Ever wondered about the history woven into the very streets you walk? Today we stand on Metropolitan Avenue a thoroughfare connecting Brooklyn and Queens.
Metropolitan Avenue boasts a rich past. It began life in 1816 not as a bustling avenue but as the Williamsburgh and Jamaica Turnpike. Imagine horse-drawn carriages rumbling along this very road. This turnpike upgraded an older Indian trail connecting the villages of Williamsburg and Jamaica. Farmers and stagecoaches used this route to reach the Williamsburg ferries for passage to Manhattan.
The westernmost section in Williamsburg originally had various names. Bushwick Street Woodhull Street and North Second Street were all previous names. These changed around 1858 when these became officially part of Metropolitan Avenue. The City of Brooklyn took over the road from the Williamsburgh Turnpike Road Company in 1872. Many neighborhoods along its path started as small villages.
Today Metropolitan Avenue is a vibrant artery. It stretches 7.9 miles. The avenue has four to six lanes depending on where you are. It defines the borders of several Queens neighborhoods. It forms the northern boundaries of Ridgewood and Glendale the southern border of Maspeth. It also cuts through Middle Village and Forest Park.
Numerous subway lines serve the avenue. The G train L train M train and E train all have stops near Metropolitan Avenue. Many bus routes run along its length. The Q54 bus runs along most of the avenue. The Q59 B24 B38 Q39 Q38 Q67 Q23 QM12 and QM42 all intersect with this major thoroughfare. The avenue also crosses the Long Island Rail Road’s Bushwick Branch at one of the busiest level crossings in New York City.
Metropolitan Avenue is more than just a road. It’s a living testament to the evolution of New York City itself. From an old Indian trail to a major transportation route it continues to serve as a vital link between diverse communities. Its journey mirrors the growth and development of the city it serves. So as you walk along Metropolitan Avenue remember the stories embedded in its very asphalt. They echo with the sounds of the past and the vibrancy of the present.