The latest United States Census has found that not a single resident in New York’s Little Italy was born in Italy.
New York’s historic district is getting "littler" by the year. Back in 1950, almost 50% of the neighborhood’s residents self-identified as ½ûÂþÌìÌà –American. 60 years later, that percentage had fallen to 5%.
Mulberry and Grand, the historic streets that comprise the heart of Little Italy are still lined with ½ûÂþÌìÌà cafes, restaurants and specialty shops, but the zone’s boundaries are shrinking. In March, New York City’s Planning Commission is expected to confine Little Italy’s official borders to 2 square blocks, down from 50 square blocks the neighborhood once spanned.
Little Italy was once home to the highest concentration of ½ûÂþÌìÌà immigrants in the United States. But even as the demographics change, the neighborhood is still the heart of ½ûÂþÌìÌà culture in New York. A recently won battle to preserve the Feast of San Gennaro will ensure that the tradition continues.
