The Historical Harlem, NY

The personal injury lawyers in Harlem, NY, at Banville Law, would like to share some interesting details about the neighborhood and its history.

Harlem

The neighborhood of Harlem is located within the Manhattan borough in New York City, New York. It takes up 896  acres and lies along the Hudson River south of Washington Heights. The main roadways in the community include Frederick Douglass Boulevard, Broadway, and Amsterdam Avenue. 

History

Dutch settlers organized the town in 1658 and named it Haarlem, after a town in the Netherlands. Peter Stuyvesant led the town as it was officially incorporated as Harlem in 1660. During the Revolutionary War, the area was set on fire by the British. 

In 1868, as the town struggled to rebuild, an influx of Italian and Jewish immigrants filled the area. It wasn't until the 20th century that the African American and Puerto Rican populations would begin to supersede the others. By the 1930s, the area's population of African Americans had increased to 70%. The community became home to many musicians and writers. Several theaters were established, such as the following:

• the New Heritage Repertory Theater
• National Black Theater
• Harlem Suitcase Theater
• the Apollo Theater

The nightlife came alive with dance halls, bars, and speakeasies. 133rd Street became known as Swing Street for all the jazz clubs and cabarets that lined the area. Some clubs retained the white-only status, such as the following:

• the Cotton Club
• Connie's Inn

While the others allowed inter-racial mingling, like the Renaissance Ballroom. Many R&B musical groups came out of the neighborhood, such as:

• Cameo
• Keith Sweat
• Black Ivory
• Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers

Neighborhood

The average home price in the neighborhood is $1,255,863, making it more expensive than 98% of other neighborhoods in the country. Rental rates are lower than 57.9% of other neighborhoods in the state. Rental property, such as large apartment complexes, make up 76.1%  of the community real estate and 83.2% of the residents rent. 

Demographics

The town's population was 118,665, an increase of 8.1% from 2000. The racial makeup of the area was the following:

• 46.0% white 
• 13.6% African American
• 23.5% Hispanic or Latino
• 13.3% Asian
• 0.2% Native American
• 0.1% Pacific Islander
• 0.4% other races
• 2.9% two or more races

The area is home to a large population of foreign-born residents, as many as 23%. English is the first language of 71.6%, and other languages spoken here include:

• Spanish 
• French
• Japanese

The ethnic makeup of the residents is the following:

• 10.3% Sub-Saharan African
• 6.9% African
• 6.8% Asian
• 6.3% Irish
• 5.2% Puerto Rican

To learn more about the neighborhood: All About Little Brazil, NY 

Our Local Office

If you have legal questions, our experienced Harlem, NY, personal injury lawyers at Banville Law can help. Call today for a free case evaluation and learn your legal rights.

Banville Law
165 West End Ave #1h
New York, NY 10023, USA
(917) 633-4808