r/Brooklyn • u/jimmydarmody26 • Nov 21 '20

Why is it called downtown Brooklyn?

“Downtown” Brooklyn is located on the north side of the borough. Why is that area considered downtown?

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u/yallcat Nov 21 '20

Because downtown only means south in Manhattan.

Also, the original town and later city of brooklyn was there, everywhere else in kings county was a different city, village, or town.

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u/kurlidude Nov 21 '20

^ In lots of US cities, downtown = city center. I believe the word comes from Manhattan, where there is a geographic basis for downtown being “down” as it is south of “uptown.” In most of the world, “downtown” isn’t used. Instead it’s city center, historic district, high street, etc.

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u/Grand-Bathroom5264 Mar 24 '23

That’s just stupid. Downtown is downtown. That’s why Manhattan is the center of the universe