Environment
The area of Time Square was first established when the owner of The New York Times had relocated to the brand new sky-scraper on E. 42nd Street. Prior to this purchase the area was known as, “Longacre Square.” It had been a poorer and a more prone-to-crime area until the purchase. It became popular to celebrate New Year’s Eve outside of the Times building in 1907, when the tradition of the “glass ball-drop” on New Year’s Eve was started. This led to development of the area with building of businesses and hotels, gentrification from increased revenue, more lights at night that allowed for people to stay out and awake longer, and infrastructure of the like. By 1920, the sheer number of remarkable theaters that had been set up along the Theater District and Broadway had set Time Square out as the premiere entertainment area in the United States. Through the 21st century Time Square has served as an attraction center to millions, and a home to big businesses such as AÉROPOSTALE, McDonalds, and Apple who all have locations in the area and provide jobs to almost two-hundred thousand employees. (1)
Construction of Time Square
Additions in 1900-1910:
1903- Flatiron Building
1904- New York City Subway
1905- Times Tower
1907- Ball-Drop Tradition
1910- Neon Signs and Street Lights
1910's
Became Popular Place for Public Gatherings: War Celebrations, Fourth of July Parades, New Year's Eve, Presidential Campaigns
1919- By the end of the decade major movie thratres had claimed territory in the square
1919- Major Hotels also had been Established Within the Decade.
1920's
Public Transportation Stops
Major Advertising
1930's
1931- The Empire State Building (tallest in the world at the time)
1939- By the end of the Decade, the Depression had Impacted Time Square Greatley, Economic Recession Forced Expensive Buisness Away From the Area to be Replaced by More Economic Resturants and Businesses
1940's
1940- Tiffiany & Co. Opened in the First Building With Air Conditioning
1945- Economy and Entertainment Were on the Rise as Celebrations of Winning WWII Flooded Time Square and Men Left and Returned From the Fight.
1950's
1952- United Nations' Hedquarters
1960's
1961- NYC Zoning Resolution
1964- New York World Fair
1970's
1973- TKTS Same Day Shop Opens as a Means to Revolutionize a Crime-Ridden and Otherwise Whorish Area, at the Time.
1980's
1989- The 1980's Saw Little to no Building Progress as Crime Still Ruled the Area and in 1981 Time Square (42nd Street) Was Declared the "Sleaziest Block in America."
1990's
1990- Under New Mayorship, Time Square had Started Rennovation and Rezoning on Large Areas on E. 42nd Street.
1990- Non Profit Orginization on 42nd Street
1991- Removal of All Adult Theartes at the Hands of Disney.
2000's
2000- Duke on 42nd Street
2009- Devolopment of Brodway
2010's
2019- By the End of the Decade Large Businesses such as Old Navy, American Eagle, Apple, and the NFL have made Time Square a Must-See Destination (2)
- DMA, TS. 2020. "History of Times Square | Times Square NYC". Timessquarenyc.org. https://www.timessquarenyc.org/history-of-times-square.
- Cottle, Sara. 2020. "Times Square Through the Decades". Milrose.com. https://www.milrose.com/insights/times-square-through-the-decades.