In the early 1800's Manhattan was farmland until the population began to increase. The need for housing led to the land being converted into lots 25 feet by 100 feet deep. These lots were originally made for single family homes. When a big surge of immigrants came to New York, the lot owners started to build up onto the standing tenements. They would build up to five or six stories and cram too many people into the tenements. The conditions were extremely poor and for this reason the lot owners earned the name, "slumlords."
The slumlords of the tenements were most often immigrants themselves and would only accept others from their homeland or region. People immigrated from Russia, Italy, Germany and Ireland. The majority of people who immigrated were Irish or German until the 1900's when the Jewish immigrant population was over half a million.
People living in the tenements lived in unhealthy conditions. They had unhealthy air to breathe, and they were surrounded by dead animals and trash. Many people living in the tenements contracted cholera, a bacterial disease of the small intestine, as well as tuberculosis, another bacterial disease of the lungs.
The slumlords of the tenements were most often immigrants themselves and would only accept others from their homeland or region. People immigrated from Russia, Italy, Germany and Ireland. The majority of people who immigrated were Irish or German until the 1900's when the Jewish immigrant population was over half a million.
People living in the tenements lived in unhealthy conditions. They had unhealthy air to breathe, and they were surrounded by dead animals and trash. Many people living in the tenements contracted cholera, a bacterial disease of the small intestine, as well as tuberculosis, another bacterial disease of the lungs.
"In the decade of the 1840's, the population increased by more than 60%, from 312,710 to 515,547; the following decade brought the population up to 813,669, and additional 58%."
-Ruth Limmer and Andrew S. Dolkart
"Suddenly you had 20 or 22 families living in a custom-built
building. These tenements were built with almost no amenities."
-The Architecture and Development of New York City
-Ruth Limmer and Andrew S. Dolkart
"Suddenly you had 20 or 22 families living in a custom-built
building. These tenements were built with almost no amenities."
-The Architecture and Development of New York City
The caption of the photo to the reads:
Typical floor plans as built and after ensuing code improvements.
Major alterations consist of an air shaft, the addition of 2 hallway
toilets per floor, and interior windows cut through for light.
http://www.nygeo.org/Tenement.html