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Union Square (New York City)

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Union Square
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
Union Square
Location:	New York, NY
Coordinates:	40°44′10.25″N, 73°59′25.42″W
Built/Founded:	1882
Architect:	Frederic Auguste Bartholdi; et.al.
Designated as NHL:	December 09, 1997^[1]
Added to NRHP:	December 09, 1997^[2]
NRHP Reference#:	97001678 ^[2]
Governing body:	New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Union Square Park (also known as Union Square) is an important and historic intersection in New York City, located where Broadway and the Bowery came together in the early 19th century. Today it is bounded by 14th Street, Union Square East, 17th Street, and Union Square West. It is run jointly by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Important thoroughfares which lead away from the park are Broadway, leading south; Fourth Avenue, leading northwest and becoming Park Avenue South above 17th Street; and Park Avenue South, leading north to Grand Central Terminal and south until it ends at 17th Street. Union Square lies over 14th Street–Union Square, a New York City Subway complex served by the 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, and W trains. Neighborhoods around the park are the Flatiron District to the north, Chelsea to the west, Greenwich Village and New York University to the south, and Gramercy to the east. Also nearby is The New School--a university. The eastern side of the square is dominated by the Zeckendorf Towers.

Union Square is noted for its impressive equestrian statue of George Washington, created by Henry Kirke Brown and unveiled in 1856. Other statues in the park include the Marquis de Lafayette, created by Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, Abraham Lincoln, created by Henry Kirke Brown and James Fountain, donated by Daniel Willis James and sculpted by Adolf Donndorf. A newer addition, added in 1986, is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the southwest corner of the park.

In April 1861, soon after the fall of Fort Sumter, Union Square was the site of a patriotic rally that is thought to have been the largest public gathering in North America up to that time.

1 Site of social and political activism
2 Greenmarket
3 Union Square Partnership
4 See also
5 References
6 Gallery
7 External links

Union Square protest

The park has historically been the start or the end point for many political demonstrations. It is — and was in the past — a frequent gathering point for radicals of all stripes, whom one will often find speaking or demonstrating. On September 5, 1882, in the first Labor Day celebration, a crowd of at least 10,000 workers paraded up Broadway and filed past the reviewing stand at Union Square. Although the park was known for its union rallies and for the large 1861 gathering in support of Union troops, it was named in the 18th century for its location at the "union" of Bloomingdale Road (now Broadway) and Eastern Post Road (now extinct) decades before these gatherings. ^[3]

It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1997 primarily to honor it as the site of the first Labor Day parade.^[1],^[4],^[5]

In the days and weeks following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Union Square became a primary public gathering point for mourners. People created spontaneous candle and photograph memorials in the park and vigils were held to honor the victims. This was a natural role for the Square as Lower Manhattan below 14th Street, which forms Union Square's southern border, briefly became a "frozen zone," with no non-emergency vehicles allowed and pedestrians sometimes stopped and asked why they were venturing south by police and national guardsmen. In fact, for the first few days following the attacks, only those who could prove residency below 14th Street could pass. The Square's tradition as a meeting place in times of upheaval was also a factor.

Main article: Union Square Greenmarket

The outdoor Greenmarket Farmers Market, held four days each week

In 1976, the Council on the Environment of New York City established the Greenmarket program, which provided regional small family farmers with opportunities to sell their fruits, vegetables and other farm products at open-air markets in the city. The most famous is the Union Square Greenmarket, held Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between 8 AM and 6 PM year round. 250,000 customers a week purchase 1,000 varieties of fruits and vegetables at the market.^[6] The variety of produce available is broader by perhaps a factor of ten than what is found in a conventional supermarket.^[7]

Grocery at the Greenmarket

Union Square is also known for the Union Square Holiday Market, which is held November 23 through December 24. Temporary kiosks are filled by over 100 artisans, who sell items ranging from candles and perfume to knitted scarves and high-end jewelry.

Union Square is a popular meeting place, given its central location in Manhattan and its many subway lines. There are many bars and restaurants on the periphery of the square, and the surrounding streets have some of the city's most renowned (and expensive) restaurants. Klein's department store offered itself in the middle 20th century as an "On the Square" alternative to higher prices uptown, and late in the century several big-box chains established a presence including Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Babies "R" Us and Circuit City.

looking northward from the south of Union Square

The Union Square Partnership (USP), a Business Improvement District (BID) and a Local Development Corporation (LDC), was formed in 1984 and later became a model for all other Business Improvement Districts in New York City. It had, as of 2006, a US$1.4 million budget. Jennifer E. Falk became its executive director in January 2007. [1]

East Side (Manhattan)

^ ^a ^b Union Square. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service (2007-09-20).
^ ^a ^b National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
^ Union Square: New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, accessed December 12, 2006
^ ["Union Square", March 6, 1996, by John W. BondPDF (0.99 MiB) National Historic Landmark Nomination]. National Park Service (1996-03-06).
^ [Union Square--Accompanying photos from 1995-1997 and illustration from 1882.PDF (2.72 MiB) National Historic Landmark Nomination]. National Park Service (1996-03-06).
^ Greenmarket Facts. Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
^ Fishman, Steve. Manhattan Gets Fresh. Retrieved on 2007-08-04.

Union Square West	Mahatma Gandhi	Metronome by Kristin Jones/Andrew Ginzel (1999)	Equestrian George Washington, by Henry Kirke Brown, 1856.
Zeckendorf Towers between 14th Street and 15th Street	George Washington Statue in the square