Greenwich Village Overview
Greenwich Village is one of the liveliest and trendiest districts of New York City. Originally a tobacco plantation located towards the tip of Manhattan Island, it was given its name by British naval commander, Sir Peter Warren who purchased a farm there in the early 18th century. It was not until New York's yellow fever outbreak in 1822 that people began to move here to escape the disease-ridden conditions of the city, and Greenwich quickly flourished, as banks and businesses sprang up alongside the elegant houses of their wealthy owners. By the turn of the last century, New York's richest residents had begun to move to more fashionable areas of town, such as Fifth Avenue. This exodus meant that the houses were populated by struggling artists and writers, who spent their time in the Village's many bars and coffee houses, discussing political ideals. Greenwich thus gained its reputation as New York's Bohemian, anti-establishment quarter, as well as a center for women's liberation. The Village also gained a reputation as the focus of the gay rights movement after the infamous Stonewall Riots that followed the police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, in 1969. The area's reputation as a Bohemian melting pot has stuck, despite the fact that it has once again become home to the city's well-heeled professionals since the sharp rise in property prices during the 1980s economic boom forced writers and artists out. Christopher Street, which runs through the center of the district, is the hub of New York's gay scene, whilst Greenwich Avenue is a good place to shop, with plenty of bookstores and second-hand clothes shops. Greenwich Village also has a thriving nightlife, with many of its lively cafes and bars staying open later than those elsewhere in Manhattan.
Contact Addresses
NYC & Company, 810 Seventh Avenue, Third Floor, New York, NY 10019, USA
Tel: (212) 484 1200
Website: www.nycvisit.com
Transportation
Air: New York La Guardia International Airport or New York John F Kennedy International Airport. Rail: Train: Grand Central Station. Underground: Christopher Street or West 4 Street-Washington Square. Road: Bus: Public services. Coach: Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Location
United States
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