Rachel Finley

According to the New York Department of City Planning, West Harlem has been the area between West 126^th Street to West 155^th Street and from Convent to Riverside Drive, otherwise dubbed as District 9. Since the November 13, 2012 re-zoning, West Harlem has expanded to include the area from West 126^th to West 129^th and Convent to Amsterdam (West Harlem Rezoning). These boundaries conflict with those given by the New York City School Board and the residents of West Harlem. They claim that it stretches from 155th Street to 125th Street and from the Hudson River to Central Park West/8th Avenue (West Harlem Demography). This disparity in calculations may have to do with the historical and cultural attachment that the Black population of West Harlem has towards 125th Street.

 

 

Historically, West Harlem has been associated with black growth and development, but demographically, West Harlem is incredibly diverse. The total population of District 9 was 110,193 in 2010 according to the US Census (Manhattan). This population varies drastically as far as ethnic group, religion and country of origin. West Harlem is most often associated with the Black community, with people even going so far as to refer to it as “Black Harlem.” Demographically, this has been the case since the early 1900s when the Black population in New York City almost doubled in size (Harlem Renaissance). Since then, the Black population has been the predominant ethnicity in District 9 up until 2000. Only more recently has the White population begun to grow in population, almost growing larger than the Black population. In 2010, the White Nonhispanic population was 25,385 and the Black Nonhispanic population was 27,109 (Manhattan). Both of these groups are overshadowed by the Hispanic population, which came to District 9 around 2000. Currently, the Hispanic population in District 9 is 47,102 people (Manhattan). Minorities living in Harlem according to the Manhattan District Community Census are Asian or Pacific Islander Nonhispanic at 7,574 people, Nonhispanic of Mixed Race at 2,354 people, “Other” Race at 395 people and American Indian or Native Alaskan Nonhispanic at 274 people (Manhattan).

 

Though the general trend of income levels in Harlem is positive growth due to the increased rent and cost of living driving out poor West Harlemites, West Harlem is still poorer than most of the neighborhoods in Manhattan. The median household income in District 9 is $25,249 (West Harlem Demography). This is much lower than the national average which is $45,790 (May). This has to do with the large number of public housing units in the neighborhood which contribute to a lower average income. These units are mostly occupied by the unemployed. The unemployment rate in West Harlem is 40%, which is much higher than the 8.7% unemployment rate in New York City as a whole (Manhattan CB).

West Harlem is predominantly lower-middle class. As culturally rich as Harlem is, educationally, it is lacking. West Harlem is made up of a large portion of immigrants coming from poor countries in South America and West Africa, often coming to New York City with very little money or education. 26.9% of West Harlemites do not speak English and work low-paying jobs to afford the cost of living (West Harlem Demography). The merchants in West Harlem are abundant, selling African soaps and incense, clothing and vegetables on the side of the road. When the merchant leave, the homeless take their spots, often sleeping in packs on bus benches around 125th street.

 

West Harlem is dominated by small, family-run businesses and has been for decades. There is a bodega, or small convenience store, on what seems like every corner, each one run by a different family. The bodegas hire within the family only, forcing West Harlem residents to commute to other boroughs or parts of Manhattan for work (Manhattan CB). This trend is on the out though as more commercial stores and pricier boutique cafes open. The boutique cafe businesses cater to a much richer clientele; Cafe One on 140th and Amsterdam sells coffee for upwards of $3 as opposed to the $1 joe sold across the street at the bodega. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the up cropping of fast food restaurants, technology stores and discount markets provide goods and services to a much less wealthy margin of people. The variety of businesses in West Harlem lends itself to gentrification while allowing lower-income families to continue living there.

 

West Harlem is family dominated community with 21,662 families residing in District 9 (Manhattan Community). This is evident by the mom and pop businesses, the large number of school children and the types of housing available. The average family in West Harlem has 3.35 people in in (Manhattan Community). Most families rent their homes due to the high cost of buying an apartment in Manhattan and the ease that comes with being able to move to a different apartment if the family unit grows larger. 35,855 units in West Harlem are rented; an estimated 20,000 of those rented units are done so by families (Manhattan Community). Only 3,867 units are owned, but it is unknown whether these units are owned by families (Manhattan Community). Because of the lack of space, most housing units in West Harlem are apartments. There is an estimated 40,557 apartments in West Harlem, most of which were built before 1939 (Manhattan Community). The apartment culture is not unique to Harlem, since most of Manhattan housing comes in the form of giant complexes; but the family culture within the units makes West Harlem into more of a neighborhood instead of a bunch of strangers living together.

There are 14 public elementary, middle and high schools and 5 private schools in West Harlem (West Harlem). West Harlem has more public schools than most neighborhoods do because the land is cheaper and more abundant than the land in lower Manhattan. The most populous of these schools are A. Phillip Randolph Campus High School with 1,534 students and PS 028 Wright Brothers with 1,262 students (West Harlem). Some specialized high schools focused in science and law have also sprung up in West Harlem as a reaction to The City College of New York, which is famous for it`s engineering, science and international relations programs. HS for Math, Science and Engineering at City College is actually located on CCNY campus. Powell MS for Law & Social Justice acts as a feeder school for this high school (West Harlem). The anchor of the education system in West Harlem is CCNY, whose presence since 1847 has allowed children of low-income families to attend school at a low cost. Currently, 16,005 students attend and are encouraged to give back to the West Harlem community through volunteer programs and the Colin Powell Fellowship (City).

Because of the family culture in West Harlem, there is a plethora of religious institutions located in the area. The area is predominantly Christian, but other places of worship have made their way into West Harlem. There are about 50 churches in the West Harlem area according to Google Maps. In comparison, there is only one mosque, one temple three Jehovah`s Witness churches and one temple of Scientology.

 

The diversity in West Harlem culminates into a mecca of art and cultural institutions. From music to visual arts to dance, West Harlem is known for some of the best alternative art institutions in New York City. Aaron Davis Hall, located on CCNY`s campus is used by Carnegie Hall, Dance Theater of Harlem and Harlem School of the Arts (“http://adhatccny.org.”). It`s central location makes it an accessible location for City College Students and residents of West Harlem. West Harlem also houses The Hispanic Society of America on 155^th Street and Broadway. Founded in 1904, the society houses a museum and library dedicated to Hispanic culture (Hispanic). A combination of culture and art is the Harlem School of the Arts that was founded in 1947 to encourage artistic talents in West Harlem children. The school prides itself on a multiracial staff and offers massive financial scholarships to those students with artistic talent and little fiscal support. The West Harlem community has embraced this learning institution and continues to support the performances and art produced there.

Works Cited

“The Hispanic Society of America.” The Hispanic Society of America. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2013.

“Http://adhatccny.org.” Aaron Davis Hall. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2013.

“Manhattan CB 9 – Statement of Needs.” Manhattan CB 9 – Statement of Needs. New York City Government, n.d. Web. 07 May 2013.

“Manhattan Community District 9.” New York Department of City Planning. New York City Government, n.d. Web. 06 May 2013.

“May 2012 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics n.d. Web. 07 May 2013.

“West Harlem Demography.” Nycteachingfellows.org. NYC Department of Education, n.d. Web. 6 May 2013.

“West Harlem Rezoning.” Department of City Planning. NYC Government, n.d. Web. 06 May 2013.