Financial District
From Battery Park’s northernmost point up to the Brooklyn Bridge, the Financial District spans almost 290 acres of NYC area. Wall Street and the World Trade Center are included, but Battery Park and Battery Park City are not. Developed here since the Dutch founded New Amsterdam in 1624, it is New York’s oldest neighborhood.
The Financial District (FiDi) is the commercial hub of New York City. There are numerous office buildings and financial institutions headquartered there, including Wall Street.
Wall Street is actually merely a roadway in the Financial District. However, the word is generally associated with business because of the New York Stock Exchange (the world’s largest of its kind), to which it is sometimes attached. Wall Street is largely responsible for New York’s reputation as one of the world’s most prosperous metropolitan areas.
During the week, the sidewalks of the South Street Seaport and the nearby pedestrian-only Stone Street are constantly crowded with young professionals on their way to and from work. Here, near the site of the former Twin Towers, is also the somber National September 11 Memorial and Museum. The observatory atop One World Trade Center offers breathtaking views.
The buildings in the Financial District are among the city’s most fascinating. Here, the city’s newest skyscrapers stand in stark contrast to its oldest, most historic structures. Stone Street, a block in the middle of the area open only to foot traffic, is packed with bars and eateries.
Compared to other Manhattan neighborhoods, FiDi is massive. Two Bridges, Chinatown, the Civic Center, and Tribeca are some of the northern neighbors. At the island’s southernmost point, known as The Battery, the neighborhood come to a dramatic end. The neighborhood is tall and vast, with Battery Park City and the East River as its borders. Due to its vastness, the area is always bustling with activity, with new businesses, eateries, and entertainment venues opening their doors.
After 5 o’clock in the evening, especially on weekends, FiDi is said by many to become very quiet. While there is no doubt that the area becomes less hectic over time, it is gradually changing from a business district to a mixed commercial and residential area. The population has more than doubled from its 2002 low of about 20,000 to its 2019 high of over 60,000.
Many new businesses and cultural institutions have opened up as a result of the influx of residents. The neighborhood’s abundance of pubs and restaurants, as well as the variety of stores and entertainment venues, notably at the South Street Seaport, have made it a favorite destination for New Yorkers and visitors alike.