Washington Heights

Washington Heights is a neighborhood located in the northern portion of Manhattan.  It is named for Fort Washington, a fort constructed during the Revolutionary War to defend against British forces.  It is bordered by Harlem to the South, along 155th Street, Inwood to the North along Hillside Avenue, the Hudson River to the west, and the Harlem River to the east.  Transportation options to Washington Heights include the IND Eighth Avenue line at 155th and 163rd Street , the  A, C trains at Amsterdam Ave. and the 1 train with stops along Seventh Ave at 157th, 168th 181st and 191st Street.

The best known cultural site and tourist attraction in Washington Heights is The Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park which boasts spectacular views across the Hudson to New Jersey.  The majority of the population is of Dominican descent and the area has been the incubator and base for Dominican immigrants in political, non-profit, cultural and athletic accomplishment in the United States.  However, other groups of Puerto Rican, Caribbean and European decent also make up this community which has given rise to a vibrant cultural community evident in the annual Uptown Arts Stroll.  Artists from Washington Heights, Inwood and marble Hill are featured in public locations throughout upper Manhattan each summer for several weeks.  Additionally, there are a number of Sports programs for track and field in the area, most notably the New Balance Track and Field Center, which maintains an Olympic-caliber track and is home to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame.

Many houses of worship of both Christian and Jewish faiths are located in the area, as well as several Colleges and universities including Yeshiva University and Boricua College.  The medical campus of Columbia University hosts the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the College of Dental Medicine and the School of Nursing to name a few.  Additionally, the Equity project and Success Academy Charter schools are also located in the area, along with several public and private primary and secondary schools.