Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY
About Coney Island, Brooklyn
Coney Island is a small yet famous neighborhood in South Brooklyn. It’s at the very southern tip of the borough, bordered by Brighton Beach to the East and Gravesend to the South. It’s actually a peninsula and not an island. However, the neighborhood is known for being a modest resort area for residents in New York and therefore the Island moniker has stuck. There is a beach, aquarium, and a small amusement park in an area of the city that is largely residential and removed from much of the normal hustle and bustle.
The popularity of the resort has declined since the mid-20th Century, however, it’s still a hot spot in the summer months. Outside of the resort area, Coney Island is an ethnically diverse middle- and working-class neighborhood. It’s a unique area of Brooklyn with a fascinating history and it’s become a staple of New York City tourism and pop culture.
History of Coney Island
The Dutch originally established a colony called New Amsterdam on what is now Coney Island. Originally, Coney Island was a literal island – or rather an archipelago of several small islands - that was purchased by a Dutch colonist named Gysbert Op Dyck, along with a large plot of Southern Brooklyn that is now Gravesend. The land was transferred to the English in 1664 but was largely secluded and used as remote farmland by local settlers. The area provided a secluded location for prominent New York residents looking for solitude – Herman Melville wrote Moby Dick on the island, and Henry Clay and Daniel Webster negotiated the Missouri compromise there around the same time. Coney Island’s development as a resort town began in the mid 18th Century but exploded in popularity after WWII, which is when the theme parks were built.
Coney Island Demographics
The population of Coney Island is approximately 27,000 people. It’s an ethnically diverse neighborhood. Thirty-five percent of residents identify as black, 31% of residents identify as Hispanic, and 24% identify as white. Age demographics are similarly equal across groups. The largest age groups are residents over 65 years old (18%), and children under 10 (15%). Coney Island has a slightly higher rate of poverty than Brooklyn and the rest of the city. An estimated 24% of Coney Island residents live below the poverty line and the average household income as of 2106 was just under $40,000. Much of the economy of the neighborhood is centered around the tourist trade, which is a seasonal business and has been on the decline for several decades.
Transportation in Coney Island
Coney Island residents have a decent amount of transportation options for how remote the neighborhood is. The D, F, N, and Q trains make stops at the Coney Island-Stillwell Ave Station. There are several other stations in the neighborhood that also cater to those trains. Several city buses also make stops in the neighborhood including the B64, B68, B74, B82, B36, X28, and X38. Streets like Emmons Ave and Surf Ave give drivers quick access to major highways out of the neighborhood. Plus, there are several bike lanes throughout the neighborhood.
Housing in Coney Island
The housing in Coney Island is a mixture of different styles. Single-family homes, brick rowhouses, and public housing are abundant as are high rises and elegant brick mansions. You won’t find the picturesque Brownstones that are synonymous with other parts of Brooklyn, but there is a good variety of affordable and high-end housing available. Sea Gate is a private gated neighborhood on the far western end of Coney Island that contains many single- and two-family homes along Gravesend Bay. Property values are cheap for New York standards because it is somewhat isolated, making it a good area for families and working-class residents. Hurricane Sandy decimated many structures in the neighborhood. However, since then there has been a push to revitalize and rebuild and Coney Island has bounced back considerably since then.
Neighborhood Life in Coney Island
Life in the neighborhood centers around the amusement park and other attractions. In the winter it’s a quiet, residential neighborhood and in the summer, it explodes with the energy of a beach town. Old Russian women selling pierogies are often seen along the boardwalk and it is home to the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. The Brooklyn Cyclones are a minor league baseball team that plays at MCU Park in Coney Island, which is a favorite pastime of residents. Overall, those who live in the neighborhood often grow tired of the tourist festivities and more often live a quiet, suburban life. But there are always things to do for those who are bored on a summer afternoon.
Similar Neighborhoods to Coney Island, Brooklyn
Coney Island Real Estate Trends
Coney Island is separated into two sections – Sea gate and the broader Coney Island area. Sea Gate is a gated area of mainly single-family homes, many of which are on Gravesend Bay. Real estate in the Sea Gate area tends to be more expensive than homes in the area outside the gate and residents pay for private security as well as other neighborhood expenses like streetlights and cleaning. Residences outside of the Sea Gate area tend to be squat row houses or multi-story high rises. The median sale price of a home in Coney Island is somewhere around $437,000, which is 25% higher than what it was 5 years ago. The area suffered severe property damage during Hurricane Sandy, but its residential real estate market has bounced back and there has been a push to rebuild and revitalize the neighborhood.
The Truth You Should Know About Coney Island, Brooklyn
How Safe is Coney Island?
Coney Island is mostly a safe area. The park is patrolled by the NYPD and the MTA and there is a security presence to deal with any crime. The crime rate has dropped significantly in the past 30 years and Coney Island's rate of violent crimes per capita is less than the citywide average. There are several housing projects on the Western side of the Island that can get rough and residents are wise to avoid these areas after dark. Plus, petty crimes like pickpocketing are not uncommon in congested areas around the park, so residents should be on alert. But overall if you are aware of your surroundings you shouldn’t have a problem.
Are the Schools Good in Coney Island?
Yes, there are some highly-rated public schools in Coney Island. PS 100 The Coney Island School serves grades Pre-K through five and has a high rating for test scores and teacher-student ratio. PS 90 Edna Cohen School and PS 188 Michael E Berdy are also elementary schools available to residents of Coney Island. The IS 239 Mark Twain School for the Gifted and Talented and IS 303 Herbert S Eisenburg are two public middle schools in the neighborhood. There are two public high schools, the Abraham Lincoln School and the Rachel Carson High School for Coastal Studies. High schoolers also have the option to attend other public high schools in different neighborhoods.
Popular Eateries in Coney Island
Things to do in Coney Island
Spend the day at the beach, it runs along the Coney Island Channel which feeds into the Atlantic Ocean.
Hang out along the Boardwalk, there are several cool souvenir shops and restaurants.
Visit the amusement park, the Wonder Wheel and the Cyclone are two popular rides
Check out the Coney Art Walls, a collection of murals painted by graffiti and street artists.
Visit the Coney Island Circus Show, the attraction features classic circus acts like sword-swallowers and fire eaters.
Get a candy apple at William’s Candy, a sweetshop on the boardwalk
Is Coney Island Dog Friendly?
Yes, Coney Island is a great neighborhood for dogs. There is abundant space to exercise and run around. Canine companions can often be seen jogging alongside owners on the beach or boardwalk. Owners with skittish dogs may want to avoid the tourist-heavy areas. The density of the pedestrian traffic and various types of street food being carried around may be overwhelming. But there are plenty of areas in the neighborhood that aren’t as crazy, that dog owners will love.
Is Coney Island Good for Cyclists?
Yes, Coney Island is a good neighborhood for cycling. There is a bike path called Shore Pathway that runs along Jamaica Bay and there are other similar paths all around the neighborhood. The traffic is relatively calm, and the island is generally flat. Transportation to other parts of the city is available, but within Southern Brooklyn, it’s usually easier for residents without a car to bike from place to place.
3 Things to Know Before Moving to Coney Island, brooklyn
The neighborhood is centered around the amusement park and boardwalk. Therefore, it is very quiet in the winter, rowdy in the summer and most businesses cater to the tourist trade.
The commute to Manhattan can be very long. You won’t have to make many transfers but leave yourself plenty of time if you plan to make the trip.
Fireworks are common in the summers, so if you’re bothered by loud noises, Coney Island may not be the best neighborhood.