Pigtown, Brooklyn

Pigtown formerly described a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, existing as such until approximately the end of the 19th century.

Pigtown was at the southern periphery of the then City of Brooklyn where it bordered the Town of Flatbush. On the modern map it would be located somewhat south of Empire Boulevard (former Malbone Street) east of Prospect Park and north of Winthrop Street in the southernmost portion of Crown Heights.

The community derived its name from the fact that the major pig farms supplying Brooklyn were located there. These farms had previously been closer to the heart of Brooklyn City, but pressure to move them resulted then (as now) with their being moved as close to the political border of Brooklyn City as possible, and at the border of its neighbor.

The area once known as Pigtown was the site Ebbets Field, the home of the former Brooklyn Dodgers. This was where future drag racer Frederick DiNome and his criminal brother Richard DiNome were born and raised. The area is now known as Wingate.

Pigtown (Brooklyn)