Washington Heights is a vibrant, well-known neighborhood in New York City whose northern location often leads to questions about its specific placement. The area has a history that spans from a Revolutionary War fortification to a suburban retreat, eventually becoming the densely populated, culturally rich community it is today. It stands out for its elevated terrain and distinct atmosphere, setting it apart from more central areas of Manhattan.
The Borough Answer
Washington Heights is a neighborhood located in the borough of Manhattan. It is situated in the northernmost section of the island, leading to a common misconception that it might belong to the Bronx or a different borough entirely due to its distance from Midtown and Downtown Manhattan. However, it is firmly within the boundaries of Manhattan and is represented as part of Manhattan Community District 12. Its inclusion in Manhattan means it benefits from the infrastructure and transportation network that serves the central island, despite its uptown location.
Being part of Manhattan, the neighborhood is often more affordable than areas further south, offering larger apartment stock that was built in the early 20th century. The area’s relative distance from the island’s commercial center contributes to its more residential, neighborhood-focused feel. This geographical separation has allowed Washington Heights to develop an identity distinct from the rest of Manhattan.
Where It Sits in Manhattan
Geographically, Washington Heights is defined as part of Upper Manhattan, often referred to as Uptown. The neighborhood boundaries run from West 155th Street in the south, where it borders Harlem and Hamilton Heights, up to Dyckman Street or Hillside Avenue in the north, where it meets Inwood. The western edge is bordered by the Hudson River, and the eastern boundary is the Harlem River and Coogan’s Bluff.
The “Heights” portion of the name refers to the area’s elevated topography. It contains the highest natural point on the island of Manhattan, an outcropping of schist that reaches 265 feet above sea level, located in Bennett Park. This high ridge provides dramatic views of the Hudson River and the surrounding areas, a feature that contrasts with the flatter grid of lower Manhattan.
Neighborhood History and Identity
The history of Washington Heights stretches back to the American Revolutionary War, when its high ground was recognized as a strategic military position. Fort Washington, named for General George Washington, was built here by the Continental Army in 1776 to defend the area from British forces. The neighborhood’s name honors this historical fortification. Following the war, the area transitioned from rural farmland into an area of luxurious estates before mass transit arrived in the early 1900s, triggering a building boom.
The neighborhood became a haven for various immigrant groups, first attracting Irish, Eastern European, and Greek residents, and then German Jews fleeing Nazism in the 1930s and 1940s. Since the 1960s, a large influx of immigrants from the Dominican Republic has transformed Washington Heights, making it the center of New York’s Dominican-American community. Dominicans currently make up the largest immigrant group in the city.
Notable landmarks include the George Washington Bridge, which is one of the world’s busiest motor vehicle bridges and dominates the western skyline. Fort Tryon Park offers views of the Hudson River and houses The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated to medieval European art and architecture. Yeshiva University maintains a significant presence, and the historic Morris-Jumel Mansion, Manhattan’s oldest surviving house, provides a direct link to the area’s Revolutionary War past.