History of the Upper West Side

The Upper West Side of Manhattan is a storied neighborhood with a rich history that reflects the broader evolution of New York City. Its development from rural farmland to a vibrant cultural and residential hub has been shaped by transportation advances, architectural innovation, and shifting demographics.
In its earliest days, the land that would become the Upper West Side was inhabited by the Lenape people, who utilized the area’s natural resources for hunting and fishing. During the Dutch and English colonial periods, the region was largely rural, dotted with farms and country estates. It was part of an area known as Bloomingdale, named after the Dutch Bloemendaal, meaning valley of flowers. The Bloomingdale Road, which later became Broadway, served as the primary route connecting this pastoral landscape to the bustling city to the south.