Brooklyn, California facts for kids

Brooklyn was once a city in California, located in Alameda County. Today, it is part of the larger city of Oakland, California.

This map from 1857 shows where Brooklyn was located.

The Story of Brooklyn

Brooklyn started in 1856. It was formed when two smaller towns, San Antonio and Clinton, joined together. Both of these places are now inside Oakland.

The name "Brooklyn" came from a special ship. This ship brought Mormon settlers to California in 1846. It was a way to remember their journey.

In 1870, Brooklyn grew even more. It took in a nearby town called Lynn. Lynn was known for making shoes. After this, Brooklyn officially became its own city.

Railroads and Name Changes

A railroad called the San Francisco and Oakland Railroad built a station in San Antonio. When the Central Pacific Railroad took over in 1870, they changed the station's name to Brooklyn.

Just two years later, in 1872, the people of Brooklyn voted. They decided to join the city of Oakland. This meant Brooklyn was no longer a separate city.

Later, in 1883, the Southern Pacific Railroad took over the rail line. They changed the Brooklyn station name again. This time, it became East Oakland.

Post Office and Location

A post office opened in Brooklyn in 1855. It later became a branch of the Oakland post office in 1878.

If you look at old maps, Brooklyn was a pretty big area. It was next to Lake Merritt and the Piedmont area. It was also near Alameda and San Leandro. Today, this entire area is known as East Oakland.

How Many People Lived There?

Brooklyn was counted as a city in the 1870 U.S. Census. In 1870, the city of Brooklyn had a population of 1,603 people.