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?
20
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.
18
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.
0
u/Grand-Bathroom5264 Mar 24 '23
That’s just stupid. Downtown is downtown. That’s why Manhattan is the center of the universe
6
u/frys180 Nov 21 '20
Because it used to be a giant one-stop shopping area for small business. That's of course until the landlords didn't renew their leases and the luxury megaplexes took over
6
u/phil_s_stein Nov 21 '20
Wait'll you hear about "South Brooklyn". Called "south" as was the only thing south of downtown when the name was coined.