The tables illustrate the changes in the population of New York City, including Manhattan and other districts, between 1800 and 2000.
Overall, while Manhattan held the largest share of residents at the beginning, its proportion declined as other districts grew rapidly and became dominant by the end of the period. In addition, New York City’s total population witnessed a dramatic increase during the given period.
Looking at the first 100 years, the population of New York City stood at approximately 79,000 inhabitants in 1800, with Manhattan accounting for the majority at 76%, before surging to nearly 3.5 million by 1900. The remaining four districts together contained fewer than 20,000 people, representing just 24% of the total. Although Manhattan still held the largest number at 1.85 million, its proportion fell significantly to 54%, as the others grew gradually around 1.6 million (46%)
As for the last year, the population continued to rise, reaching just over 8 million. It is noticeable that Manhattan’s numbers dropped slightly to 1.54 million, making up only 19% of the city’s total. Conversely, the other four districts experienced rapid growth, with their population rising to 6.47 million, surpassing Manhattan, which accounted for the overwhelming majority of residents (81%).