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Manhattan: Home of New York’s Diamond District

Each of NYC’s five boroughs brings something unique to the Big Apple. And when it comes to Manhattan, that uniqueness can be seen in everything from its iconic landmarks to its unmistakable charm and prestige – standout features in a city where every neighborhood and every block is a world unto its own.

Manhattan is home to more than 1.5 million people packed into just 22 square miles or so of diverse neighborhoods that include the East Village, Upper East Side, SoHo, Harlem, and Tribeca. That makes it the most densely populated borough in New York City, and the most densely populated municipality in the entire country.

Learn more about what makes Manhattan so special below, including quick tips for making the most of a visit to this bustling and beloved borough.

Manhattan skyline with One World Trade Center at sunset

History of Manhattan

What is now present-day Manhattan was once the home of the Munsee Lenape and Wappinger tribes, where it served an important role in local fishing, agriculture, and trade. In 1609, it was stumbled upon by Englishman Henry Hudson, and became the site of a permanent European settlement in 1624. You can find Hudson’s mark by way of the Hudson River, named after the settler and currently serving as the separation point between New York City and Jersey City.

After becoming a permanent settlement, Manhattan (then called New Netherland) was rapidly developed, and is largely believed to be the birthplace of New York City as a whole. In fact, as late as the 1800s, Manhattan comprised the entirety of NYC, with the city itself growing out of necessity with an influx of new immigrants in the latter half of the century.

View of Lower Manhattan skyline with historic buildings and modern skyscrapers

Manhattan
Neighborhoods

There are as many as 56 neighborhoods inhabiting the areas of Midtown, Upper, and Lower Manhattan, as well as five islands.

Among the borough’s most famous neighborhoods you’ll find:

  • East Village
  • West Village
  • Financial District
  • Chinatown
  • Tribeca
  • SoHo
  • Greenwich Village
  • Chelsea
  • Hell’s Kitchen
  • Harlem
  • Diamond District
  • Koreatown
  • Little Italy
  • Gramercy Park
  • Meatpacking District
  • Garment District
  • Lower East Side
  • Upper East Side

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

These neighborhoods are all unique, not just in location but in culture, demographics, and economics. That being said, the lines can and do blur between them, with boundaries that are both undefined and ever subject to change.

Demographics of Manhattan

Manhattan is the third most populated borough in New York City behind Brooklyn and Queens. As with the rest of the city, you’ll find pretty much every race, ethnicity, and country of origin represented in Manhattan’s population, with immigrants accounting for more than 40% of its residents.

The median household income in Manhattan is $99,350, though the largest share of the borough’s households make anywhere from $100,001 to $250,000. These numbers place Manhattan’s median income well above the national median income of $80,610, with the area’s relative wealth being quite evident in the grand houses and world-class shopping and restaurants that heavily dot the island.

Manhattan skyline at sunset with One World Trade Center and glowing city lights

Manhattan School Districts and Top Schools

There are six school districts in Manhattan, which together serve the borough’s 16,250 K-12 students. Schools include celebrated public institutions and elite private academies, among them:

  • The Dalton School, one of the most sought-after private schools in the state
  • Stuyvesant High School, a top-ranked public school
  • Riverdale Country School, ranked one of the best private schools in New York
  • High School Math Science and Engineering at CCNY, a highly-selective pubic STEM academy

Manhattan is also the site of some of the country’s most prestigious colleges and universities, including Julliard, Columbia University, Barnard College, and New York University (NYU), just to name a few.

Statue of Liberty standing on Liberty Island in New York Harbor

Manhattan Public Transportation

It may be an island, but Manhattan is extensively connected to its neighboring boroughs by means of subways, buses, and commuter lines managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

New York’s subway system operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, taking residents and visitors into Manhattan, out of Manhattan, and around the city. That’s good news for anyone looking to travel the city on a budget, since you can hop on for just $2.90 a ride. If you’d rather travel by car, you can traverse a variety of primary roadways connecting Manhattan to the rest of NYC, including the West Side Highway, FDR Drive, and the Queens-Midtown Tunnel.

Manhattan Bridge spanning the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn

What to Do and See
in Manhattan

You could spend years in Manhattan and never run out of things to see and places to explore. Where to start then? How about with one of the borough’s most celebrated landmarks, such as:

  • Statue of Liberty
  • Empire State Building
  • Times Square
  • Central Park
  • Grand Central Terminal
  • Ellis Island
  • Broadway

If you’re an arts and culture lover, you’ll find more than enough to enjoy, starting with:

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)
  • Guggenheim Museum
  • The Cloisters
  • American Museum of Natural History
  • Whitney Museum
  • The Morgan
  • Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Still have room in your schedule? Head to:

  • Rockefeller Center
  • Chelsea Market
  • New York Public Library (there are 40 in Manhattan alone)
  • One World Trade Center
  • Bryant Park
  • Brooklyn Bridge
  • St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Visit Us in Manhattan’s Diamond District

One thing you definitely don’t want to miss when you’re in Manhattan is the Diamond District, a glittering commercial mainstay stretching across a single city block in Midtown. More than 90% of the diamonds that come into the U.S. pass through the Diamond District first, making this a true mecca of fine jewelry and craftsmanship.

Our office is located in the Diamond District at 50 W 47th Street, Suite 319, New York, NY 10036, just steps away from the Rockefeller Center subway station. Meet with a Qollateral loan expert to sell of borrow against luxury assets like:

You can reach us easily via the B, D, F, and M trains. Please note: the B and M lines operate on weekdays only, while the F train runs during rush hours in the peak direction.

If you’re driving, a parking lot is available just around the corner at 55 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036.

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