“If an Irish Rip Van Winkle had left his home in Five Points at the beginning of 1850 and returned twenty years later, he would have been astounded by the changes that had taken place during his absence.” This is how Tyler Anbinder describes the changes that occurred in Five Points in the late 1800s, in his chapter entitled “The Remaking of a Slum.” After the Civil War, tremendous changes took place in Five Points, demographically, economically and physically. The area, once predominantly Irish, now had a large Italian population, but it remained the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in Manhattan. The population had dropped 23% because incomes all over the city were higher, enabling more people to move out to better areas. This meant that Five Points was far less crowded, relinquishing the title of most densely populated portion of the city to the Lower East Side.
Changes took place in the tenements as well. In the 1860’s, New York introduced building codes, which required buildings to have fire escapes and outhouses that were connected to sewer lines, and prohibited tenants from living in basements. City officials inspected tenements and sprayed disinfectants, making the buildings somewhat more sanitary and safe to live in. These changes made the tenements a more humane place to live. While they were still crowded and dilapidated, apartments were larger, and tenants now at least had fresh air and more sanitary conditions to live in.
Even with all of these improvements, however, life in Five Points was still not dramatically improved. Fire escapes were not placed in accessible areas, or were used for storage, rendering them useless in an emergency. Even though they were connected to sewer systems, outdoor toilets were still disgusting and disease-ridden. Tenants still had to climb many flights of stairs just to use the bathroom, take out the garbage or get water. The stairs often lacked banisters and were dangerous for young children and the elderly. The hallways were still dark even though legally they were supposed to be illuminated. Tubs and running water were often only on the first floor, so hygiene was considered a luxury. Five Points was perhaps not as horrific as it had once been, but the small improvements quickly gave way to another decline in 1888. By the very end of the 19th century, Five Points was once again “the worst slum that ever was”.
