Upper Manhattan denotes the more northerly region of the New York City Borough of Manhattan. The City of New York In New York City, a borough is a unique form of government which administers the five fundamental constituent parts that make up the consolidated city Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York Its southern boundary may be defined anywhere between 59th Street and 155th Street. 59th Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan runs east-west from York Avenue to the West Side Highway, with a discontinuity Between these two extremes lies the most common definitions of Upper Manhattan as Manhattan above 96th Street (the southern boundary of Manhattan Valley in the west and Spanish Harlem in the east) . Manhattan Valley is a neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, bounded by West 110th Street to the north Spanish Harlem, also known as El Barrio and East Harlem, is a low income neighborhood in Harlem area of New York City, This definition of Upper Manhattan takes in the neighborhoods of Marble Hill, Inwood, Washington Heights, Harlem, and parts of the Upper West Side (Morningside Heights and Manhattan Valley). marble_hill_manhattan_mappng|right|thumb]] Marble Hill is the northernmost section of the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, United States Inwood is the northernmost neighborhood on Manhattan Island in the New York City Borough of Manhattan. Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, long known as a major African American cultural and business center The Upper West Side is a neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan in New York City that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River Morningside Heights is a neighborhood of the Borough of Manhattan in New York City and is chiefly known as the home of institutions such as Barnard Manhattan Valley is a neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, bounded by West 110th Street to the north
Upper Manhattan could be described as the "non-tourist" section of Manhattan. Until the late 20th century it was less influenced by the gentrification that had taken place in other parts of New York over the previous 30 years. Gentrification, or urban gentrification, is the change in an Urban area associated with the movement of more affluent individuals into a lower-class Not only do New York tourist maps not normally acknowledge the outer boroughs of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island (and if so, only in the most rudimentary way), but they also regularly neglect Upper Manhattan as well. Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. Staten Island (ˌstætənˈaɪlənd is a borough of New York City situated primarily on the island of the same name This is likely due to perceptions that it is less glitzy, less tourist-friendly, less distinctively New York, and more crime-ridden. Even many native New Yorkers tend to treat Upper Manhattan like an outer borough, its distance from Midtown Manhattan and comparatively lower rents leading many to exclude this northern neck from the area New Yorkers call "The City". See also Manhattan Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial
The Upper West Side is a relatively affluent neighborhood unlike the other neighborhoods listed above it such as Manhattanville, Morningside Heights, Manhattanville, etc. The Upper East side is similar in that it is a relatively affluent neighboorhood unlike its northern neighbor Spanish Harlem. Thus the 96th street definition comes from the East Side as well. Due to ongoing gentrification that still hasn't been completed yet in some neighboorhoods, crime, graffiti, etc are associated with Upper Manhattan's distinct status. Also, tourist attractions and the like are concentrated mainly outside Upper Manhattan, while attractions due exist in Upper Manhattan the main popular iconic landmarks are located outside upper Manhattan. Examples of such include skyscrapers, theater and Broadway shows, prime restaurants (liquor laws have restricted growth of restaurants in upper Manhattan), clean streets, etc link title. Gentrification is occurring but at a different pace , rate, and style then Soho , East Village , etc due to different demographics.
All of Upper Manhattan is contained in the larger area New Yorkers know as Uptown (above 59th Street. Uptown in Manhattan, New York City, refers to the northern part of Manhattan generally speaking north of 59th Street. ) The Bronx, though not in Manhattan, is often colloquially referred to as "Uptown", especially in the context of hip hop/inner-city culture. Hip hop is a Subculture, which is said to have begun with the work of DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, and Afrika Bambaattaa