Little Italy, Manhattan

Little Italy, Manhattan is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, bounded by Chinatown, Manhattan to the south, NoLIta to the north, Ludlow Street to the east, and Broadway (Manhattan) to the west, with Canal Street as its main thoroughfare, near Washington Square Park and New York University. The area is also close to SoHo, Greenwich Village, and Tribeca, with Hudson River to the west and East River to the east, and is served by the New York City Subway's BMT Broadway Line and IND Sixth Avenue Line at Prince Street (BMT Broadway Line) and Spring Street (IRT Lexington Avenue Line) stations. The neighborhood is part of Manhattan Community Board 2 and is represented by New York's 10th congressional district and New York's 12th congressional district, with nearby One World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

Geography

The neighborhood's geography is characterized by its location in Lower Manhattan, with Mulberry Street (Manhattan) as its main street, and is surrounded by Chinatown, Manhattan to the south, NoLIta to the north, Ludlow Street to the east, and Broadway (Manhattan) to the west, with Canal Street as its main thoroughfare, near Washington Square Park and New York University, and is close to SoHo, Greenwich Village, and Tribeca, with Hudson River to the west and East River to the east. The area is served by the New York City Subway's BMT Broadway Line and IND Sixth Avenue Line at Prince Street (BMT Broadway Line) and Spring Street (IRT Lexington Avenue Line) stations, and is also accessible by New York City Bus's M1, M5, and M103 routes, with nearby Port Authority Bus Terminal and George Washington Bridge. The neighborhood is part of Manhattan Community Board 2 and is represented by New York's 10th congressional district and New York's 12th congressional district, with nearby One World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and is close to Brooklyn Bridge and Queensboro Bridge.

History

The history of the neighborhood dates back to the late 19th century, when Italian immigrants arrived in the area, establishing Little Italy, Manhattan as a major Italian-American community, with nearby Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty serving as a gateway for immigration to the United States, and is close to Museum of Jewish Heritage and Lower East Side Tenement Museum. The area was also home to Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, and other notable Italian-American Mafia figures, with nearby Federal Bureau of Investigation and New York City Police Department headquarters, and is close to United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and New York Court of Appeals. The neighborhood has also been home to many Italian-American organizations, including the Order of the Sons of Italy in America and the Italian American Museum, with nearby Columbia University and New York University.

Culture

The culture of the neighborhood is characterized by its strong Italian-American heritage, with many Italian restaurants, cafes, and specialty stores along Mulberry Street (Manhattan), and is close to Carnegie Hall, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Guggenheim Museum, with nearby Broadway theatre and Off-Broadway productions, including Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards. The area is also home to the Feast of San Gennaro, a annual festival celebrating Italian-American culture, with nearby Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Tribeca Film Festival, and is close to New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. The neighborhood has also been featured in many films and television shows, including The Godfather, The Sopranos, and Law & Order, with nearby Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and is close to Academy Awards and Emmy Awards.

Demographics

The demographics of the neighborhood have changed significantly over the years, with a decline in the Italian-American population and an increase in the Asian-American and Hispanic populations, with nearby Chinatown, Manhattan and Spanish Harlem, and is close to Harlem and Washington Heights, Manhattan. According to the United States Census Bureau, the neighborhood has a population of around 10,000 people, with a median household income of around $50,000, and is close to New York City Housing Authority and United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, with nearby Columbia University and New York University. The area is also home to many community organizations, including the Little Italy Merchants Association and the Italian American Museum, with nearby Museum of Modern Art and Whitney Museum of American Art.

Landmarks

The neighborhood is home to many landmarks, including Mulberry Street (Manhattan), Canal Street, and Lombardi's Pizza, the first pizzeria in the United States, with nearby Empire State Building and Chrysler Building, and is close to Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station (New York City). The area is also home to many historic buildings, including the Old St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Church of the Transfiguration (Manhattan), with nearby St. Patrick's Cathedral (Manhattan) and Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and is close to New York Public Library and Morgan Library & Museum. The neighborhood has also been designated as a New York City historic district by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, with nearby National Register of Historic Places and United States National Historic Landmark.

Economy

The economy of the neighborhood is driven by its tourism industry, with many restaurants, shops, and hotels catering to visitors, with nearby Times Square and Wall Street, and is close to New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. The area is also home to many small businesses, including family-owned Italian restaurants and specialty stores, with nearby Chinatown, Manhattan and Koreatown, Manhattan, and is close to Brookfield Place (New York City) and World Financial Center. The neighborhood has also seen an increase in gentrification in recent years, with many new developments and luxury apartments being built, with nearby Hudson Yards and One World Trade Center, and is close to Brooklyn Navy Yard and New York City Economic Development Corporation.