Brooklyn and City of New York (Manhattan/Bronx) were separate cities until 1898. Prior to that, Brooklyn was on an expansion spree annexing cities and towns to

Brooklyn and City of New York (Manhattan/Bronx) were separate cities until 1898. Prior to that, Brooklyn was on an expansion spree annexing cities and towns to the north (Williamsburg, Bushwick) to the east (New Lots) and south (New Utrecht, Flatbush) to make the size of the current borough hence the confusing street names. Queens has a solution to that.