Bath Beach, named after the famous spa in Bath, England, was settled in 1652 and became notable as one of the first African American settlements in the mid-19th century. Its growth was spurred by the arrival of the Brooklyn, Bath and Coney Island steam railroad in 1862 and later the subway in 1916-17, attracting wealthier families. However, the Great Depression altered its landscape significantly. Development resumed with the Belt Parkway in 1939, though the original beach was paved over in the 1950s due to construction work.
Bath Beach, originally part of Dutch New Utrecht founded in 1652, became an early African American settlement and saw growth through transportation developments and socio-economic shifts.
The area, which gained its name from Bath, England due to its spa and baths, evolved over centuries through immigration and the rise and fall of local economies.
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