Lower East Side

The area now known as the Lower East Side was originally inhabited by Lenape people, who lived in seasonal bands as observed by the explorer, Giovanni da Verrazzano. They fished along the rivers in the summer and moved inland for crops and hunting during the fall and winter. One of their main trails followed the approximate path of modern-day Broadway. A notable encampment near Corlears Hook was called Rechtauck or Naghtogack, a place where the Lenape gathered and interacted with the land. This region's geography supported their traditional way of life.

In the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, most of the population lived below Fulton Street, while small plantations, called "bouwerij" (or "bowery"), were situated to the north. Enclaves of free or "half-free" Africans also settled there, particularly along the Bowery between Prince Street and Astor Place. These settlements served as a buffer between Dutch settlers and Native Americans. Over time, the area saw consolidation of these farms into larger estates, including what became the Delancey farm, which encompassed much of the Lower East Side.

James Delancey's pre-Revolutionary farm in Manhattan, known as the "West Farm," gave its name to streets like Delancey Street and Orchard Street. It spanned the area from Division Street to Houston Street. In the 1760s, Delancey began surveying his land, planning a grand Delancey Square, which was to occupy a large portion of what is now the Lower East Side. However, following the American Revolution, the loyalist Delancey's land was confiscated, and the planned aristocratic square was replaced by a more practical street grid system.

Lower East Side Population peaks at 500,000 making it one of the world's most densely populated places