Before 1890, Morningside Heights consisted of nearly empty high plateaus that were geographically isolated and undeveloped while its neighboring areas were developing into residential communities. The government begun executing its plan to give the area an aesthetic appeal. In fact, the city commissioned the renowned architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, to design two parks around the area in 1873 (Historic Morningside Heights). During the Morningside Park creation, Frederick Law Olmstead coined the the name, the Heights, after a rock formation supporting the plateau (Historic Morningside Heights). This tag, combined with the name coined in early 1870s–Morning side,–gave the neighborhood its name– Morningside Heights.
