Wall Street is a small narrow street in lower Manhattan in New
York City, leading from Broadway to the coast of the East River.
It is considered the historical center of the city's Financial
District. The main attraction of the street is the New York
Stock Exchange. In a figurative sense, this is how they call
both the exchange itself and the entire US stock market as a
whole. The financial district itself is sometimes also referred
to as Wall Street.
In the USSR, the name of the street
was a household name in a frankly negative sense and was used in
the media as a synonym for US foreign policy.
Next door
to the New York Stock Exchange, at 1 Wall Street, is the office
of BNY Mellon, the successor to the oldest bank in the United
States, founded in 1784 by Alexander Hamilton, the Bank of New
York. Other sights of the street include the building of Federal
Hall, where in 1789 the inauguration of the first US President
George Washington took place.
Most of the major New York
financial institutions no longer have their headquarters on Wall
Street, having moved to other areas of lower and mid Manhattan,
to the states of Connecticut or New Jersey. So one of the
financial mastodons that had an office on this street, JPMorgan
Chase sold its building on Wall Street to the German bank
Deutsche Bank in November 2001.
Wall Street is a narrow, eight-block-long street in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, New York City. It stretches approximately 1,984 feet (605 meters) from Broadway in the west to South Street and the East River in the east, positioned at coordinates around 40°42′15″N 74°00′37″W. The street forms the heart of the Financial District, a densely built urban area bounded by the East River to the east, the Hudson River to the west, and extending south toward Battery Park. This district is characterized by a grid layout typical of Manhattan, with Wall Street running east-west and intersecting major thoroughfares like Broad Street and Nassau Street. The surrounding topography is flat, shaped by glacial deposits and landfill expansions over centuries, with elevations averaging near sea level—making it vulnerable to flooding, as seen during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Proximity to waterways has historically facilitated trade, with nearby ferry terminals at Pier 11 and the Downtown Manhattan Heliport providing access. Public transportation is robust, including subway stations like Wall Street (4/5 lines), Broad Street (J/Z lines), and Fulton Street (multiple lines), connecting it to the broader New York metropolitan area.
The name "Wall Street" originates from a 17th-century defensive wall
built by Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam (now New York) in 1653 under
Peter Stuyvesant to protect against potential invasions from the English
or Native Americans. Constructed from dirt, timber, and using enslaved
African labor, the wall stretched along what is now the street's
northern edge and was dismantled by 1699 after the English took control
in 1664. By the 18th century, the area hosted a slave market from 1711
to 1762 at Wall Street's eastern end, where the city profited from
taxing sales of enslaved Africans and Native Americans.
Wall Street's
transformation into a financial hub began in the late 18th century. In
1792, merchants signed the Buttonwood Agreement under a tree at 68 Wall
Street, establishing rules for securities trading and laying the
foundation for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). George Washington's
1789 inauguration occurred at Federal Hall on Wall Street, and the site
also saw the passage of the Bill of Rights. The 19th century brought
rapid growth with the Erie Canal's opening in 1825, boosting New York's
economy and cementing Wall Street as America's "money capital."
Influential figures like Alexander Hamilton (buried at nearby Trinity
Church) and J.P. Morgan shaped its rise, with Morgan's firm dominating
international banking from the 1850s.
The 20th century was marked by
booms and crises: the 1920 bombing killed 38 people, the 1929 crash
triggered the Great Depression, and the 1987 "Black Monday" led to
significant market drops. Deregulation in the 1970s and 1980s spurred
expansion, but the 2001 September 11 attacks damaged the area,
temporarily closing the NYSE. The 2008 financial crisis caused collapses
like Lehman Brothers, leading to bailouts and reforms via the Dodd-Frank
Act. Protests such as Occupy Wall Street in 2011 highlighted inequality,
and events like Hurricane Sandy in 2012 disrupted operations.
Wall Street symbolizes the U.S. financial markets and is home to the
NYSE, the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization (over
$28 trillion as of recent data). It hosts major institutions like the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs,
Citigroup, and Morgan Stanley, along with the New York Mercantile
Exchange and NYSE American. The street's activities influence global
economies, from stock trading to investment banking, with electronic
systems now dominating what was once floor-based trading.
Economically, the Financial District employs around 163,000 in
securities (as of 2013 estimates), contributing 5% of New York City's
private sector jobs, 8.5% of tax revenue ($3.8 billion in 2012), and
high average salaries of $360,700. It accounts for a significant portion
of the city's tax base (31% in 2006) and supports the tri-state region's
GDP, with financial services adding billions annually. Post-2008
recovery saw bonuses rebound, but decentralization to places like New
Jersey (e.g., Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation's move) and
competition from global centers like London have shifted some
operations. Technology, including data centers and fintech innovations,
underscores New York's role as the top financial hub.
Wall Street boasts iconic architecture blending neoclassical and modern styles. The NYSE Building at 11 Wall Street, a Beaux-Arts structure completed in 1903, features a grand facade with Corinthian columns and a pediment sculpture by John Quincy Adams Ward symbolizing integrity in commerce. Federal Hall National Memorial at 26 Wall Street, rebuilt in 1842, commemorates Washington's inauguration and houses exhibits on early U.S. history. Other landmarks include 23 Wall Street (former J.P. Morgan headquarters, known as "The Corner"), 40 Wall Street (a 927-foot Art Deco skyscraper, briefly the world's tallest in 1930), and 1 Wall Street (a 50-story tower at Broadway). Trinity Church, a Gothic Revival structure from 1846 at Broadway and Wall Street, serves as a historic cemetery and landmark. The Charging Bull statue nearby represents market optimism, while security features like bollards and pedestrian zones reflect post-9/11 changes. Many buildings are designated New York City Landmarks, preserving Gilded Age facades amid skyscrapers.
Wall Street embodies American capitalism, often critiqued for greed and elitism in media and society. Films like Wall Street (1987), with its "greed is good" mantra inspired by real traders, and appearances in The Dark Knight Rises (2012) portray it as a symbol of power and excess. Scandals involving figures like Bernie Madoff and events like the Enron collapse have fueled negative perceptions. Culturally, it's linked to rags-to-riches stories and economic inequality, as seen in protests and literature such as The House of Morgan by Ron Chernow. The street's influence extends to phrases like "Wall Street vs. Main Street," highlighting divides between finance and everyday Americans.
Today, Wall Street blends historic preservation with modern development, including residential conversions, hotels, and commercial spaces post-9/11 revitalization. Security measures, such as vehicle barriers from Broadway to William Street, enhance safety. The area faces environmental challenges like rising sea levels, with adaptations including flood barriers. It's a tourist draw, with walking tours highlighting its history, and supports a vibrant ecosystem of fintech startups. Despite decentralization through electronic trading, Wall Street remains resilient, adapting to crises while maintaining its global financial dominance.