Mapping Neuva York

Today, the New York City metro area is home to over 31,000 Latinx-owned businesses—more than ever before. However, Latinx entrepreneurship in the city has deep roots. Mapping Nueva York explores this rich history, highlighting a pivotal transformation in Latinx New York that began over a century ago. Starting in 1898, as the city saw an influx of Spanish-speaking migrants from regions it helped destabilize, these businesses grew into more than just commercial spaces; they formed the visual and material foundation of a shared sense of belonging and identity. Spread throughout New York’s colonias, these establishments reflected common experiences, culinary traditions, cultural rituals, and social bonds, serving as crucial anchors for an emerging Latinx collective. By using business directories from 1934 and 1964, this project seeks to create a digital platform that engages audiences with this often-overlooked history, preserving the role of commerce in shaping Latinx place and identity at key moments in the twentieth century.