Founded in the 1650s as the Town of New Lots, today’s East New York was annexed by the City of Brooklyn in 1886 before becoming part of New York City in 1898. You'd be correct if you guessed that East New York got its name because of its location — found farther east than any other neighborhood in Brooklyn. A merchant named John Pitkin wanted to signify the area as the eastern end of New York City, with the idea that it would rival and perhaps surpass Manhattan, and the name has stuck. While Pitkin’s plans never came to fruition in his time, the modern East New York is being revitalized, unconcerned with whatever is happening on the NYC “mainland.” Various new developments continue to grow, pointing the way forward for East New York’s future.