Hudson Heights Neighborhood

History: The Hudson Heights Neighborhood

Situated on a high ridge in the Upper Manhattan area, Hudson Heights is a pleasant neighborhood that is north of the Hudson River valley.

A canvas by Victor Clifford Audubon, conserved by the Museum of History of New York, illustrates the wooded slopes of Hudson Heights in about 1845, seen from the Hudson. During the American Revolutionary war, the Continental Army troops constructed Fort Washington, after which the area is named, to protect it from the British forces. The Fort was constructed at the highest point in Manhattan. The British, however, won the battle and captured the fort and, named it "Fort Kynphausen", as an honor to the German general who led the successful attack. A series of bronze plaques along Broadway depict the progress of the battle. Before the 1900s, the neighborhood was farmland, with a few estates here and there. When the IRT subway line connected downtown to the area in 1904, the next two decades saw the area become more residential.

Area Attractions

One of the most pleasant areas to live or visit in Hudson Heights is Hudson Heights. It offers spectacular river views, tree-laden streets, and sophisticated avenues. It is Manhattan’s highest point occupying the northwestern-most quadrants of the Heights. Many actors and musicians as well as young tech-industry professionals have recently moved into the neighborhood, as they are attracted to the affordable housing prices. Also, families looking for more space that cannot be found in Manhattan’s cramped downtown are looking to live in this area.

At the northern end of Fort Washington Avenue, lies the famous Fort Tryon Park. It runs north-south through the Heights and is situated upon the top of a rocky ridge.
The Hudson Heights Museum Group at Broadway and 155th Street includes the Museum of the American Indian, the Hispanic Society of America, the American Numismatic Society, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the nation's honorary society for artists and writers. Bennett park, Fort Tryon park, Fort Washington park, High bridge park, J. Hood Wright park, Riverside park, and Mitchell Square park are some of the parks located here.

Yeshiva University and Boricua College are part of University education here. The College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine the School of Nursing, and the biomedical programs of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences are all affiliated to medical campus of the Columbia University.

The neighborhood boasts of variety of cuisines. One can find grocery stores almost every city block. Also, these stores are flexible in their business hours that range from 7am to late in the night. In addition to grocery stores, you can also find smoke shops open 24hrs for late night emergencies.

The location is beautiful and offers calm, safe, quiet surroundings, as well as all kinds of city conveniences such as quick access to shops, medical attention, education, and more. In case you want big-city life, midtown is just 15 minutes away on the express train.

The location has all the facilities one could ask for - arts & crafts, business development, child care centers, community organizations, cultural institutions, dispute resolution, food Co-ops, recreation & sports, religious institutions, social services, theater & arts, tourist attractions, transportation, writing & literature, health, libraries, media, music, pets, and public service requests.

The facilities, ambience, location, and the inclusive culture here make it one of the most sought after neighborhoods in New York.