Manhattan New York History

Verrazano explored New York harbor as early as 1524, but Henry Hudson is credited with discovering New York City in 1609. Dutch settlers founded a fur trading post in the area and called it Mannatthans. In 1626 the Dutch purchased the island from the original Native American Algonquians for a bargain price of $24 by today’s terms. Permanent settlement began the same year and the outpost was re-named New Amsterdam. By 1664, the English under the Duke of York occupied the area and it was renamed New York in honor of the Duke. New York City continued to change hands several times until the end of the American Revolutionary War when President George Washington made the area the nation’s capital for a short time. By 1860, the population was over 60,000 and it was the largest city in the United States.

During the Civil War for economic reasons, Manhattan’s sympathy was divided between the Union and the Confederacy and the Draft Riots of 1863 led to some of the worst civil unrest in the city’s history. Following the Civil War, New York City was divided into five boroughs and the separate boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx were formed. Prohibition brought crime wars and the Great Depression brought more dark days for Manhattan. However, following World War I and World War II the city’s population increased, new development was strong and the United Nations relocated to Manhattan. Life was good in Manhattan until the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, when nearly 3,000 people were killed when the World Trade Center was destroyed. Since that time, Manhattan has rebounded with remarkable spirit and fortitude. Tourism is once again strong and the future is bright. What are you waiting for? It’s time to experience the magic of Manhattan.