New York City Timeline – From Humble Beginnings to the Big Apple

New York City Timeline – From Humble Beginnings to the Big Apple

Okay, let’s dive into the wild story of New York City! It’s a tale of Native American roots, Dutch adventurers, British takeovers, and a whole lot of hustle and bustle in between. Get ready for a whirlwind tour through the centuries!

The Early Days (Before It Was Even "New")

• Around 1000 AD: Picture this: Manhattan, not a concrete jungle, but home to the Manhattan, Canarsee, Hackensack, and Rockaway Indians. They were the original New Yorkers, living off the land long before anyone dreamed of skyscrapers.

• 1524: Enter Giovanni da Verrazzano, a French explorer who was the first European to lay eyes on New York Harbor. He named it "Nouvelle-Angoulême" (try saying that five times fast!).

• 1526: A Spaniard named Estavan Gomez sails along the shoreline.

The Dutch Era (New Amsterdam, Baby!)

• 1609: Henry Hudson shows up, hired by the Dutch to explore. He sails up the river that would later bear his name and plants the Dutch flag on Manhattan.

• 1613: Juan Rodriguez becomes the first documented non-Native American to live on Manhattan Island. He was considered the first immigrant, the first person of African heritage, European heritage, the first merchant, the first Latino, and the first Dominican to settle in Manhattan.

• 1614: The Dutch start settling on Manhattan Island.

• 1624: The Dutch West India Company officially founds New Amsterdam. The first settlers arrive on Noten Eylandt (now Governors Island).

• 1625: Fort Amsterdam is built, giving the Dutch a stronghold.

• 1626: The Lenape Indians (yes, those Indians) supposedly sell Manhattan Island to the Dutch. The whole "buying Manhattan for beads" story is probably more legend than fact, but it’s a great tale!

• 1626: Chattel slavery was introduced to North America with the unloading of 11 Africans.

• 1636: "Breukelen" (aka Brooklyn) is colonized.

• 1639: Jonas Bronck, a Swedish settler, buys a huge chunk of land from the Lenape, and it becomes known as "Bronck’s Land" (yep, that’s how The Bronx got its name!).

• 1643: Tensions rise between the Lenape and the Dutch, leading to Kieft’s War.

• 1652: New Amsterdam officially becomes a city!

• 1653: The city’s first tavern becomes the first city hall. Talk about multi-tasking!

• 1654: Sephardi Jews arrive from the Iberian peninsula to establish Congregation Shearith Israel, the oldest Jewish congregation in the U.S.

• 1657: The Flushing Remonstrance is signed, laying the foundation of religious freedom in America.

• 1659: Even back then, workers were fighting for their rights. Bakers go on strike!

The British Takeover (Hello, New York!)

• 1664: The Dutch reign ends! Peter Stuyvesant surrenders New Amsterdam to the English, who rename it New York after James, the Duke of York.

• 1665: Thomas Willett becomes the city’s first mayor.

• 1666: The first recorded murder trial takes place in Brooklyn.

• 1668: The first yellow fever epidemic hits the city.

• 1673: The Dutch briefly regain New York, renaming it "New Orange." But their victory is short-lived.

• 1674: The English get New York back for good.

• 1691: The Fish Market was established.

• 1693: William Bradford sets up the first printing press.

• 1697: The First Trinity Church was erected.

The 1700s: Revolution Brews

• 1702: Another yellow fever outbreak kills over 500 people.

• 1703: Federal Hall is built on Wall Street. It’s New York’s city hall at the time.

• 1704: The first school in New York City that was open to African Americans was established.

• 1711: A formal slave market is established at Wall Street and the East River.

• 1712: A slave revolt leads to executions on both sides.

• 1725: The New York Gazette, the city’s first newspaper, hits the streets.

• 1732: Professional actors perform the first play in the American colonies.

• 1741: The New York Conspiracy of 1741 leads to mass hysteria and executions related to fear around slavery.

• 1754: King’s College (later Columbia University) is established.

• 1762: Fraunces Tavern opens its doors. It’s still around today!

• 1765: The Stamp Act Congress meets in City Hall, marking growing colonial resistance to British rule.

• 1770: The Battle of Golden Hill becomes the first conflict of the American Revolution.

• 1771: New York Hospital is founded.

• 1774: A "Tea Party" takes place in New York Harbor.

The Revolutionary War Years

• 1776: The statue of King George III is torn down and melted into bullets. Talk about a statement!

• 1776: The Continental Army is routed by British troops in the Battle of Long Island.

• 1776: A huge fire destroys a quarter of the city.

• 1776: Nathan Hale is executed by the British as a spy.

• 1783: The British finally leave, and General George Washington triumphantly returns to the city. Evacuation Day is celebrated!

A New Nation

• 1785: New York City becomes the state and national capital.

• 1789: George Washington is inaugurated as the first U.S. president at Federal Hall.

• 1790: New York becomes the largest city in America.

• 1792: The New York Stock Exchange is established.

• 1794: A yellow fever epidemic leads to the creation of Bellevue Hospital.

The 1800s: Growth and Growing Pains

• 1801: The New York Evening Post (now the New York Post) starts publishing.

• 1811: The Commissioners’ Plan of 1811 lays out Manhattan’s grid system.

• 1812: New York City Hall is built.

• 1825: The Erie Canal opens, connecting New York to the Great Lakes and fueling economic growth.

• 1827: Slavery is finally abolished in New York.

• 1835: The Great Fire of 1835 destroys the New York Stock Exchange and hundreds of other buildings.

• 1842: The Croton Aqueduct brings fresh water to the city.

• 1844: The first uniformed police force is organized.

• 1849: The Astor Place Riot erupts over a theatrical dispute.

• 1851: The New York Daily Times (later the New York Times) begins publication.

• 1857: The New York City Police Riot occurs.

• 1858: Central Park opens, giving New Yorkers a much-needed green space.

• 1863: The New York Draft Riots explode, fueled by racial tensions and anger over the Civil War draft.

• 1883: The Brooklyn Bridge opens, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn.

• 1886: The Statue of Liberty is dedicated.

• 1890: Ellis Island is designated as an immigration station.

• 1898: The City of Greater New York is created, consolidating Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island into one massive metropolis.

The 1900s: Modern Metropolis

• 1904: The New York City Subway begins operating.

• 1911: The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 garment workers, leading to major reforms in workplace safety.

• 1920: A Wall Street bombing kills 38 people.

• 1929: The Wall Street Crash triggers the Great Depression.

• 1931: The Empire State Building is completed.

• 1932: Radio City Music Hall opens.

• 1939: The New York World’s Fair opens in Flushing Meadows.

• 1947: Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers breaks the baseball color line.

• 1969: The Stonewall Riots mark a turning point in the gay rights movement.

• 1970: The first New York City Marathon is held.

• 1977: A city-wide blackout leads to widespread looting and unrest.

• 1980: John Lennon is murdered outside his home.

• 1993: A bomb explodes in the World Trade Center’s underground garage.

The 2000s and Beyond: Resilience and Rebirth

• 2001: The September 11th terrorist attacks destroy the World Trade Center, killing thousands and forever changing the city’s skyline.

• 2012: Hurricane Sandy causes widespread flooding and damage.

• 2014: One World Trade Center opens.

• 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic devastates the city.

And That’s Not All, Folks!

This is just a glimpse of the epic story of New York City. From its humble beginnings as a Native American settlement to its current status as a global powerhouse, NYC has seen it all. It’s a city of immigrants, dreamers, artists, and entrepreneurs, and its story is far from over.