Brooklyn (named after the Dutch city Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. An independent city until its consolidation into New York in 1898, Brooklyn is New York's most populous borough, with nearly 2.5 million residents. If all five boroughs were independent cities, Brooklyn would rank as the third most populous city in the United States, behind Los Angeles and Chicago. Brooklyn is coterminous with Kings County, which is the most populous county in New York State, and the second most densely populated county in the United States after New York County, which is coterminous with Manhattan).
Though a part of New York City, Brooklyn maintains a distinct character of its own. Brooklyn is enriched by cultural diversity, an independent art scene, distinct neighborhoods, and a unique architectural heritage.
