Koreatown, Manhattan
Encyclopedia : K : KO : KOR : Koreatown, Manhattan
Koreatown, or K-town as it is colloquially known, is generally bordered by 31st and 36th Sts. and Fifth and Sixth Aves. Its prime location leads it to be easily overshadowed by nearby destinations like the Empire State Building and Macy's. The densest core of "K-town" is located on 32nd Street between Fifth Avenue and Broadway, and is officially named "Korea Way."
Once focused on fulfilling the needs of New York's burgeoning Korean-American community (according to the U.S. Census, the city's Korean-American population has grown from 69,718 in 1990 to 86,473 in 2000), it has seen an increase in non-Korean traffic in the last few years.
There was never a formal plan or agreement to create a Korean commercial district in Manhattan, especially since most Koreans initially settled in Queens or Bergen County, NJ. However, given the low rents and the high foot traffic stemming from proximity to the Empire State Building, Garment District, Flower District (among many others), it was an ideal place for Korean immigrants to move into.
Initiated by a bookstore and a handful of restaurants, Koreatown sprang into being. With their success, more and more Korean-owned businesses took root in the neighborhood, coinciding with increased immigration from Korea.
See also
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.