The Williamsburg neighborhood is located in the northern part of the borough of Brooklyn. Connected to Manhattan by the Williamsburg Bridge, the neighborhood is home to many Manhattan commuters. It has a thriving art community and is home to many ethnic groups.

Originally part of the town of Bushwick, Williamsburg came to be after a 13 acre piece of property was surveyed in 1802 by Colonel Jonathan Williams for who it is named after. It became incorporated as the Village of Williamsburg with the Town of Bushwick in 1827 soon had over 1,000 inhabitants. Because of its location near the East River, many industrialists were drawn to build factories and refineries as the deep drafts in the river allowed for large ships to easily access the area. Ship building was also done in this area.

Due to the factories and refineries, the population increased and Williamsburg became it's own city in 1852. In 1855, the city of Williamsburg and the town of Bushwick became annexed into the City of Brooklyn and was referred to as the Eastern District. During this time, Williamsburg went through a tremendous growth in economic, industrial and cultural areas. The district had thriving businesses and was a popular resort area. Many wealthy New Yorkers were attracted to the area and built shore side mansions. The Pratt Institute was founded during this time as well as Corning Glass Works began here before moving to Upstate NY.

In 1898, Brookly itself became one of the five boroughs of New York City. In 1903 the Williamsburg Bridge was built connecting Williamsburg to Manhattan. The bridge opened the community to the rest of the city and it saw a huge influx of city dwellers leaving the overcrowded slum tenements of Manhattan. Williamsburg soon became the most densely populated area in the United States.

As in many areas of the city after World War II, Williamsburg's economy started to decline. The area had a population surge as refugee's from war torn Europe immigrated into the area as well as immigrants from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Due to the decline of industry and the increase in population the area soon became known for it's crime and poverty.

In the 1970's many budding artists were drawn to the area due to the low rent and large spaces. The artist population increased through the 1980's and 1990's and is still a popular destination for artists today.

In 2005, NYC passed a rezoning for the North side area and Greenpoint Waterfront. Most of the area will be zoned for "mixed use" high rises with residential space above and retail at the ground levels. A two mile string of esplanades and a waterfront park are to be developed as well.

For more in depth information about Williamsburg, please visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamsburg%2C_Brooklyn