Canarsie, originally inhabited by the Canarsie Indians, is a neighborhood with a rich history linking it to early visitors like Giovanni da Verrazzano and Henry Hudson. Named after the native people, it transitioned from farmland and fishing to a suburban community, particularly after the arrival of the Brooklyn and Rockaway Beach Railroad in the 1860s. Key developments included the Golden City Amusement Park and later the construction of the Belt Parkway, reshaping the landscape. Over time, pollution and urbanization transformed Canarsie into a typical American suburb, marking a significant departure from its Native roots.
One of the reasons we give names to neighborhoods is for the community to have a sense of its past, a tie with its history.
Canarsie's wetlands were filled in, and its marshlands became sites for housing. With a growing population, the old swampy Canarsie became more of a typical American suburb.
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