When America’s biggest city was mostly farmland.
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1 of 27Construction of Madison Avenue. 1836.The New York Historical Society 2 of 27Junction of Broadway and Eighth Avenue. 1862.George Hayward/The New York Historical Society 3 of 27Central Park from Eighth Avenue. 1862.New York Public Library 4 of 27Church of the Holy Trinity, the site of the future Grand Central Station. 1864.The New York Historical Society 5 of 27Looking north from 106th Street on Eighth Avenue. 1869.The New York Historical Society 6 of 27Leonard W. Jerome Mansion at 32 East 26th Street. 1877.Library of Congress 7 of 27Brennan Farmhouse at 84th Street and Broadway. 1879.The New York Historical Society 8 of 27Carnegie Hill. 1882.The New York Historical Society 9 of 27Manhattan Bridge during construction, circa 1901.Buyenlarge/Getty Images 10 of 27Intersection of Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. 1883.Museum of the City of New York 11 of 27Dakota Apartments at Central Park West and 72nd Street. 1884.Museum of the City of New York 12 of 27Lenox Farm at the corner of 71st Street and Madison Avenue. 1885.The New York Historical Society 13 of 27Workers clearing rocks to build 81st Street at Ninth Avenue. 1886.Museum of the City of New York 14 of 27Columbus Circle. 1892.Museum of the City of New York 15 of 27New York City Hall. 1893.George P. Hall/Museum of the City of New York 16 of 27Corner of Fifth Avenue and 118th Street. 1894.Museum of the City of New York 17 of 27Squatters’ shacks on Fifth Avenue and 101st Street. 1894.Museum of the City of New York 18 of 27Bloomingdale Asylum entry gate in Morningside Heights. 1895.The New York Historical Society/Getty Images 19 of 27Workers building the extension of New York’s Eastern Parkway. 1896.The New York Historical Society 20 of 27The southwest corner of Amsterdam Avenue and 124th Street. 1898.James Reuel Smith/The New York Historical Society 21 of 27The Bronx. 1898.The New York Historical Society 22 of 27Inwood Hill seen from West 204th Street. 1899.Museum of the City of New York 23 of 27Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, The Bronx. 1899.Wikimedia Commons 24 of 27Columbus Circle. 1900.Columbia University Library 25 of 27New York University. 1901.Library of Congress 26 of 27Sheep’s Meadow, Central Park. 1906.Library of Congress 27 of 27Like this gallery?Share it:
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26 Incredible Photos Of New York City Before It Became New York City View Gallery
Before New York City became the shining metropolis that we know today, with its glass and concrete skyscrapers and wide, shop-filled avenues, much of it was quiet farmland. In fact, prior to the mid-1800s, most of the area that would become New York City was all but undeveloped.
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A City On The Brink: 1960s New York In 55 Dramatic Photos
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1 of 27Construction of Madison Avenue. 1836.The New York Historical Society 2 of 27Junction of Broadway and Eighth Avenue. 1862.George Hayward/The New York Historical Society 3 of 27Central Park from Eighth Avenue. 1862.New York Public Library 4 of 27Church of the Holy Trinity, the site of the future Grand Central Station. 1864.The New York Historical Society 5 of 27Looking north from 106th Street on Eighth Avenue. 1869.The New York Historical Society 6 of 27Leonard W. Jerome Mansion at 32 East 26th Street. 1877.Library of Congress 7 of 27Brennan Farmhouse at 84th Street and Broadway. 1879.The New York Historical Society 8 of 27Carnegie Hill. 1882.The New York Historical Society 9 of 27Manhattan Bridge during construction, circa 1901.Buyenlarge/Getty Images 10 of 27Intersection of Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. 1883.Museum of the City of New York 11 of 27Dakota Apartments at Central Park West and 72nd Street. 1884.Museum of the City of New York 12 of 27Lenox Farm at the corner of 71st Street and Madison Avenue. 1885.The New York Historical Society 13 of 27Workers clearing rocks to build 81st Street at Ninth Avenue. 1886.Museum of the City of New York 14 of 27Columbus Circle. 1892.Museum of the City of New York 15 of 27New York City Hall. 1893.George P. Hall/Museum of the City of New York 16 of 27Corner of Fifth Avenue and 118th Street. 1894.Museum of the City of New York 17 of 27Squatters’ shacks on Fifth Avenue and 101st Street. 1894.Museum of the City of New York 18 of 27Bloomingdale Asylum entry gate in Morningside Heights. 1895.The New York Historical Society/Getty Images 19 of 27Workers building the extension of New York’s Eastern Parkway. 1896.The New York Historical Society 20 of 27The southwest corner of Amsterdam Avenue and 124th Street. 1898.James Reuel Smith/The New York Historical Society 21 of 27The Bronx. 1898.The New York Historical Society 22 of 27Inwood Hill seen from West 204th Street. 1899.Museum of the City of New York 23 of 27Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, The Bronx. 1899.Wikimedia Commons 24 of 27Columbus Circle. 1900.Columbia University Library 25 of 27New York University. 1901.Library of Congress 26 of 27Sheep’s Meadow, Central Park. 1906.Library of Congress 27 of 27Like this gallery?Share it:
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A City On The Brink: 1960s New York In 55 Dramatic Photos
44 Colorized Photos That Bring The Streets Of Century-Old New York City To Life
27 Bizarre Vintage Photos From The Annals Of New York City History
1 of 27Construction of Madison Avenue. 1836.The New York Historical Society 2 of 27Junction of Broadway and Eighth Avenue. 1862.George Hayward/The New York Historical Society 3 of 27Central Park from Eighth Avenue. 1862.New York Public Library 4 of 27Church of the Holy Trinity, the site of the future Grand Central Station. 1864.The New York Historical Society 5 of 27Looking north from 106th Street on Eighth Avenue. 1869.The New York Historical Society 6 of 27Leonard W. Jerome Mansion at 32 East 26th Street. 1877.Library of Congress 7 of 27Brennan Farmhouse at 84th Street and Broadway. 1879.The New York Historical Society 8 of 27Carnegie Hill. 1882.The New York Historical Society 9 of 27Manhattan Bridge during construction, circa 1901.Buyenlarge/Getty Images 10 of 27Intersection of Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. 1883.Museum of the City of New York 11 of 27Dakota Apartments at Central Park West and 72nd Street. 1884.Museum of the City of New York 12 of 27Lenox Farm at the corner of 71st Street and Madison Avenue. 1885.The New York Historical Society 13 of 27Workers clearing rocks to build 81st Street at Ninth Avenue. 1886.Museum of the City of New York 14 of 27Columbus Circle. 1892.Museum of the City of New York 15 of 27New York City Hall. 1893.George P. Hall/Museum of the City of New York 16 of 27Corner of Fifth Avenue and 118th Street. 1894.Museum of the City of New York 17 of 27Squatters’ shacks on Fifth Avenue and 101st Street. 1894.Museum of the City of New York 18 of 27Bloomingdale Asylum entry gate in Morningside Heights. 1895.The New York Historical Society/Getty Images 19 of 27Workers building the extension of New York’s Eastern Parkway. 1896.The New York Historical Society 20 of 27The southwest corner of Amsterdam Avenue and 124th Street. 1898.James Reuel Smith/The New York Historical Society 21 of 27The Bronx. 1898.The New York Historical Society 22 of 27Inwood Hill seen from West 204th Street. 1899.Museum of the City of New York 23 of 27Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, The Bronx. 1899.Wikimedia Commons 24 of 27Columbus Circle. 1900.Columbia University Library 25 of 27New York University. 1901.Library of Congress 26 of 27Sheep’s Meadow, Central Park. 1906.Library of Congress 27 of 27Like this gallery?Share it:
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A City On The Brink: 1960s New York In 55 Dramatic Photos
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27 Bizarre Vintage Photos From The Annals Of New York City History
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1 of 27Construction of Madison Avenue. 1836.The New York Historical Society 2 of 27Junction of Broadway and Eighth Avenue. 1862.George Hayward/The New York Historical Society 3 of 27Central Park from Eighth Avenue. 1862.New York Public Library 4 of 27Church of the Holy Trinity, the site of the future Grand Central Station. 1864.The New York Historical Society 5 of 27Looking north from 106th Street on Eighth Avenue. 1869.The New York Historical Society 6 of 27Leonard W. Jerome Mansion at 32 East 26th Street. 1877.Library of Congress 7 of 27Brennan Farmhouse at 84th Street and Broadway. 1879.The New York Historical Society 8 of 27Carnegie Hill. 1882.The New York Historical Society 9 of 27Manhattan Bridge during construction, circa 1901.Buyenlarge/Getty Images 10 of 27Intersection of Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. 1883.Museum of the City of New York 11 of 27Dakota Apartments at Central Park West and 72nd Street. 1884.Museum of the City of New York 12 of 27Lenox Farm at the corner of 71st Street and Madison Avenue. 1885.The New York Historical Society 13 of 27Workers clearing rocks to build 81st Street at Ninth Avenue. 1886.Museum of the City of New York 14 of 27Columbus Circle. 1892.Museum of the City of New York 15 of 27New York City Hall. 1893.George P. Hall/Museum of the City of New York 16 of 27Corner of Fifth Avenue and 118th Street. 1894.Museum of the City of New York 17 of 27Squatters’ shacks on Fifth Avenue and 101st Street. 1894.Museum of the City of New York 18 of 27Bloomingdale Asylum entry gate in Morningside Heights. 1895.The New York Historical Society/Getty Images 19 of 27Workers building the extension of New York’s Eastern Parkway. 1896.The New York Historical Society 20 of 27The southwest corner of Amsterdam Avenue and 124th Street. 1898.James Reuel Smith/The New York Historical Society 21 of 27The Bronx. 1898.The New York Historical Society 22 of 27Inwood Hill seen from West 204th Street. 1899.Museum of the City of New York 23 of 27Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, The Bronx. 1899.Wikimedia Commons 24 of 27Columbus Circle. 1900.Columbia University Library 25 of 27New York University. 1901.Library of Congress 26 of 27Sheep’s Meadow, Central Park. 1906.Library of Congress 27 of 27Like this gallery?Share it:
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1 of 27Construction of Madison Avenue. 1836.The New York Historical Society
2 of 27Junction of Broadway and Eighth Avenue. 1862.George Hayward/The New York Historical Society
3 of 27Central Park from Eighth Avenue. 1862.New York Public Library
4 of 27Church of the Holy Trinity, the site of the future Grand Central Station. 1864.The New York Historical Society
5 of 27Looking north from 106th Street on Eighth Avenue. 1869.The New York Historical Society
6 of 27Leonard W. Jerome Mansion at 32 East 26th Street. 1877.Library of Congress
7 of 27Brennan Farmhouse at 84th Street and Broadway. 1879.The New York Historical Society
8 of 27Carnegie Hill. 1882.The New York Historical Society
9 of 27Manhattan Bridge during construction, circa 1901.Buyenlarge/Getty Images
10 of 27Intersection of Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. 1883.Museum of the City of New York
11 of 27Dakota Apartments at Central Park West and 72nd Street. 1884.Museum of the City of New York
12 of 27Lenox Farm at the corner of 71st Street and Madison Avenue. 1885.The New York Historical Society
13 of 27Workers clearing rocks to build 81st Street at Ninth Avenue. 1886.Museum of the City of New York
14 of 27Columbus Circle. 1892.Museum of the City of New York
15 of 27New York City Hall. 1893.George P. Hall/Museum of the City of New York
16 of 27Corner of Fifth Avenue and 118th Street. 1894.Museum of the City of New York
17 of 27Squatters’ shacks on Fifth Avenue and 101st Street. 1894.Museum of the City of New York
18 of 27Bloomingdale Asylum entry gate in Morningside Heights. 1895.The New York Historical Society/Getty Images
19 of 27Workers building the extension of New York’s Eastern Parkway. 1896.The New York Historical Society
20 of 27The southwest corner of Amsterdam Avenue and 124th Street. 1898.James Reuel Smith/The New York Historical Society
21 of 27The Bronx. 1898.The New York Historical Society
22 of 27Inwood Hill seen from West 204th Street. 1899.Museum of the City of New York
23 of 27Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, The Bronx. 1899.Wikimedia Commons
24 of 27Columbus Circle. 1900.Columbia University Library
25 of 27New York University. 1901.Library of Congress
26 of 27Sheep’s Meadow, Central Park. 1906.Library of Congress
27 of 27Like this gallery?Share it:
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26 Incredible Photos Of New York City Before It Became New York City View Gallery
26 Incredible Photos Of New York City Before It Became New York City View Gallery
26 Incredible Photos Of New York City Before It Became New York City View Gallery
26 Incredible Photos Of New York City Before It Became New York City View Gallery
26 Incredible Photos Of New York City Before It Became New York City
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Before European colonization, the area we now know as New York was inhabited by a number of Algonquian tribes living in small communities. Then, after the Dutch invaded in 1624 and drove out the Native Americans, the region was known as New Amsterdam and grew to the size of around 8,000 inhabitants.
Next, New Amsterdam was seized by the British during the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1674 and rechristened the colony of New York, after the Duke of York. Due to its role as a major trading port in the region, the colony of New York began to grow in this period.
After the revolutionary war, New York only grew in prominence in what was now the fledgling United States. Nevertheless, the city still remained a largely undeveloped collection of farms, houses, and businesses.
It wasn’t until the 1830s and 1840s that New York truly began to build the recognizable foundation of the city that we know today. At that time, wealthy landowners began to move into the city and lobbied for the development of public works like parks and roads.
At the same time, vast numbers of immigrants were flooding into the area. This wave included a vast number of Irish immigrants fleeing the Great Famine in their country, and many Germans fleeing revolutions in their country. Furthermore, New York became a free state in 1827, causing African-Americans from across the country to flood into New York.
This mass of both laborers and wealthy elites laid the groundwork for the increased development of the city. Thus throughout the latter half of the 19th century, many people lived in farms and shanty towns as, slowly but surely, a major city formed around them.
But this city was not yet a single community. In fact, up until 1898, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx were all separate cities apart from New York.
The images above show how New York looked before it became one, before it was developed, before it grew into the city we now know. From a collection of pastoral towns to a gleaming city on a hill, New York’s development is a sight to behold.
Next, check out these 35 photos you won’t believe were taken in New York City. Then, have a look at some terrifying photos of the New York subway in the 1980s.
