Coney Island is a renowned neighborhood and entertainment area located in Brooklyn, New York City. Situated on a peninsula, it's bordered by Brighton Beach, Lower New York Bay, and Gravesend. Historically an outer barrier island of Long Island, land fill connected it to the mainland in the early 20th century. Coney Island is famed for its amusement parks, boardwalk, and beach, making it a significant recreational destination within New York City. The Coney Island peninsula also encompasses Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach.
In 1901, the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL)'s Coney Island branch opened as an unmanned deposit station.
In 1902, Sea Lion Park closed down. It was the first amusement park to charge entry fees.
In 1903, Luna Park opened on the site of the former Sea Lion Park. The park was lit by electricity at night and featured a variety of attractions, including A Trip to the Moon, an attraction based on Jules Verne's novel From the Earth to the Moon.
Dreamland opens in 1904.
The B&B Carousell was built circa 1906-1909, featuring a traditional roll-operated fairground organ.
In 1907, Steeplechase Park had to be completely rebuilt after a fire.
In 1909, patronage at the original resorts declined after horse racing was outlawed in New York State.
The B&B Carousell was built circa 1906-1909, featuring a traditional roll-operated fairground organ.
Dreamland closes in 1911.
In 1911, the Brooklyn Public Library's Coney Island branch opened.
In 1915, the Sea Beach Line was upgraded to a subway line, improving transportation access to Coney Island.
In 1916, Nathan Handwerker began selling hot dogs at Coney Island for a nickel each, later expanding into the famous Nathan's Famous hot dog chain.
From 1917 to 1920, the Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue station was built as a replacement for the former surface-level Culver Depot.
In 1919, the opening of the Stillwell Avenue station ushered in Coney Island's busiest era, facilitating travel for over a million people on the busiest summer days.
From 1917 to 1920, the Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue station was built as a replacement for the former surface-level Culver Depot.
In 1920, the Wonder Wheel opened, adding to Coney Island's quality as an amusement destination.
The Comet roller coaster was built in 1921 next to the current site of the Cyclone.
In 1922, construction began on the Riegelmann Boardwalk, which facilitated the redeposition of sand on the beaches through beach nourishment.
In 1923, construction was completed on the Riegelmann Boardwalk, which facilitated the redeposition of sand on the beaches through beach nourishment.
In 1923, the Riegelmann Boardwalk opened, enabling crowds to disperse away from Surf Avenue.
In 1923, the city bought all the land on the waterfront and created the Riegelmann Boardwalk and Beach, making the beaches public.
The Childs Restaurant was originally constructed in 1923.
In 1924, local landowners and the city filled a portion of Coney Island Creek.
In 1925, the Shore Theater opened, adding to Coney Island's quality as an amusement destination.
The original wooden Thunderbolt coaster was constructed in 1925.
In 1927, the Coney Island Cyclone, one of the United States' oldest wooden roller coasters still in operation, opened.
In 1932, a large fire at Coney Island left at least a thousand people homeless.
In 1937, New York City parks commissioner Robert Moses published a report on the possible redevelopment of Coney Island, which would have entailed the addition of parking lots and reconstruction of part of the boardwalk.
In 1939, the Parachute Jump was originally built as the Life Savers Parachute Jump at the New York World's Fair.
In 1941, the Parachute Jump contributed to Coney Island's allure as an amusement destination.
In August 1944, Luna Park was destroyed by a fire.
Luna Park closes in 1944.
The Comet roller coaster was destroyed in 1945.
In 1946, at the end of World War II, two new rides were constructed in Coney Island, despite earlier delays caused by material shortages.
In 1949, Moses had Luna Park's land rezoned for residential use, with plans to demolish "about a third" of attractions along Surf Avenue and replace these with housing.
In 1953, Robert Moses proposed that most of the peninsula be rezoned for various uses, claiming that it would be an "upgrade" over the existing zones. This was met with public resistance, leading to the reinstatement of an amusement-only zone between West 22nd and West Eighth Streets.
In 1953, a new building for the New York Aquarium was approved for construction in the neighborhood.
In 1954, another branch of the Brooklyn Public Library was built in Coney Island, referred to as "the first-ever library built on stilts over the Atlantic Ocean."
In 1954, construction started on the new New York Aquarium, which was expected to revitalize Coney Island.
In 1955, Coney Island still included four children's amusement areas, five roller coasters, several flat and dark rides, and various other attractions such as the Wonder Wheel.
In 1955, Robert Moses's subsequent proposal to extend the Coney Island boardwalk east to Manhattan Beach was denied.
In 1955, the Oriental Scenic Railway, created by LaMarcus Adna Thompson in 1887, was demolished to be replaced with a "hot rod" amusement ride.
1956 was the last year the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed in Coney Island before their return in 2009.
In June 1957, the New York Aquarium's new site opened with several dozen rides in Coney Island.
In 1957, the New York Aquarium opened on the former site of the Dreamland amusement park.
In 1961, Coney Island had 34,000 residents.
Astroland opens in 1962 at the site of the current Luna Park.
In 1962, Astroland, a small amusement park, was announced for the Coney Island boardwalk, with plans to open the following year.
In 1962, more fill was added to Coney Island Creek during the construction of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
After the 1964 season, Steeplechase Park, the last remaining large amusement park in Coney Island, closed permanently.
During the summer of 1964, Coney Island experienced a large decrease in the number of visitors due to the 1964/1965 World's Fair and other factors, resulting in the lowest profits for concessionaires in a quarter-century and a significant drop in visitors for ride operators.
During the summer of 1965, Coney Island experienced a large decrease in the number of visitors because of the 1964/1965 World's Fair at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens.
In 1965, developer Fred Trump announced his intentions to build luxury apartments on the site of the former Steeplechase Park.
By 1966, the Coney Island peninsula housed almost 100,000 people due to new housing developments.
In 1966, developers attempted to revitalize the Coney Island boardwalk as an amusement area. Trump destroyed Steeplechase Park's Pavilion of Fun during a highly publicized ceremony that September.
In January 1968, New York City parks commissioner August Heckscher II proposed that the New York state government build an "open-space" state park on the Steeplechase site.
In 1969, the condemnation of the Steeplechase site began as the city moved forward with plans to purchase the land for a park.
By 1975, the city was considering demolishing the Coney Island Cyclone in favor of an extension of the adjacent New York Aquarium.
In 1975, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development nearly withdrew a proposed grant of $2 million to fund the proposed state park in Coney Island. The city ultimately accepted the grant, though different city agencies still disagreed over whether to return the funds.
In 1977, the Tornado wooden coaster was destroyed by arson.
In 1979, New York State announced it would conduct a report on the feasibility of legalizing gambling. Mayor Ed Koch proposed opening casinos in New York City, including Coney Island, to revitalize the area's economy.
In 1980, the Coney Island Museum opened, featuring a collection of memorabilia chronicling the history of the neighborhood.
In 1980, the Parachute Jump was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
Norman Kaufman continued to operate his site in Coney Island until the end of summer 1980.
By 1981, the state's interest in legalizing gambling had subsided, and the New York state legislature failed to take action on such proposal.
In 1982, after acquiring Kaufman's rides, the New York City government began advertising for developers to redevelop the former amusement park area.
The original wooden Thunderbolt coaster closed in 1983.
In 1985, the city agreed to restaurant mogul Horace Bullard's proposal to rebuild Steeplechase Park for $55 million.
In December 1986, the New York State Urban Development Corporation formally proposed a 17,000-seat minor-league baseball stadium and a 15,000-seat indoor arena in Coney Island.
In 1986, the opening of the rebuilt Steeplechase Park was delayed while the New York City Planning Commission compiled an environmental impact report.
By early 1987, the cost of rebuilding Steeplechase Park nearly doubled, to $100 million.
In 1988, the Coney Island Cyclone was designated as a city landmark.
In 1988, the Cyclone roller coaster in Coney Island was made a New York City designated landmark.
By 1989, Bullard and the city were ready to sign a contract that would allow the developer to construct a 60-ride amusement park on a 25-acre waterfront strip, which would be completed by 2002.
In 1989, the Parachute Jump and the Wonder Wheel in Coney Island were made New York City designated landmarks.
In 1989, the Parachute Jump was designated as a city landmark.
In 1989, the Wonder Wheel was designated as a city landmark.
Between 1990 and 2022 crimes across all categories in the 60th precinct had decreased by 77.5%.
By 1990, storefronts on Mermaid Avenue in Coney Island had decreased by 90%, from over 400 stores before the urban renewal to 39 stores afterward.
In 1991, the Coney Island Cyclone was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
Between 1993 and 2010, major crimes decreased by 72% in Coney Island.
In 1994, after Rudy Giuliani took office as New York City mayor, he negated the Bullard deal by approving the construction of a minor-league baseball stadium on the site allotted for Steeplechase Park.
In 1996, a four-phase, 873-unit housing development in Coney Island was completed.
In 1997, developer Bruce Ratner proposed constructing a $100 million entertainment complex with a "virtual-reality amusement park" and a movie theater multiplex in Coney Island.
In 1998, Giuliani canceled Sportsplex and the entertainment complex, and instead unveiled another plan where only the parking lot would be built.
In 2000, math achievement in Coney Island rose to 53 percent.
In 2000, the city approved the $31 million project to construct Keyspan Park in Coney Island using the funds from the canceled Sportsplex.
In 2000, the original wooden Thunderbolt coaster was torn down during the construction of nearby Keyspan Park.
In 2000, the population of Coney Island and Sea Gate was counted as 34,267 in the United States Census.
From 2001 to 2004, the Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue station was rebuilt.
In 2001, Coney Island experienced revitalization with the opening of the venue now known as Maimonides Park.
In 2001, KeySpan Park opened on the former site of Steeplechase Park, hosting the Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball team.
In 2003, Mayor Michael Bloomberg took an interest in revitalizing Coney Island as a possible site for the New York City bid of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
From 2001 to 2004, the Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue station was rebuilt.
In 2004, the Coney Island History Project (CIHP) was established to collect stories from longtime residents and preserve the oral history of Coney Island.
In September 2005, Thor's founder, Joe Sitt, unveiled his new plans for a large Bellagio-style hotel resort with a timeshare development, surrounded by rides and amusements in Coney Island.
In 2005, the refurbishment of the Stillwell Avenue subway station in Coney Island was completed.
In November 2006, Astroland owner Carol Hill Albert sold the site to Thor in Coney Island.
In 2006, David Scharfenberg of The New York Times noted that Coney Island's elementary schools were of mixed quality, with only some exceeding citywide averages on state tests.
In 2006, a major national volleyball tournament hosted by the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) was held in Coney Island.
In 2006, the Zipper and Spider rides on West 12th Street in Coney Island were closed permanently and dismantled.
In 2007, the DCP started circulating a rezoning plan that would cover 47 acres of Coney Island.
In April 2008, due to objections from land owners, residents, and developers, the city revised its rezoning proposal for Coney Island.
After Astroland closed in 2008 in Coney Island, it was replaced by a new Dreamland in 2009 and by a new Luna Park in 2010.
In January 2009, the DCP certified the rezoning plan, which allowed the city to create a 9.4-acre amusement district in Coney Island.
In June 2009, the city's planning commission approved the construction of 4,500 units of housing, including 900 affordable units, and promised to preserve affordable housing already in the neighborhood of Coney Island.
A second Dreamland operated for only the 2009 season.
In 2009, a new Dreamland replaced Astroland in Coney Island.
In 2009, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed in Coney Island for the first time since 1956, with the event titled "The Coney Island Boom-A-Ring".
In August 2018, the NYCEDC and NYC Parks announced that Luna Park would be expanded between West 15th and West 16th Streets, next to the Thunderbolt in Coney Island. Also in 2018, a 50-room boutique hotel was being planned for Coney Island within the former Shore Theater and the city expressed its intent to demolish the Abe Stark Rink and redevelop the site, as per the 2009 rezoning.
Based on data from the 2010 United States Census, the combined population of Coney Island and Sea Gate was 31,965.
In 2010, KeySpan Park was renamed after the Municipal Credit Union (MCU) in an eleven-year naming rights deal.
In 2010, Luna Park opened in Coney Island.
In 2010, the 60th Precinct ranked 34th safest out of 69 patrol areas for per-capita crime.
In April 2011, the first new roller coasters to be built at Coney Island in eighty years were opened as part of efforts to reverse the decline of the amusement area.
In 2011, math achievement in Coney Island rose to 72 percent, while reading achievement fell from 57 to 55 percent within the same time period.
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused major damage to the Coney Island amusement parks, the Aquarium, and businesses.
When the city lost the Olympic bid in 2012, the plans to revitalize Coney Island were passed to the Coney Island Development Corporation (CIDC), which made modified plans.
Luna Park at Coney Island reopened as scheduled on March 24, 2013, after Hurricane Sandy.
In 2013, the B&B Carousell reopened at Luna Park in Coney Island.
In 2013, the Coney Island branch of the Brooklyn Public Library was rebuilt after being damaged in Hurricane Sandy.
In March 2014, construction began on the new Thunderbolt, a steel roller coaster.
In June 2014, the Thunderbolt steel roller coaster opened.
The Thunderbolt steel roller coaster, named after the original wooden coaster on the site, was opened in June 2014 in Coney Island.
In May 2015, Thor Equities unveiled Coney Art Walls, a public art wall project curated by Jeffrey Deitch and Joe Sitt, featuring work from more than 30 artists.
When AVP tournaments resumed in Brooklyn in 2015, they were hosted at Brooklyn Bridge Park instead of Coney Island.
In June 2016, the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island opened on the boardwalk, hosting various live musical acts and other events.
In July 2016, the rooftop part of the Childs Restaurant reopened, which was originally constructed in 1923 and renovated during the amphitheater's construction.
As of 2016, the median household income in Community District 13 was $39,213.
In 2016, a live performance venue, the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island, opened on the boardwalk.
In 2016, the B&B Carousell was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
As of 2018, preterm births and births to teenage mothers are slightly more common in Coney Island than in other places citywide. Also, an estimated 14% of residents were uninsured.
As of 2018, the New York Aquarium consists of five exhibits: Aquatheater, Conservation Hall, Sea Cliffs, Sharks, Rays & Turtles, and Ocean Wonders: Sharks.
As of 2018, with a non-fatal assault rate of 51 per 100,000 people, Coney Island's rate of violent crimes per capita is less than that of the city as a whole.
As of NYC Health's 2018 Community Health Profile, Community Board 13 had 106,459 inhabitants with an average life expectancy of 80.4 years.
In 2018, 70% of residents described their health as "good", "very good", or "excellent", lower than the city's average of 78%.
In 2018, Coney Island had a similar ratio of college-educated residents to the rest of the city, with 45% of residents age 25 and older having a college education or higher.
In 2018, a major expansion of the aquarium opened in Coney Island.
In 2018, an estimated 24% of Coney Island residents lived in poverty, and 11% were unemployed.
As of 2019, bumper car rides in Coney Island include an attraction in Deno's Wonder Wheel Park and Eldorado Auto Skooter on Surf Avenue.
In 2019, NYC Ferry announced that the western part of Coney Island would be served by the Coney Island ferry route.
The Coney Art Walls exhibition continued to be held annually through at least 2019.
According to the 2020 census data from New York City Department of City Planning, there were between 20,000 and 29,999 White residents, 10,000 to 19,999 Black residents, 5,000 to 9,999 Hispanic residents, and less than 5000 Asian residents in Coney Island.
As of 2020, the Coney Island History Project Oral History Archive had over 370 interviews available online.
In 2020, many construction projects in Coney Island were placed on hold with the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. The businesses and amusement parks at Coney Island either operated in a sharply reduced capacity or did not open at all.
In 2020, the United States census recorded Coney Island as having approximately 32,000 residents. The neighborhood showed ethnic diversity, but it also had a poverty rate of 27%, which was slightly higher than that of the city overall.
The Coney Island parks reopened for the 2021 season, and Luna Park's expansion commenced in October 2021.
In 2021, the eleven-year naming rights deal with the Municipal Credit Union (MCU) ended.
In April 2022, New York state officials announced that they would issue three casino licenses in Downstate New York.
In November 2022, Sitt proposed the construction of a casino at Coney Island with the aim of attracting more tourists.
In 2022, the 60th Precinct reported five murders, 16 rapes, 179 robberies, 373 felony assaults, 159 burglaries, 527 grand larcenies, and 121 grand larcenies auto.
In 2022, the implementation of the Coney Island ferry route was delayed indefinitely.
By 2023, half a dozen apartment buildings had been or were being built along Surf Avenue in Coney Island.
In 2023, a study found that Coney Island was sinking at a rate of about 2.6 ± 0.8 millimeters (0.102 ± 0.031 in) per year, making it among the fastest-sinking locations in New York City, primarily due to land reclamation in parts of the neighborhood.
In early 2024, the Brooklyn Community Board 11 voted to allow Coney Island to be rezoned for casino use, despite some residents opposing the planned casino.
In February 2025, the city government announced plans for the Coney Island West project, which would include 1,500 housing units on the peninsula's western end, as well as upgrades to the Stark Rink and the Riegelmann Boardwalk's western section.
On June 27, 2025, the developers of the proposed casino at Coney Island, including Thor Equities, Legends Hospitality, Saratoga Casino Holdings, and the Chickasaw Nation, submitted their bid for a commercial casino license.
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