have been discovered since then.

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