Manhattan

Manhattan is part of New York City.

It sits on an island. Water is all around it. Three rivers touch the land.

Long ago, the Lenape people lived there. They used the land to find wood. They made bows from hickory trees. This is how the place got its name.

Later, Dutch people came to trade. They built a small home there. It was called New Amsterdam. Then, the English took the land. They called it New York.

Today, many people live in Manhattan. It is a busy place. You can see very tall buildings.

Some buildings are very famous. You can also visit Central Park.

Manhattan is a borough of New York City.

It sits on an island. Three rivers touch its land. These are the Hudson, East, and Harlem rivers.

Long ago, the Lenape people lived here. They used the land to gather wood. They made bows from hickory trees. This is why the name Manhattan might mean "place for gathering bows."

Dutch settlers arrived in 1624. They built a trading post called New Amsterdam. In 1664, the English took control. They renamed the land New York. For a short time, it was the capital of the United States.

Today, Manhattan is a very busy place. Many people live there. In 2020, about 1.6 million people lived in the borough.

You can see famous landmarks like Times Square. People also visit Central Park.

The skyline has many tall skyscrapers. The Empire State Building is one of them. Manhattan is a center for money and art. It is known all over the world.

Manhattan is a famous borough of New York City.

It is the smallest borough in the city. However, it is also the most crowded place. Many people live close together in this small area. It sits on an island near the southern tip of New York state. Three rivers touch its edges: the Hudson, East, and Harlem rivers.

This island location helps it sit in the middle of a busy region.

Life in Manhattan moves very fast. The borough is a global center for money and news. It is home to the world's two largest stock exchanges. These are the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. You can find Wall Street and Billionaires' Row here too.

Many big media companies also have their headquarters here. Famous colleges like Columbia University and NYU are part of the city. Even the United Nations has its main office in the Turtle Bay neighborhood.

Long ago, the land belonged to the Lenape people. They lived in settlements like Sapohanikan and Nechtanc. They used trails to move across the island. One major trail became the famous street called Broadway.

European explorers like Giovanni da Verrazzano visited the area in 1524. Later, Henry Hudson mapped the island in 1609. Dutch colonists started a trading post here in 1624. They called it New Amsterdam. In 1664, the English took control and renamed it New York.

Manhattan has many famous sights to see. Millions of people visit places like Times Square and Central Park.

You can also visit the Grand Central Terminal. The skyline is filled with huge skyscrapers. These include the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building.

The Statue of Liberty stands in the harbor nearby. It greeted many immigrants who arrived in the late 19th century. Some areas, like Harlem, became famous for their unique culture.

Today, Manhattan is a place of big changes and history. It was the capital of the United States from 1785 to 1790. The borough is divided into three main parts. These are Lower Manhattan, Midtown, and Upper Manhattan.

People visit for shopping on Fifth Avenue or to see the arts. It is a place where the past and the future meet. You can feel the energy of the world in its streets.

Manhattan is a borough of New York City.

It is the smallest of the five boroughs by land area. However, it is also the most densely populated. This means many people live in a very small space. Manhattan is coextensive with New York County. It sits almost entirely on Manhattan Island. The island is located near the southern tip of New York state. It is a central part of the Northeast megalopolis. This region is a large, connected urban area. Manhattan serves as the economic and administrative center for the city. Many call it a global capital for finance, media, and entertainment.

The geography of Manhattan is defined by water.

It sits on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The borough is bounded by three different rivers. These are the Hudson, East, and Harlem rivers. The island also includes several small adjacent islands. These include Roosevelt, U Thant, and Randalls and Wards Islands. There is also a small neighborhood called Marble Hill. Interestingly, Marble Hill is now part of the U.S. mainland. The borough is divided into three informal sections. These are Lower Manhattan, Midtown, and Upper Manhattan. Each section cuts across the long axis of the island.

Before European colonists arrived, the land belonged to the Lenape people.

The Munsee, Lenape, and Wappinger tribes lived in this territory. They established several settlements like Sapohanikan and Nechtanc. They used a system of interconnected trails to move around. One primary trail ran from Inwood in the north to Battery Park in the south. This trail eventually became the famous Broadway. The name Manhattan likely comes from the Munsee word *manaháhtaan*. This term can mean "the place where we get bows." Some traditions say it refers to a grove of hickory trees. These trees were perfect for making bows.

European contact began with the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano. He sailed for France and visited the area in 1524. He was the first documented European to see the region. Later, Henry Hudson mapped the island during a 1609 voyage. The Dutch West India Company established a permanent presence in 1624. They first set up a trading post on Governors Island. By 1625, they began building Fort Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. This settlement was called New Amsterdam. In 1664, English forces took control of the colony. They renamed it New York after the Duke of York. The Dutch briefly regained control in 1673. They called it New Orange, but England kept it permanently in 1674.

Manhattan is a massive engine for the global economy.

It produces the highest GDP in the United States. This is true by both absolute and per capita measures. The borough is home to Wall Street. It also hosts Billionaires' Row. Two of the world's largest stock exchanges are located here. These are the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. The residential property here has the highest sale price per square foot in the U.S. Even retail is famous. Fifth Avenue was once the most expensive shopping street in the world. In 2024, it moved to second place behind Milan's Via Montenapoleone.

Many people visit Manhattan to see its famous landmarks.

Central Park is one of the top ten most-visited attractions globally. Times Square and Grand Central Terminal are also highly popular. The skyline is filled with iconic skyscrapers. These include the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building.

One World Trade Center also stands in Lower Manhattan. The Statue of Liberty sits in the nearby harbor. It served as a symbol for millions of arriving immigrants. The borough is also a center for culture and education. It hosts many universities like Columbia and NYU. It is also home to the United Nations headquarters in Midtown.

Manhattan has played many important roles in social history.

It served as the capital of the United States from 1785 to 1790. In the 1920s, Harlem became the center of the Harlem Renaissance. This was a major cultural movement. In 1969, the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village became a key site. It is considered the birthplace of the modern gay-rights movement. This event helped make Manhattan a center for LGBTQ culture. The borough also faces modern challenges. Lower Manhattan was the site of the original World Trade Center. This area was destroyed during the attacks on September 11, 2001.