NYC:Manhattan hoods-Chinatown

Heading towards the river from City Hall brings us into the hood known as Chinatown. It is everything that is between Worth St, Broadway, Canal St, Manhattan Br, Water St, and the East River. This is hood is both commercial and residential. Originally, this was part of an area known as Five Points when it was set up in 1660 by Thomas Hall, who wanted to have land around Collect Pond. In 1680, the Shearith Israel Cemetery was made for mostly Spanish Jews who died there. Horse auctions were very common at what is now Chatham Sq. It was seperated from the rest of Manhattan by a canal from 1805 until it was filled up and drained in 1815, which is now Canal St. In 1840, Pete William's Place opened up a dance hall with Irish music. In 1857, draf riots were common, especially when the Civil War came. The Chineese first came in 1858 when Ah Ken set up a shop on Park Row. By 1870, 200 of them were already living in Five Pts. The 3rd Ave El was errected at Chatham Sq, and provided the transportation. The 2nd Ave El followed later. Although the Chineese Exclusion Act was passed in 1882 to limit the number of immigrants from China, the population of the Chineese in that area was already at 2,000, which give it the name Chinatown. Most of those who lived there were mainly owners of either markets or sweatshops. Around 1900, the area became home to the large number of Chineese that were already at 7,000. Streets such as Mulberry, Baxter, and Catherine Sts became major blocks for groccers. In 1908, the Manhattan Br was built, and it connected people there into Brooklyn. The 1920's did bring some new construction like the Citizen's Savings Banks. Tenements replaced many of the houses at this time also. In 1934, the Knickerbocker Village was built as the city's first housing project. Other housing projects were built in the 1950's with the Alfread E Smith Houses, in 1950, and the LaGuardia Houses, in 1957. Around 1955, both els were demolished as the subway lines expanded, and the Worth St Station has been closed since 1966. In the 1960's, other groups started living here when it was dominated by Chineese who were from either Guangzhou, HK, and Hakka. In the 1970's, Chinatown began to absorb parts of Little Italy, and gave its present-day borders that it is at now, which is Canal St. In 1976, Confucious Plaza was errected as Chinatown's largest building, and it included both appartments and a school in the building itself. In the 198 Today, Chinatown is still a major place to go to. Newer Chineese from Mainland China and Fujian are now starting to live here. Many of the groccers who used to sell stuff out on the streets still do so today. Mosco Pk replaced the former Irish bar that was once there. Ever since mid-2001, the Manhattan Br has been rennovated and is now open to pedestrians. This is still a good place to go to for authentic Chineese food without leaving NYC. Every year you can find the Chineese New Year having its parade year. You can get here by taking the No 6, J, M, N, Q, R, W, and Z trians to Canal St. Here is what you will find in Chinatown.

































































































































































































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