NYC unveils interactive map of streets and intersections honoring local legends
New Yorkers now have a map at their fingertips that reveals the stories behind nearly 2,500 streets and intersections co-named in honor of notable city residents.
The city has launched an interactive, mobile-friendly online map that acts as a directory of these locations, each named after someone significant to the city's history.
The map, which is accessible on both desktop and mobile devices, features detailed biographical and historical information about each individual. The project was developed by the city's Department of Records and Information Services and uses software from the Office of Technology and Innovation.
The tool was created following the passage of a bill introduced by City Councilmember Gale Brewer of Manhattan.
"Our city's history is long and deep, and we need tools to remember those who came before us — whether their name is on a building or on a street sign — and why they're being honored," Brewer said in a statement on Monday. "Think of this as Wikipedia for street names."
With 2,496 entries, the map includes 1,610 co-named intersections and 886 co-named streets. More than 400 streets honor first responders who lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, though biographical information for some individuals remains unavailable.
Users can search by individual names, ZIP codes and broader terms like "firefighter" and "police officer" to learn more about the people behind the locations' honorary names.
Abby Suckle, president of the nonprofit cultureNOW, praised the initiative. "New York is in many ways a small town masquerading as a big city," she noted. "[The] new street naming map will let me find out who these people are and what they did and I look forward to spending many pleasurable hours learning about their stories."
