Greenwich Village and Its Unparalleled History

Greenwich Village is one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world, not just New York City. Located on the west side of Manhattan, with Broadway to the east, the Hudson River on the west, Houston Street marking the South boundary and 14^th Street to the North, this once small plot of land owned by Native Americans has since been developed into a neighborhood with narrow streets filled with shops, restaurants and other commercial activity. Over time, Greenwich Village has gone through several transformations, making it what it is today: a neighborhood filled with rich cultural history.

The 16^th-18^th Centuries

The known history of the village dates back to the 16^th century when it was inhabited by a Native Americans tribe, the Lenape. They called the marshland “Sapokanican” and camped and fished along what would later be known as the Minetta Brook. When Dutch Settlers discovered the island of Manhattan in the 1630s, they named it New Amsterdam and began their conquest of the land. They named Greenwich Village, “Noortwyck,” and cleared the land to make pastures and plant crops. Three decades later, in 1664, the English conquered the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam and Greenwich Village developed as a small community separate from the rest of Manhattan. According to common counsel records, it officially became a village in 1713 and was named “Grin’wich” after a district of south London called Greenwich. The area began to grow as an agrarian hamlet with commercial activity centering on the Hudson River.

Washington Square Park

In the 1780s the city bought an 8-acre plot of land that was used as a “potter’s field,” a public burial ground. It was used to bury unknown or impoverished people. The cemetery closed in 1825 and a year later the land was leveled and turned into Washington Military Parade Ground where new recruits would train for the military. In 1850 the parade ground came under the control of the New York City Department of Parks. This was the birth of Washington Square Park, one of the most famous parks in New York City located in the center of Greenwich Village. The most striking landmark in the park was built in 1889 and still remains today: The Washington Square Arch. Built to commemorate the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration as President of the United States, the arch stands north of the park at the head of 5^th Avenue. This arch, made of plaster and wood, was meant to be temporary but because it was so popular, a permanent marble arch was designed and placed in the center of the park. Architect Stanford White designed the arch to replicate the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. A fountain was constructed in 1852, followed by two statues of George Washington in 1918.

The Original Arch

The 19^th Century

The 19^th century was a period of population growth in Greenwich Village; two reasons account for this growth. First, in 1882, a yellow fever outbreak in various parts of the city caused an influx of people to relocate to the village in search of cleaner air. During the years of 1825 and 1840, the population grew immensely. Many people, who were seeking temporary refuge from the epidemic, chose to stay permanently, causing the growth of markets and business. Secondly, immigration was at its peak during the 19^th century, particularly in the village. Immigrant groups including French, Irish and Italian were attracted to the area because of inexpensive apartments and the construction of large factories such as the Asch Building, which was home to the Triangle Shirt Waste Factory.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory

Immigrant Women Working at The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory

The early 19^th century also brought with it new establishments that catered to educational and cultural life. New York University sprouted on the east side of Washington Square beginning in 1836 while libraries, art galleries, literary saloons and theaters thrived. A second wave of immigrants including German, Irish and Italian came to the area to pursue jobs in the manufacturing business. Many residences were divided and turned into multi-family homes known as tenements. With the decline of real estate value, many land owners and upper class families retreated uptown.

The 20^th Century

The 20^th century was Greenwich Village’s peak as an alternative cultural mecca. At the turn of the century, the village was “widely known as a bohemian enclave with secluded side streets, low rents, and a tolerance for radicalism and nonconformity” (GVSHP). Many famous artists, songwriters, actors and musicians bloomed during this period of expression. Many well known artists from the early and later 20^th century, had their start in the village. Some famous names include Edgar Allen Poe, O’Henry, William Faulkner, Henry James, Louisa May Alcott, Isadora Duncan, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

This bohemian culture in Greenwich Village contributed to the many avant-garde movements that had their birth in this area such as The Beat movement and The Stone Wall Rebellion.

The Beat Movement: 1950s-1960s

The Beat Movement was one of the most famous movements that came out of Greenwich Village. The Beat Generation was comprised of writers who came together to write about topics such as nonconformist ideas and the aggravation of American materialism. “Beatniks,” as they were called, included William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, James Baldwin, Truman Capote, Marianne Moore and Maya Angelou. Other beliefs that came with the beat generation included casual sex, drugs, Buddhism and expression through writing and music. The movement began in New York City but eventually moved to the West coast to San Francisco. Jack Kerouac, a famous beatnik, was the first to use the term “beat generation” when he described himself and his fellow beatniks as “the people who embraced their own beliefs about today’s America and employed writing to convey their thoughts to others” (BBC).

Beatnik, Jack Kerouac

The Stonewall Rebellion: 1969

The Stonewall Rebellion is said to have been the beginning of the Gay Rights Movement in the United States. It began when police raided The Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, a place that was known as a dwelling for homosexuals. Homosexuality was not commonly accepted in the 1960s and until the incident at the Stonewall Inn, the homosexual community had not done much to stand up to the police who were homophobic. Tension grew after the incident and several riots occurred in days to follow. A gay and lesbian community began to form in the village after the riots and homosexuals were encouraged to open up and speak about their sexuality by other members of the community. This group of activists began to publicize their movement and soon the Gay Rights Movement spread across America to cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles. Each year, gay pride events are held in the village to remember the Stonewall Rebellion and the continuance of the Gay Rights Movement.

Rioters from The Stonewall Rebellion

The Village Today

In recent history, many lament about the loss of the bohemian culture in Greenwich Village. High retail costs and luxurious apartments have caused a decline in hippie culture. Most have fled to other areas in New York: SoHo, Bushwick and Williamsburg. The village is home to many college students attending New York University whose campus occupies most of the area, and The New School for Design. Celebrities such as Anderson Cooper, Uma Thurman and Liv Tyler all have residencies in Greenwich Village. Famous streets such as Bleeker, Mercer and MacDougal still exist today but are now filled with various restaurants and bars popular with college students. Washington Square Park remains a place to meet friends, skateboard and enjoy views of the arch and fountains.

Bleeker Street, 1960s

Bleeker Street Today

The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation has been incredibly active for the past 50 years in their fight to preserve historical landmarks around the area. The society has fought to protect more than 2,035 structures in the village including Washington Square Park that was almost lost due to plans of constructing a road through the middle of it.

Through history, Greenwich Village has never ceased to distinguish itself from the rest of Manhattan. With humble beginnings as a Potter’s Field, it transformed into a thriving community full of bohemian culture and artistic expression. Those who live and visit Greenwich Village today are reminded of this rich and vibrant history by simply walking its streets. With so many ideas, movements and art stemming from the village, its infamy will continue for centuries to come.

Works Cited

“The Arch Through the Years.” NYU Archives. New York University. Web. 20 June 2010. <http://www.nyu.edu/library/bobst/research/arch/archtab.htm>.

“The Beat Generation.” BBC – Homepage. 15 June 2003. Web. 20 June 2010. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/a721199>.

“The Beat Generation of Greenwich Village and Beyond « The Selvedge Yard.” The Selvedge Yard. 12 Mar. 2009. Web. 21 June 2010. <http://theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/the-beat-generation-of-greenwich-village-and-beyond/>.

“Greenwich Village – About Greenwich Village | American Masters.” PBS. Web. 21 June 2010. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/greenwich-village/about-greenwich-village/620/>.

“Greenwich Village, New York City, Attractions of New York.” MagicalJourneys.com. Web. 21 June 2010. <http://www.magicaljourneys.com/USA/usa-interest-newyork-greenwichvillage.html>.

“Greenwich Village.” United States History. Web. 21 June 2010. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2378.html>.

Greenwich Village: Walk of Fame. [New York, N.Y.]: Village Alliance, 2005. Print.  (Book from NY Public Library)

“Greenwich Village.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 20 June 2010. Web. 21 June 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_Village>.

“GVSHP | Detail.” GVSHP | Home. The Greenwich Village Society of Historic Preservation, 13 Oct. 2006. Web. 21 June 2010. <http://www.gvshp.org/_gvshp/resources/history.htm>.

“Stonewall Riots: Greenwich Village.” Lycos. Web. 20 June 2010. <http://www.lycos.com/info/stonewall-riots–greenwich-village.html>.