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. Main article: New York City A map of New York City, highlighting Brooklyn. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 27th 141,205 km² 455 km 530 km 13. ... The Belt Parkway, or Belt System or Circumferential Parkway is a series of New York City limited-access highways that form a complete circle around the Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. ... Fort Hamilton is a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. ...

Life

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. A Greek American is a citizen of the United States who has significant Greek heritage. ... Arab Americans are Americans of Arab ancestry and constitute an ethnicity made up of several waves of immigrants from 22 Arab countries, stretching from Morocco in the west to Oman in the east. ... The Norwegian-Americans are an ethnic group in the United States. ...

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 home to Brooklyn's only private boy's school Xaverian High School. Poly Prep Country Day School (better known as Poly Prep or just Poly) is a private middle, upper and elementary country day school in Brooklyn, New York, USA. It has a full range of scholastic, athletic and artistic courses students can take, and is a member of the prestigious Ivy... Xaverian High School is a non-secretarian private college preparatory school for young men founded by the Xaverian Brothers in the Catholic Tradition. ...

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 location of the neighborhood's location next 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. Current and former R services The R Broadway Local is a service of the New York City Subway. ... Manhattan Borough,highlighted in yellow, lies between the East River and the Hudson River. ...

Transportation

The area is currently serviced by the R line of the New York City Subway, with stations at Bay Ridge Avenue, 77th Street, 86th Street and 95th Street-Bay Ridge. Current and former R services The R Broadway Local is a service of the New York City Subway. ... The New York City Subway is a large rapid transit system in New York City, New York, United States. ... Bay Ridge Avenue is a local station on the R train line with two side platforms and two servicable tracks. ... 86th Street station is a subway station along the R line approximately centered under 86th Street and Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. ...

Bay Ridge is readily accessible by car, encircled by the Belt Parkway and Gowanus Expressway. The Belt Parkway, or Belt System or Circumferential Parkway is a series of New York City limited-access highways that form a complete circle around the Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. ... The original Gowanus Expressway in 1954, before widening. ...

Facts

The Verrazano Narrows Bridge connects this neighborhood with Staten Island. The Verrazano Narrows Bridge and Staten Island, New York at dawn The Verrazano Narrows Bridge (often written as the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge) is a suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City at the Narrows, the reach connecting the relatively protected upper bay... For other uses, see Staten Island (disambiguation) Staten Island, shown in an enhanced satellite image Staten Island is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located on an island of the same name on the west side of the Narrows at the entrance of New York Harbor. ...

The 1977 movie Saturday Night Fever was set here, as well as nearby Bensonhurst. For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Saturday Night Fever is a 1977 movie starring John Travolta as Tony Manero, a troubled Brooklyn youth whose weekend activities are dominated by visits to a New York discotheque. ... Bensonhurst is a blue collar/middle class neighborhood located in the south-central part of New York City, USAs borough of Brooklyn. ...

External links

• Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 12
• Bay Ridge St. Patrick's Day Parade
• Bay Ridge Business
• Historical Photos
• NYCfoto.com Recent photos of Bay Ridge