KINGS COUNTY 



This county occupies the extreme western end of Long Island 

 and includes several islands along the coast, among which is 

 Coney Island. It was one of the original counties formed in 

 16S3 and was named in honor of Charles II. 



When the city of Greater New York was established, Kings 

 County was united with it as the Borough of Brooklyn. 



The first settlements were made under the Dutch Government 

 in 1625 by several families of French Protestants or Walloons 

 who located near Wallabout Bay. Little progress was made for 

 many years. In 183G other settlements were made, at about 

 which time the English, after taking the oath of allegiance to the 

 Dutch Government, settled on the east end of the island. 



Previous to the Revolution the farmers of Kings County raised 

 tobacco, part of which they sent to Europe. They also raised cot- 

 ton to a limited extent, solely for the uses of their own household 



Kings County was the scene of the battle of Long Island and 

 was occupied by the British army during the remainder of the 

 Revolutionary War. During the War of 1812 a considerable 

 amount of labor was expended in erecting fortifications, and 

 bodies of troops were stationed there to protect the people. • 



The United States Navy Yard is located within this county 

 on Wallabout Bay. 



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