Envisioning a Changing New York
Paula Lazrus, Institute for Core Studies, Discover New York
Abstract: The island of Manhattan is, and always has been, a dynamic place. From its first settlement in the early Holocene to the initial encounter between Native Americans and foreign explorers and then colonists, the island has undergone a dramatic transformation. To illustrate this change and to help students improve their map reading and spatial analysis skills, I have begun using ArcGIS to help my DNY students grasp the natural and cultural changes that have led to the city we recognize today. This poster provides examples of two ways one can envision the changes mentioned. One way is through aligning and overlaying maps from different periods as juxtaposed with fixed points such as churches and markets. The other is to examine census data spatially in order to see where people live as the city expands and where they live with regard to their occupations. A few examples from 1820 and 1850 are displayed.