Greenwich Village is a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan, New York City, bounded by 14th Street to the north, Broadway to the east, Houston Street to the south, and the Hudson River to the west. Greenwich Village also contains several subsections, including the West Village west of Seventh Avenue and the Meatpacking District in the northwest corner of Greenwich Village.
Its name comes from Groenwijck, Dutch for “Green District.” In the 20th century, Greenwich Village was known as an artists’ haven, the bohemian capital, the cradle of the modern LGBT movement, and the East Coast birthplace of both the Beat and ’60s counterculture movements. Greenwich Village contains Washington Square Park and two of New York City’s private colleges, New York University (NYU) and The New School. Greenwich Village is part of Manhattan Community District 2 and is patrolled by the 6th Precinct of the New York City Police Department.
In the 16th century, Native Americans referred to its farthest northwest corner, by the cove on the Hudson River at present-day Gansevoort Street, as Sapokanikan (“tobacco field”). The land was cleared and turned into pasture by Dutch and freed African settlers in the 1630s, who named their settlement Noortwyck (also spelled Noortwijck, “North district,” equivalent to ‘Northwich/Northwick’). In the 1630s, Governor Wouter van Twiller farmed tobacco on 200 acres (0.81 km2) here at his “Farm in the Woods.” The English conquered the Dutch settlement of New Netherland in 1664. Greenwich Village developed as a hamlet separate from the larger New York City to the south on land, eventually becoming the Financial District. In 1644, the eleven Dutch African settlers were freed after the first Black legal protest in America. All received parcels of land in what is now Greenwich Village, in an area known as the Land of the Blacks. EZ Bed Bug Exterminator NYC
Greenwich Village historically was known as an essential landmark on the map of American bohemian culture in the early and mid-20th centuries. The neighborhood was known for its colorful, artistic residents and the alternative culture they propagated. Due partly to the progressive attitudes of many of its residents, the Village was a focal point of new movements and ideas, whether political, artistic, or cultural. As an enclave of avant-garde and alternative culture, this tradition was established during the 19th century and continued into the 20th century, when small presses, art galleries, and experimental theater thrived. In 1969, enraged members of the gay community started the Stonewall riots in search of equality. The Stonewall Inn was later recognized as a National Historic Landmark for having been the location where the gay rights movement originated.
Restaurants Nearby
- Minetta Tavern is located at 113 MacDougal St, New York, Manhattan, NY
- Blue Hill is located at 75 Washington Pl, New York, NY
- Cowgirl is located at 519 Hudson St, New York, NY
Check out other neighborhoods like Lower East Side
