• Political role :

. United Nations

. Was capital city of USA (Civil War)

. Embassies + consulates

• Size/locations, heart of the US Megalopolis :

. In the southern end of the state of New York/ northeast of USA/ In the middle between Boston-Washington/ at the mouth of the Hudson River

. Built on 3 silands : Manhattan, Staten Island and wester Long Island

. Founded as the colony of New Amsterdam by Dutchmen in early 17th century -> ceded as part of the Province of New York to British in 1664

. 5 boroughs : Brooklyn, Quenns, Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island

. Number of inhabitants :

NYC = 8million / NY metropolitan area = 23.5million / Megalopolis = 50million

• Cosmopolitan population :

. Many foreigners/origins = ethnic diversity (200 nationalities)

. Typical neighbourhoods : Chinatown, little Italy

. Melting Pot (blend of cultures)

. "salad bowl" : cultures and traditions are not mixing inton new one = able to recognize each part

• Major economic hub, 2nd most powerful city in the world (economically) :

. hub of finance : 1st world stock exchange in the world (Wall Street) : two stock market NYSE and NASDAQ

. large concentration of wealth : biggest regional economy in USA

. large concentration of headquarters, transnational companies (TNCs) : 500 companies have their head offices in the city (service firms ex : Ernst, media firms Thompson Reuters, insurance firms, Jeweller and design firms, telecommunicationsConcentric zone model (central Areas/suburban area/more distant spaces)

1. Central areas

. CBD (central business district) : focal points of the City (activities, commerce, services...) ; located in the South of Manhattan (Downtown) + in Midtown ; concentration of skyscrapers (empire state building, chrysler, rockfeller center (Midtown), one world trade center (Dt)

. Services : finance (Wall Street), insurance companies, TNCs headquarters, plenty of offices

. Transportation systems : subways, buses, trains (Grand Central), taxis join in this area = Manhattan all of these

• Inner Cities :

. Term connoted for lower income residential districts in the City centre and nearby areas

. Additionam connotation of poor black/hispanic neighborhoods : Harlem (Manhattan : black), Bronx (hispanic)

. Phenomenon of gentrification, especially since the 90's for Harlem. Before they were often described as ghettoes.

1. Suburbs

In every big cities, especially in NYC, several rings of suburbs. Developped thanks to transportations systems and rise of individuals cars.

. Residential districts :

The further from Dowtown, the cheapper rentals.

The further from Downtown, the bigger the housing.

. Some neighborhoods have different images : some districts convey an idea of social (//racial) contrasts :

Rich/poor : sometimes with an ethnic coloration

Some commuters travel several hours a day link with the different ways of communication (train...)

Different neighborhoods of a suburbs are gathering around a nodal point of transportation (easy acces to highways...), factories and mall often built.

Developing there because of the easier acces to transportation systems (benefits for the malls and for industrial centers)

Note : NY surban areas = big influence

Further it is possible to find zones in which the influence can be still important.

• Process at work in inner cities or poor neighborhoods, their images change thanks to new pop. Gradually, higher-class people settle in these areas

. Pb : poor people can not afford to stay there anymore because taxes and rental rise : Harlem, Bronx, Bedford (Brooklyn).

• Based on social segregation : wealthy ppl don't want to mix with ther classes
• Private guards, chech-points, fences, barbed-wire walls..., leisure activities (golf, tennis...), commercial activities (shops...)
• Ex : Tuxedo Park or Zillow

Located at the outskirts of the City. Sometimes refered as a new CBD.

• General characteristics :

. Large number of offices

. Small number of residents

. Large part dedicated to commercial and recreation activities (cinema...)

. Referred as a single place

. Recent (less than 30 years)

Ex : Hempstead (Long Island), Priceton (New Jersey)

• "Ethnobubs" : this notion can lead to controversy
• Suburban residential and business area with a notable cluster of a particular ethnic minority population. Sometimes an entire neighborhoos dominated by a non-white ethnic group (Korea town)
• Nowadays : still exists but one has to note that the next generations are mixing with the other parts of the population. Linked with their social or studies level.

• Sustainabe development :

NYC try to support it with severam project. Ex : Gardens on roof, renewable energies project, "greener" transportation systems ex : Brooklyn Grange, the Highline, The Frehskill Park

• Why ?

. Improvement of the pop. living conditions

. Model for other Big cities

. Inaction of the federal government (Under Trump mandate)

. Geographical situation (target of major environmental crises : hurricane, rise of sea level, Ice storms...)