Anyone who knows New York City can automatically spit out the words rich or wealthy when they hear “Upper East Side.” They aren’t wrong but they aren’t fully right either. Only from about the early 20th century on did this area of Manhattan begin to flourish and develop its elegance. The Upper East Side was first called home to the Native Americans. The Native Americans set up fishing camps along the East River and the area remained a rural farmland and market garden for many years. Once commercial development began to occur, the farmland started to vanish and became home to many working and middle class immigrants. They worked in factories or stables just trying to make a living. After the economic depression, known as the Panic of 1873, the Upper East Side began to recover financially, which now put it on the map as a prime location.
Around the early 1900’s, the upper or wealthy class began to discover the area and the real estate that it offered. The row houses that were constructed in previous years were demolished allowing for more new and elegant residential buildings, along 59th street going northward. As more and more wealthy individuals moved into the area, schools, churches, social clubs, and fashion shops also took up residence. Development of the Upper East Side continued, bringing status and prominence to the area, and creating the Upper East Side that is here today. A trip to the Upper East Side today will not disappoint with its fine dining, shopping, exclusive clubs and schools, but most importantly its beautiful real estate.