Lower Manhattan

View of Lower Manhattan
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lower_Manhattan_from_Staten_Island_Ferry_Jan_2006.jpg
Author: Diliff


Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan. Geographically, it is usually defined as the area south of 14th Street. It is one of the three subdivisions of Manhattan, the other two being Midtown Manhattan and Upper Manhattan. Lower Manhattan is bounded by the Hudson River to the west, the East River to the east, and the New York Harbor to the south. It is the location of the center of business for Manhattan, and by extension, for New York City.

Staten Island Ferry Terminal, Lower Manhattan
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Staten_Island_Ferry_terminal.jpg
Author: Daniel Schwen


The term Lower Manhattan is not exactly interchangeable with Downtown Manhattan. The latter may mean a different area to different people. People from the Bronx will regard any place in Manhattan as downtown. Within Manhattan itself, the term downtown Manhattan usually refers to places south of 14th Street. This is the official definition as appearing in Manhattan's tourism literature. Some people however refer to places south of 23rd Street as downtown, whereas others mean the area south of Canal Street.

On this website, Lower Manhattan refers to areas south of 14th Street, Midtown Manhattan between 14th and 59th Street, and Upper Manhattan anpve 59th Street.

Houses in Greenwich Village, Lower Manhattan
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:48-58_West_10th_Street_from_east.jpg
Author: Beyond My Ken


Lower Manhattan was the earliest part of the island to be developed. This can be traced to the construction of Fort Amsterdam in 1625. The site is now occupied by the Alexander Hamilton US Custom House. Many of the oldest historic buildings of New York City are located in this area.

Lower Manhattan is best known around the world as the site of the former World Trade Center, where the new One World Trade Center is now under construction with expected completion in 2014. The Lower Manhattan area has one of the larest concentration of corporate headquarters in the United States, and is still an important nerve center for the economy of the country and the world.

St Paul's Chapel, Lower Manhattan
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Pauls_south_sun_jeh.jpg
Author: Jim.henderson

Visiting Lower Manhattan

There are numerous subway trains that can take you from different parts of New York City to Lower Manhattan. Coming from the Bronx and Upper Manhattan, you can take the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 trains. From Brooklyn, you can take the A and C trains; from JFK Airport, take the A train; from Queens, the J and Z trains. From New Jersey, you can take the PATH subway trains.

Map of Lower Manhattan

Places in Lower Manhattan

Sights in Lower Manhattan

National Monuments in Lower Manhattan

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