Sherman Avenue (Manhattan)

Sherman Avenue (Manhattan) is a north-south thoroughfare in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan. The avenue runs for approximately half a mile, serving as a vital local commercial and residential corridor. It is named for William Tecumseh Sherman, the famed Union Army general of the American Civil War.

History

The street grid for this section of Washington Heights was laid out in the late 19th century, with Sherman Avenue appearing on maps by the 1880s as the area transitioned from rural estates to urban development. Its development accelerated with the arrival of the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line and the construction of the George Washington Bridge, which spurred population growth in the 1920s and 1930s. The avenue has historically been a center for immigrant communities, including a significant population of Dominican Americans since the mid-20th century, contributing to its vibrant commercial character.

Route description

Sherman Avenue begins at a junction with West 165th Street, just east of Edward M. Morgan Place. It proceeds northward, paralleling the route of the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line which runs underground beneath Broadway to the west. The avenue climbs a moderate grade, passing a dense mix of multi-story apartment buildings, storefronts, and community institutions. It terminates at West 181st Street, near the entrance to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station and the Fort Washington Avenue Armory.

Major intersections

The avenue intersects with several key east-west streets along its route. From south to north, the major intersections include its southern terminus at West 165th Street, followed by West 168th Street, which provides access to the NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center. It continues across West 174th Street and West 178th Street, before ending at West 181st Street, a major commercial artery.

Public transportation

Sherman Avenue is well-served by New York City Subway and MTA Regional Bus Operations. The 168th Street subway station, served by the A, C, and 1 trains, is located just west of the avenue. Multiple bus routes traverse or cross the avenue, including the M4, M5, and Bx7 lines, connecting residents to destinations like The Cloisters, Riverside Park, and The Bronx.

Notable places and landmarks

The avenue is lined with numerous local businesses, restaurants, and community centers that reflect the neighborhood's cultural diversity. Notable institutions near its route include the United Palace, a historic theater and cultural center on Broadway, and the Morris-Jumel Mansion, the oldest house in Manhattan. The Audubon Terrace historic district, housing the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the Hispanic Society of America, is located a few blocks to the west. The northern terminus area is dominated by the massive George Washington Bridge Bus Station, a key transit hub operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Category:Streets in Manhattan Category:Washington Heights, Manhattan