Editing Washington Heights, Manhattan (section)

{{Short description|Neighborhood in New York City}}
{{About|a neighborhood in New York City|the suburb of Middletown in Orange County|Washington Heights, New York}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Washington Heights
| settlement_type          = [[Neighborhoods of Manhattan|Neighborhood of Manhattan]]
| image_skyline            = File:George Washington Bridge, HAER NY-129-68.jpg
| image_size               = 300px
| image_caption            = The [[George Washington Bridge]], the world's busiest motor vehicle bridge, crossing the [[Hudson River]] with Washington Heights in the background (April 1986)
| image                    = <!-- other image (specify File: or Image: namespace) -->
| nickname                 = The Heights
| motto                    =
| pushpin_map              = <!--New York City-->
| pushpin_label_position   =
| pushpin_map_caption      =

<!-- location ------------------>
| image_map                = {{maplink|frame=y|plain=y|frame-align=center|zoom=11|type=shape|from=Neighbourhoods/New York City/Washington Heights.map}}
| map_alt                  =
| map_caption              = Location of Washington Heights in [[New York City]]
| coordinates              = {{coord|40.84|-73.94|type:city_region:US-NY|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes    =
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|New York}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[City]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[New York City]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[Borough (New York City)|Borough]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Manhattan]]
| subdivision_type4        = [[Community boards of Manhattan|Community District]]
| subdivision_name4        = [[Manhattan Community Board 12|Manhattan 12]]<ref name="NYCPlanning">{{cite web|title=NYC Planning {{!}} Community Profiles|url=https://communityprofiles.planning.nyc.gov/manhattan/12|website=communityprofiles.planning.nyc.gov|publisher=New York City Department of City Planning|access-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref>

<!-- area ---------------------->
| unit_pref                = US
| area_total_sq_mi         = 1.655
| area_footnotes           = <ref name=PLP5/>

<!-- population ---------------->
| population_footnotes     = <ref name=censusfactfinder2020/>
| population_total         = 151,574
| population_as_of         = 2020
| population_density_sq_mi = auto

<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1       = Ethnicity
| demographics1_footnotes  = <ref name=censusfactfinder2020/>
| demographics1_title1     = Hispanic
| demographics1_info1      = 64.1%
| demographics1_title2     = White
| demographics1_info2      = 21.7
| demographics1_title3     = Black
| demographics1_info3      = 7.5
| demographics1_title4     = Asian
| demographics1_info4      = 3.5
| demographics1_title5     = Others
| demographics1_info5      = 3.2

<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2       = Economics
| demographics2_footnotes  = <ref name=acsfactfinder2020/>
| demographics2_title1     = [[Median household income]]
| demographics2_info1      = $58,373
| timezone1                = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset1              = −5
| timezone1_DST            = [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST          = −4
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code              = 10032, 10033, 10040
| area_code_type           = [[Telephone numbering plan|Area code]]
| area_code                = [[Area codes 212, 646, and 332|212, 332, 646]], and [[Area code 917|917]]
}}

'''Washington Heights''' is a neighborhood in the northern part of the [[Borough (New York City)|borough]] of [[Manhattan]] in [[New York City]]. It is named for [[Fort Washington (Manhattan)|Fort Washington]], a fortification constructed at the [[Bennett Park (New York City)|highest natural point]] on Manhattan by [[Continental Army]] troops to defend the area from the British forces during the [[American Revolutionary War]]. Washington Heights is bordered by [[Inwood, Manhattan|Inwood]] to the north along [[Dyckman Street]], by [[Harlem]] to the south along [[155th Street (Manhattan)|155th Street]], by the [[Harlem River]] and [[Coogan's Bluff]] to the east, and by the [[Hudson River]] to the west.

Washington Heights, which before the 20th century was sparsely populated by luxurious mansions and single-family homes, rapidly developed during the early 1900s as it became connected to the rest of Manhattan via the [[IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line|Broadway–Seventh Avenue]] and [[IND Eighth Avenue Line|Eighth Avenue]] lines of the [[New York City Subway]]. Beginning as a middle-class neighborhood with many [[Irish Americans|Irish]] and [[Eastern European Jews|Eastern European]] immigrants, the neighborhood has at various points been home to communities of [[German Jews]], [[Greek Americans]], [[Stateside Puerto Ricans|Puerto Ricans]], [[Cuban Americans]], and [[Russian Americans]].

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, many [[white flight|white residents left]] the neighborhood for nearby suburbs as the Latino populations increased. [[Dominican Americans]] became the dominant group by the 1980s despite facing economic difficulties, leading the neighborhood to its status in the 21st century as the most prominent Dominican community in the United States. While crime became a serious issue during the [[crack epidemic in the United States|crack-cocaine crisis]] of the 1980s and 1990s, Washington Heights became a much safer community in the 2000s and began to experience some upward mobility as well as [[gentrification]].

Washington Heights is set apart among Manhattan neighborhoods for its high residential density despite the lack of modern construction, with the majority of its few high-rise buildings belonging to the [[NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital]]/[[Columbia University Medical Center]]. Other higher education institutions include [[Yeshiva University]] and [[Boricua College]]. The neighborhood has generous access to green space in [[Fort Washington Park (Manhattan)|Fort Washington Park]], [[Highbridge Park]], and [[Fort Tryon Park]], home to the historical landmarks the [[Little Red Lighthouse]], the [[High Bridge Water Tower]], and [[the Cloisters]], respectively. Other points of interest include [[Audubon Terrace]], the [[Morris–Jumel Mansion]], the [[United Palace]], the [[Audubon Ballroom]], and the [[Fort Washington Avenue Armory]].

Washington Heights is part of [[Manhattan Community Board 12|Manhattan Community District 12]], and its primary [[ZIP Code]]s are 10032, 10033, and 10040. It is served by the 33rd and 34th Precincts of the [[New York City Police Department]] and Engine Companies 67, 84, and 93 of the [[New York City Fire Department]]. Politically, it is part of the [[New York City Council]]'s [[New York City's 7th City Council district|7th]] and [[New York City's 10th City Council district|10th]] districts.

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