Flatbush was originally chartered as the Dutch Nieuw Nederland colony town of "Midwout" (or "Midwoud" or "Medwoud") — from the Dutch words, "med", "middle" and "woud", "wood" — in 1651. Both names were used in the Dutch era, and Midwood was an alternative name for Flatbush into the early 20th century. In a reversal, Midwood, now the area immediately south of Brooklyn College, is often alternatively called "Flatbush," especially among Orthodox Jews. Midwood's residents predominately feature a mix of the latter and Irish Americans.