Safekipedia

Upper East Side

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

A quiet street in Manhattan lined with historic buildings.

The Upper East Side (sometimes abbreviated UES) is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is bounded approximately by 96th Street to the north, the East River to the east, 59th Street to the south, and Central Park and Fifth Avenue to the west.

The area includes smaller neighborhoods such as Lenox Hill, Carnegie Hill, and Yorkville. Once called the Silk Stocking District, it has long been one of the wealthiest parts of New York City.

The Upper East Side is part of Manhattan Community District 8, and its main ZIP Codes are 10021, 10028, 10065, 10075, and 10128. The area is watched over by the 19th Precinct of the New York City Police Department.

Geography

The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City. It is roughly bounded by 59th Street to the south, 96th Street to the north, Fifth Avenue to the west, and the East River to the east. Some guides extend the northern edge to 106th Street near Fifth Avenue.

The area has many streets running north to south and east to west. Important north-south avenues include Fifth, Madison, Park, Lexington, Third, Second, First, York, and East End Avenues. Major east-west streets are 59th Street, 72nd Street, 79th Street, 86th Street, and 96th Street.

The Metropolitan Museum Historic District, designed in 1977

The Upper East Side Historic District was named a city district in 1981 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It includes buildings from after the American Civil War, early 20th-century mansions, and later apartment buildings. It was expanded in 2010.

The Metropolitan Museum Historic District was named a city district in 1977. It includes areas on Fifth Avenue between 79th and 86th Streets, near the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Park Avenue Historic District became a city district in 2014, covering 64 buildings on Park Avenue between 79th and 91st Streets.

The Carnegie Hill Historic District was named a city district in 1974 and expanded in 1993. It includes 400 buildings along Fifth Avenue from 86th to 98th Street and on nearby side streets.

There are also smaller historic districts. The Henderson Place Historic District, named in 1969, includes town houses on East End Avenue between 86th and 87th Streets. The Treadwell Farm Historic District, named in 1967, includes apartments on East 61st and 62nd Streets between Second and Third Avenues.

History

Development

Before Europeans arrived, the area that is now the Upper East Side may have been used by the Lenape people for fishing. In the 1800s, the land was mostly farms and gardens. The Boston Post Road and later the New York and Harlem Railroad ran through the area, bringing some growth, especially around a station at 86th Street. This part of town became known as Yorkville, a community where many German families lived.

Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the Mayor of New York City and the city's last remaining East River villa

The Upper East Side began to change in the late 1800s when wealthy families started building homes there. The area between Central Park and the railroad became popular for large houses. One famous home was built by Mary Mason Jones, who owned a whole block between 57th and 58th Streets. Over time, many well-known families, including the Rockefellers, Roosevelts, and Kennedys, chose to live in the neighborhood.

Arrival of famous residents

Before the Park Avenue Tunnel was covered, wealthy New Yorkers preferred building large homes along Fifth Avenue and nearby streets instead of near the smoky railroad. Famous residents like Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick built mansions here during a time known as the Gilded Age. However, these large houses slowly changed into apartment buildings. The first apartment house on upper Fifth Avenue was built in 1916 at 72nd Street.

45 East 66th Street, a designated New York City landmark, as seen from Madison Avenue

Many of New York’s upper-class families have lived on the Upper East Side, including the Rockefellers, Roosevelts, Kennedys, Whitneys, and Dukes.

Transportation constructed

The Third Avenue El and Second Avenue El railways opened in the late 1800s, connecting the Upper East Side to the rest of the city. Gracie Mansion, located at Carl Schurz Park, became the home of New York’s mayor in 1942. The East River Drive was extended in the 1930s and later renamed FDR Drive.

The Musical Mutual Protective Union on 85th Street

When the elevated railways were removed in the 1950s, new high-rise apartment buildings were built. The Second Avenue Subway’s first phase opened on January 1, 2017, with three new stations, which helped bring more business and raised real estate prices in the area.

Demographics

The Upper East Side is part of three areas used for counting people: Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, Yorkville, and Lenox Hill-Roosevelt Island. In 2010, about 220,000 people lived there. Most people are White, making up almost 80% of the group. There are also many Asian and Hispanic or Latino people, and smaller numbers of African American, Native American, Pacific Islander, and people from other races.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art at Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street

The Upper East Side is very rich. In 2018, most people were adults aged 25 to 64. Only a small part of the neighborhood had people living in poor conditions.

Ethnic and socioeconomic trends

Many people in the Upper East Side were born in other countries. A large number of people there are Jewish. The neighborhood has many very rich families and is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. There is some public housing, but it is only found near the northern edge of the neighborhood.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum at Fifth Avenue and 89th Street

Politics

The Upper East Side is part of New York's 12th congressional district, represented by a Democrat. While most of Manhattan votes for Democratic candidates, the Upper East Side has a notable number of Republican voters. It is also an important place for political fundraising, with some of the top ZIP codes for campaign contributions located there.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1990201,571—    
2000207,543+3.0%
2010208,259+0.3%
2020220,261+5.8%
Source:

Landmarks and cultural institutions

The Upper East Side is home to some of the world's most famous museums. Along Fifth Avenue, between 82nd and 105th Streets, you'll find many important museums, an area known as "Museum Mile." This area was once called "Millionaire's Row."

The Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity on East 74th Street

Many countries have offices called consulates in beautiful old houses on the Upper East Side. For example, you can visit the offices for Austria, France, Greece, Italy, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Russia, among others, in this neighborhood. The Upper East Side also has special areas saved for their old and important buildings, like the Carnegie Hill Historic District and the Upper East Side Historic District.

Police and crime

The Upper East Side is watched over by the 19th Precinct of the NYPD, based at 153 East 67th Street. Crime here has dropped a lot since the 1990s, with most types of crime falling by 82.2% from 1990 to 2022.

In 2019, the area had fewer serious crimes than most parts of the city. For example, there were about 264 serious crimes for every 100,000 people, which is lower than both the rest of Manhattan and all of New York City. Some busy spots for certain crimes included the area near 93rd Street and First Avenue for assaults, and near 86th Street and Lexington Avenue for robberies.

Fire safety

FDNY Engine Company 39 and Ladder Company 16 on East 67th Street

The Upper East Side has several fire stations to keep people safe. These stations are part of the New York City Fire Department and are located at different streets in the neighborhood.

Health

As of 2018, the Upper East Side had fewer preterm births and fewer births to teenage mothers compared to the city average. The area also had a low number of residents without health insurance.

Weill Cornell Medical Center on East 68th Street

The Upper East Side has more air pollution from fine particles than the city average. Fewer residents smoke here than in the city overall. The area also has lower rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure compared to the city. Most residents eat fruits and vegetables daily and report feeling healthy.

Several hospitals serve the area, including Lenox Hill Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center, as well as Mount Sinai Hospital and Metropolitan Hospital Center nearby in East Harlem.

Post offices and ZIP Codes

The Upper East Side uses several ZIP Codes. From the south, you will find 10065, then 10021, followed by 10075, 10028, and finally 10128 toward the north. There is also a special ZIP Code, 10162, for one place on East 77th Street. If we think of the neighborhood a little larger, there is one more ZIP Code, 10029, near Fifth Avenue.

The United States Postal Service has four post offices in this area:

  • Cherokee Station – 1483 York Avenue
  • Gracie Station – 229 East 85th Street
  • Lenox Hill Station – 221 East 70th Street
  • Yorkville Station – 1617 Third Avenue

Education

The Upper East Side has many people who have gone to college. In 2018, about 83% of adults aged 25 or older had finished college, which is much higher than the rest of New York City. Most students in the area also do well in school. For example, more students are good at math and reading than before.

There are many schools on the Upper East Side, both public and private. Public schools include PS 6, PS 77, and several others for younger students, and high schools like Talent Unlimited and Eleanor Roosevelt. Private schools include Birch Wathen Lenox, Dalton School, and many more for different grade levels. The area is also home to colleges and universities such as Hunter College and Rockefeller University. The New York Public Library has four branches on the Upper East Side, including the 67th Street, Yorkville, Webster, and 96th Street locations.

Public schools

Urban Academy Laboratory High School in the Julia Richman Education Complex

The New York City Department of Education operates public schools in the city.

Public lower and middle schools

  • PS 6 – Lillie Devereux Blake School
  • PS 77 – The Lower Lab school
  • PS 158 – Bayard Taylor
  • PS 183 – Robert Louis Stevenson School
  • PS 267 – East Side Elementary
  • PS 290 – The New School of Manhattan
  • MS 114 – East Side Middle School
  • JHS 167 – Senator Robert F. Wagner Middle School

Public high schools

Marymount School of New York

Other schools

Private schools

The West Building at Hunter College

Co-educational schools

Girls' schools

Boys' schools

New York Public Library's Yorkville branch

Colleges and universities

Libraries

The New York Public Library (NYPL) operates four branches on the Upper East Side.

  • The 67th Street branch is located at 328 East 67th Street. The branch, a Carnegie library, opened in 1905 and was restored in the 1950s and in 2000. The two-story, 14,000-square-foot (1,300 m2) structure resembles the Yorkville branch library in design.
  • The Yorkville branch is located at 222 East 79th Street. The branch, a Carnegie library, opened in 1902 and was renovated in 1986–1987. The three-story space is listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.
  • The Webster branch is located at 1465 York Avenue. The branch was founded in 1893 as the Webster Free Library, and the current Carnegie library structure opened in 1906.
  • The 96th Street branch is located at 112 East 96th Street. The branch, a Carnegie library, opened in 1905 and was restored in 1991.

Transportation

The Upper East Side has two subway lines. The IRT Lexington Avenue Line runs under Lexington Avenue with trains on routes 4, 5, 6, and 6 Express. The Second Avenue Subway runs under Second Avenue with N, Q, and R trains.

The first part of the Second Avenue Subway opened on January 1, 2017. It includes three stations in the Upper East Side at 96th Street, 86th Street, and 72nd Street. More parts of this line will be built later to go north to Harlem and south to the Financial District.

There are also many bus routes that go up and down and across the area. The Upper East Side has a NYC Ferry stop at East 90th Street. The Soundview Ferry started stopping there in August 2018, and the Astoria Ferry began stopping there in August 2000.

Media

News

The Upper East Side has several news sources that focus on the neighborhood.

  • Our Town
  • Upper East Site
  • Patch UES

In popular culture

The Upper East Side appears in many movies, TV shows, and books.

Films

  • The Lost Weekend (1945)
  • Breakfast at Tiffany's
  • Sunday in New York (1963)
  • The Boys in the Band (1970)
  • Live and Let Die (1973)
  • The Great Gatsby (1974)
  • The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975)
  • Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
  • Manhattan (1979)
  • The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
  • Ghostbusters II (1989)
  • Family Business (1989)
  • The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
  • Metropolitan (1990)
  • Juice (1992)
  • Six Degrees of Separation (1993)
  • Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)
  • Harriet the Spy (1996)
  • Ransom (1996)
  • One Fine Day (1996)
  • The Devil's Advocate (1997)
  • Cruel Intentions (1999)
  • The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
  • Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
  • Autumn in New York (2000)
  • American Psycho (2000)
  • Cruel Intentions 2 (2001)
  • Tart (2001)
  • 25th Hour (2002)
  • Uptown Girls (2003)
  • Igby Goes Down (2002)
  • Two Weeks Notice (2002)
  • Eloise at the Plaza (2003)
  • The Nanny Diaries (2007)
  • The Devil Wears Prada (2007)
  • Sex and the City (2008)
  • Ghost Town (2008)
  • Made of Honor (2008)
  • The Wackness (2008)
  • The Women (2008)
  • Bride Wars (2009)
  • Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)
  • The International (2009)
  • The Back-up Plan (2010)
  • Sex and the City 2 (2010)
  • Twelve (2010)
  • Remember Me (2010)
  • Arbitrage (2012)
  • Blue Jasmine (2013)
  • The Goldfinch (2019)
  • The Scary of Sixty-First (2021)

Television shows

  • I Love Lucy (1951–1957)
  • Family Affair (TV series) (1966–1971)
  • That Girl (TV series) (1966–1971)
  • The Odd Couple (1970–1975)
  • The Jeffersons (1975–1985)
  • Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986)
  • The Nanny (1993–1999)
  • High Society (1995–1996)
  • Will & Grace (1998–2006)
  • Sex and the City (1998–2004)
  • Ugly Betty (2006–2010)
  • Dirty Sexy Money (2007–2008)
  • The City (2008–2010)
  • Yes! PreCure 5 (2007–2008)
  • The Real Housewives of New York City (2008–present)
  • Gossip Girl (2007–2012)
  • Lipstick Jungle (2008–2009)
  • NYC Prep (2009–2010)
  • White Collar (2009–2014)
  • Ringer (2011–2012)
  • Kourtney and Kim Take New York (2011–2012)
  • Gallery Girls (2012)
  • Odd Mom Out (2015–2017), based on Jill Kargman's novel Momzillas
  • Billions (2016–present)
  • Succession (2018–2023)
  • The Undoing (2020)
  • And Just Like That (2021–present)
  • Gossip Girl (2021–2022)

Books

Fictional places and characters

Notable people

Main article: List of people from the Upper East Side

The Upper East Side has long been a home to many of the world's wealthiest, most powerful, and influential families and people.

Notable residential buildings

Here are some famous homes on the Upper East Side of New York City:

Images

People enjoying the 2004 Museum Mile Festival outside The Jewish Museum in New York City.

Related articles

New York City
East River
59th Street (Manhattan)
New York City Police Department
Manhattan
Central Park

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Upper East Side, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.