The Washington Height Communcity

In conducting this assignment we visited the neighborhood of Washington Heights. During our visits we interviewed several of the residences; so that we could get a first hand prospective of what it is like living in the community, why they settled in the community and the many changes that they have witness durning their time in the neighborhood.

Washington Heights is a very culturally diverse community which is located on the northern tip of Manhattan. It extends from 155th street to 200th street. Washington Heights is the highest point of Manhattan at 265 ft above sea level, which makes this area a great place for magnificent views of the city, the Palisades, the Harlem River and the lower Hudson Valley. Washington Heights also known as "Little Dominican Republic," is mainly a Latin America neighborhood inhabited mainly by immigrants from the Dominican Republic. The neighborhood was once called Harlem Heights until its name was changes to commemorate the American Revolution. Despite its large Dominican population, Washington Heights is a multicultural, multilingual and multiracial neighborhood. The neighborhood is home to many different Spanish speaking residence such as Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Columbians.

In the 80's and early 90's Washington Heights was once known as the city's murder capital. The neighborhood was once plagued with crime, drugs and prostitution. Many residences lived in fear, not even allowing their children outside to play. Because of this in 1993 the police department split the patrol area into the 33rd Precinct south of 179th street and the 34th Precinct to the north which also includes Inwood.

Today Washington Heights is one of the safest, hottest and trendiest neighborhood in the city. From a str...

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...oke Spanish, many of them have yet to assimilate and learned English. They move their for employment opportunities because of the many Spanish speaking business owners. Living in Washington heights for many was a way to preserve their culture it is a place that as you walk along the street you here people speaking Spanish, you here people in their cars and businesses listening to their native music the merengue. Many of them attend Catholic Churches that offer mass in Spanish. Many business also had religious shrines that a business owner explained to us that it is for good luck and protection from misfortune. Many of the businesses advertised in Spanish and many of the products they carry are geared towards Latino subcultures they sell many specialty item that are imported from their native land that is not available in major retail stores. Authentic cultural food