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Throughout its history, East Harlem has undergone many changes, with industry experiencing several small revolutions. (East-Harlem.com).
5th Avenue between 116th and 117th Streets in East Harlem
during the late 19th Century (Courtesy of East-Harlem.com)
After the American Revolution, the area that has become known as East Harlem, was populated by various groups of people. During the 1800s, farming still occurred, but new, more modern forms of industries slowly appeared. This was, in fact, part of a greater change occurring as part of the Industrial Revolution. For most of this period, masses of immigrants moved into the area. There was some construction of tenements as Irish and German peoples moved in, but construction on the large scale had not taken place yet (East-Harlem.com).
Railroad Expansion During the 1870s and 1880s helped expansion
and growth in East Harlem (Courtesy of East-Harlem.com)
It was during the late 1800s that tremendous changes began taking place. Italian immigrants began to move north to East Harlem from the Lower East Side, which by this time, was overcrowded. A construction boom in the area accompanied this movement, with numerous tenements being built. By 1910, “…approximately sixty-five thousand apartments were built in El Barrio…”(East-Harlem.com). This goes to demonstrate that construction was flourishing during this period. It was indeed one of the most significant industries in the area at the time.
Old factories established during the 1800s and early 1900s provided many manufacturing jobs. Many individuals labored in factories during this time, a time when there was a large Italian population in the East Harlem. However, all this was to fade away beginning in the 1970s. From 1970 to 1990, there was a “…widespread decrease in manufacturing jobs caused by structural shifts in the economy…”. Since many workers in El Barrio were “blue collar” workers, “…this trend was especially severe in East Harlem…” (East-Harlem.com).
Up until 1990, most of the workers in El Barrio worked in the service industry. This included jobs in the health and education sectors. Beginning in 1980 and lasting all the way to 1990, there was a tremendous rise of service jobs within the education sector. The second largest industry in East Harlem, retail trade, experienced a decline of jobs from 1980 to 1990 (East-Harlem.com).
In recent years, the health industry has been the dominant industry in East Harlem, employing over fifteen thousand people. There has been a trend toward revitalizing business in East Harlem. The large food store, Pathmark has opened south of 125 Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues. The 125th Street Theater has received plenty of support. It includes restaurants and a multiplex movie theater (East-Harlem.com). East Harlem is undergoing a great deal of gentrification.
Sources:
Demographic & Social Economic Profile. 1996-2004.
http://www.east-harlem.com/cb11_197A_demographic.htm
East Harlem History. 1996-2004.
http://www.eastharlem.com/cb11_197A_history.htm
Economic Development. 1996-2004.
http://www.eastharlem.com/cb11_197A_economic.htm