Getting to New York for the first time, it is very difficult to navigate it without having a map of the city in your hands. But after a couple of days in New York, the layout of the city streets becomes clear. In the article we will talk about the districts of New York, as well as their interaction.
Number of boroughs in New York. In New York, the administrative unit has a different name - "borough" (instead of the usual word for us "district"). This concept includes something more than an ordinary area. Borough is an autonomous city that has entered into an alliance with other cities to create a large metropolitan area called New York.
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Boroughs of New York City image source: Wikipedia |
Districts of New York: An Overview of the City's Administrative Divisions
New York City has five boroughs:
- Manhattan
- The Bronx
- Queens
- Brooklyn
- Staten Island
Each of them has its own rules and cultural traditions, each of them has its own characteristics.
Manhattan
This is the most densely populated area of the city, but at the same time, having the smallest area, which is located on Manhattan Island, part of the mainland, and also includes several small islands. The Borough of Manhattan is administratively divided into twelve districts, and territorially into three (Downtown, Upper Manhattan and Midtown).
This borough is known primarily for its skyscrapers, as well as Wall Street, which is considered the world's financial center.
Brief description of the main districts and quarters:
Harlem is considered the black borough of New York City, which has the most African American population. In addition, this is a poor area, built up with houses of low-income citizens. By the way, Harlem is also one of the most criminal areas of New York. It is not recommended to walk in this area at night. Of course, this does not mean that you will certainly be robbed or killed, however, we must remember that this is a dangerous area and it is not worth risking once again.
Midtown is a central area with dense buildings and the presence of skyscrapers. This is one of the main areas for the prestige of residential real estate.
Downtown differs from other areas in that it does not have a grid layout, in addition, all its streets have their own names.
See also:
Manhattan attractions | 17 Best place to visit in Manhattan
Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost borough in New York. It is located on the mainland and is considered mainly a residential area. This area has a lot of green spaces, a huge number of squares and park areas.
Its name is associated with the name of the wealthy farmer Jonas Bronx. Both rich Americans and poor live here. In this area, entire neighborhoods are built up with slums. As for the ethnic composition, it is diverse, people from Ireland, Italy, Latin America, Israel, as well as many African Americans live here.
The Bronx, in particular the South Bronx, belongs to the dangerous areas of New York, so it is better to get acquainted with its culture from the window of a car or subway (it is located here on the surface).
Among the attractions it is worth highlighting the Yankee Stadium, the botanical garden, the famous zoo (one of the largest in America), as well as the Bronx Park.
brooklyn
Located on Long Island, the largest population exceeds two million inhabitants. According to the ethnic composition, Russians, Arabs, Italians, Israelis and representatives of other nationalities live here. In the past, Brooklyn was an independent city with good architecture. A favorite vacation spot for citizens is the esplanade (amazing city embankment), and one of the main features are bright fireworks, which are held in honor of the Independence Day of the United States
Brooklyn is one of the most popular areas of New York among travelers. This is due to the fact that it is not difficult to get to Manhattan from here, besides, housing here is much cheaper than in Manhattan.
Brighton Beach is considered a Russian area, saturated with Russian culture. It is here that most people from the countries of the post-Soviet space are concentrated. Interestingly, many of them do not even know English and feel quite comfortable in a foreign country. It has its own newspapers, advertisements, cultural events, etc.
In Brooklyn, light industry enterprises, various kinds of production, including shipbuilding, are concentrated.
From the list of other attractions of the famous area, the Coney Island quarter should be highlighted (previously it was a very popular world-class borough amusement park). It can often be seen on movie screens in our time.
There is an amazing beach near Coney Island, in addition, there is a good city beach.
Perhaps a strange attraction is the Greenwood Cemetery, however, its visit can decorate your trip around the city. There are many ancient tombstones and sculptures, which are works of art.
Queens
The district is the largest in terms of territory and the second in terms of the number of inhabitants. It is divided into residential areas, called townships, in which there are many park areas and prestigious residential complexes. The airports named after John F. Kennedy and La Guardia are also located here.
Other attractions include the hippodromes (Aqueduct and Belmont Park), the Queens Museum of Art, where you can see a huge model of New York, the largest project in the world.
See also:
Staten Island
This boro is very different from the rest. To begin with, it is worth noting that this is the most sparsely populated area, which has nothing to do with the rich areas of New York, more like a suburb. It was once called Richmond. This is an area for residents with an average income level. It is connected to the rest of the districts via the Verezzano-Narrows bridge.
Interestingly, in recent years, many New Yorkers choose this area as a place to live. There is no fuss inherent in Manhattan, and you can work remotely or, for example, in New Jersey.
The Borough of Staten Island is famous for its picturesque nature and beautiful views of expensive areas (Manhattan and Brooklyn). Of all the above, this is the safest area.
Conclusion
New York is undeniably a unique city. It surprisingly combines incongruous elements. Despite the various divisions, its streets and districts complement each other, forming a single powerful structure.
More interesting article about New York City:
• What to see in New York in 5 days
• Things to do in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
