List of former municipalities in New York City facts for kids

1839 map of today's New York City

Imagine New York City as a giant puzzle! It wasn't always one big city. In 1898, many smaller towns, villages, and cities joined together to create the huge City of Greater New York we know today. This article will tell you about those smaller places that existed within New York City's current borders. We'll look at them from 1664, when the British took over New Amsterdam, until they all became part of the big city in 1898. In New York State, a "town" is like a division within a county.

New York County: The Heart of Manhattan

New York County is the same area as Manhattan. It's one of the five main parts, or boroughs, of New York City.

• The main city here was the City of New York itself.
• There was also a smaller place called the Town of New Harlem. It was first set up in 1658 and then became part of New York City in 1666.

Bronx County: From Westchester to NYC

Map of Westchester County, including the portion that would later become The Bronx, in 1867

The Bronx wasn't always part of New York City. It used to be part of Westchester County. New York City added parts of the Bronx in two steps. The western part joined in 1874, and the eastern part joined in 1895. The Bronx became its own separate borough in 1898. It officially became Bronx County in 1914.

West Bronx: Joining in 1874

This part of the Bronx became part of New York City in 1874.

• Part of the Town of Yonkers was here. A section of Yonkers later became the Town of Kingsbridge in 1873.
  • The Town of Kingsbridge separated from Yonkers in 1873. It joined New York City in 1874.
• The Town of Morrisania separated from West Farms in 1855. It joined New York City in 1874.
  • The Village of Morrisania was a smaller area within the Town of Morrisania, formed in 1864.
• The Town of West Farms separated from Westchester Town in 1846. It joined New York City in 1874.

East Bronx: Joining in 1895

This part of the Bronx became part of New York City in 1895.

• Part of the Town of Eastchester joined New York City in 1895.
  • The Village of Wakefield was a smaller area within the Town of Eastchester, formed in 1889.
• Part of the Town of Pelham joined New York City in 1895.
• The Town of Westchester joined New York City in 1895.
  • The Village of Williamsbridge was a smaller area within the Town of Westchester, formed in 1888.

Kings County: The Rise of Brooklyn

An 1859 map of Kings and Queens Counties. At this point, the City of Brooklyn had already annexed Williamsburg and Bushwick, and Long Island City had not yet been formed.

When Kings County was created in 1688, it had six towns. Over time, the City of Brooklyn grew bigger and bigger. It took over all the other towns and cities in Kings County between 1854 and 1896. Finally, Brooklyn itself became a big part of New York City in 1898.

• The Town of Brooklyn was first called "Breuckelen" in 1646. It was one of the original "Six Towns" of Kings County. It became a city in 1834.
• The Village of Brooklyn was a smaller area within the town, formed in 1816. It became part of the City of Brooklyn in 1834.
• The City of Brooklyn became a city in 1834, covering the entire area of the former town.
• The Town of Bushwick was founded as "Boswijck" in 1661. It joined Brooklyn in 1854.
• The Town of Flatbush was founded as "Midwout" in 1652. It was the main government center for Kings County. It joined Brooklyn in 1894.
• The Town of Flatlands was founded as "Nieuw Amersfoort" in 1647. It joined Brooklyn in 1896.
• The Town of Gravesend was founded in 1645. It joined Brooklyn in 1894.
• The Town of New Lots separated from Flatbush in 1852. It joined Brooklyn in 1886.
• The Town of New Utrecht was founded in 1657 as Nieuw Utrecht. It joined Brooklyn in 1894.
• The Town (later a city) of Williamsburgh separated from the Town of Bushwick in 1840. It became a city in 1851 and then joined Brooklyn in 1854.

Queens County: A Tale of Two Counties

Many parts of Queens County joined New York City in 1898. These included Flushing, Jamaica, Long Island City, Newtown, and the Rockaway Peninsula part of Hempstead. The rest of Hempstead, along with the Towns of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay, separated from Queens County in 1899 to form Nassau County.

• The Town of Flushing was first set up in 1645 as Vlissingen.
  • The Village of College Point was a smaller area within Flushing, formed in 1880.
  • The Village of Flushing was a smaller area within the Town of Flushing, formed in 1837.
  • The Village of Whitestone was a smaller area within Flushing, formed in 1868.
• Part of the Town of Hempstead joined New York City.
  • The Village of Far Rockaway was a smaller area within the Rockaway Peninsula part of Hempstead, formed in 1888.
  • The Village of Rockaway Beach was a smaller area within the Rockaway Peninsula part of Hempstead, formed in 1897.
• The Town of Jamaica joined New York City.
  • The Village of Jamaica was a smaller area within the Town of Jamaica, formed in 1814.
  • The Village of Richmond Hill was a smaller area within the Town of Jamaica, formed in 1894.
• The City of Long Island City separated from Newtown in 1870. It joined New York City in 1898.
• The Town of Newtown was first called Middelburgh in 1652. It was renamed Hastings in 1663 and then New Towne in 1665.

Richmond County: Staten Island's Journey

Staten Island in 1891

All of Staten Island joined New York City in 1898. It became known as Richmond County.

• The Town of Castleton was one of the towns on Staten Island.
  • The Village of New Brighton was a smaller area within the Town of Castleton, formed in 1866.
• The Town of Northfield was another town on Staten Island.
  • The Village of Port Richmond was a smaller area within Northfield, formed in 1866.
• The Town of Middletown was created in 1860 from parts of Castleton and Southfield.
  • The Village of Edgewater was a smaller area within the Town of Middletown, formed in 1866.
• The Town of Southfield was also on Staten Island.
  • The Village of Richmond was a smaller area within the Town of Southfield, formed in 1823.
• The Town of Westfield was the last town on Staten Island.
  • The Village of Tottenville was a smaller area within the Town of Westfield, formed in 1869 and again in 1894.