1880
The Little Italy of Lower Manhattan is one of the oldest Little Italies in North America, beginning back in the 1880s when immigrants from Naples and Sicily filled the area. Between 1880 and 1920 over four million Italians arrived in America at Ellis Island, with many settling into an area of Five Points called “Mulberry Bend”. Here is where many Italian immigrants created ethnic enclaves. Mulberry Street was first strictly Neapolitan. The surrounding streets nearby were also specifically divided between other Italians, like Mott Street for the Calabresi, Hester Street for the Apulians and Elizabeth Street for Sicilians. Eventually, overtime immigrants began to scatter all over the New York region.
The Little Italy located in Manhattan was once known for its overwhelming large Italian population. The changing demographics of Little Italy in Manhattan was shaped by the immigration policy of the United States in the 1960s which allowed immigration from China. This then increased Chinatown into the area of Little Italy, consequently decreasing the size of the Little Italy in Manhattan.
Related Vectors
Little Italy
Italian-American neighborhoods in the US
Brooklyn Little Italy
Italian-American neighborhoods in the US
Bronx Little Italy
Staten Island Little Italy
Italian-American neighborhoods in the US
New Jersey Little Italy
Italian-American neighborhoods in the US
Queens Little Italy
Italian-American neighborhoods in the US
Media gallery
Sources
Jalan, Avani. “Little Italy, Big Nostalgia.” ArcGIS StoryMaps. Esri, December 14, 2020. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/9a588c21823843c8ac80949deb66b694.
Weaver, Shaye. “Little Italy Neighborhood Guide.” Time Out New York. Time Out, June 8, 2021. https://www.timeout.com/newyork/little-italy-and-nolita-neighborhood-guide.