The 5 Boroughs

Manhattan  An island between the Hudson and East Rivers  The “core” of the Big Apple - the “Big City”  New York City was built around the borough of Manhattan; the other boroughs were added on to it. Originally the Lenape Indians lived in the area that is now Manhattan.  1625 is cited as the birth date of New York City when It is fair to say, however, its equivalent to modern currency wthe area was purchased from the Lenape Indians in trade for goods equivalent to 24 dollars. ould be approximately 1,000 dollars.  It is the smallest county of the five counties that make up New York City; however, it is the most densely populated in the United States, as well as one of the wealthiest.  Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys

Downtown Manhattan  Lower Manhattan (financial district)  TriBeCa (mainly residential, getting more trendy)  SoHo (used to be hip/artsy, getting more trendy/commercial)  Chinatown (Little Italy is in this neighbourhood)  Lower East Side (used to be the ghetto for Jewish immigrants)  Greenwich Village (used to be the place to be for hippies/bohemians, still pretty artsy, set of Friends)  East Village (very culturally diverse)

Uptown Manhattan  Central Park  Upper East Side (wealthiest neighbourhood, set of Gossip Girl )  Upper West Side (Museum of Natural History, Columbia University, where Seinfeld was set)  Harlem (primarily black/latino community; Tupac)

Brooklyn  Located on Long Island, south and east of Manhattan across the East River  2.5 million inhabitants - would be the 4th most populous US city if it were separated from NYC  Some key neighbourhoods  Williamsburg (hipsters- set of 2 Broke Girls)  Bedford-Stuyvesant and Flatbush (ghetto)  Coney Island (amusement park)  Completed in 1883, allowed access to Manhattan by land.  Coney Island was one of Brooklyn’s most famous tourist attractions. Between about 1880 and World War II, Coney Island was the largest amusement area in the United States, attracting several million visitors per year.World War II  On April 20, 2011, the first new roller coasters to be built at Coney Island in eighty years were opened as part of efforts to reverse the decline of the amusement area.  Adam Sandler, Michael Jordan, James Franco

Queens  Also on Long Island, east of Manhattan, across the East River, and north, east, and south of Brooklyn  Two airports (JFK & La Guardia)  With over 170 languages spoken, Queens is the most ethnically diverse region in the United States, and one of the most diverse in the world  Queens is the largest borough in terms of area  In the 1940’s Queens was an important place for the African American jazz scene. Great artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong enjoyed the atmosphere there in a society where segregation was still prominent. Hip hop artists such as LL Cool J, Salt-n-Peppa, and Run-D.M.C. began their careers in Queens.  Some major attractions: NY Mets baseball game, US Open (tennis), or visit the Belmont Park Racetrack.

The Bronx  Only borough on the US mainland, located north of Manhattan Island  The Bronx is the last of the five boroughs to consolidate with New York City  The Bronx became linked to Manhattan in  As the older citizens retired and moved to Florida and to other warmer climates, most of the population left behind were African American residents, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and some European American communities, and the majority were poor and uneducated. In the 1970’s the Bronx became known for its crime, poverty, and unemployment.  Home to the Yankee Stadium and The Bronx Zoo which is one of the largest city zoos in the United States.  Jennifer Lopez, Al Pacino

Staten Island  A large island in New York Harbor, south of Manhattan  Most suburban borough  Close to Newark Airport  AKA “Shaolin”- Made famous by Wu-Tang Clan  Staten Island is the least populated county in the city. Staten Island was referred to as the Borough of Richmond until 1975 when it was given its new name. There is historical and archaeological evidence of human habitation of the island as far back as 14,000 years ago  The Staten Island ferry is free! Most tourists will take it to see Liberty Island and Ellis Island, but don’t explore Staten Island.  Things to do here: visit the Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, visit Alice Austen’s house (famous female photographer), and visit some movie locations.  Many movies have been filmed on Staten Island, such as The Godfather, Good Fellas, Splendor in the Grass, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.