Opening from On This Site - Native Long Island

Ihpetonga

Ihpetonga is recorded by William Wallace Tooker as a name bestowed on Brooklyn Heights by Henry R. Schoolcraft. It is presented here as a descriptive name for the heights or high sandy banks of the Brooklyn bluff. The source cites Schoolcraft through Gowans for the statement that the heights of Brooklyn were described by Ihpetonga. It then critiques the linguistic derivation, preferring comparison with Mohegan, Massachusetts, and Delaware forms for heights or high sandy banks. The history is a descriptive language note rather than a boundary-specific land record. Recorded forms include Ihpetonga and Sphetonga. Sphetonga is treated as a cross-reference to Ihpetonga, a name applied to Brooklyn Heights for its high sandy banks. Why Place Names Matter “The names of places reflect a rich cultural heritage and tradition, diverse economic activities, and an identity that is rooted in the...