Vinegar Hill gets its name from the Battle of Vinegar Hill, an engagement near Enniscorthy during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Originally settled by the Irish, this community has maintained its 19th Century look while facing modernization and development from all sides.
Vinegar Hill stretches from the East Riverwaterfront to Front St and from the Brooklyn Navy Yard to Bridge St, roughly comprising a six block area, although, before the construction of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in the 1950's, Vinegar Hill's area was significantly larger, extending to Tillary street and including the area now known as RAMBO, which has similar architecture.
The Vinegar Hill area includes the Vinegar Hill Historic District and is home to the Con Edison Hudson Ave Substation.
Most of Vinegar Hill is 19th Century style homes mixed with industrial buildings. The streets on Hudson Ave, Plymouth, Water and Front are made of Cobblestones.