Seneca Village

Seneca Village was a small, predominantly African American community established in the 1820s on the west side of what is now Central Park in New York City. It consisted of homes, schools, and churches, and was one of the first neighborhoods in the city where Black residents could own land and build a community. In 1857, the village was abruptly demolished to create Central Park, displacing its residents. Today, Seneca Village is recognized as an important early example of a Black community resisting discrimination and seeking independence in America’s urban history.