New York City history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of the metropolis began long before the appearance of skyscrapers. The first European to explore the harbour in 1524 was Giovanni da Verrazzano, but actual settlement of the lands began a century later. The official year of foundation is considered to be 1624, when the Dutch West India Company established a trading post here. In 1626, the settlement on Manhattan Island was named New Amsterdam. The city received its modern name, New York, only in 1664, when control over the territory passed to the English, who named it in honour of the Duke of York.

Key Factors of Formation

The transformation of a small settlement into the largest city in the USA was predetermined by a number of strategic advantages:

• Geography: A unique natural harbour, protected from ocean storms, and the mouth of the Hudson River provided ideal conditions for shipping and connection with the continent's interior territories.
• Trade: Initially, the city developed as a centre for the fur trade (predominantly beaver pelts), which immediately set the commercial vector of its development.
• Port Infrastructure: Convenient docks quickly made the city a key transshipment point for goods circulating between the colonies and Europe.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

Already in the Dutch period, the city was distinguished by ethnic diversity that was incredible for that time. A policy of relative religious tolerance attracted settlers from various countries, laying the foundation for a future multicultural society. Economically, the city quickly outgrew the status of a simple trading post: crafts, flour milling, and shipbuilding developed here, forming a powerful base for future industrial and financial prosperity.

Major Milestones in the City's History

• 1626: Peter Minuit acquires Manhattan Island from the indigenous inhabitants and founds the settlement of New Amsterdam.
• 1664: The city passes under English control and receives its modern name — New York.
• 1789: The inauguration of George Washington, the first president of the USA, takes place at Federal Hall.
• 1811: The Commissioners' Plan is adopted, establishing the famous rectangular grid of streets and avenues in Manhattan.
• 1825: The opening of the Erie Canal connects the city with the Great Lakes, turning it into the country's main trading port.
• 1886: The grand opening of the Statue of Liberty takes place, becoming a global symbol of hope and democracy.
• 1892: The immigration centre opens on Ellis Island, through which millions of new residents arrived in the country.
• 1898: The consolidation of the five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island) into a single metropolis occurs.
• 1904: The first line of the New York subway is launched, radically changing the city's transport system.
• 1929: The stock market crash on Wall Street marks the beginning of the Great Depression, which influenced the entire global economy.
• 1931: Construction of the Empire State Building is completed, holding the title of the world's tallest building for over 40 years.
• 1946: The city is chosen as the location for the permanent headquarters of the UN, cementing its status as the diplomatic centre of the world.
• 2001: The tragic events of September 11 lead to the destruction of the World Trade Center towers.
• 2014: The opening of the One World Trade Center skyscraper marks the completion of the restoration of the Ground Zero area.

Evolution of the Urban Landscape and Economy

The transformation of New York into a global metropolis is a story of bold engineering decisions and economic foresight. The development of the city in the USA proceeded not just by expanding boundaries, but through qualitative changes that formed its unique appearance and status.

• The Commissioners' Plan of 1811 ("The Manhattan Grid").
  The implementation of a strict rectangular system of streets and avenues became perhaps the most important urban planning decision in the city's history. This not only simplified navigation and land division but also laid the foundation for dense development, which defined the island's future vertical silhouette.
• Opening of the Erie Canal (1825).
  Connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Great Lakes via the Hudson ensured the city's absolute economic supremacy. The port became the main gateway for goods and immigrants, turning the metropolis into the trading capital of the continent.
• Creation of Central Park (1857).
  America's first large-scale landscaped park was a response to rapid urbanization. This decision cemented the importance of public spaces for the quality of life of citizens and influenced the development of park culture worldwide.
• The Great Consolidation (1898).
  The unification of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island into a single municipal organism created a giant city. This allowed for centralized resource management and the realization of large-scale infrastructure projects impossible for scattered settlements.
• Launch of the Subway (1904).
  The appearance of the underground became the circulatory system of "Greater New York". Cheap and fast transport allowed the working class to live far from the centre, stimulated the development of residential areas in the boroughs, and made the ultra-high concentration of business in the centre possible.
• Zoning Resolution (1916).
  To ensure skyscrapers did not deprive streets of sunlight, rules were introduced requiring stepped setbacks on upper floors. This formed the famous Art Deco style and the recognizable "stepped" skyline of the city in the 1920s–30s.
• Becoming a World Cultural Capital (post-1945).
  After World War II, the city took the status of the centre of world art from Paris, and the placement of the UN headquarters secured its role as a diplomatic hub. This period was marked by the flourishing of abstract expressionism, jazz, and the Broadway theatre scene.

Architectural Eclecticism and Verticality

The architecture of New York is a stone chronicle of American history under the open sky. Unlike many old cities that grew outwards, this metropolis, limited by water, strove upwards. Here, a 19th-century Neo-Gothic cathedral and a futuristic glass skyscraper can stand side by side on the same street, creating a unique visual rhythm impossible to confuse with any other city in the world.

Eras and Styles

• Colonial Style and Classicism (18th – early 19th century). Almost no buildings remain from the Dutch period, but the era of the early republic is represented by the Federal style. These are restrained brick buildings with symmetrical facades. A vivid example is Gracie Mansion (the mayor's residence) and St. Paul's Chapel — the oldest surviving public building in Manhattan.
• Neo-Gothic (19th century). In the mid-19th century, architects turned to the spirituality of the Middle Ages. The spires of St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity Church were once the highest points in the city, dominating low-rise development and serving as landmarks for travellers.
• Cast-Iron Architecture (mid-19th century). The SoHo district is known for the world's largest collection of buildings with cast-iron facades. This industrial method allowed for the creation of elegant columns and huge windows for factories and shops, anticipating the principles of skyscraper frame construction.
• Beaux-Arts (late 19th – early 20th century). The "Gilded Age" brought a fashion for the lavish European Beaux-Arts style. This was a time of monumental public buildings designed to demonstrate the power and wealth of the USA. The main masterpieces of this period are Grand Central Terminal and the New York Public Library with its famous lions at the entrance.
• Art Deco (1920s–1930s). The golden era of skyscrapers. Buildings of this period are distinguished by geometric patterns, the use of expensive materials, and famous stepped silhouettes ("setbacks") dictated by zoning laws. The Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building with its steel spire became icons of the style.
• International Style and Modernism (1950s–1970s). After the war, architects abandoned decoration in favour of functionalism: glass, steel, and concrete. The Seagram Building and the UN headquarters complex became standards for strict "glass boxes" that forever changed the look of business districts.
• Postmodernism and High-Tech (from the 1980s). The city's modern architecture experiments with forms and sustainability. Among the iconic projects are the One World Trade Center tower, symbolizing rebirth, and the futuristic Hudson Yards complex.

Residential Development: From Brownstones to Lofts

The city's appearance is formed not only by giants of glass and concrete but also by cosy residential quarters. The famous brownstones — row houses faced with reddish-brown sandstone — define the atmosphere of the historic districts of Brooklyn and Harlem. Another important element is former industrial buildings with large windows in the Tribeca and Chelsea districts, which have been transformed into prestigious residential lofts.

Famous Residents and Historical Figures

The history of New York was created by people whose ambitions and talents exceeded the scale of the ordinary. From statesmen who stood at the origins of the USA to visionaries of art — the biography of the city is woven from the destinies of outstanding individuals.

• Alexander Hamilton (Statesman).
  One of the Founding Fathers and the country's first Secretary of the Treasury. He lived in the city, founded the New York Post newspaper and the Bank of New York. His grave is located in the cemetery of Trinity Church on Wall Street.
• Theodore Roosevelt (Politician and 26th President).
  The only president of the country born directly on Manhattan Island. Before his presidency, he led the city's police force and was the governor of the state, actively fighting corruption.
• Fiorello La Guardia (City Mayor).
  The legendary "Little Flower" who managed the metropolis during the difficult years of the Great Depression and World War II. He modernized city services, built the airport later named in his honour, and united residents during challenging times.
• Robert Moses (Urban Planner).
  The "Master Builder" of the mid-20th century who formed the modern infrastructure framework of the city. Under his leadership, hundreds of kilometres of highways, bridges (including the Triborough and Verrazzano), parks, and beaches were built, forever changing the appearance of the five boroughs.
• John D. Rockefeller Jr. (Businessman and Philanthropist).
  The man who gave the city the famous Rockefeller Center — a symbol of hope during the years of economic crisis. He also played a key role in allocating land for the construction of the UN headquarters.
• Walt Whitman (Poet and Publicist).
  The famous "Bard of Democracy" who worked as an editor for the Brooklyn Eagle newspaper. His poems celebrated the energy and diversity of the urban crowd, laying the foundations of urban poetry.
• George Gershwin (Composer).
  A native of Brooklyn whose music became the sonic embodiment of the "Jazz Age". His "Rhapsody in Blue" is still considered the unofficial anthem of the rhythm and dynamics of Manhattan.
• Andy Warhol (Artist).
  The King of Pop Art who turned the city into the world capital of contemporary art in the second half of the 20th century. His studio, "The Factory", was the epicentre of bohemian life and cultural experiments.