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Uptown is north of approximately 110th st in Manhattan and continues into part of the West and South Bronx, IMO, and many others that grew up in Queens or Brooklyn.
The song "Uptown Girl" and wearing a pair of "Uptown" sneakers are two very different things.
If uptown is north of 110th, then what is 59th to 110th? Midtown? Neither?
I find the thought of the Queensboro Bridge, Lincoln Center, the Museum of Nat History, MMoA, Hunter College being Uptown humorous.
When I think Uptown I think 125th, the Cloisters, WaHi, Yankee Stadium, Fordham Rd, Bronx Zoo, ect.
Then again, I never refer to Manhattan South of Harlem as the city. Stupidest designation ever and I grew up here. So it really is POV I guess.
I totally agree with you. There's no way 59th or 66th st etc is uptown. To me that's midtown. Uptown starts in harlem, wherever you feel it starts and definitely includes the bronx.
If uptown is north of 110th, then what is 59th to 110th? Midtown? Neither?
On the West Side, I call anything north of 59th Street to Morningside Heights the "UWS." On the East Side, I call anything north of 59th Street to 96th Street the "UES." Everything after that point is "Uptown."
If someone told me they were moving "Uptown," W. 78th Street would not come to mind. I'd expect that person to say, "By the way, I'm moving to the Upper West Side."
I think people that consider 59th St + "Uptown" have little experience with Upper Manhattan and fail to realize just how large an area it is. Nor have they truly experienced the Bronx.
I can understand someone saying "I am headed Uptown" when traveling from say the FiDi to the Village. They are geographically moving North or Uptown. However, I considerthe Uptown area of NYC to include neighborhoods north of 96th/110th St into the Bronx.
On the West Side, I call anything north of 59th Street to Morningside Heights the "UWS." On the East Side, I call anything north of 59th Street to 96th Street the "UES." Everything after that point is "Uptown."
If someone told me they were moving "Uptown," W. 78th Street would not come to mind. I'd expect that person to say, "By the way, I'm moving to the Upper West Side."
Couple things.
First, I realize we are just talking about naming conventions, but it doesn't make sense to have a 50 block gap between where Midtown ends and Uptown begins.
Second, Manhattan grew from the bottom up and the most densely populated neighborhoods traditionally used to be downtown. So historically the UWS and UES would certainly have been perceived by most people as "Uptown".
That said, as this thread is showing, this is clearly a matter of perception. Someone who has lived their entire life in Hamilton Heights may not think of the UWS as uptown. Conversely, someone living on Fulton Street might think of anything north of 14th street or 34th street as uptown.
If uptown is north of 110th, then what is 59th to 110th? Midtown? Neither?
In my head 59th Street and above is Uptown.
From 14th to 59th Street that's Midtown.
From 14th street and below that's Downtown/Lower Manhattan.
Regardless of where a lot of landmarks fall, that doesn't take away the fact that they're still Uptown. Saying "Upper Manhattan" (though I don't hear that often) would undoubtedly mean Harlem, Washington Height, etc.
Saying "Uptown" back when the term was created, was just another way to separate the UWS & the UES from the poorer areas, to be honest. That's probably why a lot of people have this notion that the two areas aren't apart of "Uptown" when they are in fact. At least in my head. I understand it's a completely different feel when you leave both the UWS/UES, but still they are not apart of Midtown. Lol, Upper Midtown perhaps?
From 14th street and below that's Downtown/Lower Manhattan.
Regardless of where a lot of landmarks fall, that doesn't take away the fact that they're still Uptown. Saying "Upper Manhattan" (though I don't hear that often) would undoubtedly mean Harlem, Washington Height, etc.
Saying "Uptown" back when the term was created, was just another way to separate the UWS & the UES from the poorer areas, to be honest. That's probably why a lot of people have this notion that the two areas aren't apart of "Uptown" when they are in fact. At least in my head. I understand it's a completely different feel when you leave both the UWS/UES, but still they are not apart of Midtown. Lol, Upper Midtown perhaps?
The Bronx to me like I said is another story.
This is precisely how I have always thought of it (including the distinction between "Uptown" and "Upper Manhattan"). You nailed it.
UWS/UES are just that. Uptown is north of those areas in my POV.
UWS/UES were names coined at a time when major development reached those areas. They were at that time in fact the Upper East and West Sides. Now along with Central Park they are located in central Manhattan.
NYC has no official neighborhood boundaries in most cases. As a result most is POV I agree with that. Few areas have strict boundaries; like Inwood, Kingsbridge, City Island, Norwood, Woodlawn, Highbridge, Coney Island, Red Hook. Areas change too. See the Upper East Side slowly invade East Harlem from the South and along Central Park.
There are also more differences in build when comparing 59th to 96th/110th v 96th/110th into the Bronx. The West Bronx and much of the East near the elevated rapid transit lines is more similar in build to Manhattan north of 96th/110th then that part of Manhattan is to areas along side the park (UES/UWS). So the distinction goes beyond demographic differences.
Last edited by nykiddo718718; 07-16-2013 at 05:21 PM..
If uptown is north of 110th, then what is 59th to 110th? Midtown? Neither?
"The city," along with the rest of Manhattan that is south of 59th st. Uptown is not part of "the city." It has more in common with the outer boros.
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