Heading north brings us into the hood known as the West Village. It goes from Houston to 14th Sts between 6th Ave and the Hudson River. This hood is mostly residential. Originally, it was known as Sapokanikan, by the Canarsie Indians who lived around a stream known as Manetta. In the 1630's, the Dutch settled and renamed it Noortwyck until the English took over the colony. Despite the American Revolution, the area survived, and managed to have markets along the Hudson River. In 1713, the place was chartered as a village known as Greenwich Village after the town in England. Thomas Paine once lived here and published his book Common Sense. In 1799, Harmon Hendricks at his farm built here and lived there by his family until it was sold in 1836 to be made into a house to go along with many of the federal style apartments that were built. In 1811, the Commissioners Plan created the layout of the streets, which compromised the farmland the Hendricks had, though it hardly numbered any streets. In 1870, came the 9th Ave El, with the 6th Ave El in 1878 allowing for faster transportation between the tip as well as up the island. In 1877, the Jefferson Market Courthouse was built to have the 3rd Judicial District for criminal cases. In 1908, the Hudson & Manhattan RR opened up stations on Christopher St, 9th St, and 14th Sts for rail access to NJ. In 1916, the area became known as Little Bohemia for those who found homes there and were artistic. In the 1930's, the High Line was built for freight being used in the Meatpacking Dist. In 1939, the 6th Ave saw demolition with the 9th Ave El surviving until 1958. In 1945, the courts decided leave the area leaving the courthouse vacant for a time, but wound up being saved in the end after protestors constantly marched against the possible demolition in that it became a library instead. The postwar era did place the West Village in danger of urban renewal especially, but many of it was saved after statements by Jane Jacobs, who was afraid of loosing her property to a housing project. In 1980, the frieght service on the High Line was stopped due to being obsolete. More recently, the West Village did get new developement along the Hudson River. Nevertheless, the interior still has some historic architecture not to mention crazy street grid such as Sheridan Sq, which has seven streets meeting there. Most do associate it with Greenwich Village even though it got its own distinction. You can get here by taking the subway to Houston St (1), Christopher St-Sheridan Sq (1), W 4th St-Washingon Sq (A, B, C, D, E, F, V), 14th St-6th Ave (F, V, L, 1, 2, 3), and 14th St-8th Ave (A, C, E, L) as well as taking the PATH to Christopher St, 9th St, and 14th St. Here is what you will find in the West Village.
5th July 2008, 23:57
NYC:Manhattan hoods-West Village 
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