In the 1890s, New York City was home to about 1.5 million people. By the end of the decade, that number had jumped past 3 million thanks to immigration, especially from Italy, Ireland, Germany, and Eastern Europe. Tenement buildings packed entire families into one or two rooms, often with no running water and poor ventilation. The Lower East Side became one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
Electric streetlights replaced many gas lamps in Manhattan, making some streets safer after dark. Elevated trains—known as “els”—rumbled above Second, Third, Sixth, and Ninth Avenues. These noisy steel giants moved people far faster than horse-drawn streetcars. However, soot and cinders from the trains rained down on the streets below.
The Brooklyn Bridge, finished in 1883, was now a daily route for thousands of commuters between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Trolley lines expanded, and cable cars ran along major routes. Transportation changes allowed workers to live farther from their jobs, though most still walked to factories, docks, or shops.
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Newspapers were in fierce competition. Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World and William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal used bold headlines, crime stories, and illustrations to grab readers. The news was cheap—just a penny—which made it accessible to working-class readers. This “yellow journalism” often blurred the line between fact and entertainment.
Central Park had become a popular escape from the crowded streets, but not all areas felt welcoming to the working class. Wealthy New Yorkers strolled along Fifth Avenue past mansions with marble staircases and private carriage houses. At the same time, dockworkers and street vendors scraped by, selling oysters, newspapers, or fruit to anyone passing.
The city’s port was one of the busiest in the world. Ships carried goods like sugar, coffee, and textiles into the harbor. Ellis Island opened in 1892 as the main immigration station. Each day, thousands of new arrivals stepped onto its wooden floors for inspection, unsure if they’d be allowed to enter the country.
Entertainment options expanded. Theaters on Broadway attracted middle-class audiences, while vaudeville shows in smaller venues mixed comedy, music, and acrobatics. Coney Island drew crowds with mechanical rides, hot dogs, and electric lights. For many workers, a day at Coney Island was the highlight of the year.
Street life was intense. Pushcarts clogged narrow roads, selling clothing, food, and trinkets. Children often worked—shining shoes, selling papers, or running errands for shops. Labor strikes became more common as workers fought for shorter hours and better pay. Police presence grew, but corruption in the force was an open secret.
