Coney Island
 It was the Dutch who originally settled the area which was to become New York City. Some of these Dutch settlers were a strict religious group who settled on one of the westermost of the barrier islands, a small island they called "Konijn Hok" which means "Rabbits' breeding place" because of the abundance of rabbits. When the English came to dominate the region the "Rabbit Island" was renamed "Coney Island" from the old English word for rabbit "coney".
Just as rabbits had come to populate the six mile long and one-half mile wi de Coney Island, so have human beings. Since Coney Island was separated from the main part of Brooklyn by a small creek, it wasn't long before a bridge was constructed and the land was developed into a tourist attraction for city dwellers. Along with hotels and restaurants being built, so were bath houses. The reason for those crazy looking bathing suits of the 19th century was because it was believed that salt water bathing would deplete minerals from the human body. These old-fashioned bathing suits were made of woolen fabric so they woud retain the body's heat, and preferrably be of a maroon or blue color so as to resisit bleaching out. Also, there were signs posted which read: "Bathers Without Full Suits Positively Prohibited By Law".
Just as rabbits like to play outdoors and lounge around on the ground, so human beings made Coney Island into a playground of amusement parks and leisure resorts. Manhattan Beach and Brighton Beach became the destination of the rich. Many famous personages made their way to Coney Island in the mid-19th century like Wahington Irving, Herman Melville, Jenny Lind, P. T. Barnum and Sam Houston. Also politicians of this era found their way to Coney Island such as Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, John c. Calhoun. From 1880 until WW II Coney Island was America's largest amusement area attracting millions of visitors yearly.
In 1871 Charl es Feltman, the man who invented the hot dog, bought land on Coney Island and opened a hot dog stand that became enormously successful. From profits Feltman built an iron pier, erected a hand-crafted carousel, and began a collection of amusements. Then in 1916 Nathan Handwerker, one of Feltman's employees, opened the original Nathan's Famous hot dog stand which is now a national chain of restaurants. Hot dog eating contests have gone on at this original site every July 4th since 1916 . Lately these contests have received national attention. The 2009 contest was won by Joey Chestnut who ate 68 hot dogs with buns in 10 minutes.
Just as an overpopulation of rabbits in an area is adjusted by nature (or man), so Coney Island hit its peak before WW II. The invention of automobiles, air conditioning and a booming post-WWII economy caused people to search elsewhere for their fun and relaxation. The three big amusement parks, Luna Park, Dreamland and Steeplechase Park have all closed. But Coney Island does boast of having the oldest wooden roller coaster, the Cyclone, which can still be ridden today with its 85-foot, 60 degree drop. There is also the Wonder Wheel Ferris wheel built in 1918 which stands 150 feet tall and can still be ridden tod ay.
Just as the strict religious people who settled Coney Island have moved on to other "pastures", so also the rabbit population of Coney Island has immigrated elsewhere. As of the 2000 census the population of Coney Island was 51,205, made up of mostly minorities. Life has it ebbs and flows, this includes our rabbit friends as well as humans.
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