Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
20. Harlem
Located in the northern part of Manhattan, Harlem is a large neighborhood that has an amaz-
ingly rich and diverse history that is of course not without a bit of political strife. While it
has been largely thought to be an African American community since the 1920s, it has ex-
perienced several economics shifts that have had an impact on the population that calls it
home.
Harlem is named after the Dutch city Haarlem, and was in fact a Dutch settlement in the
1600s. It wasn't until 1905 that African American residents began to make this neighbor-
hood their home. Considered to be a type of renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s, the area
saw a boom in artistic influences due to an influx of African American writers and musi-
cians, and also to the building of a number of theatre companies. The Apollo Theatre (253
W 125th St, New York) opened its doors in 1934 and remains today a lively home for mu-
sicians, comedians, and many other performers. The Harlem Boys Choir, a world-renowned
touring choir, has called the community home since 1965.
