Key points
- Seneca Village was an African-American and to a lesser extent, an Irish community, founded in the mid-1820s that existed until Central Park’s creation in 1857. African Americans were a part of the history of New York City from its Dutch colonial beginnings. During the city’s early centuries, the majority of African American residents were enslaved. It was not until 1827 that slavery was abolished in New York. Much of the city was built with enslaved labor.
- The land had been a farm north of the city that was divided for development. Since many landowners in New York City wouldn’t sell to African Americans, this area provided a unique opportunity. Purchase of a plot of land also brought the right to vote for men.
- At its height over 250 people lived in Seneca Village, most of whom were African Americans. At the time of eviction one-third of the population was of European descent, mostly Irish who had emigrated in the years immediately following the Great Potato Famine.
- By the mid-19th century, the idea had formed that in order to become one of the great cities of the world, New York City should have a public park. In 1856 the State of New York used its powers of eminent domain to condemn the properties within the boundaries of the proposed park and to evict residents, including those who lived in Seneca Village.
Go deeper
Seneca Village Project (Columbia University)
Seneca Village Site (Central Park Conservancy)
Before Central Park there was Seneca Village | Secrets of the Dead | PBS
Diana diZerega Wall, Nan A. Rothschild and Cynthia Copeland, “Living in Cities Revisited: Trends in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Urban Archaeology,” Historical Archaeology, vol. 42, no. 1, (2008), pp. 97-107.
Seneca Village curriculum (New York Historical Society)
More to think about
The destruction of Seneca Village was made in the name of “the greater good,” but it dispossessed groups that were historically disadvantaged and discriminated against. Compare the situation of Seneca Village to the destruction of the mostly African-American Tenderloin neighborhood to make room for Pennsylvania Station. This link has more about African-Americans and racial tension in the Tenderloin district of New York City.
