143rd Street (Manhattan)

143rd Street (Manhattan) is a one-mile east-west thoroughfare in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It traverses the neighborhoods of Hamilton Heights and Harlem, connecting the Hudson River to the Harlem River. The street is a significant local corridor, intersecting major avenues and passing by historic residential, educational, and cultural institutions.

Description and route

143rd Street begins at its western terminus with Riverside Drive, adjacent to Riverside Park and offering views of the Hudson River. It proceeds eastward, crossing major north-south avenues including Broadway, Amsterdam Avenue, and St. Nicholas Avenue. The street continues through the heart of Hamilton Heights, passing the campus of City College of New York before reaching its eastern terminus at the Harlem River Drive, near the Harlem River and the Macombs Dam Bridge.

History

The street's path was laid out following the Commissioners' Plan of 1811, which established Manhattan's gridiron street plan. The area remained largely rural until the late 19th century, when the extension of the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line and other public transit spurred residential development. The Hamilton Heights Historic District and the Sugar Hill subsection, which 143rd Street bisects, became renowned centers of African-American culture during the Harlem Renaissance. Notable figures like Thurgood Marshall and Duke Ellington resided in the area, contributing to its historic significance.

Transportation

Public transportation along 143rd Street is primarily served by the New York City Subway. The IND Eighth Avenue Line runs underneath, with local service provided at the 135th Street and 145th Street stations, both accessible via short walks from 143rd Street. Several MTA Regional Bus Operations bus lines, including the M4 and M5, traverse portions of the street. The street also provides access to the Henry Hudson Parkway and the Harlem River Drive for vehicular traffic.

Notable places and intersections

The street is notable for its intersection with Convent Avenue, which is dominated by the landmark City College of New York campus, including the Shepard Hall and the Great Hall. The Hamilton Grange National Memorial, the former home of Alexander Hamilton, is located just north on Convent Avenue. The street passes through the Hamilton Heights Historic District, known for its preserved Brownstone row houses. Other significant intersections include Amsterdam Avenue, near Jackie Robinson Park, and Bradhurst Avenue, a key commercial corridor in Harlem.

In popular culture

The cultural legacy of the neighborhoods surrounding 143rd Street has been referenced in numerous artistic works. The street and the adjacent Sugar Hill area are celebrated in the jazz standard "Take the 'A' Train" by Billy Strayhorn, which mentions the neighborhood's vitality. The area's history is depicted in films like *American Gangster* and has been referenced in the literature of Langston Hughes and James Baldwin, who captured life in Harlem.

Category:Streets in Manhattan