New York City is home to five boroughs and hundreds of neighborhoods, including the Upper West Side, which is in the northern part of Manhattan from 59th Street to 125th Street. The Upper West Side is one of New York’s greenest neighborhoods as it sits between two of the most famous urban parks, Central Park and Riverside Park. The Upper West Side is also brimming with culture as it is home to Columbia University, Lincoln Center, and the Natural History Museum. Additionally, the Upper West Side is one of the most family-friendly neighborhoods, with primarily residential side streets to complement the avenues, which are full of stores and restaurants.
The Upper West Side was settled in the early and mid-17th century by Dutch immigrants who developed a stretch of land they called Bloemendaal (Dutch for “valley of flowers”), which was renamed Bloomingdale by English settlers. Because Bloomingdale was a large producer of tobacco, it required infrastructure and built Bloomingdale Road, which later became Broadway. Bloomingdale Road ran from 23rd street in Lower Manhattan, making travel easier. By the late 1700s, many wealthy merchants had built homes there.
The 19th century saw the construction of Central Park and additional improvements to the neighborhood, including new sewage systems and the transformation of Bloomingdale Road into the wider Bloomingdale Boulevard. An elevated railroad also ran up the West Side along Ninth Avenue. By the end of the Civil War, the neighborhood was officially integrated into New York City.
As a result of these changes, real estate investors turned their eyes to the West End. They built grand apartment buildings, such as the Dakota and San Remo, which pushed out many single-family row houses. The various avenues began to develop in ways that are recognizable today. Columbus Avenue was home to commerce, Riverside Drive provided elegant residences, and Amsterdam Avenue was for less expensive housing and smaller stores. The introduction of the Subway in 1904 also made access to the Upper West Side easier than ever.
Columbia University moved to the neighborhood in the 1890s, which contributed greatly to cultural life and attracted intellectuals and artists. In the 1930s, the neighborhood grew in popularity with lower-middle-class families, making it a less desirable neighborhood for the wealthy. This reputation lasted through the 1980s. The neighborhood also attracted many immigrants, including Russians, Haitians, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans, which has resulted in a diverse and liberal community.
As a result of the incoming wealth of the 1980s, the Upper West Side again was targeted by developers who renovated the grand old buildings. These changes led to an influx of wealthier residents who could afford to pay higher rents. Today, the neighborhood continues to attract affluent 30-somethings, and gentrification has contributed to the loss of many of the independent small businesses.
As of 2019, the Upper West Side was home to approximately 180,000 residents, with nearly 69 percent identifying as white. The median household income was $139,070, which is 97-percent higher than the city’s median household income of $70,590. The median monthly rent was $2,020.
