The Manhattan Grid
A reader writes:
"Since you seem to be able to find even the most esoteric tidbits of data...Do you know who/how decided how to name and number the
mid town Manhattan street grid?(there are prizes at stake here ;) Grazie!"
Well, dear Reader, send the prize Guinness my way...
The grid was initially laid out as the Commissioner's Plan of 1811. This map shows the 1811 plan in its entirety (notice the skinny shape of Lower Manhattan before landfill and WTC fattened it up).
Here is a nice blurb from a PhD student who obviously knows way more than I do on the topic. He's got his e-mail address in there if you want to find out more.
And, lastly, here is the Commissioner's actual plan from 1811 in all its glory.
I like my Guinness cold, dear Reader.
