Five Points, NY
Five Points was where it went down – the rebelling, the yelling, the fighting, the frighting… It was the “point” where the Gangs of New York could be found.
Known to have the highest murder rate of any slum in the world and located in Lower Manhattan – Five Points was given its name because of the convergence of five streets: Mulberry; Anthony (now Worth); Cross (now Park); Orange (now Baxter); and Little Water (extinct), which formed the five points. The district was dominated by gangs like the “Roach Guards”, “Dead Rabbits” and “Bowery Boys”. It was the spot where riots and other catastrophic events took place and it plays a significant role in New York’s history.
The movie, “The Gangs of New York”, was filmed in that same area which is quite impactful as it allows the viewer to get a feel of the wars during their actual occurences. The Five Points is now known as “Chinatown” and serves as useful historical evidence for historians and citizens.