Jill Copolla Susan B Gall Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities 4 Volumes U X L 2000

VOLUMES
1- 4
Junior
Worldmark
Encyclopedia of
World Cities
Junior
Worldmark
Encyclopedia of
World Cities
VOLUME 1
Atlanta, Georgia
to Denver, Colorado
Edited by
Jill Copolla and
Susan Bevan Gall
J U N I O R WO R L D M A R K E N C Y C L O P E D I A O F W O R L D C I T I E S
U•X•L Staff
Allison McNeill, U•X•L Senior Editor
Carol DeKane Nagel, U•X•L Managing Editor
Thomas L. Romig, U•X•L Publisher
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Evi Seoud, Assistant Production Manager
Rita Wimberley, Senior Buyer
Pamela A.E. Galbreath, Art Director
This publication is a creative work copyrighted by U•X•L and fully protected by all applicable copyright laws, as well as
by misappropriation, trade secret, unfair competition, and other applicable laws. The authors and editors of this work
have added value to the underlying factual material herein through one or more of the following: unique and original selec-
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orously defended.
Copyright © 2000
U•X•L
An imprint of the Gale Group
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
Printed in United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Cover photos (top to bottom):

Paris, France: Louvre (EPD/Catherine Karnow; Woodfin Camp)
Monrovia, Liberia: Redemption Day Celebration (EPD/Homer Sykes; Woodfin Camp)
Tokyo, Japan: Kids with skateboards (EPD/Catherine Karnow; Woodfin Camp)
Lima, Peru: Market (EPD/Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
Washington, DC: Lincoln Memorial (EPD/Catherine Karnow; Woodfin Camp)
Susan Bevan Gall and Jill Marie Coppola, Editors
Timothy L. Gall, Executive Editor
Mary Francis Sugar, Eleftherios E. Netos, Jennifer Wallace,
James C. Woodring, Associate Editors
Bridgette M. Nadzam, Graphics and Page Layout
Gregory M. Hurst, Editorial Assistant
Magellan Geographix, Cartographers
Contributors
Olufemi A. Akinola, Ph.D. W.E.B. DuBois Institute, Harvard University

Cynthia Andrews. Researcher/Writer, Suttons Bay, Michigan
Mike Cikraji. Researcher/Writer, Bay Village, Ohio
Patricia Hale. Researcher/Writer, West Hartford, Connecticut
Bruce Heilman. University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Jim Henry. Researcher/Writer, Chicago, Illinois
William Hodgson. Researcher/Writer, Vancouver, British Columbia
Dave Hribar. Researcher/Writer, Avon Lake, Ohio
Ignacio Lobos. Journalist, Honolulu, Hawaii
Deryck O. Lodrick, Ph.D. Visiting Scholar, Center for South Asian Studies,
University of California, Berkeley
Lupa Ramadhani. University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Gail Rosewater. Researcher/Writer, Cleveland, Ohio
Carmen Urdaneta, M.A. Researcher/Writer, Boston, Massachusetts
Jeffrey Vance. Researcher/Writer, Brighton, Massachusetts
Rosalie Wieder. Researcher/Writer, Cleveland, Ohio
Steven Wolinetz, Ph.D. Memorial University, St. John’s Newfoundland
CONTENTS
C I T Y F I N D E R TA B L E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
R E A D E R ’S G U I D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
ATLANTA, GEORGIA ................................................................ 1
B A N G K O K , T H A I L A N D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
B E I J I N G , C H I N A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
B E R L I N , G E R M A N Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
B O S T O N , M A S S A C H U S E T T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
B R U S S E L S , B E L G I U M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
B U E N O S A I R E S , A R G E N T I N A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
C A I R O , E G Y P T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
C A R A C A S , V E N E Z U E L A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
C H I C A G O , I L L I N O I S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
C L E V E L A N D , O H I O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
D A L L A S , T E X A S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
D E N V E R, C O L O R A D O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
G L O S S A R Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
vii
C I T Y F I N D E R TA B L E
Volume number appears in brackets [] Toronto, Ontario .......................[4]151

Vancouver, British Columbia......[4]169
Africa
Mexico
Cairo, Egypt .............................[1]115
Mexico City, Mexico....................[3]19
Johannesburg, South Africa ......[2]123
Lagos, Nigeria ...........................[2]139 United States
Monrovia, Liberia........................[3]69 Atlanta, Georgia ...........................[1]1
Nairobi, Kenya ..........................[3]115 Boston, Massachusetts .................[1]65
Chicago, Illinois ........................[1]145
Asia Cleveland, Ohio ........................[1]161
Bangkok, Thailand ......................[1]17 Dallas, Texas .............................[1]177
Beijing, China ..............................[1]33 Denver, Colorado.......................[1]191
Hong Kong, China.......................[2]21 Detroit, Michigan ..........................[2]1
Istanbul, Turkey ..........................[2]93 Honolulu, Hawaii ........................[2]39
Jerusalem, Israel.........................[2]107 Houston, Texas ............................[2]57
Manila, Philippines .......................[3]1 Indianapolis, Indiana ..................[2]77
Mumbai (Bombay), India.............[3]99 Los Angeles, California ..............[2]189
Sydney, Australia .......................[4]117 Miami, Florida.............................[3]37
Tokyo, Japan ............................[4]133 Minneapolis, Minnesota .............[3]53
Nashville, Tennessee ..................[3]137
Europe New Orleans, Louisiana.............[3]153
Berlin, Germany...........................[1]49 New York, New York ................[3]173
Brussels, Belgium ........................[1]83 Phoenix, Arizona .........................[4]19
Istanbul, Turkey...........................[2]93 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania .............[4]1
London, United Kingdom .........[2]169 San Francisco, California .............[4]85
Madrid, Spain ...........................[2]205 Seattle, Washington....................[4]101
Paris, France ..............................[3]195 Washington, D.C..........................[4]18
Prague, Czech Republic ...............[4]35
Rome, Italy ..................................[4]63
South America
Buenos Aires, Argentina...............[1]97
North America
Caracas, Venezuela ...................[1]131
Canada Lima, Peru ................................[2]155
Montréal, Québec .......................[3]83 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ..................[4]49
viii
R E A D E R ’S G U I D E
Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World this Reader’s Guide, all of whom offered
Cities presents profiles of 50 major cities substantive insights that were instrumental
from around the world, arranged alpha- to the creation of this work. The editors
betically in four volumes. Junior World- are extremely grateful for the time and
mark Encyclopedia of World Cities is a effort these distinguished reviewers
new reference work organized under the devoted to improving the quality of this
Worldmark design. The Worldmark work. Sixteen researchers, many of whom
design assembles facts and data about live in the city they profiled, are listed on
each city in a common structure. Every the staff page. Their well-researched pro-
profile contains a map, showing the city files give users of Junior Worldmark Ency-
and its location. clopedia of World Cities an opportunity to
compare the history and contemporary life
The challenging task of selecting the
in 50 of the world’s greatest cities—from
cities to be profiled in this first edition of
the ancient cities of Cairo, Egypt and
Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World
Istanbul, Turkey, to the fast-growing mod-
Cities was accomplished with input from
ern metropolitan communities of Lagos,
librarian advisors. From a list of over 100
Nigeria; Sydney, Australia; and Seattle,
candidate cities, 50 were selected to repre-
Washington.
sent the continents and cultures of the
world, with an emphasis on cities of the
United States. Twenty-five cities from Sources
North America (including 21 U.S. cities)
are profiled, 9 cities from Asia, 7 cities Due to the broad scope of this encyclope-
from Europe, 5 cities from Africa, and 4 dia many sources were consulted in com-
from South America fill the four volumes. piling the information and statistics
Profiles present text and graphical ele- presented in these volumes. Of primary
ments, including photographs, with the importance were the official web sites
needs and interests of student researchers posted by many of the cities’ government
in mind. Recognition must be given to the offices and tourist/convention bureaus on
many tourist bureaus, convention centers, the World Wide Web. Also instrumental in
city government press offices, and graphic the development of this publication was
agencies that contributed the data and the web site of the U.S. Bureau of the Cen-
photographs that comprise this encyclope- sus, available at http://www.census.gov/.
dia. This edition also benefits from the Finally, many fact sheets, booklets, and
work of the reviewers listed at the end of statistical abstracts were used to update
ix
READER’S GUIDE
data not collected by federal or city gov- area, including suburbs (where available),
ernments. and lists facts such as population, racial
breakdown, and nicknames. Profiles also
Profile Features include a City Fact Comparison box, com-
paring daily costs of visiting the city with
The structure of the Junior Worldmark costs for visiting representative cities else-
Encyclopedia of World Cities entries—22 where in the world (Cairo, Egypt; Rome,
numbered headings—allows students to Italy; and Beijing, China). City maps, loca-
compare two or more cities in a variety of tor maps, and photos complement the
ways. entries.
Each city profile begins with the city The body of each city’s profile is arranged
name, state or province (where applica- in 22 numbered headings as follows:
ble), country, and continent. A city fact
box provides information including dates 1 INTRODUCTION. The city’s location
founded and incorporated, city location, is described. City features are outlined,
official city motto and flower, time zone, sometimes citing key facts from city his-
ethnic composition, city elevation, latitude tory and major attractions.
and longitude, coastline (where applica- 2 GETTING THERE. Information is pro-
ble), climate information, annual mean vided on major highways offering access
temperature, seasonal average snowfall into and around the city, as well as infor-
(where applicable), average annual precip- mation on bus and railroad service, air-
itation, form of government, system of ports, and shipping.
weights and measures used, monetary
units, telephone area codes, and city postal 3 GETTING AROUND. Information is
codes. Where available, a picture of both outlined on means of transportation
the city seal and the city flag, with descrip- within a city, including bus and commuter
tion, appear. With regard to the time zone, rail service; some entries include transpor-
the standard time is given by time zone in tation modes that will be less familiar to
relation to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). many student researchers, such as the
The world is divided into 24 time zones, three-wheeled tuk-tuk of Bangkok, Thai-
each one hour apart. The Greenwich land. Both commuter and sightseeing
meridian, which is 0 degrees, passes transportation methods are included.
through Greenwich, England, a suburb of
4 PEOPLE. A population count is pro-
London. Greenwich is at the center of the
vided for the city proper and its metropol-
initial time zone, known as Greenwich
itan area, along with an ethnic/racial
Mean Time (GMT). All times given are
breakdown of the populace. For many cit-
converted from noon in this zone. The
ies, population growth patterns, lan-
time reported for the city is the official
guages, and religions are also discussed
time zone. Also provided in each article is
a Population Profile box comparing the 5 NEIGHBORHOODS. Location, charac-
city proper with its greater metropolitan teristics, and attractions of city historic
x Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

READER’S GUIDE
and ethnic neighborhoods, and business 15 SPORTS. Professional and amateur

and cultural districts are described. sports—from auto racing and rodeo to
cricket and baseball—sports venues, and
6 HISTORY. City history is detailed championships held are listed. Annual
from its founding to the present. sporting events, major international tour-
naments, and popular recreational sports
7 GOVERNMENT. Style of government
are also described.
is described, and elected offices are listed,
along with a description of each office and 16 PARKS AND RECREATION. Popular
length of an elected term. recreational activities and city pastimes,
from strolling in a city park to playing
8 PUBLIC SAFETY. Police, fire, and
polo, and the venues where they can be
ambulatory services are outlined, as well
enjoyed, are detailed.
as any special city safety projects. Crime
rate statistics are also listed. 17 PERFORMING ARTS. Performing arts
offered in the city are described, as well as
9 ECONOMY. This section presents the
the theaters and performing arts halls
key elements of the economy. Major where they are offered. Notable annual
industries and employment figures are also events are listed.
summarized.
18 LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS. Nota-
10 ENVIRONMENT. Topography, cli- ble libraries and descriptions of their hold-
mate, and flora and fauna are described, ings are described. Major museums, with
as well as any environmental concerns, information about their collections, are
programs, or clean-up efforts. listed.
11 SHOPPING. Popular shopping dis- 19 TOURISM. The importance of tourism
tricts and venues are described, as well as to the city is summarized, along with fac-
any specialty items for which the city is tors affecting the tourism industry. Key
renowned. tourist attractions are listed.
12 EDUCATION. Information about pub- 20 HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS. Annu-
lic education and key universities and ally celebrated holidays and events are
technical institutes is detailed. listed.
13 HEALTH CARE. Hospitals and other 21 F A M O U S C I T I Z E N S . Famous peo-
health services are described. Alternative ple who were born or lived in the city are
or non-Western health care practices are listed, along with birth and death dates
described in some city profiles. and short biographical descriptions.
14 MEDIA. City newspapers, magazines, 22 FOR FURTHER STUDY. Biblio-
television, and radio stations are listed. graphic listings are provided at the end of
Where applicable, government influence each profile as a guide for accessing fur-
on media is discussed. ther information. Included are Web sites,
Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities xi

READER’S GUIDE
government offices, tourist and conven- Cindy Doll, Librarian, Columbus

tion bureaus, major city publications, and Metropolitan Library, Columbus, Ohio
books about the city and its history.
Marilyn Eanes, School Library Media
Because some terms used in this ency- Specialist, Hopewell Middle School,
clopedia will be new to students, each vol- Round Rock, Texas
ume includes a glossary. A keyword index Jane Thomas, Library Manager, McNeil
to all four volumes appears in Volume 4. High School, Austin, Texas
Acknowledgments Glenda Willnerd, School Librarian,

Lincoln High School, Lincoln,
The editors are indebted to the following Nebraska
reviewers, without whom Junior World-
mark Encyclopedia of World Cities would Comments and Suggestions
not have been possible. The individuals
We welcome your comments on the Junior
listed below were consulted on the content
Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities,
and structure of this encyclopedia. Their
as well as your suggestions for cities to be
insights, opinions, and suggestions led to
included in future editions. Please write:
many enhancements and improvements in
Editors, Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia
the presentation of the material.
of World Cities, U•X•L, 27500 Drake
Ken Cornwell, Library Media Specialist, Road, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48331–
Northeast High School, Lincoln, 3535; call toll-free: 1-800-877-4253; or
Nebraska send e-mail via www.galegroup.com.
xii Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America, North America
Founded: 1837; Incorporated: 1847

Location: Northwestern Georgia, United States, North America
Motto: “Wisdom, justice, and moderation” (state motto)
Flag: City seal in yellow on blue field.
Flower: Cherokee rose (state flower)
Time Zone: 7 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST) = noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Ethnic Composition: White 30%, Black 67.1%, Other 2.9%
Elevation: 320 m (1,050 ft)
Latitude and Longitude: 33º74'N, 84º38'W
Coastline: None
Climate: Moderate temperatures, with highly changeable weather patterns; natural
barriers protect the city from very severe cold; snowfall is infrequent.
Annual Mean Temperature: 17.9ºC (64.2ºF); January 5.8ºC (42.4ºF); July 25.5ºC
(78.0ºF)
Seasonal Average Snowfall: 5 cm (2 in); Average Annual Precipitation (total
of rainfall and melted snow): 123.4 cm (48.6 in)
Government: Mayor-council
Weights and Measures: Standard U.S.
Monetary Units: Standard U.S.
Telephone Area Codes: 404, 678, 770
Postal Codes: 30301–94, 31101–56
1 Introduction energy and its courage in overcoming

adversity, when the Games were com-
Originating as a rail terminus in pleted as planned in spite of the bomb-
the nineteenth century and becoming ings in Centennial Olympic Park.
an airline hub in the twentieth, Atlanta
is a “city on the move” in more ways
than one. Located in northwestern
2 Getting There
Georgia, Atlanta combines the local Atlanta is the capital of Georgia
color of its Southern heritage with the and its largest city, as well as the seat of
progressive spirit that enabled it to Fulton County. It is located south of the
rebuild from the fires of war, triumph Appalachian Mountains in northwest-
over racial intolerance, and become a ern Georgia.
thriving, cosmopolitan business and
cultural center. The city’s attractions Highways
were spotlighted when it won the cov-
eted honor of hosting the 1996 Olym- North-south highways providing
pic Games, which provided yet another access to Atlanta include I-85, which
opportunity for Atlanta to display its connects the city to Greenville, South
1
Atlanta
The Amtrak-operated Crescent, running

Atlanta north-south, connects Atlanta with
Population Profile points along the eastern seaboard.
City Proper Airports

Population: 396,000
Area: 341.4 sq km (131.8 sq mi) As one of the nation’s major airline
Ethnic composition: 30% white; 67.1% black; hubs, Hartsfield International Airport,
2.9% other
Nicknames: City of Trees, Capital of the New South located about 16 kilometers (10 miles)
outside downtown Atlanta, is one of
Metropolitan Area the world’s busiest airports, carrying 68
Population: 2,689,000 million passengers per year and provid-
Area: 15,866 sq km (6,126 sq mi)
World population rank1: 113
ing nonstop service to 186 cities in the
Percentage of total US population2: 1% United States. The airport is home to
Average yearly growth rate: 0.7% Delta Airlines, which offers more than
Ethnic composition: 71.4% white; 25.8% black; 500 flights a day from Hartsfield. A new
and 2.6% Asian/Pacific Islander
concourse—the nation’s largest—
———
1. The Atlanta metropolitan area’s rank among the
opened in 1994 for international travel,
world’s urban areas. and further major improvements were
2. The percent of the total population of the made the following year, including a
United States living in the Atlanta metropolitan new central atrium linking the major
area.
terminals.
Shipping
Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina;
and Montgomery, Alabama; and I-75, Although it is an inland city,
which extends northward to Chatta- Atlanta is a thriving shipping center,
nooga and Knoxville, Tennessee, and with Hartsfield International Airport
south to Florida. The major east-west accounting for the largest volume of
expressway is I-20 (the West Express- goods shipped. A Foreign Trade Zone
way), which leads to Birmingham, Ala- near the airport makes Atlanta an espe-
bama; Jackson, Mississippi; and cially attractive destination for interna-
westward to Texas and beyond. All of tional shippers. The city is also served
the preceding interstate highways inter- by the CSX and Norfolk Southern rail
sect with I-285, known locally as “the lines, as well as hundreds of motor
Perimeter,” which rings the city. freight carriers.
Bus and Railroad Service 3 Getting Around

Greyhound offers bus service to Rather than a grid pattern, Atlanta
Atlanta. While slower than other modes was originally laid out with its streets
of travel, it provides a unique way to converging on a central downtown area
experience the local color of the South. (Five Points). The city’s growth has
2 Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

Atlanta
complicated this pattern with the addi- Bus and commuter rail service
tion of new streets—several dozen of
which include the name “Peachtree”— Atlanta boasts one of the nation’s
and interstate highways cutting cutting-edge rapid transit systems,
through the city. For visitors (and even, known as MARTA (Metropolitan
at times, natives), navigating the city’s Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority). The
streets can be a challenge. system operates 240 electric rail cars
Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities 3

Atlanta
Atlanta skyline. (Timothy Eagan: Woodfin Camp)
over 62.7 kilometers (39 miles) of track. Tour focusing on black history, and a
Lines running north-south and east- tour of the neighborhood that served as
west converge at the Five Points Station the setting for the play and film Driving
in the heart of the city. Bus service is Miss Daisy.
coordinated with the rapid-transit
schedule; some 150 bus routes cover a 4 People
total of 2,413 kilometers (1,500 miles).
In 1990, the population of Atlanta
Sightseeing was 394,000, with the following racial
composition: 30 percent white and 67.1
Guided sightseeing tours are percent black, with other groups each
offered by several tour lines. A variety accounting for percentages of less than
of specialty tours are offered as well, one percent. Hispanics (an ethnic
including a walking tour sponsored by rather than a racial designation)
the Atlanta Preservation Center, a tour accounted for 1.9 percent of the popu-
of the Fox Theatre District, the Historic lation. The 1994 population estimate
Downtown Tour focusing on architec- was 396,000. The population of the
ture, the Sweet Auburn/MLK District Atlanta Primary Metropolitan Statistical

Atlanta
Area was estimated at 3,627,184 as of north of downtown Atlanta, home to

1997. The region’s racial composition elegant mansions, exclusive shops and
was listed by the U.S. Census Bureau in boutiques, and fine restaurants. The
1996 as 71.4 percent white; 25.8 per- Atlanta History Center is located here.
cent black; and 2.6 percent Asian/
Pacific Islander. Hispanics accounted The Virginia-Highland neighbor-
for three percent of the metropolitan hood is Atlanta’s Greenwich Village,
area population. featuring a colorful mix of bookstores,
sidewalk cafes, art galleries, bistros, eth-
nic restaurants, and eclectic shops that
5 Neighborhoods draw the culturally sophisticated to this
Downtown Atlanta is the city’s part of town.
business and financial center. Its land- Against a gracious setting that
marks include the Peachtree Center includes a number of Victorian homes,
hotel, convention, and office complex; Little Five Points serves as a center for
the Underground Atlanta shopping youthful Generation X- and Y-ers to dis-
facility; Georgia State University; Cen- play the latest in offbeat youth culture
tennial Olympic Park (developed for trends.
the 1996 Olympics); the Georgia World
Congress Center; and the Georgia The suburb of Decatur, founded in
Dome athletic facility. 1823, is known for its many festivals
and other annual events, as well as the
The traditionally black neighbor- impressive Farmers Market.
hood of Sweet Auburn, home of Martin
Luther King, Jr., draws large numbers of
visitors every year. The National Park 6 History
Service has accorded park status to the Atlanta’s origin as a railroad settle-
district in honor of Dr. King, whose ment was evident in its original name—
boyhood home and church are located Terminus—when founded as a village
here. in 1837. It was to this spot that the
The Midtown area, north of down- Western & Atlantic railroad was to run
town, is home to some of Atlanta’s best- southward from the Tennessee state
known cultural institutions, including line, and from here that it would con-
the renowned Fox Theatre, Woodruff nect with other parts of the state. Rein-
Arts Center, where the Atlanta Sym- forcing the white settlers’ hold on the
phony performs, the Hugh Museum of area was an edict forcing 17,000 Chero-
Art, and the Alliance Theatre. Also kee and Creek Indians hundreds of
located here are Piedmont Park and the miles westward, on the route that
Atlanta Botanical Garden. became known as the “Trail of Tears.”
The town was renamed Marthasville in
Buckhead is an upscale district 1843, Atlanta two years later, and incor-
located about ten kilometers (six miles) porated in 1848. By the start of the

Atlanta
cal center during the conflict, a fact

that also made it an attractive target for
Union forces. In the summer of 1864
Confederate forces under the command
of General William Tecumseh Sherman
laid siege to the city, which was first
occupied and then virtually burned to
the ground by Union troops.
Military occupation by Union sol-
diers continued until 1876, but the city
began energetically rebuilding. The rail-
roads were repaired, and new homes,
businesses, and cultural and educa-
tional institutions sprang up. In 1877
Atlanta became the permanent capital
of Georgia; in 1888 it adopted as its
official symbol a phoenix rising from
the ashes, as the city itself had done. In
the last two decades of the twentieth
century, the city’s population more
than doubled, to 90,000.
The city continued its rapid growth
in the early twentieth century, its popu-
lation reaching 155,000 by 1910 and
continuing to rise in spite of a second
The Phoenix was adopted as the symbol of Atlanta
after the Civil War. (Al Stephenson: Woodfin Camp)
catastrophic fire in 1917. The city’s
black population grew rapidly, and the
early years of the century were marred
Civil War (1861–65), Atlanta was a busby the racial intolerance common
tling commercial center. throughout the South. In 1900 Atlanta
professor W. E. B. du Bois founded the
In 1861, after vigorous public National Association for the Advance-
debate, Atlanta decided to become one ment of Colored People (NAACP), still
of the 11 states seceding from the the nation’s leading advocacy institu-
Union over the issue of slavery, even tion for blacks. Following race riots in
making a bid to become the capital of the early 1900s, the black business com-
the Confederacy—an honor that ulti- munity formed its own successful
mately went to Richmond, Virginia. enclave on Auburn Street, where it
The rail links that had allowed the city thrived. Eventually, Atlanta became a
to rise to prominence before the war center of black higher education, char-
made it a vital supply depot and medi- acterized by long-time mayor William

Atlanta
City Fact Comparison

Atlanta Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(United States) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)
Population of urban area1 2,689,000 10,772,000 2,688,000 12,033,000

Date the city was founded 1837 AD 969 753 BC 723 BC
Daily costs to visit the city2
Hotel (single occupancy) $93 $193 $172 $129
Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) $36 $56 $59 $62
Incidentals (laundry, dry cleaning, etc.) $22 $14 $15 $16
Total daily costs (hotel, meals, incidentals) $131 $173 $246 $207
Major Newspapers3
Number of newspapers serving the city 1 13 20 11
Atlanta Journal- Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Constitution Al Akhbar
Circulation of largest newspaper 303,698 1,159,339 754,930 3,000,000
Date largest newspaper was established 1868 1944 1976 1948
1 United
Nations population estimates for the year 2000.
2 The
maximum amount the U.S. Government reimburses its employees for business travel. The lodging portion
of the allowance is based on the cost for a single room at a moderately-priced hotel. The meal portion is based
on the costs of an average breakfast, lunch, and dinner including taxes, service charges, and customary tips.
Incidental travel expenses include such things as laundry and dry cleaning.
3
David Maddux, ed. Editor&Publisher International Year Book. New York: The Editor&Publisher Company, 1999.
Hartsfield as a city “too busy to hate.” hell,” it has been said, “you’ll have to
With the rise to prominence of Martin change planes in Atlanta.”
Luther King, Jr., Atlanta became a hub
of the Civil Rights movement of the In the post-war decades Atlanta has
1960s. become an increasingly cosmopolitan
city, drawing a growing number of
Atlanta, begun as a rail terminus, international travelers with such facili-
continued its tradition of transporta- ties as a 4,500-seat civic center, a
16,000-seat coliseum, and a 232,250-
tion leadership with the completion of
square-meter (two-and-a-half-million-
its first airport in 1929 and its rapid rise
square-foot) convention center. The
to become one of the nation’s major air city acquired three major-league sports
transport centers. Improved facilities teams in the 1960s. In 1988, Atlanta
followed in rapid succession in 1961, gained international attention when it
1977, and 1980, the year the new Harts- hosted the Democratic National Con-
field International Airport opened. vention. The global spotlight shone
“Whether you’re going to heaven or even more brightly on the city in the

Atlanta
1990s, as it prepared for the 1996 vated assaults. Property crimes totaled
Olympics, transforming its landscape 13,421 and included 2,892 burglaries,
with the construction of the Olympic 8,463 cases of larceny/theft, and 2,065
Village. The Games drew 11,000 ath- motor vehicle thefts.
letes from 197 different countries—a
record for the modern Olympics. They
were marred by a bombing in Centen- 9 Economy
nial Olympic Park that killed two peo-
ple and injured more than 100, but the Atlanta has a thriving economy
Games went on as scheduled. Crowds and is known for its pro-business cli-
soon flocked back to the park, and the mate, the result of a combination of
focus returned to the athletes them- factors, including its excellent infra-
selves, whose triumphs ultimately pro- structure and status as an airline hub,
vided the main drama of the Games and the welcoming attitude of the city
and left the city with indelible positive and its residents toward outsiders.
images of the long-planned event. Major corporations headquartered in
Atlanta include BellSouth Corporation,
7 Government Coca-Cola, the United Parcel System,
Atlanta’s municipal government Delta Air Lines, Pacific Corporation,
vests executive power in its mayor; the and Home Depot. In addition, several
legislative function is carried out by an hundred of the nation’s top companies
18-member council, whose members have branch offices in Atlanta. Atlanta’s
are elected both by individual districts most famous businessman is broadcast-
and citywide. Atlanta is also the capital ing mogul Ted Turner, founder of the
of Georgia and home to its 56-member Cable News Network (CNN) and owner
state senate and 180-member house of of the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta
representatives and its governor. Hawks sports teams.
8 Public Safety 10 Environment

With more than 2,300 employees,
the Atlanta Police Department is Geor- For a major urban area, Atlanta has
gia’s largest law enforcement agency. It an unusual degree of tree cover, and the
has declared as its major public safety city works hard to keep it that way. A
priorities youth-related crime, domes- government permit is required to cut
tic violence, and the perception of down a tree, and all trees that are
crime in Atlanta. removed must be replaced by a variety
In 1995, violent crimes reported to of shade trees. Trees Atlanta, a non-
police (per 100,000 population) totaled profit organization dedicated to tree
3,646 and included 45 murders, 109 conservation, planted more than
rapes, 1,300 robberies, and 2,191 aggra- 12,000 trees in the 1990s.

Atlanta
antique stores (for which Bennett Street

is known), and galleries, as well as two
major shopping malls, both located at
the intersection of Peachtree and Lenox
roads. Attracting 14 million visitors
annually, Lenox Square is Atlanta’s old-
est and largest shopping mall. It is
anchored by major retailers, including
Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, and Atlanta-
based Rich’s, and boasts some 200 spe-
cialty stores of all kinds. Nearby is the
upscale Phipps Plaza, home to Lord &
Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as
such famous brand name stores as Tif-
fany and Gucci. Other popular malls in
the Atlanta area include Perimeter and
the Galleria. Stone Mountain Village,
just outside Stone Mountain Park, fea-
tures antiques, crafts, and collectibles in
an old-time village setting with historic
buildings.
12 Education
Stairway descending to Underground Atlanta, one Atlanta’s public school system
of the city’s most famous shopping centers. enrolled 60,064 students in a total of 99
(S. Moore: Woodfin Camp) schools in the fall of 1996 and
employed 3,605 classroom teachers,
with a student/teacher ratio of 16.7 to
one. During the 1995–96 school year,
11 Shopping 2,054 students graduated from high
schools in the city. In the 1994–95
Atlanta is considered the shopping school year, revenues from state, local,
capital of the southeastern United and federal sources totaled
States, famed both for the number and $499,845,000, and expenditures totaled
variety of retailers in the region. In the $416,105, or $6,986 per pupil.
heart of the city is Underground
Atlanta, with both underground and In the 1990s public education in
above-ground shopping thoroughfares. Atlanta received a boost with the inau-
The wealthy Buckhead neighborhood is guration of the Georgia Lottery for Edu-
considered a “must” for shoppers, with cation. Among the activities it has
a variety of specialty stores, boutiques, helped fund are a prekindergarten pro-

Atlanta
gram, the HOPE scholarship program, 13 Health Care

and new educational technology, as
well as centers to train school personnel Home to many first-rate health
in using it. Atlanta’s public school sys- care professionals and facilities, Atlanta
tem has been widely praised for its Mag- offers its residents the highest quality of
net School Program, which offers care. Both Emory University and the
concentrated courses of study to stu- Morehouse School of Medicine train
dents interested in particular career future doctors, and the Emory Univer-
areas, including communications, per- sity Health Care System—comprising
forming arts, information processing, Emory University Hospital, Crawford
and the hospitality industry. Long Hospital, the Emory Clinic, and
other affiliates—is the city’s largest
Located in downtown Atlanta, healthcare institution. In 1998, Emory
Georgia State University is the state’s University Hospital had 513 staffed
second-largest institution of higher beds, employed 1,220 personnel, and
learning. The university enrolls more recorded 20,336 admissions and 72,898
than 20,000 students, who take courses outpatient visits. Egleston Children’s
offered by 50 academic departments. Health Care System is a major referral
Emory University is a noted private uni- center for the Southeast, treating more
versity situated on a 255-hectare (631- than 100,000 children every year.
acre) campus in Atlanta. It underwent
major physical improvement and In 1995 the Atlanta metropolitan
expansion in the 1990s thanks to a area had 43 community hospitals, with
$105 million gift from the Emily and a total of 9,706 beds and 5,755 office-
Ernest Woodruff Fund. A unique aca- based physicians.
demic presence in Atlanta is Atlanta
University Center, a consortium of six 14 Media
traditionally black colleges in the area.
The six colleges, which share some As home to the Turner Broadcast-
ing System, the Weather Channel, 11
facilities, but remain independent enti-
television stations, and both a morning
ties, are Clark Atlanta University, Inter-
denominational Theological Center, and afternoon major daily newspaper,
Atlanta is a major media outlet. Turner
Morehouse College, Morehouse School
Broadcasting operates CNN, the first
of Medicine, Morris Brown College, and
Spelman College. round-the-clock all-news network,
begun in 1980 by media magnate Ted
Other colleges and universities in Turner, as well as other networks and a
the Atlanta area include the Atlanta number of subsidiaries. The company
College of Art, Atlanta Metropolitan also owns the rights to thousands of
College, DeKalb College, the DeVry film and TV titles, including Gone with
Institute of Technology, Georgia Insti- the Wind, the classic film written by
tute of Technology, and Oglethorpe Atlantan Margaret Mitchell. In addition
University. to 11 major local television stations,

Atlanta
Atlanta has dozens of AM and FM radio franchise, owned by Ted Turner, was
stations running the gamut from dubbed the “team of the ‘90s,” compet-
National Public Radio (NPR) to country- ing in the World Series four times in the
and-western. decade and winning the championship
in 1995. Turner Field, the Braves’ home
Atlanta’s major newspaper is a since 1997, was modified from a struc-
daily that appears weekday mornings as ture originally built for the 1996 Olym-
The Atlanta Constitution and afternoons pic Games. The Atlanta Hawks NBA
as the Atlanta Journal. Combined edi- basketball team, also owned by Turner,
tions of the two papers appear over the moved to a new home downtown in
weekend. In 1998 daily circulation was Philips Arena in the fall of 1999. The
reported as 353,770 mornings, 123,220 NFL’s Atlanta Falcons play home games
evenings, and 677,019 for the com- in the Georgia Dome. A new NHL
bined paper on Sundays. Other Atlanta hockey team, the Atlanta Thrashers,
dailies are the African-American news- began play in Philips Arena in the fall
paper the Atlanta Daily World, the Daily of 1999.
Report, a paper for the business and
legal communities, and the Marietta Auto racing can be seen at Road
Daily Journal, which focuses on local Atlanta, a 45-minute drive north from
coverage of Cobb County. downtown and one of the region’s best
auto-racing venues.
General-interest periodicals pub-
lished in Atlanta include the monthly
Atlanta Magazine, the bi-monthly 16 Parks and
Atlanta Now, published by the Atlanta Recreation
Convention and Visitors Bureau, the
Atlanta Tribune, a newsmagazine that At 75 hectares (185 acres), Pied-
focuses on African Americans, and the mont Park is Atlanta’s largest park. The
monthly Guide to Georgia, which lists tree-filled park is a favorite with walk-
upcoming events in Atlanta and else- ers, who can enjoy a six-kilometer
where in the state. Special-interest peri- (four-mile) loop trail over its somewhat
odicals include the quarterly Popcorn, hilly terrain. There is also a paved five-
focusing on glamour and entertain- kilometer (three-mile) jogging path and
ment; Poets, Artists, and Madmen, which trails for cycling and skating, as well as
covers the arts; and Art Papers, a bi- ball fields frequently used for baseball
monthly that is the most influential art and football. Home to the annual Arts
publication in the Southeast. Festival of Atlanta and many other fairs
and festivals, Piedmont Park is also the
location of the Atlanta Botanical Gar-
15 Sports
den and a regular venue for summer-
Atlanta fields major-league teams time Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
in baseball, basketball, football, and concerts. Other Atlanta parks include
hockey. The Atlanta Braves baseball Chastain Park and Grant Park.

Atlanta
The Chattahoochee River National company’s educational and outreach

Recreation Area extends along the division, the Atlanta Opera Studio, per-
Chattahoochee River shoreline. It is forms throughout the state, staging
graced with scenic views and abundant comic and one-act operas.
plant and animal life and also offers
113 kilometers (70 miles) of trails. The Atlanta’s main theater group—and
Chattahoochee Nature Center offers the major theatrical group in the South-
both woodland and wetland trails. east—is the Alliance Theatre Company,
Other parks in the Greater Atlanta area which performs at the Woodruff Arts
include Panola Mountain State Conser- Center, staging approximately ten plays
vation Park, Kennesaw Mountain per year. Special performances for chil-
National Battlefield Park, and Sweetwa- dren are staged by the Alliance Chil-
ter Creek State Park. dren’s Theatre. Other Atlanta theater
companies include Actor’s Express,
Atlanta has a number of municipal Horizon Theatre Company, Neighbor-
golf courses, and several privately hood Playhouse, Theatrical Outfit, The-
owned courses are also open to the pub- atre Gael, and Theatre in the Square.
lic. The Atlanta area also offers facilities
First founded in 1929 as the Dor-
for horseback riding, field hockey, ice
othy Alexander Dance Concert Group,
skating, racquetball, tennis, and other
the Atlanta Ballet is the oldest continu-
popular recreational activities.
ously performing ballet troupe in the
nation. In addition to a six-productions
17 Performing Arts annual series, the company offers a per-
formance of The Nutcracker every year.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,
which rose to prominence under the In addition to the Woodruff Arts
direction of famed American choral and Center and the Fox Theatre, other ven-
orchestral conductor Robert Shaw, per- ues for local and touring performers
forms in Woodruff Arts Center under include the Atlanta Civic Center and
the direction of its current music direc- Variety Playhouse. Outdoor theaters
tor, Yoel Levi. Also performing a regular include Chastain Park Amphitheatre
season of classical music are the Atlanta and the Coca-Cola Lakewood Amphi-
Chamber Players, whose repertoire theatre.
ranges from the classics to contempo-
rary pieces specially commissioned by 18 Libraries and
the ensemble. The Atlanta Opera, Museums
directed by William Fred Scott, stages
four productions annually at the Fox Founded in 1901, the Atlanta-Ful-
Theatre, attracting top guest soloists ton Public Library System serves
from across the country. In 1998, the 780,694 people, with an annual circula-
Opera had 6,822 seasonal subscribers tion of 3,102,081. Its book holdings
and a budget of $4.96 million. The total approximately 426,248 volumes.

Atlanta
The library system also operates 32 MARCH

neighborhood branches. The areas in Atlanta Home Show
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
which it holds special collections
include African American Culture & APRIL
Atlanta Dogwood Festival
History, Genealogy, and Margaret Atlanta Steeplechase
Mitchell. Fat Tuesday Jazz & Heritage Crawfish Festival
Inman Park Spring Festival & Tour of Homes
Atlanta’s High Museum of Art is PGA BellSouth Classic
housed in a modern award-winning
APRIL-MAY
building designed by architect Richard Atlanta Renaissance Festival
Meier and completed in 1983. The
MAY
building features a series of ramps that Atlanta Caribbean Folk Festival
curve along the building’s front wall Atlanta Jazz Festival
and an elevator that goes to the very Springfest Festival
top. The museum maintains some Taste of the South Festival
10,000 artworks in its permanent col- LATE MAY-EARLY JUNE
lection, ranging from primitive to clas- Spring Boat Show
sical to contemporary, and regularly JUNE
features traveling exhibitions. A sepa- Atlanta Film & Video Festival
rate collection, housed in the Georgia- Stone Mountain Village Arts & Crafts Festival
Pacific Center, features folk art and JUNE-AUGUST
photography. Georgia Shakespeare Festival
JULY
National Black Arts Festival
19 To u r i s m Thunder Over Atlanta Fireworks
Atlanta’s cosmopolitan reputation LATE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER
and thriving business activity bring Montreux Atlanta International Music Festival
many visitors to the city, and tourism SEPTEMBER
received a major boost from the 1996 Arts Festival of Atlanta
Olympics. In 1995 approximately Atlanta Greek Festival
495,000 foreign travelers visited the Roswell Arts Festival
Yellow Daisy Festival
city, ranking it twelfth nationally in
this category. OCTOBER
Scottish Festival & Highland Games
Tour of Southern Ghosts
20 Holidays and Fright Fest
Festivals NOVEMBER
Atlanta Christmas Show
JANUARY
Atlanta Boat Show Peachtree International Film Festival
Atlanta Garden & Patio Show NOVEMBER-DECEMBER
National King Week Art of the Season
Peach Bowl Holiday Celebration
FEBRUARY DECEMBER
Southeastern Flower Show CNN Center Tuba Christmas

Atlanta
The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site includes his tomb as well as his birthplace and church.
(S. Moore: Woodfin Camp)
Festival of Trees Joel Chandler Harris (1848–1908), au-

First Night Atlanta thor famous for his children’s tales
New Year’s Eve Peach Drop of B’rer Rabbit.
21 Famous Citizens Robert Tyre “Bobby” Jones (1902–71),

golfer who founded the Masters
Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron (b. 1934), Tournament and compiled a golf-
black baseball great who broke ing record unsurpassed in the his-
Babe Ruth’s home run record in tory of the game.
1974.
Henry W. Grady (1850–89), editor of Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968),

the Atlanta Constitution during the civil rights leader and Nobel Prize-
post-Civil War period who worked winning champion of social
to reconstruct Atlanta as a modern progress through nonviolent resis-
metropolis. tance.

Atlanta
Margaret Mitchell (1900–49), onetime Atlanta Planning and Development Dept.

reporter famous as the author of 55 Trinity Ave. SW, Suite 1450
Atlanta, GA 30335
Gone with the Wind. (404) 330-6070
John C. Portman (b. 1924), architect Mayor’s Office
who pioneered the atrium-lobby in 55 Trinity Ave. SW, Suite 2400
Atlanta, GA 30335
hotel design and designed many (404) 330-6100
major Atlanta buildings in the
1960s. Tourist and Convention Bureaus
Atlanta Convention and Visitors’ Bureau
Robert Edward “Ted” Turner (b. 1938), 233 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 100
media and entertainment mogul Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 521-6600
who founded the Cable News Net-
work (CNN) and owns the Atlanta Publications
Braves and the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta Constitution/Journal
P.O. Box 4689
Alfred Uhry (b. 1936), prize-winning Atlanta, GA 30302
playwright and author of numer-
Atlanta Magazine
ous award-winning dramas, includ- 1330 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 450
ing Driving Miss Daisy. Atlanta, GA 30309
Robert W. Woodruff (1889–1985), Coca- Books

Cola Company president known Allen, Frederick. Atlanta Rising: The Invention of
for his outstanding civic leader- an International City, 1946–1996. Atlanta,
GA: Longstreet Press, 1996.
ship. Clayton, Sarah Conley. Requiem for a Lost City: A
Memoir of Civil War Atlanta and the Old
South. Ed. Robert Scott Davis, Jr. Macon, GA:
22 For Further Study Mercer University Press, 1999.
David, Harold E. Henry Grady’s New South:
Websites Atlanta, A Brave and Beautiful City. University
Atlanta.TheLinks.com [Online] Available http:// of Alabama Press, 1990.
www.atlanta.thelinks.com/ (accessed Octo- Davis, Ren, and Helen Davis. Atlanta Walks: A
ber 15, 1999). Guide to Walking, Running, and Bicycling His-
DigitalCity WebGuide Atlanta. [Online] Avail- toric and Scenic Atlanta. Atlanta: Peachtree
able http://www.webguide.digitalcity.com/ Publishers, 1993.
atlanta (accessed October 15, 1999). Garrison, Webb B. Atlanta and the War. Nashville:
Excite Travel, Inc. [Online] Available http:// Rutledge Hill Press, 1995.
www.city.net/countries/united_states/ Gournay, Isabelle. AIA Guide to the Architecture of
georgia/atlanta (accessed October 15, 1999). Atlanta. Athens: University of Georgia Press,
Info Atlanta. [Online] Available http:// 1993.
www.travel.to/atlanta (accessed October 15, Knorr, Rosanne. Kidding Around Atlanta. J. Muir,
1999). 1997.
Kuhn, Clifford M. Living Atlanta, An Oral History
of the City, 1914–1948. Athens: University of
Government Offices Georgia Press, 1990.
Atlanta City Hall McCarley, J. Britt. The Atlanta Campaign: A Civil
55 Trinity Ave. SW War Driving Tour of Atlanta Area Battlefields.
Atlanta, GA 30335 Atlanta: Cherokee Publishing Co., 1984.
(404) 330-6000 Mitchell, Margaret. Gone With the Wind. New

Atlanta
York: Macmillan, 1936. [Fiction] Triumph of a People. Atlanta: Capricorn

Pomerantz, Gary. Where Peachtree Meets Sweet Corp., 1985.
Auburn: The Saga of Two Families and the Thompson, Joseph F., and Robert Isbell. Atlanta:
Making of Atlanta. New York: Scribner, 1996. A City of Neighborhoods. Columbia, SC: Uni-
Shavin, Norman, and Bruce Galphin. Atlanta: versity of South Carolina Press, 1994.

Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand, Asia
Founded: c. 1769
Location: Located in the Chao Phraya River basin, Thailand, in a region often called
the “Rice Bowl of Asia”
Time Zone: 7 p.m. = noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Ethnic Composition: Thai, 90%; Chinese, 9%; other, 1%
Latitude and Longitude: 13°45’N, 100°30’E
Coastline: Gulf of Thailand
Climate: Subtropical. Bangkok is hot all year, with temperatures ranging from an
average of 25°C (77°F) in December to 30°C (86°F) in April. Bangkok has three
distinct seasons: the hot season (March through May), the rainy season (June
through October), and the cool season (November through February).
Annual Mean Temperature: 28°C (82°F)
Average Annual Rainfall: 150 cm (59 in)
Government: Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. The city of Bangkok is
designated as a province and governed by an elected governor.
Weights and Measures: Metric
Monetary Units: The baht is Thailand’s basic unit of currency. In 1999, the exchange
rate was approximately 40 Thai baht to one U.S. dollar.
Telephone Area Code: 02; 66 (Thailand country code)
1 Introduction directing traffic are required to wear

masks. Still, despite modern problems,
Bangkok has been Thailand’s domi- Bangkok is a major tourist destination,
nant city since the eighteenth century. drawing millions of visitors each year.
Established as the capital in 1767 after
the fall of the ancient city of Ayutthaya,
Bangkok is located on one of southeast- 2 Getting There
ern Asia’s most important rivers, the Bangkok is located in central Thai-
Chao Phraya. In the 1980s and 1990s, land along the Chao Phraya River. Most
Bangkok underwent rapid moderniza- visitors to Thailand travel by air though
tion, growing to approximately ten mil- travelers in neighboring countries can
lion people, making this the only major reach Bangkok by bus, rail, or boat.
city in a country of villages and small
towns. Bangkok’s ancient palaces and Bus and Railroad Service
Buddhist temples contrast with high
rises and traffic jams. Dense air pollu- Traveling by bus into Thailand is
tion blankets the city. In fact, police not common for foreigners, though
17
Bangkok
must arrange transportation into

Bangkok Bangkok. Buses, taxis, hotel minibuses,
Population Profile and a riverboat shuttle all connect the
airport with downtown. Flight times
Population: 7,221,000 from some major U.S. cities include
Area: More than 2,300 sq km (900 sq mi)
Ethnic composition: 90% Thai; 9% Chinese; 1% New York, 22 hours; Chicago, 20 hours;
other and San Francisco, 17 hours.
Percentage of Thailand population2: 12%
Average yearly growth rate: 2.0% Shipping
Nicknames: Venice of Asia, City of Angels, Divine
City
Bangkok is Thailand’s major port,
———
1. Bangkok’s rank among the world’s urban areas. handling nearly all of the country’s
2. The percent of Thailand’s total population exports and receiving over 70 percent
living in the Bangkok metropolitan area. of its imports. The Chao Phraya River
connects the city to the Gulf of Thai-
land, 27 kilometers (17 miles) down-
buses do enter the country from Malay- stream.
sia, Laos, and Cambodia. Due to past
conflicts, much of Thailand’s border 3 Getting Around
with Myanmar (formerly Burma) is
mined and unsafe for travelers. Originally, Bangkok’s transporta-
The Hualamphong Railway Station tion system was based on the Chao
on Rama IV Road is the city’s main rail Phraya River and a series of canals.
station, serving most long-distance With the advent of the automobile,
routes. The Bangkok Noi, across the however, many of the canals have been
river from the Grand Palace, is used for filled in to make way for roads, and
shorter trips outside of the city. water travel is most common on the
Chao Phraya. Finding your way around
Airports Bangkok is a challenge. Bangkok is not
Bangkok International Airport is a planned city, and its growth has often
the major gateway to all of Thailand. been chaotic. The city sprawls alongside
Located about 24 kilometers (15 miles) the Chao Phraya River, with roads and
north of Bangkok, the airport is served alleys spiraling off in every direction.
by more than 35 airlines. Northwest Rama I Road goes through the center of
Airlines is the U.S. carrier with the most town. Further along, Rama I turns into
frequent flights while Thailand’s major Sukhumvit Road, an area with many
airline is Thai Airways International, hotels, restaurants, and bars. Most visi-
with flights to many international cit- tors to the city travel by taxi, river taxi,
ies. Since the airport is located outside or tuk-tuk (cheap open-air, three-
of the city, visitors traveling to Bangkok wheeled taxis).

Bangkok
Bus and Commuter Rail Service nations. For less than 20 cents, riders
can take the more frequent, non-air-
Buses in Bangkok are cheap and conditioned buses to just about any-
convenient, with many routes and fre- where in the city, though these buses
quent stops. For a fare of less than 20 tend to be crowded and very hot. Buses
baht (less than 50 cents), riders can take operate from 5:00 AM until 11:00 PM,
an air-conditioned bus to popular desti- and though the routes are confusing,

Bangkok
maps are available from most street-side drivers weave in and out of dense traf-
book vendors. fic. Despite the hazards, a ride in a tuk-
tuk may be the most convenient way to
An elevated rail system was pro- travel for a short trip or during rush
jected to begin operation in early 2000. hour.
A subway system is also underway,
though its construction is progressing
slowly. 4 People
Boats Thailand is one of the most racially
homogenous countries in Asia, with
Water travel was once the main more than 80 percent of its population
means of transportation in this city of being native Thai. The major minority
rivers and canals. River taxis and ferries group is Chinese, comprising ten to 14
are still one of Bangkok’s most popular percent, while all other ethnic groups
means of travel although they are los- combined, including Malays, Indians,
ing out to automobiles. Commuter Burmese, Vietnamese, Cambodians,
boats run several routes along and and Europeans, account for approxi-
across the Chao Phraya. The main jetty mately five percent.
stops are located at the Oriental Hotel,
the Royal Orchid Sheraton, the River In Bangkok these numbers are even
City Shopping Center, and the Grand more extreme, with native Thais mak-
Palace. The fare is reasonable at about ing up as much as 90 percent of the
15 baht (25 cents), depending on dis- population. The Chinese are again the
tance. For more leisurely sightseeing largest minority group, at about nine
trips, long-tailed boats can be rented by percent, and they are the most inte-
the hour for about 400 baht (ten dol- grated of the non-Thai populations.
lars). Intermarriage between Chinese and
Thai is common and accepted, and the
Taxis and Tuk-tuks Chinese population has a long and his-
In 1993 meters were installed in all toric presence in Bangkok. Because of
city taxis, although most drivers refuse restrictive foreign immigration quotas
to use them. Drivers almost always adopted after World War II (1939–45),
charge much higher fares than the Bangkok’s population is becoming less,
meters would tally, but taxis are rela- not more, diverse.
tively cheap by Western standards.
Bangkok is a rapidly expanding
A tuk-tuk is a colorful three- city, with the population growing from
wheeled vehicle. Passengers ride in an approximately five million in the early
open-air compartment that offers little 1990s to more than ten million at the
protection in an accident. Tuk-tuks are beginning of the twenty-first century.
the cheapest—and most dangerous— The population is overwhelmingly
way to travel within the city. Tuk-tuk young, with as many as half of

Bangkok

Bangkok Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Thailand) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Date the city was founded c. 1769 AD 969 753 BC 723 BC
Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Thai Rath La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
Bangkok’s residents under the age of 20. temples, called wats. Buddhism is also
Females slightly outnumber males. the city’s largest religion, with close to
95 percent of all citizens being Bud-
The main language of Thailand is dhist. Four percent of Bangkok’s popu-
Thai (or Tai). In Bangkok and the south- lation is Muslim while Christians,
ern regions of the country, a dialect of Hindus, Confucians, and Sikhs account
Thai is spoken that is faster and more for less than one percent.
abbreviated than other Thai dialects.
English is the secondary language of
the country’s educated and elite, and 5 Neighborhoods
English is spoken much more com-
monly in Bangkok than other regions While Bangkok as a whole is con-
of the country. fusing—sprawling for over 2,331 square
kilometers (900 square miles)—the city
Buddhism is considered the coun- can be broken down into several major
try’s official religion, and Bangkok is and distinct neighborhoods. Old
Thailand’s Buddhist center, home to Bangkok, on the west side of the Chao
many of the country’s most famous Phraya River, is the original site of the

Bangkok
City of Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River. (Robert Frerck: Woodfin Camp)
capital. Old Royal City is on the east located there. Sukhumvit, which used
side of the river and contains the major to be considered the outskirts of the
tourist attractions, including the Grand city, is northeast of Silom. Sukhumvit is
Palace, the Wat Pho Temple, and the a major tourist area, with many hotels,
National Museum. Southeast of Old restaurants, and bars. Sukhumvit is also
Royal City is Sam Peng. Sam Peng has a noted as having the city’s best nightlife.
large foreign population, including
many Chinese merchants. Further east, Houses consist mostly of one- or
Chinatown is another district with a two-story wooden structures built
large Chinese population. Chinatown closely together. Most of these homes
offers many small shops and ethnic res- are overcrowded, and the shortage of
taurants, as well as hotels catering to housing gets worse every year. Govern-
Chinese businessmen. South of China- ment housing programs barely address
town is Silom. Silom is the center of the this shortage. Some government-spon-
city’s financial district, and many of sored concrete high-rises have been
Bangkok’s most expensive hotels are constructed, but the demand for hous-

Bangkok
ing continues to grow faster than new wall along the river, which further pro-
housing can be built. To make matters tected the city from invasion.
worse, real estate developers focus only
During the reigns of King Rama II
on providing homes for middle- and
(1768–1824; r. 1809–1824) and Rama III
upper-income residents. Squatters
(r. 1824–1851), many of the city’s Bud-
occupy unused public land, a practice
dhist monasteries (called wats) were
permitted by the government.
constructed. In addition to their reli-
gious functions, the wats served as cen-
6 History ters of learning, medicine, and
recreation. Major temples included the
Since the late 1700s, Bangkok has Wat Arun, the Wat Yan Nawa, and the
been Thailand’s largest and most Wat Pho. During this period, however,
important city. In 1767, after the Bur- the rest of the city was neglected. The
mese sacked and burned Ayutthaya, the kings built few other major public
ancient capital of Siam (now named buildings and almost no paved roads.
Thailand), the capital was moved down Average citizens relied on a series of
the Chao Phraya River to Thon Buri or interconnected canals (khlongs) for
Old Bangkok, on the west bank of the transportation.
river. In 1782 King Rama I (1737–1809;
r. 1782–1809), upon ascending to the Until the reign of Rama V (1853–
throne, moved the capital to a village 1910; r. 1868–1910) public works were
across the river. This move was strate- not a priority. The king foresaw the
gic, putting the wide Chao Phraya River importance of the automobile and
between the capital and the often- established a system of roadways and
invading Burmese. The village across bridges. In addition, Rama V instituted
the river was then composed mostly of a post and telegraph service, an electric
Chinese traders and was known as tram service, and the State Railway.
Bangkok, which translates as "Village of Much of Thailand’s history has
Wild Plums." been a battle for sovereignty, and while
the country has suffered through many
Rama I wanted his new capital to
invasions, Thailand boasts that it is one
equal the splendor of Ayutthaya, which
of the few countries in Asia never con-
had served as the country’s capital for
quered and colonized. This point is
more than 400 years. By the end of his
debatable. During World War II (1939–
reign, Bangkok was a thriving city, and
45), though Thailand was technically
King Rama I had established a walled
allied with the Japanese, troops from
palace complex, the Grand Palace, and
Japan controlled much of Thailand and
a major Buddhist temple, the Wat Phra
were concentrated in Bangkok.
Kaeo. To fortify the new capital, Rama I
ordered the construction of a seven- In the past 20 years, Bangkok has
kilometer-long (four-and-a-half-mile- expanded rapidly. During the Vietnam
long), three-meter-high (ten-foot-high) War era, American soldiers used the city

Bangkok
During the reign of King Rama II (1768–1824; r. 1809–1824) and Rama III (r. 1824–1851), many citizens
relied on canals for transportation due to a lack of roads in the city. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
as a rest-and-relaxation destination. Despite modern problems, how-

The city then had a population of 1.5 ever, the city retains much of its ancient
million, a population that has since bal- charm. Bangkok’s colorful markets, his-
looned to approximately ten million. toric buildings, and ornate temples
The increase in population means con- attract millions of tourists each year.
gestion and pollution in the city. Air
pollution in Bangkok is perhaps the 7 Government
worst in the world, and the overcrowd-
ing and lack of planning have impacted Thailand is a constitutional monar-
everything from transportation to chy. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (b.
drinking water to housing. In the 1946) formally rules over a highly cen-
tralized government, but real decision-
1990s, Bangkok had close to one mil-
making power in governmental affairs
lion registered motor vehicles, along
rests with the prime minister. The king
with an ever-expanding superhighway
signed a new constitution on October
system. Most of Bangkok’s canals were
11, 1997.
filled in and paved over to make new
roads. This replacement caused parts of The city of Bangkok has provincial
the city to sink, and annual flooding status, meaning it is run by an elected
has become a problem. governor instead of a mayor. Up until

Bangkok
1985, Bangkok's governor and assem- 9 Economy

blymen were appointed by the central
government. However, starting in Bangkok is the center of Thailand’s
November 1985, elections were insti- economy and the country’s principal
port. Bangkok is the country’s financial
tuted for the first time.
center, home to over one-third of Thai-
land’s banks, as well as the Bangkok
8 Public Safety Stock Exchange. Thailand’s basic unit of
currency is the baht, with the exchange
Bangkok is one of the world’s most rate at approximately 40 baht per
populated and crowded cities, and like U.S.$1.
most major cities, Bangkok has prob-
Most of the factories in Bangkok
lems with crime. As Bangkok’s popula-
are small, many of them family-owned.
tion grew in the latter half of the
Food processing, textiles, and the pro-
twentieth century, so too did its crime duction of building materials are the
rate. The number of murders, assaults, chief manufacturing enterprises. Other
thefts, and armed robberies all industries include cement, electronics,
increased. Smuggling is widespread in petroleum refining, and tourism.
Bangkok, with drugs, endangered ani-
mal products, and stolen antiques all Bangkok is a major regional city,
passing through the city. but it has begun seeking foreign invest-
ment in an effort to increase its impor-
International pressure has been tance internationally. Recent events,
exerted to urge Thailand to deal with however, have undermined this effort.
two major criminal problems: child Bangkok’s crime rate remains high,
prostitution and the opium drug trade. with foreigners often the targets of vio-
With prostitution having a semi-legal lence, and widespread corruption con-
tinues to plague many business
status in Thailand, advocacy groups
ventures. To make matters worse, the
have been formed to address childhood
country is suffering through a severe
prostitution and pornography. As for
and lingering recession. In the mid-
opium, rural Thailand is one of the 1990s, the Thai economy virtually col-
world’s major growers of poppies, used lapsed, with exports drying up and
to make opium, and many nations have many banks hurt by bad loans and
been pressuring Thailand to more uncollected debt. Thailand’s collapse
aggressively combat the drug trade. helped trigger a financial crisis that
engulfed nearly all of Asia. In August
The Bangkok Metropolitan Police 1997, the Thai government applied for
are responsible for providing law and received IMF loans. (The IMF, Inter-
enforcement services for the city and its national Monetary Fund, is an organi-
suburbs. The urban police force is oper- zation that promotes worldwide
ated by an appointed commissioner. economic stability.) In return for $14

Bangkok
billion of assistance, the country agreed authentic Asian-style bazaar. Silom

to a series of banking and market Road has both booths and shops and is
reforms. crowded almost every night. Through-
out Bangkok there are many malls and
10 Environment chain stores. Haggling is common in
the traditional Thai markets.
Being an urban area, Bangkok has
few natural resources, with most of its 12 Education
land devoted to development. The
Kingdom of Thailand, however, has Because of its large school-age pop-
many natural resources. Its major ulation, Bangkok’s schools are grossly
resources are tin, rubber, natural gas, overcrowded. With too few teachers
tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, and schools, education in the city varies
gypsum, lignite, and fluorite. greatly, with the standard of education
often depending on a student’s social
Elephants receive considerable class. Children of upper-class parents
attention in Bangkok. Although it is usually attend private schools, many of
technically illegal to bring elephants which focus on English-language
into the city, more are showing up on instruction. Poorer students often
Bangkok’s city streets. Because the ele- attend schools associated with Buddhist
phants’ natural habitat is being temples. Education is compulsory for
destroyed by development, handlers children from the ages of seven to 14.
bring their animals into Bangkok to beg
for food. Elephants are popular with Bangkok is home to the majority of
tourists but unpopular with city drivers. Thailand’s universities. However, in
Many elephants are involved in traffic Thailand a Western education is highly
accidents on Bangkok’s overcrowded prized, and students who can afford to
streets. study abroad usually do. The overall lit-
eracy rate of the country approaches 95
percent.
11 Shopping
Bangkok has many colorful and 13 Health Care
crowded markets. Booths sell every-
thing from fake Rolex watches to Public health in Thailand
designer clothing. Bangkok's most pop- improved greatly in the second half of
ular exports are silks, jewelry, celadon the twentieth century. In the late 1990s
pottery, lacquerware, masks, carvings, the life expectancy for men was 65
and antiques—all of which are rela- years; for women it was 73 years. In
tively cheap by Western standards. 1960 the life expectancy for both men
and women had been only 51 years.
Bangkok’s largest market is the Much of this increase was due to a suc-
open-air Weekend Market at Chatuchak cessful struggle against malaria, which
Park. The Weekend Market is an had once been the number one cause of

Bangkok
Damonen Saduak floating market.

(A. Ramey: Woodfin Camp)
illness and death. Citizens in Bangkok collected from roof drainage. Others
receive the best health care of anyone resort to drinking from the polluted riv-
in Thailand. This is simply due to the ers and canals.
fact that a disproportionate number of
health care facilities are concentrated in Reported cases of AIDS were on the
the Bangkok area. rise at the end of the twentieth century.
Much of this rise was blamed on the
Of major concern to health offi- fact that prostitution is accepted and
cials is the issue of drinking water. widespread in Bangkok.
Bangkok has the highest access to safe
drinking water of any region in the 14 Media
country, but fully 40 percent of
Bangkok’s residents have little access to Thailand’s constitution guarantees
uncontaminated public water, forcing freedom of the press, and most outside
many of the city’s poor to drink from observers agree that the Thai press
rainwater pooled in shallow wells or enjoys a reasonable amount of freedom.

Bangkok
Nevertheless, writers and reporters exer- 16 Parks and

cise a degree of self-censorship, due to Recreation
unwritten but very real government
constraints. Criticism of the monarchy
Lumphini Park
is especially frowned upon. The major-
ity of Thailand’s newspapers are based Lumphini Park is Bangkok’s most
in Bangkok; most of these are indepen- popular and oldest park. Lumphini is
dent and privately owned. The Thai one of the few green spaces in this con-
Rath and the Daily News have the larg- gested city. Restaurants and bars line
est readerships. Government agencies, the north side of the park, and,
including the Thai News Agency, issue although not legal within city limits,
many of their own reports. elephant trainers often bring their ele-
The Office of the Prime Minister phants into the park and offer tourists
controls radio and television broadcast- rides for a modest fee.
ing. Hours, content, and programs all
must be approved by government offi- King Rama IX Royal Park
cials. The National Broadcasting Ser-
vices of Thailand (NBT) is the official This park opened in 1987 to com-
government broadcasting station, memorate the King Rama IX’s sixtieth
focusing on local and international birthday. The park contains a public
news. park, a water park, and botanical gar-
dens.
By the 1980s television had
become Bangkok’s dominant news
medium, with nine out of ten house- Samphran Elephant Grounds & Zoo
holds owning at least one television set.
Computer and internet use are still Located on the outskirts of
mostly confined to the upper classes. Bangkok, this is the best place in Thai-
land to see elephants. Shows reenact
eighteenth-century Thai battles, with
15 Sports the elephants clad in armor. Elephants
Thailand’s national sport is Thai also perform in a circus and in polo
Boxing. Thai boxing combines tradi- matches.
tional boxing with martial arts.
Matches in Bangkok draw huge crowds, Massage
and betting is common in the stands.
Besides boxing, Bangkok offers Massage is one of Bangkok’s most
horseracing enthusiasts two tracks with popular pastimes. In Thailand, and
races every Sunday. Soccer is growing in much of Asia, massage is considered a
popularity, and Bangkok’s National Sta- component of good health. Massage
dium is host to many important schools and businesses can be found all
matches. over the city.

Bangkok
17 Performing Arts temple houses the gigantic 35-meter-

long (115-foot-long) gold Reclining
Classical Thai dance is Bangkok’s
Buddha. The Wat Pho also served as
performing art of note. Traditional
Thailand’s first university.
dance blends a series of controlled ges-
tures and movements with drama. The
dancers wear elaborate costumes and The Pasteur Institute
masks, and performances are accompa-
nied by woodwind and percussion The Pasteur Institute is also known
instruments. as The Snake Farm. The Red Cross runs
this farm as a center for snake venom
18 Libraries and collection. Handlers milk poison from
Museums cobras, black mambas, pit vipers, and
other dangerous snakes, and then the
The National Museum venom is used to make an antidote for
people bitten by poisonous snakes.
The National Museum is consid-
ered to be Southeast Asia’s largest and
most comprehensive museum. Founded National Theatre
in 1782, the museum’s several buildings
house artifacts representing more than Thailand's National Theatre is
10,000 years of history. The museum located on Na Phra Lan Road next to
gives visitors a thorough overview of the National Museum. Thai Classical
Thai history and culture. dramas and other types of international
arts are periodically staged here. Cur-
The Grand Palace rent programs can be checked at the
The Grand Palace was founded in theatre on weekdays between 8:30 AM
1782 when Bangkok was made the and 4:30 PM. Special exhibition shows
nation’s capital. It is still surrounded by of Thai classical dancing and music are
high white walls that were originally held on the last Friday and Saturday of
used for protection. This is Thailand’s each month.
most frequented tourist site. The Palace
consists of more than 100 elaborately Royal Ceremonial Barges
decorated buildings. Within the Palace
grounds is the Wat Phra Kaeo temple, The King’s royal ceremonial barges
considered one of the most beautiful are housed in a shed on the west side of
temples in Thailand. the Chao Phraya River, across from the
Grand Palace compound. Dating from
The Wat Pho the early part of the twentieth century,
The Wat Pho is one of Bangkok’s the barges were carved to look like
oldest and largest temples. It is located mythical creatures. They are considered
just south of the Grand Palace. The a national treasure.

Bangkok
Elephant sculptures flanking a shrine at the base of a large, gilded Phra Si Ranta Chedi, one of the most
prominent buildings in the Wat Phra Kaeo complex. (Lindsay Hebberd; Woodfin Camp)
National Art Gallery Historic buildings and temples are scat-

tered throughout the city. The Grand
This gallery exhibits both modern
Palace is considered one of Thailand’s
and traditional Thai art, and it also
most important tourist sites. The Grand
schedules rotating and traveling exhibi-
Palace dates back to 1782, established
tions.
when King Rama I moved the capital to
Bangkok. Bangkok’s famous temples
19 To u r i s m include the Wat Pho and the Wat
Thailand is one of Southeast Asia’s Traimitr. The Wat Pho temple is home
major tourist destinations, and almost to the 35-meter-long (151-foot-long)
all visitors to Thailand pass through Reclining Buddha, and the Wat Traimitr
Bangkok. In the 1990s, an estimated six temple houses the world’s largest solid-
to seven million tourists visited gold Buddha, weighing five metric tons
Bangkok each year. While Bangkok is (five-and-a-half tons) and standing
famous for its food and wild nightlife, it three meters (ten feet) high. The Royal
is probably best known for its history. Ceremonial Barges are another popular

Bangkok
attraction. These elaborately decorated, history, respected for his skills as a

intricately carved longboats take the musician and composer, also well
form of mythical creatures and are only known as a painter, sculpture, and
used by the king on special occasions. photographer.
Queen Sirikit (b. 1932), wife of King
20 Holidays and Bhumibol Adulyadej, activist for
Festivals rural women, the conservation of
JANUARY-FEBRUARY natural resources, and protection of
Chinese New Year (a two-day holiday based on a forestlands and endangered ani-
lunar calendar) mals.
FEBRUARY
Magha Puja (a Buddhist Holiday commemorat- Jim Thompson (b. 1906), an American
ing the day when 1,250 Buddhist disciples spon- who moved to Bangkok after World
taneously heard Buddha preach the cardinal War II, credited with reviving Thai-
doctrine) land’s silk industry, mysteriously
APRIL disappeared into the Malaysian
Songkran (the Thai New Year, celebrated by set- jungles in 1967.
ting birds and fish free)
MAY Mai Charoenpura (b. 1969), model and
Coronation Day actress, as well as one of Thailand’s
JULY-AUGUST most popular singers.
Visakha Puja (celebrated on the full moon of the
sixth lunar month, commemorating Buddha’s Venerable P. A. Payutto, Thailand's fore-
birth, enlightenment, and death. Monk’s lead most Buddhist scholar and author,
candlelight processions around temples.) most famous for his book Bud-
AUGUST dhadhamma (1995).
Queen’s Birthday (August 12)
NOVEMBER 22 For Further Study
Loi Krathong (a time of atonement, celebrated to
honor water spirits. After sunset people make
their way to a body of water and float candles on
Websites
Bangkok.com. [Online] Available http://
small lotus-shaped boats.)
www.bangkok.com (accessed October 12,
DECEMBER 1999).
King’s Birthday (December 5; Thailand’s Royal Bangkok, Thailand. [Online] Available http://
Elite Guards lead a colorful procession.) bangkok.thailandtoday.com/index.shtml
Constitution Day (accessed April 14, 2000).
CIA, the World Factbook 1999, Thailand.
[Online] Available http://www.odci.gov/cia/
21 Famous Citizens publications/factbook/th.html (accessed
October 12, 1999).
Bhumibol Adulyadej (b. 1927), highly Thailand the Big Picture. [Online] Available
respected King of Thailand (r. http://www.nectec.or.th/ (accessed October
1946–), born in Cambridge, Massa- 12, 1999).
Thailand Travel Information Center. [Online]
chusetts, considered the embodi- Available http://www.thaiinfo.com/
ment of religion, culture, and (accessed October 12, 1999).

Bangkok
Government Offices Los Angeles, CA 90010

Tourist Police Phone: (213) 382–2353
Unico House
Ploenchit Soi Lang Suan Publications
Bangkok Bangkok’s two major English-language daily
Phone: (02) 221–6209 newspapers are both available online:
The Bangkok Post. [Online] Available http://
United States Embassy www.bangkokpost.com.net/ (accessed Octo-
95 Wireless Road ber 12, 1999).
Bangkok The Nation. [Online] Available http://
Phone: (02) 252–5040 www.nationmultimedia.com/ (accessed
October 12, 1999).
Tourist Authority of Thailand
372 Bamrung Muang Rd.
Pom Prap, 10100 Books
Bangkok Bailey, Donna. Thailand. Austin, TX: Steck-
Phone: (02) 226–0060 Vaughn, 1992.
Buckley, Michael. Bangkok Handbook. 2nd ed.
Chico, CA: Moon Publications, 1995.
Tourist and Convention Bureaus Cooper, Robert and Nanthapa Cooper. Culture
Tourism Authority of Thailand offices in the Shock!: Thailand & How to Survive It. Port-
United States: land, OR: Graphic Arts Center Publishing
East Coast: Company, 1991.
5 World Trade Center, Suite 3443 Hoskin, John. Bangkok. Lincolnwood, IL: Pass-
New York, NY 10048 port Books, 1991.
Phone: (212) 432–0433 McNair, Sylvia. Bangkok. New York: Children's
Press, 1999.
Midwest: Ringis, Rita. Elephants of Thailand in Myth, Art,
303 E. Wacker Dr., Suite 400 and Reality. New York: Oxford Univ. Press,
Chicago, IL 60601 1996.
Phone: (312) 819-3990 Segaller, Denis, Thai Ways. Bangkok: Bangkok
Post Books, 1998.
West: Wyatt, David, Thailand: A Short History. New
3440 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1100 Haven: Yale University Press, 1986.

Beijing
Beijing, Hebei Province, People’s Republic of China, Asia
Founded: c. 723 B.C.; First Known as Beijing: 1421

Location: North China Plain
Time Zone: 8 PM Chinese time=noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Ethnic Composition: Han, 96.2%
Elevation: 30–40 m (100–130 ft)
Latitude and Longitude: 39º55'N, 166º25'E
Coastline: None
Climate: Continental monsoon climate in a temperate zone, with long winters and
hot, rainy summers
Annual Mean Temperature: 12ºC (53ºF); January –4ºC (24ºF); July 26ºC (79ºF)
Average Annual Precipitation: 635 mm (25 in)
Government: Centrally administered by the national government
Weights and Measures: Metric system, with some use of traditional Chinese units
Monetary Units: Yuan (also called kuai); Monetary system called Renminbi (“people’s
currency”) (abbreviation: Rmb)
Telephone Area Codes: 10 (Beijing area code); 86 (China country code)
1 Introduction merly austere Communist capital into a

bustling commercial metropolis and
Located on the North China Plain tourist center and home to a thriving
in the north-central part of the country, consumer economy. (Mao Zedong,
Beijing (also known as Peking) is the 1893–1976, was the founder of the Peo-
capital of the People’s Republic of ple’s Republic of China and ruled from
China and its second-largest city. As the 1949 to 1959, but he remained chair-
political and cultural center of one of man of the politburo until his death.)
the world’s largest and oldest countries
almost continuously for nearly 800 2 Getting There
years, Beijing has had a colorful and fas-
cinating history, from its days as the Beijing is situated in the southern
aristocratic imperial “center of the part of the North China Plain, with the
world” to revolution, foreign occupa- Taihang and Yanshan mountains to the
tion, and civil war in the twentieth cen- north and west and a flat plain to the
tury. During the last two decades of the southeast, leading to the Bohai Sea,
twentieth century, Beijing was trans- where the five rivers that run through
formed yet again, as the economic lib- the city come together and empty out.
eralization and modernization of the About two-thirds of the city’s total land
post-Mao Zedong era turned the for- area is hilly.
33
Beijing
except Tibet. Beijing has four main

Beijing train stations, of which the largest is
Population Profile the recently built West station in the
southwest part of the city. Nearly every
City Proper city in China, as well as many towns,
Population: 6–8 million can be reached from Beijing by train.
Area: 750 sq km (290 sq mi)
Nicknames: The Celestial City, The Northern Long-distance bus service is used
Capital, The Center of the World
primarily to travel between Beijing and
Metropolitan Area its suburbs, or to nearby cities. How-
Population: 12,033,000 ever, some bus lines travel as far as
Description: Beijing Administrative Zone, which Shanghai or Qungdao.
includes the city and its outskirt
Area: 16,800 sq km (6,486 sq mi)
World population rank1: 12 Airports
Percentage of national population2: 0.9%
Average yearly growth rate: 1.3% Beijing Capital Airport, located
Ethnic composition: 96.2% Han; 3.8% Manchu, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) north-
Mongolian, Hui, and 52 other groups
west of the central city, is China’s major
———
1. The Beijing metropolitan area’s rank among the
international airport. Its domestic and
world’s urban areas. international terminals are located in
2. The percent of China’s total population living in the same building, with a new interna-
the Beijing metropolitan area. tional terminal under construction.
Scheduled flights connect Beijing with
Shanghai, Canton, and all other major
Chinese cities and tourist sites. There
are direct flights to many international
Highways capitals, including New York, Los Ange-
Highways radiate outward in all les, London, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, and
directions from Beijing: northeast to Berlin. Nanyuan Airport, south of
Chengdo; eastward to Tangshan; south- Beijing, is used for domestic flights.
east to Tanggu and Tianjin; southward
to Hengshui, Baoding, and Shijiaz- 3 Getting Around
huang; southwest to Laiyuan; and
northwest to Zhangliahou. Beijing’s central city retains its
carefully planned historic layout,
Bus and Railroad Service arranged around a central north-south
axis seven-and-a-half kilometers (five
Trains are the most commonly miles) long that passes through the
used mode of passenger transportation city’s entire central core, from the Bell
in China, and Beijing is the nation’s rail Tower and Drum Tower in the north,
hub, serving as the terminus for many through the Forbidden City at the cen-
rail lines. Service is provided between ter, to the site of the former Yung-ting
Beijing and all Chinese provinces Gate in the south. This central core is

Beijing

Beijing
actually the remnant of two adjoining Sightseeing

walled cities, whose outlines are
retained although their walls are long Organized tours are offered by
gone—a roughly square-shaped “inner” China’s tourism agencies, of which the
city to the north and a rectangular two major ones are the China Interna-
“outer” city to the south. tional Travel Service (CITS) and the
China Travel Service (CTS). CITS offers
Bus and Commuter Rail Service a variety of “Dragon Tours,” which
include such attractions as the Great
Buses are the most popular means Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden
of transportation in Beijing. The city City, the Summer Palace, the Beijing
has over 200 bus and trolley routes, and Zoo, and rickshaw rides.
the buses are always packed. They run
every five to ten minutes, from 5:00 or
5:30 in the morning until 10:00 or 4 People
11:00 at night. Tickets, which are inex-
pensive, are purchased after the passen- Beijing grew rapidly in the twenti-
ger has boarded the bus, and the fare eth century, especially after the Com-
varies according to the distance trav- munist revolution of 1949. Today the
eled. Minibuses are also available, pri- Beijing metropolitan area has a popula-
marily for traveling to tourist tion of more than 12 million people.
attractions or railway stations. Between six and eight million live in
the city proper, and the rest in the sur-
Beijing has two subway lines, the rounding area. The population of the
east-west First Line, which runs from central city has also been expanded by
the western suburb of Xidan to the cen- the presence of more than three million
ter of the city (and is slated to be transient workers from other areas.
extended to the eastern suburbs), and
the Circle Line, which follows a circular Officially, 56 different ethnic
route that corresponds to the former groups are recognized in Beijing; how-
location of Beijing’s original city walls.
ever, an overwhelming majority of the
The subway is faster and less crowded
population (96.2 percent) belongs to
than the bus lines but does not travel to
the Han ethnic group. The remainder
all spots in the city.
are divided among the 55 other ethnici-
Taxicabs have become increasingly ties, of which the most populous are
popular in the past decade, and it is the Manchus, Hui, and Mongolians.
now easy to hail one of the many cabs Several ethnic groups live in their own
that cruise the city streets and offer a neighborhoods, with special facilities
convenient but relatively inexpensive for observing their traditional cultural
alternative to the bus or subway. practices.

Beijing

Beijing Cairo Rome New York
Indicator
(China) (Egypt) (Italy) (United States)

Date the city was founded 723 BC AD 969 753 BC 1613
2
Daily costs to visit the city
Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/ The Wall Street
Largest newspaper Renmin Ribao La Repubblica
Al Akhbar Journal
Circulation of largest newspaper 3,000,000 1,159,339 754,930 1,740,450
1 United
2 The
3
5 Neighborhoods heart of the Inner City lies the Forbid-

den City, a historic district that is the
Greater Beijing is a vast metropoli- former home of China’s emperors. The
tan area of 16,800 square kilometers Outer City consists mostly of residential
(6,486 square miles), first carved out and commercial areas and parks.
under an imperial government centu-
ries ago. Its unity has been preserved by Encircling the central city is the
the People’s Republic, and today it is zone of inner suburbs that accounts for
divided into ten districts (ch’u) and
five of the remaining ch’u. It is home to
eight counties (hsien), which can be
government buildings, schools, facto-
delineated into three concentric areas.
The central one is the Old City, encom- ries, and workers’ residences, and its
passing four of the ch’u; this is the area outer belt is cultivated to provide the
originally enclosed by the city walls. It city with a local supply of fresh pro-
is further divided into the Inner and duce. The Beijing and Qinghua univer-
Outer Cities, two adjacent areas with sities lie in the northwest suburbs of
the Outer City to the south. At the this region.

Beijing
Tiananmen Square. (Timothy Eagan; Woodfin Camp)
Beijing’s outermost, or far subur- earliest recorded settlement, in what is

ban, zone is made up of the one now southwest Beijing, dates back to
remaining ch’u and the eight hsien, or around 1045 B.C. By 453–221 B.C. (the
rural counties. This district consists “Warring States” period), the site was
largely of farmland and supplies the home to a city called Ji, which was the
city with agricultural products, as well capital of the Yan Kingdom.
as coal, lumber, water, and other basic
necessities. Its residential areas are pri- In 1215, the city at the site of
marily country towns. present-day Beijing was torched by the
Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan
6 History (1162–1227), who built a new city
called Dadu (“Great Capital”), or Khan-
The Beijing area is known to have baliq. Later in the thirteenth century,
been inhabited by prehistoric humans under the rule of Kublai Khan (1215–
(Homo erectus pekinensis, or Beijing man) 1294), it became the capital of a vast
approximately 500,000 years ago. The empire, and it has been China’s

Beijing
national capital almost continuously the nationalist Kuomintang in power.

ever since. It was renamed Beiping At the conclusion of World War I
(“Northern Peace”) at the beginning of (1914–18), it was the site of a historic
the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). In demonstration in Tiananmen Square,
1421, the third Ming emperor, Yongle, opposing Chinese capitulation to the
made the city his capital, and it terms of the Versailles Treaty (signed in
assumed its present name of Beijing 1919, the Versailles Treaty officially
(“Northern Capital”). It was during this ended World War I).
period that the present grid pattern of
Military and political develop-
the central city was established,
ments in the second quarter of the
arranged around a north-south axis
twentieth century affected the status of
centering on the Imperial Palace. The
Beijing. Fighting to regain control of
city’s design followed the traditional
the country from the warlords who had
architectural principles of feng shui, a
seized power shortly after the revolu-
system of using space in a way intended
tion of 1911, the Kuomintang (the Chi-
to achieve maximum harmony between
nese Nationalist Party), under Chiang
the human and natural worlds. In 1553
Kaishek, moved its capital to Nanjing in
walls went up around the “outer city”
1928 and renamed Beijing, calling it
to the south, enclosing suburbs that
Beiping (“Northern Peace” instead of
had grown up adjacent to the original
“Northern Capital”). In 1937 the Japa-
city.
nese seized control of the city when
they invaded China, and it remained
Under the Qing dynasty of the
under occupation until the end of
Manchus (1644–1911), Beijing under-
World War II (1939–45), with Chungk-
went substantial renovation and expan-
ing serving as the temporary National-
sion although the basic character of the
ist capital during the bitter warfare of
city during the Ming period was largely
that period. Beijing was retaken and
preserved. The last century of Manchu
held by the Kuomintang during the
rule was a period of foreign encroach-
ensuing civil war, but the city finally
ment from without and political insta-
fell to the Communists under the lead-
bility within. The city of Beijing was
ership of Mao Zedong (1893–1976) in
captured by French and British forces
January, 1949, and became the capital
during the second Opium War (1858–
of the People’s Republic of China the
60), and the Summer Palaces were
following October, regaining its former
burned down. Foreign forces attacked
name and its position as the nation’s
the city during the Boxer Rebellion
political, cultural, and financial hub.
(1898–1900) at the turn of the twenti-
eth century, destroying many of its Under Mao’s leadership, the city
artistic and historical treasures. Beijing underwent modernization, as streets
remained at the center of Chinese his- were widened, vestiges of imperial rule
tory following the 1911 revolution that were demolished, and technical advis-
ended Chinese imperial rule and placed ers from the Union of Soviet Socialist

Beijing
The Summer Palace, featuring traditional Chinese gardening, was burned down by the allied forces of
Great Britain and France in the second Opium War (1858–60). (Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp)
Republics (U.S.S.R.) introduced exam- event, as the student-led pro-democracy

ples of Soviet-style architecture. From movement was crushed there in the
1966 to the late 1970s, life in Beijing, as spring of 1989, accentuating the dispar-
elsewhere in China, was dramatically ity between the country’s economic
affected by the Cultural Revolution. reforms and its continuing level of
Beijing’s Tiananmen Square was the site political repression. Although China’s
of the 1976 demonstration, honoring human rights record continues to draw
deceased political leader Zhou Enlai, criticism from abroad and dissent at
that marked the beginning of the end home, the economic liberalization of
for this disastrous campaign of political the past two decades has changed the
repression. face of its capital, with the construction
of skyscrapers, the proliferation of the
For the final time in the twentieth services and conveniences that charac-
century, Beijing’s Tiananmen Square terize a modern consumer economy,
became the stage for a major political and the exponential growth of tourism.

Beijing
7 Government cially crowds of tourists, and grab bags

and wallets, or use knives or razors to
Although it has its own elected and slit open bags and steal their contents.
appointed government officials, Beijing
is one of three municipalities in China Most crimes are handled by the
(the other two are Tientsin and Shang- Public Security Bureau, which appre-
hai) that are ultimately under the con- hends, prosecutes, and sentences crimi-
trol of the national government rather nals. Beijing’s districts have their own
than the surrounding province (in the police jurisdictions, with a number of
case of Beijing, this is Hebei Province). substations, or precincts, to each dis-
For administrative purposes, the urban trict. Crimes involving illegal drugs are
and suburban parts of Beijing are prosecuted harshly.
divided into ten districts (ch’n; four
urban and six suburban), and the sur- 9 Economy
rounding rural areas of the municipal-
ity are divided into eight counties Since the Communist revolution of
(hsien). 1949, Beijing has become one of the
nation’s industrial centers. In the 1950s
The major governing body at the and 1960s, the Chinese government
municipal level is the People’s Congress funded major development of heavy
of Beijing Municipality, which has bud- industry in the city, led by the modern-
get, taxation, and administrative ization of the Shih-ching-shan Iron and
responsibilities. Its members also elect Steel Works, which is now one of the
the officials of the executive branch. country’s major steel-producing facili-
Known as the Beijing People’s Govern- ties. Today Beijing ranks second only to
ment, it consists of a mayor, several vice Shanghai in industrialization, with
mayors, and the heads of various highly developed machinery, textile,
bureaus. Each district has its own and petrochemical sectors. Agriculture
mayor, and within each district some also plays a significant role in Beijing’s
civic duties are assumed at the neigh- economy, with a large farming belt on
borhood level as well. the city’s periphery serving to reduce its
dependence on food supplies shipped
As China’s national capital, Beijing in from the Yangtze Valley.
is also home to almost all major govern-
ment institutions, including the Beijing has a rapidly growing ser-
National People’s Congress and the vice sector, consisting mostly of govern-
State Council. ment agencies. The People’s Bank of
China, the major institution in China’s
8 Public Safety centralized banking system, has its
head office in central Beijing, which is
Violent crime is relatively rare in also home to a variety of specialized
Beijing, but petty theft is common. banks, including the Industrial and
Pickpockets like to target crowds, espe- Commercial Bank of China and the

Beijing
Agricultural Bank of China. Other 11 Shopping

financial institutions in the city include
major insurance companies, credit Beijing’s main shopping thorough-
cooperatives, securities firms, and fare, Wangfujing Market Street, attracts
investment companies. Wholesale and some 100,000 customers every day.
retail commerce and tourism also play a Anchored by the Beijing Department
major role in the city’s economy. Store, its mostly state-operated retailers
include other department stores, book-
The free-market economic reforms shops and other specialty stores, as well
of the 1990s created an economic boom as the Dong’an Mall. Major additions
for Beijing with the influx of foreign and renovations are slated for comple-
capital and technology. tion around 2000. Although renovated
in the 1980s, Liulichang Street still has
the appearance of a market street from
10 Environment the Qing Dynasty. Its shops are known
for their selection of antiques, rare
Like other cities throughout the
books, calligraphy, and arts and crafts.
world, Beijing has paid an environmen-
tal price for its twentieth-century eco-
In the Qianmen district south of
nomic and technological progress. The
Tiananmen Square, street vendors sell
heavy industrialization introduced in
foods, traditional Chinese medicine,
the 1950s brought with it air pollution, and a colorful variety of consumer
which the government has addressed goods, from bamboo streamers to suit-
by relocating factories to the outskirts cases. Traditional markets, such as the
of the municipality and using natural Hongqiao Market and the Guanyuan
gas instead of coal as a heating fuel. Market, offer an eclectic selection of
However, the growing number of motor goods, ranging from food to furniture
vehicles in the city has created a new to songbirds. Another traditional shop-
threat to Beijing’s air quality. In ping venue is the temple fair. Tradition-
response, the government has under- ally these fairs, featuring vendors and
taken highway improvement programs entertainment, were held at Beijing’s
in an effort to relieve traffic congestion, temples during various religious festi-
but the new roads have quickly become vals. The custom has been revived, but
crowded as cars and taxis replace bicy- only during the Spring Festival.
cles and buses. Growing consumer
affluence and the corresponding Among the most popular items
increase in the use of modern appli- sought by visitors to China are
ances and other conveniences have led antiques, carpets, silk products, furni-
to increased energy use, as well as waste ture, jewelry, paintings, calligraphy,
from disposable packaging. and porcelain.

Beijing
12 Education College, the Beijing Medical College,

and the Central Conservatory of Music,
The educational system in Beijing, as well as institutes specializing in aero-
as elsewhere in China, consists of six nautics, petroleum production, forestry,
years of universal primary education agriculture, and other fields.
and six years of secondary education. In
addition, both the government and a
number of private groups operate nurs-
13 Health Care
eries and kindergartens for younger Medical education and practice in
children to make it easier for their China combines Western medicine
mothers to work. The early years of pri- with traditional Chinese practices,
mary education emphasize reading, notably the use of herbal medicine and
writing, and arithmetic, with history, acupuncture. Beijing’s largest hospital is
geography, and science added in the Capital Hospital, founded in 1921 as
later years. There are three types of sec- Beijing Union Hospital. Today it com-
ondary schools: general middle schools, bines a general hospital with pediatric
which offer college-preparatory courses; and gynecological clinics. Many hospi-
normal schools, which prepare students tals have been built in Beijing since
to attend teacher training colleges; and 1949; a large number are affiliated with
vocational and technical schools. medical schools as clinical teaching
institutions. The city’s major pediatric
As home to both Beijing University facility is the new Beijing Children’s
and Qinghua University, Beijing is an Hospital, located near the site of the Fu-
important center for higher education hsing Gate.
in China. Beijing University, founded
in 1898, was relocated from its original Beijing has a number of specialty
site in the central city to a new campus hospitals, including facilities devoted to
that has been significantly expanded to orthopedic, chest, plastic, and trauma-
accommodate one of China’s largest related surgery.
universities. With six schools, 31
departments, and 44 research centers, 14 Media
Qinghua University is China’s premier
technical institute and one of the coun- Two daily national newspapers are
try’s major centers for scientific and published in Beijing: Renmin Ribao (Peo-
technical research and development. ple’s Daily), the official newspaper of
the Chinese Communist Party, which
The northwestern edge of the city, had a 1998 circulation of approxi-
home to both Beijing University and mately three million, and Gongren Ribao
Qinghua University, has become a (Worker’s Daily), which had a 1998 cir-
major educational and research district culation of approximately 2.5 million.
that is also home to the People’s Uni- Other major daily papers published in
versity of China, the Central Institute the capital (with 1998 circulation fig-
of Nationalities, the Beijing Normal ures) are Nongmin Ribao (Peasant’s Daily;

Beijing
one million); Zhongguo Qingnian Bao track, where spectators can place bets
(China Youth News; one million); Beijing although other types of gambling are
Ribao (Beijing Daily; 700,000); Beijing illegal in China.
Wanbao (Beijing Evening News; 800,000);
and Guangming Ribao (Guangming Daily; 16 Parks and Recreation
950,000). China Daily is an English-lan-
guage newspaper published by the Chi- Beijing’s history as a gracious impe-
nese government (1998 circulation rial city can be seen in its parks and out-
150,000), and the Economic Daily is a door recreational areas, which are more
daily business paper. numerous than those in most other
Chinese cities. The most centrally
Radio broadcasts are under the located is Chung-shan Park, adjacent to
control of the Central People’s Broad- the west wall of Tiananmen Square.
casting Station (CPBS). Programs are With pavilions, kiosks, and other struc-
aired in the official Chinese dialect of tures scattered amid pools, flower gar-
putonghua, as well as local dialects and dens, willow trees, and bamboo, the
minority ethnic languages. Two televi- park constitutes a characteristic Chi-
sion stations (CCTV 1 and 2) are oper- nese garden landscape that includes a
ated by Chinese Central Television, and pavilion built over a lotus pond. This
three more are operated by Beijing Tele- park is also the site of an ancient altar
vision (BTV). and the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (for-
merly a religious shrine), which is over
500 years old—Beijing’s oldest wooden
15 Sports building.
Located in the eastern part of the Ching-shan Park, also called Mei-
city, the Beijing Workers’ Stadium is shan (or Coal Hill) Park, extends over
China’s largest sports facility, seating an artificial hill north of the Forbidden
80,000 for soccer (the country’s most City. The park, which affords a dramatic
popular sport) and track and field view of the city, is also home to the
events. Facilities for table tennis and educational and recreational facilities of
other indoor games are available at the the Beijing Children’s Palace, located at
capital Gymnasium in western Beijing, its northern end. Half of Pei Hai Park’s
which also accommodates an indoor ice 71 hectares (176 acres) consist of water,
rink for hockey and figure skating. The making this park a favorite with rowers
indoor sport of basketball has become in summer and ice skaters in winter. A
quite popular among the Chinese in number of cultural and educational
the winter months, and the country facilities, including the Beijing Library,
now has two professional basketball are located within its boundaries.
leagues. Martial arts retain their tradi-
tional popularity, with demonstrations The Summer Palace is the largest
provided at the Asian Games Village. park on the outskirts of the city. K’un-
Beijing also has a golf course and a race- ming Lake occupies four-fifths of the

Beijing
A giant panda bear naps in the Beijing Zoological Gardens, China’s largest zoo.
(Israel Talby; Woodfin Camp)
park’s 324 hectares (800 acres), with the ming, and the contemporary sport of
rest consisting of artificial landscaping. paintball.
There are more than 100 buildings in
the park, as well as elaborate covered
promenades connecting its lakefront
17 Performing Arts
sites. The Beijing Zoological Gardens at Beijing has traditionally been the
the western edge of the city is China’s cultural and educational capital of
largest zoo and is home to animals from China, a legacy that dates back to the
all over China and the world. The zoo is Ming dynasty. The political upheavals
especially famous for its giant panda of the nineteenth and twentieth centu-
bears. ries led to a decline in the traditional
Chinese arts, which reached a low point
Popular outdoor activities in during the Cultural Revolution of the
Beijing include tennis, golf, miniature 1960s and 1970s. Since the late 1970s,
golf, badminton, squash, horseback however, government support for the
riding, kite flying, martial arts, swim- arts has revived, and Beijing has

Beijing
become an active venue for both tradi- housed in a new building at the western
tional Chinese and Western performing edge of the city.
arts. Classical concerts by both Chinese
and foreign artists can be heard at the Beijing’s largest collection of artis-
Beijing Concert Hall, and the capital tic treasures—including stone and ivory
has its own symphony orchestra. The carvings, enamel work, metal work,
Central Ballet of China performs both embroidery, and porcelain—is housed
foreign and Chinese works on several in the Palace Museum, located within
different stages. Chinese folk dance is the Imperial Palace. The original decor
performed by the Oriental Song and of many of the rooms has been pre-
Dance Ensemble. The traditional served, constituting an additional artis-
Beijing Opera was revived in the 1990s tic and historic attraction.
although it has been popular primarily
among China’s older residents. The artifacts in the Museum of Chi-
nese History, located adjacent to
There are more than 25 theaters in Tiananmen Square, chart the progress
Beijing, and theatrical presentations of Chinese history over the past 4,000
range from the works of British play- years, from its ancient civilizations
wright William Shakespeare (1564– through its dynastic periods. Its collec-
1616) to American dramatist Arthur tion includes thousands of artworks,
Miller (b. 1915) to contemporary avant relics, and scientific inventions.
garde Chinese works. The major theatri- Located in one of its wings is the
cal venues are the Capital Theater and Museum of the Chinese Revolution,
the Central Academy of Drama Experi- which traces the history of the Chinese
mental Theatre. The traditional per- Communist Party from its origins
forming arts of puppetry and acrobatics through the revolutionary and civil war
remain very popular. periods leading up to 1949.
The China National Art Gallery dis-

18 Libraries and plays traditional calligraphy and water-
Museums colors, as well as temporary exhibits of
works by contemporary Chinese artists.
The Beijing Library, located within Beijing also has museums devoted to
Pei Hai Park, is home to the history col- military history, imperial archives, and
lections of China’s National Library, natural history, as well as the China’s
including material from imperial librar- first planetarium, with an adjacent
ies dating back to the Sung, Ming, and observatory and meteorological station.
Ch’ing dynasties. The collections The former residence of acclaimed
include ancient books and manuscripts, author Lu Xun (1881–1936) has been
maps, and rubbings from historic turned into a museum, displaying pho-
inscriptions. Since the late 1980s, the tographs and documents related to his
library’s modern holdings have been life.

Beijing
19 To u r i s m
In recent decades, Beijing’s tourist
industry has grown rapidly to become
an important sector of the city’s econ-
omy, thanks to the historical and cul-
tural attractions of the central city itself
and those found in outlying areas, such
as the Great Wall, the tombs containing
the remains of 13 of the 16 Ming
emperors, and the sites where Beijing
man and other prehistoric human
remains have been found. The influx of
visitors has spurred new hotel construc-
tion and the renovation of existing
facilities.
20 Holidays and
Festivals
JANUARY–FEBRUARY
Spring Festival (celebrated in many Asian
nations as Lunar New Year, and known in the
United States as Chinese New Year)
MARCH
International Working Women’s Day The Great Wall is one of China’s greatest tourist
attractions. (Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp)
APRIL
Qingming
MAY OCTOBER
International Labor Day National Day
Youth Day
JUNE 21 Famous Citizens
International Children’s Day
Cao Zhan (1715–1763), author of Chi-
JULY na’s most famous novel, Dream of
Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese
Communist Party
the Red Chamber.
JULY-AUGUST Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997), political

Dragon Boat Festival leader.
AUGUST Ding Ling (1904–1986), short story
Anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army
writer.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER
Mid-Autumn Festival Lao She (1899–1966), satirical novelist.

Beijing
Li Dazhou (1888–1927), co-founder of China Travel Service (CTS)

the Chinese Communist Party. Beijing Tourist Building
28 Jianguomenwai Dajie, 100022
Lu Xun (1881–1936), author. State Bureau of Tourism
Jie 3
Mao Zedong (1893–1976), Chinese Jian Guo Men Nei Dajie
Communist leader. Beijing 100740
Zhang Tianyi (b. 1907), short story writ-
Publications
er and novelist. China Daily
15 Huixin Dongjie
Zhang Yimou (b. 1950), film director. Chaoyang District, 100029
Zhou Enlai (1898–1976), Chinese pre- Gongren Ribao
mier. Liupukeng
Andingmen Wai
Zhou Zuoren (1885–1996), essayist and
Nongmin Ribao
scholar. 61 Guxing Lu
Renmin Ribao
22 For Further Study 2 Jin Tai Xi Lu
Websites Books
Beijing Centre for Planning, “”Beijing Window.” Baldwin, Robert F. Daily Life in Ancient and Mod-
[Online] Available http://www.china.org.cn/ ern Beijing. Illustrations by Ray Webb. Min-
AcrossCountry/Beijing_w/beijing/ neapolis: Runestone Press, 1999.
indexe.htm (accessed April 14, 2000). Cohn, Don, and Zhang Jingqing Beijingwalks.
China Travel System [Online] Available http:// New York: H. Holt, 1992.
www.beijing.chinats.com (accessed Decem-
Elder, Chris, ed. Old Peking: City of the Ruler of the
ber 30, 1999).
World. New York: Oxford University Press,
Excite Travel, “Destination: China.” [Online] 1997.
Available http://www.excite.cm/travel/
Lin, Yutang. Imperial Peking. New York: Crown
countries/china/beijing (accessed December
Publishers, 1961.
30, 1999).
Lindesay, William, and Wu Qi. Beijing. Lincoln-
wood, IL: Passport Books, 1997.
Government Offices Meyer, Jeffrey F. The Dragons of Tiananmen:
Ministry of Supervision Beijing as a Sacred City. Columbia, SC: Uni-
4 Zaojunmiao versity of South Carolina Press, 1991.
Haidian Qu Salisbury, Harrison Evans. Tiananmen Diary: Thir-
Beijing 100081 teen Days in June. Boston: Little, Brown,
1989.
State Development and Planning Commission
Shi, Tianjian. Political Participation in Beijing.
38 Yuetannan Jie Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press,
Xicheng Qu 1997.
Beijing 100824 Sit, Victor F.S. Beijing: The Nature and Planning of
a Chinese Capital City. New York: Wiley,
Tourist and Convention Bureaus 1995.
China International Travel Service (CITS) Strand, David. Rickshaw Beijing: City People and
103 Fu Xing Men Nei Dajie Politics in the 1920s. Berkeley: University of
Beijing 100800 California Press, 1989.

Berlin
Berlin, Germany, Europe
Founded: October 28, 1237

Location: Europe, northeastern Germany, on the River Spree
Flag: A white field with a red stripe on top and bottom; the Berlin bear rests in the
center.
Time Zone: 1 PM = noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Ethnic Composition: 23% of the foreign residents in Germany live in Hamburg and
Berlin, including a large population of Turkish immigrants.
Elevation: 34 meters above sea level. Berlin lies on a huge plain in the northeast
corner of Germany, comprising 833 square kilometers.
Latitude and Longitude: 52°31’ N, 13°25’ E
Coastline: None
Climate: Mild summers and wet winters.
Annual Mean Temperature: 47°F (8°C); in January: 31°F (-1°C); in July: 66°F
(19°C). It either rains or snows in Berlin during 91 days of the year. Its placement
on the European continent, with the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Baltic
Sea above, make the city subject to the prevailing winds from across the water,
carrying moisture to the land.
Average Annual Precipitation: 23 inches
Government: A parliament, senate and mayor
Monetary Units: 1 deutsch mark = 100 pfennige
Telephone Area Code: Germany country code: 49; Berlin code: 30
Postal Codes: 10000–12527, 12531–14199
1 Introduction Reichtags building. After World War II,

Berlin turned into a Cold War battle-
The political home of Germany’s ground, separated into a Soviet-influ-
Federal Government and the educa- enced East and an American-influenced
tional center of Germany, Berlin is the West by the Berlin Wall in 1966. But,
nation’s capital and busiest city. there are startling contrasts to war in
Although major reconstruction projects
Berlin, such as the intellectual and sci-
have helped make Berlin an attractive,
entific blossoming of the Enlighten-
modern city, the shadows of World War
II (1939–45) and the Berlin Wall still ment during the 1700s and “golden”
darken its recent history. This is the seat 1920s of the twentieth century. Always
of German power, where Adolf Hitler a cultural center, Berlin has continued
(1889–1945) gained control in 1933 by this tradition with many museums and
marching through the Brandenburg theaters, while Berlin’s trade associa-
Gate and taking over parliament in the tions employ the majority of the work-
49
Berlin
where transportation lines lead directly

Berlin into all sections of the continent.
Population Profile
Highways
Population: 3,337,000
Ethnic composition: 95.1% German; 2.3% Berlin’s urban motorway is the
Turkish; 0.7% Italian; 0.4% Greek; 0.4Polish;
1.1% other
A100, while the six-lane A113 travels
Area: Area within city limits, including the western along the Teltow Canal.
Kurfürstendamm and the eastern
Alexanderplatz, plus Spandau, Marzahn,
Hellersdorf, Grunewald, Frohnau, and Bus and Railroad Service
Westend
Percentage of total country population2: 4.0% High speed trains, such as the Inter
Average yearly growth rate: 0.1% City Express (ICE) and the Euro City
Nicknames: Divided City; Venice of the North; the
name Berlin means “bog” in Slavic, so called (EC) operate to and from Berlin, but in
because of the swamps surrounding the city. 2005 the Transrapid magnetic levitation
——— train will make travel even faster
1. The Berlin metropolitan area’s rank among the between Hamburg and Berlin (the two
world’s urban areas.
2. The percent of Germany’s total population
largest cities in Germany). There have
living in the Berlin metropolitan area. been some problems finding funds to
install the Transrapid, which have
delayed the opening. Lehrter Bahnhof
force with apprenticeships and is the major train station in Berlin,
permanent jobs. which is located in the government pre-
cinct, right next to the Chancellery.
From this train station, a passenger will
2 Getting There be able travel directly to any location
on the continent.
Berlin is located in the northeast-
ern corner of Germany on the banks of
the river Spree. On the South Bank, Airports
along the Strasse des 17 Juni, monu-
ments like the Berlin Zoo, Tiergarten, The Tegel airport is the main inter-
Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, and national airport in western Berlin,
Schloss Bellevue draw tourists. Numer- closely followed by Shonefeld in the
ous transportation projects are cur- east. These airports will soon be com-
rently under way, modernizing and plemented by the new Berlin-Branden-
extending the existing system, and con- burg International Airport (BBI), slated
necting the former East and West Berlin for completion in 2007. Major airlines,
into one community. The city is also such as Air France, Austrian Airlines,
seen as something of a gateway British Airways, Delta, KLM, Lufthansa,
between Eastern and Western Europe, and Pan Am, operate in Berlin.

Berlin

Berlin
3 Getting Around River. Potsdamer Platz, in the center of

the city, holds the State Library,
The city of Greater Berlin was laid National Gallery, and Philharmonic
out in its present form in 1920, divided Concert Hall. Tour boats travel on the
down the middle into North and South many lakes and canals around the city.
banks by the river Spree, and into East-
ern and Western sections by the former
Berlin wall. Some major roads that run 4 People
through the city are the Strasse des 17 The population of Berlin in 1999
Juni, Kurfurstendamm, Potsdamer, amounted to more than 4.3 million,
Friedrich, and Unter den Linden. These but this figure has been declining since
roads are lined with historical buildings the 1970s, in part because the birthrate
and cultural venues that are easily is one of the lowest in the world. Only
accessible by the underground railways. ten-and-a-half births occur per 1,000
inhabitants during a given year. How-
Bus and Commuter Rail Service ever, an increasing number of foreign-
The Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe ers have been settling in Berlin due to
(BVG—Berlin Public Transportation) in recently loosened immigration laws
Berlin has attempted to lessen noise, and easier citizenship requirements.
pollution, and traffic by strengthening Nearly 500,000 foreigners live in what
the public transportation service. Bus has been called the most international
service is less convenient than using the city in Germany, including Turks, Rus-
trams (which run mostly in eastern Ber- sians, Poles, and others. Despite the
lin) and quick underground railways. mixture of cultures the official language
The suburban railway network, “S- of the people is High German, which
bahn” and “U-bahn,” consists of 300 came into common usage after Martin
kilometers (186 miles) of track which Luther’s translation of the bible in the
runs around in circles under the city. sixteenth century. There is also a resid-
The U5 travels from east to west while ual split between East Germans, or
the U6 travels north to south. “Ossis,” and West Germans, who are
called “Wessis.”
Sightseeing
5 Neighborhoods
Many of Berlin’s sights are within
walking distance of the public transpor- The center of Berlin is marked by
tation system, including the boulevard the Reichstag, or Deutscher Bundestag-
Unter den Linden which starts at Bran- Plenarbereich Reichstagsgebäude (Ger-
denburg Gate, continuing to the river, man Federal Assembly-Plenary Area,
with the Tiergarten nearby. Museum Imperial Assembly Building), which was
Island is a popular place to view the renamed to symbolize a break with the
extensive art collections of Berlin, city’s Nazi history. The Brandenburg
which is actually located in the Spree Tor, or Gate, is the doorway from West

Berlin

Berlin Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Germany) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Date the city was founded 28 October 1237 AD 969 753 BC 723 BC
Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Berliner Zeitung La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
to East, where the Berlin Wall crossed opments, Wasserstadt Oberhavel on the
the city center before it was destroyed banks of the Havel. Biesdorf-Süd,
in November 1989. The eastern and between Marzahn and Hellersdorf,
western portions of the city differ houses 500,000 residents on the edge of
greatly, with the western Kurfürsten- the former East Berlin. The nicer neigh-
damm, or Ku’damm, commercial center borhoods lie around the lakes in the
sporting all of the nicest shops and west, including the Grunewald,
cafés while the eastern Alexanderplatz Frohnau, and Westend communities.
has been described as “depressing.” This The majority of Berliners rent housing
should change soon because the great- and enjoy the idea of a local commu-
est building activity in Germany is tak- nity, or the Kiez. Although Berlin has
ing place in Berlin, improving the always been a popular place to live,
infrastructure that will link both sides more people are emigrating to nearby
of the city together again. Much of the towns and cities than are moving into
population lives in the suburbs. Span- the capital city. The government has
dau, in the west of Berlin, is home to embarked upon a complete restructur-
one of Berlin’s largest residential devel- ing of surrounding communities

Berlin
century or more of separation, the

administrations of these two towns
merged in 1307 to fight against robber
barons. These “noblemen” acted more
like pirates, demanding huge tributes
and terrorizing the populace, but with-
out an army the citizens of Berlin could
not fight back. By the year 1411, the
town had asked the Holy Roman
Emperor for protection, bringing in Fre-
drich von Hohenzollern, Burggraf of
Nuremberg and his army. The Hohen-
zollerns ruled Berlin and most of Ger-
many for centuries, conquering Prussia
in 1640 and founding the German
Reich in 1871. Traditionally the capital
city and royal residence of the Hohen-
zollerns, Friedrich Wilhelm chose Berlin
as his seat of power in the newly
founded Prussia. Eight Friedrich Wil-
helms followed his example, building
the military and economic strength of
Germany from Berlin.
The changing skyline of Berlin. The reunification of The Industrial Revolution (c. 1750)
Communist Germany has prompted rapid brought new factories and an influx of
modernization. (Bernard Boutrit; Woodfin Camp) settlers to the city from the surrounding
countryside. During the nineteenth and
early twentieth centuries, the city’s
designed to help draw back residents; it population reached more than four mil-
is expected to show results by the year lion, attracting both industry and cul-
2010. ture. By 1871, Otto von Bismarck
(1815–1898) and Wilhelm I (1797–
6 History 1888) succeeded where others had
failed by bringing together Denmark,
In 1237, the fishing community of Austria, France, Prussia, and the Ger-
Colln was first registered as a town man states into one empire, with Berlin
located on the south bank of the Spree as the capital. This was the first time
River. After 1244, opposite this settle- that the German states were truly uni-
ment on the north bank, lay the larger fied, but the German empire, which
merchant town of Berlin. Following a extended across Europe and into the

Berlin
German cathedral, opera house, and French cathedral, the centerpiece of Frederick the Great.
(Bernard Boutrit; Woodfin Camp)
colonies, still posed a military chal- Bertolt Brecht. In 1933, Hitler ended
lenge. the party by marching thousands of
troops into Berlin and imposing mili-
The shock of losing World War I tary rule. The 1936 Olympic games in
(1914–18) caused riots in Berlin against Berlin were sadly overshadowed by war
the traditional imperial system, which
preparations. When Hitler annexed
was replaced by a democratic constitu-
Austria and part of Czechoslovakia in
tion in Weimar, in 1919. This political
1938, he also ordered the destruction of
instability was accentuated by the eco-
nomic problems, or Great Depression, Jewish buildings in Berlin called Reichs-
of the “golden” 1920s, but Berlin kristallnacht, or the night of the broken
seemed to flower under pressure. Ironi- glass. The Nazis systematically killed
cally, the city bloomed into the most approximately 50,000 Jews in concen-
popular gathering place for avant-garde tration camps until World War II ended
artists, like Fritz Lang, Klaus Mann, and in 1945. Only two-and-a-half million of

Berlin
Berlin’s four million inhabitants were 8 Public Safety

left after the fighting ended.
The police force in Berlin consists
Berlin was divided into four parts of the general police for petty crimes,
at first, with the Soviet Union, United criminal police for serious crimes, alert
States, Britain, and France overseeing forces for large-scale problems, and the
the reconstruction. By 1948, the United river police. The Federal Criminal Police
States had claimed West Germany, and Office (BKA), which deals with crimi-
the Soviet Union had assumed control nals that operate across state bound-
of East Germany, but Berlin’s location aries, has one of its bases in Berlin and
in the east caused problems. The is also the national center for Interpol.
democracies wanted to keep some hold The border patrol also operates along
on Berlin (the traditional power seat), the Polish border, which lies only 100
so they proceeded to airlift food into kilometers (62 miles) away from Berlin.
the starved Soviet city. In 1961, the
Soviets built a wall dividing the city in 9 Economy
half, which remained until 1989. At
this point, the western capital moved to Berlin began as a fishing and trad-
Bonn while the Soviet occupiers stayed ing community, selling primarily rye
in Berlin. This artificial separation made and timber. This role in trade grew
reunification a happy occasion, but dif- larger through the centuries as a disci-
ficult economically and socially. In plined military force protected foreign
1994, the last foreign troops left Berlin, tradesmen and helped collect customs
signaling the end to 50 years of occupa- tariffs. The 1830s brought the Industrial
tion and allowing the German govern- Revolution to Berlin, which hastily
ment’s homecoming to Berlin in 1999. built factories to produce machine
tools, dyes, medicines, and electrical
goods. AEG and Siemens had an early
7 Government start in Berlin, fueling participation in
both World Wars. The Great Depression
The city-state of Berlin’s political brought economic chaos, but success in
system consists of the mayor, the House the arts, especially in film production.
of Representatives, or city Parliament, Although Berlin was devastated by the
which is elected for four-year terms time World War II was over, major
with a minimum of 150 representatives reconstruction projects funded by the
and public meetings, and the Senate. victors helped to keep the economy
There are ten ministerial portfolios. The going.
constitution written in 1950 for west-
ern Berlin has applied to eastern Berlin Berlin continues to deal with ongo-
as well since 1991. The city is also the ing reintegration of the West with the
Federal Capital of Germany, with all East, as well as an economy that is shift-
major governmental offices located on ing from the processing to the service
the banks of the river Spree. sector. Many companies relocated from

Berlin
The Brandenburg Gate is the doorway from West to East, and signifies the difference between the western
commercial center sporting all of the nicest shops and cafés and the eastern side described as
“depressing.” (Bernard Boutrit; Woodfin Camp)
Berlin during the uncertain years after with the rest of the European Union,
the war, but now Daimler-Benz, Sony, including monetary unification, have
IBM-Germany, and German Rail have played an important role in stabilizing
headquarters along the Spree. Berlin is the Berlin economy.
one of Germany’s largest banking cen-
ters, the world’s leading conference cen- 10 Environment
ter, the seat of Federal Government,
and the largest university city in Ger- The Social Democrat-Green Party
many (147,000 students) with three coalition in Germany’s federal govern-
major universities. Half of the 1.6 mil- ment gave environmentalists a strong
lion workers are in the service sector, say in policymaking at the end of the
and about 13 percent of the workforce twentieth century. As the twenty-first
is unemployed, but recent restructuring century begins, the Federal Environ-
aims to lower this figure. Also, projects mental Agency in Berlin hopes to pro-

Berlin
mote the efficient use of energy, to street. A large, new shopping mall has
close substance cycles, and reverse land been built at Potsdamer Platz, a star-
depletion trends, but the biggest prob- tling contrast to the eastern Alexander-
lem comes from eastern industry. Lig- platz, which has barely been renovated
nite was the main source of energy in since Soviet occupation. The Kur-
the former GDR, satisfying 70 percent fürstendamm, or Ku’damm, is a three-
of the east’s requirement, leading to and-a-half-kilometer (two-mile) strip of
massive pollution throughout Ger- shops, movie theaters, bars, and cafés,
many. Lignite is still the principal including 6,500 pubs and restaurants.
domestic source of energy, with reserves Ku’damm and Tauentzienstrasse in the
reaching 43 billion tons in the Rhine- West are the main shopping centers,
land. The alternative, nuclear power, along with Friedrichstrasse in the East.
has gained ridicule from environmen- Shop hours are normally 9:30 AM to
talists who see nuclear power plants as 8:00 PM Monday through Friday and
more of a danger than a viable resource. 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Saturday. Most
A number of rivers and lakes flow in shops are closed on Sunday, but more
and around Berlin, which are as pol- and more stores are opening their doors
luted as the streets of the city. The to customers all week long. Business is
administration’s energy policy hopes to booming in the newly renovated capi-
reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 25 tal of Germany, drawing customers and
percent between 1990 and 2010, in part holiday travelers from around the
by building new, energy-efficient flats world. A visitor can get a three-day pass
and limiting industrial pollutants. By on the underground in order to visit all
1995, carbon dioxide levels were down the shopping centers without missing a
by ten percent. The Berlin Solar Cam- store.
paign also hopes to bring solar energy,
which can be used without creating
harmful emissions, into widespread use.
12 Education
In recent years, flooding in Germany Compulsory schooling begins for
resulting from alternating El Niño and Berlin students at age seven and lasts
La Nina weather patterns and stimu- for nine or ten years. Most children are
lated by global warming has washed tested at age ten for aptitude and then
away topsoil and endangered lives. It is placed in a Hauptshule or Realshule for
hoped that with replanting and other vocational trades, a Gymnasium for aca-
soil conservation measures the land demics, or a comprehensive Gesamts-
and forests will remain an important chule, which teaches all trades. Those
resource for generations to come. from the Gymnasium finish school with
their abitur exams while children from
11 Shopping the Realschule continue on to technical
school, or Fachobershule, and polytech-
At the trendy Prenzlauer Berg, art nic university, or Fachhochschule. Educa-
galleries, cafés, and restaurants line the tion through post-graduate work is free

Berlin
for all, including foreigners. There are health care and the social welfare sys-
three major universities in Berlin: Freie tem, the German government’s debt
Universität Berlin with 61,000 students, has risen substantially.
Technische Universität Berlin with
38,000 students, and Humbolt Univer- 14 Media
sität zu Berlin with 19,000 students.
There are numerous other colleges that Die Welt is the only national Ger-
cater to more particular professions and man daily to move its headquarters
trades. The guild system, which began from Bonn to Berlin and to add
during the middle ages in Germany, expanded coverage of the city. There
continues to some extent through the are nearly 1,200 accredited correspon-
educational system which is geared dents in Bonn and Berlin, working for
towards satisfying the business commu- the following newspapers and maga-
nity’s needs with apprenticeship and zines. The B.Z. has the largest circula-
internship requirements in many fields. tion of the city with 298,500; the
Berlin is also home to a large number of Berliner Zeitung comes next with
foreign students that come to the inter- 216,600; and the Berliner Morgenpost,
national city to learn the German lan- Tagesspiegel, and Tages Zeitung also have
guage, as well as about the clash extensive circulations. Magazines such
between western and eastern culture as Der Spiegel and Focus are popular, but
and the two world wars that took place American and other European maga-
largely on German and French soil. zines can be found on most store
shelves as well.
13 Health Care 15 Sports

Everyone in Germany is entitled to The Berlin New Year Run brings
health care, with benefits programs athletes out of doors for one of the larg-
divided into two categories. Statutory est sports events in the city. The Ber-
insurance provides virtually free choice liner SV 1892 rugby club, the Berlin
of doctors (on a quarterly basis), unlim- Cricket Club—the Refugees—and ALBA
ited visits and checkups, prescription Berlin basketball team—Albatros—com-
drug coverage with a co-payment, comprise the major sports clubs.
prehensive dental visits, vision and
hearing aids, mental health visits,
monthly home allowances for the
16 Parks and
chronically ill, liberal maternity bene-
Recreation
fits, and disability pay. The government In the eighteenth and nineteenth
receives funds to pay for health care centuries, Prussian Kings and German
from employee taxes and public and Emperors of the House of Hohenzollern
private donations, but much of the transformed the Havel landscape into a
money comes from government coffers. series of parks, beginning a great tradi-
Partly as a result of comprehensive tion of German respect for nature. The

Berlin
The National Theater is located in Academy Square in East Berlin, the music capital of Germany.
(Sepp Seitz; Woodfin Camp)
center of these public works was in attractive place to visit. The lakes and
Potsdam, but this extended towards the rivers throughout the city lend the
Berlin royal palace and winter residence opportunity to sightsee by boat and to
that were both destroyed during World enjoy nature and the great outdoors.
War II. On King’s Road to Berlin, Glien-
icke Palace’s gardens contain a land- 17 Performing Arts
scaped park, and Babelsberg Palace’s
gothic buildings are surrounded by Berlin is the music capital of Ger-
manicured land. In the center of Berlin, many, named so because of the many
Unter den Linden is a nice boulevard to opera houses and orchestras. There are
promenade, leading to the Zoologischer three opera houses and five other
Garten and Tiergarten, which is a pro- orchestras, including the top-rated
tected woodland. On Museum Island, a Deutsche Staatsoper Unter den Linden
number of gardens also surround the with international music director
museum district, making the island an Daniel Barenboim and the Philhar-

Berlin
monic Hall, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, and antiquities, such as Islamic art, a
and the Komische Oper. The Musical Pergamon Altar (160 B.C.), and a Baby-
Theatre Berlin, Theater des Westens, lonian Throne Room, located on
Friei Volksbühne Berlin, and Theater Museum Island in the middle of the
am Kurfürstendamm put on plays and
river Spree with the Bodemuseum.
musicals. To get a taste of cabaret-style
Finally, the Bauhaus Archive Design
entertainment, a visitor can go to Bar
Jeder Vernunft-Spiegelpalast, the Win- Museum holds works from the Bauhaus
tergarten, and Chamäleon Variete. The period, which lasted from 1919 to 1933.
Berlin Festival, Film Festival, and The- A three-day pass to these museums and
ater make the city a gathering place for more can be purchased from the Ger-
young artists in the progressive cultural man tourism board.
scene. The nightlife is scattered with
small club gatherings that feature live
music, electronic music, and theatrical 19 To u r i s m
productions. On just about every street
corner in the arts districts, street per- More than six million tourists visit
formers can be seen juggling, dancing, Berlin every year, making it one of the
singing, painting, or playing an instru- most popular cities in Europe. Volker
ment. Hassemer, managing director of the
city’s marketing agency, claims that “If
18 Libraries and you want to see the past, go to Rome. If
Museums you want to see the future, come to Ber-
lin.” The city is undergoing massive
The Berlin Central and Regional reconstruction, with some of the most
Library is a fusion of the American
advanced architecture in the world.
House Library and the Berlin State
Library which took place in 1995. The Hanover Expo 2000 set out to prove to
new Bundestag Library supports gov- the world that Germany has not only
ernmental officials. For business refer- recovered from World War II but
ence, the Science and Technology thrived on foreign investment and
Center Berlin Adlershof (WISTA) con- European protection. Nevertheless,
tains a wealth of products and services many tourists still come to see histori-
in information technology in an inte- cal monuments, including Haus am
grated technology park just southeast of Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall
Berlin. For tourists, the New National
memorial, the Fernsehturm (TV tower)
Gallery contains works by Hals, Rem-
which gives a spectacular view of the
brandt, and Vermeer, as well as twenti-
eth-century German art, especially city, the Reichtags building, and Bran-
Berlin portraits and cityscapes by denburg Gate. A number of companies
Geroge Grosz and Otto Dix. The Perga- offer walking tours of the city, as well as
monmuseum contains classical artifacts boating excursions on the river Spree.

Berlin
20 Holidays and Party, first woman named as senior

Festivals member of the Bundestag.
JANUARY Max Planck (1858–1947), theoretical
Berlin New Year’s Run physicist, formulator of the quan-
Unter den Linden
tum theory.
FEBRUARY
Berlinale Annual International Film Festival Rudolf Schoenheimer (1898–1941), bio-
JULY chemist.
Love Parade (techno and rave party with a pro-
cession through Berlin) Louise Schroder (1887–1957), commit-
OCTOBER
ted socialist, first woman to be
Jazz Festival Berlin called “Mother of Berlin” in the
Deutschland Festival (street procession Unter late 1940s.
den Linden with presentations by German
states)
22 For Further Study
NOVEMBER
International Riding and Jumping Tournament
in the Deutschlandhalle Websites
Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall Berlin Central and Regional Library. [Online]
“NovaEuropa—New Europe” Festival (European Available http://www.zlb.de/ (accessed April
dance festival) 14, 2000).
Berlin website with links. [Online] Available
http://www.berlin.de/ (accessed November
21 Famous Citizens 30, 1999).
Senate Department of Construction, Housing
Otto Hahn (1879–1968), physical and Transport, Berlin, Germany. [Online]
chemist, discovered the radioac- Available http://www.bau.berlin.de/verkehr/
tive protactinium in Berlin with berlinetwork (accessed April 14, 2000).
The Week in Germany. [Online] Available http://
Lisa Meitner. www.germany.info.org/ (accessed April 14,
2000).
Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859),
baron, naturalist, and traveler.
Government Offices
Karl Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767– Senatskanzlei
1835), statesman and philologist, Berliner Rathaus
founder of the Friedrich Wilhelm 10173 Berlin
(now Humboldt) University of Ber- Tel. (030)90260
lin. Fax (030)90262013
Helen Lange (1848–1930), founder of Tourist and Convention Bureaus

the German Women’s Teacher’s As- German National Tourist Office
sociation in Berlin in 1889. 122 East 42nd St.
Chanin Building, 52nd Floor
Marie-Elizabeth Luders (1888–1966), New York, NY 10168–0072 USA
first woman named as honorary Tel. (212)661–7200
president of the Federal Democratic Fax (212)661–7174

Berlin
The Berlin Wall crossed the city center before it was destroyed in November 1989.
Publications States in Germany. Bonn, Germany: Inter

Berliner Morgenpost Nations Press, 1999.
Axel-Springer-Str. 65 Koppler, Dr. Arno and Stefan Reichart, eds. Facts
D-10888 Berlin About Germany. Frankfurt am Main: German
Tel. (030) 25910 Societats Verlag, 1996.
Fax (030) 2516071 Larsson, Mans O., ed. Let’s Go Germany. New
[Online] Available http://www.berliner- York: St. Martin’s Press, 1999.
morgenpost.de/ (Accessed April 14, 2000). Merkl, Peter H. The Federal Republic of Germany at
Fifty: The End of a Century of Turmoil. New
Books York: NYU Press, 1999.
Gumbel, Andrew. Berlin. London: Cadogan Solsten, Eric, ed. Germany: A Country Study. 3rd
Books, 1991. ed. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Divi-
The Heads of Government of the 16 Constituent sion, Library of Congress, 1995.

Boston
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, North America

Location: Eastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic coast; United States, North America
Flag: Adopted in 1917, the flag features the city seal in white with a creamy beige
border on a dark blue field.
Time Zone: 7 am Eastern Standard Time (EST) = noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Ethnic Composition: White 63%; Black 26%; Hispanic origin (of any race) 11%
(numbering 34,200 in 1990)
Elevation: 6.1 m (20 ft) above sea level. Much of Boston’s once-hilly peninsula at the
head of Massachusetts Bay was leveled to fill in the tidal flats of the Back Bay.
Now the city lies mostly on gently rolling terrain.
Climate: Generally mild summers and cold, damp winters. The city’s climate is
influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, which moderates winter cold, increases fog
and humidity, and makes Boston one of the country’s windiest cities. With
frequent spring and summer showers and regular snowfall in the winter, Boston
is also one of the wettest cities in the country.
Annual Mean Temperature: January –1ºC (30ºF); July 23ºC (74ºF).
Seasonal Average Snowfall: Over 101.6 cm (40 in)
Average Annual Precipitation (total of rainfall and melted snow): 1,120 mm
(44 in)
Government: Mayor and nine-member city council
Telephone Area Codes: 617, 781
Postal Codes: 02101–02125; 02127–28; 02133–63; 02199; 02201–22
1 Introduction dented flowering of American culture.

For most of its history, Boston has been
The historic city of Boston is a major maritime and commercial cen-
located in New England, on the Atlan- ter. The decades following World War II
tic coastline of Massachusetts. One of have seen the growth of the service and
the first European settlements in North financial sectors and the tourist indus-
America, the city has been called the try. Harvard University and the Massa-
“Cradle of the American Revolution.” chusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.)
The home of Paul Revere, Boston was head the long list of colleges and uni-
also the site of the Boston Tea Party and versities that have made Boston “the
the Battle of Bunker Hill. In the nine- college capital of the United States.” By
teenth century, it became a major cen- drawing an educated work force to the
ter for the abolitionist movement, as city, these schools helped make the Bos-
well as the focal point for an unprece- ton area one of the nation’s leading
65
Boston
centers for research-based high-technol-

ogy industries. Boston
Population Profile
2 Getting There
City Proper
Boston is located on an extension Population: 574,283 (1990 Census)
of Massachusetts Bay and runs along Area: 125 sq km (48.4 sq mi)
Ethnic composition: 63% white; 26% black
the Charles River, which divides it from
Cambridge to the north, the location of Metropolitan Area
the area’s two most prestigious institu- Population: 5,690,000 (1990 Census)
tions of higher learning—Harvard Uni- Description: Five-city New England County
Metropolitan Area (Boston-Worcester-
versity and M.I.T. Major neighborhoods Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton), including all or
and other well-known parts of the city part of seven counties in Massachusetts and
one in New Hampshire
include the waterfront, the North End, Area: 16,800 sq km (6,450 sq mi)
the West End, Beacon Hill, Charles- World population rank1: 102
town, the financial district, Downtown Percentage of total US population2: 1.1%
Crossing, Back Bay, the theater district, Average yearly growth rate: 0.5%
Ethnic composition: 91% 2hite; 6% black; 3%
Chinatown, South Boston, and the other
South End. ———
1. The Boston metropolitan area’s rank among the
Highways world’s urban areas.
2. The percent of the total US population living in
Three major interstate highways the Boston metropolitan area.
lead to and from Boston: I-95 runs
northward along the Atlantic coastline
in New Hampshire and Maine, and
south to Rhode Island, Connecticut, Atlantic Avenue. Travel times to Boston
New York and beyond; the Massachu- via Greyhound are four to five hours
setts Turnpike (I-90) runs westward from New York; 11 hours from Wash-
from Boston through Massachusetts ington, D.C.; and 24 to 27 hours from
and connects with the New York State Chicago. Amtrak passenger trains arrive
Thruway; and I-93 extends northward and depart from South Station and Back
(the Northeast Expressway) to Canada Bay Station. Express trains travel
and southward (the Southeast Express- between New York and Boston in four
way) toward Cape Cod. hours.
Bus and Railroad Service Airports
Buslines serving Boston include Major domestic airlines running

Greyhound, Bonanza, American Eagle, flights to and from Boston’s Logan
Concord Trailways, and Peter Pan. Bos- International Airport include American,
ton’s main bus station is the South Sta- Continental, Delta, Northwest, and
tion Transportation Center at 700 TWA. Many international airlines also

Boston
fly directly into Logan, which is five docking area, Boston’s outstanding nat-
kilometers (three miles) northeast of ural harbor is the largest port in New
downtown Boston. England, handling over 18 million met-
ric tons (20 million tons) of freight
Shipping
annually. Port operations are managed
With 40 kilometers (25 miles) of by the Massachusetts Port Authority.

Boston
3 Getting Around miles). Several companies offer hour-

and-a-half to two-hour trolley tours.
Many of Boston’s major roads— One-hour and hour-and a-half cruises
including Beacon Street, Storrow of Boston’s harbor are offered by Boston
Memorial Drive, Commonwealth Ave- Harbor Cruises, Massachusetts Bay
nue, Marlborough Street, and Boylston Lines, and the Charles River Boat Com-
Street—converge at the Boston Com- pany, and longer cruises in the sur-
mon, the famous park near the center rounding waters are also available.
of the city. The major arteries of Charles
Street and Atlantic Avenue form a semi-
circle bordering the city’s wharves. 4 People
In 1996 Boston ranked twenty-sec-
Bus and Commuter Rail Service
ond in population among cities in the
The Massachusetts Bay Transporta- United States, with a population of
tion Authority (MBTA, known locally as 558,394, down 2.8 percent since the
“the T”) operates buses, subway trains, 1990 census when its residents num-
and trolleys throughout Greater Bos- bered 574,283 (48 percent male, 52 per-
ton, as well as running two ferry sys- cent female). The 1997 population for
tems. Boston’s subway system, the Boston’s five-city New England County
nation’s oldest, was completed in 1897. Metropolitan Area (NECMA), spanning
The subway lines are color-coded Red, both Massachusetts and New Hamp-
Green, Blue, and Orange, and cars run shire, was 5.83 million, up from 5.69
from 5:15 AM until after midnight. A million as of the 1990 census. Boston’s
separate Purple Line, providing com- population is projected to pass 600,000
muter rail service to the suburbs and by 2010 when a population of 6.5 mil-
beyond, extends as far as Providence, lion is projected for the NECMA.
Rhode Island. The 85-cent fare is paid
by purchasing a token. Trains are Boston’s original settlers were
labeled “inbound” or “outbound,” mostly of English origin and formed
referring to their direction in relation to the basis of the city’s old aristocracy,
the Part Street station. Buses operated known as the “Boston Brahmins.” By
by the MBTA provide service across the the middle of the nineteenth century,
city and to the suburbs; fares are 60 the first waves of Irish immigration
cents. began, made up largely of peasants flee-
ing the potato famine in that country.
Sightseeing The Irish eventually became one of the
city’s major ethnic groups and gained a
Walking tours to Boston’s compact dominant position in its political life.
historic sites are very popular. The best- The first Irish mayor of Boston was
known route is the Freedom Trail, elected in 1885. In 1960 the scion of
which connects 16 historic sites in a two prominent Boston Irish political
space of less than five kilometers (three families—John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Boston

Boston Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
The Boston Akhbar El Yom/
Globe Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
(1917–1963)—was elected president of its educational institutions and high-

the United States. In spite of the city’s technology jobs.
original Puritan roots, nineteenth-cen-
tury waves of Irish, Italian, and French- Boston is also home to a sizable
Canadian immigration made Boston a Jewish community, which accounts for
strongly Catholic city. Today more than the single largest distinct religious
half the city’s population is Catholic— denomination after the Catholics. Two
the third-largest percentage of any city other religions have their headquarters
in the United States. in Boston: the Unitarian-Universalist
Association and the First Church of
Escaped slaves arrived in Boston Christ, Scientist, founded in the city in
during the Civil War era via the Under- 1894 by Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910).
ground Railroad. In the 1970s, 1980s, An imposing modern Christian Science
and 1990s, Boston’s Hispanic and Asian complex, including a school, library,
American populations grew. Many and worship facilities, was completed in
immigrants are drawn to the region by the early 1970s.

Boston
Boston skyline along the Charles River. (Nubar Alexanian; Woodfin Camp)
5 Neighborhoods Irish population centers are Charles-

town and South Boston (“Southie”).
Housing in Boston is notoriously The North End is heavily Italian, and
expensive, particularly in the wake of a primarily black neighborhoods include
real estate boom that began in the Roxbury, Mattapan, and Codman
1980s, the effects of which have been Square. In recent years, sizable Hispanic
felt as far away as Providence, Rhode populations have grown up in Jamaica
Island. More than 60 percent of the Plain and Dudley.
city’s residents live in apartments. As of
the 1990 census, Boston had 250,000 The Boston Redevelopment
housing units, with the lowest vacancy Authority, established in 1957 by
rate in the country (four-and-a-half per- Mayor John B. Hynes, oversaw the
cent). The median value of an owner- development of the $150 million, 13-
occupied home in 1990 was $161,400 hectare (31-acre) Prudential Plaza, a
(compared with the national average of shopping, residential, and hotel com-
roughly $100,000); median monthly plex crowned by Prudential Tower, the
rent was $546. 52-story building that gave the city a
new skyline and was its tallest building
Boston’s rich ethnic mix is reflected until the completion of the John Han-
in the composition of several of its best- cock Tower in the 1970s. In the 1960s,
known neighborhoods. Beacon Hill has the rundown Scollay Square area was
traditionally been known as the home razed to make way for Government
of the Boston Brahmin elite. The major Center, a complex of federal and state

Boston
office buildings. Development of Bos- tance as manufacturing grew. The first

ton’s waterfront since the 1970s has railroad connected Boston with inland
seen the conversion of existing build- areas of Massachusetts by the late
ings into apartments and the erection 1830s. As home to William Lloyd Garri-
of new high-rises. son’s antislavery newspaper, The Libera-
tor, during the same period, Boston
6 History became known as a center of the aboli-
tionist movement, as well as the site of
The city of Boston was founded in a great intellectual flowering that came
1630 by the Puritans, three years after to include such eminent figures as
the landing at Plymouth Rock. It was Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882),
named for the town in Lincolnshire, Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864),
England, from which some of the first Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862),
settlers had come. Within the first Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888), and
decade, it was already flourishing: the Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809–1894).
nation’s first school (1635) and first
post office (1639) were founded, as well The city’s new industrial base was
as Harvard University (1636), then assured of a steady supply of labor as
called Harvard College and established new immigrants began arriving from
for the training of future ministers. Ireland by mid-century. Nearly 243
Within ten years, the population hectares (600 acres) were added to Bos-
reached 16,000. With its excellent natu- ton with the reclamation of the Back
ral harbor, Boston became a center for Bay’s lowlands between 1857 and 1894.
shipping, shipbuilding, and other mari- In addition, Boston annexed the nearby
time occupations. towns of Roxbury, Dorchester, Charles-
town, Brighton, and West Roxbury.
In 1684 the British revoked the Major cultural and scientific institu-
charter of the Massachusetts Bay Col- tions founded in the following the Civil
ony (of which Boston was already the War included Massachusetts Institute of
capital), and the city came under direct Technology, Massachusetts General
British rule. In the following decades Hospital, the Boston Museum of Fine
and throughout the eighteenth cen- Arts, the Boston Symphony Orchestra,
tury tensions between Bostonians and and the New England Conservatory of
their rulers—like tensions elsewhere in Music.
the colonies—grew. Known as the
“Birthplace of the American Revolu- The decline of Boston’s industrial
tion,” Boston was the site of the Boston base in the early twentieth century was
Massacre (1770), the Boston Tea Party hastened by the Great Depression of
(1773), and the Battle of Bunker Hill the 1930s, although wartime mobiliza-
(1775). tion the following decade brought with
it a temporary reprieve. After World
In the first half of the nineteenth War II (1939–45), however, New
century, shipping declined in impor- England’s traditional manufacturing

Boston
Surviving the War of 1812, the USS Constitution, also known as “Old Ironsides,” rests in the Boston
Harbor. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
industries—textiles, shoes, and glass— ton grew into a major financial and
once again weakened, as did its ship- commercial center. A construction
ping industry. However, its colleges and boom beginning in the late 1950s
universities brought new life to the city changed the city’s skyline with the
as thousands of students enrolled on completion of the Prudential Center in
the G.I. Bill. (In its original version, 1959. In 1962 Scollay Square was torn
signed into law in 1944, the G.I. Bill down to make way for the new Govern-
ment Center complex, and the restored
entitled anyone with 90 days of service
Faneuil Hall Marketplace opened in
in the U.S. military to one year of
1976.
higher education. Each additional
month of active duty earned a month Racial tensions erupted into vio-
of schooling, up to a maximum of 48 lence in the mid-seventies with the
months.) In the post-war decades, Bos- advent of court-ordered busing to

Boston
desegregate the public schools, and years. Municipal elections, held in

whites organized a boycott of the November of odd-numbered years, are
schools. By the 1990s, “white flight” nonpartisan. Boston has traditionally
had given Boston a disproportionately been a strongly Democratic city.
large black population (25 percent)
while many whites had moved to sub-
urbs surrounding the city. In the 1980s 8 Public Safety
and 1990s Boston became one of the
country’s foremost centers for high Established in 1838, Boston has the
technology, with research-based firms oldest police department in the United
clustered in a band along Route 128, States. The city comprises 11 police dis-
which encircles the city. tricts. Boston has a relatively high crime
rate. In 1995, the FBI crime index figure
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a for Boston was 9,492, with the follow-
number of businesses left Boston and ing breakdown into specific categories
relocated to surrounding areas of Mas- (all figures are per 100,000 population):
sachusetts and other states, driven out all violent crimes, 1,737; murder, 17.4;
by high taxes and lease rates and a gen- rape, 68.8; robbery, 182.3; aggravated
eral downturn in the region’s economy assault, 998.2; all property crimes,
as the country slipped into recession 7,755; burglary, 1,211; larceny, 4,721;
and unemployment rose. However, the and motor vehicle theft, 1,822.
city effectively confronted its fiscal
problems, and by 1993 a recovery was In 1997 the police department
under way. In the same year, Thomas moved into a new state-of-the-art head-
Menino became Boston’s first Italian- quarters at One Schroeder Plaza.
American mayor.
In 1988 a massive highway con- 9 Economy
struction project was approved to relo-
cate the city’s Central Artery (I-93) After its founding in 1630, Boston’s
underground, reclaim the land above it, economy was initially based on ship-
and link the Massachusetts Turnpike to ping and shipbuilding, which retained
Logan International Airport. The their central position until the nine-
expected completion date was 2004. teenth century when they were eclipsed
by manufacturing, which was fueled by
technological advances, the develop-
7 Government
ment of railroads, and a steady supply
Boston has a mayor-council form of immigrant labor. Boston’s tradi-
of government, with a nine-member tional industries started to decline in
council elected at large and a strong the twentieth century, especially during
executive branch. The mayor is elected the Great Depression of the 1930s.
to a four-year term; council and school However, there was an upsurge in
committee members are elected for two industrial demand during World War II.

Boston
Since then new industries have 10 Environment

helped keep Boston’s economy strong,
Located on the Shawmut Penin-
as well as spur growth in the service sec-
sula, at the mouths of the Charles and
tor. The area circling the city along Mystic Rivers, Boston has an excellent
Route 128 has seen a proliferation of natural harbor that has played a deci-
new research-based firms, becoming sive role in its history as a shipping and
one of the nation’s leading high-tech- shipbuilding center, and its access to
nology centers, with the nation’s sec- the Atlantic Coast has contributed to
ond-highest number of biotechnology the cosmopolitan character of the city.
firms. Boston has also grown into one Once the maritime capital of the
of the country’s leading banking, insur- nation, Boston today remains its lead-
ing fishing port, with more than
ance, and investment centers. The larg-
907,200 kilograms (two million
est employment sectors are service pounds) of fish caught in the surround-
industries (especially health care), gov- ing waters annually.
ernment (Boston’s local government
had a work force of 22,000 in 1995), At the time the city was founded,
Boston’s hilly peninsula was almost
and the financial sector. In 1996 Bos-
entirely surrounded by water and con-
ton’s labor force numbered 288,267,
nected to the mainland by only a nar-
and unemployment stood at four-and- row strip of land. The area today known
a-half percent. as Back Bay was composed of marshes
and mud flats that were covered by
The Boston area is considered a water during high tide. In the early
leading manufacturing center, espe- nineteenth century a dam was con-
cially in electronics and computers. structed there to generate power for the
Other manufacturing industries in the new mills that were being built. By the
region include machinery, motor vehi- 1830s, the portion of the Back Bay just
cles and other transport equipment, west of the Boston Common was filled
in to create the land for the 10-hectare
ships, apparel, cameras, printing and
(24-acre) Public Garden. In the latter
publishing, chemicals, shoes, books, part of the century, additional land
and textiles. Since the 1980s Boston has from the peninsula was leveled to fill in
become known for its research-based and reclaim more of the marshlands,
high-tech industries, although these are adding significantly to the original area
largely located outside city limits along of the city.
Route 128, which circles the city. Major
In the 1880s a master plan for a
companies headquartered in the Boston network of city parks was laid out by
area include Raytheon, Gillette, Fidelity esteemed landscape architect Frederick
Investments, and Digital Equipment Law Olmsted (1822–1903). A large open
Corporation. park called the Fenway was created,

Boston
linking the Boston Common and Public higher learning within the city proper
Garden with Franklin Park. The Arnold and many more in the surrounding
Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, affiliated area. Colleges and universities within
with Harvard University, was part of the Boston itself include Boston University,
network as well. Northeastern University, the New
England Conservatory of Music, Sim-
11 Shopping mons College, and a branch of the Uni-
versity of Massachusetts, and Harvard’s
Boston’s traditional retail district is medical school. Across the Charles
located in Downtown Crossing, in the River in Cambridge are the Massachu-
heart of the city on the narrow thor- setts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.)
oughfares of Washington, Summer, and and Harvard University. Other well-
Winter streets, which have been turned known institutions of higher education
into a pedestrian mall. The most in the region include Tufts University,
famous landmark here is the teeming Boston College, Brandeis University,
and chaotic Filene’s Basement—literally and Wellesley College.
the lower level(s) of Filene’s department
store, where a wide variety of merchan- Boston Latin School, opened in
dise undergoes a series of markdowns 1635, is the oldest public school in the
the longer it remains on the shelves. United States. In 1998, the Boston
Today the most popular shopping School District was comprised of 129
district is Back Bay, which combines elementary, middle, and high schools
high-quality national retail establish- (72 elementary schools, 20 middle
ments like Neiman Marcus, Lord & Tay- schools, seven K–8 schools, and 18 high
lor, and Saks Fifth Avenue with the schools), with a pupil/staff ratio of
trendy, upscale boutiques for which approximately 13 to 1. As of fiscal year
Newbury Street, in particular, is famous. 1999, public school enrollment was
Also found in this neighborhood are 63,000; the racial and ethnic break-
bookstores, coffee shops, galleries, and down was 49 percent black, 26 percent
a variety of specialty stores, as well as Hispanic, 15 percent white, and 9 per-
numerous restaurants. Other distinctive cent Asian. Private and parochial
shopping destinations are the restored schools enrolled 15,400 students. Bos-
Faneuil Hall marketplace and Harvard ton was the first major city to provide
Square in Cambridge. Internet access to all public school stu-
dents. The public school system
employed 4,534 teachers, 536 adminis-
12 Education trators, and 450 support personnel.
Home of the nation’s first school
and first university (both established in The Boston school system’s NetYear
the 1630s), Boston is renowned as an project was launched in 1996, with the
educational mecca. There are more goal of providing one computer for
than a dozen four-year institutions of every four students by 2001.

Boston
patient-care physicians in 1995 was

18,449. Well-known medical facilities
include Massachusetts General Hospi-
tal, New England Medical Center, the
Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and New
England Deaconess Hospital. In 1997
Massachusetts General Hospital had
819 beds. It recorded 34,908 admissions
and 657,777 outpatient visits, and
employed a work force of 10,902. Hos-
pital expenditures for the year totaled
$705 million. The health-care industry
is one of the city’s top employers.
14 Media
Boston has two major daily news-
papers: the Boston Globe and the Boston
Herald. The Christian Science Monitor, a
national newspaper that appears daily
on weekdays, is also published in Bos-
ton. Well-known magazines published
in Boston include Boston Magazine and
The Atlantic. The city has nine televi-
sion stations, including affiliates of the
four major commercial networks and
the Public Broadcasting System (PBS).
PBS station WGBH is recognized
nationally as a leading outlet for educa-
Harvard University is one of the many colleges tional and cultural programming.
that make Boston the “College Capital of the
World.” (Susan Lapides; Woodfin Camp)
15 Sports
Boston has professional major
league baseball (the Red Sox, American
13 Health Care League), football (the New England
Patriots), basketball (the Celtics), and
With world-class research institu- hockey (the Bruins). The Red Sox won
tions and more than a dozen teaching their only World Series in 1918.
hospitals in the region, Boston is Between 1918 and 1986, they played in
known for pioneering medical advances four more World Series contests, losing
and quality health care. The number of all of them in the seventh game.

Boston
Opening day at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. (Paula Lerner; Woodfin Camp)
Boston’s major sports venues are with the 10-hectare (24-acre) Public
Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox, and Garden. The land for the Common was
Fleet Center, site of the Celtics’ and the purchased by the city in 1634 from a
Bruins’ games. The Patriots play at Fox- property owner for $150. Today’s visi-
boro Stadium. Horse racing takes place tors to the Common jog, skate, or play
at Suffolk Downs. Greyhound racing at frisbee on a historic site that has, in its
Wonderland Park is also a popular time, served as a pasture, execution and
sport. Boston is also famous as the site drill ground, and football field. Also
of the Boston Marathon, held annually within the city limits, located in the
on the third Monday in April. Back Bay, are the Back Bay Fens, which
extend from Beacon Street to Brookline
16 Parks and Avenue, and the Esplanade along the
Recreation Charles River, site of the summer Bos-
ton Pops concerts, which take place in
Boston’s best-known park is the 19- the Hatch Shell. Other notable parks in
hectare (48-acre) Boston Common, the Boston area include Harvard’s 90-
located in the heart of the city, along hectare (223-acre) Arnold Arboretum

Boston
and Franklin Park and Zoological Gar- 18 Libraries and

den, covering 213 hectares (527 acres). Museums
The reference and research collec-
17 Performing Arts tions at the Boston Public Library are
ranked third in the country, following
In addition to its historic attrac- only those of the New York and Los
tions, Boston boasts numerous cultural Angeles public libraries. The library,
attractions. The Boston Symphony founded in 1852, employs a staff of 489
Orchestra (BSO), founded in 1881, is and circulates some 2.4 million items
considered one of the country’s top annually. Its book collection includes
orchestras. During the regular season, it 6.7 million volumes. The library’s main
building in Copley Square is an archi-
performs in Symphony Hall. In the
tectural landmark. Built in Italian
summer the BSO is in residence at the Renaissance style in 1895, it boasts
Tanglewood Festival in the Berkshires, a murals by John Singer Sargent (1856–
popular destination for Bostonians, 1925) and other beautiful works of art,
who can also hear concerts by the Bos- as well as a picturesque courtyard. A
ton Pops at the Hatch Shell on the modern atrium-centered addition, the
banks of the Charles River in Back Bay. McKim building, was completed in
1972 and provides a dramatic contrast
Boston is also a thriving concert venue
to the original building. The John F.
for recitals and chamber music concerts Kennedy Library holds the presidential
by top-notch local performers and papers of the late president.
major touring artists, and is noted for
its active early-music scene. The New The Museum of Fine Arts is one of
England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, the finest in the country; many rank it
noted for its exceptional acoustics—and second only to New York’s Metropoli-
tan Museum. Built in 1909, it added the
completely renovated in the early
new West Wing, designed by renowned
1990s—is the scene of numerous stu- architect I. M. Pei (b. 1917), in 1981.
dent and faculty concerts and recitals, The museum is especially noted for its
as well as performances by other artists. Asian and Old Kingdom Egyptian col-
Boston is also home to three opera lections, but there are many master-
companies and the Boston Ballet, the pieces by European and American
fourth-largest ballet company in the painters as well, including a 1796 por-
trait of George Washington by Gilbert
nation. In addition, the city has several
Stuart (1755–1828). Boston’s other
professional theater troupes, including
museums include the Isabella Stewart
the American Repertory Theater, the Gardner Museum, the Museum of Con-
Huntington Theater Company, and the temporary Art, Harvard’s Fogg Art
Boston Shakespeare Company. Museum, and the Science Museum.

Boston
19 To u r i s m 20 Holidays and
Boston has a combination of Festivals
attractions that make it one of the JANUARY
nation’s most popular tourist destina- Chinese New Year celebration featuring parade
and fireworks (Chinatown)
tions. More than ten million people
Boston Wine Festival
visit the city annually. In 1995 Boston
attracted 970,000 foreign visitors, rank- FEBRUARY
Black History Month
ing tenth among the nation’s cities in
Beanpot Hockey Tournament
this category. Boston’s most famous
tourist attractions are its historic sites, FEBRUARY-MARCH
International Cultural Festival
many of which can be found on the
Freedom Trail, covering some four kilo- MARCH
New England Spring Flower Show
meters (two-and-a-half miles) of down-
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
town Boston. It begins at the Boston
Common, a large park in the heart of APRIL
Boston Marathon
the city, which also offers the legendary Red Sox opening day
Swan Boat rides on an artificial pond. Patriots Day
Among the historic sites included on
APRIL-OCTOBER
the trail are the State House, the Park Boston Pops Concerts in the Hatch Shell
Street Church, the Old South Meeting
House, the Old State House, Paul MAY
Boston Kite Festival
Revere’s house, the Old North Church, Lilac Sunday (Arnold Arboretum)
and the Bunker Hill Monument. The Street Performers Festival (Faneuil Hall Market-
Black Heritage Trail, another popular place)
walking tour, celebrates Boston’s his- JUNE
tory as a center of the abolitionist Art Newbury Street
movement and includes stops on the Boston Globe Jazz & Blues Festival
Underground Railroad and abolitionist JULY
meeting places. Other popular Boston Boston Harborfest
tourist sites include the restored Faneuil Central Square World’s Fair
Hall marketplace; the redeveloped AUGUST
waterfront; the 226-meter-high (740- Heritage Days
foot-high) observation deck of the John Italian-American Feasts
Hancock Building, Boston’s tallest SEPTEMBER
structure; and Harvard Square in Cam- Boston Film Festival
bridge. Cambridge River Festival
OCTOBER
Convention facilities in Boston Columbus Day Parade
include the John B. Hynes Veterans Head of the Charles Regatta
Convention Center, the World Trade Harvard Square Oktoberfest
Center, and the Bayside Exposition NOVEMBER
Center. Christmas Crafts Show

Boston
DECEMBER
Boston Common Tree Lighting
Boston Tea Party Reenactment
First Night Boston
21 Famous Citizens
Samuel Adams (1722–1803), Revolu-
tionary War leader.
Larry Bird (b. 1956), star player for the
Boston Celtics.
Louis D. Brandeis (1856–1942), first Jew
appointed to the U.S. Supreme
Court.
Charles Bulfinch (1763–1844), architect
of numerous Boston landmarks.
William Ellery Channing (1780–1842),
founder of American Unitarian As-
sociation.
Julia Child (b. 1912), culinary expert
and television personality.
John Singleton Copley (1738–1815), Paul Revere, Revolutionary War hero, rode from
Boston to Lexington to warn the countryside that
first great North American portrait the British were on the march.
painter. (Susan Lapides, Woodfin Camp)
Dorothea Dix (1802–1887), tenacious

investigative reporter. John Hancock (1737–1793), first signer
of the Declaration of Indepen-
Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910), founder
dence.
of the Christian Science church.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882), John F. Kennedy (1917–1963), president
writer, philosopher, and leading of the United States (1960–1963).
Transcendentalist.
Malcolm X (1925–1965), Black Muslim
Arthur Fiedler (1894–1979), Boston
leader.
Pops conductor and organizer of
the Esplanade concerts.
Cotton Mather (1663–1728), Congrega-
William Lloyd Garrison (1805–1879), tional clergyman known for ser-
abolitionist writer and editor. mons.

Boston
Frederick Law Olmsted (1822–1903), (800) 227-6277; (617) 727-6525

landscape architect who planned
Boston’s park network. Other Resources
The Bostonian Society
Paul Revere (1735–1818), Revolutionary 200 Washington St.
Old State House
War era patriot. Boston, MA 02110
(617) 242-5610
Ted Williams (b. 1918), Red Sox base-
ball hero. Boston Public Library
666 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02117
22 For Further Study (617) 536-5400
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Websites 125 High St.
Excite Travel. About Boston. [Online] Available Boston, MA 02110
http://www.city.net/countries/ (617) 426-1250
united_states/massachusetts/boston.
(accessed October 14, 1999). Publications
Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. Boston Business Journal
Welcome to Boston USA. [Online] Available 200 High St.
http://www.bostonusa.com. (accessed Octo- Boston, MA 02110
ber 14, 1999).
Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. The Boston Globe
Massachusetts: Take a Real Vacation. [Online] P.O. Box 2378
Available http://www.mass-vacation.com. Boston, MA 02110
(accessed October 14, 1999).
Massachusetts Port Authority. Mass port. Boston Herald
[Online] Available http://www.massport.com. P.O. Box 2096
(accessed October 14, 1999 Boston, MA 02106
Boston Magazine
Government Offices 300 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston Redevelopment Authority Horticulture Hall
Boston City Hall, Ninth Floor Boston, MA 02115
Boston, MA 02201
(617) 722-4300 Books
Appleberg, Marilyn J. I Love Boston Guide. Illus-
Mayor’s Office
trations by Albert Pfeiffer. 3rd ed. New York:
City of Boston
Collier Books, 1993.
One City Hall Square Campbell, Robert. Cityscapes of Boston: An Ameri-
Boston, MA 02108 can City Through Time. Boston: Houghton
(617) 725-3914 Mifflin Co., 1992.
Formisano, Ronald P. Boston Against Busing: Race,
Tourist and Convention Bureaus Class, and Ethnicity in the 1960s and 1970s.
Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina
P.O. Box 990468 Press, 1991.
Prudential Tower, Suite 400 Frost, Jack. Boston's Freedom Trail: A Souvenir
Boston, MA 02199 Guide. 2nd ed. Chester, CT: Globe Pequot
(617) 536-4100; (888) SEE-BOSTON Press, 1986.
Harris, Patricia, and David Lyon. Boston. 2nd ed.
Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism Oakland, CA: Compass American Guides,
100 Cambridge St., 13th Floor 1999.
Boston, MA 02202 Hitzemann, Marietta, and Ed Golden. New-

Boston
comer's Handbook for Boston. 2nd ed. Chi- of the Church and its People. Boston: North-
cago: First Books, 1998. eastern University Press, 1998.
Kennedy, Lawrence W. Planning the City Upon a O'Connor, Thomas H. South Boston, My Home
Hill: Boston Since 1630. Amherst: University Town: The History of an Ethnic Neighborhood.
of Massachusetts Press, 1992. Boston: Quinlan Press, c. 1988.
Lukas, J. Anthony. Common Ground. 1st ed. New
York: Knopf, 1985. Waldstein, Mark. Mr. Cheap's Boston. Holbrook:
Meerwood, Anne. Frommer’s Irreverent Guide to Adams Pub., 1995.
Boston. New York: Macmillan, 1999. Wilson, Susan. Boston Sites and Insights. Boston:
Moore, Barbara W. and Gail Weesner. Back Bay: A Beacon Press, 1994.
Living Portrait. Boston : Century Hill Press,
1995.
Morris, Jerry. The Boston Globe Guide to Boston. Videorecordings
4th ed. Old Saybrook, CT: Globe Pequot Boston: The Way It Was. Produced and written by
Press, 1999. Lorie Conway. Boston: WGBH Educational
O'Connor, Thomas H. Boston Catholics: A History Foundation, 1995.

Brussels
Brussels, Belgium, Europe
Founded: 979
Location: Europe, central Belgium, around the river Senne
Motto: “L’Union fait la force–Eendracht maakt macht.” (Unity is powerful.)
Flag: Yellow marsh iris on a field of blue.
Flower: Yellow (or golden) marsh iris (Iris pseudocorus)
Time Zone: 1 PM = noon GMT
Ethnic Composition: 55% Flemish (Dutch), 33% French (Walloons), 12% Germans
and others
Elevation: Sea level
Latitude and Longitude: 50° 50’ N, 4° 00’ E
Coastline: None
Climate: Moderate temperatures year-round with little snow in the winters,
predictable rainfall and mild summers
Annual Mean Temperature: 10° C (50° F), ranging from 3° C (37° F) in January to
18° C (64° F) in July.
Average Annual Precipitation: 70 cm (28 in)
Government: Mayor, congress, and district representatives under a constitutional
monarchy
Monetary Units: Belgian franc (BFr)
Telephone Area Codes: 02
Postal Codes: B-1000, B-1020
1 Introduction 2 Getting There

Brussels lies in the center of Bel- Getting to Brussels is fairly easy due
to the advanced state of the city’s trans-
gium, with the Senne, a small stream
portation systems and city planning.
splitting neatly in two around the city
Access to the Brussels Capital Region,
center. A popular convention and tour- the Grand Place center of town, and the
ist center, the city is world-renowned many museums and shops in the
for its fine beer, divine chocolate, and Sablon district is provided by numerous
Belgian lace. Known as the “Capital of routes that are vital to commerce and
Europe,” Brussels hosts the European tourism.
Union Commission, as well as NATO
headquarters, and is regarded as the Highways
international meeting hub of the The total area of Brussels highway
twenty-first century. system covers 430 kilometers (267
83
Brussels
tions. The southern station receives the

Brussels Thalys train from Paris and the Eurostar
Population Profile from London. Belgian Railways (SNCB/
NMBS) services trains to and from
City Proper Brugge, Ghent, Antwerp, Liège, Amster-
Population: 951,580 dam, and Cologne, among other cities.
Ethnic composition: 55% Flemish (Dutch); 33%
French (Walloons); 12% German and other
Charter buses and coaches from tour
Nicknames: City of Beer, Capital of Europe, operators also carry passengers into
Company Town (for the European Brussels, such as “De Lijn” buses and
government)
“TEC.” An airport express runs to and
Metropolitan Area from Antwerp every hour.
World population rank1: 330 Airports
Average yearly growth rate: less than 0.1% Brussels National Airport is actually
——— located in Zaventem, a close suburb of
1. The Brussels metropolitan area’s rank among the Brussels. Belgavia and Sabena are the
main flight operators, but Air Canada,
2. The percent of Belgium’s total population living
in the Brussels metropolitan area. British Airways, Delta, KLM, Virgin
Atlantic, Finnair, Quantas, Singapore
Airlines, United Airlines, and Varig also
fly into Brussels.
miles) of paved roads. Brussels Ring
Road leads to Brussels International Air-
3 Getting Around
port, surrounding the Inner Brussels The streets of Brussels have grown
Ring Road which links to the three out of the haphazard planning of the
major train stations. From Brussels, the middle ages, making navigation in the
E40 leads east to Liège and Köln, and city somewhat like traveling a maze.
west to London. The E19 takes vehicles Tourists will need to find a street map
north to Antwerp and Amsterdam, in order to successfully get around in
south to Mons and Paris, while the Brussels on their own, or find a reliable
E411 goes south to Namur and Luxem- tour guide.
bourg. Brussels roads are known for
their foggy conditions, resulting from Bus and Commuter Rail Service
their proximity to the English Channel Trains, buses, and the Metro can all
and North Sea. be accessed with one ticket at 55 BFr for
one hour. The city also provides day
Bus and Railroad Service cards, ten-drive or five-drive tickets at a
reasonable price. The metro is consid-
There are three main train stations ered very safe and efficient with 58 sta-
that carry passengers into the city, the tions. Five-hundred buses traverse the
North, Central, and Midi (South) sta- city, as do 15 tramlines.

Brussels
Taxis to flag one down. Taxis come in all dif-

ferent colors and brands, but a lighted
In order to get a taxi, tourists must sign on top says “Brussels Gewest-Taxi-
go to a taxi stand instead of attempting Région de Bruxelles,” and there should

Brussels
be a yellow and blue license emblem. A lecht, St.-Gilles, Ixelles, Etterbeek,

taxi from the airport to the city center Woluwe-St.-Lambert, Woluwe-St.-Pierre,
is 1,000 BFr (about $30). Andeghem, Watermael-Boitsfort, Veele,
and Forest.
Sightseeing
The Tourist Information Office is The “petit ring” of the city is
located in the right wing of Town Hall, divided between the Upper and Lower
a fifteenth-century structure which sections, the more expensive areas
towers over the Grand Place town being higher up, except for the Grand
square. Many tours and excursions Place, which lies for the most part in
depart nearby, including De Boeck the Lower town. The Gare du Midi area
tours, which have a combined walking/ houses mostly immigrants and is more
luxury coach tour of the capital. economically depressed than the Gare
du Nord area that is still somewhat
troubled. Once in the heart of the city,
4 People
the scenery completely changes, with
The population of Brussels num- most of the government buildings and
bers 951,580, most of whom speak nice shops.
French. While the southern Walloons
are French speakers, the northern Flem- The main town square in the his-
ish peoples speak Dutch. A small Ger- torical city center is called Grand Place,
man enclave also exists in Liège. About featuring city hall, Hotel de Ville, most
one-third of the Brussels populace is administrative offices, and some shops.
made up of foreigners, many of whom The Cinquantenaire district, on the
work at the European Union and North edge of the city center, showcases the
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Triumphal Arch, museums and art nou-
headquarters. The majority of Brussels veau houses, and the European Union
inhabitants are Roman Catholic; how- Commission, Parliament, and Council
ever, there is also an active Jewish com-
of Ministers. To the east of city center,
munity, and Turkish migratory workers,
Royal Square houses the royal residency
who are Muslim, have a sizable commu-
and Parliament, with a number of gar-
nity as well. Tensions between the more
dens and pleasant vistas. The Ander-
affluent Flemish and the poorer Wal-
lecht area, west of the center, is well
loons have existed for centuries.
known for its soccer team but is other-
wise seen as an industrial, drab neigh-
5 Neighborhoods borhood. The Heysel district and
The Brussels Capital Region is Sablon district to the south contain
made up of 19 communes: Bruxelles, antique dealers and markets, and the
Jette, Ganshoren, Berchem-St.-Agathe, fashionable neighborhood of Grand
Koekelberg, Schaerbeek, Evere, St.-Josse- Sablon Square lies in the heart of the
Ten-Noode, Molenbeek-St. Jean, Ander- Sablon district.

Brussels

Brussels Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Belgium) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
De Nieuwe Akhbar El Yom/
Gazet Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
6 History the way to the channel ports, and the

marshland surrounding the city slowly
At the end of the sixth century, the dried, opening up more land for habita-
Preacher Saint Gorik built a chapel on a tion. The increased population put
small island formed by the two arms of stress on the social system of guilds and
the river Senne, creating the first build- noblemen, resulting in peasant upris-
ing known to have been built in Brus- ings that were quickly stifled during the
sels. Later, in A.D. 977, the first written thirteenth century. In 1402, construc-
record of Brussels declared Charles of tion on Grand Place began after 50
France to be the legal owner of Low- years of recession, and in 1430 Philip
Lorraine, including the island of Saint- the Bold, Duke of Burgundy became the
Gorik, on which he built a fortress. But Duke of Brabant through marriage to
Brussels was not officially founded until Margaret, an heiress of the former ruler
979, after Lambert of Leuven inherited of Brussels, Duchess Joan. This period
the land from Charles. During the next of relative calm was marked by a flower-
three centuries, the city grew as a trading of the arts and commerce in Brus-
ing post and popular resting spot on sels. The period of calm was shattered,

Brussels
city. Alva triumphed, only to be

replaced by Isabella and Archduke
Albert of Austria. Another plague out-
break, with losses comparable to the
first, occurred in 1578, before Albert
came into power in 1596. In 1695, Brus-
sels was attacked by French King Louis
XIV and his army, led by field marshal
Villeroi, which destroyed more than
4,000 houses and Grand Place through
fire and looting. The Royal Palace was
burned down in 1731, and the French
captured Brussels in 1746. This occupa-
tion lasted for about a century, until the
Belgian revolution freed 138,000 Brus-
sels citizens in 1830. On July 21, 1831,
Leopold I became Belgium’s first King,
and the country rebuilt.
During World War I (1914–18),

Brussels was an occupied city, but Ger-
man troops did not incur much dam-
age. The Germans returned during
The Grand Place with the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) World War II (1939–45), resulting in
expresses traditional Flemish architectural design in Belgium’s split into two semi-indepen-
the heart of Brussels. (Christophe Gruner; Woodfin Camp) dent regions, the Flanders and Walloon
Provinces, while the Brussels district
had its own government. The Universal
however, when a plague killed about Exhibition took place in Brussels in
half of the city’s 60,000 inhabitants in 1958, and in 1970 construction of the
1489. In 1507, Margaret of Austria was Berlaymont building, house of the
appointed General Governor of the European government, began. The
Netherlands, and growth resumed in European Union and NATO moved
Brussels for a good 50 years. their headquarters to Brussels, turning
The intrigues of Emporer Charles V the city into quite an international
and his successor Philip II brought revo- meeting place for the twenty-first cen-
lution back to Brussels, as those sympa- tury.
thetic to William of Orange, supervisor
of Holland (and champion of Charles 7 Government
V), fought against those who followed
the Duke of Alva (favorite of William of Brussels, the capital of Belgium, has
Orange) in a battle for power over the an independent congress, mayor, and

Brussels
administration, all of which are elected the Brussels economy is actually based
by the people. On June 18, 1989, the on small, private enterprises that ser-
citizens of Brussels elected their vice the European Community. About
regional representatives directly for the three-quarters of trade occurs with
first time because the Region of Brussels other European Union countries, and
Capital is considered an autonomous there is a large public debt due to social
region from the rest of the country of welfare programs. Gross domestic prod-
Belgium, which is a constitutional uct (GDP) per capita stands at $23,400
monarchy. On July 14, 1993, the Bel- annually for Brussels citizens, which is
gian parliament approved the creation mostly service-based, but about one-
of a federal state of Belgium, which quarter of wages are for industrial labor.
amended the Constitution and Devolu- Unemployment has held steady at
tion Acts to give the regions (including around 14 percent, along with most of
Brussels) more political power. the rest of Europe, but the administra-
tion has launched extensive work-
incentive programs. As the capital of
8 Public Safety
Europe, Brussels also experiences spe-
The Brussels Fire Brigade employs cial treatment at the hands of European
925 professional firemen, serving in bureaucrats in the allocation of fund-
more than nine fire stations. A fleet of ing, since most fonctionnaires (officials)
150 units is available to help with road live in and around the city. In January
accidents, and there are at least 40 1999, the Euro came into common
ambulances, five with intensive care usage in non-cash transactions, and in
surgeons. The emergency number is 2002 the coins and bills will start circu-
100; the police can be reached at 101. lating, replacing the Belgian franc and
Each year the city responds to more furthering the transition to a truly
than 30,000 calls. European economy.
9 Economy 10 Environment
Brussels has a well-developed infra- The Meuse River provides drinking
structure that is supported by about water to Brussels, as does the Scheldt
2,000 foreign companies, including River, but these two principal rivers
1,400 U.S. companies and more than have been polluted by steel production
1,000 international associations. The wastes that need to be filtered before
Belgian capital sports the world’s sec- consumption. Other rivers and tributar-
ond-largest congressional center, where ies are polluted by animal wastes and
numerous conferences for business are fertilizers from agricultural activity.
held each year. About 60 foreign banks Industry in the Brussels environs has
operate in Brussels, making the city the caused acid rain to fall throughout the
seventh-largest financial market in the city and to drift over Europe, killing
world. Despite the international links, trees and plants and damaging monu-

Brussels
Although the king reigns but does not govern, Brussels, the capital of Europe, is comparable to
Washington D.C. in that it is the center of political decisions and global weight. (Homer Sykes; Woodfin Camp)
ments and other buildings. Flooding is created in 1972 by the United Nations
a threat to reclaimed forestland, but a to conduct research on sustainable
series of dikes that hold back the ocean development and to compile an envi-
protect the land from the majority of ronmental metadatabase to take a holis-
flood damage. As one of the Low Coun- tic approach to environmental
tries, much of the land is at or below troubleshooting. While the research
sea level, causing the need for reclama-
that the center does has global ramifica-
tion projects. Natural resources include
tions, local applications of new envi-
coal and natural gas, which are the
source of much of the country’s pollu- ronmental policies are common. The
tion problems. Alternative sources of Exporec 2000, European Recycling
energy are being tested, including solar Exhibition, was held in Brussels, April
power and nuclear energy. The Center 21–28, 2000, and showcased the many
for Economic and Social Studies on the ways that products from industrial pro-
Environment, located in Brussels, was duction and general use may be reused

Brussels
instead of merely thrown away to dam- years of age, while nearly all children
age the environment. start with nursery and kindergarten.
This system is fairly successful, consid-
11 Shopping ering the virtually nonexistent illiteracy
rate among Brussels adults, which is
There are three main shopping dis- practically unheard of, even in other
tricts: Blvd. Adolf Max & Rue Nuve; advanced societies. Classes are taught in
Place Stephanie & Ave. Louise; and French, Dutch, and German, and some
around Grand Sablon. Some of the pop- schools teach a combination of these
ular souvenirs to bring home from Brus-
languages in order to prepare students
sels are the famous fruit beers that often
for the international European busi-
come with a matching glass, Sablon
ness scene. Both public “official”
lace, Godiva chocolate, and comic
strips like Tintin. Most supermarkets are schools and private “free” schools
on the outskirts of the city and in the (Catholic) are financed by the Brussels
suburbs, but there are two supermarkets government, which has come under
near the Stock Exchange Building. Sun- scrutiny from those who advocate the
day is traditionally market day when separation of church and state, religious
Grand Place holds a bird market, and and secular lives. The government has
Sablon Square holds an antiques market recently started an Internet system
(Saturday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Sunday called BRUNETTE (Brussels Network for
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM). Every day of the Telematics in Education), connecting
week there is a flea market at the “Place all schools to the Internet with
du Jeu de balles” near the Palace of Jus- advanced technology.
tice. Near Place Bara and Slaughter-
house in the suburb of Anderlecht there Brussels has been a major center of
are food markets. Chocolates can be learning since the Middle Ages and
found in shops by the name of Godiva, hosts eight major universities and
Wittamer, Neuhaus and Corne. The numerous technical and vocational col-
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert was
leges. The Free University of Brussels
Europe’s first shopping mall, built in
was originally created to alleviate the
1847, located on the Rue d’Arenberg.
Catholic rule over education in the
The famous Sablon lace comes from the
Maison Antoine Old Brussels Lace Shop country. It is separated into two almost
in Grand Place. completely different institutions, one
French-speaking and the other Dutch-
speaking. The constitution guarantees
12 Education the freedom of choice of education,
The Brussels school system teaches which draws foreign students seeking
approximately 35,000 students who refuge from educational, political, and
live in the Brussels Capital Region. religious persecution in their own
Schooling is compulsory from six to 15 homelands.

Brussels
13 Health Care
The IRIS network of Brussels (Inter-
hospitalière Régionale des Infrastruc-
tures de Soins) offers nine public
hospitals, basic medical care, and spe-
cialists who are available to all citizens.
University hospitals also provide a
number of services while teaching new
doctors and nurses the trade. Modern
medical, psychological, and geriatric
care is available from state-run hospi-
tals, clinics, and private doctors. About
95 percent of the Brussels population
are covered by the state health plan.
The twentieth International Sympo-
sium on Intensive Care and Emergency
Medicine was held in Brussels March
21–24, 2000, helping to update the
techniques used by Brussels practitio-
ners in emergency situations.
14 Media
The Palais des Boux-Arts hosts many dance and
The Brussels media is composed of musical concerts and recitals by world-renowned
three major French newspapers: Le Soir, performers and conductors throughout the year.
(Christophe Gruner; Woodfin Camp)
La Libre Belgique, and La Derniere Heure;
three major Dutch newspapers: De Stan-
daard, De Morgen, and Het Laatste
Nieuws; and one English weekly: The 15 Sports
Bulletin. Most Brussels citizens get cable,
which provides 40 channels: six of Brussels holds an annual 20-kilo-
which are French (France), five Belgian meter (12-mile) half-marathon every
Flemish, five Belgian French, three year on the streets of the city. The most
Dutch (Holland), two local Brussels popular sports are bicycling and soccer
(Dutch/French), two German, BBCI and (also called football, but very different
BBC2, CNN, NBC Superchannel, from American football). The Red Dev-
Euronews, and a channel each from ils are Belgium’s national soccer team,
Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Morocco, run by the Royal Belgium Football Asso-
and Turkey, among others. ciation.

Brussels
16 Parks and Beaux-Arts holds a wide range of dance

Recreation and musical concerts and recitals by
world-renowned performers year-
Along the Bois de la Cambre, a visi- round, and the Brussels Chamber Music
tor can stroll along the banks of the Ensemble Oxalays performs classical
river, row on the river, bicycle, go music. One specialty of Brussels is the
horseback riding, roller-skating, or play Toone Theater, or Theatre Toone VII,
miniature golf. The Park of Brussels also which is held in a pub built in 1696
is a pleasant place to visit. On the near Grand Place. On the first floor,
Arcades of Cinquantenaire, Jabel Park marionettes perform classical operas
was built to commemorate the fiftieth and Brussels folk stories in French,
anniversary of the Belgium Kingdom. Dutch, and English; the second floor
La MiniEurope lies in the Laeken dis- houses the actual pub. Every summer,
trict, complete with a miniature Eiffel the Festival of Flanders features con-
Tower, leaning Tower of Pisa, and other certs, theater, and dance performances
well-known monuments, in a theme in Brussels and other Belgian cities.
park perfect for family vacations. In the
same district is the Atomium, a large Brussels has also hosted the Queen
structure simulating the make-up of an Elisabeth International Music Competi-
atom, built for the 1958 World’s Fair tion since 1951, offering support to
held in Brussels. young pianists, violinists, and compos-
ers.
In Tervuren, there are acres of
green land in the Forêt de Soignes and
the Parc de Tervuren, making this the
18 Libraries and
most popular destination for outdoors Museums
recreation. About 15 percent of Brussels Brussels has a wealth of museums
is given over to parks and wildlife, that cover topics ranging from antiqui-
which is a large amount considering the ties to comic strips. The Cinquantenaire
dense population of the city and sub- Museum of Classical Art and History,
urbs. founded in 1835 and moved to
Cinquantenaire Park in 1889, contains
17 Performing Arts artwork from all over the world, from
prehistoric times to the present. Brus-
The Théatre Royal de la Monnaie, sels City Museum, located in the King’s
open since 1700 and supported by the House on the Market Place of Brussels,
Belgian government and Brussels City opened in 1884. It showcases artwork
government, houses the Opera of Brus- specifically about the city of Brussels,
sels and the Royal Ballet Company, put- featuring wall tapestries and the 600-
ting on numerous shows every year. costume wardrobe of Manneken Pis.
Other theaters include the Kaaitheater,
the Royal Flemish Theater, and the The- The Museum of Modern Art and
ater Factory Europe. The Palais des Natural Sciences Museum also have

Brussels
make divine desserts. Known for its

beer, Brussels is also a fine place to
socialize in the pubs and take in a mari-
onette play. Tourists from all over
Europe come to Brussels because of its
international ranking as a convention
center and the capital of Europe. The
museums and parks are top-notch and
deserve as much time as possible from
curious tourists. The comic strip
museum, beer museum, and city
museum offer rare glimpses into the
private lives of Belgians and promise to
entertain visitors. Although the weather
is not always sunny, it is usually mild,
allowing for comfortable sightseeing
throughout the year. With the well-
The collection of the Museum of Modern Art
displays pieces of many Brussels-inspired artists.
developed transportation, there is no
(Christophe Gruner; Woodfin Camp) reason that a traveler should pass up
the opportunity to visit Brussels.
extensive collections. Victor Horta 20 Holidays and

House focuses on one of the founders of Festivals
the art nouveau style, and the Belgian
Comic Strip Centre houses the largest JANUARY
Brussels Annual International Motor Show
collection of comic strips in the world,
including Belgium’s Tintin. The Royal FEBRUARY
Library, or Bibliotheque Royal Albert I, Brussels Cartoon and Animated Film Festival
(from the end of February until the middle of
located near the central train station, March)
provides citizens with reading and ref-
erence material. The library holds MARCH
International Symposium on Intensive Care and
nearly everything published in Belgium Emergency Medicine
and much of what is printed in Europe.
APRIL
The Music and Light Show at Grand Place (from
19 To u r i s m April through September)
MAY
Whether shopping and sightseeing The 20km Annual Marathon
in Grand Place, Sablon Square, or the Brussels Art Festival
Heysel district, tourists get a grand taste
JUNE
of the good life in Brussels. The city’s Ommegang (Thousands parade on the streets in
cuisine is one of the finest in the world, colorful costumes to commemorate the welcome
and the numerous chocolate shops of Charles V to the city.)

Brussels
JULY Tel.: (02)504–02–76

The Festival of Flanders Fax: (02)513–07–50
AUGUST Centre Administratif (CA)
The Ivo Van Damme Memorial 6 Boulevard Anspach
1000 Bruxelles
Ville de Bruxelles
21 Famous Citizens
City Hall (Hôtel de Ville, HV)
Albert II (b. 1934), King of Belgium (r. Grand Place
1993–present), brother of King 1000 Bruxelles
Tel.: (02)512–75–54
Baudouin I.
Mayor—Mr. François-Xavier de Donnea
Baudouin I (1930–1993), King of Bel- Tel.: (02)279–50–10
gium (r. 1951–1993). Fax: (02)279–50–21
Victor Horta (1861–1947), architect. Tourist and Convention Bureaus

Atomium
Georges Rémi (1907–1983), creator of Blvd. Du Centenaire
Tintin. B-1020 Bruxelles
Tel.: (02)477–09–77
Antoine Joseph Sax (known as Adolphe Fax: (02)477–83–98
e-mail: webmaster@atomium.be
Sax, 1814–1894), inventor of the
saxophone. Brussels Exhibition Center
Place de Belgique
Jean-Claude Van Damme (b. 1960), B-1020 Bruxelles
Tel.: (02)474–82–77
movie star and karate expert, nick- Fax: (02)474–83–90
named “the muscles from Brus- e-mail: info@bruexpo.be
sels.”
Tourist Office (Tourist Information Brussels)
Hôtel de Ville
22 For Further Study Grand Place
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel.: (02)513–89–40
Websites Fax: (02)514–45–38
Brussels Online. [Online] Available http:// e-mail: tourism.bruxelles@tib.be
www.brussels-online.be/ (accessed Decem-
ber 20, 1999).
Publications
City of Brussels. [Online] Available http://
Le Soir
www.brussels.be/ (accessed December 20,
Rue Royale
1999).
120-1000 Bruxelles
Irisnet. [Online] Available http://
Belgique
bruxelles.irisnet.be/index.html (accessed
Tel.: (32)2–225–54–32
December 20, 1999).
e-mail: journal@lesoir.be
Timeout.com. [Online] Available http://
www.timeout.com/brussels/ (accessed La Libre Belgique. [Online] Available http://
December 20, 1999). www.lalibrebelgique.com (accessed Decem-
ber 20, 1999).
Government Offices
Brussels Congress Books
Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes 61 Deprez, Kas and Louis Vos, eds. Nationalism in
1000 Brussels Belgium: Shifting Identities, 1780–1995. New

Brussels
York, NY: St. Martin’s Press, 1998. Roberts-Jones, Philippe, ed. Brussels: Fin de Siècle.
Ephrem et. al. Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Bel- Köln: Taschen, 1999.
gium: A Guide to the Collections of Ancient Art Swimberghe, Piet and Jan Verlinde, eds. Brussels:
and Modern Art. Brussels: Alice Editions, The Art of Living. New York, NY: Stewart,
1996. Tabor and Chang, 1998.

Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America
Founded: 1536
Location: On the western bank of the Río de la Plata estuary across from Uruguay,
150 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean, Argentina, South America.
Flag: A black eagle with a red beak, wearing a crown and holding a red cross, on a
white field.
Time Zone: 9 AM = noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Ethnic Composition: 75% Spanish or Italian descent.
Latitude and Longitude: 34º36’S, 58º28’W
Coastline: 20 kilometers (12 mi)along the Río de La Plata.
Climate: Hot, humid summers. The winter months of June to August are mild but
humid. Frosts occur from May to September, but snow is extremely rare.
Annual Mean Temperature: Overall 60ºF (16ºC); summer (December–February)
83ºF (28ºC); winter (June–Aug) 52ºF (11ºC).
Average Annual Precipitation: 43.2 inches (1,096 mm)
Government: Elected mayor and legislature, but Federal government makes major
decisions affecting the capital city.
Weights And Measures: Metric
Monetary Units: The peso (on par with the U.S. dollar). U.S. dollar is widely
accepted.
Telephone Area Codes: Argentina country code: (54); Buenos Aires: (1).
Postal Codes: The Correo Argentino, the privatized postal service, created a 4-letter,
4-number code.
1 Introduction wealth and sophistication. By 1913, the

city had Latin America's first under-
Early in the twentieth century, Bue- ground metro system in operation. The
nos Aires, the city of fair winds, became city continued growing through two
one of the world’s great cities. By the world wars and a global economic crisis
tens of thousands, European immi- in the 1930s.
grants sailed across the Atlantic to the
“Paris of Latin America” looking for a The city's residents, known as
better life. Money seemed no object in Porteños, or people of the port, were
those days. Fueled by the great agricul- confident and brash. To the people of
tural wealth that came from the heart- neighboring countries, the Porteños
land of the nation, great new buildings were arrogant and aloof. The dapper
and monuments were the order of the Carlos Gardel epitomized the Porteño
day. In 1908, a grand opera house during the height of his musical and
opened its doors to world acclaim and acting career early in the century.
became a symbol of Buenos Aires' Supremely confident, always well
97
Buenos Aires
feral cats, and countless other prob-

Buenos Aires lems.
Population Profile
Economists and historians are still
City Proper
trying to figure out what went wrong in
Population: 3,040,000 Argentina. Once the seventh-wealthi-
Area: 200 sq km (77 sq mi) est country in the world, it quickly
Ethnic composition: 75% Spanish or Italian dropped to seventy-seventh by the
ancestry; 25% other, including Russian Jews,
English, French, German, Lebanese, and Syrian 1960s. The blame is often placed on the
Nicknames: Inhabitants are known as Porteños economic policies of former President
(port dwellers or people of the port)
Juan Domingo Perón, who created the
Metropolitan Area
nation's most powerful political move-
Population: 12,431,000 ment in the 1950s and attempted to
Description: Greater Buenos Aires Metropolitan industrialize the nation at the cost of
area (city and 22 suburbs) agriculture. Just as devastating to the
Area: 3,680 sq km (1,420 sq mi)
World population rank1: 10 nation was the brutal military dictator-
Percentage of national population2: 34% ship of 1976–83, which ruled with an
Average yearly growth rate: 1.0% iron fist from the capital city of Buenos
——— Aires. Thousands of Argentineans were
1. The Buenos Aires metropolitan area’s rank killed, and thousands who were
among the world’s urban areas.
arrested were never seen again. In the
2. The percent of Argentina’s total population
living in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area. capital's main Plaza de Mayo, a square
in front of the government palace, each
Thursday a group of mothers remind
the nation of sons and daughters not
dressed and neatly groomed, Gardel yet found.
was an ambassador to the Tango, a mel- Yet, despite all its problems, Buenos
ancholic music that grew out of the Aires retains much of its old charm.
fringes of Buenos Aires. Some of its neighborhoods have not
changed at all in the past 100 years and
By the end of the twentieth cen- remain a living example of the city's
tury, Buenos Aires had managed to golden age. Millions of people visit Bue-
retain if not its confidence at least its nos Aires each year. They come to expe-
arrogance as it literally fell apart. In the rience the tango, eat at renowned and
1990s, the Porteño media were busy expensive restaurants, shop at sophisti-
cated boutiques, and visit dozens of
reporting stories about decaying build-
museums. Slowly, the city is transform-
ings that dropped balconies onto the
ing itself, starting with its long-
street like rotten apples falling off trees, neglected waterfront. More people are
the heavy pollution that tainted the riding the improved subway, which saw
city's buenos aires, corruption and police declining numbers for decades.
brutality, the proliferation of rats and Porteños go on, sipping thick espressos

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires
and mate, a national drink made from a States, dozens of bus companies com-
herb. During long sobremesas, the cus- pete for business in Argentina. At bus
tomary after-meal conversations, they terminals in Buenos Aires, each com-
continue to discuss politics and other pany has a desk like an airline ticket
issues of importance. counter. Buses have replaced inter-city
trains and only the Roca line within
2 Getting There Buenos Aires province maintains ser-
vice. Three companies provide boat and
Buenos Aires is located on the west ferry service to the Uruguayan cities of
bank of the Río de la Plata, at the north- Colonia and Montevideo across the Río
eastern edge of the Pampa, a flat plain de la Plata. Aliscafos has fast hydrofoils.
of rich soil that is to Argentina what the Ferrylineas has hydrofoils and ferries.
Midwest is to the United States. The Río Buquebus offers a ferry-bus combination
de la Plata is an estuary of the Paraná to Colonia and Montevideo.
and Uruguay rivers that come together
to form a broad, shallow, and muddy Airports
marine inlet between Uruguay and
Argentina. Ezeiza International Airport, 30
kilometers (19 miles) southwest of
Highways downtown Buenos Aires, has national
and international service, with direct
The national highway system is flights to selected cities in the United
centered in the city, radiating from States. Aerolineas Argentinas, with 150
there to all of Argentina and neighbor- international and 350 domestic flights
ing countries. All distances on the per week, is the largest carrier at Ezeiza.
national highway system are measured Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, five min-
from a 0-kilometer marker located in a utes north of the downtown area, serves
small square across from the National as a regional airport, with some interna-
Congress building. From there, national tional departures.
highways 1, 2, and 3 (which runs to
Tierra del Fuego) serve the southern Shipping
part of the country. Highways 5 and 7
serve the western part of the country, The Port of Buenos Aires is the larg-
and highways 8 and 9 serve the north. est in South America and the economic
engine of the country. It handles 96
percent of the nation's container traffic
Bus, Railroad, and River Service
and 40 percent of all international
Three major bus terminals offer transactions measured in U.S. dollars.
daily national and international travel, In 1998, it handled nearly eight million
with departures to dozens of Argen- metric tons (nine million tons) of
tinean cities, and the neighboring cargo. Sixty maritime companies work
countries of Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, out of five terminals handling more
Brazil, and Paraguay. Unlike the United than 70 vessels per week. The port has a

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Argentina) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Clarin La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
grain terminal that can handle 170,000 near the waterfront. From here, Buenos
metric tons (187,340 tons). A narrow Aires grew outward in a semicircle.
channel that leads from the port to the Rivadavia Avenue, which begins at
mouth of the Atlantic is constantly Plaza de Mayo, continues westward for
being dredged to keep the heavy traffic about 40 kilometers (25 miles).
flowing. The port is old, and most of its
decaying facilities have not been Bus and Commuter Rail Service
replaced. Thousands of trucks coming
in and out of the port each week con- Private companies operate the bus
tribute to Buenos Aires' critical traffic system. The fleet serves 299 lines cover-
problem. Five railroad lines serve the ing 24,135 kilometers (15,000 miles) of
port. roads. The private Subterraneos de Bue-
nos Aires, a subway in operation since
3 Getting Around 1913, has five underground lines and
63 stations, covering 36.5 kilometers
Central Buenos Aires is built on a (23 miles) of the city. A light rail line
grid parallel to the Río de la Plata. The travels 7.4 kilometers (five miles) with
Plaza de Mayo is a large open square 13 stops. Six commuter trains covering

Buenos Aires
965 kilometers (600 miles) serve Buenos quering Spaniards pushed off the indig-
Aires and its suburbs. According to enous people from the area. Many
1988 figures, 73.3 percent of passengers other Europeans have settled in Buenos
rode buses and trolleys, 16.6 percent Aires, including Germans, British, and
rode the metropolitan rail, and ten per- Jews from central and Eastern Europe.
cent rode the subway. At the same time, More than 400,000 Jews live in the city,
nearly one million passenger vehicles one of the largest Jewish communities
crowded the streets. in the world. In the 1990s, Buenos Aires
was the focus of anti-Semitism. An
Sightseeing explosion killed 29 people at the Israeli
Embassy in 1992, and another bomb
Many companies offer sightseeing destroyed a Jewish cultural center in
tours in Buenos Aires and the surround- Buenos Aires, killing 87 people.
ing areas. A train that caters to tourists
departs from the Retiro station in Bue- Non-European immigration histor-
nos Aires to the northern suburb of ically was not welcomed, but there are
Tigre. There are daily departures to the many people from the Middle East,
Uruguayan cities of Colonia and Mon- including Syria and Lebanon. They are
tevideo. collectively known as turcos (Turks). The
term sometimes is used in a derogatory
4 People manner. Despite their small numbers,
some have risen to national promi-
According to Argentina's National nence, including President Carlos
Institute of Statistics and Census, the Menem, who is of Syrian ancestry.
population of Buenos Aires stood at
3.04 million people (1.65 million In the 1930s, large numbers of poor
women and 1.38 million men) in 1998. immigrants from Northern Argentina
The greater metropolitan area had 13.9 moved to Buenos Aires looking for
million people, making it one of the work. The newcomers were mostly Mes-
largest urban concentrations in the tizo (mixed Indian and European).
world. The densely populated city has Today, Mestizos make up about one-
15,201 inhabitants per square kilome- third of the population of the city, and
ter. Nearly 11 percent of the city's resi- many of them remain in poverty. Some
dents are foreigners. In the year 2000, live in the villas miserias (villages of
16.8 percent of residents were over the misery), shantytowns in the outskirts of
age of 65, and 17.5 percent were under the city, and in crowded conditions
the age of 14. near the heart of the city. In more
recent years, many Bolivians, Peruvi-
Most Porteños are the descendants ans, Paraguayans, and Uruguayans have
of immigrants from Spain and Italy moved to Buenos Aires.
who came to Argentina in large num-
bers in the late nineteenth and early The national language is Spanish,
twentieth century, long after the con- but many other languages are spoken in

Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires skyline. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
the city, including Italian, German, and les and New York City. Buenos Aires
English. One of the oldest English-lan- developed outward from the Plaza de
guage newspapers in the Americas, The Mayo, the historic square that is sur-
Buenos Aires Herald, has been in circula- rounded by the presidential palace
tion since 1876. A colorful slang known known as the Casa Rosada (pink house),
as Lunfardo is spoken in the city's slums the colonial Town Hall (cabildo), and
and waterfront neighborhoods. Argen- the Metropolitan Cathedral.
tineans and neighboring Chileans often
refer to the Spanish language as Castell- As the city grew, it turned its back
ano (Castilian). on its working waterfront, physically
and metaphorically. The Casa Rosada
5 Neighborhoods looked toward the Pampas, not the Río
de la Plata. By the 1990s, city officials
The capital city is divided into 48 shifted gears and developed a plan to
barrios, or neighborhoods. Most are revive the waterfront. Millions of dol-
working-class barrios, while others lars were pumped into the new water-
resemble the rich enclaves of Los Ange- front neighborhood of Puerto Madero.

Buenos Aires
A marina was built, and expensive res- ballroom dancing that got its start on
taurants and shops opened in the old the fringes of Buenos Aires in the late
brick warehouses. The latest census 1880s. Caminito is flanked by modest
showed a few hundred people lived in homes brightly painted in an array of
the neighborhood. colors. During the day, artists sell their
work, and couples show their tango
West of Puerto Madero, in an area steps to tourists.
generally known as the centro (down-
town), buildings date to the nineteenth North of Plaza de Mayo, the city
century. To the south, in the barrio San opens up into large avenues, pedestrian
Telmo, visitors can still see many build- walkways, and large parks. The cultural
ings from the colonial era. The barrio and business center of the nation is
was once a fashionable address, where here. Avenida Santa Fe, lined by expen-
the wealthier Porteños settled in large sive restaurants and boutiques, is typi-
homes. In the nineteenth century, the cal of the Barrio Norte, which includes
elite abandoned San Telmo to escape the neighborhoods of Recoleta, Pal-
yellow fever and moved further inland ermo, and Retiro, among others. Reco-
and north of the centro. They settled in leta has remained a chic address, even
barrios known as Palermo, Recoleta, for the dead. Some of the wealthiest
and Retiro, today home to middle and and most famous Argentineans, includ-
upper-class Porteños. ing the cultural icon Eva Perón, are bur-
San Telmo declined for many ied at the Cementerio de la Recoleta in
decades, and many homes became con- the heart of the neighborhood.
ventillos, cramped and unkempt living
quarters for poor immigrants. Today, Detached single-family homes are
San Telmo is considered an artist's quar- quite rare in Buenos Aires. Traditionally,
ter, with low rents, and many antique families lived in row houses with inte-
stores and restaurants. Some areas have rior patios or gardens. As the popula-
been restored and gentrified. tion grew more rapidly, two- and three-
story buildings separated by a common
South of San Telmo is the famous wall were built. These buildings were
and colorful barrio of La Boca (mouth), known as petit hotels. In the twentieth
a mostly working class neighborhood century, detached high-rise apartment
that got its start at the mouth of the buildings began to dominate the land-
Riachuelo River. Originally, Italian scape. In the Barrio Norte, these build-
immigrants settled in La Boca. They ings stretch for many blocks. Some of
worked in the neighborhood's meat them take up a whole block. According
salting plants, which brought prosper- to government figures, about five per-
ity to Buenos Aires in the nineteenth cent of the population lives in substan-
century. Tourists flock to Caminito, a dard housing. In metropolitan Buenos
pedestrian walkway named after a Aires, the typical living unit in the villas
famous tango, an Argentinean form of miserias is a corrugated metal shack.

Buenos Aires
6 History Panama and then transferred to ships

going to Spain.
In 1536, the Spaniard Pedro de
Mendoza—under orders by the Spanish The great distance between Lima
kingdom to establish a settlement—and and Buenos Aires helped Porteños estab-
1,600 of his men camped on a bluff lish their own distinct identity. The iso-
overlooking the Río de la Plata. To the lation and vastness of the Pampa gave
west, and stretching as far as the eye rise to a unique culture as well. The
could see, lay the Pampa, a flat plain of Pampa became synonymous with the
rich soil. Relations with the Querandí Gaucho, the celebrated Argentinean
(an indigenous people who populated cowboy whose image was resurrected as
this part of the continent) quickly dete- a symbol of national identity.
riorated, and the Spaniards were forced
to leave five years later. More than four By the early eighteenth century,
decades would pass before the Span- the fertile and well-irrigated land west
iards attempted to settle the area again. and north of Buenos Aires was produc-
ing thousands of tons of cereal and
In 1580, Juan de Garay (c. 1528– dried beef and thousands of cattle
1583) and 300 people settled at the hides. Financed by British capital,
mouth of the Río Riachuelo and re- smugglers exported the goods through
established the city of Buenos Aires. the Port of Buenos Aires to markets in
They discovered that cattle and horses Brazil and the Caribbean Islands, much
brought by Mendoza’s men had multi- to the consternation of Spain, which
plied and spread across the Pampa, eas- could not stop the illegal trade. In 1776,
ing their attempts to settle the area. In the Spanish kingdom named Buenos
time, the domestication of wild horses Aires the capital of the new Viceroyalty
and cattle and life in the vast Pampa of the Río de la Plata. Many factors led
would have a profound impact on the to that decision. Chief among them was
culture of Argentina and Buenos Aires' the growing economic importance of
rise to power. Buenos Aires and the entire region.
Spain also sought to deflate British
For 200 years, Buenos Aires influence and collect more taxes from
remained a sleepy, isolated town, gov- the growing commerce.
erned by the Viceroyalty of Peru. (A
viceroyalty is a province ruled by a gov- The British, of course, would not
ernor in the name of the Spanish King.) give up so easily on Buenos Aires. Brit-
Buenos Aires' growth was hampered by ish troops attempted to invade the city
Spain's rigid trade regulations, which in 1806 and 1807 but were soundly
allowed only certain ports to handle defeated by local forces. Already infused
goods destined for Spain. Any goods with a strong sense of self-identity, the
from Argentina traveled over vast dis- victories over the British boosted Argen-
tances by land to the Peruvian port of tine nationalism among Porteños. By
Callao, where they were shipped to 1808, when French commander Napo-

Buenos Aires
leon Bonaparte’s forces invaded Spain, of agricultural products, with most of it

the citizens of Buenos Aires began to channeled through the Port of Buenos
question their allegiance to the Spanish Aires. Yet, few benefited from the
kingdom. Two years later, in May of wealth. Large numbers of newcomers
1810, Buenos Aires severed its ties with were forced into substandard housing.
Spain. But the surrounding provinces Workers could barely feed their families
did not follow suit until 1816, when on low wages. Social unrest in the city
they declared their independence and reached a boiling point in 1919, when
named Buenos Aires the new capital of the army attacked metalworkers on
the United Provinces of Río de la Plata. strike. The suppression of the workers
By then, Buenos Aires had become a came to be known as La Semana Trágica
dominant force in the region, and (The Tragic Week).
neighboring provinces attempted to
curve its power. Following a long period Buenos Aires kept on growing rap-
of unrest and a power struggle, Buenos idly. By the 1930s, the city embarked on
Aires emerged even stronger and was a modernization project, tearing down
named the federal capital of Argentina colonial neighborhoods and narrow
in 1880. Heavy British investment had streets and replacing them with mod-
sustained growth in the region during ern buildings and wide avenues. Subur-
this time, and by the late 1880s, Buenos ban communities and Buenos Aires
Aires was becoming one of the wealthi- grew closer to each other, becoming a
est and most important cities in the massive metropolis after World War II
world. Porteños began to call their city (1939–45). The mid-twentieth century
the Paris of South America and also marked a dramatic shift in migra-
embarked on an ambitious construction. By 1930, international immigra-
tion program. Beautiful mansions and tion came to a halt. The new migrants
buildings, wide avenues, expensive were mostly mestizos from northern
hotels, and restaurants became perma- Argentina. They poured into the city by
nent fixtures in the city's landscape. the thousands. Unable to find suitable
The Teatro Colón, an architectural jewel housing, they settled in the villas miser-
used for ballet, opera, and classical ias around the city.
music, opened in 1908 to world
acclaim. The centralization of jobs, goods,
and services in Buenos Aires brought
With massive immigration from prosperity to the city at the cost of
Spain and Italy to keep the factories and other cities, where growth simply
farms spinning around the clock, the stopped. In time, it also hurt Buenos
city's population grew from about Aires. Buenos Aires today is a tired but
90,000 people in 1851 to 1.3 million proud city. It is obsessed with trying to
people by 1910. By the beginning of fix its decaying infrastructure, to allevi-
World War I (1914–18), Argentina had ate its heavy pollution, and to deal with
become one of the world's top exporters massive poverty and chronic unem-

Buenos Aires
D.C., Buenos Aires has a voting member

in Congress.
Until 1996, the president
appointed the mayor of Buenos Aires,
and the elected city council had negligi-
ble power. By law, the president and
congress controlled any legislation that
affected the city.
But constitutional reforms allowed
Fernando de la Rúa to become the city's
first elected mayor in 1996. In 1999, he
was considered a top contender for the
presidency. The city council was
replaced with an elected 60-member
Poder Legislativo (legislative power). The
members are elected by proportional
representation to four-year terms. City
officials, including the mayor, are
allowed to run for two consecutive
terms but must sit out for a full term
before running for office again.
The design of the Palacio Del Congresso is similar

8 Public Safety
to the U.S. capitol but unlike Washington, D.C. it Statistics from the Buenos Aires
has a voting member in Congress.
(Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
government show a sharp increase in
crime between 1991 and 1996. Crimes
reported to police increased from
ployment. Argentine officials have 42,796 in 1991 to 126,920 in 1996.
attempted to decentralize government Homicides rose from 19 to 177 during
by moving the federal city to other the same period. Of great concern to
regions of Argentina; however, their the Buenos Aires population are crimes
attempts have not been successful. committed by police. In 1998, the
United Nations Committee Against Tor-
ture reported its concerns over growing
7 Government police brutality in Buenos Aires and the
rest of the nation. Amnesty Interna-
Like Washington, D.C., Buenos tional, a London-based human rights
Aires is a federal district. It is home to organization, also noted police obstruc-
the President of the Republic and tion to prevent investigations of police
National Congress. Unlike Washington, brutality, the atrocious treatment of

Buenos Aires
prisoners, and attacks against the While most workers are engaged in
media. food processing, including grains, meat,
and fish, others assemble cars, refine
Between 1976 and 1983, Argentina oil, or work in other factories. In the
was ruled from Buenos Aires by a brutal city, the workforce numbers about 1.4
dictatorship responsible for the murder million people, with about 36 percent
of thousands of Argentineans, many of involved in services, 18 percent in
them in the capital city, where the trade, 17 percent in manufacturing, and
police and military acted as a repressive about 12 percent in finance, insurance,
force. As many as 9,000 Argentineans and real estate.
are among the "disappeared," people
whose bodies have not been found. In As part of its economic plan,
recent years, Buenos Aires' new govern- Argentina privatized many public assets
ment has attempted to curb police during the 1990s, including many
abuses such as bribery and brutality by enterprises that affect the city. Some of
decriminalizing some activities, includ- the most important former public ser-
ing prostitution and public drunken- vices that been sold or licensed to pri-
ness. vate companies include the phone
company ENTel, the national airline
Aerolineas Argentinas, the petroleum
9 Economy enterprise YPF, the mail system, and
public transportation, including the
Throughout its history, the city has
underground metro service and
depended on its port, the largest in
regional commuter rail service.
South America, for much of its eco-
nomic activity. Argentina is heavily
dependent on the export of its agricul- 10 Environment
tural products, and most of it is pro-
cessed and shipped from Buenos Aires. The Riachuelo River is the most vis-
The intense trade helped Buenos Aires ible example of Buenos Aires' environ-
develop a diversified economy, and by mental problems. The river is littered
the twentieth century the city was the with rusted ships, many of them barely
nation's center of banking and finance. floating on water that is heavily satu-
The city itself was unable to absorb the rated with oil. The sediments are even a
massive growth in trade-related and worse problem, with untold concentra-
new industries during the twentieth tions of heavy metals and chemical pol-
century. Most of those jobs went to the lutants. The Río de la Plata also is
suburbs, where about half of the heavily contaminated. Cleaning the
nation's manufacturing jobs are waterways remains one of the city's
located. Avellaneda, just south of the most pressing problems. With hundreds
Federal District, is an important indus- of thousands of cars, buses, and trucks
trial center. on the roads, the air is heavily polluted.

Buenos Aires
Tren de la Costa shopping mall and amusement park. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
The city also has reported serious prob- found throughout the city and the met-
lems with feral (wild) cats and mice. ropolitan area.
11 Shopping
12 Education
Porteños are among the best-edu-
Buenos Aires is famous for its cated people in the world, with high lit-
leather and woolen goods. Leather jack- eracy rates and school completion rates.
ets, saddles, boots, and many other The world-renowned University of Bue-
items are sold at many expensive shops nos Aires (1821) had more than
in the northern barrios of the city. 180,000 students enrolled in 1997. Its
Some downtown streets lined by shops faculty members have earned Nobel
have been closed to automobiles and Prizes in science and medical fields. In
turned into pedestrian malls. Buenos the Spanish-speaking world, Buenos
Aires is a well-read city, and hundreds Aires is a publishing powerhouse and
of bookstores offer books in many lan- home to important literary figures. In
guages. Expensive shops and malls sim- 1997, 664,273 students attended pri-
ilar to those in the United States are mary and secondary school. Most pri-

Buenos Aires
13 Health Care
In 1995, Buenos Aires had more
than 1,000 medical facilities, including
181 hospitals. More than 23,000 hospi-
tal beds are available at private and
public hospitals. Many Argentineans
come to Buenos Aires for special care
not available in other parts of the coun-
try. The city has seven physicians per
1,000 residents.
14 Media
Buenos Aires is Argentina's media
capital, with 49 book publishers, 29
periodicals, 14 daily newspapers, 12 for-
eign press offices, six television stations,
and three news agencies. Newspapers in
Buenos Aires have clearly defined politi-
cal leanings, with some of them claim-
ing a centrist position. The tabloid
Clarín, with a daily circulation of
600,000 and more than one million on
Sundays, is the world's largest Spanish-
Cleaning up the rivers is one environmental issue language newspaper. La Nación (1870) is
that Buenos Aires is trying to address. Here, an old one of the oldest and most respected
ship sits in the renovated river front of the Puerto
Madero area. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
newspapers in Latin America. The
English-language Buenos Aires Herald
has been publishing daily since 1876.
mary and secondary schools are public, Pagina 12 is a left-leaning newspaper
including special national high schools known for its investigative pieces.
that function as college preparatory
schools. The Roman Catholic Church 15 Sports
also operates many private institutions,
Buenos Aires and the greater met-
including two universities: Salvador
ropolitan area are home to some of the
University and Roman Catholic Univer-
most celebrated professional soccer
sity. Other important institutions of teams in the world. Many of the top
higher learning are the private Univer- clubs got their start in Buenos Aires
sity of Belgrano, the National Conserva- before moving to the suburbs. Eight of
tory of Music, and the National School the 20 first-division teams are in the
of Fine Arts. capital city, while five are in the sub-

Buenos Aires
urbs. Among the best-known teams are area in the Río de la Plata just east of
Boca Juniors, which plays at the famous the port as part of a plan to create a sat-
La Bombonera stadium, and its arch- ellite city. The city never materialized,
rival River Plate, which plays in the but birds and other wildlife took over
wealthy northern barrio of Nuñez. the area. Today, it is known as Reserva
Independiente's home is just south of Ecológica Costanera Sur, an ecological
La Boca in the suburb of Avellaneda. reserve popular with birdwatchers.
Other well-known teams include Rac-
ing Club and San Lorenzo. The national 17 Performing Arts
team won the World Cup in Greater
Buenos Aires in 1978 when the country The Teatro Colón is a beautiful
hosted the event. building and symbolic of the impor-
tance given to the performing arts. The
Porteños are not limited to soccer. theater is home to the country's
The country's long history and attach- national ballet and national symphony.
ment to horses continue to fuel great
interest in polo, horse racing and pato In recent years, Porteños have
(duck), a game similar to polo that owes revived and firmly embraced the tango
its root to Gaucho culture. Pato was as a symbol of Porteño life. The old
once a violent game played with a real tango and the modern, sometimes
duck encased in a leather bag. Serious experimental, tango are performed
injuries were common. But the game throughout the city, in important ven-
has mellowed, and pato players now ues, seedy cafes, and often on the
use a ball with handles instead of a real streets.
duck. Many other sports are popular in Much like New York City, Buenos
the city, including tennis, boxing, and Aires has a lively theater culture, espe-
basketball. cially during the winter season when
dozens of new plays open to the public.
16 Parks and One of the main venues is the San Mar-
Recreation tin Municipal Theater, which has three
main auditoriums and several smaller
The city has many parks and pla- ones. Porteños are fond of peñas, a per-
zas, and they are quite busy on week- formance where folk songs and dances
ends when Porteños traditionally go are accompanied by a hearty Argen-
out for a stroll. One of the city's largest tinean meal.
parks is in Palermo. Within its grounds
are a horse racing arena, polo fields, 18 Libraries and
tennis courts, and bicycle and pedes-
Museums
trian paths. Nearby Plaza Alemania is a
favorite hangout for young skateboard- Buenos Aires is home to the
ers. During the dictatorship years of National Library and dozens of public
1976 to 1983, the military filled a large and private museums, some operated

Buenos Aires
The Colón Theater Opera House is the home to Argentina’s national ballet and symphony.
by the municipal government. Several traces the history of Argentine theater.

museums are devoted to the history of The National Museum of Fine Arts has
the city and its residents. They include the works of many of the world's great-
the Mitre Museum, dedicated to one of est masters. The collection includes
Argentina's earliest presidents, Barto- works by Argentinean painters and
lomé Mitre (president 1862–68); Museo sculptors.
de la Ciudad (the City Museum), and a
museum dedicated to the economic his- 19 To u r i s m
tory of the city and province of Buenos
Aires. The Museo del Cine (the Cinema Buenos Aires is a popular tourist
Museum) focuses on the long, and destination, with more than ten million
sometimes glorious, history of Argen- visitors annually. Most visitors are from
tine cinema. The National Historical Argentina and neighboring countries,
Museum offers a portrait of the country, but large numbers of visitors come from
and the National Museum of Theater the United States and Europe. Tourism

Buenos Aires
is important to the city’s economy. Dur- Luis Maria Drago (1859–1921), states-
ing the summer of 1997–98 (December man who became a respected
through March), two-and-a-half million member of the Permanent Court of
visitors spent more than $900 million. Arbitration at The Hague, Nether-
The city has a wide variety of accom- lands, best known for the interna-
modations, from luxury hotels to sim- tional law called the Drago
ple rooms in private homes. In 1997, Doctrine (1907).
there were a total of 1,228 places to
stay, with more than 84,000 beds. The Alberto Evaristo Ginastera (1916–83),
city has much to offer visitors, from twentieth-century composer of op-
fine dining to sports and cultural activi- era known for combining national-
ties. istic musical idioms with
twentieth-century techniques.
20 Holidays and While the following notable citizens
Festivals may not have been born in Buenos
Aires, they are closely identified with
JANUARY
Año Nuevo (New Year’s Day, January 1) the city:
MARCH-APRIL Former President Juan Domingo Perón
Viernes Santo (Good Friday)
(1895–1974), and his first wife, Eva
MAY Perón (1919–1952), both consid-
Día del Trabajador (Labor Day, May 1)
ered to be political and cultural
Revolucíon de Mayo (May Revolution, May 25)
icons of the nation.
JUNE
Día de las Malvinas (Day of the Falkland Islands, Tango singer and actor Carlos Gardel
June 10) (1890–1935).
Día de la Bandera (Flag Day, June 20)
JULY
Independence Day (July 9)
AUGUST 22 For Further Study
Día de San Martín (commemoration of San Mar-
tín’s death)
Websites
OCTOBER Buenos Aires Herald (English-language). [Online]
Día de la Raza (Columbus Day, Oct. 12) Availablehttp://www.bueonosairesherald.com
(accessed April 17, 2000).
Columbus World Travel Guide. “Buenos Aires.”
21 Famous Citizens [Online] Available http://www.travel-
guides.com/data/arg/arg140.asp (accessed
Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986), one of April 17, 2000).
the most important writers in Latin
American and world literature. Government Offices
Argentinean Embassy
Manuel Puig (1932–90), novelist, inter- 1600 New Hampshire Ave.
nationally known for his novel Kiss Washington D.C. 20009
of the Spider Woman (1976). Phone: 202 238–6460

Buenos Aires
U.S. Consulates: Atlantic World. Stanford: Stanford University

5550 Wilshire Blvd. Press, 1999.
Suite 210 APA Publications. Inside Guides: Buenos Aires. Sin-
Los Angeles. CA 90036 gapore: Hoyer Press, 1998.
Phone: 213 954–9155 Baily, Samuel L.and Franco Ramella (eds.). One
Family, Two Worlds: An Italian Family's Corre-
205 N. Michigan Ave. spondence Across the Atlantic: 1901–22. New
Suite 4209 Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1988.
Chicago, IL. 60601 Bernhardson, Wayne. Buenos Aires, From World-
Phone: 312 819–2610 class Opera to Tango Lessons. Victoria, Austra-
lia: Lonely Planet, 1999.
Tourist and Convention Bureaus France, Miranda. Bad Times in Buenos Aires: A
Direccion General de Turismo de la Municipal- Writer's Adventures in Argentina. New Jersey:
idad de Buenos Aires (tourism offices for the Ecco Press, 1999.
city of Buenos Aires) Reid, George Andrews. The Afro-Argentines of Bue-
Centro Cultural San Martin nos Aires: 1800–1900. Madison: University of
Sarmiento 1551 Wisconsin Press, 1980.
Montserrat, Buenos Aires Ross, Stanley R.and Thomas F. McGann (eds.)
Phone: 54–1–4476–3612 Buenos Aires: 400 Years. Austin: University of
Texas Press, 1982.
Direccion Nacional de Turismo (National Tour- Scobie, James R. Buenos Aires: Plaza to Suburb,
ism Office) 1870–1910. New York: Oxford University
Ave. Santa Fe 883 Press, 1974.
Retiro, Buenos Aires Sofer, Eugene F. From Pale to Pampa. A Social His-
Phone: 54–1–4312–2232 tory of the Jews of Buenos Aires. New York:
Holmes & Meier, 1982.
Books Shumway, Nicolas. The Invention of Argentina.
Adelman, Jeremy. Republic of Capital: Buenos Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of Cali-
Aires and the Legal Transformation of the fornia Press, 1991.

Cairo
Cairo, Egypt, Africa
Founded: A.D. 969

Location: Near the head of the Nile River delta, Egypt; northeastern Africa
Time Zone: 2 PM Cairo time = noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Elevation: 194 m (636 ft)
Coastline: (Greater Cairo) approximately 27 km (17 mi)
Climate: Desert climate, with hot summers and mild winters; rain is rare, and hamsin
dust storms can occur in the spring.
Annual Mean Temperature: January -4ºC (24ºF); July 21.7ºC (71ºF)
Seasonal Average Snowfall: 141 cm (55.5 in)
Average Annual Precipitation (total of rainfall and melted snow): 81.3 cm
(32 in)
Government: governor-council
Monetary Units: Egyptian pounds
Telephone Area Codes: 20 (Egypt), 02 (Cairo)
1 Introduction extremists seeking to destabilize the

country’s government.
Located on the banks of the Nile
River, Cairo is Africa’s largest city, as 2 Getting There
well as the largest city in the Arab
Cairo, the largest city in Africa, is
world. In the course of its thousand-
located on the Nile River, 160 kilome-
year history it has been the capital of ters (100 miles) inland from the Medi-
the great Egyptian dynasties of the Mid- terranean Sea and 135 kilometers (80
dle Ages, a British colonial enclave, and miles) west of the Red Sea.
a modern industrialized city. Today it is
a teeming, vibrant national capital with Highways
one of the world’s highest population
Cairo is connected by highway
densities per square mile. Even as the
with all other major cities in Egypt. The
city struggles with the social and envi- Desert Road links Cairo and Alexandria;
ronmental effects of overcrowding, it there are main roads connecting Cairo
dominates Egypt politically, economi- with Ismailiyyah and Luxor. In addi-
cally, and culturally and remains a tion, there is the Red Sea Highway,
prime tourist destination in spite of a completed in the early 1990s. Roads
campaign of terrorist activity by Islamic connect Cairo with Libya to the west
115
Cairo
Alexandria, and buses run between

Cairo Cairo and all major towns.
Population Profile
Airports
City Proper Cairo International Airport, an
Area: 20 sq km (7.7 sq mi)
important connecting point between
Nicknames: Mother of the World, The Well- Europe, Asia, and Africa, offers regular
Guarded service by most major airlines. EgyptAir
offers both domestic flights to Luxor,
Metropolitan Area
Aswan, and Hurghada and interna-
Description: Central Cairo, Giza, Shubra al- tional service.
Khaymah, and parts of Giza and Qalyubiyah
provinces
Shipping
World population rank1: 17 Although it is located on the Nile
Percentage of national population2: 16%
Average yearly growth rate: 2.1% River, Cairo is not one of Egypt’s major
shipping cities, all of which have ports
———
1. The Cairo metropolitan area’s rank among the on the Mediterranean (Alexandria,
world’s urban areas. Suez, and Port Said).
2. The percent of Egypt’s total population living in
the Cairo metropolitan area. 3 Getting Around
Greater Cairo is spread out over
both banks of the Nile River, which
runs north-south through the center of
and Israel to the east (however, special the city. The neighborhoods of Gizah,
permission must be obtained to enter Aguza, Mohandisin are on the west
Egypt from Israel in a private vehicle). bank, the districts of Gazirah and
Geziret Al-Rawdah on islands in the
Bus and Railroad Service river, and the major urban center on
the east bank, together with a number
Rail service is available between of suburbs. Downtown Cairo’s streets
Cairo and all areas of the Nile River Val- and avenues are laid out around a series
ley. An air-conditioned nonstop express of traffic circles—Maydan Talaat Harb,
train, the turbino, makes three trips Maydan Orabi, Maydan Mustafa Kamel,
daily between Cairo and Alexandria. and, at the heart of the city, Maydan
Cairo’s main railway station is located Tahrir.
at Maydan Ramsis. Several bus compa-
nies offer inter-city bus service between Bus and Commuter Rail Service
Cairo and Alexandria, the Nile Valley, Packed buses offer local service in
the Red Sea, Sinai Peninsula, the Suez Cairo, stopping at the Maydan Tahrir,
Canal, and other destinations. There is the Maydan Ataba and Opera Square,
nonstop bus service between Cairo and the Pyramids Road, Ramses Station, and

Cairo
the Citadel. Minibuses offer more reli- Saqqara pyramids and the Sphinx, are
able and somewhat more expensive ser- offered by hotels, private guides, and
vice. Also available are privately owned travel agencies.
and operated 12-seat taxis. Cairo’s com-
muter rail service, the Metro, runs both 4 People
above- and underground. The trains are
clean; service is efficient; and fares are More than one-quarter of all Egyp-
reasonable. tians live in Cairo. The population of
the city proper stood at 9,690,000 in
Sightseeing
1998 while the population of the
Organized tours to Cairo’s major greater metropolitan area has been vari-
tourist attractions, such as the Giza and ously estimated between 12 and 18 mil-

Cairo
lion. The city’s population is more home to Egypt’s rulers for some 700
homogenous today than during the years. In the vicinity are three mosques
colonial period when large numbers of and several museums.
Europeans lived in Cairo. Today about
95 percent of the city’s residents were Northeast of Cairo’s central and
born in Egypt, and 90 percent are Mus- historic districts is the wealthy residen-
lims. Cairo’s population also includes tial suburb of Heliopolis, home to
significant numbers of people from Egypt’s former president Gamal Abdel
other African countries, especially Nasser. Although named for an ancient
Sudan (Sudanese are thought to num- Egyptian city, Heliopolis was actually
ber about 400,000). About 20,000 Afri- planned and laid out with reference to
can Muslims from other countries are European models and is more spacious
students at Al-Azhar University. Even than other parts of Cairo. (Egyptians
more are refugees who fled their home- generally call the suburb Masr al-
lands. Gedida, or New Cairo). Many members
of the professional classes live in the
neighborhood, which has a large Chris-
5 Neighborhoods tian minority.
Downtown Cairo, whose center is
The exclusive residential suburb of
the plaza of Maydan Tahrir, is a bustling
Zamalek—Cairo’s wealthiest neighbor-
district of shops, restaurants, hotels,
hood—is located on the island of
and other commercial establishments,
Gazirah, occupying the northern two-
as well as museums, gardens, and art
thirds of the island; the remainder is
galleries. It also affords a scenic view of
the site of private sports clubs and
the Nile River.
parks.
To the east of central Cairo is the
walled medieval section of the city The newer suburbs of Duqqi,
known as Islamic Cairo, which includes Mohandisin, Aguza, Gizah, and Imba-
poorer residential districts, historic bah are located on the west bank of the
architecture dating back over a thou- Nile, opposite the older part of the city.
sand years, and the bustling Khan Kha-
lili marketplace. Its main street, Shar’a 6 History
Mu’iz, is lined with buildings from sev-
eral eras of Egyptian history, including The first settlement in the region of
those of the early dynasties before the present-day Cairo was al-Fustat,
Ottoman Era. founded in A.D. 641 as a military
encampment by the Arabic commander
Garden City, south of Maydan 'Amr ibn al-'As. Under the dynasties
Tahrir, is an upscale district with expen- that ruled Egypt over the following cen-
sive homes and numerous embassies. turies, the town grew into a major port
To the east is the area dominated by the city. In A.D. 969 Jawhar, the leader of an
Citadel, a medieval fortress that was Islamic sect called the Fatimids,

Cairo

Cairo New York Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Egypt) (United States) (Italy) (China)

Date the city was founded AD 969 1613 753 BC 723 BC
Major Newspapers3
Al Akhbar Journal
1 United
2 The
3
founded a new city near al-Fustat, ini- eclipsed by Turkish military conquerors
tially naming it al-Mansuriyah (its known as the Mamluks, who ruled
name was later changed to al-Qahirah, Egypt from A.D. 1260 to 1516. During
or Cairo). When the Fatimids became the first hundred years of Mamluk rule,
the rulers of Egypt, founding a dynasty Cairo experienced its most illustrious
that lasted for two centuries, Cairo period. Al-Azhar University, which had
became their capital. been founded in the tenth century,
became the foremost center of learning
When Saladin, a Sunni Muslim, in the Islamic world, and Cairo played a
defeated the Crusaders and founded the key role in the east-west spice trade.
Ayyubid dynasty in the twelfth century, Most of its greatest buildings were con-
he retained Cairo as his capital, and it structed during this period.
became the center of a vast empire. (Al-
Fustat, however, was burned down as Starting in the second half of the
part of the “scorched earth” strategy fourteenth century, Cairo experienced a
that defeated the Crusaders.) In the decline, beginning with the scourge of
thirteenth century, the Ayyubids were the Black Death (1348) and other epi-

Cairo
Cairo skyline along the Nile River. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
demics. By the end of the fifteenth cen- 1769–1849), often called the “father of
tury, new trade routes had broken the modern Egypt,” who ruled the country
city’s monopoly on the spice trade, and for nearly half a century beginning in
in 1517 the Ottoman sultan Selim I (r. 1805, modernizing and strengthening
1512–20) conquered Egypt, defeating it, and expanding its borders. Modern-
the Mamluk forces at Ar Raydaniyah, ization of Cairo began in 1830, but the
outside Cairo, and the city came under period of greatest progress occurred
Turkish rule. Under the Ottomans,
during the reign of Ismail Pasha (r.
Cairo was reduced to a provincial capi-
1863-79). Pasha undertook a major
tal, and by the end of the eighteenth
modernization of the city modeled on
century, its population had declined to
under 300,000. The city was occupied the renovation of Paris under Napoleon
by Napoleon’s troops between 1798 and III (1808–1873). To the west of the
1801 but then returned to Turkish rule. older, medieval part of Cairo (now
called Islamic Cairo), a newer section of
The modernization of Egypt and its the city boasted wide avenues laid out
capital began under Mehemet ’Ali (c. around circular plazas in the style of a

Cairo
European city. The development of this central government plays a large role in
area was also influenced by the growth administering the capital, controlling
of French and British colonial power in its budget and spending programs. The
Egypt. city’s municipal government consists of
a governor, who is appointed by the
The advent of the twentieth cen- president of Egypt, and a council called
tury saw advances in bridge building the Popular Assembly, which includes
and flood control, which encouraged both appointed and elected members.
riverfront development. By 1927, Only the elected members can vote.
Cairo’s population had reached one
million. In the first half of the century,
Cairo was dominated by foreign influ-
8 Public Safety
ences. During World War I (1914–18), it Although Cairo is notorious for
became the center for British military government corruption, it is known as
operations in the region, and British a safe city with a much lower incidence
troops were headquartered in the city. of violent crime than most major West-
The British military presence in Egypt ern cities. Petty theft—especially pick-
was curtailed in the 1920s, but the pocketing—is known to occur, and in
country was reoccupied by British recent years there have been some
forces during World War II (1939– reports of armed robbery and sales of
1945). hard drugs.
With the Egyptian Revolution in However, the major form of vio-
1952, the colonial presence in Cairo— lence to which Cairo has been sub-
and throughout the country—came to jected is terrorism. In 1992 Islamic
an end. Since then, large numbers of extremists began a campaign of terror-
Egyptians from other parts of the coun- ism aimed at overthrowing the secular
try have migrated to the capital, and government of President Hosni
the government has worked to accom- Mubarak. Within the first four years,
modate a rapidly growing urban popu- 920 people had died, including 25 for-
lation by creating new, planned eign visitors.
suburbs, including Nasr City, Muqat-
tam City, and Engineers’ City. Terrorism persisted in the latter
part of the 1990s in spite of a govern-
In recent decades, Cairo has ment crackdown on extremist groups.
become the nation’s industrial, com-
mercial, and cultural center, as well as 9 Economy
the seat of its government.
Cairo is the economic center of
7 Government Egypt, with two-thirds of the country’s
gross national product generated in the
Cairo has only had a municipal greater metropolitan area. Industrializa-
government since 1950, and Egypt’s tion, which began in the nineteenth

Cairo
century, grew rapidly following the dards. In the 1990s the Egyptian gov-
1952 revolution and revolved primarily ernment began a serious effort to
around textiles (based on Egypt’s tradi- improve the city’s air quality, with legis-
tional economic mainstay, long-staple lation requiring air filters in factories as
cotton) and food processing. Other well as an air-quality-improvement
industries include iron and steel pro- project, the Cairo Air Improvement
duction and consumer goods. Today Project (CAIP), designed to reduce pol-
the majority of Cairo’s work force is lution from lead and particulates.
employed in service sector jobs, espe- CAIP’s goals included development of a
cially in government, financial services, vehicle emission testing and certifica-
and commerce. The tourism industry is
tion program; increasing the use of
a major source of revenue for the coun-
compressed natural gas a fuel in munic-
try, along with weapons sales, petro-
ipal buses; the upgrading and reloca-
leum, and Suez Canal tariffs (following
tion of secondary lead smelters; and air
nationalization of the canal on July 26,
1956). Foreign aid from other countries quality monitoring and analysis.
is also an important source of income.
11 Shopping
Although government agricultural
subsidies, cheap public transportation, Cairo’s most famous shopping
and low-cost medical care help keep
venue is the Khan al-Khalili Bazaar, a
Cairo’s cost of living relatively low, the
large open-air market located amid
average Cairene still struggle to make
medieval ruins. Featured among its
ends meet, often holding down two or
wares is the handiwork of local crafts-
more jobs, or going overseas to find
work and send money home. The poor- men working in gold, silver, copper,
est are forced to send their children to brass, ivory, and leather, as well as such
work as early as eight or nine years of items as carpets and perfumes. The
age, often in “sweatshops” producing Tentmakers’ Bazaar (Khiyamiyyah) in
manufactured goods. the old part of the city is known for its
appliqué. In both the Khan al-Khalili
and the myriad of other bazaars in the
10 Environment city, bargaining is a universal practice,
Industrial and vehicular emissions for both tourists and locals alike. Other
combine to give Cairo a serious air pol- items available in the city’s bazaars and
lution problem. Thousands of old vehi- boutiques include handwoven rugs,
cles crowd the city streets without ceramics, glassware, inlaid boxes, hand-
government regulation of emission lev- woven goods made from rattan and
els, and the city’s factories create addi- palm fiber, antiques, and a variety of
tional environmental hazards. Levels of clothing. A number of artisans sell
both lead and particulate emissions far high-quality crafts at their own shops
exceed internationally acceptable stan- or galleries.

Cairo
The Khan al-Khalili Bazaar, Cairo’s most famous shopping venue, features handiwork, carpets, perfumes,
fruits and grains. (Adam Woolfitt; Woodfin Camp)
12 Education available to children throughout the

country; and a series of international
Primary education is free and com- book fairs. The Children’s Cultural Cen-
pulsory in Cairo, as elsewhere in Egypt, ter was officially opened by Mrs.
and university tuition has been free Mubarak in Heliopolis in 1997.
since 1962. In the 1990s, Egypt’s first
lady, Suzanne Mubarak, spearheaded a Founded in the tenth century, Al-
program to improve literacy that Azhar University, the premier center of
included the creation of new public religious instruction in the Islamic
libraries; the “Reading for All” program world, is said to be the oldest continu-
to make inexpensive juvenile books ously operating university in the world.

Cairo
Al-Azhar University is said to be the world’s oldest operating university. Post-secondary education has been
free in Egypt since 1962. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
Cairo University, founded in 1908, pro- Cairo’s third major institution of

duces the country’s largest number of higher learning is Ain Shams Univer-
college graduates and college-educated sity. Located in the heart of the city, it
professionals. It has about 155,000 stu- enrolls approximately 100,000 under-
dents and 3,158 faculty members, oper- graduates and 30,000 graduate stu-
dents and has a faculty of 3,700.
ates some 100 research institutes and
offers programs in agriculture, medi-
cine, nursing, economics, political sci- 13 Health Care
ence, the arts, and other fields. Most
Cairo is Egypt’s major center for
facilities of the university’s main cam- health care. It has the greatest concen-
pus are located to the southeast of tration of medical facilities in the coun-
downtown Cairo, and it operates try, including government hospitals,
branches in Al Fayyum and Bani such as Qasr al-Ayni and Dimardash;
Suwayf, as well as Khartoum (Sudan). smaller private hospitals, such as the

Cairo
Anglo-American Hospital; and facilities the city’s residents eagerly follow games
affiliated with university medical pro- by its two leading teams, Zamalek and
grams. There are also hospitals and clin- Ahli. The soccer season runs from Sep-
ics for the treatment of specific types of tember to May, and matches are held in
problems, including several that spe- Cairo Stadium. Horse racing can be
cialize in eye disorders. seen at the Heliopolis Hippodrome.
Every year the city hosts the Cairo Clas-
14 Media sic, a running and cycling event.
Cairo is the only city in Egypt with

daily newspapers, of which it has four
16 Parks and
(all distributed nationally). The oldest Recreation
and best known is Al-Ahram, founded The Zoological Garden (Hadiiqat
in 1876 in Alexandria. Others include al-Hayawaan), located in the southern
Al-Alam al-Yom, a newer and livelier suburb of Giza, is over 100 years old.
paper with a strong business focus, and When it was founded in 1891, it con-
a local edition of the Arabic world daily, tained the private menagerie of Egyp-
Al-Hayat. Daily newspapers are also tian ruler Khedive Ismail, and for years
published in English (The Egyptian it was one of the world’s premier zoos.
Gazette) and French (Le Progrès Egyptien Although the zoological garden no
and Le Journal d’Égypte). Two English- longer serves as a noteworthy botanical
language weeklies also appear: Al- or zoological attraction, it remains a
Ahram Weekly and Middle East Times. A popular recreation area for local resi-
monthly magazine, Egypt Today, fea- dents, who use it for sports, picnics, and
tures general-interest articles and events other activities. There are several parks,
listings and is affiliated with two other as well as sporting clubs, located in the
monthlies, Sports & Fitness and Business southern part of the island of Gazirah,
Today. whose northern section is occupied by
the suburb of Zamalek.
Three government-operated televi-
sion stations broadcast in Arabic and With their warm climate, Cairo res-
are supplemented by at least a half- idents enjoy spending their leisure time
dozen private stations, and satellite and in outdoor activities, from strolling and
cable TV are also available at some loca- window shopping to swimming and
tions. Both AM and FM radio stations picnicking in open areas surrounding
are in operation throughout the week. the city.
The best venues for participant
15 Sports sports are the city’s exclusive sports
Soccer is Cairo’s (and Egypt’s) most clubs, made up of middle- and upper-
popular sport, boasting players of inter- class Cairenes. The most prestigious is
national stature. Matches are played the Gazirah Sporting club, which offers
every weekend to sell-out crowds, and facilities for basketball, squash, and ten-

Cairo
nis, as well as a golf course, two swim- Cairo is a center of legitimate Ara-
ming pools, a running track, and a bic theater, although performances are
croquet lawn. Skeet shooting is offered subject to government censorship. Both
at the neighboring Shooting Club in ballet and modern dance are exception-
Dokki. Cairo also has a rugby club, ally popular in Cairo, whose ballet com-
yacht clubs, and a diving club. pany (the Cairo Ballet) was founded in
1960 with help from the Soviet Union,
which sent its own dance teachers to
17 Performing Arts help train the members of the com-
pany. However with the expulsion of
The new Cairo Opera House Soviet advisers from Egypt in 1972, the
(National Cultural Centre), rebuilt in Russian presence at the ballet ended.
the 1980s after the nineteenth-century The quality of the troupe is subse-
original was destroyed by fire in 1971, quently said to have declined, and in
is the city’s principal performing-arts 1991 it was bolstered by the addition of
venue. The Cairo Opera House presents dancers from Russia and Italy.
touring theater and ballet troupes and
musical groups, as well as local per- Cairo is the film capital of the Ara-
formers, including the Cairo Opera Bal- bic world, although its film industry
let Company and the Cairo Orchestra. has declined since its heyday in the
Located in the parklike setting of the 1940s and 1950s, thanks to strict cen-
Gazirah Exhibition Grounds on the sorship and economic factors. However,
island of Gazirah, the opera house com- Cairo’s residents are avid filmgoers and
plex includes an open-air theater and flock to both Egyptian and foreign
amphitheater, as well as two indoor movies.
halls (a main one and a smaller one). A The Cairo Puppet Theater per-
newer facility, the 2,500-seat Cairo forms at the Ezbekiyya Gardens north
International Conference Centre in the of Ataba from October through May.
suburb of Madinat Nasr, was a gift from
the Chinese in 1991. It opened the fol-
lowing year with a performance by the
18 Libraries and
Grigorovich Ballet of Russia’s Bolshoi Museums
Theatre. The Greater Cairo Library, housed
in a restored villa in Zamalek, is over
Popular performance sites in 100 years old. Its holdings include
Islamic Cairo, especially during the hol- books in Arabic, German, French, and
iday period of Ramadan, are the House English. A research library, its collection
of Zeinab Khatoun and the Al-Ghouri contains only non-circulating items,
complex. Plays and recitals are also pre- but its operating hours are extensive. It
sented at the Ewart Hall and Wallace has good collections in the areas of art
Theater on the campus of American and science, as well as international
University in Cairo. periodicals. Included in its map collec-

Cairo
grams for children and has a high-tech

multimedia auditorium. The newer El
Mustaqbal Library has only non-circu-
lating materials. English-language
books are available in libraries at the
British Council and the American Cul-
tural Centre. Cairo University has a
central library, additional libraries for
various disciplines, and some 100 scien-
tific research centers.
Cairo’s cultural legacy is evident in
its rich and varied museum collections.
The Egyptian Museum at Maydan
Tahrir houses the city’s premier collec-
tion of over 100,000 artifacts from
nearly every period of Egyptian history.
The museum’s neoclassical building,
which dates from 1902, has received
updated security and lighting following
a daring 1996 robbery attempt, and
there has long been talk of building a
new facility that can more adequately
house the museum’s voluminous hold-
ings. Among these holdings are the
Tutankhamun’s (d. c. 1340 B.C.) death mask, along treasures of Tutankhamun (d. c. 1340
with his tomb and other artifacts are on display in
B.C.), a royal mummy room, artifacts
the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
(GN/Mairani; Woodfin Camp) from the Old and Middle kingdoms,
jewelry rooms, and animal mummies.
tion are hand-drawn maps of Cairo dat- The Coptic Museum, located in
ing back to 1480. Misr al-Qadimah, displays items from
the pre-Islamic period, including tex-
The Mubarak Library is located in tiles, stones, and religious icons. A
Giza. Opened in 1995, it provides a church on the museum grounds, popu-
popular library of circulating materials, larly known as the Hanging Church, is
with a large collection of books, maga- said to date back to the fourth century
zines, newspapers, CDs, cassettes, and A.D. and is thought to be the earliest
videos. Special services include story place of Christian worship in Cairo. The
hours and puppet shows for preschool- renovated Museum of Islamic Art, in
ers. There are also two libraries in the Bab Zuweyla, houses brass, wood, glass,
suburb of Heliopolis. The older Heliop- inlaid items, textiles, carpets, and foun-
olis Public Library offers organized pro- tains from the Mamluk and Ottoman

Cairo
tral to the local economy. Roughly one-

third of Egypt’s hotels (including three
Hilton hotels) are located in the city,
and souvenir shops and restaurants
cater to travelers and locals alike.
In the 1990s, Egypt’s $4.1 billion
dollar per year tourist industry was
threatened by terrorist attacks by Mus-
lim extremists seeking to overthrow the
secular government of Hosni Mubarak.
In 1996 terrorists killed 18 members of
a Greek tour group as they left a hotel
on the outskirts of the city, bound for
the Pyramids. The following year, nine
German tourists were killed in an
assault on a tour bus in front of the
Egyptian Museum.
In 1996, visitors to Egypt num-
bered 3,895,942.
Tourists can find the Giza Pyramids grazing the

skyline in the outskirts of the city.
(Barry Iverson; Woodfin Camp) 20 Holidays and
Festivals
eras, as well as Mamluk Korans and illu- JANUARY
minated manuscripts. New Year’s Day
Cairo Book Fair
Other museums in Cairo include
APRIL
the War Museum, the Egyptian Sinai Liberation Day
National Railways Museum, the Images Festival of Independent Film and Video
Museum of Modern Art, and National MAY
Military Museum, as well as a post May Day
office Museum, an agricultural
JULY
museum, and a carriage museum. Revolution Day
SEPTEMBER
19 To u r i s m Experimental Theatre Festival
OCTOBER
Popular for its warm climate and National Day
famous as the home of King Tutankha- Pharaohs’ Rally
mun's treasures, Cairo is Egypt’s most NOVEMBER
popular tourist city, and tourism is cen- Arabic Music Festival

Cairo
DECEMBER Embassy of the United States of America

Cairo International Film Festival 5 Latin America Street
Garden City
Cairo, Egypt
21 Famous Citizens
Tourist and Convention Bureaus
Auguste Mariette (1821–1881), French- Egyptian Ministry of Tourism
born archaeologist. Misr Travel Tower
Abbassia Square
Saad Zaghlul (1857–1927), early nation- Cairo, Egypt
alist leader.
Tourist Friends Association
33 Qasr el-Nil, 9th Floor
Taha Husayn (1889–1973), controver- Cairo, Egypt
sial historian.
Naguib Mahfouz (b. 1911), Nobel Prize- Publications
Al Ahram
winning novelist. Sharia al-Galaa
Post No.11511
Abbas al-Aqqad (1889–1964), poet. Cairo, Egypt
Tawfiq al-Hakim (1898–1987), play- Al Hayat

wright and leading figure in mod- 1 Latin America St.
Garden City
ern Egyptian literature. Cairo, Egypt
Yusuf Idris (1927–1991), groundbreak- Egyptian Gazette
ing playwright and short-story 24-26 Sharia Zakaria Ahmed St.
Al Tahir
writer. Cairo, Egypt
King Faruk (1920–1965), Egypt’s last
Books
ruling monarch. Abu Lughod, Janet. Cairo: 1001 Years of the City
Victorious. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univer-
sity Press, 1971.
22 For Further Study Freeman-Grenville, G. S. P. The Beauty of Cairo: A
Historical Guide to the Chief Islamic and Coptic
Websites Monuments. London: East-West Publications,
Egypt World Wide Web Index. [Online] Available 1981.
http://www.pharos.bu.edu/Egypt/ Gaston, Wiet. Cairo: City of Art and Commerce.
Home.html (accessed October 7, 1999). Trans. Seymour Feiler. Norman, OK: Univer-
Egyptian Ministry of Tourism. [Online] Available sity of Oklahoma Press, 1964.
http://interoz.com/Egypt (accessed October Ghosh, Amitav. In an Antique Land. New York:
7, 1999). Alfred A. Knopf, 1993.
Middle East Times. [Online] Available http:// Raafat, Samir. Maadi 1904–1962: Society and His-
www.metimes.com (accessed October 7, tory in a Cairo Suburb. Cairo: Palm Press,
1999). 1994.
Roberts, Paul William. River in the Desert: Modern
Travels in Ancient Egypt. New York: Random
Government Offices House, 1993.
Cairo Chamber of Commerce Rodenbeck, Max. Cairo: The City Victorious. New
4 Maydan Falaki York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1999.
Bab al-Luq Stewart, Desmond. Cairo: 5500 Years. New York:
Cairo, Egypt Crowell, 1968.

Cairo
Wikan, Unni. Tomorrow, God-willing: Self-made Videorecordings

Destinies in Cairo. Chicago: University of Egypt 1 [videorecording] : Cairo & the Pyramids.
Chicago Press, 1996. Derry, NH: Chip Taylor Communications,
Williams, Caroline. Islamic Monuments in Cairo: 1991. 1 videocassette (16 min.): sd., col.; 1/2
A Practical Guide. Cairo: American Univer- in. “Exploring the World” series. Travel mag-
sity in Cairo Press, 1993. azine.

Caracas
Caracas, Venezuela, South America
Founded: July 25, 1567

Location: North-central Venezuela, South America
Flag: Coat of arms on a deep red field.
Ethnic Composition: 80% mestizos (of mixed European, Indian and African
ancestry), 20% white, 8% black, and 2% Indian
Latitude and Longitude: 10° 30’N, 66° 56’W
Coastline: On the coast, approximately 25 km from the port of La Guaira
Climate: Subtropical
Annual Mean Temperature: From 10° to 25° C (50° to 70° F)
Government: Federal Republic. Caracas is ruled as a federal district; it is the center of
all government in Venezuela and hosts the executive, judicial and legislative
branches of government.
Weights and Measures: Metric system
Monetary Units: The bolivar, a paper currency of 100 centimos
Telephone Area Codes: 58 (Venezuela country code); 02 (Caracas city code)
Postal Codes: None
1 Introduction valley, but one that is surrounded by

shantytowns covering the hillsides in
Located in the central north region every direction. It is a city continually
of Venezuela, Caracas is a sophisticated, fighting pollution, traffic, and crime
cosmopolitan city with a fast-growing
spurred by urbanization and misman-
population. The words of Simón Bolí-
var, liberator of the country, after the agement. Despite its problems, Cara-
1812 earthquake, appropriately describe cas’s traditional charm, coupled with its
the plight of this Venezuelan capital: “If reputation as one of Latin America’s
nature opposes us, we will fight against most modern capitals, has for years
it and force it to obey.” When Diego de drawn visitors from all over the world
Losada founded the city, he believed he to its wonderful restaurants, museums,
had found the ideal location—a city in and nightlife.
a valley with agricultural potential,
warm days, cool nights, and proximity
to a port. He could not have imagined 2 Getting There
the incredible growth the city has expe-
rienced in the last few decades. Mod- Most people entering Venezuela do
ern-day Caracas is indeed a city in a so via Caracas.
131
Caracas
half-hour flight) and New York (approx-

Caracas imately a six-and-a-half-hour flight)
Population Profile and many major European cities. The
most common U.S. airline with the
Population: 3,153,000 most routes to Caracas is American Air-
Area: 1,930 sq km (740 sq mi)
Ethnic composition: 80% mestizos (of mixed
lines, and the Venezuelan national air-
European, Indian and African ancestry); 20% lines of Avensa and Aeropostal also
white, 8% black, and 2% Indian offer direct service from Miami. The
Maiquetía airport also offers service to
Average yearly growth rate: 1.0% most Latin American capitals. There is a
Nicknames: The City of Eternal Spring frequent bus service from the airport to
——— the city center; travelers may also take
1. The Caracas metropolitan area’s rank among the taxis or arrange for hotel pick-ups.
2. The percent of Venezuela’s total population
living in the Caracas metropolitan area. Shipping
The port of La Guiara is one of the
busiest ports in the country, but passen-
ger service is not available. However,
Bus several Caribbean cruise lines do make
common one-day stops in the Caracas
Few foreigners arrive in Caracas by area.
bus, but buses run daily from most Ven-
ezuelan cities and cover the entire
country. The inexpensive buses arrive at 3 Getting Around
the noisy, dirty and dangerous terminal
of Nuevo Circo, located in the Caracas Bus and Commuter Rail Service
city center. The French-built Caracas metro,
completed in 1983, is clean, efficient,
Airports and safe. It is by far the best way to get
around the city and is organized into
The Simón Bolívar International two lines. Line 1 travels east-west, and
Airport of Maiquetía is located near the Line 2 travels from the city center
port of La Guiara on the Caribbean southwest toward the zoo and the sub-
coast, approximately 25 kilometers (16 urb of Caricuao. A Metrobus is also
miles) from the Caracas city center. A available for the suburbs not covered by
highway connects the airport with the the metro lines. The metro is open from
city. The airport has two terminals: one 5:30 AM to 11:00 PM, and fare is typi-
for national flights (daily to Maracaibo, cally a maximum of 50 cents (in US cur-
Mérida, and other major Venezuelan rency).
cities), and another for international
flights. There are daily flights from For routes not covered by the
Miami (approximately a two-and-a- metro, the Caracas bus network is

Caracas

Caracas
extensive in the city and surrounding the smaller cities. The people of Caracas
areas. Most buses in the city are smaller also present contrasting images—while
buses, known as carritos. Inexpensive on one hand the city is full of many
though they may be, the buses are (often wealthy) professionals, it is a also
often a difficult way to travel as they are a city surrounded by slums and a pov-
overcrowded and frequently get caught erty-stricken, struggling lower class.
in daily traffic jams, making them a Many rural people emigrate here for
slow means of transport. work, and the class differences of rich
and poor are clear to most visitors upon
Sightseeing looking up the hillsides at the slums
The city offers a variety of good that occupy them.
museums, excellent restaurants, and a
lively night life. Sightseers may begin 5 Neighborhoods
their tour of the city at Plaza Bolivar,
the heart of the city center. The Cate- Caracas covers 20 kilometers (12
dral, Palacio de Gobierno and Palacio miles) along the valley in an east-west
Municipal are located on the sides of the direction. The city center is made up of
plaza. In the city center is the Capitolio skyscrapers from the neighborhoods of
Nacional and the Casa Natal de Bolívar, El Silencio to Chacao, areas crammed
where the famous liberator Simón Bolí- with banks, offices, shops, restaurants,
var was born. and public buildings. The historic quar-
ter is west of the city center, and to the
4 People east the district Los Caobos is known
for its museums. The Sabana Grande
Caracas is a city of migrants and neighborhood is a pedestrian mall,
immigrants from all over the world; its filled with shops and restaurants. To the
people are mestizos, coupled with immi- east of the city center are the commer-
grants from Italy, Portugal, and many cial districts of Chacao and Chacaíto.
Latin American countries. The break- South of these areas lie El Rosal and Las
down of the Venezuelan population is Mercedes with many well-known res-
approximately 80 percent mestizos (of taurants. The wealthy residential neigh-
mixed European, Indian and African borhoods are the Caracas Country Club
ancestry), 20 percent white, eight per- and Altamira, located to the north. The
cent black, and two percent Indian. Parque Nacional El Ávila to the north is
Caraqueños (the people of Caracas) uninhabited.
reflect the same breakdown and are
proud of their modern, cosmopolitan Because it did not have the riches
city. They too reflect the sophistication or sophisticated native populations of
and modernity for which their city is other Latin American countries, Car-
known. Since Caracas is the business aqueños did not have strong ties to the
and political capital of the country, old colonial buildings and way of life.
people generally dress up more than in They actually embraced modernity,

Caracas

Caracas Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Venezuela) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Date the city was founded 25 July 1567 AD 969 753 BC 723 BC
Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Meridiano La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
much more so than their counterparts nous population. The native peoples
across the continent. Therefore, colo- prevailed; however, in 1561 the founder
nial Caracas exists only in a small area of the Venezuelan city of Mérida, Juan
of town around the deteriorating La Rodríguez Suárez, revived the city, after
Pastora neighborhood and Plaza Boli- the indigenous tribes had destroyed it,
var, downtown in the city center. and named it Villa de San Francisco.
In 1567, the governor of the prov-

6 History
ince of Venezuela ordered a complete
Discovered by Francisco Fajardo conquest of the valley, and Captain
from the nearby Margarita Island in Diego de Losada finally defeated the
1560, the valley that is now Caracas tribe and re-established the settlement
was originally inhabited by the fierce on July 25 of the same year under the
Toromaima Indian tribe. Fajardo name Santiago de León de Caracas. In
founded the first settlement, named 1577, the governor Juan de Pimentel
San Francisco, and began his subse- nominated the town to become the
quent attempts to drive out the indige- administrative center of the Province of

Caracas
Caracas is nestled in a valley of the foothills of the Andes Mountains. (Gary Braasch; Woodfin Camp)
Venezuela; thus, Caracas became the sidad Central de Venezuela) was

third and final capital of Venezuela. In founded in 1725. In 1728, the trading
1578, 60 families lived in the 25-block company Real Compañía Guipuz-
city. Caracas was never a popular city— coana, made up of 700 captains and
it lacked the gold and riches of other merchants from the Basque region of
cities in Peru and Mexico and was well Spain, was established. The trading
known for pirate attacks, plagues, and company dominated trade between
other catastrophes. In 1595, the first Spain and the colony and made signifi-
pirate attack burned the city to the
cant economic contributions to Cara-
ground, and after persistent reconstruc-
cas, though many of its citizens
tion, it was destroyed by an earthquake
complained of corruption. It was no
in 1641 that claimed the lives of
approximately 500 citizens. surprise then when, in 1749, Juan Fran-
cisco de León began a riot against the
Things improved in the eighteenth company that would become known as
century: the Universidad Real y Pontifi- the first open protest to lead into the
cia de Caracas (now called the Univer- independence movement. Francisco de

Caracas
Miranda (b. 1750) is largely credited for

paving the way to the independence
movement, and Simón Bolívar (1783–
1830) for actually achieving it. How-
ever, the independence struggle was not
easy. In 1810, a group of Caraqueños
formed a coup to take over the govern-
ment, denouncing the Spanish gover-
nor’s authority. The clash continued
until July 5, 1811, when Venezuela
finally declared its independence from
Spain.
Although independence was won,

struggles of a different sort continued.
In 1812, an earthquake struck and
killed 10,000 people—destroying much
of the city. The church took the oppor-
tunity to claim the disaster as a punish-
ment from God for rebelling against the
Spanish Crown. Simón Bolívar’s vic-
tory at the Battle of Carabobo in 1821
again established the independence of
Venezuela, though Spain did not recog-
nize it as a country until 1845.
In the first part of the twenieth Venezuela has one of the oldest democracies in
century, Caracas grew modestly and South America. Here, school children march on
was not known for much. It was not the National Capital during “a week of our own
until oil was discovered in the Mara- rights.” (Gary Braasch; Woodfin Camp)
caibo basin in 1914, and the oil boom
of the 1970s hit, that the population of
Caracas exploded—going from 350,000
in 1950 to five or six million today.
7 Government
Thanks to the oil money, Caracas
Venezuela has one of the longest-
became a modern, booming capital.
Though remnants of the old colonial running democracies in Latin America.
town are difficult to imagine (most It is a federal republic with a National
colonial buildings were destroyed dur- Congress. It recently passed a new Con-
ing modernization), its architecture is stitution that dissolved the traditional
well known on the continent, and sky- two-house Congress into one and made
scrapers abound. provisions to allow two consecutive

Caracas
terms for the president. Venezuela’s Latin America’s richest countries, and it
government has survived numerous still accounts for more than 20 percent
coup attempts, including the 1992 golpe of the country’s gross domestic product
de estado led by now-President Hugo (GDP). The big oil boom came during
Chávez. Chávez is the first president of the 1970s, transforming the country
late who is not of one of the traditional virtually overnight. Though the main
Venezuelan parties: Acción oil deposits are located in the Mara-
Democrática and the Social Christian caibo basin, Caracas has benefited tre-
COPEI. During the coup attempt in mendously from the revenue generated
1992, more than 20 lives were lost in from oil; its modern architecture and its
Caracas. The federal district of Caracas status as the center of political, scien-
is the center of all government and tific, and cultural Venezuela is due
houses the executive, judicial, and legis- largely to oil revenue. Caracas is the
lative branches of government. It is main business center in the country, as
ruled as a federal district. well as the center of all business sec-
tors—agriculture, oil, electricity—even
though most of the resources come
8 Public Safety
from different parts of the country. The
Caracas is an increasingly danger- recent transfer of power in the coun-
ous city, largely because of the incredi- try’s largest oil company has added to
ble growth of its poor neighborhoods the economic uncertainty of the oil-
and the many citizens who live below producing nation, and economists are
the poverty level. The unstable econ- watching the markets, business sector,
omy and political situation are blamed and political situation in Caracas
for the growing disparity between rich closely.
and poor. Though most violent crimes
occur in the poor neighborhoods, they 10 Environment
have also spread to the wealthier areas.
The historic quarter is dangerous after Venezuela offers a variety of natu-
dark, and visitors and citizens alike are ral habitats: from the Amazon Rain For-
advised not to carry expensive jewelry, est to the plains of Coro (los llanos),
watches, or cameras. Armed robberies from the idyllic beaches on the islands
do occur. People who drive cars are con- to the Andes mountains, and from
tinually advised to lock their car doors Angel Falls to the cities. Caracas has
as car-jackings are fairly common been blessed with an ideal location in a
occurrences. valley, warm days and cool nights, and
proximity to the beaches. The Guiare
9 Economy River flows through the city (though
difficult to see through the skyscrapers).
Venezuela’s economy is almost Though its lush surroundings, good cli-
exclusively based on oil. Discovered in mate, and palm trees make it beautiful,
1914, oil turned Venezuela into one of Caracas suffers from severe environ-

Caracas
Caracas’s modern architecture and it’s status as the center of political, scientific, and cultural Venezuela is
due largely to oil revenue. (Mireille Vautier; Woodfin Camp)
mental problems that are worsening degradation more than ever. In Decem-
because of rapid urbanization. The city ber 1999, excessive rains caused devas-
in the valley is surrounded by hillsides tating flooding across the northern
that are covered in rachos, makeshift coast of Venezuela. The area around
housing and slums where poverty, Caracas was devastated, and between
crime, and desperation prevail. 30,000 and 50,000 people perished; the
exact figure is still unknown. Many
Caraqueños’ reputation for loving
environmental experts are particularly
their cars is also catching up with them.
concerned because the rapid deforesta-
Traffic and pollution are at all-time
highs, and government plans to help tion of the mountains around the Cara-
quell them have thus far been unsuc- cas valley resulted in the earth being
cessful. incapable of absorbing the rainwater.
Further, much of the makeshift housing
Caraqueños and other Venezuelans that was unregulated by the govern-
are feeling the pain of environmental ment simply could not withstand the

Caracas
rains. Looking to the future, the gov- The Mercado Guiacaipuro is more color-
ernment will likely have to develop ful and located on Avenida Andrés
more successful measures of protecting Bello. The flea market of Mercado de la
the environment of Caracas, as well as Pulgas is open weekends in the parking
its citizens. lot of the Universidad Central de Vene-
zuela’s baseball stadium. Finally, the
11 Shopping Mercado Chino is a unique market that
attracts Chinese who come to buy and
Shoppers will be delighted in Cara- sell Chinese vegetables and other food
cas only if they are not expecting the not available elsewhere. It is located
large, inexpensive Indian markets typi- near the metro stop Chacaíto.
cal of many Latin American cities. The
well-known Sabana Grande, a one-mile
boulevard where no cars are allowed, 12 Education
extends beyond Plaza Venezuela. It is The Venezuelan educational sys-
known for its upscale boutiques, shoe
tem improved with the oil boom of the
stores, perfume shops, and bookstores.
1970s. Today there is a compulsory
The many outdoor cafes also give (required) six-year primary education,
Sabana Grande a European feel. This is
and the literacy rate is 91 percent. This
not a typical Latin American market
high rate is due to the economic pros-
place with inexpensive handicrafts; it is perity provided by the oil industry.
the typical Caracas-sophisticated and
However, since the more difficult eco-
trendy shopping experience. The Arte-
nomic situation of the 1980s and
sanía Venezolana store is well known for 1990s, cuts in education have affected
its excellent selection of local handi-
many schools.
crafts.
The Central Comercial Ciudad In Caracas, like other Venezuelan
Tamanaco (CCCT) is the continent’s cities, children may go to private pri-
largest shopping mall and has one of mary (compulsory), secondary, and pro-
Caracas’s best collections of boutiques. fessional schools. Public schools in
This mall also includes bistros and Caracas tend to be less well kept and
movie theaters. The older shopping supplied than the private, tuition based
mall of Paseo Las Mercedes, located in schools. In order to continue after
the wealthy Las Mercedes neighbor- bachiller, or high school, students must
hood, has a variety of stores and an achieve certain scores on college-
excellent bookstore. entrance exams. Once passing, they
may attend any of the public or private
For those desiring the more tradi- institutions across the country. Caracas
tional markets, Caracas is not the best hosts the country’s largest and oldest
city, but there are still several. The Mer- university. The Universidad Central de
cado Coche, near the Nuevo Circo bus Caracas was founded in 1785 and has
terminal is the most centrally located. approximately 70,000 students. It offers

Caracas
a variety of disciplines, including medi- cover imported pop and rock music,
cine, law, journalism, and engineering. but several also cover classical and jazz,
Another large university located in Car- the best of which is La Emisora Cultural
acas is the private Universidad Católica on 97.7 FM. There are three private tele-
Andrés Bello, named after the famous vision stations (Radio Caracas la Tele-
educator of liberator Simón Bolívar. visión, Venevisión, and Televén) and
one public station (Venezolana de Tele-
13 Health Care visión) that are run out of Caracas and
broadcast countrywide. They all feature
Caracas has the typical private and the general film, music, sports, and cul-
public health care system of the rest of tural programming. Telenovelas, or soap
the country. There are many farmacias operas, dominate prime-time program-
(pharmacies) across the city, and in ming; Venezuela is famous for its telen-
most neighborhoods there is one that is ovelas, which are popular all over Latin
de turno, or open late into the night. America.
Most medicines are available over the
counter. There are several private clinics 15 Sports
and hospitals available to visitors in
Caracas and though sanitary conditions Locally called béisbol, baseball is
are better than many Latin American the sport of choice for Venezuelans,
countries, they are not what many including the Caraqueños. Two of the
Westerners are used to in the United national teams are from Caracas: the
States or Europe. It is generally safe to Leones and Tiburones. Visitors to the city
drink the water out of the faucet in Car- from mid-October to January will find
acas, but it is not recommended to eat it easy to get tickets to see one of the
at the many outside food stands, and it local teams play. Many Caraqueños also
is recommended to avoid salads and enjoy spending a day at the local horse
uncooked meats. track of La Rinconada. The track was
once considered one of the best in Latin
America, and though cutbacks have
14 Media
decreased its notoriety, it is a good,
Caracas has two of the best and large track with stables for 2,000 horses
largest newspapers in Venezuela. El Uni- and seats for 48,000 fans.
versal and El Nacional are both sold
countrywide and cover national and 16 Parks and
international topics, business and eco- Recreation
nomics, culture, and sports. The Daily
Journal is an English-language newspa- Parque del Este (at Parque del Este
per published in Caracas that also cov- metro stop) is the largest city park, and
ers national and international affairs its cactus garden is a good place for
and society and culture. Most of the walks. One of the city’s two zoos, the
almost 20 radio stations in the city Parque Zoológico El Pinar is located in

Caracas
the southwestern part of the city. Also where many cultural activities are also
located in the southwestern part of the performed. For filmgoers, Caracas also
city, the bigger and better Parque has more than 50 cinema theaters, but
Zoológico de Caricuao is more recom- productions tend to be the imports
mended and has hundreds of animals from the United States.
in their native habitats. East of Parque
Central (located in the heart of the city), 18 Libraries and
visitors may find the Parque Los Caobos, Museums
named so because of its many mahog-
any trees. This is where bicyclers, Caracas has the best museums in
mimes and puppeteers, and families Venezuela, several of which are well
gather throughout the week. The Jardín known on the continent. The Galería de
Botánico is a nice relaxing place to rest Arte Nacional is located opposite
amidst tropical trees and flowers, Museum de Ciencias Naturales (natural
though its proximity to the highway science) and displays 400 works of art
can make it a bit noisy. Finally, the Avila from four centuries of Venezuela’s disci-
National Park is located on top of plines. The Museo de Bellas Artes is
Mount Avila on the city’s north side, located next to it and features tempo-
but it can be difficult to reach. rary exhibitions. A well-known Venezu-
elan architect, Carlos Raúl Villanueva,
designed both. The Museo Criollo is on
17 Performing Arts the ground floor of the Palacio Munici-
Caracas has its share of good the- pal (across from Plaza Bolivar in the city
aters; most are open Wednesday center) and houses items related to the
through Sunday though some only city’s history and works of local artist
offer performances on weekends. The Raúl Santana.
Ateneo theater is known to have inter- The Museo Bolivariano, just south of
esting performances and houses Rajat- Plaza Bolívar, is located in a colonial
abla, one of the country’s well-known house, and it hosts independence docu-
theater groups. Every April, Caracas ments, weapons, and several portraits
hosts an International Theater Festival, of liberator Bolivar. The Museo Fun-
which is an excellent choice for visitors dación John Boulton is in the same area
wishing to see some of Latin America’s in Torre El Chorro on the eleventh
best theater. The Complejo Cultural Ter- floor. This museum has a collection of
esa Carreño hosts many concerts and historic objects collected by the Bolivar
ballets and attracts foreign performers family, including colonial furniture and
as well as locals. The Aula Magna in the Bolivar memorabilia.
Universidad Central de Venezuela is a
recommended performing arts hall In the suburb of San Bernardino in
with excellent acoustics. This is where the colonial mansion of Quinta de
the Symphony Orchestra of Caracas Anauco, visitors will find well-recom-
performs (usually on Sundays) and mended Museo de Arte Colonial, which

Caracas
has a variety of works of art and furni-

ture and offers tours in English. The
lovely environment is a restored coffee
hacienda and contains slave quarters
now dedicated to a library on colonial
art and history.
In the modern heart of the city, the

Museo de Arte Contemporáneo is located
in Parque Central. This museum of con-
temporary art is the best of its kind in
the country and also said by many to be
the best on the continent. In its 16
halls, famous Venezuelan artists, such
as Armando Reverón, Francisco
Narváez, Jacobo Borges, and Alejandro
Otero, display their works. Interna-
tional artists on display include
Chagall, Picasso, Leger, and Miró. The
museum also features a collection of
approximately 100 engravings by Pic-
asso. Finally, the Museo de los Niños
(Children’s Museum) is also located in
Visitors may start their tour of Caracas in Plaza
Parque Central and provides interesting Bolivar, the heart of the city center.
visits for kids and adults alike. (Gary Braasch; Woodfin Camp)
19 To u r i s m located on the sides of the plaza. In the

city center, one may also find the Capi-
Caracas is no stranger to tourism. tolio Nacional and the Casa Natal de Bolí-
As the gateway to the continent, the var, where the famous liberator Simón
capital city draws tourists heading to Bolívar was born. (See also Libraries and
Venezuela’s idyllic beaches, to the for- Museums above).
ests and waterfalls of Parque Nacional de
Canaima, as well as many business trav-
elers. There are several tourist offices
20 Holidays and
available throughout the city. The city
Festivals
offers tourists a variety of good muse- JANUARY
ums, excellent restaurants, and a lively
New Year’s Day
night life. Visitors may begin the tour
of the city at Plaza Bolivar, the heart of FEBRUARY-MARCH
the city center. The Catedral, Palacio de Carnaval (the Monday and Tuesday before Ash
Gobierno and Palacio Municipal are Wednesday)

Caracas
MARCH-APRIL Government Offices

Semana Santa United States Embassy in Venezuela
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Avenida Francisco de Miranda, La Floresta
Caracas
APRIL (58 02) 285–2222
Declaration of Independence
Festival Internacional de Teatro (even years) Embassy of Venezuela-United States
1099 30th Street, NW
MAY Washington, DC 20007
Labor Day (202) 342–2214
Vélorio de Cruz de Mayo
JUNE
Corporación de Turismo (Corporturismo)
Battle of Carabobo
Torre Oeste, Parque Central
JULY Piso 37
Independence Day Caracas
Bolivar’s birthday (58 02) 507–8815/507–8829
OCTOBER Fairmont International

Discovery of America Plaza Venezuela, Sabana Grande
Caracas
(58 02) 782–8433/781–7091
21 Famous Citizens South American Explorers Club
126 Indian Creek Road
Simón Bolívar (1783–1830), Caracas’s Ithaca, NY 14850
most famous citizen, known as “El (607) 277–0488
Libertador,” the liberator of what is
Venezuelan Tourist Association (VTA)
today Venezuela, Colombia, Pana- PO Box 3010
ma, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Sausalito, VA 94966
(415) 332–2720
Francisco Miranda (b. 1750), largely
credited for paving the way to the Publications
independence movement, the El Universal (newspaper)
mentor under whom Simón Bolívar El Nacional (newspaper)
The Daily Journal (English-language newspaper)
began his military career.
Books
22 For Further Study Dempsey, Mary; and Ann Kelosh. Insight Guides
Venezuela. APA Publications, 1995.
Fisher, Wenzel, and Willy Haas. Impressions of
Websites Venezuela. Caracas, Venezuela: Distribuidora
CIA World Factbook. [Online] Available http:// Santiage C.A., 1992.
www.cia.gov/publications/factbook/ Grayson, Richard. I Survived Caracas Traffic: Sto-
country.html (Accessed January 10, 2000.) ries from the Me Decades. Avisson Press, Inc.,
Library of Congress Country Study-Venezuela. 1996.
[Online] Available http://www.llcweb2.gov Lombardi, John. Venezuela: the Search for Order,
(Accessed January 10, 2000.) the Dream of Progress. New York, Oxford:
Lonely Planet Guides. [Online] Available http:// Oxford University Press, 1982.
www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/sam/ven.htm Marquez, Patricia. The Street is My Home. Stan-
(Accessed January 10, 2000.) ford University Press, 1999.

Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, North America

Location: Northeast Illinois, Lake Michigan coast, United States, North America
Motto: “I will” in Latin
Flag: Two blue stripes representing Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, and four six-
pointed red stars representing events in Chicago history, all on a white field.
Flower: Violet (state flower)
Time Zone: 6 AM Central Standard Time (CST) = noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Ethnic Composition: White 56.9%; Black 39.1%
Coastline: 40 km (25 mi)
Climate: Continental climate; cold winters, with heavy snowfall from cold fronts off
Lake Michigan, and hot summers
Annual Mean Temperature: 9.5ºC (49.2ºF); January -4.3ºC (24.3ºF); July 23.7ºC
(74.7ºF)
Seasonal Average Snowfall: 102 cm (40 in)
Average Annual Precipitation (total of rainfall and melted snow): 86 cm (34
in).
Telephone Area Codes: 312, 630, 708, 773, 847
Postal Codes: 60601-64
1 Introduction Sandburg, one of its most famous

sons—Chicago has undergone impor-
Long the United States’s second- tant changes in the latter half of the
largest city (now its third-largest), Chi- twentieth century, most notably its
cago is the only Midwestern metropolis population shrinkage in the face of
to rank with the great cities of the growing suburbanization. Neverthe-
nation’s east and west coasts. Its nick- less, the legendary city of skyscrapers—
name, “the Windy City,” though still home to the world’s tallest build-
thought by many to refer to a climate ing—remains a vital commercial, intel-
influenced by the city’s location on the lectual, and cultural center.
southwest shore of Lake Michigan,
actually has its origin in the civic pride 2 Getting There
that has inspired its citizens to boastful-
ness for generations. The “City of Big Chicago, the seat of Cook County,
Shoulders” and “Hog Butcher to the is located in northeastern Illinois, on
World”—in the words of poet Carl the southeastern shore of Lake Michi-
145
Chicago
gan and at the junction of the lake and

the Chicago River. Chicago
Population Profile
Highways
City Proper
Chicago is accessible by several Population: 2,732,000
interstate highways. The city is Area: 591 sq km (228 sq mi)
Ethnic composition: 56.9% white, 39.1% black,
approached from the northwest by I-94, 3.7% Asian/Pacific Islander
which merges with the John F. Kennedy Nicknames: The Windy City, The Second City, The
Expressway and the Dan Ryan Express- City of Broad Shoulders
way, traversing the city north-south
Metropolitan Area
before turning into the Calumet
Expressway heading south out of (or Area: 13,118 sq km (5,065 sq mi)
into) the city. To the west, I-294 rings World population rank1: 29
much of the Greater Chicago area, turn- Percentage of national population2: 2.5%
Average yearly growth rate: 0.3%
ing into the Tri-State Tollway further Ethnic composition: 76% white; 19.5% black; and
south and intersecting I-290, which 4.3% Asian/Pacific Islander
runs east-west, becoming the Dwight D. ———
Eisenhower Expressway into the heart 1. The Chicago metropolitan area’s rank among
the world’s urban areas.
of the city. I-55 leads to Chicago from
the southwest, turning into the Adlai E. the Chicago metropolitan area.
Stevenson Expressway.
Bus and Railroad Service

many foreign cities as well. Also servic-
Chicago is an Amtrak hub, servic-
ing the Windy City is Midway Airport.
ing travelers from the renovated Union
Station. The Greyhound station, on
West Harrison Street, is slightly to the Shipping
southwest of downtown.
Its central location and Great Lakes
Airports coastline have always made Chicago an
important shipping center, especially
More than 66 million passengers a since the 1959 opening of the St.
year arrive at and depart from O’Hare
Lawrence Seaway connecting the Great
International Airport, on more than
Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. Some 750
880,000 flights annually. Located 27
kilometers (17 miles) outside down- motor freight carriers ship over 45 mil-
town Chicago, O’Hare is said to be the lion metric tons (50 million tons) of
busiest airport in the world. As a hub ground freight to and from the city
for both American and United Airlines, every year; another 36 million metric
it offers nonstop service to most major tons (40 million tons) are handled by
destinations in the United States, and rail. More than one million metric tons

Chicago
(1.1 million tons) per year are shipped south) and Madison (east-west) as the
through Chicago’s airports. main points of reference. Lake Shore
Drive borders the Lake Michigan shore-
3 Getting Around line, and Grant Park extends along
much of the coast. The Chicago River,
Downtown Chicago is laid out in a running east-west, divides the North
grid pattern, with State Street (north- Side from the central Loop section, and

Chicago
the north and south branches of the Hispanics (an ethnic rather than a racial
river run northwest to south, further designation) accounted for 19.6 percent
demarcating parts of the city. of the population. The 1994 population
estimate for Chicago was 2,732,000.
Bus and Commuter Rail Service The population of Chicago’s Primary
Metropolitan Statistical Area was esti-
The Chicago Transit Authority mated at 7,773,896 as of 1997. The
(CTA) runs the city’s bus and rail ser- region’s racial composition was listed
vice, offering access to both Chicago by the U.S. Census Bureau in 1996 as 76
and its suburbs. The CTA operates over percent white; 19.5 percent black; and
1,000 rapid transit, or El, cars over five 4.3 percent Asian/Pacific Islander.
rail lines whose routes are designated
by different colors. The CTA also oper-
ates numerous bus routes, with most 5 Neighborhoods
buses running at intervals of every five
to 20 minutes daily and many running The heart of Chicago is the rectan-
at night. gular downtown section known as the
Loop, extending southward from the
Sightseeing Chicago River and east from its south
branch, and encircled by the elevated
Several walking tours of downtown train route with the same name.
Chicago landmarks are available, Although most of the retailers have
including a taped, self-guided tour put departed from legendary State Street,
together by the Chicago Office of Tour- the Loop is still a bustling commercial
ism. The Friends of the Chicago River center filled with corporate and govern-
offers walking tours along the river and ment offices. Its La Salle Street has been
boat cruises along the shoreline as well. called “the Wall Street of the Midwest.”
Sightseeing tours of the downtown area
are also offered on both regular and The South Side, the area south of
double-decker buses and open-air trol- the Loop, has seen considerable rede-
leys. In addition, a variety of tours and velopment. Today it is home to a num-
cruises on Lake Michigan are available. ber of communities, including Hyde
Park, Morgan Park, and Beverly. The
area to the west of the Loop has tradi-
4 People
tionally been an industrial district,
Chicago is the third most populous although many of its businesses have
city in the United States, surpassed only relocated in recent times. It is also
by New York and Los Angeles. In 1990, home to an Italian community and the
the population of Chicago was site of the historic Hull House, where
2,784,000, with the following racial Nobel Prize winner Jane Addams minis-
composition: 56.9 percent white, 39.1 tered to the needs of the city’s working-
percent black, 3.7 percent Asian/Pacific class poor at the turn of the century.
Islander, 0.3 percent American Indian. The West Side Medical Center, with

Chicago

Chicago Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Chicago Tribune La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
seven hospitals and two medical North Michigan Avenue, also known as
schools, is the largest medical complex the Magnificent Mile, home to pricey
in the world. retailers, hotels, and restaurants.
Chicago’s North Side, to the north A less heartening part of Chicago’s

and northwest of the Chicago River, is a North Side is the Cabrini-Green public
mostly residential area. The part nearest
housing project to the northwest of the
to the Loop has undergone a renais-
River North district. Further to the
sance since the 1980s, as artists and
north of the city, beginning with the
other city trendsetters set up lofts in a
former industrial and warehouse dis- Mid-North Side to the west of shore-
trict that has drawn comparisons to front Lincoln Park, are upscale residen-
New York’s SoHo neighborhood. Today tial neighborhoods, including
known as River North, it has become an Edgebrook and Sauganash. To the
increasingly upscale locale of galleries, southeast is an industrial area traversed
studios, and clubs. Another successfully by the Chicago skyway. To the south-
redeveloped area north of the Loop is west are Bridgeport and Chinatown.

Chicago
Chicago is the center of an eight- of the growing nation and a marketing

county metropolitan area extending center for farm produce and livestock,
about 65 kilometers (40 or so miles) as well as the center of the meatpacking
from the city, to the north, west, and industry and home to the country’s first
south. Its suburbs include such wealthy financial exchange, the Chicago Board
communities as Oak Park, Evanston, of Trade. By mid-century, the arrival of
Skokie, and Lake Forest. Some nearby Irish, German, and Scandinavian immi-
towns in Indiana, including Gary and grants was providing a labor force to
Hammond, have also become de facto spur the growth in industry, and the
suburbs of Chicago. Irish established one of the city’s first
ethnic communities in Bridgeport. The
city’s population grew from 4,470 in
6 History 1840 to 28,000 in 1850, and then to
The first Europeans to arrive at the 110,000 by the following decade. By
site of present-day Chicago were French 1890 it passed the one-million mark to
explorer Louis Joliet and Father Jacques become the nation’s second-largest
Marquette in 1673. Over a century later, metropolis after New York.
in 1783, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable
became the first permanent resident of In 1860 Chicago hosted the Repub-
European descent in the area when he lican Convention that nominated Abra-
established a fur-trading post there. ham Lincoln for the presidency, and
Early in its history, the settlement the city played a vital role in the Civil
endured the massacre of 53 Americans War by serving as the primary supplier
when 500 Potawatomi warriors stormed of beef to the Union soldiers. In the
Fort Dearborn, which had been built to postwar era, Chicago became the coun-
protect the settlers, during the War of try’s major lumber market as well as its
1812. (The fort was rebuilt by 1816.) grain-handling capital, as well as a
The first major spur to the growth of manufacturing center for farm machin-
the town was the building of the Illi- ery. While the city’s upper classes
nois & Michigan Canal linking the enjoyed unprecedented wealth, its
Great Lakes with the Mississippi River thousands of working-class residents
basin. Planned in 1830, the canal suffered the overcrowded and unsani-
wasn’t completed until 1848, although tary conditions common to the urban
a speculative land boom was already poor of the industrial age. Jane Add-
underway in the 1830s, and the popula- ams’s Hull House became famous for its
tion surged upward. The city was incor- efforts to improve conditions for immi-
porated and held its first mayoral grant tenement dwellers on the city’s
election in 1837. West Side. Eventually sanitary condi-
tions became so lethal that the course
By 1848, when the canal was com- of the Chicago River was reversed at the
pleted, the first railroad arrived in the turn of the century to keep its sewage-
city, and Chicago became the rail hub and industrial waste-laden waters from

Chicago
further polluting Lake Michigan and to Fermi at the University of Chicago in

end recurring outbreaks of waterborne 1942.
infectious diseases.
A major development of the post-
Although the Great Fire of October
8, 1871, devastated the city, killing war era has been the suburbanization of
between 250 and 300 people and the city, whose population, which
destroying more than 17,000 build- accounted for roughly two-thirds of the
ings, Chicago’s economic base—its metropolitan area in 1950, shrank to
stockyards, freight yards, and industrial only one-third by 1990, and Los Ange-
area—were spared, enabling the city to les replaced Chicago as the nation’s sec-
rebuild rapidly. Much of the city was ond most populous city. Chicago’s
restored within a year, and Chicago racial balance has also changed during
continued to grow. In 1893, in the face this period, with blacks becoming the
of a nationwide economic depression,
major ethnic group in an increasingly
the city hosted the World’s Columbian
segregated city, and suburban sprawl
Exposition, which attracted some 21
million visitors. The 1890s was also the has replaced formerly populated areas
decade when Chicago became famous in the heart of the city with teeming
as the home of a new form of architec- expressways.
ture that was to transform America’s
urban landscape—the skyscraper. Dur- The first postwar decades were the
ing this period, the city’s wealth also Daley era (1955–1976), when Mayor
financed the creation of major cultural Richard J. Daley oversaw a period of
institutions such as the Chicago Sym- robust expansion and modernization
phony Orchestra and the Art Institute. that included the construction of
By the late nineteenth century, O’Hare International Airport and the
Chicago was already notorious for its world’s tallest building, the Sears Tower.
political corruption, and reform efforts However, it was also during the Daley
were implemented by the 1890s. How- years that the disturbances at the 1968
ever, the city reputation as the vice cap- Democratic convention etched them-
ital of the nation was renewed with the selves indelibly on the consciousness of
rise of mobsters Al Capone, John the nation. Since then Chicago has had
Dillinger, and their cohorts in the 1920s a woman mayor (Jane Byrne, 1979–
and 1930s. Chicagoans suffered keenly
1983) and its first black mayor (Harold
from the Great Depression but, like
Washington, 1983–1987), as well as its
other areas of the country, recovered
during World War II (1939–1945), first female black senator (Carol Mose-
becoming one of the nation’s top cen- ley-Braun, 1992–). The Daley name
ters for defense-related production, as regained its prominence in city politics
well as the site of its first controlled in the 1990s with the election of Rich-
nuclear reaction, overseen by Enrico ard M. Daley to the post of mayor.

Chicago
7 Government salers and retailers, including such retail

giants as Sears, Marshall Field, and
Chicago’s municipal government Montgomery Ward.
operates under a 1971 charter, provid-
ing for a mayor-council form of govern- Home to the Midwest Stock
ment. The city’s mayor and the 50 Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade
alderman who make up the council are (the nation’s oldest financial exchange),
all elected for four-year terms. and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange,
Chicago is one of the top financial cen-
8 Public Safety ters in the United States. Its LaSalle
Street is considered the Wall Street of
The Chicago Police Department is the Midwest. The city is also a publish-
the second-largest municipal police ing powerhouse, ranked second only to
force in the United States. In 1997 the New York, and a leader in industrial
department employed 13,466 sworn research and biotechnology. Chicago’s
officers, 2,060 civilian employees, as largest employers include Jewel Food
well as 1,000 crossing guards. In 1995, Stores, Motorola, Advocate Health Care,
violent crimes reported to police (per Ameritech, and First Chicago Corpora-
100,000 population) included 30 mur- tion.
ders, 1,094 robberies, and 1,426 aggra-
vated assaults. Property crimes totaled
7,198 and included 1,463 burglaries,
10 Environment
4,418 cases of larceny/theft, and 1,316 Two bodies of water have been cen-
motor vehicle thefts. tral to the history and development of
the city of Chicago—the Chicago River
9 Economy and Lake Michigan, the third largest of
the Great Lakes and the only one com-
Chicago has long been one of the pletely within the United States. The
country’s major manufacturing and dis- southwestern shore borders an urban
tribution centers. Important manufac- area that includes not only Chicago,
turing industries include steel, but also Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and
telecommunications equipment, auto- Gary, Indiana. The concentration of
mobile accessories, agricultural equip- industrialization has led to growing
ment, scientific instruments, diesel pollution problems.
engines, consumer electronics, paint,
and food products. The city’s central The Chicago River formerly flowed
location, inland port, and rail accessi- into Lake Michigan, but its course was
bility made it a major market for Mid- reversed, because of pollution, in 1900.
west farmers by the nineteenth century, In the waning years of the twentieth
and it remains a significant transport century, significant efforts were made
center today. Retailing is another domi- to clean up the river, which had suf-
nant sector in the economy of Chicago, fered from the effects of unhampered
which is home to thousands of whole- industrialization since the nineteenth

Chicago
century. The Chicago River became a

repository of refuse from the slaughter-
house industry and other forms of
industrial pollution. By 1999, over 50
species of fish—including salmon, carp,
and perch—returned to the river’s
waters, and the Friends of the Chicago
River began to lead walking tours along
the riverfront.
Encircling the city along its north-

ern, western and southern boundaries,
the Cook County Forest Preserves cover
66,746 acres, providing woodlands,
open spaces, and recreational facilities.
About five percent of the preserves
belong to the Illinois Nature Preserve
system, which protects the natural hab-
itats of endangered species and other
animals.
11 Shopping
Although many of the major retail-
ers have left Chicago’s central Loop dis- Chicago’s shopping districts range from exclusive
trict, the city still offers abundant and fashion boutiques to stores such as Merchandise
varied shopping outlets. Today its pre- Mart, the world’s largest wholesale store.
(Peter J. Schulz; City of Chicago)
mier shopping area is the “Magnificent
Mile” on North Michigan Avenue,
stretching north of the Chicago River to sale store, Merchandise Mart on North
Oak Street. Its multi-story shopping Orleans Street. The waterfront North
complexes boast such top-notch depart- Pier Mall offers a shopping complex in
ment stores as Saks Fifth Avenue, a renovated warehouse. Another inter-
Neiman-Marcus, Lord & Taylor, and esting shopping district is the Ander-
Marshall Field’s, as well as upscale sonville area on the North Side, whose
retailers including Louis Vuitton, Tif- specialty stores include a feminist book-
fany, Cartier, Brooks Brothers, and store (Women and Children First), an
Gucci. Further north is the Armitage- apothecary shop stocked with fra-
Halsted-Webster shopping area. In con- grances and other personal-care prod-
trast to the exclusive shops found in ucts, a store featuring American-made
these shopping districts, Chicago is also crafts, a Swedish bakery, and a canine
the home of the world’s largest whole- deli bakery (Fido’s Food Fair).

Chicago
12 Education tute of Technology, the Scholl College

of Podiatric Medicine, Vandercook Col-
As of 1995, 84 percent of Chicago lege of Music, and the prestigious Art
metropolitan area residents had com- Institute of Chicago.
pleted high school; 31 percent of males
and 26 percent of females had com-
pleted a bachelor’s degree. 13 Health Care
The Chicago Public Schools Dis- Chicago—the site of prime-time
trict, the state’s largest, operated 567 television’s most famous medical drama
schools in the fall of 1996 when it of the 1990s, ER—is also a top health-
enrolled 408,201 students. Close to 90 care center in real life. The city has a
percent were minority students, mostly total of more than 60 hospitals. Its Uni-
black (54 percent) and Hispanic (32 per- versity of Chicago Hospitals are
cent). The system employed 23,433 renowned both for their treatment and
teachers, with a pupil/teacher ratio of research facilities. Among these facili-
20 to one; support staff totaled 27,827. ties are Wyler Children’s Hospital, Chi-
The school district has won national cago Lying-in Hospital, and Bernard
attention for its Stephen Decatur Classi- Mitchell Hospital. In 1998 the hospital
cal School, an elementary school for system logged 23,470 admissions and
gifted students, and also operates the 428,396 outpatient visits and employed
Chicago High School for Agricultural 1,593 people. Rush-Presbyterian-St.
Sciences, which is located on a farm Luke’s Medical Center is affiliated with
within the city boundaries. Chicago Rush Medical College and Rush School
also has over 200 parochial schools and Nursing. The Chicago area’s major pub-
more than 100 secular private schools. lic health facility is Cook County Hos-
pital. Other hospitals include Chicago
The University of Chicago, Memorial Hospital, Edgewater Hospital,
founded in 1891 and endowed by John Grant Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital,
D. Rockefeller, has a national reputa- John F. Kennedy Medical Center, Rose-
tion for excellence, in both the sciences land Community Hospital, South Chi-
and the humanities. Its research facili- cago Community hospital, and Weiss
ties include the Enrico Fermi Institute Memorial Hospital.
and the Argonne National Laboratory.
The University of Illinois at Chicago 14 Media
offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and
professional degrees to some 25,000 Chicago has two major daily news-
students. Chicago is also home to three papers, both published in the morn-
Catholic universities: DePaul, Loyola, ing—the Chicago Tribune (daily
and Saint Xavier. The city has a variety circulation 584,097, Sundays
of other institutions of higher learning, 1,019,458) and the Chicago Sun-Times
including Chicago City-Wide Colleges, (daily circulation 332,047, Sundays
Roosevelt University, the Illinois Insti- 411,334). The Chicago Daily Defender is

Chicago
a well-known daily newspaper serving Series championship, and its crowning

the black community, and there are glory in the 1990s, when superstar
many more newspapers published for Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to
the city’s various racial and ethnic pop- six National Basketball Association
ulations. Crain’s Chicago Business is pro- (NBA) championships in eight years
duced by the Crain media chain; The under the stewardship of coach Phil
Reader is an alternative weekly that cir- Jackson. Chicago is also home to two
culates primarily on the North Side, major-league baseball teams—the
and Streetwise is published for the bene- National League’s Chicago Cubs, who
fit of Chicago’s homeless. Chicago play at Wrigley Field, and the American
Monthly magazine contains feature arti- League’s White Sox, whose home games
cles and dining and entertainment take place at Comiskey Park. The Chi-
information, and the bimonthly Chi- cago Bears of the National Football
cago Life also covers the metropolitan League (NFL) play at Soldier Field, and
area. Chicago is also home to the Chicago
Black Hawks of the National Hockey
In addition to local publications,
League (NHL). Horse racing takes place
Chicago—as one of the country’s major
publishing centers—is the source of at Arlington International Racecourse,
hundreds of nationally distributed Balmoral Park Racetrack, Hawthorne
newspapers and magazines, including Downs Racetrack, Maywood Park Race-
Ebony, American Libraries, and Jet, as track, and other venues, and auto rac-
well as a number of scholarly journals ing can be seen at the Santa Fe
published at the University of Chicago. Speedway.
All the major television networks

have affiliated stations in Chicago, 16 Parks and
which has a total of about 20 commer- Recreation
cial, public television, and cable sta-
tions, as well as some 60 AM and FM Chicago has 2,954 hectares (7,300
radio stations. A major regional broad- acres) of parkland. Its largest and best-
cast center, Chicago is also home to the known park is Grant Park, extending
Oprah Winfrey show and to Winfrey’s along Lake Michigan at the city’s east-
production company, Harpo Produc- ern edge, and encompassing within its
tions. boundaries Soldier Field, the Art Insti-
tute of Chicago, and the Field Museum
of Natural History. The second-largest
15 Sports park is the 242-hectare (598-acre) lake-
Chicago’s long history as an avid front Burnham Park. Of Chicago’s
sports town had its nadir in baseball’s inland parks, the largest is Washington
infamous “Black Sox” scandal of 1919, Park. Lincoln Park, on the North Side,
when members of the White Sox base- extends from Lake Michigan to Clark
ball team were bribed to lose the World Street.

Chicago
Comiskey Park is the home of the Chicago White Sox of the American League. (Javet M. Kimble; City of Chicago)
In addition to parks located within Chicago has over 24 kilometers (15

city limits, Chicagoans also enjoy the miles) of swimming beaches and 29
Cook County Forest Preserves that ring kilometers (18 miles) of lakefront bicy-
the city, offering open space, as well as cle paths. Other popular participant
13 golf courses and driving ranges, sports include canoeing, fishing, golf,
swimming pools, bicycle paths, picnic tennis, cross-country skiing, ice skating,
areas, and over 30 fishing lakes and and toboganning.
ponds.
17 Performing Arts
The Shedd Aquarium’s 170,000-
square-foot Oceanarium is the world’s Chicago is renowned for its theater
largest indoor marine mammal exhibit. tradition. Stage performances draw
One of the last free zoos in the United around three million attendees annu-
States, the privately managed Lincoln ally. Among the two best-known theat-
Park Zoo houses over 1,000 animals and rical organizations in the city are the
receives support from the Chicago Park Goodman Theater, its oldest resident
District. troupe; Steppenwolf Theater Company,

Chicago
associated with playwright David tion of 8,305,158. Its book holdings

Mamet; and the famed improvisational total nearly six-and-a-half million vol-
group Second City, training ground for umes while its non-book holdings com-
many talented comic performers who prise some four-and-a-half million
have since gone on to achieve nation- items. The library operates the central
wide success in film and television. Harold Washington Library Center, 77
Other theater groups include the Court neighborhood branches, and two
Theatre, the Pegasus Players, Victory regional libraries. Special collections
Gardens, and Wisdom Bridge. Touring include the Chicago Theater Collection,
performances of Broadway productions the Chicago Blues Archives, an early
can be seen at the Schubert Theatre. American newspaper collection, and
many others. Besides its public library,
The Chicago Symphony, one of the
Chicago is also home to a number of
best in the nation, performs from fall
university and government libraries, as
through spring at Orchestra Hall on
well as private libraries run by historical
Michigan Avenue and at the Ravinia
and cultural societies, private corpora-
Festival on the North Shore in the sum-
tions, medical facilities, and other
mer months. Chicago has two opera
groups. The main library of the Univer-
companies, Lyric Opera of Chicago,
sity of Chicago, serving some 10,000
which performs operas in their original
students and over 1,000 faculty mem-
languages with supertitles displayed
bers, maintains a collection of over six
above the stage, and Chicago Opera
million books, more than 20,000 com-
Theater, which performs in English.
pact disks, and other materials. The uni-
Chicago’s resident ballet troupe is Ballet
versity’s libraries house special
Chicago, founded in 1988. Hubbard
collections in modern poetry, anatomi-
Street Dance Chicago stages contempo-
cal illustration, English Bibles, and
rary dance performances.
numerous other areas. The university’s
Known as “the Blues Capital of the Newberry Library also houses a well-
World,” Chicago has been a prime known research collection.
venue for blues clubs and performers
since the 1930s, and this tradition is The Art Institute of Chicago is one
vibrantly renewed every spring at the of the country’s premier art museums.
lakefront Chicago Blues Festival, which It houses more than 300,000 artworks,
draws crowds of as many as 400,000 cared for by ten curatorial departments.
during its three days. It has one of the world’s great collec-
tions of Impressionist art, as well as out-
18 Libraries and standing collections of twentieth-
century art and Japanese woodblock
Museums prints. Its print and drawing collections
Founded in 1872, the Chicago Pub- is also one of the nation’s finest. With a
lic Library serves over two-and-a-half collection of over 16 million items, the
million people, with an annual circula- Field Museum of Natural History ranks

Chicago
plays folk art from many countries; the

Museum of Broadcast Communica-
tions; and the Museum of Science and
Industry. Among the city’s many muse-
ums dedicated to the heritage of spe-
cific racial and ethnic groups are the Du
Sable Museum of African American His-
tory, the Mexican Fine Arts Center
Museum, the Spertus Museum of Juda-
ica, the Swedish American Museum
Center, and the Ukrainian National
Museum.
19 To u r i s m
Chicago is a popular tourist desti-
nation for both domestic and overseas
visitors. In 1995 approximately two-
and-a-half million foreign travelers vis-
ited the city, ranking it ninth nationally
in this category. In August 1999, the
city expected to attract $192.7 million
in convention business.
The Navy Pier hosts “Pier Walk,” the world’s

20 Holidays and
largest outdoor sculpture exhibition starting in the Festivals
spring and running through the fall annually.
(Willy Schmidt; City of Chicago)
JANUARY
Chicago Boat, Sports, and RV Show
FEBRUARY
as one of the world’s great natural his- Chicago Auto Show
tory museums. Chicago has over 40 Chinese New Year Parade
other museums of all kinds, including Navy Pier County Fair
Winter Break
the Museum of Contemporary Art and
3 on 3 Basketball Tournament
the Museum of Contemporary Photog- Azalea and Camellia Show
raphy; Chicago Academy of Sciences,
MARCH
featuring lively inter-active exhibits; Chicago Flower and Garden Show
the hands-on Chicago Children’s Maple Syrup Festival
Museum; the Chicago Historical Society St. Patrick’s Day Celebration & Fireworks
museum; the International Museum of South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Surgical Sciences; the May Weber APRIL
Museum of Cultural Arts, which dis- Chicago Latino Festival

Chicago
MAY Hillary Rodham Clinton (b. 1947), First

Wright Plus House Walk
Lady of the United States.
Printer’s Row Book Fair
JUNE Jesse Jackson (b. 1941), African-Ameri-
Chicago Blues Festival can civil rights leader.
Chicago Country Music Festival
Chicago Gospel Festival Walter Elias (Walt) Disney (1901–1966),
57th Street Air Fair
animator and filmmaker.
Boulevard-Lakefront Bicycle Tour
Andersonville Midsommarfest Jack Benny (1894–1974), comedian.
MID-JUNE TO MID-AUGUST
Grant Park Music Festival Saul Bellow, Nobel Prize-winning au-
LATE JUNE-EARLY JULY thor.
Taste of Chicago
John Dos Passos (1896–1970), author.
JULY
Fiesta de Hemingway
Jane Addams (1860–1935), founder of
Venetian Night
Lakefront fireworks (July 3)
Hull House.
Chicago to Mackinac Island Boat Race
World’s Largest Block Party
Benny Goodman (1909–1986), clarinet-
Newberry Library Book Fair ist.
AUGUST David Mamet (b. 1947), playwright.
Chicago Air & Water Show
Latin Music Festival Michael Jordan (b. 1963), basketball su-
Chicago Triathlon
perstar.
LATE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER
Chicago Jazz Festival
OCTOBER 22 For Further Study
Berghoff Oktoberfest
Chicago International Film Festival
Websites
LaSalle Banks Chicago Marathon
Chicago City Net. [Online] Available http://
NOVEMBER www.city.net/countries/united_states/
Ski Snowmobile & Winter Sports Show
illinois/chicago. (accessed October 11,
Magnificent Mile Lights Festival 1999).
DECEMBER Chicago City Page. [Online] Available http://
Chicago Park District Winter Festival Flower www.chicago.thelinks.com (accessed Octo-
Show ber 11, 1999).
Chicago Home Page. [Online] Available http://
21 Famous Citizens www.city-life.com/chicago. (accessed Octo-
ber 11, 1999).
Famous citizens who were born in Chi-
cago include: City Insights Chicago. [Online] Available http://
www.cityinsights.com/chicago.htm.
Mayor Richard J. Daley (1902–1976). (accessed October 11, 1999).

Chicago
Government Offices Crimi, Carolyn. Kidding Around Chicago: What to

Chicago City Hall Do, Where to Go, and How to Have Fun in Chi-
cago. Santa Fe, N.M.: John Muir Publica-
121 N. La Salle St.
tions, 1998
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 744-0000 Dale, Alzina Stone. Mystery Reader's Walking
Guide, Chicago. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Passport
Chicago Office of Tourism Books, 1995.
78 E. Washington St. Farber, David. Chicago ‘68. Chicago: University
Chicago, IL 60602 of Chicago Press, 1988.
(312) 744-2359 Figliulo, Susan. Romantic Days and Nights in Chi-
cago: Romantic Diversions in and Around the
Mayor’s Office
City. 2nd ed. Old Saybrook, Conn.: Globe
121 N. La Salle St. Rm. 507 Pequot Press, 1999.
Chicago, IL 60602
Granger, Bill, and Lori Granger. Fighting Jane:
(312) 744-3300
Mayor Jane Byrne and the Chicago Machine.
New York: Dial Press, 1980.
Tourist and Convention Bureaus Hayner, Don, and Tom McNamee. Metro Chicago
Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau Almanac. Chicago: Chicago Sun-Times,
2301 S. Lake Shore Dr. 1991.
Chicago, IL 60616 Hayner, Don, and Tom McNamee. Streetwise Chi-
(312) 567-8500 cago, A History of Chicago Street Names. Chi-
cago: Loyola University Press, 1988.
Publications Liebling, A. J. Chicago: The Second City. Drawings
Chicago Magazine by Steinberg. New York: Alfred A. Knopf,
500 N. Dearborn Ave. Suite 1200 1952.
Chicago, IL 60610 Miller, Ross. American Apocolypse: The Great Fire
and the Myth of Chicago. Chicago: University
Chicago Sun-Times of Chicago Press, 1990.
401 N. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611 Rowe, Mike. Chicago Blues: The City and the
Music. New York: Da Capo Press, 1975.
Chicago Tribune Royko, Mike. Boss: Richard J. Daley and His Era.
435 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago: Dutton, 1971.
Chicago, IL 60611 Saliga, Pauline A., ed. The Sky's the Limit: A Cen-
tury of Chicago Skyscrapers. New York: Rizzoli,
Crain’s Chicago Business
1990.
740 N. Rush St.
Chicago, IL 60611 Sandburg, Carl. Chicago Poems. New York: Holt,
1916.
Books Terkel, Studs. Division Street: America. New York:
Pantheon, 1967.
Abrams, Isabel S. The Nature of Chicago: A Com-
prehensive Guide to Natural Sites In and Uhl, Michael. Frommer's Memorable Walks in Chi-
Around the City. Chicago: Chicago Review cago. New York: Macmillan USA, 1998.
Press, 1997.
Addams, Jane. Twenty Years at Hull-House. New
York: Macmillan, 1910. Videorecordings
Bellow, Saul. Humboldt’s Gift. New York: Viking, Chicago: One Magnificent City. San Ramon, CA:
1975. [Fiction] International Video Network, 1991.

Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America, North America

Location: Northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, United States, North
America
Motto: Progress and Prosperity
Flag: Red left panel, white center panel with emblem, and blue right panel.
Flower: Carnation
Ethnic Composition: City—49% white; 47% black; 5% Hispanic origin (of any race);
21.7% of Cleveland’s European Americans were of German ancestry; Irish,
12.5%; English, 9.1%; Italian, 7.1%; Polish, 6.1%; Slovak, 4.2%; French, 2.8%;
Hungarian, 2.4%; Yugoslav, 1.6%; Scottish/Irish, 1.6%; Russian, 1.2%; Czech,
1.5%; and Dutch, 1.5%.
Elevation: 201 meters (660 feet) above sea level. Most of the city is on a level plain
18–24 meters (60–80 feet) above Lake Erie; an abrupt ridge rises 150 meters
(500 feet) above the shore on the eastern edge of the city along its border with
the community of Cleveland Heights.
Latitude and Longitude: 41º30’N, 81º70’W
Coastline: 22 kilometers (14 miles) on the southern shore of Lake Erie.
Climate: Hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. The climate is influenced by
Lake Erie, which moderates both summer heat and winter cold.
Annual Mean Temperature: 10ºC (50ºF); January –3ºC (27ºF); July 23ºC (73ºF).
Seasonal Average Snowfall: 52 inches (132 cm); western suburbs, 45 inches (112
cm); eastern suburbs, 90 inches per year (230 cm).
Average Annual Precipitation (rainfall and melted snow): 32 inches (81 cm).
Government: Mayor and 21-member City Council
Weights and Measures: Standard US
Monetary Units: Standard US
Telephone Area Codes: 216 in the city; 440 and 330 in suburban areas
Postal Codes: 44101–44115; 44117, 44119–44122; 44126–44129; 44134, 44135,
44144
1 Introduction back City.” As a result of a downtown

rehabilitation program, Cleveland
Once renowned for the 1972 Cuya- entered the twenty-first century as a
hoga River fire and identified as part of proud host to the Rock and Roll Hall of
the “Rust Belt,” Cleveland is no stranger Fame and Museum, the Great Lakes Sci-
to disaster and hardship. However, in ence Center, the Gateway sports com-
the 1990s the city once called the “Mis- plex, comprised of Jacobs Field, home
take on the Lake” earned a well- baseball park for the Cleveland Indians,
deserved new nickname—the “Come- and Gund Arena, home court for the
161
Cleveland
ufacturing sector suffered a downturn

Cleveland in the 1980s, The Flats area was redevel-
Population Profile oped into an entertainment district
with restaurants and nightclubs.
City Proper
Population: 505,616 Highways
Ethnic composition: 49% white; 47% black; 4% Three major interstate highways
other intersect in the downtown area: I-71
Nicknames: Mistake on the Lake (1960s and
1970s), Comeback City (1980s and 1990s) and I-77 run north-south connecting
Cleveland with the Ohio cities of
Metropolitan Area Columbus and Akron, respectively. I-90
Population: 2,900,000 runs east-west, linking Cleveland to
Description: Includes Cuyahoga County (where
Cleveland is located), neighboring Lorain, Erie, Pennsylvania to the east and
Medina, Summit, Portage, Geauga, and Lake Toledo, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois, to
Counties; and outlying Ashtabula County
Area: 9,360 sq km (3,613 sq mi)
the west. I-480 connects the eastern
World population rank1: 192 and western suburbs on a route south of
Percentage of national population2: 0.6% the city; I-271 runs east of the city on a
Average yearly growth rate: 0.4% north-south route; and I-490 connects
Ethnic composition: 72% white; 25% black; 3%
other I-90, I-71, and I-77 away from their
———
downtown merges.
1. The Cleveland metropolitan area’s rank among
the world’s urban areas. Bus and Railroad Service
the Cleveland metropolitan area. Greyhound Bus Lines provides
daily service into downtown Cleveland,
and to many cities in the Greater Cleve-
men’s and women’s basketball teams, land area. Amtrak passenger rail service
the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland to points east and west is provided by
Rockers, and a new home football sta- the train called the Lakeshore Limited.
dium for the new Cleveland Browns The Capital Limited train travels to
team. Washington, D.C. via Pittsburgh, Penn-
sylvania.
2 Getting There Airports
Cleveland is located on the south- The largest airports serving the area
ern shore of Lake Erie, one of the five are Cleveland Hopkins International
Great Lakes. The Cuyahoga River Airport (served by 14 air carriers provid-
divides the city into an east side and ing 11.5 million passenger arrivals/
west side. The area along the Cuyahoga departures in 1996), Burke Lakefront
River is known as The Flats. The Flats Airport (commuter air service provided
area was once the site of steel mills and 219,512 arrivals/departures in 1996),
other factories; when Cleveland’s man- and the Cuyahoga County Airport (pro-

Cleveland

Cleveland
viding business and general aviation downtown area. In 1988, Cleveland

services). Continental Airlines has the became the first city in the United
largest number of flights with over 300 States to have commuter rail service
daily departures. from downtown to the airport when
RTA connected Public Square to Hop-
Shipping kins Airport. There is a loop bus route
(fare is 50 cents) serving the downtown
The Port of Cleveland, declared a area from 6 AM to 6:30 PM. In 1996,
foreign trade zone in 1990, is the largest commuter rail service was extended to
overseas general cargo port on Lake Erie the newly developed waterfront area.
and is the third largest on the Great The RTA operates 102 bus lines, 72 of
Lakes. Ships from the Atlantic Ocean which reach downtown.
enter the Great Lakes via the St.
Lawrence Seaway, which opened in Sightseeing
1959. The port handles about 13 mil-
lion metric tons (14 million tons) of The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Rail-
cargo annually. road operates a 90-minute round trip
through the Cuyahoga National Recre-
3 Getting Around ation Area to the south of the city of
Cleveland. Sightseeing cruises on the
Many of Cleveland’s major roads Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie are oper-
were laid out along the paths of dried ated during the summer months, and
out creek beds or trails used by dis- dozens of marinas serve pleasure boat-
placed Native Americans. City streets ers of the area. A fleet of trolley cars
branch out from Public Square. Cleve- known as Lolly the Trolley provide
land’s tallest buildings surround Public sightseeing tours.
Square. The streets that run west from
Public Square all feature large bridges 4 People
over the Cuyahoga River. There are 13
bridges in The Flats area, directly to the In 1990, the population of the city
west of Public Square. West of the Cuya- of Cleveland was 505,616 (47 percent
hoga River lies the neighborhood male, 53 percent female). The total pop-
known as Ohio City, incorporated into ulation of the Cleveland Metropolitan
the city of Cleveland in 1852. Statistical Area is 2.9 million, making it
the fourteenth-largest metropolitan
Bus and Commuter Rail Service area in the United States.
Within the area, Cleveland’s Cleveland has a rich ethnic mix,
Regional Transit Authority (RTA) serves with a population representing 60 eth-
59 million passengers annually. Its rail nic groups from all continents. The city
line consists of 54 kilometers (34 miles) has the largest mix of Eastern Europe-
of track connecting the closest suburbs ans of any city in the United States and
with Public Square in the center of the has the largest concentrations of Slo-

Cleveland
The Cleveland, Ohio skyline. (EPD Photos)
vaks (Slovakia), Slovenes (Slovenia), (3.4 percent), Greek (2.7 percent), Chi-
and Hungarians (Hungary). There are nese (2.3 percent), Indic (2.3 percent),
also large German, Irish, Polish, Italian, Korean (1.2 percent), and Japanese (one
Czech, Croat, Russian, Puerto Rican, percent).
and Ukrainian communities. In recent
years, Asians have also settled in the An estimated 40 percent of the
area, primarily Asian Indians, Filipinos, metropolitan area’s regular worship-
Koreans, and Chinese. pers attend Catholic churches. The fol-
lowing denominations have significant
More than 60 languages are spoken
membership among Clevelanders:
in Cleveland. In 1994, languages other
Catholic (Roman and Eastern Ortho-
than English spoken at home (by per-
centage of households) included Span- dox), 534,785 members; Southern Bap-
ish or Spanish Creole (24.1 percent), tist, 117,282; American Baptist, 28,176;
German (11.7 percent), Italian (9.8 per- United Methodist, 33,607; United
cent), Polish (7.9 percent), South Slavic Church of Christ, 21,146; and Jewish,
(7.8 percent), other Slavic (seven per- 50,500. There are also significant num-
cent), French or French Creole (6.4 per- bers of other Protestant denominations,
cent), Hungarian (6.1 percent), Arabic Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus.

Cleveland
5 Neighborhoods nationally. Among the 18 largest U.S.

metropolitan areas, Cleveland resi-
Little Italy, located on the city’s dents also had the lowest average mort-
eastern border with Cleveland Heights, gage payments.
is a thriving Italian neighborhood that
in recent years has become an arts cen- In 1989, the Northeast Ohio Coali-
ter. On the near east side, just to the tion for the Homeless was established
north of midtown, is a small China- to provide housing for the estimated
town. On the northeast side is the 12,000 homeless people in the greater
Slavic Village, and to the east is Hough, Cleveland area.
a largely African American neighbor-
hood that was the site of violent riots 6 History
during the Civil Rights movements of
the 1960s and 1970s. In 1682, King Charles II of England
ceded a large tract of land west of Penn-
The Van Sweringen brothers, real sylvania to the colony of Connecticut
estate developers, purchased from a that became known as the Western
community of Shakers (the devout reli- Reserve. In 1796, Moses Cleaveland, an
gious sect) a large tract of land about 16 executive with the Connecticut Land
kilometers (ten miles) east of Public Company, was sent to survey the
Square. This land became the commu- reserve with the possibility of develop-
nity of Shaker Heights, the first planned ing it. Cleaveland arrived at the mouth
suburban community in the nation. To of the Cuyahoga River, where it empties
lure Cleveland’s new and growing mid- into Lake Erie, and recognized that it
dle and upper classes into their commu- would make an excellent site for a port.
nity, the Van Sweringens bought a rail He laid out a plan for a small village,
line and converted it to a commuter rail named the town after himself and
connecting their land with a downtown returned to Connecticut, never again to
station they built. In 1996, the city set foot in the city that bore his name.
received grants and loans of $22.6 mil- (The “a” was dropped from the city
lion from the U.S. Department of Hous- name somewhere along the way. Popu-
ing and Urban Development to help lar stories hold that a newspaper writer
build 400 new homes and renovate 65 either ran out of space or “a”s, thereby
homes in the Central neighborhood, a changing the name of the city perma-
residential, industrial sector just east of nently.)
the downtown.
The area turned out to be inhospi-
In 1994, the cost of housing in table, mainly because the Cuyahoga
Cleveland was the second lowest River was a nesting ground for mosqui-
among large cities in the country. In the toes and frequently flooded. By 1800,
greater Cleveland area, the average only seven people lived in the town
price for a single family home in 1994 Cleaveland had laid out. In 1803, Ohio
was $104,400, compared to $161,600 became a state, the first state that never

Cleveland

Cleveland Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper The Plain Dealer La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
had been a colony. Growth was slow also flourished and created a class of
until the digging of the first stages of rich merchants who built up the city
the Erie Canal in 1827, which opened with their wealth.
the tiny frontier town to commerce. By
1850, the city had grown to 30 times its The Great Depression of the 1930s
1820 population. By 1860, it had devastated the Cleveland economy, but
become a well-established haven for World War II (1939–45) revived indus-
new immigrants, and half its popula- try, and Cleveland companies recruited
tion that year was foreign born. During new workers to fill its expanded indus-
and following the Civil War (1861–65), trial capacity from among southern
Cleveland became a prosperous indus- blacks and white Appalachians. The
trial city due to the discovery of large middle class, however, began moving
iron ore deposits and the establishment out of the city into suburbs, as was the
of the Standard Oil Company by John pattern nationally, and the inner city of
D. Rockefeller (1839–1937), soon to Cleveland began to decline. By the
become the richest man in the world. 1960s, much of the city had sunk into
Steel, shipping, and coal companies poverty, and in 1966 the primarily

Cleveland
Beginning in the 1979, with the

election of George Voinovich as mayor,
Cleveland’s business and civic leaders
began revitalizing the downtown area,
hoping to reverse the now decades-long
population flight. In 1985 Standard Oil
of Ohio built a new corporate head-
quarters building on Public Square.
(The building is now known as the BP
Building, after British Petroleum, the
company that bought Standard Oil.).
Other new buildings soon followed and
The Flats area along the Cuyahoga
River—the site of the river fire—was
redeveloped as a district of restaurants
and bars. When Michael R. White was
elected mayor in 1989, the downtown
rehabilitation continued. Notable is the
construction of a downtown sports
complex called Gateway, comprised of
Jacobs Field, a baseball park for the
Cleveland Indians, and Gund Arena,
home court for the men’s women’s bas-
ketball teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland’s “Rapid” links the downtown area with
the airport, the eastside suburbs, and the westside and Cleveland Rockers. Development
suburbs. (EPD Photos) along the lakeshore included the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
designed by I. M. Pei (1917–), the Great
Lakes Science Center, and a new home
black neighborhood of Hough erupted football stadium for the new Cleveland
in riots that made national headlines. Browns team in 1999.
Three years later, the Cuyahoga River,
saturated with a century of industrial 7 Government
pollutants, caught on fire. The image of
a burning river, broadcast around the The city’s chief executive is the
world, became an image that the city of mayor, elected to four-year terms on a
non-partisan ballot. Michael R. White
Cleveland would find difficult to shake.
(Democrat) was elected mayor in 1989,
Its reputation was further tarnished reelected in 1993 and again in 1997.
during the 1970s when it suffered a The legislature is a City Council; its 21
devastating fiscal crisis causing it to members are also elected on a non-par-
declare bankruptcy in 1976. tisan ballot to four-year terms. (Until

Cleveland
1980, the mayoral and council terms that year and 12.8 percent worked for
were two years.) local, state, and federal government.
In 1995, Cleveland was home to 95

8 Public Safety companies with revenues exceeding
$100 million. Among the largest
In 1996, Cleveland had six police employers in the area (1994) were the
districts with 1,791 sworn officers; 26 U.S. government (18,500); Ford Motor
fire stations with 957 uniformed fire Company (10,896 employees); Catholic
fighters; and 18 Emergency Medical Ser- Diocese of Cleveland (10,000); Cleve-
vices (EMS) ambulances with 224 uni- land Clinic Foundation (9,900); Cleve-
formed employees. In 1994, there were land Board of Education (9,673);
137 homicides; 751 rapes; 3,924 robber- Cuyahoga County Government (9,232);
ies; 2,947 aggravated assaults; 8,008 MetroHealth System (8,328); City of
burglaries; 12,931 larcenies; 9,062 auto Cleveland (8,226); University Hospitals
thefts; and 801 cases of arson. (7,640); State of Ohio (7,630); LTV Steel
Company (7,500); Riser Foods (6,500);
9 Economy First National Supermarkets (6,451);
Centerior Energy (6,200); Goodyear Tire
Historically, Cleveland was a major and Rubber (5,937); and Ameritech
industrial and manufacturing center. (5,309).
During the late 1970s and early 1980s,
however, the local economy suffered, 10 Environment
leaving Cleveland and many other mid-
western cities, in an economic reces- Cleveland’s most vital natural
sion. During the 1980s, Cleveland lost resource is Lake Erie, the fourth-largest
11.9 percent of its population when lake in the United States and the
workers moved to take new jobs in the twelfth-largest lake in the world. It is
south and west. (During this period 388 kilometers (241 miles) wide and
industrialized cities of the Midwest and contains 500 trillion liters (132 trillion
Northeast were labeled the Rust Belt, gallons) of water. The cities that grew
and their counterparts in the South and up around Lake Erie—Cleveland, Ohio;
Southwest, the Sun Belt.) Beginning in Detroit, Michigan; and Buffalo, New
the late 1980s and continuing into the York—all spewed pollutants into Lake
1990s, however, Cleveland made the Erie from the early 1900s. In the late
transition from an industrial economy 1800s, vast deposits of salt were discov-
to a services-based economy. In 1995, ered beneath the lake, and the commer-
in fact, 28.8 percent of the workforce in cial enterprises continue to extract salt
the Cleveland metropolitan area was from mines about two-and-a-half kilo-
engaged in services, compared to 20.6 meters (one-and-a-half miles) beneath
percent in manufacturing. Wholesale the surface of Lake Erie. In 1970, pollu-
and retail trade employed 23.6 percent tion was so heavy that the governor of

Cleveland
Ohio suspended fishing on Lake Erie duce, meat, and bakery market. It is the
because of mercury contamination of largest covered farmer’s market in the
fish. Since then, environmental laws United States. Almost every suburban
and downturn in industrial activity community in the Cleveland area has a
along the river have resulted in shopping strip or indoor mall.
improved health of the river and Lake
Erie ecosystems. In the 1990s, fishing 12 Education
was a favorite pastime. Fishers on Lake
Erie catch as many fish as fishers on the In the 1993–94 school year, Cleve-
other four Great Lakes combined. land Public Schools enrolled 73,633 stu-
dents, with a per-pupil expenditure of
The Cuyahoga River was one of the $6,017. Fifty percent of the system’s stu-
most polluted rivers in the country and dents fail to graduate high school, but
actually burned in 1952, when a huge 51 percent of those who graduate go on
fire caused $1.5 million in damage, and to college. Students enrolled in subur-
again in 1969. The Cuyahoga River fire ban school systems demonstrate higher
of June 22, 1969, elicited national head- average graduation rates.
lines and created a national image of
Cleveland as a polluted industrial Cuyahoga County has 33 public
wasteland. school systems and 22 private schools.
Public/private partnerships in educa-
11 Shopping tion include Project SMART (School of
Manufacturing and Automotive Related
Clevelanders employed in retail Technologies), which helps students
and wholesale trade number 261,500. learn real-world skills for existing indus-
In the 1980s and 1990s, two major trial jobs. It is administered by the
malls—Tower City Center and The Gal- Cleveland Public Schools, Cleveland
leria at Erieview—opened in the busi- State University, and the non-profit
ness district, combining to contain group Cleveland Education Partners.
approximately 160 popular specialty
shops and restaurants. In total, there The 22 universities and colleges
are over 625 retail outlets in the down- (five public, 17 private) in greater
town section of Cleveland. Another Cleveland include Cleveland State Uni-
downtown indoor shopping area is The versity, Case Western Reserve Univer-
Arcade, built in downtown Cleveland sity, John Carroll University, and
in 1890. It was the first indoor shop- Oberlin College. Enrollment at colleges
ping mall in the United States. and universities in the metropolitan
area is 143,000.
On the near west side of Cleveland,
the Ohio City neighborhood is home to 13 Health Care
beautifully renovated Victorian houses,
restaurants, coffee houses, and the his- Cleveland is home to some of the
toric West Side Market, an enclosed pro- finest medical facilities in the country,

Cleveland
including the Cleveland Clinic (which stations, including six college radio sta-
pioneered open heart surgery and organ tions. The top ten radio stations reach
transplants), University Hospitals (affili- an average adult audience of 344,197
ated with Case Western Reserve Univer- daily. The Plain Dealer, Cleveland’s prin-
sity), St. Vincent Charity Hospital cipal daily newspaper and Ohio’s largest
(pioneered development of heart-lung daily newspaper, has a circulation of
machines), and Metropolitan General 1,002,892. Cleveland Magazine and
Hospital (specializing in burn treat- Northern Ohio Live, regional arts and
ment). The health care industry entertainment magazines, have a com-
employs 125,000 workers (11 percent of bined circulation of 241,000; a weekly
the workforce) and generates $9 billion newspaper reporting on the business
for the local economy. The Cleveland community is Crain’s Cleveland Business.
area has 9,000 physicians and 22,000
professional health care workers. 15 Sports
The city of Cleveland’s Department Cleveland has professional major
of Public Health employs 320 people league baseball (the Indians), men’s bas-
and has an operating budget of $24 mil- ketball (the Cavaliers), women’s basket-
lion. In 1995, the department provided ball (the Rockers), hockey (the
flu shots to 2,500 senior citizens, tested Lumberjacks), and indoor soccer (the
5,000 adults for HIV/AIDS, screened Crunch) teams. Cleveland’s National
42,855 children for lead poisoning, and Football League team, the Browns, was
increased the number of patients served relocated in 1996 to Baltimore, Mary-
at health centers from 23,728 to 36,938. land, where the name was changed to
The infant mortality rate in inner-city the Ravens. Cleveland kept the rights to
neighborhoods served by the Depart- their NFL team name (Browns), and a
ment was 16.3 per 1,000 live births in new Browns team began playing in
1993. Cleveland in 1999.
The Indians won the World Series
14 Media in 1920 and 1948. In 1995 and 1997,
the Indians won the American League
The Cleveland Designated Market pennant, but lost in the World Series to
Area (CDMA) comprises 1.47 million the Atlanta Braves (1995) and the Flor-
households, the fourteenth-largest ida Marlins (1997).
media market in the U.S. (CDMA is
defined as all counties in which Cleve- Gund Arena, home to professional
land television stations receive a major- men’s and women’s basketball, profes-
ity of total viewing hours.) Cleveland sional hockey, and the site of numerous
has network affiliate television broad- concerts and special events, opened in
casters for ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox. August 1994; it is one of the first build-
There are over 100 media companies in ings designed to comply with the Amer-
the area, and 25 AM and 34 FM radio icans with Disabilities Act, with 200

Cleveland
seats for the disabled. There are 3,300 17 Performing Arts

parking places at the arena, more than
10,000 parking spaces within a ten- Cleveland is host to a thriving
minute walk. music, theater, and film community.
The Cleveland Orchestra (TCO),
About one hour west of Cleveland founded in 1918, is considered one of
in Sandusky lies Cedar Point amuse- the finest orchestras in the world. TCO
ment park. To the southeast, in Aurora, performs during the concert season at
Six Flags Ohio (formerly Geauga Lake) Severance Hall, which opened in 1931,
amusement park and Sea World of Ohio and during the summer at Blossom
are popular summer attractions. Music Center. The Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame and Museum, designed by I. M.
Pei (1917–), opened on the lakeshore in
16 Parks and downtown in 1994. The Polka Hall of
Recreation Fame, located in Euclid, celebrates
Polka Month (November) each year
The Cleveland Metroparks system, with an induction ceremony and a
known as “The Emerald Necklace,” con- weekend-long program of concerts and
sists of 19,000 acres of parks that sur- events. The Cleveland Play House, the
round the city. The system includes 12 oldest repertory theater in the United
separate reservations and the Cleveland States, operates three stages in a large
Metroparks Zoo, all within 15 minutes theater complex. Karamu (Swahili for
of downtown. Parks within the city of “a place of joyful gathering”) House is
Cleveland itself have 163 tennis courts, the oldest U.S. theater producing plays
41 swimming pools, and 156 baseball written by African Americans. In the
diamonds. There are six separate park downtown business district, the Play-
facilities on the shore of Lake Erie in the house Square area includes four the-
greater Cleveland area. In the city itself, aters: the Ohio, home to the Great
the largest is Edgewater Park, which has Lakes Theatre Festival; the State, home
274 meters (900 feet) of beach. There to Cleveland Opera and Cleveland Bal-
are over 200 public and private golf let; the Palace, home to large touring
courses and 35 bike trails in the area. Broadway shows; and the Allen. There
are 175 movie theaters in the greater
The 32,000-acre Cuyahoga Cleveland area. The Cleveland Interna-
National Recreation Area covers 35 kilo- tional Film Festival, held each spring, is
meters (22 miles) of the Cuyahoga River nationally renowned.
was established in 1974, and features
hiking and nature programs. About 32 18 Libraries and
kilometers (20 miles) east of the city is Museums
The Holden Arboretum, one of the
world’s largest museums of trees and The Cleveland Public Library is the
shrubs. second largest municipal library in the

Cleveland
Cleveland’s science museum (left) shares the lakefront with the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame (right) in downtown Cleveland. (EPD Photos)
United States. It was the first library in Downtown Cleveland features the
the country to allow users to take the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and
books off the shelves themselves Museum; the Great Lakes Science Cen-
(without asking a librarian for help). In ter and Cleveland Clinic Omnimax
1997, the main branch of the Cleveland Theatre; the William G. Mather
Public Library opened the Louis Stokes Museum, a 188-meter (618-foot) ore
Wing, a 48,865-square-meter (526,000- freighter; and the USS Cod, a World War
square-foot) building. II submarine.
The 29-branch Cuyahoga County University Circle is a 500-acre area

Public Library has the seventh-highest on Cleveland’s east side, six kilometers
circulation rate in the United States. (four miles) east of Public Square. A
The Cleveland Area Metropolitan Loop Bus provides transportation
Library System (CAMLS) is a between the points of interest in Uni-
consortium of 77 public, academic, versity Circle, including Case Western
hospital, corporate, and school Reserve University, Cleveland Chil-
libraries. dren’s Museum, Cleveland Health

Cleveland
Museum, Cleveland Institute of Art, million domestic visitors. Five-hun-

Cleveland Institute of Music, the Cleve- dred-thousand visitors toured the Rock
land Museum of Art, Severance Hall and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum,
(home of the Cleveland Orchestra), the one of the city’s largest national and
Cleveland Museum of Natural History, international draws since its opening in
the Dittrick Museum of Medical His- 1994. For conventions, the downtown
tory, the Temple Museum, Western offers the Cleveland Convention Cen-
Reserve Historical Society, and Craw- ter, the Clarion Hotel and Conference
ford Auto-Aviation Museum. Center, and the I-X Center.
The Cleveland Museum of Art
holds one of the world’s finest collec- 20 Holidays and
tions, consisting of more than 30,000 Festivals
works produced over 5,000 years of MARCH
world history. Founded in 1916, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
collection is housed in a beaux-arts Buzzard Day, Cleveland Metroparks Hinckley
building designed by the Cleveland Reservation, celebrating annual migration of the
architectural firm of Hubbell and Benes turkey vulture
and is situated on a 15-acre public park APRIL
designed by the renowned Olmsted Cleveland International Film Festival
Brothers firm. Highlights of the Tri-C Jazz Fest, Cuyahoga County Community
museum’s collection include Van College
Gogh’s Poplars at Saint-Remy, Picasso’s Revco-Cleveland Marathon and 10-K race
La Vie and Harlequin with Violin, APRIL-MAY
Michaelangelo’s The Crucifixion of St. I-X Indoor Amusement Park with ten-story ferris
Anthony and Degas’ The Dancers. The wheel
Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art JUNE
is housed in a former Sears & Roebuck Parade the Circle Celebration, University Circle,
store adjacent to the Cleveland Play first Saturday in June
House. Summer Art Walk, Little Italy
South of Cleveland in Canton, JULY

Cleveland Orchestra Concert on Public Square
Ohio, is the Pro Football Hall of Fame,
where memorabilia of professional foot- AUGUST
ball and its players is displayed. Feast of the Assumption, Little Italy
Between Cleveland and Akron, Hale Twins Day Festival, Twinsburg, southwest of
Cleveland
Farm and Village depicts nineteenth-
century rural life in Northeast Ohio. SEPTEMBER
National Air Show, Burke Lakefront Airport
19 To u r i s m OCTOBER
Sweetest Day (October 10) was first celebrated in
In 1995, Cleveland had 12,621 Cleveland
hotel rooms and attracted some seven Columbus Day Parade

Cleveland
NOVEMBER election to become the first black

Polka Festival Weekend (Thanksgiving Weekend) mayor of a major U.S. city.
and Polka Hall of Fame induction
Toni Morrison (b. 1931), born in Cleve-
21 Famous Citizens land-area community of Lorain,
winner of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize
Famous citizens born in the Cleveland for literature and the 1993 Nobel
area include: Prize for literature.
Charles Brush (1849–1929), inventor of Famous citizens who resided in Cleve-
the arc light. land include:
Hart Crane (1899–1932), modernist lyr- John D. Rockefeller (b. New York, 1839–
ical poet. 1937), founder of Standard Oil of
Jesse Owens (1913–80), Olympic ath- Ohio, richest man in the world and
lete, set a world record for the 100- philanthropist.
yard dash when he was a senior at George Szell (b. Hungary, 1897–1970),
East Tech High. internationally renowned conduc-
Adella Prentiss Hughes (1869–1950), tor and music director of the Cleve-
founder and first manager of the land Orchestra.
Cleveland Orchestra. Elliot Ness (1903–57), famed crime
Bob Hope (b. 1903), actor and vaudevil- fighter, stationed in Cleveland
lian. 1934–1942.
Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster, creators of 22 For Further Study

Superman, the comic book hero,
while students at Glenville High in Websites
1933. City of Cleveland Home Page. [Online] Available
http://www.cleveland.oh.us (accessed on
Dorothy Fuldheim (1893–1989), the January 15, 2000).
first woman television news an- Crain’s Cleveland Business. [Online] Available
www.crainscleveland.com (accessed on Jan-
chor, beginning in 1947. uary 15, 2000).
Homepage maintained by local newspaper and
Alan Freed (1922–65), radio disc jockey television station. [Online] Available
who coined the term “rock and www.cleveland.com (accessed on January
roll”. 15, 2000).
Paul Brown (1908–91), coach of Cleve- Government Offices

land Browns football team. City Hall
601 Lakeside Avenue
Carl B. Stokes (1927–96), grandson of a Cleveland, OH 44114
s l a v e w h o d e f e a t e d S e t h Taf t , (216) 664–2000
grandson of President William H. Community Relations Board
Taft, in the November 13, 1967, (216) 664–3290

Cleveland
Mayor’s Office Books

601 Lakeside Avenue Suite 202 African American Heritage Trail of Cleveland Tour
Cleveland, OH 44114 Guide. Cleveland: National Association of
(216) 664–2220 Black Journalists, Cleveland Chapter, 199?.
Cameron, Patience. Cleveland on Foot: A Guide to
Tourist and Convention Bureaus Walking and Hiking in Cleveland and Vicinity.
Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland: Gray & Co., 1995.
Cleveland Cleveland, A City Built on Strong Neighborhoods: A
50 Public Square, Suite 3100 Comprehensive Guide to the City’s Thirty-six
Cleveland, Ohio 44113 Neighborhoods. Cleveland: LIVE Pub., 1996.
(800) 321–1001 Cleveland Fact Book. Cleveland: Greater Cleve-
(216) 621–4110 land Growth Association, 1997.
A Galaxy of Cleveland’s Black Stars, 1796–1996: A
Greater Cleveland Growth Association
Bicentennial Activity Book for Children, Ages 7–
200 Tower City Center, 50 Public Square 12. Cleveland: New Day Press, 1996.
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Grabowski, John J. Sports in Cleveland: An Illus-
(216) 621–3300
trated History. Bloomington: Indiana Univer-
The New Cleveland Campaign sity Press, 1992.
1809 East Ninth Street, Suite 1020 Johnston, Christopher. ed. Best Things in Life:
Cleveland, Ohio 44113 236 Favorite Things about Cleveland (by Cleve-
landers). Cleveland: Gray & Co., 1994.
(216) 574–8940
Peacock, Nancy. Kidding Around Cleveland: A Fun-
filled, Fact-Packed Travel and Activity Book.
Publications Sante Fe, New Mexico: J. Muir Publications,
Call and Post (African American newspaper) 1997.
1949 East 105th St.
Springstubb, Tricia. Cleveland for Kids. Cleveland:
Cleveland, OH 44115 The Cleveland Arts Consortium, 1993.
Cleveland Magazine Van Tassel, David D., and John J. Grabowski, ed.
1422 Euclid Avenue, Suite 730 The Dictionary of Cleveland Biography. Bloom-
Cleveland, Ohio 44115 ington: Indiana University Press, 1996.
Van Tassel, David D., and John J. Grabowski, ed.
Crain’s Cleveland Business The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. 2nd ed.
700 West St. Clair Ave., Suite 310 Bloomington: Indiana University Press,
Cleveland, OH 44113–1230 1996.
Stoffel, Jennifer, and Stephen Phillips. Cleveland
Northern Ohio Live Discovery Guide: Greater Cleveland’s Best Fam-
11320 Juniper Road ily Recreation. Cleveland: Gray & Co., 1994.
Cleveland, Ohio 44106 Wickham, Gertrude Van Rensselaer. The Pioneer
Nueves Horizontes magazine Families of Cleveland 1796–1840. Salem, Mas-
sachusetts: Higginson Book Co., 1993.
(serving the Hispanic community)
2012 West 25th Street, Suite 717
Cleveland, Ohio 44113 Videorecordings
Cleveland Neighborhood Development Corpo-
The Plain Dealer ration. Cleveland Neighborhoods: Weaving the
1801 Superior Avenue Fabric of the City. Cleveland, OH: The Corpo-
Cleveland, Ohio 44114 ration, [199–?]. One 15-minute videocas-
(216) 999–5000 sette.

Dallas
Dallas, Texas, United States of America, North America
Founded: 1841
Location: North-central Texas; southern United States, North America
Slogan: “Dallas, the Texas Star”
Flag: White star with yellow emblem centered over stripes of red, white, and blue
(top to bottom).
Flower: Bluebonnet (Texas state flower)
Ethnic Composition: White 65%; Black 14%; Hispanic origin (of any race) 17%;
other, including Native Americans and Asian/Pacific Islanders, 21%.
Elevation: 150–250 m (500–800 ft) above sea level
Climate: Hot, humid summers and mild winters.
Annual Mean Temperature: January 1ºC (34ºF); July 37ºC (98ºF)
Average Annual Precipitation: Snowfall is rare; precipitation is 750 mm (29.5 in).
Government: Council-manager, with an 11-member council, 8 of whom are elected
from single-member districts; the remaining 2 and the mayor are chosen by
voters in a nonpartisan election.
Telephone Area Codes: 214 and 972
Postal Codes: 75201–75398
1 Introduction year later the Texas Pacific Railroad

arrived.
Dallas is located on the rolling prai-
The 1930 oil strike in east Texas
ries of northeast Texas, where the three caused a boom in the Dallas economy,
branches of the Trinity River merge. It is with the city becoming a financial and
the second-largest city in Texas and the freight center serving the oil wells. Dal-
eighth-largest city in the United States. las entered the twenty-first century a
center for banking, oil, cotton, and
Founded in 1841 by John Neely high technology, as well as a rapidly
Bryan, who chose the site along the expanding city, both in terms of popu-
river for his trading post, Dallas grew lation and economy.
slowly at first. However, significant
expansion occurred during the Civil 2 Getting There
War years (1861–65), when Dallas was
used as a supply depot for Confederate Highways
troops. In 1872 the Texas Central Rail- Several major highways lead into
road was routed through town, and a Dallas. Interstate-20 runs east to west. I-
177
Dallas
tion is located downtown at 205 S.

Dallas Lamar Street, and in addition to Grey-
Population Profile hound, several other smaller bus lines
run out of this location, including El
City Proper Conejo and Euro-Coach. Trains arrive at
Population: 1,068,880 Amtrak’s Union Station, 400 S. Houston
Ethnic composition: 65% white; 14% black; 17%
Street.
Hispanic descent, any race; remainder Native
American and Asian or Pacific Islander descent
Nicknames: Big D Airports
Metropolitan Area Dallas has two airports: Dallas-

Population: 3,912,000 Forth Worth International Airport
Description: Includes Dallas and suburbs (the area
known as DFW Metroplex also includes Forth (DFW) and the smaller Love Field,
Worth, Arlington, and suburbs) which offers commuter transit. DFW is
Area: 16,800 sq km (6,490 sq mi) located 29 kilometers (18 miles) north-
Percentage of national population2: 1.4% west of downtown. Transportation to
Average yearly growth rate: 1.6% and from the airport is available by bus,
——— airport shuttle, rental car, or taxi. Most
1. The Dallas metropolitan area’s rank among the major domestic airlines fly into Dallas,
including American, Continental,
the Dallas metropolitan area. Delta, and TWA. Regional airlines
include America West, Atlantic South-
east, Southwest, and Sun Country. Sev-
eral international airlines also service
Dallas, such as Aeromexico, British Air-
30 runs from the northeast into the ways, Japan Airlines, and Korean Air.
city. Running northeast to southwest is Flight times from major U.S. cities are
I-35, the major route from Dallas to as follows: New York, four hours; Chi-
Austin and San Antonio. I-45 runs from cago, two-and-a-half hours; Los Ange-
Dallas southeast to Houston. US 75 les, three hours.
(North Central Expressway) comes into
Dallas from the North. I-635 forms a 3 Getting Around
loop around Dallas and the neighbor-
ing cities of Arlington and Fort Worth. Major highways converge in the
Driving time to Houston is three hours center of the city, just east of the Trinity
and 40 minutes, while it takes four-and- River, forming a loose, lopsided rectan-
a-half hours to drive to San Antonio. gle. Due to rapid expansion in the latter
half of the twentieth century, roads
sprawl haphazardly in many directions,
Both buses and passenger trains making it difficult to tell Dallas proper
serve Dallas. The Greyhound bus sta- from surrounding suburbs and cities.

Dallas

Dallas

Dallas Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
The Dallas Akhbar El Yom/
Morning News Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
Streets do not form a traditional Walking

grid, making travel confusing. The
Because of urban and suburban
main roads downtown are Main Street, sprawl, Dallas is not a city well suited
Elm Street, and Commerce Street. for pedestrians. However, tourists can
and do take walking tours downtown
Buses and Commuter Rail Service and in the historic West End. In most
other areas, people either drive or take
Dallas Area Rapid Transit System public transportation.
(DART) offers bus and light rail trans-
portation to the city and 12 surround- 4 People
ing suburban communities. DART
Prior to the Civil War, Dallas’ peak
provides 130 bus routes, while the light population was only 430 people. How-
rail services major sites, with free park- ever, by 1990 it was the second-largest
ing at most rail terminals. A trolley line city in Texas and the eighth-largest city
circulates downtown. Fares for DART in the United States. Estimates for 1999
range from 50 cents to two dollars. put the population at 1,068,800, while

Dallas
the total population of the Dallas-Fort suburb of Highland Park, which is

Worth region is estimated at just under located just north of downtown. One of
five million. the most popular and upscale neighbor-
hoods in Dallas is the newly renovated
In 1997 whites were the ethnic warehouse district of Deep Ellum,
majority at 65 percent. Those of His- which was the center of the city’s Afri-
panic descent made up 17 percent of can American population for much of
the population, while African Ameri- the twentieth century. Only three
cans accounted for 14 percent. The blocks from downtown, this neighbor-
remaining population is made up of hood represents a shift in Dallas’ city
Native Americans and a growing num- expansion, with suburban growth slow-
ber of immigrants from Asia and ing and more people moving back into
Europe. the central city.
5 Neighborhoods Dallas, along with its surrounding

communities, is home to 45 colleges
A sprawling megalopolis, Dallas is and universities. Neighborhoods cater-
often lumped together with neighboring to students surround Southern
ing Fort Worth and Arlington, the Methodist University, located directly
entire area called the DFW Metroplex north of Highland Park, and the Uni-
by residents. These three separate cities versity of Texas at Dallas, at the north-
blend seamlessly together and, along ernmost edge of the city.
with several suburbs, form one large
metropolis.
6 History
Each neighborhood in Dallas has
its own flavor. The West End Historic In 1841 John Neely Bryan settled at
District is a preservation area, with a site where the Trinity River’s three
buildings from the early 1900s trans- branches merged. Bryan noticed that
formed into retail spaces. Another his- the river’s main branch was narrower at
toric area is the Swiss Avenue District, this point than at any other place for
where over 200 houses have been pre- miles, making it an ideal place for a
served, the houses representing Geor- trading post.
gian, Prairie, and Spanish architectural By 1842 a few more settlers arrived
styles. The Dallas downtown area com- and Bryan’s encampment was called
bines historic buildings with a modern Peter’s Colony. In 1845 the name was
skyline. The downtown skyline is a changed to honor U.S. Vice President
cluster of buildings designed by some of George Mifflin Dallas (1792–1864). Dal-
the twentieth century’s most promi- las was incorporated as a town in 1856
nent architects, such as I. M. Pei (b. and as a city in 1871.
1917) and Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–
1959). Architect William D. Cook came The settlement grew slowly until
up with the layout plans for the upscale the Civil War, when it served as a sup-

Dallas
Dallas’s central business district is the heart of the city. (Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ply depot for Confederate troops. In vicing the region’s oil magnates, and
1872 the Texas Central Railroad was many of Dallas’ citizens became rich off
lured to Dallas through bribes and land of petroleum-related enterprises. The
gifts. The following year, the Texas 1930s also made outlaw robbers Clyde
Pacific Railroad was routed into town, Barrow and Bonnie Parker an infamous
making Dallas the major distribution part of Dallas’ history. Both lived in the
center of the southwest. Cotton, wheat, city as children, and they were working
and wool all came into Dallas to be in Dallas in January of 1930 when they
exported by rail. Between 1872 and met. After several of their escapades,
1886 the population expanded from Bonnie and Clyde were nearly captured
6,000 to 36,000. in Dallas in 1933. They were ambushed
by Dallas police but escaped with only
Cotton growing in north Texas
minor injuries.
made Dallas one of the world’s largest
inland cotton markets, and by 1900
A fire and flooding both influenced
Dallas had become the regional finan-
cial center servicing Texas’ cotton farm- the city’s development. In 1860 a fire
ers. destroyed much of the downtown busi-
ness district. By 1908 frequent flooding
The next boom for Dallas came in of the Trinity River forced city leaders to
1930 with the east Texas oil strike. The consider redesigning the city. Planning
city’s financial institutions began ser- engineer George Kessler developed a

Dallas
city plan that included widening the John F. Kennedy Memorial, designed as
Trinity River, moving railroad tracks a place for remembrance and medita-
outside of the city, and widening city tion, is located at the corner of Main
streets. At the time, these plans were and Market Streets.
considered radical; however, Kessler’s
ideas were slowly carried out over many Dallas’ image was tarnished by the
years. Kennedy assassination, and the city
worked hard to rebuild its reputation.
Perhaps Dallas will always best be In 1973 the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport
known for one dark moment in Ameri- opened, and in 1984 Dallas hosted the
can history. On November 22, 1963, Republican National Convention. From
President John F. Kennedy (president 1980 to 1982 the television drama Dal-
1961–63; 1917–1963) was assassinated las was the top-rated series in the
as his motorcade passed by Dealy Plaza United States.
in downtown Dallas. Riding in an open In 1998 the city suffered through a
limousine, President Kennedy was shot severe drought and heat wave. Temper-
twice, once in the head and once in the atures of at least 56°C (100°F) held for
neck. He was pronounced dead upon 29 consecutive days, causing wide-
arriving at Parkland Memorial Hospital. spread crop damage and more than 100
Texas Governor Connally, riding with deaths.
Kennedy, was also shot, though not
fatally. After the shots, a reporter looked At the beginning of the twenty-first
up at surrounding buildings and saw a century, Dallas is still a center for tradi-
rifle being drawn back into a sixth-floor tional businesses, including the cotton
window of the Texas School Book and petroleum industries. It is also a
Depository. Lee Harvey Oswald was center for women’s fashions, and it is a
accused of the killing. Oswald himself regional hub for financial and insur-
was shot only two days later in the ance institutions. High-tech industry
basement of a Dallas police station by has been growing in Dallas and is pro-
Jack Ruby. A presidential commission jected to be a major growth industry in
headed by Earl Warren, U.S. Supreme coming years.
Court Chief Justice, ruled that Oswald
acted alone and was not part of a con- 7 Government
spiracy, as many believed. Skeptics dis-
pute the Warren Report, though In 1931 Dallas adopted a city coun-
conclusive evidence has yet to be cil-city manager style of government.
uncovered implicating anyone other The city is run by a city manager who is
than Oswald. The controversy and mys- appointed by an elected mayor and an
tique surrounding the Kennedy assassi- elected city council. The city manager is
nation draw many tourists to both not a politician and is charged with the
Dealy Plaza and the Texas School Book responsibility of handling administra-
Depository. Dedicated in June 1970, the tive matters for the city. The mayor is

Dallas
elected to a four-year term, while the petroleum companies. Dallas is home

ten city council members are elected for to more petroleum company headquar-
two-year terms. The mayor may serve ters than any other city. Dallas is a
two terms, and the council members major international cotton market, and
may serve four terms. the city has more than 250 insurance
company headquarters.
8 Public Safety About 20 percent of Dallas area
As of 1997, the city of Dallas had workers are employed in manufacturing
2,872 uniformed police officers working industries. Twenty percent work in the
out of six full-service police stations. service sector, while close to 30 percent
Fifty-five fire stations and 1,544 fire- work in retail.
fighters served the city as well.
After World War II (1939–45), Dal-
In 1998 the crime rate in Dallas las became one of the country’s largest
was significantly above the national manufacturers of aircraft and missile
average. The property crime rate was parts. In the 1950s, Texas Instruments,
5,470 per 100,000 people, and the vio- the company that created the inte-
lent crime rate was 717.6 per 100,000. grated circuit computer chip and the
According to a 1999 Money magazine hand-held calculator, pioneered Dallas’
survey of 300 major cities, Dallas high-tech movement, a trend that con-
ranked at numbers 222 and 221 respec- tinues into the twenty-first century.
tively in these two crime categories.
10 Environment
9 Economy Situated on the rolling prairies of
In 1999 the Dallas economy was northeast Texas, along the Trinity River,
especially strong, in keeping with a the altitude of Dallas ranges from 137
robust U.S. economy. The unemploy- to 229 meters (450 to 750 feet) above
ment rate was a low three percent, and sea level. Historically, the Dallas area
job growth from 1998 to 1999 stood at has been plagued by floods and drought
3.8 percent, well above the national due to its location in a region between
average. The Dallas economy is pro- lush and rainy Louisiana and the desert
jected to grow nearly 20 percent by the of west Texas; wet and dry years often
year 2010. alternate. Though droughts have hit
the city as recently as 1998, city officials
Dallas is a regional financial center, combated the flood problem early in
serving the American southwest. As the twentieth century by straightening
such, it is home to the Eleventh District and widening the channel of the Trin-
Federal Reserve Bank. Although the ity River.
Texas oil boom slowed in the latter half
of the twentieth century, The city con- The Trinity River, as many highly
tinues to serve as a corporate center for trafficked bodies of waters, was polluted

Dallas
for much of the twentieth century,

though clean-up efforts and a lessening
of water-borne shipping have improved
the river’s water quality. In 1998 the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
gave the Dallas watershed a high rating,
well above the national average; how-
ever, the air quality was not as good,
ranking below the national average.
In September 1995, the EPA made

Dallas a pilot city for its Brownfields
National Partnership grant program.
(Brownfields are abandoned and con-
taminated industrial sites.) The pro-
gram allotted nearly $53 million
towards the cleanup and redevelop-
ment of blighted areas in Dallas.
Dallas has a Sunbelt climate, with

hot summers and mild winters. Average
highs in July are close to 53°C (96°F),
while average lows in January only dip
to 19°C (34°F). It rarely snows in Dallas.
Annual average rainfall is 81 centime-
ters (32 inches). Dallas’ Sunbelt climate
offers an average of 237 sunny days per The Texas Rangers brings exciting Major League
year. Baseball to the ballpark in Arlington.
(Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau)
11 Shopping Marketplace, a collection of specialty

shops. To the north of the West End is
Dallas is said to have more per cap-
the Quadrangle, a cluster of upscale
ita retail space that any other city in
shops. Art galleries and antique shops
America, and its 630 shopping centers
are concentrated on Coit Road. The
lend credence to this claim. The city’s
Farmers Market is located at 1010 South
most popular store is the downtown
Neiman-Marcus on Main Street. The Pearl Street.
Dallas Galleria is a major shopping
mall, with more than 160 stores and an The city is probably best known for
ice skating rink. its cotton products, especially women’s
clothing. Cotton dresses can be pur-
In the West End, a cracker factory chased at bargain prices in area stores.
has been converted into the West End Dallas is becoming a high-tech center,

Dallas
and the Infomart complex has offices las County. These community colleges
and showrooms for many high-tech enroll nearly 100,000 students each
information companies. semester.
12 Education 13 Health Care

There are 40 public school districts There are 37 general hospitals in
in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and Dallas, the major hospitals being Baylor
more than 250 private and parochial University Medical Center, Methodist
schools in the area. The Dallas Indepen- Medical Center, and St. Paul Medical
dent School District is the tenth-largest Center.
school district in the United States,
with 220 schools and 157,000 students. Other health services include the
The Dallas Independent School District Dallas Homeless Outreach Medical Ser-
has ten magnet high schools, two sec- vices, which offers mobile medical care
ondary special education schools, and to the underprivileged and homeless,
five secondary alternative schools. and the Parkland Health and Hospital
System, which provides a network of
Until the 1880s Dallas schools were neighborhood-based health centers.
private. In 1877 Dallas voters turned LocalSource Dallas (www.local-
down a proposal to levy taxes to form a source.com) offers free referrals to area
public school system. It wasn’t until doctors.
1881 that the tax levy was passed, and
in 1884 the first Dallas public schools Dallas residents interested in alter-
opened. natives to Western medicine have
access to acupuncturists, holistic heal-
Dallas and its nearby communities ers, and message therapists.
are home to 45 colleges and universi-
ties, which attract more than 250,000 14 Media
students to the area each year. Public
universities in the Dallas area include The Dallas Morning News is the
the University of North Texas, the Uni- city’s daily general newspaper. The Dal-
versity of Texas at Dallas, and Texas las Observer and the Dallas Times are
Women’s University. Private colleges weekly papers covering news, features,
and universities include the Dallas Bap- and entertainment. The Daily Commer-
tist College, Southern Methodist Uni- cial Record covers legal and business
versity, Texas Christian University, and news, while the Dallas Business Journal
Texas Wesleyan University. provides business coverage.
Dallas has a large community col- Television stations include the fol-
lege enrollment. The Dallas County lowing: 4 (FOX), 5 (NBC), 8 (ABC), 11
Community College District consists of (CBS), 13 (PBS), 21 (UPN), 27 and 39
seven colleges located throughout Dal- (independent), and 68 (public access).

Dallas
Historic Fair Park is the home of the annual Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl Classic football game.
(Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau)
A variety of commercial radio sta- 1999 season. Also playing are the Mav-
tions serve the Dallas-Fort Worth ericks, a professional basketball team,
Metroplex, broadcasting everything and two pro soccer teams, the Burn, an
from rock to classical to sports to talk outdoor team, and the Sidekicks, an
shows. Dallas’ public radio station is indoor team. The Mesquite Champion-
KERA 90.1 FM. ship Rodeo has weekly competitions
from April through September. Dallas
15 Sports hosts college football’s Cotton Bowl on
New Year’s Day.
Dallas has six professional sports
teams, including baseball’s Texas Rang-
ers who play in Arlington. The city’s 16 Parks and
professional football team, the Cow- Recreation
boys, have won five Super Bowl titles.
Dallas’ professional hockey team, the Dallas has 336 parks, with parkland
Stars, won the Stanley Cup in the 1998– covering over 50,000 acres. Dallas resi-

Dallas
dents have access to 50 reservoirs and ficial music center. In the early 1900s,
lakes for fishing, swimming, sailing, Deep Ellum was the center of the city’s
and boating. White Rock Lake is Dallas’ African-American community, and in
version of New York’s Central Park. the 1920s and 1930s famous blues
White Rock, in the center of the city, is musicians often played in area clubs.
a favorite for jogging, biking, fishing, Leadbelly and Blind Lemon Jefferson
and sailing. Dallas has over 805 kilome- both performed in many of Deep
ters (500 miles) of bike trails in parks Ellum’s clubs. In the 1990s, Deep Ellum
and bike lanes along city streets. Many attracted bands that performed a vari-
city parks also have public golf courses. ety of musical styles, including rock,
Other participant sports offered in the jazz, alternative, Latin, and country.
city include horseback riding, ice-skat-
ing, swimming, sailing, and tennis. 18 Libraries and
Six Flags Over Texas is one of the Museums
country’s oldest and biggest amusement Dallas has 23 city libraries housing
parks. Located just west of Dallas in over seven million volumes of books.
Arlington, only a 20-minute drive from The main branch of the library is the J.
downtown Dallas, Six Flags has more Erik Jonsson Central Library at 1515
than 100 rides, shows, and attractions Young Street. A good place to learn
and is home to Mr. Freeze, the tallest about Dallas’ history is the G. B. Dealy
and fastest roller coaster in Texas (as of Library. Maintained by the Dallas His-
1999). torical Society, the G. B. Dealy Library
collects materials documenting Dallas’
17 Performing Arts past.
Dallas is home to several perform- The Dallas Museum of Art displays
ing arts organizations. Plays are staged works ranging from pre-Columbian to
at the Dallas Theater Center, housed in contemporary. The Dallas Aquarium
a building designed by Frank Lloyd houses nearly 400 species of aquatic
Wright. Two symphonies perform regu- animals. The Dallas Zoo keeps its ani-
larly, the Mesquite Symphony Orches- mals in areas meant to recreate natural
tra and the celebrated Dallas Symphony habitats.
Orchestra, which performs downtown
in Mortin H. Meyerson Hall. Dallas also The Sixth Floor Museum, the John
has a ballet, several summer musical F. Kennedy Memorial, and the Conspir-
festivals, an African-American dance acy Museum all explore the life of Presi-
theater, a Shakespeare festival, and sev- dent John F. Kennedy and his eventual
eral community theater groups. assassination in Dallas. The Sixth Floor
Museum is in the former Texas School
The Deep Ellum neighborhood, a Book Depository, the site from where
renovated warehouse district just east of Lee Harvey Oswald shot President
downtown, has long been Dallas’ unof- Kennedy.

Dallas
19 To u r i s m
Hot, muggy summers and cool,
rainy winters make spring and fall the
best times to visit the city. Dallas has
plenty of restaurants—four times more
restaurants per capita than New York
City. Local cuisines include southwest-
ern, Tex-Mex, and Texas-style steak-
houses. Dallas restaurants vary from
cheap hole-in-the-wall diners to four-
star restaurants, of which Dallas has six.
Popular dining locations are Restaurant
Row, Uptown, and the West End. Dallas
is also considered one of Texas’ pre-
miere night spots. Each night, up to
110 musical acts perform around the
city. Although the music ranges from
jazz and blues to rock and alternative,
tourists tend to favor the many country
and western bars around the city.
Many fine hotels service down-
town Dallas, but when staying down-
town, even the more run-of-the-mill
motels tend to charge high prices. For
more affordable lodging, it is necessary
to stay outside of the city limits.
Big Tex greets over 3 million visitors to the State
Fair of Texas each year.
20 Holidays and (Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Festivals
JANUARY OCTOBER
New Year’s Day Cotton Bowl Texas State Fair
Cityfest
MARCH
Dallas Blooms, held in the Dallas Arboretum and LATE OCTOBER—EARLY NOVEMBER
Autumn at the Arboretum
Botanical Garden
DECEMBER
MAY Cotton Bowl pre-game parade and celebration
Memorial Day weekend’s Artfest
JULY AND AUGUST 21 Famous Citizens
Shakespeare Festival in Samuel Grand Park
SEPTEMBER John H. Holliday (d. 1887), better
Dallas Airshow at Love Field known as “Doc” Holliday, gun-

Dallas
fighter and gambler, a once-practic- Dallas, TX 75201

ing dentist in Dallas. (214) 670–4607.
Dallas Mayor’s Office
Blind Lemon Jefferson (1897–1929), 1500 Marilla, Room 5EN
blues musician who earned his Dallas, TX 75201
fame playing in the Deep Ellum (214) 670–4054
neighborhood of Dallas, the best- Dallas Parks and Recreation
selling black blues singer in the 1500 Marilla, Room 6FN
United States for three years in the Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 670–4071
1920s.
Dallas Police Department
Clyde Barrow (1909–1934) and Bonnie 2014 Main Street
Parker (1911–1934), outlaws. Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 670–3698
Harry Hines, millionaire who made his
fortune in oil, served as Texas High- Tourist and Convention Bureaus
way Commission Chairman from Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau
1201 Elm Street, Suite 2000
1935 to 1941. Dallas, TX 75270
(214) 571–1000
Annette Strauss, Dallas’ first woman
mayor, elected in 1987. Dallas Visitor Information Center
100 Houston Street
Dallas, TX 75202
22 For Further Study (214) 571–1300
Websites Publications
Areaguide Dallas. [Online] Available http:// Daily Commercial Record
www.dallas.areaguides.net (accessed Janu- 706 Main Street
ary 15, 2000). Dallas, Texas 75202
City of Dallas official website.[Online] Available Phone: (214) 741–6366
http:// www.ci.dallas.tx.us/ (accessed Janu-
ary 15, 2000). Dallas Business Journal
Dallas Chamber of Commerce. [Online] Avail- 10670 North Central Expressway, Suite 710
able http://www.dallaschamber.org (accessed Dallas, TX 75231
January 15, 2000). Phone: (214) 696–5959
Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau. [Online]
Available http:// www.dallascvb.com Dallas Morning News
(accessed January 15, 2000). 508 Young Street
LocalSource Dallas. [Online] Available http:// Dallas, TX 75202
www.local-source.com (accessed January 15, Phone: (214) 977–8222
2000).
The Dallas Observer
Virtual Relocation: Dallas. [Online] Available
http://www.virtualrelocation.com/usa/ P.O. Box 190289
Texas/Cities/Dallas/ (accessed January 15, Dallas, TX 75219
2000). Phone: (214) 757–9000
Dallas Times
Government Offices 200 W Jefferson Blvd.
Dallas Fire Department Dallas, TX 75208
1500 Marilla, Room 7A South Phone: (214) 943–7445

Denver
Denver, Colorado, United States of America, North America

Location: North-central Colorado near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains
Motto: Nil sine numine (Nothing without providence; state motto)
Flower: Rocky Mountain columbine (state flower)
Time Zone: 5 AM Mountain Standard Time (EST) = noon Greenwich Mean Time
(GMT)
Ethnic Composition: White 83.6%, Black 12.8%, American Indian 1.2%, Asian/
Pacific Islander 2.4%
Elevation: 1,609 meters (5,280 feet) above sea level
Coastline: None
Climate: Mild, dry, arid climate; mild winters and comfortable summers with low
humidity
Annual Mean Temperature: 10ºC (50ºF); January –1ºC (30ºF); August 22ºC (72ºF)
(15.5 in).
Postal Codes: 80201–14, 80216–25, 80227, 80229, 80231, 80233–95
1 Introduction ational opportunities for residents and

visitors alike.
From a nineteenth-century gold
and silver boomtown frequented by 2 Getting There
gamblers and gunmen, Denver, the cap-
ital of Colorado, has evolved into a Located 1.6 kilometers (one mile)
major Western commercial and popula- above sea level, Denver is situated on
tion center, the largest city in a 965- the high rolling plains of north-central
kilometer (600-mile) radius. Today Den- Colorado, at the junction of the South
Platte River and Cherry Creek and near
ver is known as much for the cultural
the eastern foothills of the Rocky
sophistication, business savvy, and new
Mountains and the Continental Divide.
skyline of its flourishing downtown as Although generally regarded as a West-
for the majestic mountain backdrop ern city, it is only 557 kilometers (346
that borders the city and provides a pic- miles) west of the exact center of the
turesque view and abundant recre- continental United States and is more
191
Denver
centrally located than any other major

U.S. city except Kansas City, Missouri. Denver
Population Profile
Highways
City Proper
Population: 510,000
Denver is accessible by I-25 (State Area: 397 sq km (153.3 sq mi)
Route 87), running north-south, and I- Ethnic composition: 83.6% white; 12.8% black;
1.2% Native American; 2.4% Asian/Pacific
70, running east-west. Merging with I- Islander
25 north of the city is I-76, which runs Nicknames: The Mile High City, The Queen City of
northeast to southwest to the east of the Plains, The City of Silver and Gold
the city; I-225 connects I-25 and I-70. Metropolitan Area

Together with State Route 470, I-225 Population: 1,901,156
and I-70 form a loop around the city. Description: Area within city limits, plus the
suburbs of Arvada, Northglenn, Westminster,
Thornton, Aurora, Golden, Lakewood, Wheat
Ridge, Cherry Hills, Greenwood Villages,
Bus and Railroad Service Littleton, and Englewood
Area: 9,741 sq km (3,761 sq mi)
Amtrak trains stop at Denver’s World population rank1: 199
Union Station three times daily on its
major east-west route from Chicago to Ethnic composition: 90.1% white; 6.2% black;
Los Angeles. Greyhound provides all 2.9% Asian/Pacific Islander
long-distance bus service to Denver. ———
1. The Denver metropolitan area’s rank among the
The city is a major inter-city busline world’s urban areas.
hub, with more than 60 arrivals and 2. The percent of the total US population living in
departures daily. the Denver metropolitan area.
Airports
Denver International Airport, Shipping

which opened in 1995, covers 137
Thanks to its central location, Den-
square kilometers (53 square miles) and
ver is a major commercial hub for
has five full-service runways. The air-
port, which served over 37 million pas- ground transportation, serving four
sengers in 1999 and has a maximum major rail carriers and more than 160
capacity of 110 million passengers, is trucking companies, as well as air cargo
the second-largest hub nationwide for carriers. It is estimated that more than
United Airlines. With “peaks” designed 30 million people receive goods trans-
to represent the Rocky Mountains, the ported through Denver by air, rail, or
airport’s main terminal building has truck every year. With its designation as
become one of Denver’s most promi- a Free Trade Zone, the city is also a busy
nent architectural landmarks. import and export center.

Denver

Denver
3 Getting Around Tours. There is also a special tour avail-

able of the area’s brewpubs.
Downtown Denver is laid out in a
grid pattern and bordered on the south
by Colfax Avenue (the major east-west 4 People
thoroughfare) and on the east by Broad-
way, running north-south. The down- Denver is the nation’s twentieth
town area is easy to negotiate. It is most populous city. In 1990, the popu-
possible to walk from one end to the lation of Denver was 468,000, of which
other in about a half-hour, and the 12.8 percent was black, 1.2 percent
mountains on the western horizon American Indian, and 2.4 percent
make it easy to get one’s bearings at all Asian. Hispanics (both white and black)
times. In the part of the city outside the
accounted for 23 percent of the popula-
immediate downtown area (which has
tion. As part of a larger statewide popu-
its own grid pattern), avenues run from
east to west while streets run north- lation boom, the city’s population has
south. increased by 23 percent in the past
decade; the current population is esti-
Bus and Commuter Rail Service mated at 510,000.
Denver’s Regional Transportation The population of the Denver Pri-

District (RTD) runs bus routes that carry mary Metropolitan Statistical Area was
passengers to every part of the urban estimated at 1,901,156 in 1997. The
area between the hours of 5:30 AM and
region’s racial composition was listed
10:30 PM. The main bus station is
by the U.S. Census Bureau in 1996 as
located at Broadway and Colfax, next
door to the Civic Center. The RTD also 90.1 percent white; 6.2 percent black;
operates a light rail system along a lim- 2.9 percent Asian/Pacific Islander. The
ited route. The Cultural Connection percentage of residents of Hispanic ori-
Trolley (which is actually a bus) covers a gin (an ethnic rather than a racial desig-
downtown loop route that takes in nation) was 14.2 percent.
many of the city’s major cultural attrac-
tions. The median age of Denver’s resi-
dents is 32.9, slightly lower than the
Sightseeing U.S. median age of 33.2. However, the
age group that really stands out is the
Gray Line Tours operates out of the
baby boomer generation: Denver has a
city’s main bus terminal at 19th Street
and Arapahoe Street and offers sightsee- greater percentage of boomers among
ing tours of Denver and the surround- its population than any other major
ing area. Half- and full-day scenic and U.S. city—32.8 percent (compared with
historic tours are offered by Best Moun- 31.5 percent for its nearest competitor,
tain Tours and Discover Colorado Seattle).

Denver

Denver Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper The Denver Post La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
5 Neighborhoods ment complex whose attractions

include a Hard Rock Cafe and 15 movie
Downtown Denver is divided into houses.
four main districts. To the south lies the
Civic Center Park area. The park, which The historic center of the city is the
is the locale for Denver’s major annual LoDo (short for Lower Downtown) dis-
festivities, is surrounded by museums trict, a formerly run-down 26-block area
and government buildings, and the where Victorian and late nineteenth-
state capitol building is located on a
century buildings have been restored
nearby hilltop.
and converted into retail and dining
The heart of Denver’s business and establishments, galleries, and lofts. This
theater districts is the 16th Street Mall, revitalization was spurred by the 1995
a mile-long pedestrian-only thorough- completion of Coors Field, the new
fare located a block away from Civic home of the Colorado Rockies baseball
Center Park. A series of parks and shops team, which brought crowds into the
line the mall, including Denver Pavil- area and motivated entrepreneurs to
ions, a recently completed entertain- develop it. Today the district is home to

Denver
The majestic Rocky Mountains border Denver’s skyline. (Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau)
more than 40 art galleries, 80 sports The metropolitan area spreads out
bars, and numerous shops and restau- in all directions from downtown Den-
rants. ver. To the north are the residential sub-
urbs of Arvada, Northglenn,
To the northwest lies South Platte Westminster, and Thornton; Aurora is
Valley, located on land reclaimed from situated to the east; the western suburbs
a floodplain. It is home to an amuse- include Golden, Lakewood, and Wheat
ment park, a world-class aquarium, a Ridge; and the southern suburbs
include Cherry Hills, Greenwood Vil-
children’s museum, and the new Pepsi
lages, Littleton, and Englewood.
Center sports arena.
In addition to the existing down- 6 History

town districts, a new area called Com- Permanent settlement of Denver
mons Park is being planned northwest began in 1858 when gold was discov-
of Union Station, as well as further ered in small deposits along the South
development in the Golden Triangle Platte River, near its junction with
south of Civic Center Park. Cherry Creek. The area attracted pros-

Denver
pectors disappointed with the yields at Railroad had bypassed Colorado in the
Pike’s Peak, as well as gold-seekers nineteenth century, but Denver built a
newly arrived from the East. By 1867, rail line to meet the Union Pacific at
Denver (named for an early territorial Cheyenne, Wyoming.) With a direct
governor, James Denver) had been des- link to the West, Denver became a hub
ignated as a territorial capital. for the nation’s rail lines and growing
highway system. By World War II, the
The city’s early years were marked
establishment of government agencies
by misfortunes that included two major
including the U.S. Mint and the Bureau
fires, flooding, Indian attacks, and inva-
of Land Management helped spur a
sion by Confederate forces from Texas
new surge in population, which contin-
during the Civil War (1861–65). Denver
ued through the 1950s, as the city’s cli-
also acquired a rather unsavory reputa-
mate and recreational opportunities
tion as new gold discoveries drew a
sparked a building boom.
variety of colorful characters to the
growing boomtown. However, by 1880,
Movement to the suburbs resulted
as gold discoveries were waning, gold
in a drop in population in the 1960s,
was replaced by silver as the area’s pri-
and the energy crisis of the 1970s also
mary source of wealth, and Denver’s
slowed the city’s growth. However,
growth accelerated. The city rebounded
urban renewal and a new construction
from a depression caused by a drop in
boom, beginning in the late 1970s and
silver prices in 1893 to become a bus-
continuing through the 1980s and
tling cosmopolitan center by the late
1990s, have changed the face of the
nineteenth century, graced by parks,
city, giving it a modern, vibrant down-
statues, mansions, and such landmarks
town with 16 skyscrapers constructed
as the Tabor Opera House, built by sil-
during the last decade alone. Denver’s
ver baron Horace Tabor. Approximately
downtown is now the nation’s tenth
30,000 trees were planted along the
largest, and its population is double
city’s boulevards, and 20,000 acres of
what it was in 1960. Major improve-
land were acquired for its mountain
ments continued in the 1990s with the
park system. Denver’s rapid develop-
construction of Coors Field, one of the
ment and newfound sophistication led
country’s top baseball stadiums, and
to the nickname “Queen City of the
the large, modern Denver International
Plains.”
Airport, both of which opened in 1995.
In the early twentieth century, The city continues to grow and mod-
infrastructure improvements contin- ernize, with major development
ued, and in 1928, with the opening of planned for the Commons Park area
the Moffat Tunnel through the Rocky northwest of Union Station—including
Mountains, the railroad provided a a series of pedestrian bridges over the
direct connection to the West Coast, South Platte River—and further devel-
spurring additional growth. (The trans- opment in the Golden Triangle district
continental line of the Union Pacific south of Civic Center Park. A major

Denver
enlargement of the city’s convention The city has a well-educated work

center is planned as well. force and a low unemployment rate. Its
standard of living is above the national
average, and housing and health care
7 Government costs are high (although utility costs
Denver’s government administers and commercial lease rates are low
both the city and county of Denver compared to other parts of the coun-
under a strong mayor, elected to a four- try). The service sector employs the
year term, and a council whose 13 greatest number of people, followed by
members are also elected for four years. wholesale and retail trade, government,
manufacturing, transportation and
public utilities, and financial services.
8 Public Safety
Goods manufactured in the Denver
Denver is known for its clean, safe area include mining and farm machin-
downtown area. The Denver Police ery, fabricated metals, chemicals, scien-
Department, whose operations are orga- tific instruments, transportation
nized into six districts, is the largest in equipment, rubber goods, feed and
the state of Colorado. In 1995, Denver flour, luggage, and western clothing.
police received reports of 861 violent
crimes per 100,000 population, includ- 10 Environment
ing 16 murders, 63 rapes, and 279 rob-
beries. Property crimes reported In spite of its association with the
numbered 6,012 and included 1,465 Rocky Mountains, Denver is actually
burglaries and 1,036 motor vehicle built on a high plain and is one of the
thefts. flattest cities in the United States. The
two outstanding features of Denver’s
environment are its proximity to the
9 Economy mountains and its altitude. The most
prominent peak visible from the city is
After taking steps in the 1980s to Mount Evans, at 4,346 meters (14,260
reduce its dependence on the energy feet). On clear days, Pike’s Peak (97 kilo-
sector by diversification, Denver has meters/60 miles to the south) and
thrived in the 1990s as a center for Long’s Peak (80 kilometers/50 miles
commerce and finance, a transporta- northwest) can also be seen.
tion hub, and a manufacturing center.
It is home to major companies in fields Denver’s altitude, which averages
including telecommunications and air 1.6 kilometers (one mile) above sea
transport as well as numerous govern- level, ensures its residents a low level of
ment agencies and is also the major air pollution and skies that appear bluer
research center for alternative energy (also due to lower levels of water
sources between the east and west vapor). Water in Denver boils at 112°C
coasts. (202°F) rather than the standard 118°C

Denver
(212°F), making a challenge out of United States, and the chain of multi-
cooking, or even brewing a good cup of story Gart Brothers sporting goods
coffee. On the other hand, the altitude stores.
lends itself to beer brewing, for which
the city is famous. 12 Education
Denver also receives nearly 25 per- According to the U.S. Census
cent more ultraviolet radiation than cit- Bureau, the Denver metropolitan area
ies at sea level, making it important for ranks first in the United States in terms
its residents to receive adequate protec- of education, with the highest percent-
tion from the sun. age of both high school and college
graduates (92 percent and 35 percent
11 Shopping respectively, compared to national aver-
ages of 82 percent and 23 percent).
Downtown Denver’s premier shop-
ping venue is the 16th Street Mall, a The Denver County School District
lively and crowded mile-long pedes- operates 118 schools. In the fall of
trian thoroughfare that is home to a 1996, 66,331 students were enrolled in
wide variety of retail outlets. Most the system, which employed 3,198
recently, it was expanded to include classroom teachers and 7,117 staff per-
Denver Pavilions, a retail and entertain- sonnel.
ment complex that opened in the fall of
1998 and includes a Virgin Records The Denver metropolitan area is
Megastore, a Hard Rock Cafe, and a Bar- home to 14 four-year colleges, includ-
nes and Noble Superstore. The Tabor ing the University of Denver, the Uni-
Center, at one end of the mall, is the versity of Colorado at Denver, and
locale for upscale retailers such as Metropolitan State University. There are
Brooks Brothers. Other downtown also eight two-year and community col-
malls include Larimer Square, Writer leges and over 90 technical and voca-
Square, and Cherry Creek Mall, home tional schools in the area, as well as the
to exclusive stores including Saks Fifth nontraditional Denver Free University.
Avenue, Neiman-Marcus, and Aber-
crombie and Fitch. The recently opened 13 Health Care
Park Meadows shopping complex,
which includes Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Denver’s fresh mountain air has
and Foley’s, was designed to resemble a long given it a reputation as a healthy
ski lodge and boasts a huge fireplace at place to live or spend time. The tradi-
the center of its main court. tional association between mountains
and the treatment of lung disorders
Notable Denver retailers include provided the initial impetus for the
the three-story Tattered Cover Book- founding of the National Jewish Hospi-
store, which stakes a claim to be the tal, today an internationally acclaimed
largest independent bookstore in the center for research in and treatment of

Denver
respiratory diseases as well as allergic Westword is Denver’s lively and

and immunological problems. In the sometimes controversial news and arts
1990s Denver acquired a new claim to weekly. It is especially known for its
fame as a healthy place when a nation- comprehensive entertainment listings
wide survey found that its residents are, and its annual “Best of Denver” survey,
on average, the thinnest in the United published in June, which rates restau-
States, with fewer than 20 percent suf- rants and a wide variety of other busi-
fering from obesity, as compared with nesses and services. The Denver Business
the national average of 50 percent. This Journal is a business weekly, and numer-
finding has been attributed to the ous smaller neighborhood weeklies are
active lifestyle encouraged by the city’s published as well. Periodicals covering
weather and location. the Denver area include Colorado Coun-
try Life, Colorado Outdoors, Colorado
Considered the premier medical Legionnaire, Colorado Rancher, and
center of the Rocky Mountain region, Farmer.
Denver boasts over 20 major hospitals
known for their research and treatment The three major commercial net-
facilities, including Denver General works and public television have affili-
Hospital, University of Colorado Health ates in Denver, which has a total of
Sciences Center, AMC Cancer Research nine major television stations as well as
cable channels. Broadcasts by more
Center, Rose Medical Center, Colorado
than 45 AM and FM radio stations are
Psychiatric Hospital, and Fitzsimmons
received in the city and surrounding
Army Medical Center.
area.
14 Media 15 Sports
Denver has two major daily news- Thanks to its pro sports facilities
papers, both published in the morning. and opportunities for participant
Known for its in-depth reporting and sports, Denver was named “Best Sports
quality columns, The Denver Post is City” by The Sporting News in 1997.
widely regarded as Colorado’s top news- With major league teams in all profes-
paper, as well as one of the best in the sional sports, Denver has seen the
western part of the country. In the fall approval and/or completion of three
of 1998 it had a weekday circulation of new major sports venues in the 1990s.
341,554 and a Sunday circulation of Coors Field, the home of baseball’s
484,657. The Denver Rocky Mountain National League Colorado Rockies
News is older and more conservative (which began playing in Denver in
than the Post. Founded in 1859, it is 1993 in Mile High Stadium), opened in
Colorado’s oldest newspaper. Its fall 1995 and hosted the all-star game in
1998 circulation was 331,978 weekdays 1998. Acclaimed as one of the nation’s
and 432,931 on Sunday. top new ball fields, it has also been the

Denver
Coors Field, the new home of the Colorado Rockies baseball team, was completed in 1995.
(Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau)
centerpiece for the transformation of 16 Parks and

the LoDo (lower downtown) area. Recreation
The 20,000-seat Pepsi Center, Public land open to all types of rec-
which opened in the fall of 1999, is the reation accounts for roughly half the
new home of the Denver Nuggets of the state of Colorado, which is home to two
National Basketball Association and the national parks, 11 national forests, 30
National Hockey League’s Colorado state parks, and three national recre-
ation areas. Nearly 100 hiking, cycling,
Avalanche, which won the 1996 Stan-
horseback riding, and ski trails operated
ley Cup. A new $360 million football
by the Colorado State Trails Program
stadium to be built adjacent to the old pass through the Denver metropolitan
Mile High Stadium is slated for comple- area. The metro area also boasts over
tion in 2001 when it will become the 200 parks with facilities for activities
home of Denver’s 1998 and 1999 Super including picnicking, cycling, tennis,
Bowl champions, the Denver Broncos. and swimming. Popular and accessible

Denver
ing. The high-profile ski resorts of Vail,

Aspen, and Breckenridge are easily
accessible from the city, as well as
lesser-known facilities that also offer
world-class skiing, such as Arapahoe
Basin. Between December and April, the
Ski Train carries passengers from Union
Station to Winter Park Ski Resort via the
Moffat Tunnel through the mountains
for a weekend of skiing.
Bicycling is one of the most popu-
lar recreational activities in Denver,
which has more than 724 kilometers
(450 miles) of paved bicycle paths,
including two that wind through the
downtown area along the South Platte
River and Cherry Creek. Another major
outdoor activity is golfing, and there
are more than 70 golf courses in Den-
ver, as well as over 143 public tennis
courts. Punting (riding in a boat resem-
bling a gondola) is available on Cherry
Creek.
Not only does Denver’s prime location near the

Elitch Gardens and Amusement
Rockies provide unlimited recreational activity, but Park, which moved to a new site near
the city also boasts over 200 parks, including the Coors Field in 1995, offers 32 rides
popular Botanic Gardens. (including whitewater rafting), minia-
(Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ture golf, and other attractions. Lake-
side Amusement Park is located just
parks include City Park (also the loca- west of the city.
tion of the Denver Zoo and the Natural
History Museum), Denver Botanic Gar- 17 Performing Arts
dens, Bear Creek Lake State Park,
Cherry Creek Lake State Recreation With a total seating capacity of
Area, and Chatfield Lake State Recre- 10,800, the Denver Performing Arts
ation Area. Complex, home to the Denver Sym-
phony Orchestra, the Colorado Ballet,
Denver’s location near the Rocky and the Denver Theater Company, is
Mountains makes skiing a prime recre- the nation’s second-largest performing
ational activity; numerous slopes can be arts complex, surpassed only by Lincoln
reached in less than two hours of driv- Center in New York City. The center’s

Denver
facilities, which occupy four city blocks, ment volumes and over five million
include the Auditorium Theatre, Boet- items altogether, the library serves a
tcher Concert Hall (the nation’s first population of over half a million and
symphony-hall-in-the-round), and the employs a staff of 453. Its special collec-
Temple Buell Theater (a 2,800-seat tions cover subject areas including
venue for Broadway theater produc- Western history, fine printing, moun-
tions), as well as the world’s first labora- taineering, aeronautics, Napoleon, and
tory for the study of the human voice. folk music. The main library is housed
in a new $64 million building com-
The Denver Center Theater Com- pleted in 1995. Its interior includes a
pany, which is the leading repertory three-story atrium, and the Western
theater in the West, won the 1998 Tony History Room has a rotunda that mea-
award for best regional theater. The sures 24 meters (80 feet) in diameter
troupe produces 12 plays every season, and affords an outstanding view of the
on four different stages. Rocky Mountains.
The Changing Scene Theater sup-
ports up-and-coming talent by produc- Denver is home to a variety of
ing only world premieres. Since 1968, museums, with collections in areas
some 300 productions have been staged ranging from art to history to horticul-
at the 76-seat facility, and some have ture. The Denver Art Museum houses
gone on to successful runs in New York, the world’s premier collection of Ameri-
Los Angeles, and other cities. The the- can Indian art, including artworks from
ater has won grant support from such all tribes. The facility, which celebrated
sources as the National Endowment for its one-hundredth anniversary in 1993,
the Arts and the Rockefeller Founda- is the largest art museum between Kan-
tion. sas City and the West Coast. Many of its
holdings are exhibited in a way that
Besides the Performing Arts Com- highlights connections between differ-
plex, Denver has some 30 other the- ent cultures and societies. The Black
aters, as well as over 100 movie houses. American West Museum and Heritage
The Lower Downtown area (LoDo) has Center explores the role African Ameri-
become a thriving center for popular cans played in settling the West. Other
entertainment, including jazz, comedy, museums with Western themes are Buf-
and dance. falo Bill’s Grave and Museum, the Colo-
rado History Museum, and the Museum
18 Libraries and of Western Art, which features works by
Museums artists including Georgia O’Keefe
(1887–1986) and Frederic Reming-
The Denver Public Library operates ton(1861–1909). The Molly Brown
a central library downtown and 22 House and Museum celebrates the life
neighborhood branches. With a total of of this early feminist and heroine of the
1,882,487 book and government docu- Titanic disaster. The museum is housed

Denver
in a restored Victorian mansion that ballroom. Altogether, Denver has

Brown purchased with her husband in 29,000 hotel rooms.
1894.
In late 1999 Denver voters
The Denver Museum of Natural approved a construction project that
History is the nation’s fourth-largest will double the size of the Colorado
natural history museum and displays Convention Center by 2003, adding
80 dioramas portraying animals from new exhibit and meeting space, a new
all over the world. It also has a notable ballroom, a new 5,000-seat auditorium,
dinosaur collection, a planetarium, and and a parking garage. The expansion
an IMAX theater. The Children’s will make the convention center the
Museum of Denver is an interactive sixth largest west of the Mississippi and
museum that offers a wide array of the fifteenth largest in the country.
activities, including a computer lab and
Plans were also announced for
a grocery store. Denver’s other muse-
major hotel expansion, with a 1,100-
ums include the Museo de las Americas
room Marriott hotel to be built across
(which focuses on Latin American his-
the street from the convention center
tory and culture), the Forney Transpor-
and a new 659-room Hilton hotel to go
tation Museum, and the Mizel Museum
up at the site of the Denver Executive
of Judaica.
Tower Hotel.
More than ten billion coins are
struck at the U.S. Mint every year, and 20 Holidays and
the basement has the second-largest Festivals
storehouse of gold bullion in the nation
after Fort Knox. The U.S. Mint has sev- JANUARY
Denver Boat Show
eral public displays, including a real National Western Stock Show & Rodeo
gold bar, and offers 30-minute tours Blossoms of Lights
that describe the coin-production pro- Winterfest Weekends
cess. FEBRUARY
Denver Auto Show
19 To u r i s m FEBRUARY-MARCH
Buffalo Bill’s Birthday Celebration
After an economic slowdown in
the late 1980s, Denver had its highest MARCH
Denver March Pow Wow
hotel occupancy rate in eight years in St. Patrick’s Day Parade
1997. The city has 5,200 hotel rooms
APRIL
within walking distance of the $125 Rocky Mountain Children’s Book Festival
million Colorado Convention Center.
Opened in June 1990, the convention JUNE
Bethesda Dutch Festival
center has 9,300 square meters (100,000 Capitol Hill People’s Fair
square feet) of meeting space and a Cherry Blossom Festival
3,255 square-meter (35,000 square-foot) Greek Festival

Denver
International Buskerfest Bandleader Paul Whiteman (1890–

Juneteenth Festival 1967).
JUNE-AUGUST
Renaissance Festival Former U.S. Senator Alan K. Simpson
Summer Nights (b. 1931).
JULY Actors Ward Bond (1903–1960), Dou-
Cherry Creek Arts Festival glas Fairbanks, Sr. (1883–1939), and
Colorado Indian Market & Western Art Roundup
Pat Hingle (b. 1923).
Independence Day Celebration
Winter Park Jazz Festival Actress Barbara Rush (b. 1927).
JULY-AUGUST
Theater in the Park Comedian and actor Tim Allen (b.
1953).
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER
Colorado State Fair
SEPTEMBER
Festival of Mountain & Plain: A Taste of Colo-
rado
OCTOBER Websites
Boo at the Zoo
Denver City Net. [Online] Available http://
Colorado Performing Arts Festival city.net/countries/united_states/colorado/
Denver International Film Festival denver (accessed November 29, 1999).
Great American Beer Festival Denver City Pages. [Online] Available http://
Oktoberfest denver.thelinks.com/ (accessed November
Spirits of the Past 29, 1999).
Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau
NOVEMBER site. [Online] Available http://
Rocky Mountain Book Festival www.denver.rog/media/releases (accessed
November 29, 1999).
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER Denver Online. [Online] Available http://
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
www.denveronline.com (accessed Novem-
World’s Largest Christmas Lighting Display ber 29, 1999).
Winterfest Weekends
DECEMBER
First Night Colorado Government Offices
Parade of Lights Denver City Hall
Wild Lights 1437 Bannock St.
Blossoms of Lights Denver, CO 80202
(303) 640–5555
21 Famous Citizens Denver County

1437Bannock St.
Famous natives and residents of Denver Denver, CO 80202
include: (303) 640–2628
Mayor’s Office
Feminist and Titanic heroine (“the un- 1437 Bannock St., Rm. 350
sinkable”) Molly Brown (1867– Denver, CO 80202
1932). (303) 640–2721

Denver
Tourist and Convention Bureaus Caruso, Laura, and Robert Ebisch. 1st ed. The
Colorado Convention Center Insiders' Guide to Denver. Boulder: Boulder
700 14th St. Publishing Co. ,1997.
Denver, CO 80202 Denver: A Picture Book to Remember Her By. New
(303) 640–8799 York: Crescent Books, 1987.
Green, Stewart M. Walking Denver. Helena, MT:
Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau Falcon Pub., 1998.
1555 California St., Suite 300
Halls, Kelly Milner. Kids Go! Denver: A Fun-
Denver, CO 80202
Packed, Fact-Filled, Travel and Activity Book.
(303) 892–1112
Santa Fe, NM: John Muir Publications, 1996.
Hornby, William H. Voice of Empire : A Centennial
Publications Sketch of The Denver Post. Denver: Colorado
Denver Business Journal Historical Society, 1992.
1700 Broadway Iversen, Kristen. Molly Brown: Unraveling the
Denver, CO 80290 Myth. Foreword by Muffet Brown. Boulder:
Denver Post Johnson Books, 1999.
1560 Broadway Leonard, Stephen, and Thomas J. Noel. Denver:
Denver, CO 80202 Mining Camp to Metropolis. 1st ed. Niwot,
CO: University Press of Colorado, 1990.
Rocky Mountain News Ludmer, Larry. Colorado Guide. New York: Open
400 W. Colfax Ave. Road Publishing, 1998.
Denver, CO 80204 Mar, M. Elaine. Paper Daughter: A Memoir. 1st ed.
New York: HarperCollins, 1999.
Books Noel, Thomas J. Denver Landmarks and Historic
Alley, Jean, and Hartley Alley. Colorado Cycling District: A Pictorial Guide. Niwot, CO: Univer-
Guide. Boulder: Pruett Publishing, 1990. sity Press of Colorado, 1996.

Glossary
ABOLITIONIST: Person or organization that opposes tributed and prices on goods and services are usu-
slavery. When slavery was legal, abolitionists ally set by the state. Also, communism refers
fought to have laws created to make keeping slaves directly to the official doctrine of the former
illegal. U.S.S.R.
ADMINISTRATION: Government officials and the COSMOPOLITAN: Containing elements of all or
policies by which they govern. many parts of the world.
AIR POLLUTION: Harmful chemicals discharged into COUT D’ÉTAT OR COUP: A sudden, violent over-
the air, making it unclean and sometimes unsafe. throw of a government or its leader.
ALLIES: Groups or persons who are united in a com- CULTURE: The ideas and typical habits of a group of
mon purpose. Typically used to describe nations people.
that have joined together to fight a common enemy DAILY CIRCULATION: Number of newspapers or
in war. other publications that are distributed each day.
In World War I, the term Allies described the DIALECT: One of a number of regional or related
nations that fought against Germany and its allies. modes of speech regarded as descending from a
In World War II, Allies described the United King- common origin.
dom, United States, the USSR and their allies, who DIVERSITY: Variety; a mixture of different or dissimi-
fought against the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy, lar elements, items, or people.
and Japan. ENDEMIC: Anything that is peculiar to and character-
AMALGAM: A mixture of different things. istic of a locality or region.
ANCHORAGE: Settling or staying in place by means ENTREPRENEUR: Someone who starts and operates a
of holding on to something. small business.
ANNEXATION: The act of adding on a smaller thing ETHNIC: Referring to a group of people with the same
to a larger thing. cultural heritage.
ANNUAL MEAN TEMPERATURE: The temperature FEDERAL: Pertaining to a union of states whose gov-
that falls at the middle of the range of high and low ernments are subordinate to a central government.
temperatures for the entire year. FEZ: A cone-shaped felt hat with no brim and a flat
ANTI-SEMITISM: Fear or hatred of Jews. top, from which a long tassel hangs; the national
APARTHEID: The past governmental policy in the headdress for men in Turkey.
Republic of South Africa of separating the races in FUNICULAR: Hanging from or worked by pulling up
society. and lowering of ropes or cables.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS: Relics and artifacts GLOBAL ECONOMY: Relating to the economic situ-
ation (management of wealth and resources) of the
left by past cultures.
whole world as a single community.
BOROUGH: District or large section of a city, espe- GOLD RUSH: Describes people traveling in a hurry to
cially New York, New York. a place where gold was discovered.
BUDDHISM: A religious system common in India and GREENWICH MEAN TIME (GMT): Mean solar time
eastern Asia. Founded by and based upon the of the meridian at Greenwich, England, used as the
teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, Buddhism basis for standard time throughout most of the
asserts that suffering is an inescapable part of life. world. The world is divided into 24 time zones,
Deliverance can only be achieved through the prac- and all are related to the prime, or Greenwich
tice of charity, temperance, justice, honesty, and mean, zone.
truth. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP): A measure
CABARET: A restaurant or nightclub with short musi- of the market value of all goods and services pro-
cal performances with singing and dancing as duced within the boundaries of a nation, regardless
entertainment. of asset ownership. Unlike gross national product,
CADENCE: Any rhythmic flow of sound or measured GDP excludes receipts from that nation’s business
movement to a rhythm or beat. operations in foreign countries.
CANTON: A territory or small division or state within GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT (GNP): A measure
a country. of the market value of goods and services produced
COMMUNISM: A form of government whose system by the labor and property of a nation. Includes
requires common ownership of property for the receipts from that nation’s business operation in
use of all citizens. All profits are to be equally dis- foreign countries
207
GLOSSARY
HERESY: An opinion believed to contradict a basic NATIONALIST: Person or government policy that
law of a religion. puts the needs and interests of the country first
INDIGENOUS: People, plants, and animals that lived over the needs and interests of the other countries
or international groups.
in a place from ancient times. Also called native
people, plants, and animals. PER CAPITA: Literally, per person; for each person
counted.
INHABITED: Lived in.
PHILANTHROPIST: Person who gives large sums of
INQUISITION: A general tribunal, or court, estab-
his or her own money to benefit community orga-
lished in the thirteenth century for the discovery
nizations or institutions.
and suppression of heresy and the punishment of
those who were guilty of heresy (called heretics). POLYNESIAN: The native or original inhabitants of
islands in the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii,
ISLAM: The religious system of Mohammed, practiced
Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, and New Zealand.
by Muslims and based on a belief in Allah as the
supreme being and Muhammad as his prophet. PRE-COLUMBIAN: Refers to the time in the history
The spelling variations, Moslim and Mohammed, of North and South America before the arrival of
are also used. Islam also refers to those nations in Europeans (before 1492). Named for the first
which it is the primary religion. European to reach the Western hemisphere, Chris-
LABYRINTHINE: Curving in an intricate or confusing topher Columbus.
pattern; curvy, like a snake. PROGRESSIVE: Person or government that is open to
MAGNATE: Important person, or person with special new ideas and willing to move forward or change
influence. habits or practices.
MELANESIAN: The native or original inhabitants of PROTESTANT: A member or an adherent of one of
islands in the Pacific Ocean south of the equator, those Christian bodies which descended from the
including the Fiji Islands. Reformation of the sixteenth century. Originally
applied to those who opposed or protested the
METRO: Short form of metropolitan, usually used Roman Catholic Church.
with a city name. For example, metro Detroit
describes the city of Detroit and its surrounding ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH: The designation of
area. the church of which the pope or Bishop of Rome is
the head, and that holds him as the successor of St.
METROPOLIS: Large city or center of population. Peter and heir of his spiritual authority, privileges,
METROPOLITAN: Term used to describe a city and and gifts.
its area of influence. For example, “metropolitan RURAL: Describes landscape of the countryside, with
Detroit” refers to the city of Detroit and its sur- large areas of open space and few roads and build-
rounding area. ings covering the land.
METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (MSA): SOUTHEAST ASIA: The region in Asia that consists
Official term used by government agencies to
of the Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
define the city and its surrounding communities.
Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The MSA describes the area included when gather-
ing and reporting statistics. SUBURB: Community on the edge of a large city
where people live. People who live in a suburb usu-
MILITARY COUP: A sudden, violent overthrow of a
ally travel to the city to work.
government by military forces.
MILLENNIUM: 1,000 years. Also used to refer to the SULTAN: A king of a Muslim (Islamic) state.
one-thousandth anniversary of an event. TREATY: A negotiated agreement between two gov-
MISSIONARIES: People who travel to, and often live ernments.
in, another area for the purpose of teaching the URBAN: City landscape, with streets and buildings
inhabitants there their religious beliefs. covering most of the area.
MOBILITY: The freedom and ability to move from VISIONARY: Person who can imagine positive
one area or region to another. changes and can explain the possible results to oth-
MOSQUE: An Islam place of worship and the organi- ers.
zation with which it is connected. XENOPHOBIA: Fear or intense dislike of people from
MUSLIM: Name used to describe people who observe other places.
the religious rules of Islam. ZENITH: The high point.

Junior
Worldmark
Encyclopedia of
World Cities
Junior
Worldmark
Encyclopedia of
World Cities
VOLUME 2
Detroit, Michigan
to Madrid, Spain
Edited by
Jill Copolla and
Susan Bevan Gall
U•X•L Staff
orously defended.
Copyright © 2000
U•X•L

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contributors

CONTENTS
R E A D E R ’S G U I D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
DETROIT, MICHIGAN ............................................................... 1
H O N G K O N G , C H I N A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
H O N O L U L U , H A W A I I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
H O U S T O N , TE X A S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
I N D I A N A P O L I S , I N D I A N A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
I S T A N B U L , TU R K E Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
J E R U S A L E M , I S R A E L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
J O H A N N E S B U R G , S O U T H A F R I C A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
L A G O S , N I G E R I A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
L I M A , P E R U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
L O N D O N , E N G L A N D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
L O S A N G E L E S , C A L I F O R N I A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
M A D R I D , S P A I N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
G L O S S A R Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
vii

Africa
Mexico
Cairo, Egypt .............................[1]115
Rome, Italy ..................................[4]63
South America
North America
Canada Lima, Peru ................................[2]155
viii
Washington.
ix
READER’S GUIDE
ways. entries.

READER’S GUIDE

are also described.
summarized.

READER’S GUIDE



Detroit
Detroit, Michigan, United States of America, North America
Founded: 1701; Incorporated: 1802 (Village), 1815 (City)

Location: Southeastern border of Michigan, where the Detroit River separates the
United States and Canada. Because of a bend in the river, Detroit is directly
north of Windsor, Ontario.
Motto: “Resurget Cineribus” (It shall rise again from the ashes) and “Speramus
Meliora” (We hope for better things)
Flower: Apple Blossom (Pyrus coronaria)
Ethnic Composition: White 21.6%, Black 75.7%, American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut
0.4%, Asian and Pacific Islander 0.8%, Other 1.5% (1990 Census)
Elevation: 585 feet above sea level
Coastline: Michigan has 3,288 miles of shoreline.
Climate: Winters are cold; summers are hot and humid.
Annual Mean Temperature: 48.6°F; January, 28.1°F; July 72.3°F
Annual Precipitation: 30.97 in (787 mm)
Monetary Unit: Standard U.S.
Telephone Area Codes: 313, 810, 248, 734
Postal Codes: 48201–48240, 48242–48244
1 Introduction de la Mothe Cadillac, was for this fort

on the strait to grow into a thriving
The metropolitan city of Detroit is trade center. What he could not have
a combination of old and new and known is that not only would the trad-
often is associated with adjectives like ing post succeed, but the settlement
dynamic, bustling, and progressive. A would eventually become the anchor of
history peppered with ethnic richness a tri-county area with more than four
grants Detroit an edge. It is a strong million culturally diverse people.
city, thriving with people, and a genu-
ine delight for the senses. Art makes a 2 Getting There
statement—whether it is music from an
area pub, aromas from street vendors, Located in Southeastern Michigan,
or vivid murals and architecture. Detroit is the largest city in the state. It
is a well-designed city. Transportation
Economically, Detroit has come a flows smoothly, like the spokes of the
long way from the fur trapping days of wheel it represents. The street signs are
French soldiers, traders, and missionar- generally visible; entrance and exit
ies. The vision of its founder, Antoine ramps are clearly identified, and moni-
1
Detroit
Airports
Detroit
Population Profile Detroit is also home to two major
airports: Wayne County Metropolitan
City Proper Airport and City Airport. Wayne
Population: 1,514,000 County Airport is a regional center for
Area: 360.6 sq km (138.7 sq mi) Northwest Airlines and is the world’s
Ethnic composition: 21.6% white;75.7% black; 14th busiest airport. Located 29 kilome-
0.4% American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut; 0.8%,
Asian and Pacific Islander; 1.5% other ters (18 miles) southwest of downtown,
Nicknames: Arsenal of Democracy, The Motor City, it is a major international business and
Motown
leisure travel hub with 1,200 scheduled
Metropolitan Area departures and landings per day. Geo-
Population: 3,785,000 graphically, Detroit is about a 90-
Description: City and suburbs in three-county area minute or less flight to over 60 percent
World population rank1: 66 of the United States. A $1.6 billion
Average yearly growth rate: 0.3% expansion project that began in 1996
includes new construction and
———
1. The Detroit metropolitan area’s rank among the improvements to the three existing ter-
world’s urban areas. minals. The scheduled project comple-
2. The percent of the total US population living in tion year is 2001. All major domestic
the Detroit metropolitan area.
airline carriers and three international
carriers offer service from this locale.
Detroit City Airport is located

tored parking is available. None of this about 16 kilometers (ten miles) from
should be a surprise in the automobile downtown and offers both private and
capital of the world. commercial passenger service.
Highways 3 Getting Around

The early 1900s found the first mile
Served by several interstate high-
of concrete pavement in the United
ways and a number of additional lim- States on Woodward Avenue, and the
ited-access expressways, Detroit’s tide of transportation has moved for-
freeway system, designed in the 1950s, ward ever since.
is one of the most efficient in the coun-
try. Networks of six-lane freeways The main arteries that frame and
connect the city include the famous
weave across city boundaries. Drivers
avenues of Woodward, Jefferson, Michi-
can access the city from either north or gan, Grand River, and Gratiot. One of
south on Interstate-75 or US-10; east the better-known boulevards is named
and westbound expressways include after Rosa Parks, a civil rights activist
Interstates 696, 96, and 94. who settled in Detroit. With industrial-

Detroit

Detroit
ization exploding, the late 1920s found ous routes between Detroit and its sur-
tunnel and bridge access, commencing rounding suburbs to accommodate the
with the opening of the Detroit-Wind- lifestyles of its passengers. Whether
sor Tunnel and the Ambassador Bridge. heading to the office, shopping malls,
Easy mobility has always been a priority or major attractions, SMART transports
for the city’s visionaries. Public transfor $1.50 fare. Customer Service is open
portation by taxi, bus, train, and trolley from 6:30 AM until 6 PM.
is readily available.
Sightseeing
A vacation means sights, sounds,
The Detroit Department of Trans-
and flavors. Visitors can have it all by
portation (DDOT) has distinctive green
sightseeing on foot. Enjoy a coney dog,
and yellow bus stations and runs a
a walk through Hart Plaza, and a visit to
prompt schedule on a fixed route. Most
“The Fist,” Robert Graham’s 7-meter
routes operate during the day and eve-
(24-foot) sculpture commemorating
nings until 1 AM. The fare is $1.25;
Detroit boxer Joe Louis at Woodward
transfers are 25 cents. Tickets can be
and Jefferson Avenue. Take a city bus
purchased at Comerica Bank branches.
down Woodward to the Campus Mar-
The Downtown Detroit Trolley tius area and view the figure of “Eman-
operates authentic trolley cars, manu- cipation," modeled after Sojourner
factured from 1895 through the 1920s, Truth, the nineteenth-century aboli-
along Jefferson Avenue and Washing- tionist and feminist who is rumored to
ton Boulevard, between the Renais- have lived in the area at the time. The
sance Center and Grand Circus Park. outdoor plazas and sidewalks invite
Correct change is required for the 50- bicycles and roller blades, and summer
cent fare. months find the streets filled with peo-
ple and activity.
The People Mover is transportation
by monorail on an elevated track that
encompasses a three-mile radius. 4 People
Another economic 50-cent fare allows a
Detroit is defined by its people. A
bird’s-eye view of the city. Normal busi-
culturally diverse population, the city’s
ness hours are Monday through Thurs-
character has been defined and rede-
day, 7 AM–11 PM, Friday and Saturday
fined by wave after wave of immigrants
until midnight, and Sunday until 8 PM.
from all over the world, many of whom
Token machines are at every station,
arrived with hope for a new and better
but hours of operation may change.
life. The reality, however, is that some
The buses for Suburban Mobility ethnic minority groups and illegal
Authority for Regional Transportation immigrants are among the city’s less
(SMART), located at 660 Woodward privileged people, living in deprived
Avenue, run a flexible agenda and vari- inner-city neighborhoods.

Detroit

Detroit Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
The Detroit Free Akhbar El Yom/
Press Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
The latest figures indicate Detroit’s aided Detroit on the road to racial
current population is approximately peace. Shrewd political moves brought
one million. Included in that figure is a an acknowledged and successful admin-
spectrum of personalities. In 1834, the istration to its peak. In response, federal
first Roman Catholic Bishop of the assistance, in the amount of $360 mil-
Detroit Diocese arrived, Bishop Freder- lion, began pouring into the city. Civil
ick Rese. A century later, the city’s first
rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King,
policewoman was appointed; Gar Wood
Jr., debuted his “I Have a Dream" speech
won the international prize for unlim-
ited powerboat racing; and in 1937, Joe on the streets of Detroit in 1963.
Louis emerged as the heavyweight box-
ing champion of the world. The early Currently, the professionals who
1960s found newly elected Mayor Jer- reside or work in Detroit demonstrate
ome P. Cavanaugh changing Detroit’s community ideals. At a grass roots level,
image. A favorite of the national press many citizens are involved in civic
and Democratic administration in affairs, local sports, or social activities.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Cavanaugh With culture, education, and growing

Detroit
Detroit lies directly north of Windsor, Ontario, separated by the Detroit River. (Dale Fisher; Metropolitan Detroit
Convention & Visitors Bureau)
prosperity, employment is at an all time progress. Today, median housing value

high. is $69,260, and owner-occupied (single
family) housing is approximately 70
5 Neighborhoods percent, one of the highest in the coun-
try. Still prospering, the locals and
Detroit neighborhoods are evolv- immigrants who continue to migrate
ing. Mayor Albert Cobo began a slum into the Detroit area keep the economic
clearance in the 1950s that led to pri- structure developing.
vate development of cleared lands. His
administration had direct bearing upon Greektown is admirably well
future urban development. The 1960s known, and metro Detroit has a signifi-
endured public housing changes and a cant Polish influence. The enclave city
shocking crime wave that proved pain- of Hamtramck is known for authentic
ful, indeed. But, Mayor Jerome P. cuisine, as well as a visit from Pope
Cavanaugh brought economic growth John Paul II in 1987.
and prosperity to a formerly distressed
city. In the 1970s Coleman Young pro- To the west, Dearborn is home to
moted the city as a model of social the largest Arabic community in the

Detroit
world outside the Middle East. On the the American Flag was raised over Fort
east side, small Italian neighborhood Pontchartrain.
markets have evolved into major build-
A devastating fire swept Detroit in
ing and manufacturing companies.
1805 that destroyed each one of its 200
Not far from historic Tiger Stadium structures and left only a stone ware-
is Mexicantown, where a growing num- house standing. Following the War of
ber of Hispanic communities are flour- 1812, the development of the steam-
ishing. Oakland County is home to a boat, and the opening of the Erie Canal,
steadily expanding number of Russian Detroit began to experience dramatic
Jewish immigrants, while the Metropol- growth again and finally was incorpo-
itan Airport area and southern Wayne rated as a city in 1815.
County are attracting Japanese families. By the time Michigan was admitted
Further south, along the Detroit River to the Union as the twenty-sixth state
from Wyandotte to Grosse Ile, are com- in 1837, Detroit had become a signifi-
munities rich in Hungarian and Polish cant station on the Underground Rail-
traditions. Suitably, the distinct mix of road. The Underground Railroad was a
people make metro Detroit a cosmopol- secret system that helped fugitive slaves
itan map of the world. reach freedom in the northern states
and Canada. Eight years later, the city
was honored to hold President Andrew
6 History
Jackson’s funeral.
Historically, the Civic Center in With the dawning of the Industrial
downtown Detroit started as a fur trad- Age, new products surfaced, and the
ing post and grew into a frontier mili- manufacture of stove and kitchen
tary station. Cadillac Square was ranges became Detroit’s leading indus-
formed with 1-meter (3-foot) flagstones try. Tastefully complimenting the
before it was paved, and the market- ranges, additional consumable products
place sold produce and goods, much emerged, like Vernors Ginger Ale,
like the Eastern Market today. Stroh’s Beer, and the famous Sanders
candy, cakes, and ice cream. Having all
The city of Detroit was founded on the goods, Detroit needed a place to
July 24, 1701, by Antoine de la Mothe promote their treats, and the Detroit
Cadillac. With a pledge of patriotism, Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau
he demonstrated community ideals and was born, the world’s first such organi-
the courage to foster them. zation.
In the middle 1700s, Detroit was With the population rapidly multi-
turned over to the British as a spoil of plying, communities and businesses
the French and Indian War (1755– were prospering. Ford Motor Company
1763), but by 1796, George Washington was established, and the introduction
forced the British out of the city and of the assembly line revolutionized the

Detroit
auto industry. Detroit put America on refrigeration, seeds, adding machines,

wheels. The daily wage paid five dollars. stove manufacturing, and of course,
The year was 1921, and the Detroit automobiles.
Times newspaper was purchased by Wil-
liam Randolph Hearst. In turn, the city engineers designed
a massive freeway system to transport
Making headlines was nothing new the fruits of the automobile industry.
to Detroit. The following decade However, for progress there was a price.
brought with it the retirement of base- Many public housing units were
ball’s great Ty Cobb, the grand opening destroyed in order to accommodate the
of the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the planned freeway expansion. Public
unveiling of the Ambassador Bridge. housing residents were evicted and
The bridge connected Detroit to Can- offered no plan for relocation. The city
ada and was hailed as the longest inter- of Detroit did not comply with the Fed-
national suspension span in the world. eral Housing Act 048, which required
Complementing the bridge, travelers alternative housing for dislocated rent-
could also gain international entry to ers. In effect, the city created 17,000 ref-
Canada via the new Windsor Tunnel. ugees and wide distrust for local
Business for Detroit merchants government.
boomed until the Great Depression, Thereafter, the city’s middle-
which temporarily slowed the city’s income population began to shift to
progress. But in the world of sports, more suburban locales, and the nation’s
there was no depression. Detroit teams first shopping mall opened in South-
were still making headlines. field in 1954. Northland Mall was the
In 1935, the Tigers captured the harbinger of the new suburban lifestyle.
World Series; the Lions were National
The following decade, Detroit
Football League champions; and the
recovered under Mayor Jerome P.
Red Wings won hockey’s Stanley Cup.
Cavanaugh’s administration. The for-
Detroit was riding high, and the world
merly distressed city became a model of
was still watching. In 1937, Mr. Joe
social progress. In July 1963, Dr. Martin
Louis Barrow (Joe Lewis), the Brown
Luther King, Jr., led a massive civil
Bomber, won the world’s heavyweight
rights movement in Detroit; still,
boxing championship. On the eve of
Detroit was not an island unto itself.
World War II (1939–1945), Joe Louis
The riots in July 1967 shattered the city
was a good guy to have on your side.
like a terrifying earthquake. The shock
During World War II, Detroit was to prove painful, indeed. On the
played a key role as the nation’s “Arse- heels of freedom and turmoil, Berry
nal of Democracy.” Economic growth Gordy created the Motown Sound and
during the mid 1940s placed Detroit at taught the nation—and indeed the
the forefront of the nation’s industrial world—a new way to sing. By the year’s
fields, including salt products, electric end, New Detroit was founded.

Detroit
The Henry Ford Museum chronicles a changing Detroit. (Mark J. Arpin; Metropolitan Detroit Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Billed as the United States’ first development. With strong leadership

“urban coalition,” New Detroit orga- and community support, New Detroit
nized to improve education, employ- set a new pace for the city. Soon after-
ment, housing, and economic wards, business leaders founded Detroit

Detroit
Renaissance to help formulate the city’s dome earned the unique opportunity to
economic future. In 1971, Henry Ford host the first indoor soccer champion-
II, head of Detroit Renaissance, Inc., ship in World Cup history. The Ameri-
announced plans for the construction can automobile industry and the
of the largest privately financed project Metropolitan Convention and Visitor’s
in the world—The Renaissance Center. Bureau celebrated their Centennial, and
the decade ended with another block-
Celebrated in rebirth, Detroit’s buster season in sports. The Detroit Red
renaissance was an attempt to protect Wings won back-to-back National
the value of existing investments and Hockey League Stanley Cup Champion-
future profit opportunities in the down- ships and kept Lord Stanley’s cup for
town hub. The city’s first black mayor, two years, 1997 and 1998.
Coleman Young, took office in 1974 to
build Detroit’s assets. Mayor Young
sought to improve racial equality in city 7 Government
government and increase solidarity The Detroit city mayor and nine-
among African-American residents. He member city council are elected mem-
served an unprecedented five terms. bers and serve a four-year term of office.
With the 1980s, the revival contin- The charter rules under a mayor-coun-
ued. Detroit hosted the thirty-second cil form of government. Aided by a
Republican National Convention at the chief administrative staff, the mayor
new Joe Louis Arena. The Millender collaborates in the performance of
Center and Greektown’s Trappers Alley duties. Citizen bureaus include organi-
Marketplace opened. Complementing zations dedicated to improving and
new business, the Detroit People Mover maintaining the business and civic
provided another source of downtown community of Detroit; for example,
transportation—a monorail. Expansion Southeast Michigan Council of Govern-
of the $225 million Cobo Conference/ ments (SEMCOG) is a voluntary associ-
Exhibition Center was completed, and ation of more than 130 local
sports enthusiasts were thrilled. Detroit governments designed as a regional
hosted the first Grand Prix on the city planning and intergovernmental coor-
streets, and Super Bowl XVI played to a dination agency.
sold out crowd at the Pontiac Silver-
dome. Sparky Anderson and the affable 8 Public Safety
Detroit Tigers captured the 1984 World
Series, and the Pistons secured consecu- As the city council conducts hear-
tive NBA championship titles in 1989 ings for the new budget, commitment
and 1990. to improving public safety remains an
important issue. Following the scandal
Metro Detroit’s prosperity contin- with city police chief William Hart,
ued in the 1990s. Chosen as a site for who was convicted and sent to prison
World Cup Soccer in 1994, the Silver- for stealing drug money, and accusa-

Detroit
tions of police racism, the city depart- region. Detroit is home to a renowned
ments are undergoing a healthy purge symphony, the renovated Opera Hall,
and continually integrating means for several museums, major sports teams,
securing new equipment and more and four-star dining establishments.
recruits. The vibrant growing economy is shift-
ing from sole reliance on the automo-
Additional coalitions have formed, tive industry to a diversified high-tech
like the Detroit Economic Growth Cor- and commercial base. Recently named
poration, dedicated to serving the dis- the largest metropolitan exporting cen-
advantaged. A public corporation ter in the country, Detroit exports over
endowed with the power to establish $27 billion of industrial goods to coun-
project areas where jobs are at stake, tries around the globe.
they acquire properties, issue taxes, and
enjoy strong support from citizens in An increase in the available num-
the community. ber of high-skilled jobs has made
employee turnover an issue of concern.
9 Economy To entice commitment from employees,
local employers are offering higher sala-
Detroit is well positioned to benefit ries, stock options, and training pro-
from the trends currently shaping the grams. In return, the managers are
nation. A tight labor market, combined sharpening their listening and social
with the area’s low unemployment rate skills, making Detroit the perfect vehi-
of 2.8 percent, reflect the larger prosper- cle for business success. Excellent trans-
ity of the country. Welfare statistics portation and communication links
have fallen to the lowest level since make it easy for multinationals to stay
1970, and city officials feel there are connected. Throughout the 1990s, the
almost more jobs than can be filled, business climate improved dramati-
particularly in the field of engineering. cally as a result of state and city regula-
tory and administrative reforms aimed
Detroit has a large skilled labor
at attracting and retaining businesses;
force, which is supported by both
this includes a competitive tax system,
industrial and public technical centers. which rewards new investment and
Wayne State University, the University
profitable companies.
of Detroit-Mercy, and the Detroit Col-
lege of Law are located in the region; A diversified marketplace, many of
technical and community colleges are the world’s innovative companies are
numerous and include Henry Ford, based in Detroit or its metropolitan
Highland Park, and Wayne County area. Among others it is home to Better
Community Colleges, among others. Made potato chips, Duraliner truck
The quality of life is very different from beds, Falcon golf clubs, Faygo bever-
the image of living in a Rust-Belt city. ages, Jiffy mixes, Kowalski sausage,
Recreational activities, like golf, skiing, Lionel trains, Sanders ice cream,
tennis, and sailing, abound in the Shedd’s spread, and Vlassic foods. Com-

Detroit
puware, the world’s eighth largest soft- including a $40 million headquarters
ware company, is currently developing for the United Auto Workers-General
a massive, 130,060 square-meter (1.4 Motors (UAW-GM) Human Resource
million square-foot) building and adja- Center, expected to open in 2001.
cent parking structure that accommo-
dates 3,000 cars. Mexicantown Finally, Detroit remains the U.S.
Community Development Corporation headquarters for General Motors, Ford
has announced plans for an $8 million Motor Company, Daimler-Chrysler,
International Welcome Center and Mazda, and Volkswagen. With recent
Mercado in Detroit’s Hispanic neigh- efforts by automotive companies to
borhood. take a more global approach toward
business, Detroit’s economy should
Free enterprise has always played a remain on the cutting edge.
dominant role in Detroit’s economy,
but recently some residents rejected the 10 Environment
idea of building a casino. Prosperity in
the Canadian casinos prompted a Air pollution is a point of great
change of heart, and the Motor City concern for the Motor City. Like other
skyline has shifted. Two new casinos, major cities, Detroit’s air is contami-
MGM Grand and Motor City opened in nated daily by human activities, such as
1999. Atwater and Greek Town casinos driving cars, burning fuel, and indus-
were scheduled to open in 2000 on trial manufacturing.
Detroit’s waterfront.
The Detroit region is surrounded
The value of commercial real estate by hundreds of lakes and miles of rivers
in the city is prime. The last vacant and streams. Most are working or recre-
piece of Stroh River Place, a large brick ational bodies of water. Some watershed
structure within a historic mixed-use areas have previously been plagued
development along the Detroit River, with environmental degradation, like
will be converted into luxury loft con- Zug Island, Metropolitan Beach Park-
dominiums. Earlier in the twentieth way, and the Detroit River. The state,
century, the 14,864 square-meter U.S. Federal, and Canadian govern-
(160,000 square-foot) structure served ments have identified the Detroit River
as the headquarters for Parke Davis as an international area of concern. The
Pharmaceutical Company. The building river’s environmental problems and
will undergo a $15 million renovation ecological impairments stem from
and is the last building to be redevel- urban growth and industrial develop-
oped by the Stroh Brewing Company. ment. Since the late 1800s, 95 percent
The complex, located south of East Jef- of the Detroit River’s original wetland
ferson, includes offices, loft apartments, habitat has been lost through urban
stores, and restaurants. The lofts will be and industrial development. Areas of
priced from $140,000 and are joined by the Detroit River have sediments con-
several neighboring developments, taminated with high concentrations of

Detroit
metals and organic compounds, a leg- Home, garden, and food shoppers
acy of industry and a naive understand- will be thrilled at the Eastern Market,
ing of the ecosystem. located at 2934 Russell. There, week-
ends explode with activity as vegetable
Although industrial history has farmers, flower growers, honey collec-
played a significant role in the river’s tors, plant vendors, and orchard owners
problems, the environmental degrada- display their fresh wares, and city
tion continues. Municipal and indus- dwellers arrive in droves. The most
trial discharges, poor land-use practices, ardent shoppers at this market, which
combined sewer overflows, urban and dates back to the late 1800s, arrive in
agricultural runoff, and contaminants the pre-dawn hours to get prime selec-
from air deposition continue. Plans to tions. Bargain seekers arrive in late
address the environmental concerns afternoon when vendor prices are
and improve the overall quality of the reduced to sell.
ecosystem have been developed and
implemented by several different con- In addition to Saturday vendors
servancy organizations in and around who sell goods both inside and out,
the Detroit area. A plan with priority there are also supreme wholesale stores.
action is to protect the remaining fish Restaurants, pubs, and specialty shops
and wildlife habitat in the Detroit River extend for several blocks in and around
watershed. this no-pretense-permitted market. The
Central Market, for example, holds
11 Shopping fresh meat and fish counters; Rafal’s
aromatic spice shop sells only spices,
The ethnic diversity of the Detroit coffee, and sauces, and R. Hirt, Jr.,
community makes shopping in the city boasts blue ribbon cheeses.
a global experience. Unusual and
unique shops are scattered everywhere, A must stop on Monroe Street in
but premier shopping can be found to Greektown is Astoria Pastry shop,
the west at Maple and Woodward in where rows of treats beckon to be
Birmingham or Big Beaver Road in Troy tasted. Across the street is a used music
at the Somerset Mall. All corporate- and book store, where coffee house aro-
owned stores, like Neiman Marcus, mas linger closeby.
Hugo Boss, and Saks Fifth Avenue, are
connected by a pedestrian overpass that Winding back toward the river, the
offers a bird’s-eye view of the surround- Renaissance Center’s unmistakable
ing area. cluster of glass towers caters to both the
practical and the prosperous. With res-
To satisfy a taste for the alternative, taurants, stores, theater, shops, a hotel,
shoppers should head for Royal Oak, and occasional access to the People
where boutiques are nonpareil; cuisine Mover, the “Ren Cen” offers a variety of
is trendy; and the streets are energetic. stores and personal services.

Detroit
At 10125 Jefferson Avenue is Pew- Of the nation’s 3,600 accredited

abic Pottery, now listed as National His- colleges and universities, the top classi-
toric Landmark. Pewabic tiles grace fications must annually award 50 or
everything from fireplaces to lobbies in more doctoral degrees. Wayne State
many of Detroit’s historic homes. The awarded 239 in 1998. Rated in the
pottery studio, founded in 1903 by country’s top three percent, WSU is
Mary Chase Perry Stratton, moved in located in the heart of the University
1907 to its present address. A Tudor Cultural Center and has branch exten-
mansion, the shop operates as a non- sion centers throughout the metropoli-
profit arts center and museum. Visitors tan area. The university offers over
can learn about the pottery process 5,500 courses, 128 bachelor programs,
through a self-guided tour and view 61 doctoral programs, and 30 certifica-
both antique and contemporary dis- tion specialist and professional pro-
plays of pieces designed and executed grams.
by Stratton and her earliest students.
Many of the Pewabic art pieces, which Additionally, there are several pri-
include tiles, candlesticks, and vases, vately funded institutions that join the
are available for purchase. ranks of higher education. Among these
are Detroit College of Business, Detroit
Finally, there are the outdoor strip College of Law (Michigan State Cam-
malls and several indoor shopping pus), University of Detroit Mercy, and
malls in the suburban areas outside Marygrove College.
Detroit. Most are within a 40-minute
ride of the city. Hours and locations are
listed in the local yellow page directory.
13 Health Care
Many of Detroit’s medical care
12 Education facilities are considered outstanding.
Children’s Hospital is no exception.
A rich resource of which Detroit is Nationally recognized for exceptional
proud is the wide array of educational care and facilities, the hospital contin-
services and schools available. Anyone ues to provide top-notch service for
can improve skills, learn new technol- children’s health care needs. Joined by
ogy, and earn degrees or certification in Detroit Receiving, Harper Hospital,
a variety of fields, all within a short Huron Valley-Sinai, Hutzel, Sinai-Grace,
radius of the city. Dog grooming, court the Rehabilitation Institute of Michi-
reporting, beauty, seminary, x-ray tech- gan, the International Center, Kar-
nology, modeling, and flying are only a manos Cancer Institute, and the Kresge
few of the many fields in which certifi- Eye Institute, patients are afforded the
cation is available. Two public schools most recent developments in medical
of higher education include Wayne procedures. In addition, The Detroit
County Community College and Medical Center (DMC), also located
Wayne State University (WSU). downtown, is the regulating center for

Detroit
(United Paramount) and WTVS (PBS),

Detroit’s own stations. Fox2-WJBK and
WB20 (Warner Brothers) keep viewers
up to date with news and information.
In print are the city’s two major
newspapers: the Detroit News and the
Detroit Free Press. These two publica-
tions share production facilities but are
each printed daily and cover both local
and national news. The Free Press is the
morning edition, and the News hits
stands in the afternoon. Sunday’s paper
is a combined effort, and this system
works well. The Observer and Eccentric
newspapers produce geographic edi-
tions, focusing on local suburban news.
The Detroit Red Wings won back-to-back National
Covering alternative and funk is the
Hockey League Stanley Cup Championships and Metro Times, which discusses music,
kept Lord Stanley’s cup for two years, 1997 and dining, and shopping. Business head-
1998. (Mark Hicks; Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau) lines in and around the metro area can
be found in the Detroit Legal News, the
seven hospitals, 3,000 doctors, two Detroit Journal, or Crain’s Detroit Busi-
nursing centers, 100 primary care phy- ness.
sicians, and both teaching and clinical For listening pleasure, there are an
research for Wayne State University. abundance of radio stations that play a
Detroit is headquarters to Blue Cross- diverse mix of country, rock, jazz, soul
Blue Shield of Michigan, one of the and motown, classical, and offbeat
nations largest health care providers. music 24 hours a day. Listeners who
Also making headlines is DMC’s enjoy talk radio can tune in to AM sta-
Huron Valley-Sinai hospital. They wel- tions WJR-760, which covers topics of
comed the first millennium baby in the public interest, or WWJ-950 radio, the
United States, Bella Rose, born on Janu- first commercial radio station in Amer-
ary 1, 2000, at the stroke of midnight. ica, which encourages a reader forum to
exchange ideas.
14 Media
15 Sports
Like most progressive centers,
Detroit has a good amount of media Detroit sports bring only one word
resources. Supplementing the three top to mind—championship. In addition to
television stations, WDIV (NBC), WXYZ optimal convention facilities and festi-
(ABC), and WWJ-TV (CBS), is UPN 50 vals, sporting arenas like the Palace of

Detroit
Auburn Hills, Joe Louis Arena, and the introduced the Detroit Shock, playing
new multi-plex Comerica Park are sec- for the Women’s National Basketball
ond to none. Detroit is a huge sports Association; the Vipers, playing for the
town with loyal fans who won’t hesi- International Hockey League; and the
tate to prove their dedication. Detroit Rockers, playing soccer.
The Motor City boasts a long his-

tory of sports legends. A sculpture
16 Parks and
memorializing boxer Joe Louis, Recreation
designed by Edward N. Hamilton, is Detroit parks are hot spots for rec-
located in Cobo Convention Center’s reation. There are hundreds of lakes in
main entrance. Also in the Center is the region and miles of rivers and
memorabilia on Louis’s life and career. streams. Michigan claims more regis-
Boxing victors Thomas Hearns and tered boaters than any other state and
Michael Moorer also hail from Motown, boasts about 230 public and private golf
as do National Football League Hall of courses, not to mention dozens of
Famer Lem Barney and basketball downhill ski runs and cross-county
superstars Dave Bing and Chris Webber. trails within easy driving distance.
In addition to producing sports In the city, Chene Park winds gen-
superstars, the past two decades have tly along the waterfront, landscaped
produced a series of victories for profes- and inviting. Summertime brings a mix
sional sports teams in Detroit. Tiger of open-air concerts, festivals, and peo-
baseball at Tiger Stadium, Pistons bas- ple.
ketball at the Palace of Auburn Hills,
and Red Wing Hockey at Joe Louis Belle Isle is an island park, spread
Arena, all have captured world champi- over 397 hectares (982 acres) in the
onship titles. The Tigers started the Detroit River. Native Americans called
2000 season in their new digs at Comer- the island “Mah-nah-be-zee,” or Swan
ica Park, a $285 million arena. Blending Island. French settlers called it Isle St.
innovation, show business, and sports Claire. During the eighteenth century,
tradition, Comerica Park seats 40,000 farmers used the island as a safe haven
fans. The stadium also hosts a 60-pas- for animals; thus, it also became known
senger ferris wheel on site. The sport as Hog Island. However, it was renamed
park’s turn-of-the-century theme is Belle Isle, which translates as beautiful
underscored with the 12-passenger fer- island, and by 1845, it was a popular
ris wheel cars designed like baseballs. In picnic spot for city residents. The City
keeping with respect for the game, of Detroit purchased Belle Isle for
Comerica Park houses the largest score- $200,000 in 1879 and designated it as a
board in baseball history. park in 1881. The original park,
designed by Frederick L. Olmsted
Complementing its world-class (1822–1903), featured only recreational
sports teams, Detroit has most recently canals; however, in the early 1900s, the

Detroit
city built Lake Takoma, Lake Okonoka, 17 Performing Arts

and some other canals.
World renowned for its musical
Historically, walkways along the history, Detroit frequently jives with
water, ornate bridges, and covered live performances at a variety of down-
bandstands were popular attractions. town venues. National tours of Broad-
Canoeing was an important recre- way productions include stops at four
ational activity for island visitors. In the Detroit locales: Fox Theatre at 2211
1930s, the Civilian Work Authority Woodward Avenue; Fisher Theatre at
(CWA) labored with shovels, wheel bar- 3011 W. Grand Boulevard; Masonic
rows, and small tractors to create more Temple and Detroit Music Hall at 350
canals and lakes on the island. Belle Isle Madison. Most venues have been archi-
supports over three kilometers (two tecturally preserved and are an impor-
miles) of canals and four lakes, ranging tant part of Detroit’s performance art
from 7 to 17 hectares (18 to 43 acres). history.
However, some years of neglect have
resulted in stagnant water, excessive Other local professional theatre
weed growth, and poor aesthetic char- companies include Second City Com-
acter. edy Troupe at 2305 Woodward; Attic
Theatre; Chene Park Music Theatre at
Today, Belle Isle is one of the most 2600 E. Atwater; Detroit Actors Guild;
used parks in the city of Detroit. It pro- Detroit Opera House at 1526 Broadway;
vides many of its four million annual Detroit Repertory Theatre; Gem Theatre
visitors opportunities to participate in a at 333 Madison; Hartland Theatre Com-
variety of recreational experiences pany; Harmonie Park Playhouse at 230
within a unique natural environment. E. Grand River; Jewish Ensemble The-
Recognizing the value of this resource, atre; 1515 Broadway at 1515 Broadway;
the City of Detroit Recreation Depart- and Wayne State Theatre.
ment has committed to restoring basic
water recreational activities, which
have historically been part of the Belle 18 Libraries and
Isle experience. Museums
Boating enthusiasts can find wor- The Detroit Public Library is an
thy marinas in the area. Information on independent municipal corporation
docking facilities at Erma Henderson, governed by a seven-member Detroit
Grayhaven, Riverside, and St. Aubin Library Commission. In addition to the
can be obtained by phoning the super- main locale, there are 24 branch librar-
visor. ies, a Municipal Reference Library, Spe-
cial Collections, and a bookmobile
Several area recreation centers offer service for seniors and shut-ins.
the opportunity for fitness, swimming,
and ice skating for youth and seniors Library revenues originate from
alike. resources that include money from the

Detroit
state equity grant, penal fines, the sin- including faces of celebrated people
gle business tax reimbursement, the tucked into the scenes.
city general fund, state air, and the city
of Detroit property taxes. The Main Galleries featuring Ancient Art,
Library receives funding as a state of Islamic, and the audio phone tour of
Michigan resource. the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
are only a few of the unique exhibits.
The Detroit Public Library, in asso- Music plus museum equals
ciation with Highland Park’s McGregor Motown—Berry Gordy’s love child that
Public Library, forms the Detroit Associ- changed the voice of America was
ated Libraries (DAL), one of 16 public founded on the streets of Detroit in
library cooperatives in Michigan. The 1959. The museum memorializes the
Detroit Public Library is also a member sights and sounds of artists who graced
of DALNET, the Detroit Area Library that period.
Network, an organization of southeast-
ern Michigan libraries who share the Greenfield Village is living history
costs and benefits of automation. at its best. Authentic representation of
eighteenth-, nineteenth-, and early
Detroit is also home to many leg- twentieth-century America, museum
endary museums and celebrated galler- presenters are dressed in period cloth-
ies. Indeed rated as world class, the ing and encourage visitor participation
Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is the with chores like dishwashing and can-
country’s fifth-largest fine arts museum. dle making.
Erected in 1885, the striking building
houses “The Thinker," a famous out- Other noteworthy historical prop-
door sculpture by Auguste Rodin (1840– erties in the Detroit area include the
1917). Locals are proud, and visitors are Detroit Historical Museum, the
surprised by the museum’s treasures. Museum of African American History,
the Detroit Garden Center, the Gospel
Included galleries are those of Ital- Music Hall of Fame, the Detroit Hydro-
ian Renaissance Art, the works of nota- plane Museum, the Detroit Science
ble African-American artists, a rare Center, Graystone Jazz Museum, the
armor collection, and the masterworks Heidelberg Project, and Hitsville USA/
of luminaries Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Motown Historical Museum.
and Warhol.
Making a statement is Mexican

19 To u r i s m
muralist Diego Rivera’s “Detroit Indus- Detroit has a reputation that beck-
try." Frescos in the museum’s central ons loudly, and it is becoming a popu-
courtyard, the dramatic mural pays trib- lar tourist destination. With great
ute to the good and evil of American enthusiasm, visitors are flocking to the
industrialization. A guidebook helps Motor City. In fact, the Detroit metro-
mural viewers discover hidden symbols, politan area (Wayne, Oakland, and

Detroit
Macomb counties combined) drew NOVEMBER

more than 16 million visitors last year. Thanksgiving Parade
The Detroit Metro Convention and Vis-
itors Bureau is a non-profit organization 21 Famous Citizens
that promotes Detroit as a destination
for meetings, conventions, trade shows, The Motor City is well known for its au-
and visitors. tomotive legends and musicians. The
following people also call Detroit their
20 Holidays and hometown:
Festivals Charles Lindbergh (1902–74), airmail
JANUARY pilot who achieved worldwide
Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday fame by making the first non-stop
North American International Auto Show solo transatlantic flight.
FEBRUARY
African American Heritage Month Ralph J. Bunche (1904–71), diplomat,
Motown Historical Museum Artist Tribute United Nations mediator, winner
of the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize.
MARCH
Annual St. Patrick’s Pub Crawl
Francis Ford Coppola (b. 1939), film di-
Oscar Night—Detroit Institute of Arts
rector and producer.
APRIL
NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner Ed McMahon (b. 1923), television per-
Detroit Tigers Baseball Opening Day sonality.
MAY
Eastern Market Flower Day Singers Diana Ross (b. 1944), William
Bal African—black tie hosted by Detroit Institute “Smokey” Robinson (b. 1940), and
of Arts Bob Seger (b. 1945).
JUNE
Detroit Grand Prix Singer-actresses Madonna (Madonna
Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village—Cele- Louise Ciccone, b.1959) and Della
bration of Emancipation Reese (b. 1932).
Village Art Festival—Grosse Pointe
Actors George C. Scott (1927–99) and
JULY
International Freedom Festival and Fireworks Tom Selleck (b. 1945).
Afro-American Music Festival—Metropolitan
Arts Complex Robin Williams (b. 1952), actor and co-
median.
AUGUST
African World Festival—Hart Plaza Sports figures who had notable careers
SEPTEMBER in Detroit include:
Montreaux Detroit Jazz Festival—Hart Plaza
OCTOBER Joe Louis (Joseph Louis Barrow, b. Ala-
Ancestors Day bama, 1914–81), heavyweight box-
Oktoberfest ing champion from 1937 to 1949.

Detroit
Baseball Hall of Famer Al Kaline (b. Detroit Chamber of Commerce

Maryland, 1934), a Detroit Tigers 1 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1700
Detroit, Michigan 49232
star. (313) 964-4000
Metropolitan Detroit Convention
22 For Further Study and Visitors Bureau
211 W. Fort Street, Suite 100
Websites Detroit, Michigan 48226
(313) 202-1952
Detroit Net. [Online] Available http://detroit.net
(accessed February 7, 2000).
Detroit Institute of Arts. [Online] Available Publications
http://dia.org (accessed February 7, 2000). Crain’s Business
Metro Guide. [Online] Available http:// 1400 Woodbridge
metroguide.com (accessed February 7, Detroit, MI
2000). (888) 909-9111
Visit Detroit. [Online] Available http://
visitdetroit.com (accessed February 7, 2000). Detroit News/Free Press
615 W. Lafayette
Detroit, MI 48226
Government Offices (313) 222-6400
Detroit City Clerk
200 City County Building Metro Times
(313) 224-3270 733 St. Antoine
Detroit, MI
Detroit City Council (313)961-4060
1340 City County Building
(313) 224-3443 Michigan Chronicle
479 Ledyard
Detroit Mayor’s Office (Dennis Archer) Detroit, MI 48201
2 Woodward Avenue (313) 963-5522
(313) 224-3400
Observer and Eccentric Newspapers
Detroit Port Authority 805 E. Maple
8109 E. Jefferson Birmingham, MI
(313) 331-3842 (248) 644-1100
Ombudsman Office
Books
114 City County Building
Beasley, Norman and George W. Stark. Made in
(313) 224-6000
Detroit. New York: Putnam’s Sons, 1957.
Henrickson, Wilma Wood. Detroit Perspectives,
Tourist and Convention Bureaus Crossroads and Turning Points. Detroit:
Cobo Hall Conference Center Wayne State University Press, 1991.
1 Washington Boulevard Stark, George W. City of Destiny. Detroit: Arnold-
(313) 877-8111 Powers, Inc., 1943.

Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China, Asia
Founded: Inhabited since prehistoric times, though the earliest modern people lived
there by the 2nd millennium B.C. Modern Hong Kong dates back to the British
presence, formalized in 1898.
Location: Southeastern China, in eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and
China’s Guangdong Province
Flag: Red field with a white Hong Kong orchid featuring red stars on each of its five
petals.
Motto: “A Future of Excellence and Prosperity for All”
Flower: The Hong Kong orchid, Bauhinia blakeana.
Time Zone: Eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT plus eight hours)
Ethnic Composition: Chinese, 98%; non-Chinese Asian (mostly Japanese, Indian,
Pakistani, Singaporean), 1%; non-Asian (mostly from UK, Canada, Australia, US,
New Zealand), 1%
Elevation: Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island rises to 550 m (1,810 ft); Tai Mo Shan
on Lantau Island reaches 957 m (3,140 ft)
Latitude and Longitude: 22º15Ń, 114º10É
Climate: Subtropical, with monsoons between May and August; cool and humid in
winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall.
Annual Mean Temperature: 22.2°C (72°F); 15°C (59°F) in February; 27.8°C (82°F)
in July
Seasonal Average Precipitation: 2,220 mm (88 in)
Government: Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, with a chief executive
appointed by Beijing and a legislature combining elected and appointed officials
Monetary Units: Hong Kong dollar (HK$), with an exchange rate of HK$7.8 to US$1
(December 1999)
1 Introduction establishment of British hegemony over

the region in the nineteenth century,
With its spacious harbor offering when Hong Kong was transformed
deepwater anchorage and its prime from a minor coastal town into a center
location on the edge of the teeming of British influence in East Asia. Hong
continent of Asia, Hong Kong has long Kong’s prosperity has continued since
been a major center for trade, finance, the return of the territory to China by
and small manufacturing. Hong Kong’s the British in 1997. Today Hong Kong
commercial importance has ensured its stands as a bustling metropolis of
prominence in the global economy as almost seven million people, a city cen-
well as in the economy of Asia, a posi- tered around an island of gleaming sky-
tion Hong Kong acquired after the scrapers reminiscent of Manhattan and
21
Hong Kong
Due to Hong Kong’s high popula-

Hong Kong tion density and limited area, there are
Population Profile legal restrictions on the number of
vehicles allowed in the city. Even so,
Population: 6,097,000 about half a million motor vehicles
Description: Special Administrative Region (SAR) by
drive Hong Kong’s 1,740 kilometers
the Chinese government, including harbor, (1,081 miles) of roads. The highway sys-
Kowloon Peninsula, New Territories, tem centers on the NTCR, which rings
Stonecutters Island, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Island, and more than 230 smaller islands the city center. A network of bridges
Ethnic composition: 98% Chinese; 1% non- and tunnels provides rail and road con-
Chinese Asian (Japanese, Indian, Pakistani,
Singaporean); 1% non-Asian (mostly from UK,
nections among the various parts of
Canada, Australia, US, New Zealand) Hong Kong that are separated by water;
World population rank1: 35 one of these is the Tsing Ma Bridge,
Average yearly growth rate: 3%
which is among the longest suspension
Nicknames: The Fragrant Harbor bridges in the world and links Kowloon
with Lantau.
———
1. The Hong Kong metropolitan area’s rank among Bus and Railroad Service
2. The percent of China’s total population living in After the repatriation of Hong
the Hong Kong metropolitan area.
Kong in 1997, train service was inaugu-
rated between Kowloon and the cities
of Beijing and Shanghai. The Beijing-
Kowloon train stops en route at seven
offering the world a lively and fascinat- intermediate stations. The Shanghai-
ing amalgam of the cultures of East and Kowloon train runs every other day and
West. requires 29 hours each way.
Airports
2 Getting There
Air access to the city was improved
Highways in 1998 when the Hong Kong Interna-
tional Airport began operating on Chek
Surface access for automobiles, Lap Kok Island and replaced the old air-
trucks and buses is by three routes port at Kai Tak. The new airport is con-
between Hong Kong and mainland nected to the urban areas of Hong Kong
China. Two bridges at Man Kam To by means of a high-speed rail link; trav-
handle traffic to and from China, and a elers going into Hong Kong can make
new link was completed in 1985 at Sha the 23-minute trip downtown by
Tau Kok. A third connection is at Lok means of the Airport Express train,
Ma Chau, where a road linked to the from which transfers can be made to
New Territories Circular Road (NTCR) shuttle buses and Mass Transit Railway
was finished in 1989. (MTR) trains. The MTR itself can be

Hong Kong

Hong Kong
reached by a shuttle bus from the air- Sightseeing

port, and a number of shuttles connect
the airport directly to destinations Access to various parts of the city is
throughout the city. convenient and relatively inexpensive
by both train and bus. Travel within the
Shipping region is also easily accomplished by
means of the train systems and the
Access to Hong Kong, the “fragrant local buses, and water travel on the dif-
harbor,” is readily available by sea for ferent ferries is also cheap and widely
both passenger and freight traffic. A used. Sightseers can experience some-
ferry service runs from Tuen Mun to thing of traditional Chinese culture in
Chek Lap Kok Ferry Pier, from which a places like the Kam Tin Walled Village
shuttle accesses the airport. (Kut Hing Wei) in the New Territories,
the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island,
3 Getting Around or the scenic beauty of the outer
islands. Soon both Hong Kong natives
Bus and Commuter Rail Service and travelers will be able to visit Hong
Most of the populace uses public Kong Disneyland, scheduled to open on
transportation, the cheapest and most Penny’s Bay in 2005.
efficient means of getting around in
crowded Hong Kong. Buses are the 4 People
most readily available and the most
used form of public transport and Hong Kong’s ethnic composition is
incorporate a minibus service as well. A almost wholly Chinese, from Guang-
rapid transit system, the Mass Transit dong province and Hong Kong itself;
Railway (MTR), connects the main dis- some ten percent come mostly from
tricts of Hong Kong Island and Fukien, Chekiang, Shanghai, Kiangsu,
Kowloon with areas as far away as and Taiwan. Non-Chinese constitute
Tsuen Wan in the New Territories. The only about two percent; about half of
Kowloon Canton Railway (KCR) runs these are Asians (mostly from Japan,
between Kowloon and Lo Wu, on the India, Pakistan, and Singapore), and the
border of Hong Kong and mainland remainder are mostly British, Ameri-
China. In the New Territories, the Light cans, Australians, Canadians, and New
Rail Transit (LRT) connects Tuen Mun Zealanders.
with Yuen Long. On Hong Kong Island,
there is a funicular that connects the English and Cantonese remain offi-
Central District with Victoria Peak, and cial languages, with the latter more
a tram that runs along the island’s widely spoken. The use of Mandarin is
northern side. Numerous ferry and hov- increasing and will be required in
ercraft ply the waters among Hong schools. Dialects such as Siyi, Chao-
Kong’s numerous islands and link them chow, Hakka, Hoklo, and Tanka are also
with Kowloon and the New Territories. used in their respective communities.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(China) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
Oriental Daily Akhbar El Yom/
News Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
Taoism, Confucianism, and Bud- ther on is Causeway Bay, another area

dhism are the predominant religions in of hotels, restaurants, department
Hong Kong. About ten percent of the stores, and boutiques. The south of
population is Christian, with a small Hong Kong Island is mostly residential,
number of Hindus, Jews, Sikhs, and with high-rise luxury apartment build-
Muslims. ings. Near Aberdeen, also in the south,
are two aquatic centers, Ocean Park and
5 Neighborhoods Water World.
Hong Kong Island is what is typi- The theme established by Hong

cally considered Hong Kong, with Kong Island’s Central District is contin-
crowds pursuing business and pleasure ued in Kowloon’s Tsim Sha Tsui district.
among skyscrapers and elegant depart- The area also boasts a number of muse-
ment stores and restaurants. The ums, the Hong Kong Coliseum, and the
island’s Central District, on the north Jamia Masjid Islamic Center.
side, is the hub of the Hong Kong good
life. To the east of Central is an enter- In the New Territories north of the
tainment district called Wanchai. Fur- Kowloon hills, one encounters small to

Hong Kong
Aberdeen Harbor, Hong Kong. (Israel Talby; Woodfin Camp)
medium-sized rural settlements. Towns but with 20,000 people, is rustic

and villages in the low-lying areas are enough to be the site of the impressive
generally inhabited by Cantonese; set- Buddhist monastery of Po Lin, as well
tlements in the valleys and foothills are as a Trappist monastery. Lantau’s
usually populated by the Hakka people. beaches offer an impression of the
Among the latter are some traditional beauty of the beaches on many of the
fortress-like walled villages, such as Kut other of Hong Kong’s 230-plus islands.
Hing Wei. The Temple of 10,000 Bud-
dhas is one of several beautiful temples Hong Kong also has a small and
in the New Territories. Much of shrinking population of Tanka, fisher-
Kowloon and the New Territories are folk who live on boats in fishing towns,
comprised of crowded shanty towns. such as Aberdeen, Shau Kei Wan, and
Cheung Chau.
In contrast to both the luxury of
Hong Kong Island and Tsim Sha Tsui 6 History
and the squalor of the shanties, the out-
lying islands offer scenic natural beauty. Recently discovered artifacts dating
Lantau Island, larger than Hong Kong back to Neolithic times indicate that

Hong Kong
Hong Kong has been inhabited for mil- (1860). Hong Kong’s 235 outlying
lennia; the earliest modern peoples are islands and the New Territories were
thought to have come there from North later leased to Britain for 99 years by the
China in the second millennium B.C. terms of the Convention of 1898. Hong
China claimed Hong Kong and its envi- Kong’s previously small population had
rons about 2,000 years ago, during the grown to 120,000 by 1861 and to more
Han Dynasty. The Cantonese and later than 300,000 at the turn of the century.
the Hakka settled in the area around
Subsequent relations between
the fourteenth century. With its moun-
China and Britain were largely antago-
tainous terrain and lack of fertile soil
nistic for the next few decades. Bur-
and fresh water, it was natural that
geoning Chinese nationalism nurtured
Hong Kong early on became an eco-
a concomitant xenophobia, and Hong
nomic center. With trade came trouble;
Kong became a refuge for political refu-
imperial records mention troops
gees from mainland China after the
assigned to the area to guard the pearls
Chinese Republic was established in
harvested by the Tanka, while the other
1912. From 1925 to 1927, the Chinese
two trades plied in Hong Kong appear
denied British ships access to ports in
to have been fishing and opium traffic.
southern China. In the face of growing
The Manchus wiped out the piracy that
hostilities between China and Japan,
became rampant by temporarily evacu-
beginning with Japan’s occupation of
ating Hong Kong in the seventeenth
Manchuria in 1932 and culminating in
century.
the Sino-Japanese War in 1937, China
looked to Europe for military supplies
The British, expanding into Asia in
and support, and Anglo-Chinese diplo-
the early nineteenth century, recog-
matic relations improved. Hundreds of
nized the value and strategic impor-
thousands of Chinese fled to Hong
tance of Hong Kong’s deepwater harbor
Kong as a result of Japan’s invasion of
and began to use it by 1821 to anchor
China. Britain strengthened the col-
opium-carrying vessels. China’s rulers,
ony's defenses, but they proved inade-
concerned about the effect of opium on
quate, and the Japanese took Hong
the county’s populace, eventually
Kong in December, 1941, during World
sought to prevent the importation of
War II (1939–1945). Britain regained
opium. British resistance to Chinese
control after Japan’s surrender in 1945,
Imperial control resulted in the first
by which time Hong Kong’s population
Opium War (1839–42), in consequence
had dropped to 650,000 from its pre-
of which, Britain gained control of
war peak of 1.6 million.
Hong Kong Island. The conflict contin-
ued, and less than two decades later the Hong Kong’s postwar economic
second Opium War erupted (1856–60), recovery proceeded only gradually. A
after which Kowloon Peninsula and large influx of refugees from the main-
Stonecutters Island were ceded to the land after the Communists took power
British by the Convention of Peking in Beijing in 1949 added substantially

Hong Kong
to Hong Kong’s population and labor 7 Government

force, but the city’s economy was ham-
pered by a U.S. ban on trade with Com- The government of Hong Kong is
munist China in 1950. Hong Kong formulated after the provisions of the
eventually underwent an economic Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special
boom by the 1960s, due primarily to Administrative Region (HKSAR),
heavy foreign investment encouraged enacted by China’s National People’s
Congress in 1990. The Basic Law
by liberal tax policies. Political stability
ensures “one country, two systems,”
was tested by Communist-inspired riots
according to which principle Hong
in 1967, but Hong Kong weathered the
Kong retains its capitalist economy and
storm, and more refugees came from
a large degree of political autonomy
the mainland in the 1970s. However,
while remaining part of China, which
economic and other ties between Hong provides for Hong Kong’s foreign policy
Kong and the mainland improved and defense.
throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
The previous law code remains in
On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong was place and is generally that of Britain. A
returned to Chinese sovereignty by Brit- five-member Court of Final Appeal is
ain according to a 1984 agreement the highest court, followed by a High
which refined the stipulations of the Court, which is in turn followed by dis-
Convention of 1898. A committee trict, magistrate, and special courts.
appointed by China from among Hong
The chief legislative body is the 60-
Kong’s civic leaders had designated
member Legislative Council, 20 of
Tung Chee-hua as Hong Kong’s chief
which are directly elected. Executive
executive, and the former British col-
authority rests with the chief executive,
ony became a Special Administrative
who is directly responsible to Beijing
Region (SAR) under the direct control of
and serves a five-year term. While all
China’s central committee. Although these positions were initially appointed
the 1984 agreement guaranteed the sur- by the 400-member Provisional, the
vival of the established legal, social, and positions are to be filled by direct elec-
economic systems of Hong Kong for the tions by the year 2007.
next 50 years, an interim legislative
council had already approved restric-
tions on political rights in Hong Kong
8 Public Safety
before the Chinese resumed control in The Commissioner of Police, who
1997. Hong Kong’s economy suffered is directly responsible to the Chief Exec-
along with others in Asia in the subse- utive of the HKSAR, is the commander
quent economic recession that affected of the Hong Kong Police Force. The
the region. In the legislative elections in commissioner is assisted by two deputy
May 1998, most of the open seats were commissioners, one for operations and
won by pro-democracy candidates. one for management.

Hong Kong
Exports of goods and services constitute for the majority of Hong Kong’s economy.
(John Blaustein; Woodfin Camp)
The Hong Kong Police Department 100,000 people, and a violent crime
consists of the Operations Wing and rate of 220 per 100,000.
the Support Wing and is divided into
six regions: Hong Kong Island,
9 Economy
Kowloon East, Kowloon West, New Ter-
ritories North, New Territories South, In 1998, Hong Kong had an esti-
and Marine. mated labor force of over 3.3 million.
The labor force can be roughly divided
Force Headquarters consists of five into manufacturing (28 percent), ser-
departments: Operations; Crime and vices (46 percent) finance (9 percent)
Security; Personnel and Training; Man- communications and transportation
agement Services; and Finance, Admin- (4.5 percent), construction (2.5 per-
istration and Planning (FAP). cent), and other (ten percent). With
exports valuing some $181 billion, pri-
In 1998, Hong Kong had an overall marily in textiles, electronics, and small
crime rate of 1,076 incidents per manufacturing, Hong Kong’s gross

Hong Kong
domestic product (GDP) was estimated border with Guangdong Province, and
at $175.2 billion. Inflation stood at part of Hong Kong is situated in the
slightly less than three percent, and Zhu Jiang (Pearl River) delta. On the
unemployment just under five percent. peninsula are Kowloon and the New
Territories. Two of the larger islands are
Imports (primarily in the form of Hong Kong Island and Lantau Island,
food, raw materials, petroleum, and and there are over 230 smaller outlying
unfinished manufactured products) islands. Much of the terrain is hilly,
amounted to $199 billion. While with the highest peaks being Tai Mo
exports of goods and services accounts Shan on Lantau at 957 meters (3,140
for the bulk of Hong Kong’s economy, feet) and Victoria Peak on Hong Kong
tourism constitutes seven percent of the Island at 550 meters (1,810 feet). Fifty
GDP. Cinematic production is also a sig- percent of the region is sparse grass and
nificant part in the region’s economy. shrub on poor soil. Seven percent is ara-
Hong Kong’s primary trading partners ble land, although about 40 percent of
are mainland China and Japan for that lies fallow or uncultivated; one per-
import sources and the U.S., China, cent is under permanent cultivation;
Britain, Canada, Germany, and Japan as meadows and pastures constitute
export markets. another one percent; forest and wood-
With scarce natural resources, land, 12 percent; and two percent is
Hong Kong imports much of its food. under fish ponds.
Water is also largely brought in from
the Chinese mainland. Only 12 percent With annual monsoons—winds
from the southwest bearing warm,
of the land is arable, and of that only
moist air from the equator—Hong
half is actually cultivated, mostly in the
New Territories. Vegetables are the pri- Kong’s climate is subtropical, despite its
location within the tropics, and has a
mary crops. Fishing remains a major
rainy season from May through August.
industry, with an annual harvest of
almost 200,000 metric tons of fish. Two Temperatures average 22.2°C (72°F),
with a low of 15°C (59°F) in February
percent of the land is under fish ponds.
and a high of 27.8°C (82°F) in July.
Average rainfall is about 222 centime-
10 Environment ters (88 inches). The climate encourages
Consisting of over 200 islands and the lush vegetation found in areas that
a peninsula on the southeast coast of are not urbanized or barren; much of
China on the South China Sea and cov- the extant forest is the result of foresta-
ering a total land area of 1,092 square tion programs since World War II.
kilometers (422 square miles), Hong
Kong is situated around an outstanding 11 Shopping
harbor offering 60 square kilometers
(23 square miles) of deepwater anchor- Hong Kong is well known through-
age. The Sham Chun River defines the out the world as a shopper’s paradise,

Hong Kong
Locals and tourists engage in the hustle-bustle of Hong Kong’s busy shopping district in Kowloon.
(Kim Newton; Woodfin Camp)
and stores and shops of various kinds tures a number of large malls that offer
can be found on almost every corner. a concentration of fine stores, quality
The highest concentrations of places to restaurants, and upscale boutiques. Also
shop, however, are in the Central Dis- found throughout the region are Chi-
trict, Causeway Bay, and Stanley on nese product emporia specializing in
Hong Kong Island, and Tsim Sha Tsui, Chinese goods such as clothing, silks,
Mongkok, and Yaumati on Kowloon. embroidery, jade, and cloisonné. There
are several shopping lanes and street
Department stores include both bazaars around Hong Kong, among
indigenous Hong Kong stores and them East and West Li Yuen Streets, Pot-
stores from abroad. The former are the tinger Street, Man Wah Lane, and Jar-
most prominent in the Central District, dine’s Crescent.
among them Wing On, Dragon Seed,
and Lane Crawford. Elsewhere one can
find the British store Marks & Spenser
12 Education
and Japanese stores like Seibu, Isetan, Schools are divided into primary,
and Mistukoshi. Hong Kong also fea- junior secondary, and senior secondary

Hong Kong
levels, with examinations for passage in public health, attributable for the
between each. Education through the most part to efforts to educate the pub-
junior secondary level (for children lic (such as an anti-smoking campaign)
between the ages of six and 15) is man- and programs to make preventive medi-
datory. About 60 percent of all these cine and personal health services
schools are private; 30 percent receive readily available. Cancer, heart disease,
some form of government subsidy; and and stroke are the usual causes of death.
the rest are public. Nearly all of Hong Moreover, the Hong Kong public gener-
Kong's people have at least a primary ally enjoys a relatively high quality of
school education. life. Life expectancy is just under 77
years for men and slightly above 82 for
Enrollment in the primary schools women. A growing elderly population
in mid-1990s totaled about 470,000 has become an increasing concern.
while total enrollment in secondary
and vocational schools came to around Hospitals, like the schools, are
520,000. either private, partly subsidized, or pub-
Colleges and universities in Hong lic. Among the region’s many hospitals
are St. John’s and Ruttonjee on Hong
Kong are generally small; the University
Kong Island, Queen Mary and Hong
of Hong Kong (founded 1911) and the
Chinese University of Hong Kong Kong Buddhist Hospitals in Kowloon,
and Caritas and Tai Po Hospitals in the
(1963), for example, have a combined
New Territories. Social welfare programs
enrollment of around 14,000. These
two schools, together with Hong Kong are mostly limited to emergency relief,
with some provision for old age and
Polytechnic (1972) and Hong Kong
disabilities. Hospital services are supple-
Baptist College (1956), are the main
institutions of higher education. There mented by specialized clinics and clin-
ics in outlying areas, some of them on
are also students at numerous other
boats, in an effort to provide all citizens
schools for vocational, technical, and
industrial instruction. The City Univer- of Hong Kong with access to health
care.
sity of Hong Kong is a new school that
opened in 1984, representative of
recent efforts to expand the size and the 14 Media
number of institutions for post-second-
ary education in Hong Kong. Thou- Hong Kong’s international com-
sands of students also go abroad to mercial importance and strategic loca-
pursue their studies. tion make it a natural communications
center. Hong Kong is thus a base of
operations for East and Southeast Asian
13 Health Care
bureaus for a number of news services.
Improving health indices and a Printing and publishing are also signifi-
steady decline in major communicable cant industries in Hong Kong, and the
diseases point to a continued increase city has several dozen newspapers and

Hong Kong
even more periodicals in Chinese and which the ultra-urban people of Hong
other languages. Among the newspa- Kong resort to the wooded areas sur-
pers are the Hong Kong Daily News, the rounding the city. Hong Kong’s water-
Sing Tao Daily, and the South China front setting also provides ample
Morning Post. Several television and opportunity for aquatic recreation, such
radio companies serve Hong Kong, as pleasure sailing, waterskiing, and
among which are Asia Television, Metro canoeing, and the city has several boat-
Broadcast Corporation, and Hong Kong ing clubs. Organized recreation is also
Commercial Broadcasting. available at community centers.
15 Sports Among the larger parks are Hong

Kong Park in the Central District,
Hong Kong has two particularly which has a Museum of Tea Ware, a
impressive sports venues, the Queen greenhouse, an aviary, gardens, and
Elizabeth Stadium and the Hong Kong sports facilities. Victoria Park is built on
Coliseum, one of Asia’s largest indoor reclaimed land in Causeway Bay and is
stadiums, at which it is able to host a typical urban park. Behind the old
international sporting events. Among Governor’s House are the Zoological
such events held in the city are the and Botanical Gardens, which have
Hong Kong Marathon, the Hong Kong beautiful manicured gardens, a small
Open Golf Championship, the Interna- zoo, and an aviary. In the New Territo-
tional Dragon Boat Races, Hong Kong ries, the MacLehose Trail is a 100-kilo-
Sevens for rugby, and tournaments of meter (60-mile) parkway linking eight
various sports. Horse racing is a Hong separate parks and offering dramatic
Kong passion and can be experienced at scenery and coastal views.
two courses, Happy Valley on Hong
Kong Island and Shatin in the New Ter-
ritories. Many clubs around Hong Kong 17 Performing Arts
offer excellent facilities where mem-
bers can play everything from cricket to Venues for the performing arts in
hockey and tennis. Hong Kong include City Hall (for classi-
cal music, theater, and film), the Hong
Kong Arts Centre, the Fringe Club
16 Parks and
(mostly for contemporary and avant
Recreation garde) in Central District. Queen Eliza-
Some 40 percent of Hong Kong’s beth Stadium (for ballet and pop and
land is devoted to its park system, and orchestra concerts) and the Hong Kong
its 21 parks scattered throughout Hong Academy for the Performing Arts (with
Kong and Lantau Islands and the New two theaters for dramatic performances
Territories are well used by the citizens. and classical and modern dance) are in
Tai Chi, hiking, bicycling, kite flying, Wanchai. The Hong Kong Stadium in
and picnicking are popular activities for Happy Valley is used for pop concerts,

Hong Kong
Visiting troupes of the Bejing Opera perform in Shouson Theater. (Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp)
as is the Hong Kong Coliseum in performs more innovative works. The

Kowloon. Fringe Club presents drama of various
sorts in English and Cantonese, and the
Performance groups include the Zumi Icosahedron is an avant garde
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, drama and dance troupe.
which performs in City Hall; the Hong
Kong Chinese Orchestra, playing tradi-
tional Chinese music; some ten troupes 18 Libraries and
performing Cantonese opera; and visit- Museums
ing troupes from the mainland that per-
form Peking opera. The Hong Kong The major higher educational insti-
Dance Company performs Chinese tutions, such as the University of Hong
dance and contemporary choreogra- Kong and the Chinese University of
phy on Chinese themes. The Hong Hong Kong, have fairly comprehensive
Kong Ballet performs traditional and libraries. The city also operates a system
contemporary Western pieces while the of 25 public libraries, including two
City Contemporary Dance Company mobile library units.

Hong Kong
Several of the region’s museums are bus. Travel within the region is easily
located in Kowloon. Among these are accomplished by means of the train sys-
the Hong Kong History Museum in tems and the local buses, and water
Kowloon Park, the Space Museum by travel on the different ferries is also
the waterfront, the Hong Kong cheap and widely used. Tourists can
Museum of Art, and the Science experience the ultra-modern in Hong
Museum. Also in Kowloon is Young’s Kong’s abundant department stores,
Wax Museum, with figures of person- boutiques, and malls, or experience
ages from Chinese history, such as Con- something of traditional Chinese cul-
fucius and Sun Yat-sen. The Lei Cheng ture in places like the Kam Tin Walled
Uk Museum is a burial vault from the Village (Kut Hing Wei) in the New Terri-
Han Dynasty (c. A.D. 25–220). The Sung tories, the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau
Dynasty Wax Museum depicts life in a Island, or the scenic beauty of the outer
Sung Dynasty village, from about A.D. islands. Soon tourists will also be able
960 to 1280. On Hong Kong Island, the to visit Hong Kong Disneyland, sched-
Fung Ping Shan Museum, operated by uled to open on Penny’s Bay in 2005.
the University of Hong Kong, has a
large collection of Chinese and Nesto- 20 Holidays and
rian antiquities. The Museum of Chi- Festivals
nese Historical Relics is located in
Wanchai. And the Museum of Tea Ware JANUARY-FEBRUARY
can be found in Hong Kong Park. Lunar New Year
Birthday of Che Kung
Hong Kong Arts Festival
19 To u r i s m Hong Kong City Festival
FEBRUARY
Some three million tourists visit Yuen Siu (Spring Lantern Festival)
Hong Kong each year, and the tourist
industry accounts for seven percent of APRIL
Ching Ming (Rembrance of Ancestors)
Hong Kong’s gross national product
Birthday of Tin Hau
(GNP). Almost all visitors from abroad
Hong Kong International Film Festival
need both passport and visa to enter
the region. Package tours by which trav- APRIL/MAY
Cheung Chau Bun
elers arrive by air or sea are readily
available with a variety of options, and MAY
both government-run tourist bureaus Birthday of the Buddha
and private tourist organizations have a Birthday of Tam Kung
wealth of information and services to JUNE
offer. Dragon Boat Festival (Tuen Ng)
Birthday of Kwan Tai
Access to various parts of the city JULY
from the airport is convenient and rela- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Estab-
tively inexpensive by both train and lishment Day

Hong Kong
A festival follows the International Dragon Boat Races held every June. Because of Hong Kong’s sports
facilities, the city can provide for events like these. (Kim Newton; Woodfin Camp)
AUGUST 21 Famous Citizens

Maidens (Seven Sisters) Festival
William Alison Anders (b. 1933), Ameri-
Yue Lan (Hungry Ghost) Festival
can astronaut on Apollo 8.
SEPTEMBER Jackie Chan (b. 1954), actor.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Monkey God Festival Marguerite Higgins (1920–1966), Pu-
litzer Prize-winning writer (Korean
Chinese Opera Fortnight
and Vietnam Wars).
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
Bruce Lee (1940–1973), actor and mar-
Birthday of Confucius
tial arts master.
Chung Yeung
Joan Lorring (b. 1926), actress, best
OCTOBER known for her starring role in The
National Day Corn Is Green, 1949.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER Daniel C. Tsang, American librarian and
Festival of Asian Arts co-founder of AWARE.

Hong Kong
Kitty Tsui, writer, best known for Breath- Tourist and Convention Bureaus
less, 1995, and Words of a Woman Hong Kong Tourist Association
548 Fifth Avenue
Who Breathes Fire. New York, NY 10036
(212) 947-5008
Lin Yutang (1895–1976), writer and
philologist. Hong Kong Tourist Association
35/F Jardine House
1 Connaught Place
22 For Further Study Central Hong Kong
Websites Publications
Government Publications Centre
CIA World Factbook (Hong Kong). [Online] Available G/F, Low Block, Queensway Government Offices
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ 66 Queensway, Hong Kong
hk.html (accessed December 9, 1999).
Daily information bulletin for weather, news Publications Unit, Census and
and major speeches by government officials. Statistics Department
[Online] Available http://www.info.gov.hk/ 19/F, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road
isd/news/ (accessed December 9, 1999). Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Hong Kong government. [Online] Available
http://www.info.gov.hk/hkfacts/facts_e.htm Books
(accessed December 9, 1999). Cameron, Nigel. An Illustrated History of Hong
Hong Kong government. [Online] Available Kong. Oxford, 1991.
http://www.info.gov.hk/orgindex.htm Chan, Ming K., ed. The Challenge of Hong Kong's
(accessed December 9, 1999). Reintegration with China. (Hsiang-kang hui
Hong Kong government Works Bureau and the kuei Chung-kuo chih tìao chan / Chèn Ming-
Planning, Environment and Lands Bureau. chìu pien chu.) Hong Kong: Hong Kong Uni-
[Online] Available http:// versity Press, 1997.
www.wpelb.gov.hk/ (accessed December 9, Cheng, Joseph Y. S., and Sonny S. H. Lo. From
1999). Colony to SAR : Hong Kong's Challenges Ahead.
Hong Kong Travel Association. [Online] Avail- Hong Kong: Chinese University Press, 1995.
able www.hkta.org (accessed December 9, Dimbleby, Jonathan. The Last Governor: Chris
1999). Patten & the Handover of Hong Kong. London:
Official website of the Hong Kong Special Little, Brown, 1997.
Administrative Region [Online] Available Elegant, Robert. Hong Kong. Time-Life, 1977.
government.http://info.gov.hk/ (accessed Fosh, Patricia, ed., et al. Hong Kong Management
December 9, 1999). and Labour: Continuity and Change. New
York: Routledge, 1999.
PBS: Hong Kong: Lives in Transition. [Online]
Hsiung, James C., ed. Hong Kong the Super Para-
Available http://www.pbs.org/pov/
dox : Life After Return to China. New York,
hongkong/ (accessed December 9, 1999).
N.Y.: St. Martin's Press, 1999.
Leung, Beatrice, and Joseph Cheng. Hong Kong
Government Offices SAR: In Pursuit of Domestic and International
Central Government Offices Order. Sha Tin, N.T., Hong Kong: Chinese
Lower Albert Road University Press, 1997.
Lo, C. P. Hong Kong. NY: Belhaven Press, 1992.
Hong Kong
McGurn, William. Perfidious Albion: The Aban-
Office of the Ombudsman donment of Hong Kong, 1997. Ethics and Pub-
lic Policy Center, 1992.
31/F Gateway Tower 1
Morris, Jan. Hong Kong. Random, 1988, 1989.
25 Canton Road Patten, Christopher. East and West: China, Power,
Tsimshatsui, Kowloon and the Future of Asia. Random House/Times
Hong Kong Books, 1998.

Hong Kong
Pang-kwong, Li, ed. Political Order and Power Martin's Press, 1998.
Transition in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Chi- Segal, Gerald. The Fate of Hong Kong. New York:
nese University Press, 1997. St. Martin's, 1993.
Rafferty, Kevin. City on the Rocks: Hong Kong's So, Alvin Y. Hong Kong's Embattled Democracy : a
Uncertain Future. Viking, 1990. Societal Analysis. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins
Rioni, S. G., ed. Politics and Economics of Hong University Press, 1999.
Kong. Commack, N.Y.: Nova Science Publish- Warner, John. Fragrant Harbour: Early Photographs
ers, 1997. of Hong Kong. Hippocrene, 3rd ed., 1980.
Scott, Ian, ed. Institutional Change and the Politi- Welsh, Frank. A Borrowed Place: The History of
cal Transition in Hong Kong. New York: St. Hong Kong. Kodansha, 1993.

Honolulu
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
Founded: In 1850, Kamehameha III proclaimed Honolulu the capital city of the
independent Kingdom of Hawaii. Under US control, the county of Oahu was
established on July 1, 1905. Two years later, it was renamed the city and county
of Honolulu. A city charter was adopted when Hawaii became a state in 1959.
Location: Southern shore of Oahu, one of eight major islands in the state of Hawaii, in
the northern Pacific Ocean, 2,390 miles from California, and 3,850 miles from
Japan
Flag: Honolulu does not fly a city flag.
Motto: Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono (state motto, attributed to King Kamehameha
III, meaning “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”)
Island Flower: Ilima
Time Zone: Hawaii is located in its own time zone, called Hawaiian Standard Time.
The state does not observe Daylight Savings Time. Noon in Hawaii = 2 PM on
the US West Coast/5 PM on the US East Coast (Standard Time, November
through August). During mainland Daylight Savings (April–October), there is a
three hour difference with the West Coast and a six hour difference with the East
Coast.
Ethnic Composition: 24% Caucasian; 21% Japanese; 17% mixed ancestry, other
than part-Hawaiian; 16% part-Hawaiian; 7% Filipino; 6% Chinese, 1% pure
Hawaiian
Latitude and Longitude: 21°18’25 N, 157°51’30 W
Coastline: Southern shore of the island of Oahu
Climate: Typically warm and sunny throughout the year, with slight temperature
variations; nearly constant trade winds moderate heat and humidity. Kona
weather, with warmer winds from the south, brings higher temperatures and
humidity. Winter months are wetter, and sometimes stormier, but rainbows
quickly follow the rains.
Annual Mean Temperature: Summer highs range from 85 to 87°F (29.4–30.6°C);
night lows average 70 to 74°F (21.1–23.3°C). In the winter, daytime highs range
from 70 to 74°F (21.1–23.3°C); night lows average 65 to 69°F (C18.3–20.6°C).
Average Annual Precipitation: Varies dramatically in different parts of the city. The
waterfront district of Waikiki only averages about 25 inches of rain, but the Lyon
Arboretum in the upper Manoa Valley, about 5 miles to the north, averages 158
inches.
Government: Mayor and nine-member city council.
Telephone Area Code: 808 in the city and county of Honolulu
1 Introduction of Oahu, nestled between mountains

and the Pacific Ocean, and surrounded
Aptly named “The Gathering by fields of sugarcane and pineapple,
Place,” Oahu is the hub of the Hawaiian ranch lands, and farms. One of the
Islands, and Honolulu is the heartbeat most ethnically diverse cities in the
of Oahu. Most of Honolulu is settled in United States, more than 75 percent of
a narrow shoulder on the south shore the state’s multicultural population
39
Honolulu
the city is compact and easy to navi-

Honolulu gate, the private automobile remains a
Population Profile predominant mode of transport, often
clogging the freeways during rush hour.
Population: 377,050 The city has experimented with water
Area: 1,540 sq km (594 sq mi–Oahu)
Ethnic composition: 24% Caucasian; 21%
transport with little success. Mayor Jer-
Japanese; 17% mixed ancestry, other than emy Harris’ proposed light-rail system
part-Hawaiian; 16% part-Hawaiian; 7%
Filipino; 6% Chinese, 1% pure Hawaiian
has not been well received.
World population rank1: unranked
Percentage of national population2: <1%
Nickname: The Gathering Place Airports
——— Located in the middle of the Pacific

1. The Honolulu metropolitan area’s rank among Ocean, Honolulu did not become a
the world’s urban areas. popular tourist destination until the air-
the Honolulu metropolitan area.
plane age. Today, most people who
come to Oahu arrive at the Honolulu
International Airport. Before 1932, the
airport was named after Commander
John Rodgers. He made the first flight
reside there. The economic and enter- from the mainland United States to
tainment capital of Hawaii, Honolulu is Hawaii in 1925. It is possible to get to
a sophisticated metropolis with a pleth- Hawaii by cruise ship and travel to the
ora of activities, attractions, and events; other islands by cruise ship, but the
however, the city also enjoys a tropical bulk of inter-island travel is serviced by
atmosphere and magnificent natural airlines. Hawaiian Airlines has daily
beauty. Much of Hawaii’s culture is pre- flights to Seattle, San Francisco and Los
served in Honolulu, in its many muse- Angeles. The smaller Aloha Airlines also
ums, churches, national memorials and serves the West Coast. All major U.S.
monuments, and the Iolani Palace, the airlines fly to the islands. Japanese air-
only royal palace in the United States. lines have daily service to Honolulu
Perhaps all of these are reasons why and neighboring islands. Honolulu is a
70,000 travelers from around the world hub for many Pacific Islands.
visit the island each day.
Shipping
2 Getting There
Honolulu is located at the cross-
Highways roads of transpacific cargo carriers, and
its port has extensive shipping facilities.
The island of Oahu has two major The port also serves local industries,
freeways that are part of the national including pineapple canneries, sugar
highway system: H-1 and H-2. While refineries, and clothing factories.

Honolulu

Honolulu
3 Getting Around 1990 U.S. Census, in the city and

county of Honolulu, 264,372 people
Bus and Commuter Rail Service were white; 195,149 were of Japanese
ancestry; 120,029 were Filipino; 63,265
Oahu Transit Services operates a were Chinese; 91,967 were Hawaiian;
successful public bus service. The Amer- 25,875 were black; 3,532 were Native
ican Public Transit Association named American; and 72,042 were of other
“The Bus” America’s Best Transit System heritage.
in 1994–1995. “The Bus” transports
260,000 people over 60,000 miles each Early Hawaiians worshipped many
day. Buses, many of them equipped ancestral gods and spirits. They made
with bicycle racks, travel throughout daily offerings to Pele, goddess of the
the island. With 1,350 employees, “The volcano. They also made offerings to
Bus” is one of Oahu's largest employers. Ku, the god of war, and Lono, the god
of fertility. Today, many Hawaiians hold
Sightseeing on to their beliefs. Others have
accepted Christianity or other religions.
Honolulu ranks first in tourist The remains of heiau, places of worship
arrivals, and some of the state's most for early Hawaiians, are found through-
visited attractions are within its bound- out Oahu. The Catholic Church, with
aries. In Oahu, most visitors head for some 200,000 members, is the largest
the Waikiki district of Honolulu. Other congregation in the state. Buddhists are
popular spots in and around the city second, with more than 85,000 mem-
include the USS Arizona Memorial and bers. There are Jewish, Hindu, and Mus-
Visitors Center in Pearl Harbor; Punch- lim houses of worship as well.
bowl Crater, home of the National
Memorial Cemetery; the retired battle- English and Hawaiian are the offi-
ship USS Missouri; the Queen Emma cial languages. Hawaiian, a melodious
Summer Palace; and Iolani Palace, the language, is a Polynesian dialect. It has
only royal palace in the United States. only 12 letters: the vowels a, e, i, o, u,
and the consonants h, k, l, m, n, p and
w. In order to clarify pronunciation, a
4 People
glottal stop (‘) or ‘okina—similar to the
Honolulu is one of the most diver- sound between the oh's in the English
sified cities in America. About 24 per- oh-oh—is used in the Hawaiian lan-
cent of residents are Caucasian; 21 guage. The state's name often is spelled
percent are Japanese; 17 percent are Hawai‘i. About 85 percent of all place
mixed ancestry, other than part-Hawai- names in Hawaii are in Hawaiian. Many
ian; 16 percent are part-Hawaiian; seven Hawaiian phrases and words, as well as
percent are Filipino, six percent are Chi- words from immigrant groups, have
nese; and about one percent are pure been incorporated into everyday usage.
Hawaiian. There are many small Pacific Some common Hawaiian words include
and Asian minorities. According to the aloha (a word of many meanings that

Honolulu

Honolulu Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
Population of urban area1 377,050 10,772,000 2,688,000 12,033,000

Major Newspapers3
The Honolulu Akhbar El Yom/
Advertiser Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
expresses love, affection, compassion, languages. Some examples include talk

grace and charity. It is often used as a story: to have a conversation, to gossip;
greeting), and mahalo (thanks). ono grinds: good food (or broke da mouth,
for delicious); brah: brother or friend; I
Pidgin, a simplified form of am pau: I am done, finished; and Pau
English, is still used in the islands. It Hana: quitting time. Japanese and other
was developed by Hawaii's many immi- Asian languages also are widely spoken.
grant groups to communicate with one
another. Modern pidgin has been 5 Neighborhoods
defined as local slang and has come
under attack by some educators who One of the world's most famous
believe it is keeping children from neighborhoods is Waikiki, on the
speaking proper English. Others defend southern shores of the island of Oahu.
pidgin as a cultural treasure unique to Separated from the rest of Honolulu by
Hawaii. Pidgin is not easy to pick up. It the Ala Wai Canal, Waikiki truly seems
has a cadence of its own, double mean- to be a city of its own. With about
ings, and borrowed words from many 25,000 residents and thousands of daily

Honolulu
Honolulu is on the island of Oahu, one of the eight major islands of Hawaii. (Ignacio Lobos; EPD Photos)
visitors, Waikiki never seems to sleep. It cal buildings in the city is the “walk
has more than 400 restaurants and well up,” a two, three, or four-story building
over 300 bars and clubs. Yet, remark- without elevators. Because of its benign
ably, Waikiki architecture, except for a weather, more than 80 percent of
few buildings, is quite unremarkable. households do not use heating or air
Most are large concrete monoliths with conditioners.
little visual interest. North of the city is
the neighborhood of Makiki, one of the
most densely populated areas in the 6 History
city. Makiki Heights, which as the name
implies, climbs up the hills that buttress Archaeological evidence suggests
the northern end of the city, is one of that the first settlers to the Hawaiian
the most exclusive neighborhoods in Islands arrived from the Marquesas
Honolulu. Just to the east is Manoa Val- sometime between 500 and 750. Set-
ley, where beautiful residential homes tlers from Tahiti arrived sometime in
are surrounded by lush green hills on 1000 and may have enslaved the Mar-
three sides. It is also one of the rainiest quesans, forcing them to build temples
areas in the city. One of the most typi- and work in the fields.

Honolulu
The British explorer Captain James clear to sailors that the bay offered a
Cook (1728–79) was the first known perfect place to set anchor. As more
Westerner to sight the island of Oahu, ships came, Honolulu began to grow.
on January 18, 1778. He was killed in a By 1809, King Kamehameha moved his
fight with Hawaiians when he returned residence from Waikiki to Honolulu to
to the islands a year later. Many West- tighten his control on the valuable san-
erners would soon come to the islands, dalwood trade. By the 1820s, whaling
some with the idea of conquest in ships began to stop in Honolulu. Their
mind. By the late eighteenth century, crews were a rough crowd. Taverns and
powerful Hawaiian rulers battled for brothels soon followed to serve their
control of the archipelago. In 1795, needs. Not far behind were Christian
King Kamehameha the Great (c. 1758– missionaries who traveled to the islands
1819; r. 1792–1819), who controlled the to convert the Hawaiians.
Big Island of Hawaii, captured Maui and
Molokai and set his eyes on Oahu. The missionaries exerted enormous
Kamehameha's large fleet of battle influence. By the mid-1800s, they man-
aged to convince the Hawaiian royalty
canoes landed in present-day Waikiki.
to prosecute drunken sailors and curb
His soldiers moved across the valley
and into the mountains pursuing the growing prostitution trade. Most
whaling boats abandoned Honolulu for
Kalanikupule, the king of Oahu.
the safer confines of Lahaina on Maui.
Kamehameha had quite an advan- The sons of these original missionaries
tage. Among his troops were several would in time become businessmen
Western sharpshooters with firearms. who wielded enormous power in the
With superior firepower, they forced islands. They came to control most of
Kalanikupule's troops high into the val- the land, and operated large and profit-
ley. In the final battle, hundreds of able sugar plantations. Westerners also
Oahuans were forced to jump to their brought many diseases that decimated
deaths from the Nuuanu Pali (cliffs). the native Hawaiian population. Faced
After his victory, Kamehameha united with a worker shortage, the plantation
the islands under one kingdom. owners brought thousands of Japanese,
Chinese, Portuguese, Filipinos, and
During the time of the Kame-
Koreans to work the land.
hameha's invasion, Honolulu was little
more than a village of small huts near Hawaii had become a desirable
the water. In 1793, Captain William place to outsiders. In 1843, the British
Brown directed his English frigate But- held the island for five months before
terworth into what is now known as leaving. The French followed in 1849.
Honolulu Harbor. He named it Fair The Hawaiians got their kingdom back
Heaven, but it came to be known as but could not stop the steady flow of
Brown’s Harbor. It is not clear how the foreigners coming to the islands. By
harbor came to be known as Honolulu, 1893, the Hawaiian kingdom was once
which means protected bay. But it was again under siege by outsiders. White

Honolulu
Sugar plantations, which were established by wealthy businessmen in the 1800s, attract groups of school
children and tourists. Today, sugarcane is a staple crop of Hawaii. (Catherine Karnow; Woodfin Camp)
planters and businessmen plotted with U.S. President Grover Cleveland

the United States Minister to Hawaii, (1837–1908; president 1885–89; 1893–
John L. Stevens, to overthrow the 97) agreed the overthrow of Queen
Hawaiian monarchy. Queen Lili'uokalani had been illegal. “By an
act of war, committed with the partici-
Lili'uokalani (1838–1917; r. 1891–
pation of a diplomatic representative of
1894), who had recently succeeded her the United States,” Cleveland wrote,
brother, Kalakaua, was pushing for “and without authority of Congress,
democratic reforms when she was the Government of a feeble but friendly
forced to relinquish her authority. But and confiding people has been over-
the queen did not cede her powers to thrown. A substantial wrong has thus
the provisional government that had been done which a due regard for our
just overthrown her. She ceded it to the national character as well as the rights
of the injured people requires we
United States with the hope that it
should endeavor to repair.”
would “undo the action of its represen-
tatives and reinstate me in the author- Cleveland ordered the lowering of
ity which I claim as the constitutional the U.S. flag, but the provisional gov-
sovereign of the Hawaiian Islands.” ernment refused. Hawaiians, greatly

Honolulu
outnumbered and without weapons to pound) armor-piercing bomb slammed

defend themselves, were no longer in through the deck of the USS Arizona
control of their own destiny. The provi- and ignited its forward ammunition
sional government in Honolulu system- magazine. The massive explosion at
atically tightened its control of the about 8:10 AM was heard in Honolulu.
islands, even imprisoning Queen In less than nine minutes, the ship sank
Lili'uokalani for several months. By with its crew. The loss of the Arizona
1898, Hawaiians could only watch as symbolized the beginning of World War
the United States finally annexed the II (1939–45) for Americans; the explo-
islands. sion that instantly galvanized public
“Because of the overthrow and opinion in favor of the war effort.
annexation, Hawaiian control and Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who
Hawaiian citizenship were replaced planned the attack on Pearl Harbor
with American control and American even though he opposed going to war
citizenship. We suffered a unilateral against the United States, said he feared
redefinition of our homeland and our that Japan “had awakened a sleeping
people, a displacement and a disposses- giant and filled him with a terrible
sion in our own country,” wrote Hau- resolve.”
nani-Kay Trask, professor of Hawaiian
Studies at the University of Hawaii. In all, 2,341 military personnel and
Today, many of the remaining Hawai- 54 civilians were killed. More than 50 of
ians are among the poorest residents on the bombs that fell on Honolulu were
the islands. American Navy anti-aircraft shells that
missed their targets. The Japanese
For the United States, the Territory destroyed eight battleships, three
of Hawaii—especially Honolulu— destroyers, and 188 planes, bombing
became a key military post. Large instal- several military targets throughout the
lations were built, including bases island. The Japanese lost 64 men, 29
inside Diamond Head, an extinct vol- aircraft, and five midget submarines.
cano and important Honolulu land-
mark. Massive guns pointed out to sea. In the middle of the Pacific, Hono-
Through the early 1900s, the military
lulu played a crucial role in the war
presence grew steadily.
against Japan. More than one million
“A day that will live in infamy,” soldiers passed through the city on
President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882– their way to battles in the Pacific. Thou-
1945; president 1933–45) told Ameri- sands who died in the war were buried
cans on December 7, 1941, after 360 in a cemetery in Honolulu. Its residents
Japanese aircraft dropped bombs on lived under martial law for more than
Pearl Harbor, just west of Honolulu, and three years, the only place in the
other military bases throughout the United States subjected to such mea-
island of Oahu. A 798-kilogram (1,760- sures.

Honolulu
Pearl Harbor, a key military post for the United States, was bombed by the Japanese on December 7, 1941.
(Gerd Ludwig; Woodfin Camp)
In many ways, the World War II with 124,000 American citizens and
effort demanded more from civilians 45,000 immigrants. The military forced
living in the territory of Hawaii than Americans of Japanese ancestry who
anywhere else in the United States. In worked at military bases to wear a
Honolulu, military authorities declared black-bordered badge to indicate their
martial law and suspended civil liberties ethic origin. Their banks, Shinto
the day of the attack. Civilian authori- shrines, department stores, and lan-
ties expected martial law to last only a guage schools were confiscated and
few months, but for the next three 1,875 Japanese Americans were arrested
years, Honolulu and the islands became and sent to relocation or internment
virtual armed military camps. During camps on the mainland.
the war, as much as one-third of the
“Speak American” posters could be
island of Oahu was occupied by mili-
seen throughout Honolulu, one of the
tary forces.
most ethnically diverse areas of the
The lives of regular citizens were United States. While Japanese Ameri-
drastically altered by the war. Japanese cans were singled out, the war and mar-
immigrants and their American-born tial law affected the entire population.
second generation in Hawaii immedi- Everyone was required to carry a gas
ately came under suspicion, and their mask at all times. The beautiful beaches
loyalties were questioned. They of Waikiki were covered with barbed
exceeded 40 percent of the population, wire. Curfews and blackouts forced

Honolulu
everyone indoors by 6:00 PM. Every citi- and fertile agricultural land, came to
zen in the islands was fingerprinted, the host more than 30,000 hotel rooms by
first mass fingerprinting of civilians in the 1990s. On a typical day, Waikiki,
U.S. history. Phone calls and mail were which has a population of about 25,000
censored, and the military issued dollar people, hosts thousands of visitors.
bills—with a Hawaii imprint—that Honolulu felt the growing pressures.
could only be used on the islands. Uncontrolled growth littered the city
Hawaii residents didn't complain much with ugly buildings. Rents went up, and
about their plight and were often eager many Honolulu residents soon were
to prove their loyalty. unable to afford to buy their own
homes. Tourism brought jobs, but
More than 40,000 volunteered to mostly low-paying jobs. By the 1990s,
serve in the armed forces. Among them Hawaii, and Honolulu became heavily
were Americans of Japanese Ancestry dependent on tourism, especially Japa-
(AJA) who joined the all-AJA 100th nese tourism. By 1999, the Asian eco-
Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regi- nomic downturn affected Honolulu,
mental Combat Team, one of the most due to the steady erosion of Asian visi-
highly decorated units in the war. The tors in the previous two years.
years 1941 through 1945 would forever
alter the character of Honolulu and the
Hawaiian Islands. 7 Government
On August 21, 1959, Hawaii Oahu is incorporated as the city
became the fiftieth state of the United and county of Honolulu. The mayor is
States. Most people celebrated, but for elected to a four-year term, but cannot
many native Hawaiians, becoming a serve for more than two consecutive
state was just another blow against terms. The mayor appoints a managing
dreams of sovereignty. In 1993, in a director to run several city departments.
joint resolution, Congress formally The Council has nine members, each
apologized to the Hawaiian people for elected to a four-year term. Like the
the illegal overthrow of Queen mayor, council members cannot serve
Lili'uokalani. Many native Hawaiians for more than two consecutive terms.
continue to press for some type of sov-
ereignty.
8 Public Safety
Status as a new state, the tourism
hype, romantic and often inaccurate Honolulu ranks as one of the safest
Hollywood movies about Hawaii, and cities in America, with low crime rates.
the selling of the Hawaiian culture soon The Police Department reported an 11
turned the islands into a major travel percent drop in overall crime in 1998,
destination for Americans. Honolulu’s the lowest in ten years. Police officials
Waikiki District, which in the early believe greater efforts at community
twentieth century was mostly wetlands policing have decreased overall crime.

Honolulu
Hawaii were in an economic downturn.

Hawaii is highly dependent on Japanese
tourism, but the Asian economic crisis
cut into the number of visitors.
Honolulu is located at the cross-
roads of transpacific cargo carriers, and
its port has extensive shipping facilities.
The port also serves local industries,
including pineapple canneries, sugar
refineries, and clothing factories.
10 Environment
Sealife Park provides educational programs for With close to 900,000 residents in
students of all ages. (Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp) less than 1,554 square kilometers (600
square miles), Oahu, once a pristine
island, has suffered much environmen-
During 1998, 47,453 crimes were tal degradation. Sugar plantations and
reported in Honolulu, a decrease of 11 other agricultural activities have added
percent from 1997. In 1995, 67,000 to pollution problems. There is little air
crimes were reported. Violent crime was pollution, but the island remains sensi-
down by 11 percent in 1998, and prop- tive to water pollution. Some of its
erty crime had a similar drop. The larg- beaches are in danger of erosion. How-
est decrease came in larceny-theft. ever, the endangered green turtle has
Tourists are often targeted by petty lar- shown signs of recovery in Hawaii.
ceny. Rental cars are particularly vulner-
able. 11 Shopping
9 Economy Because it is highly dependent on
tourism, Oahu offers a great deal of
Tourism is the most important shopping, from giant malls to small
industry in Hawaii, especially in Hono- kitsch souvenir shops. Many tourists
lulu, which is the leading economic take home Hawaiian shirts, even surf-
center of the state. Tourism brings boards made locally. Flower leis are also
between $8 billion and $9 billion to the very popular.
state each year, or about 55 percent of
all income. The military contributes
about 19 percent while services and
12 Education
merchandise contribute about 26 per- There are four major colleges in
cent. During 1998–99, while the main- Oahu. The University of Hawaii has its
land United States was thriving main campus in the Manoa Valley in
economically, Honolulu and the rest of Honolulu. A branch of UH, as it is

Honolulu
known locally, is located in West Oahu. grant communities. The major

The East-West Center, established in networks, ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX,
1960 to promote technical and cultural have local affiliates. Oceanic Cable
exchange between the United States offers dozens of channels to subscribers.
and Asian countries, is located at the Major West Coast newspapers often
UH Manoa Campus. Chaminade Uni- reach Honolulu readers on the day of
versity was established in 1950, and publication, and The New York Times
Hawaii Pacific University, which offers home delivery.
attracts students from throughout the
world, was established in 1953. UH's
three campuses and seven community 15 Sports
colleges have a total enrollment of
about 50,000 undergraduate and gradu- There are no professional sports
ate students. UH offers degrees in more teams in Hawaii, but in Honolulu, the
than 80 programs, including oceanog- University of Hawaii provides plenty of
raphy, tropical agriculture, and Hawai- action. Women’s and men’s NCAA vol-
ian studies. Kapiolani Community leyball is quite popular, with some of
College in Honolulu is renowned for its the more competitive matches played
culinary school. Also in Oahu is the in front of sell-out crowds. The Wahine
Hawaii Campus of Brigham Young Uni- (women) have won several national
versity. titles. The university football team had
a rough decade in the 1990s but fin-
13 Health Care ished the 1999 season with a winning
record.
Hawaii ranks first in the United
States in life expectancy, with about 76 Water sports rule in Hawaii, espe-
years for men and 81 years for women.
cially in Oahu, which has nearly 600
They are considered among the healthi-
surfing sites, including the famous Ban-
est in the world. The state has 240 doc-
zai Pipeline. North Shore, about a half-
tors and 82 dentists for every 100,000
hour's drive north of Honolulu, is host
people. In Oahu, there are 11 major
hospitals. While heart disease and can- to some of the most important surfing
cer are leading causes of death in and body board events in the world.
Hawaii, sunburn is one of the most During the winter, waves reach six to
common ailments. nine meters (20 to 30 feet) in height,
with some breaks as high as 12 meters
(40 feet). Summer is the best time to
14 Media surf on the south shore. Outrigger
Two daily newspapers, The Hono- canoe racing is one of the fastest grow-
lulu Advertiser, and The Star-Bulletin, ing sports in the islands. In January
serve Honolulu. There are several week- 2000, public school authorities were
lies, including some that cater to immi- considering making it an official sport.

Honolulu
16 Parks and 18 Libraries and

Recreation Museums
Oahu has more than 60 beach The Bishop Museum and Planetar-
parks, including the large Ala Moana, ium holds more than 20 million arti-
just west of Waikiki. Beach parks are facts from Hawaiian and Polynesian
popular with Oahu families. During history, the world’s largest collection.
weekends at Ala Moana, many people The Honolulu Academy of Arts has
arrive at the break of dawn to reserve exhibits on Western and Asian art. It is
some of the more popular spots. Large home to the Kress Collection of Italian
extended families spend the entire day Renaissance paintings. The Contempo-
at the park, cooking, and playing rary Museum has many important art
games. Kapiolani Park, home to the pieces. The Hawaii Maritime Center fea-
city's zoo, also is a popular park. A large tures Pacific maritime history. The Mis-
section is dedicated to sports fields, sion Houses Museum displays the
including soccer, rugby and softball. history of early missionary settlements
There is plenty of hiking in the nearby in Hawaii. The Judiciary History Center,
mountains, with trails that lead to located in the historic Ali'iolani Hale,
waterfalls and gorgeous views of Hono- has exhibits on nineteenth-century
lulu. Diamond Head, an extinct vol- legal and judicial processes that shaped
cano, offers one of the most popular the Kingdom of Hawaii and the islands'
walks in the city. territorial years. The U.S. Army
Museum of Hawaii, located at Fort
DeRussy on the western end of Waikiki,
17 Performing Arts focuses on the history of the army in
Honolulu has a lively, albeit mod- Hawaii. The Honolulu Library is located
est, performing arts scene. Diamond downtown and has several branches
Head Theater has been staging Broad- throughout Oahu.
way shows, revivals, and musicals for
84 years. Kumu Kahua Theater pro- 19 To u r i s m
motes Hawaii's cultural heritage. The
Hawaii Theater, with seating for 1,400 Tourism is the most important
people, hosts many community gather- source of income in Hawaii. Honolulu
ings and performances. The John F. and other communities have developed
Kennedy Theater at the University of a sophisticated travel industry to care
Hawaii is home to the department of for visitors. Honolulu ranks first in tour-
theater and art. The Neal S. Blaisdell ist arrivals. Some of the state's most vis-
Center is home to the Honolulu Sym- ited attractions are within its
phony Orchestra. The Royal Hawaiian boundaries. In Oahu, most of the tour-
Band, founded in 1836 by order of King ism activity is centered in the Waikiki
Kamehameha III, is the only full-time district of Honolulu. With more than
municipal band in the United States. 30,000 hotel rooms, luxury resorts,

Honolulu
expensive international restaurants and

shops, and beautiful beaches, Waikiki
attracts hundreds of thousands of visi-
tors each year.
In Honolulu, and nearby, the most
visited sites have military connections.
The USS Arizona Memorial and Visitors
Center in Pearl Harbor ranks first
among visitors, while Punchbowl Cra-
ter, home of the National Memorial
Cemetery and final resting place for
34,000 veterans of World War II and the
Korean (1950–53) and Vietnam (1945–
1973) wars, is a close second. The
retired battleship USS Missouri was
brought to Pearl Harbor in 1998 and
has become a major visitor attraction.
The Queen Emma Summer Palace also
is a favorite destination. Iolani Palace,
the only royal palace in the United
States, was built in 1882. It is located in
downtown Honolulu.
Tourism is the most important industry in
Honolulu, bringing in between $8 and $9 billion
20 Holidays and annually. Waikiki Beach is just one of the many
Festivals beaches that attracts tourists.
(Catherine Karnow; Woodfin Camp)
JANUARY
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King's Day
Chinese New Year (January or March) MAY
Lei Day (May 1)
FEBRUARY
Presidents Day Japanese Boy's Day (May 5)
Memorial Day
FEBRUARY-MARCH
Cherry Blossom Festival JUNE
King Kamehameha Day (June 11)
MARCH
Japanese Girl's Day (March 3) JULY
Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day (March Independence Day (July 4)
26)
AUGUST
MARCH-APRIL Admission Day (anniversary of Hawaiian state-
Good Friday (the Friday before Easter) hood)
APRIL Samoan Flag Day
Buddha's Birthday (April 8) Obon (Japanese festival that honors deceased
Father Damien Day (April 15) ancestors)

Honolulu
SEPTEMBER able http://www.honoluluacademy.org

Labor Day (accessed January 25, 2000).
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. [Online]
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER Available http://www.jcch.com (accessed
Aloha Week January 25, 2000).
OCTOBER Kapiolani Community College. [Online] Avail-
Columbus Day able http://www.kcc.hawaii.edu (accessed
January 25, 2000).
NOVEMBER Oahu Transit Services, Inc. [Online] Available
General Election Day http://www.thebus.org (accessed January 25,
Veterans Day (November 11) 2000).
State Museum of Natural History. [Online] Avail-
DECEMBER
Pearl Harbor Day (December 7) able http://www.bishop.hawaii.org (accessed
January 25, 2000).
University of Hawaii, Manoa Campus. [Online]
21 Famous Citizens Available http://www.hawaii.edu (accessed
January 25, 2000).
Princess Ka'iulani (1875–99), next in
line to be queen until the over- Government Offices
throw ended her dreams, the Prin- City and County of Honolulu
Mayor’s Office
cess traveled to Washington D.C. to
530 S. King Street
convince U.S. officials to restore Honolulu, HI 96813
sovereignty to Hawaii. (808) 523-4141 Fax 527-5552
Queen Emma (1836–85), known for her Internet page for the City and County of Hono-
lulu. [Online] Available http://
charitable causes, one of Hawaii’s www.cchnl.oceanic.com (accessed January
most remarkable queens, founded 25, 2000).
hospitals and schools. Hawaii State Judiciary. [Online] Available http://
www.state.hi.us/jud (accessed January 25,
Queen Lili'uokalani (1838–1917), last 2000).
Hawaiian monarch, overthrown in The Honolulu Police Department. [Online]
Available http://www.honolulupd.org
1893. (accessed January 25, 2000).
22 For Further Study Tourist and Convention Bureaus

Hawaii Visitors and Convention Center. [Online]
Available http://www.gohawaii.com/hokeo/
Websites index.html (accessed January 25, 2000).
Arizona Memorial Museum Association.
[Online] Available http://members.aol.com/
azmemph/index.htm (accessed January 25, Publications
2000). Honolulu Advertiser. [Online] Available http://
Contemporary Museum of Art. [Online] Avail- www.honoluluadvertiser.com (accessed Jan-
able http://www.tcmhi.org (accessed Janu- uary 25, 2000).
ary 25, 2000). Star Bulletin. [Online] Available http://
The Hawaii Opera. [Online] Available http:// www.starbulletin.com (accessed January 25,
www.hawaiiopera.com (accessed January 25, 2000).
2000). Honolulu Weekly. [Online] Available http://
Hawaii Theater. [Online] Available http:// www.honoluluweekly.com (accessed Janu-
www.hawaiitheater.com (accessed January ary 25, 2000).
25, 2000). Honolulu’s business weekly. [Online] Available
The Honolulu Academy of Arts. [Online] Avail- http://www.amcity.com/pacific/ (accessed

Honolulu
January 25, 2000). Kanahele, George S. Emma: Hawaii's Remarkable

Downtown Planet. [Online] Available http:// Queen. Honolulu: The Queen Emma Foun-
www.downtownplanet.com (accessed Janu- dation, 1999.
ary 25, 2000). Kanahele, George S. Hawaiian Music and Musi-
Hawaii Public Television. [Online] Available cians: An Illustrated History. Honolulu: Uni-
http://www.khet.org (accessed January 25, versity of Hawaii Press, 1979.
2000). Kawena Pukui, Mary, Samuel H. Elbert, and
Esther T. Mookini. Place Names of Hawaii.
Books Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1996.
Allen, Helena G. The Betrayal of Lili'uokalani: Last Kent, Joel K. Hawaii: Islands under the Influence.
Queen of Hawaii. Honolulu: Mutual Publish- Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1993.
ing, 1990. Linnéa, Sharon. Princess Ka'iulani: Hope of a
Ambrose, Greg. Surfer's Guide to Hawaii: Hawaii Nation, Heart of a People. Grand Rapids,
Gets All the Breaks. Honolulu: Bess Press, Michigan; Cambridge: Eerdmans Books for
1991. Young Readers, 1999.
Grant, Glen, Douglas Peebles (photographer). Trask, Haunani-Kay. From A Native Daughter:
From the Skies of Paradise, Oahu. Honolulu: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawai‘i. Hono-
Mutual Publishing, 1992. lulu: University of Hawaii, 1999.

Houston
Houston, Texas, United States of America, North America
Founded: August 30, 1836

Location: Eastern Texas, Galveston Bay coastal prairie, United States, North America
Flower: Bluebonnet (Texas state flower)
Ethnic Composition: 64.7% White, 19.2% Black, 0.3% American Indian, 3.9%
Asian, 22.9% Hispanic, 11.9% Other
Elevation: 41 feet (12m)
Latitude and Longitude: 29°46’N, 95°W
Coastline: 51 mi (82 km) northwest of the Gulf of Mexico
Climate: Maritime climate, tropical almost year round. Hot, humid summers and very
mild winters.
Annual Mean Temperature: 48°F (9°C) in January to 88°F (31°C) in August
Seasonal Average Snowfall: Almost nonexistent
Average Annual Precipitation: 45 in (1,145 mm)
Postal Codes: 77002, 77336, 77338, 77339, 77346, 77357, 77365, 77373, 77375,
77388, 77396, 77401, 77429, 77447, 77449, 77450, 77469, 77478, 77484,
77489, 77493, 77504, 77506, 77520, 77530, 77532, 77536, 77546, 77547,
77571, 77573, 77587, 77598
1 Introduction Place is only one part of a revitalization

and diversification project for a city
Houston, also known as the Bayou that reached depression levels just a
City, is located near the Gulf of Mexico decade ago.
on the coastal prairie of Galveston Bay
in eastern Texas. For its city population, 2 Getting There
it is the largest in the Southern and
Southwestern United States, and the Highways
fourth largest in the nation. Texas’ larg- Two major interstate highways
est entertainment complex, the Bayou intersect in the downtown area: I-10
Place, is located in Houston. Finished in and I-45. Other important highways
1997, Bayou Place is the cornerstone of include I-90 and US-59, which converge
urban renewal in the 1990s, costing in on Houston from the north-east. US-
excess of $23 million, with the massive 290 approaches the city from the north-
size of 150,000 square feet. Yet, Bayou west and State Highway 288 from the
57
Houston
ties by providing curb-to-curb service

Houston for elderly and disabled commuters,
Population Profile and coordinating carpooling among
drivers.
City Proper
Population: 1,702,086 Railroad service is limited, but pas-
Area: 1,600 sq km (617.5 sq mi) senger service, via AMTRAK, is accessi-
Nicknames: The Bayou City, The Real Texas ble along the New Orleans to Los
Metropolitan Area
Angeles route. Greyhound Bus Lines
Population: 3,365,000 service is also available.
Description: Designated as a Primary Statistical
Area (PMSA) by the U.S. government
Airports
Area: 4,920 sq km (1,900 sq mi)
Houston has the fourth-largest air-
Average yearly growth rate: 1.2% port system in the United States and
Ethnic composition: 64.7% white; 19.2% black; the sixth largest in the world, with
0.3% American Indian; 3.9% Asian; 22.9%
Hispanic; 11.9% other approximately 2,000 flights entering
the city daily. The city has two major
———
1. The Houston metropolitan area’s rank among international airports and several other
the world’s urban areas. regional air facilities. The George Bush
2. The percent of the United States’ total Intercontinental Airport (on the north
population living in the Houston metropolitan
area. side of the city) and the William P.
Hobby Airport (located southeast of
downtown) provide passenger service
by all major international and domestic
carriers. The METRO bus system offers
south. While State Highway 8 forms an express transportation to most Houston
outer ring around the city, I-610 raps sites of interest from both airports.
around the center of Houston, delineat-
ing its own neighborhood, the Inner Shipping
Loop. As of the year 2000, the total
highway system contains 16 freeways The Port of Houston serves 200
and toll roads. steamship lines while it connects Hous-
ton to 250 ports worldwide. Ships enter
Bus and Railroad Service the 84-kilometer (52-mile) inland Hous-
ton Ship Channel through Galveston
The Metropolitan Transit Authority Bay on the Gulf of Mexico to reach the
(METRO) operates Houston’s bus transit port’s 100 wharves. The port itself is
service. Its extensive system, with more second nationally in foreign tonnage
than 900 buses that run more than 100 and third in total tonnage handled. As
routes, operates in the inner city and foreign trade makes up the majority of
most surrounding areas. METRO also its cargo, it is within the largest Foreign
has taken on community responsibili- Trade Zone in the United States. More

Houston

Houston
than half of the port's export tonnage Sightseeing

includes agricultural products. It is the
Several driving and walking tours
number-one wheat exporter in the of the Houston area are available
world and is also strong in rice and cat- through the Greater Houston Conven-
tle exporting. Other exports include tion and Visitors Bureau. Tours are also
plastic materials, organic chemicals, available through Tourworks Houston
petroleum products, fertilizers, and and Old Town Spring Tours. Churches
machinery. The Port of Houston is an may be toured by special appointment.
essential U.S. distribution point, linked Whether walking or driving, visitors
to 22,526 kilometers (14,000 miles) of will want to be sure to see Houston
commercially sailable intracoastal Museum of Natural Science, Museum of
channels. Fine Arts, Houston, and the Houston
Zoological Gardens, all located in the
picturesque Museum District. Moody
3 Getting Around Gardens, Space Center Houston, and
Sam Houston Park are also main sites of
Houston’s transit system, METRO, interest. Gourmet dining can be found
has made great strides in the world’s in the Montrose area, known for some
largest network of transitways. How- of Houston’s finest restaurants. Sightse-
ever, automobiles still cause traffic ers may also want to check out Enron
headaches in Houston travel. METRO’s Field, the home of the Houston Astros
efforts have been accelerated by long baseball team.
traffic delays, especially during the
morning and afternoon rush hours. 4 People
Houston boasts the third-largest taxi
cab fleet in the United States, with Houston is the fourth most popu-
more than 2,000 vehicles in operation. lous city in the United States. In 1995,
city of Houston population statistics
registered at 1,702,086. In the metro-
Bus and Commuter Rail Service politan area, the population count
stood at 3,710,844. Home to 68 interna-
The METRO bus system is afford- tional consular offices and more than
able and reliable. Riders can travel at a 100 different nationalities, Dallas Morn-
low one-way local fare, and the on-time ing News’ Texas Almanac lists the Hous-
performance record stands at 95.3 per- ton metropolitan area racial
cent. The system is flexible and offers composition as 64.7 percent White,
express service to the downtown shop- 19.2 percent Black, 3.9 percent Asian,
ping area and to several major medical, 0.3 percent American Indian, and 11.9
business, and shopping centers in the percent other; regardless of race, 22.9
area. METRO also offers a new trolley percent of the total population were
system that provides free transportation Hispanic, an ethnic rather than racial
within the downtown area. distinction.

Houston

Houston Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Total daily costs $114 $173 $246 $207
Major Newspapers3
Houston Akhbar El Yom/
Chronicle Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
5 Neighborhoods diverse, ranging from apartment build-

ings and small houses to mansions,
Houston is basically divided into condominiums, and townhomes.
four major areas: Inner Loop, North
Houston, Northeast Houston, and The River Oaks neighborhood is by
South Houston. Each area is representa- far the most exclusive in the Houston
tive of the city’s diverse population and area. Situated south of Memorial Park,
living styles. Neighborhoods are River Oaks was founded by Mike and
grouped into one of these areas accord- Will Hogg, the sons of James Hogg,
ing to geographic location. former Texas governor. The neighbor-
hood has abundant white-columned
The Inner Loop mansions, complete with painstakingly
tended gardens and even separate
The Inner Loop is a miniature ver- maids’ quarters. This neighborhood is
sion of the greater Houston area. It is in fact so exclusive that deed restric-
easily noticeable as I-610 defines the tions on houses forbid the use of “For
area’s boundaries. Housing in the Sale” signs. In this neighborhood,
neighborhoods of the Inner Loop is houses are sold starting at $400,000. To

Houston
labeled it one of the most marvelous

streets in the country.
North Houston
North Houston has more defining
characteristics than other areas, with its
older smaller neighborhoods completed
in the 1930s and 1940s. Where young
people once left the area in droves, now
many professional couples are attracted
by the relatively easy downtown com-
mute and the many tree-lined streets.
This area symbolizes neighborhood
renewal, not through new concrete and
steel but through housing renovation
in the old neighborhoods.
The Woodlands neighborhoods are

appropriately named, with a quiet and
spacious atmosphere complete with an
abundance of greenery. Housing in the
Woodlands, though almost all con-
structed in the 1970s, is characterized
Houston skyline. (Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp) by the use of brick, and some of the
houses have up to two acres of land.
keep up the prestige, the neighbor- There is also a 1,000-acre Research For-
hood’s streets are named after notable est set aside especially for nonprofit and
golf and country clubs from across the academic research institutes and indus-
country. try.
The South Main neighborhood’s The small town of Conroe is situ-

most notable institution is the Texas ated about 56 kilometers (35 miles)
Medical Center, which keeps 51,000 from Houston. In the late 1800s, Isaac
Houstonians employed in 41 different Conroe built a sawmill in the area, and
departments. A smaller division of it was consequently named after him.
South Main is Boulevard Oaks. Appro- By 1903 the town became the county
priately named, the section has gained seat, and by 1930s Conroe became
notoriety for its beautiful old oak trees, emblematic of Texas itself. It was during
originally planted in magnificent geo- this time that oilman George Strake
metric patterns along the streets. One unearthed “black gold,” the discovery
particular street became internationally that really put Conroe on the map.
recognized when The New York Times Conroe is notable for its many available

Houston
country properties. Some plots are so many residents to work in the Texas
large (24 to 40 hectares/60 to 100 acres City area. Today, South Houston is one
or more) that horses and other livestock of the quickest expanding areas in the
are permitted. entire region.
Northeast Houston Clear Lake is home to the third

largest boating center in the United
Northeast Houston allows for States, the NASA Johnson Space Center,
small-town rural living only minutes various computer and petrochemical
away from the big city. It is especially industries, and Hobby Airport is only a
attractive for its recreation areas, few miles away. Originally an agricul-
including Lake Houston and several tural and fishing locale, the federal gov-
golf courses. ernment’s decision to locate NASA’s
Space Center in Clear Lake helped its
Known as Hunter’s Paradise to
development tremendously. Twenty-
early settlers, Humble (pronounced
seven percent of the area’s population is
“Umble”) was named after P. S. Hum-
employed by aerospace-related compa-
ble, a settler who in the mid-1800s
nies, and recreation and tourism
operated a ferry across the San Jacinto
account for more than 25 percent of the
River. Though there is spacious, rural
work force. Space Center Houston
living in Humble, it is only minutes
opened in October 1992. Situated on a
away from Houston by way of Highway
16-hectare (40-acre) visitor center, the
59. The George Bush Intercontinental
$70 million complex depicts the history
Airport employs a large number of
and future of manned space flight
Humble residents.
through a visual timeline. Walt Disney
Sitting on heavily wooded terri- created various programs and hands-on
tory ten kilometers (six miles) east of exhibits for Space Center Houston,
Humble is Atascocita. Coming from the including Imagineering, which allows
Spanish word for “obstruction,” Atas- visitors to experience the inner work-
cocita was once employed as a strong- ings of the manned space program.
hold of the Spanish government against New housing construction is constant
the French. The area is characterized by in Clear Lake. Waiting lists have been
both large country-club homes and established because of the extreme
meticulously planned subdivisions, shortage of homes and apartments, and
offering smaller houses. occupancy rates are close to 100 per-
cent.
South Houston
Southwest Houston
The south Houston area is located
along I-45, nicknamed the “Gulf Free- The southwest area of Houston
way.” This area developed around rice (encompassing part of Harris and all of
farms, orange and fig orchards. In the Fort Bend County) is one of the most
1930s, oil field development allowed expansive areas. Home to several manu-

Houston
facturing and electronic firms, Fort planned community are new, most of
Bend is notable as one of the fastest- them less than ten years old.
growing regions in the country.
Between 1980 and 1990, the population
of the county increased more than 50
6 History
percent. In fact, the county was ranked In the 1820s, American settlers
with the top ten fastest growing coun- began driving into Texas. At the time, it
ties in America in 1994. was in the best interest of Texas terri-
tory owner, the newly independent
The communities of Alief and Mexico, to allow these American immi-
Sharpstown experienced major growth grants to settle. In 1824, a New Yorker
spurts in the 1960s and 1970s. Brick named John Richardson Harris (d.
tract homes are prevalent in the area, 1829) established the town of Harris-
being small and mid-sized, but the burg, today within the corporate limits
importance of the area is its plurality. In of southeastern Houston. Harris was
the Alief-Sharpstown area, many cul- looking for a waterway location, easily
tural and ethnic influences are evident, reachable by ocean and land traffic. He
including African American, Asian, and established his claim at the confluence
Hispanic communities. of Buffalo and Bray’s Bayous, a prime
navigational area. By 1826 the settle-
Imperial Sugar, the state’s oldest ment became a lively naval trading
company, is located in an area appropri- post, but by 1829 Harris had died of yel-
ately named Sugar Land. Still in opera- low fever, and his heirs quickly became
tion, the sugar refinery is located in the deeply embroiled in litigation over the
city’s old business district. Residents of prosperous estate. The brothers Augus-
Sugar Land are recreation-oriented with tus C. and John K. Allen, themselves
three highly ranked golf courses. The New Yorkers, arrived in Texas in 1832
George Observatory, the largest publicly and quickly took interest in the Harris-
used observatory, is located nearby, burg estate. However, the immense cost
along with Brazos Bend State Park. for the land and the legal fight over the
Harrisburg property at the time stifled
First Colony was the first Anglo set- the Allen brothers’ plans.
tlement in what was once Hispanic
Texas, hence its name. Led by William In the 1830s, American immigrants
B. Travis early in the 1830s, 300 colo- changed their names to “Texicans,” yet
nists settled north of what is now Rich- quickly began to feel oppressed by Mex-
mond, on the banks of the Brazos River. ican forces. The Texicans, feeling
The area’s fertile soil was historically abused by the dictates of Mexico City,
the basis of sugar cane, cattle, and rice simultaneously declared Texas an inde-
cultivation. Today, First Colony is repre- pendent republic and at war with the
sentative of the growth of greater Hous- government of Santa Anna in 1836.
ton. Many of the homes in the master- During the Texas revolution, the Allen

Houston
brothers served as supply agents for the

Texan cause, and Harrisburg tempo-
rarily held the Texan government. Yet
when Santa Anna (1797–1876), the so-
called “Napoleon of the West,” reached
Harrisburg, he entered a flaming hulk.
The residents of Harrisburg evacuated
and torched their town after hearing
the news that Santa Anna was
approaching. The angry Mexicans then
finished the job. The complete destruc-
tion of Harrisburg was a sad develop-
ment for many residents, especially the
Harris family, but to the Allen brothers
it was a new opportunity.
Immediately planning another

town nearby, the Allens decided on a
site at the head of tide on Buffalo
Bayou. They knew that pioneer Texans
needed outside supplies and that the
easiest way to get them was by water.
Though other waterways in the region
were rather shallow and often con- Sam Houston (1793–1863), for whom the city was
gested with debris, Buffalo Bayou was named, was the first president of the Republic of
wide and clear. It had substantial banks Texas. (Leo Touchet; Woodfin Camp)
and was deeper than the others. Yet, the
Buffalo Bayou was on a desolate stretch became Texas’ permanent seat of gov-
of prairie; alligators slithered through ernment in 1839. As a result of substan-
the bayous; Indians stalked the woods; tial pressure by Texans, the Republic
mud and mosquitoes were a constant officially disbanded and became the
nuisance; and yellow fever menaced the twenty-eighth state of the United States
populous. To smite the obstacles in in July, 1845.
their path, the brothers named the
town for Sam Houston and even prema- Houston grew as a settlement
turely planned a capital and congres- despite the numerous problems that
sional building. Sam Houston, the first emerged. Rainfall was heavy, and drain-
president of the Republic of Texas, age was poor. Fires and floods ravaged
moved his capital from Columbia to the city, and differing epidemics
Houston. In 1837, Houston was incor- scourged the populous. From the late
porated with a population of 1,200, and 1830s to the late 1850s, the railroad
the capital remained there until Austin became important both as a means of

Houston
travel for Houstonians and for ship- oil and oil products between 1915 and
ment of goods. The Civil War (1861–65) 1929. Houston’s rapid growth during
was at first a benefit to Houston. The these years changed the physical char-
flour mill continued to produce; car- acteristics and architecture to suit the
tridges were manufactured at the court growth of manufacturing. By the 1930s
house; and there was considerable local this partnership allowed Houston to
production of drugs, leather goods, can- surpass San Antonio’s population and
dles, and printer’s ink. However, in the become the largest city in the then-larg-
end, the Civil War was devastating to est state in America.
the city, not just in the amount of
human lives lost from Houston, but in Despite the American Depression
the destruction of railroads. One rail- in the 1930s (and afterwards), transpor-
road did manage to avoid destruction, tation facilities in Houston continued
the Houston and Texas Central, which to improve. The most dramatic trans-
the military preserved for their exclu- portation improvement had to do with
sive use. After the Civil War, Houston air travel. Following World War II
continued to grow through the expan- (1939–45), the petrochemical industry
sion of commerce. in Houston grew even more. A major
development for the city had to do with
Manufacturing (particularly by a choice by the federal government.
means of lumber taken from surround- The National Aeronautics and Space
ing forests) was important, but like else- Administration (NASA) chose to place
where on the frontier, it took a backseat their new Manned Spacecraft Center in
to other commercial activity. By 1870, Houston in 1961. As the United States
Houston had 9,000 citizens, which entered into a space race with the
marked it as the third-largest city in Soviet Union, Houston found itself the
Texas. At that time, Houston was prima- home of famous astronauts and engi-
rily a distribution center with inade- neers, world-famous surgeons and the
quate means of transportation. Astros baseball team. The first word in a
Therefore, attempts were made in the message sent from the moon gave the
following decades to deepen the Hous- city recognition as it echoed across the
ton waterway in order to allow for big- globe: “Houston, Tranquillity Base here,
ger ships to reach port, yet this had the Eagle has landed.”
varying success. The discovery of oil in
1901 at Spindletop, near Houston, Scientific advances introduced new
helped Houston’s economy by acting as methods of transportation in Houston,
a catalyst for the eventual construction but they also destroyed old methods as
of oil refineries, pipe lines, and a large well. The old Union Station in Houston
petrochemical industry. Reshaping the ushered in and out approximately 40
Buffalo Bayou into a shipping channel trains a day in the 1950s. By the late
helped shipping to grow immensely as 1960s, the passenger trains numbered
it hastened to suit the dissemination of only about three a day in Houston. Air

Houston
travel, busses, and automobiles replaced country’s premier visual, architectural,

the old train system. multicultural, and performing arts cen-
ters. It has greatly expanded its shop-
The Arab Oil Embargo of 1973
ping areas and malls as well. Most
troubled many Americans at the gas
important, however, has been Hous-
pumps, where lines were long, and gas-
oline prices skyrocketed. Yet, for Hous- ton’s urban growth and population
ton this event was a miracle. With the surge. In 1995, the population had
sharp rise in oil prices, stock prices dou- reached 3,710,844, the nation’s fourth-
bled and tripled, dumping massive largest city in metropolitan polls.
amounts of capital into Houston. Sky-
scrapers designed by world-class archi-
tects dramatically changed Houston’s
7 Government
skyline and became monuments to Houston is the official seat of Har-
Houston’s investment in “black gold.”
ris County, operating under a mayor-
In 1983 alone, 155 office buildings were
council form of government. In 1992,
completed. Industrial workers flocked
to Houston to be a part of this massive the total number of City employees was
growth as companies expanded. In 21,045.
many ways Houston became a one-
industry town. By the late 1980s, the 8 Public Safety
chemical industry produced about 50
percent of the total United States out- Several public safety programs
put. Yet with the major energy compa- operate out of Houston’s City Hall. The
nies placing their headquarters in Office for Public Safety and Drug Policy
Houston, and thousands of energy-
employs the Office of Anti-Gang Activi-
related businesses in the area, the city
ties, responsible for developing city ini-
was set for a decline.
tiatives to reduce gang and youth
During the 1980s, the city reached violence. Houston Crackdown coordi-
depression levels as the economy con- nates and supports community volun-
tinued to spiral downward. The answer teer projects in alcohol and drug abuse.
lay in diversification. Shifting away The Mayor’s Office administers the
from reinvestments in the oil market, Crime Victims’ Assistance Program,
Houston revitalized in the 1990s with referring crime victims to legal and
capital in its entertainment, recreation, counseling services. In the year 2000,
medical, and aerospace industries. the City of Houston began sponsoring a
In the late 1990s, Houston gained new non-emergency service number: 3–
recognition not only as the capital of 1–1. The 3–1–1 program is designed to
the international energy industry, but handle service requests, such as pothole
also as home of the world’s largest med- repairs, and alleviate 9–1–1 non-emer-
ical center. It has become one of the gency calls.

Houston
Houston is an international and corporate business center, boasting 15 Fortune 500 companies, as well as a
leading city in energy, medical and technical, and chemical industries. (Dan Budnik; Woodfin Camp)
9 Economy Although energy has been the primary

growth catalyst in Houston’s economy
Since the economic recession of since oil was discovered in 1901, the
the 1980s, Houston has been one of the Houston of the 1990s is a city no longer
nation’s leaders in high-growth private dependent on the energy industry.
enterprise. A major international and
corporate business center, there are 15 Over 220,000 jobs were lost during
Fortune 500 companies located there. the economic recession of the 1980s.

Houston
However, even during the recession’s oil exceeds 100,000. The development of
and gas crisis, energy technology, high technology and medicine have
expertise, and resources stayed in the strengthened Houston’s economy and
area. Houston remained a leading city made it a national leader in these fields
in energy production and home to as well.
more than 5,000 energy-related compa-
nies. Today it is the home of major U.S. Houston has emerged as a world
energy firms in every sector of the leader in the chemical industry. Over 45
energy business. Yet, even with all the percent of the basic chemicals that are
expertise and resources in the energy used by downstream chemical ventures
field, Houston has managed to diversify are manufactured in Houston. Approxi-
its economy enough to break its total mately 80 inorganic (most notably,
dependence the energy industry and about half of the nation’s synthetic rub-
branch out to other fields. ber) and 300 organic products are pro-
duced near Houston. Home to four of
Houston has taken center stage as the nation’s ten major liquid gas pipe-
the primary player in manned space- lines, the world’s most developed pipe-
flight with NASA’s Johnson Space Cen- line network with specialty and
ter. Originally opened in 1962, the $761 derivative chemicals, Houston is a
million complex became the national major manufacturing center.
focal point for manned space flight.
Today, the complex remains a crucial In terms of tonnage handled, the
center of technological development, Port of Houston is the eighth largest in
pumping almost $3.7 million per work- the world. Served by hundreds of differ-
ing day into the economy of Houston, ent steamship lines, Houston is con-
and employing nearly 17,000 people. nected to 250 ports worldwide.
High-technology and medicine Boasting the largest Foreign Trade Zone
companies have also grown as Houston in the United States, the Port of Hous-
has climbed out of its recession. A $25 ton owes more than half of its cargo to
million Institute of Biosciences and foreign trade. More than half of the
Technology was constructed by Texas A Port’s export tonnage can be attributed
& M University, and the Texas Center to agricultural products.
for Superconductivity at the University
of Houston was constructed out of state 10 Environment
funds. The Texas Medical Center also
ranks Houston as a prime location for Houston is situated in the Texas
the development of modern high-tech- Coastal Plains region, which rises from
nology medicine in the United States. sea level to about 305 meters (1,001
The Center has 39 institutions that feet). Near the Gulf Coast, these lands
occupy over 223 hectares (550 acres) are marshy; however, as they stretch
and employ more than 50,000 people. inland, they become flat, low prairies
Houston’s total health employment and at Houston form a fertile crescent

Houston
that is well suited to farming and graz- land Village Shopping Center is also
ing for fine-breed cattle. distinguished in nature, though it is
still expanding.
An inland port city, Houston is
linked to the Gulf of Mexico, 82 kilo- A well-rounded retail area is Rice
meters (51 miles) southeast, by the Village, which offers over 325 stores,
Houston Ship Channel and Intracoastal ranging from national chains to more
Waterway at Galveston. Access to water quaint local businesses. Houston’s old-
transportation, raw materials, and natu- est shopping district is River Oaks Shop-
ral gas and oil reserves have made the ping Center, which has more than 65
Coastal Plains the most densely popu- shops.
lated part of the state and the center of
Texas industry, with Houston as the A particularly strong market is
hub. antiques and collectibles. Designer
showrooms and antique stores charac-
Within Houston city limits, the terize the Upper Kirby District, noted
Mayor’s Office of Environmental Policy for its Gallery Row, which is a focal
employs the Brownfields Program. This point for many local Houston artists.
program is designed to facilitate reuse Another area for antique dealers is
of eligible properties identified as Hous- Houston Heights Antiques Co-op,
ton “brownfields,” including aban- though the Antique Center of Texas is
doned, idled, or under-used industrial much larger. For more of an open-air
or commercial properties with environ- experience in shopping, there is the Old
mental contamination. Qualifying sites Town Spring and Galveston’s Strand
are chosen based on which will gener- that offer not only antiques but art gal-
ate the greatest potential employment leries and smaller shops.
opportunities and most evident com-
munity benefits. In addition to these shopping cen-
ters, the Houston area has over 30 dif-
ferent malls. The Bayou City definitely
11 Shopping offers one of the largest concentrations
With a wide variety of malls and of shopping areas in the country.
specialty stores, shopping in Houston
can be an overwhelming experience. A 12 Education
little planning is necessary to determine
which shopping area is best suited for The nation’s largest school district,
any given shopping spree. the Houston Independent School Dis-
trict, covers 808 square kilometers (312
The center of the city’s downtown square miles) and encompasses 230 dif-
shopping district is Foley’s, the oldest ferent schools. With 10,000 teachers on
department store in Houston. A well- the job, total enrollment in 1992 stood
noted shopping area, the Post Oak Gal- at 194,512, and more than 8,000 stu-
leria is for the posh shopper. The High- dents were reported to graduate annu-

Houston
ally. Specially developed programs are Affairs Medical Center, and Texas Chil-
available. The district offers gifted, mul- dren’s hospital.
tilingual, pre-kindergarten, special
needs, and vocational occupational 14 Media
programs. There are also more than 300
private schools in the community as Television stations serving the
well. Houston area (excluding cable televi-
sion programming) include three net-
One of America’s leading collegiate work affiliates, five independents, and
academic centers, Houston boasted the nation’s first public broadcasting
230,000 college students in 1992. There television station. The city has over 50
are more than 30 universities, private, AM and FM radio stations that broad-
junior, and public colleges. The largest cast everything from the news to blues.
school is the University of Houston Houston has two primary daily papers,
while the oldest is Rice University. the Houston Post and the Houston Chron-
Another major academic center is Texas icle. Other noteworthy newspapers are
Southern University. Noteworthy medi- the Houston Press and the Houston Busi-
cal training programs are offered at the ness Journal Weekly.
University of Texas Health Science Cen-
ter and the Baylor College of Medicine. 15 Sports
Houston’s professional baseball
13 Health Care team, the National League Astros, and
their professional NFL football team,
Houston is home to the world’s the Oilers, both play in the Astrodome.
largest medical complex. There are 51 The National Basketball Association’s
hospitals in a city noted as a world Houston Rockets play at the Summit.
leader in medicine. At the Texas Medi- Houston’s collegiate teams also field
cal Center alone, there are more than most major sports. Professional golf
3.5 million patients treated by a staff of plays to spectators of the Houston
over 50,000. Within the Center itself, Open, and professional tennis can be
there are 41 major organizations. Sev- seen at the Virginia Slims Tennis Tour-
enty health organizations operate nament. Gulf Greyhound Park, the
ambulances while sharing four helicop- world’s largest pari-mutuel greyhound
ters for emergency transportation. racetrack, and the Sam Houston Race
Houston’s medical community is Park for horseracing are available for
widely known for its contributions in racing fans as well.
the areas of cancer research and ther-
apy, trauma and cardiac care, and inno- 16 Parks and
vative medical treatment. Its most
widely known institutions include St.
Recreation
Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Shriners Hos- Houston hosts a vast parks system.
pital for Crippled Children, Veterans Hermann Park encompasses the Hous-

Houston
The Astrodome was built to accommodate Houston’s professional baseball team, the National League
Astros, and its pro-NFL football team, the Oilers. (Leo Touchet; Woodfin Camp)
ton Zoo, a children’s zoo, a planetar- was late to the performance, and in his
ium, a natural science museum, a absence the town gamblers took his
garden center, and an IMAX Theater. seats. After ignoring an appeal to vacate
Memorial Park offers herb gardens, an the seats, the sheriff entered with sol-
arboretum, and a botanical hall. Sam diers who lined up against a wall. The
Houston Park, with six historical build- gamblers quickly lined up on the other
ings, is located downtown, and Tran- side. President Houston arrived in time
quility Park is located in the Houston to halt the showdown by giving an
Civic Center. The Harris County Park executive order for the soldiers to lower
system includes the Mercer Arboretum their arms. The gamblers then exited,
and Bay Area Park, and Armand Bayou giving a dramatic flare to the first the-
Park and Nature Center, offering a wil- ater performance of Houston.
derness preserve and farm.
Houston’s performing arts scene
has been growing steadily since the
17 Performing Arts 1950s, centered in the Theater District
where musical theater, opera, music,
Houston lore says that in June dramatic theater and ballet coexist.
1838 the city’s first theatrical perfor-
mance was given amidst a true-to-life Musical theater especially draws
drama. Then-President Sam Houston large crowds in the city. There are two

Houston
notable organizations that host musi- 18 Libraries and

cals in the District. The Theater Under Museums
the Stars produces popular musicals.
The Houston Broadway Series, a divi- There are more than 3.4 million
sion of Pace Concerts, shows a selection books in collection at the two main
of the best hits on Broadway each sea- library systems in Houston, which
son, including musicals, plays, and solo
together comprise 52 branches. The
performances.
Houston Public Library system consists
The Houston Grand Opera offers of 33 branches and the Clayton Library
classical opera pieces so often that it is for Genealogical Research. In addition
not unusual to catch two different to its downtown library, it boasts a
operas in the same weekend. 30,936 square-meter (333,000 square-
Both classical and modern music foot) facility, housing over two million
are also popular in the Houston arts volumes. An additional 23 branches
scene. Da Camera of Houston is and two bookmobiles make up the Har-
acclaimed for its classical music and ris County Public Library system. There
unconventional performances, but for are other specialized libraries in Hous-
mainstream music lovers it also features ton as well, ranging from medical to
string ensembles, solo recitals, and jazz legal subjects.
groups. The Houston Symphony is
renowned for superb concerts of con- As for museums, the list of special-
temporary and classical music. ized museums in Houston’s Museum
The Society for the Performing District continues to grow. Of impor-
Arts’ productions do not easily fit into tance is the Holocaust Museum Hous-
the classification of theater alone. For ton, which continues to educate people
instance, the Houston Ballet boasts a in the Houston area about the Euro-
permanent company as part of the Soci- pean pogrom. Another notable
ety. The Alley Theatre won the 1996 museum is the Houston Museum of
Special Tony Award for outstanding Natural Science, which houses a
regional theater and attracts an ever- museum, IMAX Theater, planetarium,
increasing crowd. The Ensemble The- butterfly tropical rainforest, a satellite
atre, the oldest and largest professional facility, and a Challenger Center. Built
African-American theater in the south-
in homage of the city’s health industry,
west, moved into their remodeled the-
the Museum of Health and Medical Sci-
ater in 1997. The Ensemble is noted for
their diverse selection of historical and ence features an interactive walking
contemporary works. Mixing of dance, tour through a huge-sized body. Hands-
music, theater, and more, the Society on learning is encouraged for both edu-
brings an eclectic accent to Houston’s cational and entertainment purposes.
performing arts scene. The facility holds two theaters as well.

Houston
flight program, and home to the two-

time world champion Houston Rockets.
With more than 38,000 hotel
rooms around the city, accommoda-
tions can be found to meet any budget
or interest. Special packages are avail-
able for almost any penchant—recre-
ation, relaxation, romance,
entertainment, special events, sports, or
family vacation.
20 Holidays and
Festivals
JANUARY
Confederate Heroes Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Houston-Tenneco Marathon
FEBRUARY
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Mardi Gras! Galveston
Whether it is touring the wildlife preserves,
shopping at Post Oak Galleria, or just taking a MARCH
Texas Independence Day
relaxing drive through Houston’s posh
neighborhoods, Houston is a city for everyone. St. Patrick’s Day Parade
(Leo Touchet; Woodfin Camp)
Fotofest
APRIL
San Jacinto Day
19 To u r i s m Houston International Festival
MAY
The largest city in Texas, as well as Cinco De Mayo Celebration
the fourth-largest city in the United JUNE
States, Houston is a popular tourist des- Emancipation Day/Juneteenth Celebration
tination for both foreign and domestic JULY
visitors. Offering something for every- Independence Day/Freedom Festival
one, the Bayou City hosts wildlife pre- AUGUST

Lyndon B. Johnson’s Birthday
serves, the world’s richest rodeo,
Houston International Jazz Festival
leading fine and performing arts insti- Justin World Bull Riding Championship
tutions. It is the capital of the interna-
SEPTEMBER
tional energy industry, home to the Fiestas Patrias
world’s largest medical center, head- MID-SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER
quarters for America’s manned space Oktoberfest

Houston
OCTOBER William Marsh Rice (b. Massachusetts,

Greek Festival 1816–1900), businessman, estab-
Texas Renaissance Festival.
lished Rice Institute.
NOVEMBER
Thanksgiving Day/Bank United’s and Foley’s
Thanksgiving Day Parades 22 For Further Study
Mayor’s Downtown Houston Holiday Celebra-
tion Websites
DECEMBER Houston Real Estate Information. [Online] Avail-
Christmas Boat Lane Parade able at http://houstontexashomes.com/
neighborhoods (accessed on January 5,
2000).
21 Famous Citizens Houston’s history. [Online] Available at
www.texasbest.com/houston/history.html
Augustus C. (1806–1864) and John K. (accessed on January 5, 2000).
(1810–1838) Allen, founders of the Visitor Information. [Online] Available at
www.ci.houston.tx.us (accessed on January
city of Houston. 5, 2000).
Monroe D. Anderson (b. Tennessee,
1873–1929), founder of Anderson, Government Offices
Houston City Hall
Clayton and Company in 1904,
901 Bagby St.
which became one of the world’s Houston, Texas 77002
biggest cotton brokerage firms by (713) 247–2200
1930.
Mayor’s Office
William L. Clayton (b. Mississippi, 901 Bagby St.
1880–1966), founder of Anderson, City Hall, 3rd Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Clayton and Company. (713) 247–2200
Hugh Roy Cullen (1881–1857), oil con-
tractor, benefactor of the Universi- Tourist and Convention Bureaus
Greater Houston Convention and Visitors
ty of Houston. Bureau
801 Congress
Joseph S. Cullinan (b. Pennsylvania, (c.
Houston, Texas 77002
1861–c. 1937), founder of the Texas (713) 227–3100
Company and anti-Ku Klux Klan-
ner. Harris County Historical Society,
P.O. Box 27143, Houston, TX
Ltn. Richard “Dick” William Dowling 77027
(b. Ireland, 1838–1867), Civil War (713) 655–1912
hero.
Publications
Sam Houston (1793–1863), famous gen- Official Guide to Houston, Fall 1997
eral, noted as victor of San Jacinto Published by the Greater Houston Convention
and Visitors Bureau
battle, first President of Texas Re- 801 Congress
public, had city and monument Houston, Texas 77002
named after him. (713) 227–3100

Houston
Books MI: Gale Research, 1994.

McComb, David G. Houston: the Bayou City. Aus- Texas: A Guide to the Lone Star State. New York:
tin: University of Texas Press, 1969. Hastings House Publishers, 1947.
McMurtrey, Larry. Terms of Endearment. New
York: Simon & Schuster, 1975. Winningham, Geoff & Reinert, Alan. A Place of
Schmittroth, Linda and Mary Kay Rosteck, eds. Dreams: Houston, An American City. Houston,
Cities of the United States, 2nd ed. Detroit, TX: Rice University Press, 1986.

Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America, North America

Location: Central Indiana, United States, North America
Motto: Crossroads of America (state motto)
Flag: Blue field with white cross; in the center, a white star on a red circle represent
the center of the city.
Flower: Peony (state flower)
Ethnic Composition: White 77%, Black 21%, Hispanic origin 1%
Elevation: 219 m (717 ft) above sea level. The city is situated on level to gently
rolling terrain.
Coastline: None
Climate: Temperate continental climate with precipitation evenly distributed
throughout the year. Warm summers and cold winters that can be affected by
blasts of polar air from the north.
Annual Mean Temperature: 11°C (52°F); January –2ºC (28ºF); July 24ºC (75ºF)
Seasonal Average Snowfall: 58 cm (23 in); Average Annual Precipitation
(rainfall and melted snow): 101.3 cm (39.9 in)
Government: Mayor and 29-member council
1 Introduction lished a reputation as a sports center by

constructing major athletic and visitor
Indianapolis, the capital of Indi- facilities and energetically promoting
ana, is the twelfth-largest city in the itself as a venue for a wide variety of
United States. Located on land set aside amateur sporting events. However, its
for a state capital in the early nine- most famous athletic event remains the
teenth century, it was modeled after Indianapolis 500 motor race, held
Washington D.C., with streets radiating annually at the Indianapolis Speedway.
outward from the seat of government.
Although it is not located on a naviga- 2 Getting There
ble body of water, the city’s central loca-
tion—in relation to the state and to Indianapolis is located east of the
much of the country—has made it an White River in central Indiana. It is the
important transport and distribution largest city in the United States that is
center since the nineteenth century. not situated on the banks of a navigable
Since the 1970s Indianapolis has estab- body of water. Its major thoroughfare is
77
Indianapolis

Indianapolis
Indiana is served by the Grey-
Population Profile hound and Trailways bus lines. Both
the bus station and the Amtrak train
City Proper
Population: 813,670
station are located in the renovated
Area: 1,043 sq km (402.8 sq mi) Union Station downtown on S. Illinois
Ethnic composition: 77% white; 21% black Street. Amtrak service is provided to
Nicknames: City of Churches, Crossroads of
America
Washington, D.C. and Chicago, with
three weekly departures to each city.
Metropolitan Area
Population: 1,002,000 Airports
Description: Nine-county area including Boone,
Hendricks, Morgan, Hamilton, Marion, Nearly eight million passengers a
Johnson, Madison, Hancock, and Shelby
counties
year use Indianapolis International Air-
Area: 8,000 sq km (3,089 sq mi) port, which is located seven miles
World population rank1: 364 southwest of downtown Indianapolis.
It is the largest U.S. airport managed by
Ethnic composition: 85.2% white, 13.5% black, a private firm (the same company that
1% Asian or Pacific Islander runs London’s Heathrow and Gatwick
——— airports). Serving 18 airlines, it offers
1. The Indianapolis metropolitan area’s rank more than 175 daily departures to 76
different destinations. It is also a pack-
2. The percent of the United States’ total
population living in the Indianapolis age-sorting hub for FedEx and a U.S.
metropolitan area. Postal Service hub as well.
3 Getting Around
Washington Street (I-40), which runs The layout of Indianapolis, the
east-west through the city, as part of a nation’s twelfth-largest city, is a grid
larger grid pattern that governs the lay- pattern modeled on that of Washington
out of the city’s streets. D.C. Its major thoroughfares intersect
at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument,
Highways in the heart of the city. The major east-
west artery is Washington Street (I-40).
The Indianapolis metropolitan area
The primary north-south road is Merid-
is ringed by I-465, which has junctions
ian Street, which is a major commercial
with the three major highways that
center.
pass through the city: I-70 (east-west), I-
69 (intersects from the northwest), and
I-65 (northwest to southeast). Indianap-
olis has more interstate highways junc- The Indiana Public Transportation
tions than any other metropolitan area Corporation (METRO) operates 138 city
in the United States. buses and provides service to the dis-

Indianapolis

Indianapolis
abled through the Metro Transit Open gion. The following denominations
Door program. The base fare for local have significant membership among
mass transit is 75 cents. residents of Indianapolis: Catholic,
84,033 members; Black Baptist, 56,403;
Sightseeing United Methodist, 37,027; Christian
Church (disciples), 20,596; Presbyte-
Walking tours are offered of the
rian, 17,990, and American Baptist,
Mile Square area in the heart of down-
11,483. There are also significant num-
town Indianapolis.
bers of other Protestant denominations,
as well as a Jewish population of 6,379.
4 People Altogether, Indianapolis has about
According to U.S. Census Bureau 1,100 religious congregations. In addi-
1997 estimates, Indianapolis has a pop- tion, a variety of religious organiza-
ulation of 813,670, up 2.1 percent since tions, including the Church Federation
1990 when its population was 731,327 of Indianapolis and the Islamic Society
(47 percent male, 53 percent female). of North America, are located in the
city.
The total population of the nine-
county Indianapolis Metropolitan Sta-
tistical Area (MSA) is 1.5 million, up
5 Neighborhoods
from 1.38 million in 1990. It is the Beginning in the 1970s there was a
thirty-first largest metropolitan area in resurgence of interest in older residen-
the United States, and Indianapolis is tial districts in the central city, leading
the twelfth-largest city. to the revitalization of neighborhoods
In 1990, the population of India- such as Lockerbie Square, Woodruff
napolis was 77.1 percent white; 21.1 Place, Old Northside, and Herron-Mor-
percent African-American; 1.1 percent ton. With its cobblestone streets, Lock-
Hispanic; 0.2 percent American Indian; erbie Square, once home to poet James
and 0.4 percent other. The city’s Afri- Whitcomb Riley (1849–1916), is
can-American community is the sixth regarded as an outstanding example of
largest in the Midwest and the six- Victorian renovation. The Midtown
teenth largest in the country. area boasts fountains, bridges, walk-
ways, and new residential and commer-
Indianapolis has historically been cial construction in the hearth of the
home to members of a variety of reli- city. Chatham Arch has become an
gions. Although the majority of its resi- increasingly popular area for residential
dents today are either Catholics or renovation. Other city neighborhoods
Protestants, over 100 different religious include historic Fletcher Place and
denominations are represented among Fountain Square, University Heights,
the city’s population, including reli- surrounding the University of India-
gions such as Zen Buddhism that are napolis, Homecroft, and the Old North-
outside the mainstream of Western reli- side, as well as the exclusive Meridan-

Indianapolis

Indianapolis Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
The Indianapolis Akhbar El Yom/
Star/News Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
Kessler neighborhood. Suburban areas $82,864. By the beginning of 1999, this

include Carmel, which is north of the figure had risen to $125,307.
city, and Greenwood, to the south.
6 History
Since the 1970s, urban renewal
projects, including the City-County Like Washington, D.C., on which it
Building and Riley Center, have signifi- was modeled, Indianapolis is a city
cantly improved the quality of life in deliberately planned as a capital. In
Indianapolis. There are over 300 regis- 1820 the state legislature of Indiana
tered neighborhood organizations in selected ten commissioners to choose a
Indianapolis, including the Front Porch site for the state capital, which was
Alliance, which supports community- established at the site of a small,
oriented efforts by churches, neighbor- recently formed settlement called Fall
hood associations, and other groups. Creek, chosen for its location at virtu-
ally the exact center of the state. Ten
In 1990 Indianapolis had a total of square kilometers (four square miles)
319,980 housing units, and the average were allocated for the new capital
cost of a single-family dwelling was although only two-and-a-half square

Indianapolis
The streets of Indianapolis were planned to branch out from a central circle, which features the Soldiers’
and Sailors’ Monument. (Sandy Felsenthal; Woodfin Camp)
kilometers (one square mile) were ini- of water—the nearby White River was
tially plotted. The city was designed by too shallow for navigation. However,
Alexander Ralston, who had assisted with the construction of the National
Pierre L’Enfant (1754–1825) in the
Road (today I-40) through the city in
plans for the nation’s capital, and the
new city was similarly designed as a 1830 and the completion of the Central
grid of streets radiating outward from a Canal in 1839, industrial activity
central circle in which the seat of gov- increased, and the arrival of the first rail
ernment was to be situated. The name lines in 1847 provided access to the
“Indianapolis” (Indiana plus polis, the Ohio River, eventually turning India-
Greek word for “city”) was chosen in napolis into a commercial center. By
1821.
mid-century, immigration, especially by
It took a while until the city grew Germans, increased the city’s popula-
significantly, at least partly because it tion to 18,611 by the beginning of the
was not situated near a navigable body Civil War.

Indianapolis
During the last two decades of the the city adopted a strategy of achieving
nineteenth century, the city underwent growth by promoting itself as a center
significant development that included for sporting events, beginning with the
the construction of Union Station and a construction of the Market Square
new statehouse, as well as the introduc- Arena home of the Indiana Pacers since
tion of paved streets and, in 1881, elec- 1974.
tric street lights (among the first in any
The focus on sports continued dur-
American city). In the 1890s an endur-
ing the 16-year tenure (1976–82) of
ing link between Indianapolis and the
Mayor William H. Hudnut, under
automobile was forged with the devel-
whose leadership Indianapolis spent
opment by Charles H. Black of the first
more than $126 million on construc-
gasoline-powered auto. By 1911 the
tion athletic facilities, aided by the Lilly
first car race was held at the Indianapo-
Endowment and other private donors.
lis Speedway. By 1920 Indianapolis had
A highlight of this effort was the cre-
become an important industrial city,
ation of a new 61,000-seat football sta-
with a population of 300,000. However,
dium. The city’s development efforts,
the 1920s were marred by the rise to
which continued into the 1990s, have
prominence of the Ku Klux Klan in the
also included the ambitious Circle Cen-
city’s political and social life, but the
tre project, a $300 million urban mall
Klan’s power had declined by the
with over 100 retail outlets.
1930s. During the Great Depression of
the 1930s, the Public Works Adminis-
tration oversaw the construction of 7 Government
Lockfield Gardens, one of the nation’s In 1970 Indianapolis’s city and
first public housing developments. county governments merged to form a
distinctive governmental system
Indianapolis’s central location and known as UniGov. Executive power is
extensive transportation network made wielded by the mayor, who is elected to
it a center for troop transport during a four-year term and heads an adminis-
World War II (1939–45), as well as a hub tration consisting of six departments.
of wartime manufacturing. In the 1950s He governs in conjunction with a 29-
and 1960s, however, rail traffic declined member City-County Council also
and the city stagnated. A major revital- elected to four-year terms, either by dis-
ization effort was begun in 1970 with trict or at large. In 1995, Indianapolis’s
the administrative reorganization that government employed 12,000 persons.
merged some functions of the munici-
pal government with those of the Mar-
ion County government to create a
8 Public Safety
unique governmental entity known as In 1996, 60,404 crimes were
UniGov, which has furthered the reported to police in the Indianapolis
growth of the city and enhanced its Metropolitan Statistical Area, of which
national reputation. Soon afterwards, 12 percent were violent crimes. In 1997

Indianapolis
answering a total of 49,212 calls, of

which 13,408 were fire calls. The
department operated 25 engines and
had a budget of $46.7 million.
9 Economy
Government, industry, and services
are all components of the Indianapolis
economy. Manufacturing was the domi-
nant sector until the 1980s, when it was
surpassed by services and retail trade.
Indianapolis’s manufacturing indus-
tries include food and food products,
paper, chemicals, printing and publish-
ing, petroleum, plastics, bricks, apparel,
fabricated metal products, machinery,
transportation equipment, medical and
Indianapolis’s economic development is aided by optical products, and electronics. At the
its growing popularity for sporting events,
end of 1996, manufacturing employed
including the Indy 500 motor race. (Sandy Felsenthal;
Woodfin Camp) 126,100 people in Indianapolis. Top
companies with corporate headquar-
ters in the city include Eli Lilly and
Indianapolis ranked fortieth nation- Company (pharmaceutical manufac-
wide—between Boston, Massachusetts, turer), Allied Gas and Turbine, Allison
and Arlington, Texas—in the number of Transmissions, and the Associated
crimes committed per 100,000 popula- Group (an insurance firm that has been
tion. The Indianapolis Police Depart- recommended as one of the top compa-
ment jurisdiction is divided into five nies nationwide in which to invest).
districts: north, east, south, west, and
Although Indianapolis is the larg-
downtown. The department employs
est major city in the United States not
approximately 1,025 sworn officers and
situated near a navigable body of water,
290 civilian personnel. The average
it is still a major transport center
length of service for sworn officers is 14
because of its geographically central
years. The police department’s general
location. Five railroads, four interstate
fund for 1999 was $82.7 million. As of
highways, and an international airport
November 1998, the activities of Crime
provide shipping services, and shipping
Stoppers of Central Indiana had led to costs are among the lowest in the
the arrest of 1,317 felons. nation.
The Indianapolis Fire Department The city’s employment picture is
served a population of 350,000 in 1997, bright, with the number of workers

Indianapolis
employed having increased without asset—its central location, which

interruption since the mid-1980s. At prompted the growth of highways and
the beginning of 1999 its labor force railroads that ultimately made the city
totaled 835,990, and unemployment “the Crossroads of America.” Today, the
stood at 2.7 percent. Major employ- White River anchors the 101-hectare
ment sectors at the end of 1996 were (in (250-acre) White River State Park
descending order) wholesale and retail located near the heart of the city.
trade, services, manufacturing, govern-
ment, and finance, insurance, and real 11 Shopping
estate. The top employers (with number
of people employed) were local govern- In 1995 the $319.5 million Circle
ment (62,700), state government Centre Mall opened in downtown Indi-
(28,800), U.S. government (18,200), anapolis. Skywalks connect it to the
Indiana University-Purdue University at city’s major convention center. Other
Indianapolis (8,250), and Eli Lilly and shopping facilities include the Castle-
Company (7,500). ton Square Mall, the Glendale Shopping
Center, the Indianapolis Downtown
The private and public sectors have Antique Mall, Keystone at the Crossing,
cooperated to keep the city’s economy Lafayette Square Mall, and Washington
strong by fostering new development. Square Mall. There are also stores at
The Indianapolis Economic Develop- Union Station and, reachable on U.S.
ment Corporation (IEDC) was formed Highway 31, the Greenwood Park Mall.
in 1983. Revitalization of the city’s
downtown, guided by the Regional
Center Plan, has benefited from public 12 Education
and private expenditures of over $4 bil- In the 1995–96 school year, the
lion since 1990. One of its major Indianapolis Public Schools enrolled
achievements was the construction of 44,896 pupils and employed 2,491
the new $319.5 million Circle Centre teachers, with a pupil/teacher ratio of
Mall, which opened in 1995. 18 to one. There were a total of 97
schools in the school system. There are
10 Environment 19 institutions of higher learning in
Indianapolis, ranging from two-year
Although the site for Indianapolis colleges and technical schools to pri-
was chosen deliberately for its proxim- vate and public four-year universities.
ity to the White River, it turned out that The largest is Indiana University-Purdue
the river was too shallow to support University at Indianapolis, which offers
navigation for most of the year. Thus associate, undergraduate, and graduate
Indianapolis became the world’s largest degree programs, and enrolled 26,336
city not situated on a navigable water- students in the fall of 1998. Private
way, and development of the city was four-year institutions (with fall 1998
forced to focus on its major remaining enrollment figures) include Butler Uni-

Indianapolis
versity (4,126) and the University of 35,602. The Indianapolis Business Jour-
Indianapolis (3,414). Other institutions nal, published weekly, is a tabloid-sized
of higher education (with 1998 enroll- business journal with a circulation of
ment figures) include IVY Tech State about 17,000. Indianapolis Monthly is a
College (7,116), Marian College (1,229), popular and respected general-interest
and Martin University (590). magazine that publishes annual “Best
and Worst” and restaurant issues. India-
13 Health Care napolis has network-affiliate television
network broadcasters for ABC, CBS,
Indianapolis is home to the coun- NBC, Fox, and PBS. There are a total of
try’s second-largest medical school and 19 radio stations, including both AM
its largest school of nursing, as well as and FM stations.
one of its most prestigious pediatric
hospitals. The affiliated Indiana Univer- 15 Sports
sity Medical Center is the nation’s larg-
est university medical center, Through promotion efforts and
comprising three hospitals and some 90 construction of new facilities since the
clinics, many offering services based on 1980s, Indianapolis has earned a place
cutting-edge medical technology. Some as a major venue for amateur sports
of the world’s leading athletes have events and sports-related activities.
been treated for orthopedic injuries at Major league sports teams in Indianap-
Methodist Hospital, the state’s largest olis include the National Football
medical facility. Among the city’s other League’s Indianapolis Colts and the
hospitals are St. Vincent’s Hospital and National Basketball Association’s Indi-
Health Care Center, a specialized surgi- ana Pacers. The Colts play at the
cal facility, and the Winona Memorial 60,500-seat RCA Dome (formerly the
Hospital, which has a sleep disorders Hoosier Dome); the Pacers play at the
clinic. There are almost 3,000 practicing Market Square Arena.
physicians in the city. The American
In the minor leagues, baseball is
College of Sports Medicine also has its
represented by the Triple-A Indianapo-
headquarters in Indianapolis.
lis Indians, who play at the new Victory
Field stadium in White River State Park,
14 Media which seats 13,500. The Indianapolis
Ice play minor-league hockey at Market
Indianapolis has two daily newspa- Square Arena.
pers: the Indianapolis Star, a morning
paper published seven days a week, and The best-known sporting event
the Indianapolis News, an afternoon hosted in Indianapolis is the Indianap-
daily. The Star has a weekday and Satur- olis 500-Mile Race (popularly known as
day circulation of 230,223 and a Sun- the “Indianapolis 500”), which takes
day circulation of 391,496. The place annually on Memorial Day week-
circulation of the Indianapolis News is end at the Indianapolis Motor Speed-

Indianapolis
The RCA dome, formerly known as the Hoosier dome, is the home to the National Football League’s
Indianapolis Colts. (Sandy Felsenthal; Woodfin Camp)
way, attracting over 350,000 visitors of downtown Indianapolis. It is home

and drawing professional race car driv- to the Indianapolis Zoo, the Eiteljorg
ers from around the world. Museum of American Indian and West-
ern Art, a new IMAX 3-D theater, and
Indianapolis hosted the Pan Ameri-
Victory Field baseball park. Indianapo-
can Games in 1987 and the National
lis’ largest park (and one of the largest
Collegiate Athletic Association’s Divi-
sion I Men’s Basketball Championship municipal parks in the country) is Eagle
(the “Final Four”) in 1991, 1997, and Creek Park, which covers 1,538 hectares
2000. (3,800 acres) and boasts a newly reno-
vated nature center, more than 16 kilo-
meters (ten miles) of trails, and a
16 Parks and marina that offers sailing, canoeing,
Recreation kayaking, and other water sports. There
The entrance to the 101-hectare is also a one-hectare (three-acre) beach
(250-acre) White River State Park lies on and a half-hectare (one-acre) ecology
West Washington Street, near the heart pond. Garfield Park, established in the

Indianapolis
1860s, is the city’s oldest park. It houses

the Garfield Park Conservatory, which
has a wide-ranging collection of rare
plants and tropical birds, and also has
sunken gardens and an amphitheater.
Other city parks include Holliday Park,
Ellenberger Park, Broad Ripple Park,
Riverside Park, and Marott Park. Alto-
gether, Indianapolis has almost 140
parks.
17 Performing Arts
The Indianapolis Symphony
Orchestra, founded in 1930 and cur-
rently directed by Raymond Leppard,
has been ranked by the New York Times
as one of the nation’s ten best orches-
tras. It performs in the renovated Circle
Theatre and at other venues through-
out the state. Indianapolis is also home
to an opera company, ballet and con-
temporary dance companies, and the
state’s only repertory theater.
Artsgarden, a glass-domed perfor- The Children’s Museum, the largest in the world,
mance and exhibition space in the has a multitude of interactive exhibits. (Sandy
heart of the city was completed in Felsenthal; Woodfin Camp)
1995. Connected to the major conven-

tion center and the RCA Dome by sky-
walks, the facilities hosts over 300 book volumes, over 45,000 compact
events annually. discs, and 100 CD-ROM titles. Among
the areas in which it has special collec-
tions are early children’s literature, first
18 Libraries and editions of Indiana authors, and James
Museums Whitcomb Riley. Altogether, Indianapo-
The Indianapolis-Marion County lis is home to about 80 public and pri-
Public Library has its main building vate libraries, including several
downtown and 21 neighborhood university collections, as well as the
branches throughout the city. Founded Indiana State Library. The collection of
in 1873, the library has a staff of 460 the Indiana University-Purdue Univer-
and an annual circulation of 8.4 million sity at Indianapolis Library comprises
items. Its holdings include 1.7 million over 360,000 volumes. There are also

Indianapolis
numerous private and government greater metropolitan area has 153

research institutions throughout the hotels with approximately 20,000
city, including the Hudson Institute, rooms. The major convention center is
which conducts research on public pol- the Indiana Convention Center & RCA
icy. Dome. In 1995 Indianapolis attracted
over one million convention delegates.
The Indianapolis Museum of Art is
considered one of the outstanding art
museums in the Midwest. Situated in a
20 Holidays and
picturesque park that includes a botani- Festivals
cal garden, it is noted for its Chinese MARCH
and Neoimpressionist collections, as St. Patrick’s Day Parade
well as the country’s most extensive APRIL
collection of paintings by nineteenth- Hoosier Horse Fair & Expo
century British artist J. M. W. Turner MAY
(1775–1851). Other noteworthy muse- Broad Ripple Art Fair
ums include the Children’s Museum Indianapolis 500 auto race and the 500 Festival
(the world’s largest children’s museum), JUNE
which provides a multitude of hands- Middle Eastern Festival
Indian Market
on science exhibits; the Eiteljorg
Indy Jazz Fest
Museum of American Indian and West- Italian Festival
ern Art; the Indiana State Museum, Midsummer Fest
which focuses on the history of the Strawberry Festival
state; a sports museum; and the India- Talbott Street Art Fair
napolis Motor Speedway and Hall of JULY
Fame Museum. Fourth Fest
Circlefest
Indiana Black Expo
19 To u r i s m
AUGUST
Since the 1980s, Indianapolis has Africafest
Indiana Avenue Jazz Festival
actively promoted tourism by market-
Indiana State Fair
ing itself as a center for amateur sport- Brickyard 400 auto race
ing events, building new sports
facilities, and expanding its hotel facili- SEPTEMBER
Greek Festival
ties. In addition to the time-honored Heartland Film Festival
Indianapolis 500, held annually at the Massachusetts Avenue Fall Festival
Indianapolis Speedway, the city has Penrod Arts Fair
hosted the Pan American Games (1987) Hoosier Storytelling Festival
Oktoberfest
and the NCAA Final Four (1991 and
1997). OCTOBER
Circle City Classic
Downtown Indianapolis has 19 NOVEMBER
hotels with over 4,000 hotel rooms; the Celebration of Lights

Indianapolis
21 Famous Citizens Mayor’s Office

200 E. Washington St.
Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901), twen- Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 327-3601
ty-third president of the United
States. Tourist and Convention Bureaus
Indiana Convention Center & RCA Dome
David Letterman (b. 1947), television 100 S. Capitol Ave.
personality. Indianapolis, IN 46225
(317) 262-3410
Eli Lilly (1885–1977), businessman and
philanthropist. Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce
320 N Meridian St. Suite 200
Steve McQueen (1930–80), actor. Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 464-2200
Jane Pauley (b. 1950), television news Indianapolis Convention and
anchor. Visitors Association
200 S. Capitol Ave. 1 RCA Dome
James Whitcomb Riley (1849–1916), Indianapolis, IN 46225
writer known as “the poet of the (317) 639-4282
common people”.
Publications
Wilma Rudolph (b. 1940), track star. Indianapolis Business Journal
41 E. Washington St., Suite 200
Booth Tarkington (1869–1946), novelist Indianapolis, IN 46204
and dramatist. Indianapolis Monthly
950 N. Meridian St. Suite 1200
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (b. 1922), satirical Indianapolis, IN 46204
novelist. Indianapolis News
307 N. Pennsylvania St.
22 For Further Study Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 633-1038
Websites Indianapolis Star
Office of the Mayor. [Online] Available http:// 307 N. Pennsylvania St.
www.ci.indianapolis.in.us/mayor. (accessed Indianapolis, IN 46204
October 14, 1999). (317) 633-1240
Official Website of the City of Indianapolis and
Marion County, Indiana. [Online] Available Books
http://www.ci.indianapolis.in.us. (accessed Berry, S. L., and Jolene Phelps Ketzenberger. The
October 14, 1999). Insiders’ Guide to Greater Indianapolis. India-
napolis: Insiders’ Publishing, 1997.
Government Offices Bodenhamer, David J., and Robert G. Barrows,
City Hall ed. The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Bloom-
200 E. Washington St. ington: Indiana University Press, 1994.
Indianapolis, IN 46204 Bowers, Claude Gernade. Ed. Holman Hamilton
(317) 327-4348 and Gayle Thornbrough. Indianapolis in the
"Gay Nineties": High School Diaries of Claude
Indianapolis Planning Division G. Bowers. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical
200 E. Washington St. Society, 1964.
Indianapolis, IN 46204 Cameron, Layne Scott. Kidding Around Indianapo-
(317) 327-5151 lis: What to Do, Where to Go, and How to Have

Indianapolis
Fun in Indianapolis. Santa Fe, NM: John Muir ton, D.C.: Regnery Pub.,1997.
Publications, 1997. Jones, Darryl. Indianapolis. [photographs]. Text
Cathcart, Charlotte. Indianapolis from Our Old by Howard Caldwell. Bloomington: Indiana
Corner. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Soci- University Press, 1990.
ety, 1965. Kriplen, Nancy, and Margaret Winter. Exploring
City-smart Guidebook. Indianapolis. Santa Fe, NM: Indianapolis. 3rd. ed. Indianapolis: Lexicon,
John Muir Publications, 1997. 1982.
Goldsmith, Stephen. The Twenty-first Century Leary, Ed. Indianapolis: The Story of a City. India-
City: Resurrecting Urban America. Washing- napolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1971.

Istanbul
Istanbul, Turkey, Europe and Asia
Founded: Ottoman Turks captured present-day Istanbul (formerly known as

Constantinople and before that as Byzantium) in 1453.
Location: Istanbul, Turkey, is the only city in the world that sits on two continents:
Europe and Asia. The city lies on both sides of the Bosporus channel and the Sea
of Marmara, which connect the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. On the
European side of the Bosporus, old Istanbul developed on the western side of
the narrow Golden Horn, a canal about 4 miles in length that empties into the
Bosporus.
Flag: White emblem on a red field.
Ethnic Composition: About 99% of Istanbul residents are Muslim Turks, two-thirds
of them Sunni. The rest are Alevi, a sect similar to Shiism. Christian and Jewish
minorities continue to shrink in numbers.
Elevation: Approximately 600m (2,000 ft) above sea level
Climate: Istanbul has a Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and dry, hot
summers. The prevailing northeast winds, or poyraz, come from the Black Sea,
sometimes bringing extreme cold to the city. At times, the cold winds have
frozen the Golden Horn and the Bosporus.
Temperature: Temperatures average about 40.5° F (4.7°C) in January and about 73°F
(22.8°C) in July.
Average Annual Precipitation: About 31.5 inches, with most falling in the winter
Government: A mayor appointed by the President of the Republic
Weights and Measures: Standard metric
Monetary Units: The Turkish lira. It comes in notes of 50,000; 100,000; 500,000;
1,000,000 and 5,000,000. Coins come in denominations of 5,000; 10,000;
25,000 and 50,000.
Telephone Area Codes: 90 (Turkey country code); 212, 216 (Istanbul city codes)
1 Introduction Formerly known as Constantino-

ple, and before that as Byzantium,
Inhabited for more than 2,500
Istanbul was founded at a crossroad
years, the old walled city of Istanbul
between Europe and Asia, Christianity
was one of the most coveted places in
the world. To resist invaders, its inhab- and Islam. It was the capital city of the
itants built massive walls, 5 meters (16 Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman
feet) deep and 9 meters (30 feet) in Empires and briefly the capital city of
height. Yet, the walls were more like an the Turkish Republic, each opening the
invitation, a signal that something city's doors to friends and firmly shut-
worth taking hid within its walls. ting them to enemies. The city was
93
Istanbul
and other buildings. So did the Otto-

Istanbul man Empire, which captured the city in
Population Profile 1453 and proceeded to cover the city
with palaces, mosques, and water foun-
City Proper tains. Their efforts stood in stark con-
Population: 5,000,000 trast with those who were left outside
Area: 1,991 sq km (769 sq mi )
Ethnic composition: About 99% of Istanbul
the walls. Those who penetrated its
residents are Muslim Turks, two-thirds of them walls by force took great pleasure in
Sunni. The rest are Alevi, a sect similar to tearing the city down, stealing its trea-
Shiism. Christian and Jewish minorities
continue to shrink in numbers. sures and hauling anything that could
Nicknames: The ancient name of Byzantium is be carried back home across long dis-
believed to come from its founder, Byzas.
Constantine I named it New Rome before
tances. What man could not destroy,
naming it after himself: Constantinople. The nature took away. Dozens of earth-
name Istanbul is derived from the Greek term quakes have shaken the city through-
stin poli, meaning "to the city" or "in the city.''
Used for many centuries, it did not officially out its history, turning buildings to
become the name of the city until 1930. dust. Like many cities in the world,
Istanbul long ago lived its golden era.
Metropolitan Area
Today, it is poverty, pollution, and
Area: 2,204 sq mi (5,712 sq km) social problems that besiege the city.
World population rank1: 23 Yet, Istanbul retains its exuberance, its
Percentage of national population2: 14.3% charm, and its place in history.
———
1. The Istanbul metropolitan area’s rank among 2 Getting There
2. The percent of Turkey’s total population living Because of its location, Istanbul
in the Istanbul metropolitan area.
functions as the crossroads between
Europe and Asia.
Highways
attacked more than 60 times. In ancient
times, the Greeks, Athenians, Persians, A major highway connects Bulgaria
and Spartans fought to capture it; so did to Turkey.
the Gauls and the Macedonians. The
Romans finally took it and renamed it Bus and Railroad Service
after Constantine the Great, who
One of the best means of travel is
declared it the new capital of a united by inter-city bus. Esenler and Harem are
Roman Empire. Something about this the two main bus stations. The best of
city by the water compelled its leaders the companies offer comfortable, qual-
to spare no efforts in aggrandizing it. ity transportation, an excellent and
The Byzantine Empire spent countless cheap alternative to flying. Many buses
fortunes building palaces, churches, are double deckered, and all are non-

Istanbul
smoking and offer tea and snack ser- run between Ankara and Istanbul,
vice. Istanbul and Izmir, and reservations are
required.
The railroad is slower but can be
fun, especially in a first class compart- Airports
ment. The Sirkeci train station serves
Europe while Haydarpasa Station serves Ataturk International Airport has
parts of Asia and the Middle East. Trains daily service to just about every part of

Istanbul

Istanbul Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Turkey) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Sabah La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
the world. The Havas bus service has 3 Getting Around

frequently scheduled trips between the
airport and the city. The service Bus and Commuter Rail Service
between terminals is free. Metered taxis
are also available to get to the city. Public buses are the main mode of
transportation in Istanbul, carrying
Shipping about 1.5 million passengers per day.
The city’s dolmus (public shared taxis)
As Byzantium, present-day Istanbul carry thousands of passengers each day.
was built along the Golden Horn, There are many taxis and thousands of
which provided the best natural harbor private automobiles. There is also sea
in the region. The Golden Horn inlet bus service between the Asian and Euro-
provides a safe harbor next to the city, pean sides, as well as regional train ser-
not far from the Bosporus, a major mar- vice. The city is in the midst of
itime route connecting the Black Sea to expanding a limited underground
the Mediterranean Sea. metro service.

Istanbul
Sightseeing plagues, devastating earthquakes, and

fires, have forced residents to rebuild
Istanbul is a city with great archi-
tectural heritage. Visitors travel from Istanbul many times over. Somehow,
around the world to see Turkish palaces, through all the remarkable changes, the
mosques, museums, monuments, and remains of ancient buildings and mon-
water fountains. Some of the most pop- uments still stand today. Old Istanbul
ular ones include the Ayasofya remains a walled city. A close inspec-
Museum, the Kariye Museum, the Cinili tion of the walls explains how the city
Kosk, the Ibrahim Palace Museum, the remained invulnerable to so many
Museum of Turkish Carpets, and the attacks. In some places, the walls are 9
Mosaic Museum. Many of the mosques meters (30 feet) high and 5 meters (16
and other historic landmarks were even feet) thick, with 18-meter (60-foot) tow-
added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List ers every 55 meters (180 feet).
in 1985. Many people also come to
Istanbul to purchase the country's Two bridges cross over the Golden
famous carpets, tiles, and ceramics. Horn and connect old Istanbul with
Beyoglu, which is characterized as
4 People “modern Istanbul.” Since the eleventh
During the 1990s, Istanbul grew at century, Beyoglu has been considered
a rate of about 3.8 percent annually. the foreign quarter. This area is made
Most of the migrants came from the up mostly of post-nineteenth-century
countryside, moving into shantytowns buildings. Earthquakes, fires, and war-
known as gecekondus (literally “set fare just about destroyed everything
down by night”). About 99 percent of before that date. Beyoglu is divided into
Istanbul residents are Muslim Turks, two sections: the lower Galata water-
two-thirds of them Sunni. The rest are front and the Pera Plateau, home to
Alevi, a sect similar to Shiism. Christian consulates and Turkish government
and Jewish minorities continue to offices, as well as many of the city’s
shrink in numbers. The dominant lan- largest hotels and best restaurants. The
guage is Turkish although some minori- city reaches across the Bosporus to its
ties do speak other languages. Asian side with two bridges, one com-
pleted in 1973 and the other in 1988.
5 Neighborhoods
In a traditional sense, Istanbul is Housing is a problem in Istanbul;
not a city of neighborhoods. With occupancy rates hover at about 13 per-
nearly 3,000 years of continuous habi- sons per unit. As migrants, especially
tation, the only constant has been peo- from the Asian side of Istanbul, have
ple's desire to live there. Wars, moved into the city, large shantytowns
invasions, occupations, and the system- have appeared throughout the metro-
atic destruction of the city, as well as politan area.

Istanbul
6 History 193–211) massacred its residents and

destroyed most of the city. He rebuilt
Archaeological remains show that Byzantium, which continued to prosper
people have inhabited the immediate despite serious attacks, civil wars, and
area of present-day Istanbul for tens of rebellions that broke out in the Roman
thousands of years. A large population Empire over many decades.
lived in the area around 5,000 B.C.
On September 18, 324, Constan-
Greeks from Miletus and Megara tine I (c. 274–337; r. 306–337) defeated
began to settle along the coasts of rival emperor Licinius and united the
Bosporus and the Black Sea during the vast Roman Empire under his leader-
latter part of the eighth century B.C. ship. On May 11, 330, Byzantium offi-
According to legend, the colony of Byz- cially became the capital of the empire,
antium was founded in 660 B.C. by a which stretched over three continents.
Megarian named Byzas. The colony was Briefly known as New Rome, the city
named after him. Because of its strate- was renamed Constantinople in honor
gic position, Byzantium didn't take of Constantine, the first Roman ruler to
long to establish its economic domi- adopt Christianity.
nance over the region, inviting
unwanted attention. Constantinople became one of the
world’s wealthiest and most powerful
Byzantium was built along the cities of its time. Until the eleventh
Golden Horn, which provided the best century, it was virtually untouchable,
natural harbor in the region. Fish were dictating Christian religious doctrine
abundant, and the fertile surrounding and controlling vast amounts of wealth.
countryside was suitable for agriculture. No longer did all roads lead to Rome.
The Golden Horn inlet provided a safe They led to Constantinople, the meet-
harbor next to the city, not far from the ing point between East and West.
Bosporus, a major maritime route con-
necting the Black Sea to the Mediterra- With the death of Theodosius in
nean Sea. 395, the Roman Empire was split into
East and West. Constantinople became
Greeks, Athenians, Persians, and the capital of the Eastern Roman
Spartans fought over the city early on. Empire, which came to be known as the
Even the Gauls attacked Byzantium in Byzantine Empire. The city developed
the third century B.C. In 202 B.C. Byzan- into the center of the Greek Orthodox
tium, besieged by Macedonians, asked Christian world.
Rome for protection. By 73 B.C. the city
had become part of a Roman province. With vast amounts of wealth at its
disposal, the Byzantine Empire trans-
In A.D. 196, Byzantium found itself formed Constantinople into a beautiful
on the wrong side of an internal Roman city. Some of the best architects of the
power struggle and paid dearly. Roman time designed its churches and palaces.
emperor Septimus Severus (146–211; r. Artists and sculptors left their mark

Istanbul
Istanbul rests on two continents, Asia and Europe, and is divided by the Bosporus Channel. Pictured is a
view of the Golden Horn and the Bosporus towards Galata and Beyoglu areas, with the Yeni Mosque in the
foreground. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
throughout the city. The hippodrome The accumulation of wealth con-

could sit more than 100,000 people. tinued to attract enemies. In 542, a
The Haghia Sophia, today a museum, plague devastated the population, kill-
was one of the largest churches of its ing three out of five inhabitants, and
time. As the city grew, its nearly impen- marked the beginning of the city's
etrable protective walls were built fur- decline. Its enemies besieged the weak-
ther out. ened city but could not penetrate its
walls. Between the seventh and elev-
During the reign of Byzantine enth centuries, Russians, Persian Sas-
emperor Justinian (527–565), more sanids, Avars, Muslim Arabs, and
than 500,000 people lived in Constanti- Bulgars attacked the city.
nople. Justinian oversaw the construc-
tion of some of the city’s most During the Fourth Crusade (a series
spectacular buildings, including the of religious wars between Western Euro-
Haghia Sophia. Under his rule, the city pean Christians and Muslims for con-
reached its zenith. trol of the Holy Land), the Latins

Istanbul
ulation shrank to 50,000, and its people

were constantly on the brink of famine.
In the distance, the advancing troops of
the Ottoman Empire moved closer and
closer.
The Ottoman Turks attacked Con-
stantinople for the first time in 1396.
Ottoman is the Western derivative for
the followers of Osman (1259–1326), a
Sunni Muslim warrior who led raids on
Christian Byzantine enclaves in western
Anatolia (the Asian side of present-day
Turkey).
The Ottomans built a fort on the
Asian side of the Bosporus to prevent
aid from reaching Constantinople. Yet
the city would not fall for several
decades. By 1452, under leader
Mehmed II (r. 1451–1481), the Otto-
mans tightened the noose, building a
second fortress on the European side of
Eating rooms were decorated with ornate tiles to the Bosporus.
entice the Sultan to eat. This is the fruit room from
Mehmed commissioned the manu-
the Topkapi Palace. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
facture of large cannons to bombard
the city’s powerful walls. In March of
1453, Ottoman troops attacked the city
(Roman Catholics) broke through the
by land and water. A massive chain pre-
walls and seized the city in 1204.
vented enemy ships from entering the
Golden Horn. But Mehmed rolled his
They held it until 1261, when Byz-
fleet by land on top of logs from the
antine troops recaptured the city. Under
Bosporus into the Golden Horn. On
Latin rule, the city was plundered and
May 29, Mehmed entered the city and
ruined. The invaders stole most of the
prayed in the church of Haghia Sophia.
city's precious religious and civic sym-
It was a symbolic gesture that signaled
bols, melted its bronze statues for coin,
the end of Constantinople’s Christian
and took just about anything of value
era and the beginning of Muslim rule.
that could be carried away. Constanti-
The Haghia Sophia was immediately
nople would never recover from the
turned into a Muslim temple.
destruction, even after the much
smaller and weakened Byzantine The city had been nearly aban-
Empire regained control. The city’s pop- doned during Mehmed’s siege. He

Istanbul
began to repopulate it by moving peo- approval of the ruling class. Sultans and
ple into the city from other communi- government officials adopted the dress
ties. In 1457, Constantinople, known of Western diplomats, replacing their
by now as Istanbul, became the capital traditional clothes with Western pants
of the Ottoman Empire. Within a few and jackets. The fez replaced the tur-
years, the city was repopulated by more ban. With European investment, Istan-
than 50,000 people. bul continued to modernize.
During the rule of Suleyman the By the 1870s, Europeans were

Magnificent (r. 1520–66), Ottoman building a railroad to connect the conti-
Istanbul reached its zenith. The magnif- nent with Istanbul. Modernization had
icent buildings of architect Mimar come at a high price, and the empire
Sinan (c. 1489–1587) defined this was heavily indebted to European pow-
period. As chief architect of the Otto- ers. In the meantime, many young
man Empire, Sinan is credited with Ottomans sought to limit the powers of
more than 300 buildings. He designed the sultan and his western-style admin-
palaces, mosques, tombs, and govern- istration. The power struggles of the
ment buildings. With his buildings and late nineteenth and early twentieth
the contributions of others, the city centuries would mark the end of the
embraced a distinct Ottoman identity. Ottoman Empire and the beginning of
For a while, it was the center of Islam. the Turkish Republic.
By the nineteenth century, moder-
ate sultans opened the doors to the In 1908, a group known as the
West and sought better relations. Mus- Young Turks forced Sultan Abd al-
lim Turks, Orthodox Greeks, Christians, Hamid to restore the constitution and
Armenians, Jews, and many Europeans parliament. Al-Hamid attempted a
populated Istanbul. Yet, not all was well counterrevolution in 1909, dissolving
within the Ottoman Empire. Many Congress and arresting many Young
non-Turkish people were in open Turks. But allies of the young revolu-
revolt. The Greeks declared their inde- tionaries marched from Macedonia into
pendence in 1829, and soon others fol- Istanbul and dethroned the sultan. The
lowed. The Europeans invested heavily Young Turks, who ruled until 1918,
in the Ottoman Empire. They openly introduced many social changes,
sought to exert influence while secretly including Western-style elections and
desiring the empire's territories and its broader women’s rights. During World
wealth. War I (1914–18), the Ottomans aligned
themselves with the Central Powers
British, French, and Germans were (the German and Austro-Hungarian
involved in just about every aspect of empires). Istanbul was blockaded. At
Ottoman society. Foreign experts were the end of the war, British, French, and
reshaping the Ottoman Army and gov- Italian soldiers occupied Istanbul until
ernment administration with the 1923.

Istanbul
The nationalist Mustafa Kemal

Atatürk (1881–1938) and his Turkish
troops fought European intervention
from 1918 until 1923 when hostilities
ended with the Treaty of Lausanne.
Atatürk abolished the sultanate and
moved the capital city to Ankara. Tur-
key remained neutral during World War
II (1939–45) and later became an ally of
Western nations and member of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO).
During the twentieth century,

Istanbul lost more than just its status as
capital of empires. As it grew, large his-
toric parts of the city were demolished The Spice Bazaar is one way to appreciate the best
to make space for highways and new spices from Europe and Asia. (Adam Woolfitt; Woodfin
buildings. Today, Istanbul struggles to Camp)
retain its heritage as the portal between
two worlds. Many of its buildings have
been declared world heritage treasures 8 Public Safety
by United Nations Educational, Scien-
tific and Cultural Organization The city has the typical problems
(UNESCO). of a large metropolis, but it is generally
considered safe. Tourists are most likely
to be affected only by petty crime.
7 Government
The mayor governs the city and the 9 Economy
province of Istanbul. The president of
the republic appoints the mayor. The Istanbul remains one of the most
municipality of Istanbul, which was important commercial centers in the
organized by Constantine I into 14 dis- country. About 36 percent of exports
tricts in imitation of Rome, is currently and 40 percent of imports pass through
divided into 12 districts (kazas). The Istanbul. It is an industrial city,
Turkish Minister of the Interior accounting for 45 percent of national
appoints the heads of the kazas. The production and about the same per-
municipal government distributes centage of jobs. Its factories produce
funds to each of the districts for trans- textiles, oil products, rubber, metals,
portation, water, roads, and other ser- leather, chemicals, glass, electronics,
vices. A metropolitan municipality and automobiles. The city is a banking
handles planning for the region. and insurance center.

Istanbul
10 Environment for boys (1863) and the American Col-

lege for girls (1871).
Air and water pollution are serious
problems in Istanbul. Many beach 13 Health Care
resorts do not allow swimming because
of pollution. Many of the shantytowns The city has 90 public and private
lack adequate sanitation facilities and hospitals serving the Istanbul metropol-
clean water. Water and sewage treat- itan area. The government subsidizes
ment facilities have not kept up pace health care. The are only two doctors
with the growing population. During per 1,000 persons, and many hospitals
the summer, Istanbul has experienced and clinics lack adequate personnel and
severe water shortages. equipment. Istanbul is home to the
country's two medical schools.
11 Shopping
14 Media
Istanbul, at the crossroads of two
Istanbul has 17 daily and 13 weekly
continents, seems like it was made for
newspapers, as well as dozens of period-
shopping. The city has many colorful
icals. The city is also served by televi-
bazaars, including the historic "Kapali
sion and radio. It is home of Turkish
Carsi," or covered Bazaar, in the old city.
cinema and a major book publishing
It has more than 4,000 shops, and each
center. The press has been largely
trade has its own section. Turkish arts
uncensored.
and crafts, carpets, and jewelry are
found there, among thousands of other
items. The Spice Bazaar is filled with the 15 Sports
smells of cinnamon, mint, thyme, and Sports are important in Istanbul,
hundreds of other spices and herbs. and soccer is the most important of all.
Istanbul also has many modern shops The city has three major soccer stadi-
and malls. ums and several professional teams in
the area. Wrestling and sailing are also
12 Education popular. The city has golf, tennis, and
many other sports facilities.
The city has 3,500 primary and sec-
ondary schools. The national literacy 16 Parks and
rate is about 70 percent, with a much
higher percentage in the city. Theodo-
Recreation
sius II (401–450) founded the first Uni- The city has many public parks,
versity of Istanbul in A.D. 425. It was including Yildiz Park and the Gulhane
succeeded by Istanbul University in Park at Topkapi, home of the Istanbul
1453. There are two other major univer- Zoo. A park was developed on the site
sities in the city. Among foreign institu- of the Byzantine Hippodrome. It dis-
tions are The American Robert College plays the remains of the ancient

Istanbul
A lute player in traditional costume. (R & S Michaud)
horseracing venue. Turkish men are cal Turkish Music Choir, and the Istan-
known for spending their leisure time bul Historical Turkish Music Ensemble
at coffeehouses (kiraathane), where perform in the city. The International
many customers still smoke water pipes Arts and Cultural Festival is held each
(hookahs). Both men and women enjoy year in June and July.
the public steam baths (haman), but
there are separate facilities for each gen-
der.
18 Libraries and
Museums
17 Performing Arts The city has exceptional museums.
Among them is the Ayasofya (Saint
Ballet, opera, and theater presenta- Sophia) Museum. The ancient basilica
tions are held at the 1,300-seat AKM was built by Constantine the Great (c.
Grand Hall. The Istanbul State Sym- 274–337) and reconstructed by Justin-
phony Orchestra, Istanbul Modern Folk ian (c. 482–527) in the sixth century.
Music Ensemble, Istanbul State Classi- Architecturally, it is considered one of

Istanbul
the most important buildings in the historic landmarks were added to

world. Its decorations include fine Byz- UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1985.
antine mosaics. The Kariye Museum, Many people come to Istanbul to pur-
built as a church in the eleventh cen- chase the country’s famous carpets,
tury, is decorated with fourteenth-cen- tiles, and ceramics.
tury frescoes and mosaics on a gold
background. The Archaeological 20 Holidays and
Museum has a rich collection of antiq-
Festivals
uities, including the Alexander Sar-
cophagus. It has displays on the The Turkish people observe many
Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, religious festivals, including the end of
Hatti, and Hittite civilizations. The Ramazan (called Ramadan in Arab
Cinili Kosk (The Museum of Turkish countries). Muslim religious holidays
Ceramics) was built in the fifteenth are based on the lunar calendar and
century and contains Iznik tiles from shift about ten days backward each
the sixteenth century, as well as exam- year.
ples of Seljuk and Ottoman tiles and
JANUARY
ceramics. The Ibrahim Palace Museum New Year’s Day
(The Museum of Turkish and Islamic
Art) was built as a private residence in APRIL
National Independence and Children’s Day
1524. The museum has many Turkish
and Persian miniatures, Seljuk tiles, and MAY
antique carpets. The Museum of Fine Ataturk’s Commemoration Day
Arts has paintings and sculptures from AUGUST
the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Zafer Bayram, or Victory Day
Among others are the Museum of Turk-
OCTOBER
ish Carpets, the Mosaic Museum, and Cumhuriyet Bayram, or Republic Day
the City Museum, which covers the
Ottoman period to the present. The city NOVEMBER
Anniversary of Atatürk's death
has many public and private libraries,
including the Köprülü Library (1677),
which has books more than 1,000 years 21 Famous Citizens
old.
Anna Comnena (1083–c. 1148), Byzan-
tine princess, daughter of Emperor
19 To u r i s m Alexius I Comnenus, and historian,
whose Alexiad is considered an im-
Istanbul is one of the great archi- portant historical document.
tectural and cultural cities of the world.
Turkish palaces, mosques, museums, Constantine the Great (c. 274–337),
monuments, and hundreds of water founder of Constantinople and
fountains help tell the story of this old first Roman ruler to convert to
city. Many of the mosques and other Christianity.

Istanbul
Bulent Ecevit (b. 1925) poet, political Tourist and Convention Bureaus
leader, and national hero, Turkish Ismet Inonu Bul
5 Bah Celievler
Prime Minister (1974 and 1978– Ankara, Turkey
79).
Publications
Pasha Enver (1881–1922), one of the Aksam Gazetesi newspaper [Online] Available
main leaders of the Young Turks http://www.aksam.com.tr (accessed Febru-
Revolution of 1908 and nationalist ary 7, 2000).
Fanatik (sports Internet site from Istanbul).
leader who directed Turkish war ef- [Online] Available http://www.fanatik.com.tr
forts during World War I. (accessed February 7, 2000).
Milliyet Gazetesi newspaper [Online] Available
Mimar Sinan (c. 1489–1588), great ar- http://www.milliyet.com.tr/englishindex.html
chitect of the early Ottoman Em- (accessed February 7, 2000).
Turkish Daily News. [Online] Available http://
pire, credited with more than 300 www.turkishdailynews.com (accessed Febru-
buildings in Istanbul. ary 7, 2000).
Books
22 For Further Study Clari, Robert de. The Conquest of Constantinople.
Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1997.
Websites Kagitcibasi, Cigdem, ed. Sex Roles, Family, and
Community in Turkey. Bloomington: Indiana
Istanbul City Guide. [Online] Available http://
University Press Turkish Studies, 1982.
www.istanbulcityguide.com (accessed Febru-
Lewis, Bernard. Istanbul: And the Civilization of
ary 7, 2000).
the Ottoman Empire. Norman: University of
Ministry of Culture. [Online] Available http:// Oklahoma Press, 1994.
www.kultur.gov.tr/english/main-e.html Mansel, Philip. Constantinople: City of the World's
(accessed February 7, 2000). Desire: 1453–1924. New York: St. Martin’s
Structural analysis of the Hagia Sophia Museum Press, 1998.
[Online] Available http://www.princeton.edu/ Queller, Donald E. with Thomas F. Madden. The
~asce/const_95/const.html (accessed February 7, Fourth Crusade: The Conquest of Constantino-
2000). ple. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania
Press, 1997.
Government Offices Tapper, Richard, ed. Islam in Modern Turkey: Reli-
gion, Politics, and Literature in a Secular State.
Embassy of Turkey London: Tauris, 1991.
1714 Massachusetts Treadgold, Warren. Byzantium and its Army: 284–
Washington D.C. 20036 1081. Palo Alto: Stanford University Press,
1997.
Government of Turkey [Online] Available http:// Whittow, Mark. The Making of Byzantium: 600–
www.turkey-web.com/government (accessed 1025. Berkeley: University of California
February 7, 2000). Press, 1997.

Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East
Founded: c. 4000 bc
Location: The Judaean hills, about 30 km (20 mi) from the Jordan River
Flag: Blue horizontal stripes on a white field, with a blue and yellow emblem in the
center.
Ethnic Composition: 70% Jewish; 30% Arab
Elevation: 757 meters (2,484 feet) above sea level
Latitude and Longitude: 31º47’N, 35º15’E
Climate: Subtropical, semiarid; warm, dry summers; cool, rainy winters
Annual Mean Temperature: January 9ºC (48ºF); July 23ºC (73ºF)
Average Annual Precipitation: 500 mm (20 in)
Monetary Units: New Israeli Shekel (NIS)
Telephone Area Codes: 02 (Jerusalem area code); 972 (country code for Israel)
Postal Codes: 9000 and up
1 Introduction a leader in education and health care,

and its religious, historical, and cultural
Located east of the Jordan River in attractions make it the country’s pre-
the Judaean Hills, Jerusalem is the capi- mier tourist destination.
tal of Israel and its largest city in terms
of both geographical area and popula- 2 Getting There
tion size. A holy city for three of the
world’s major religions—Judaism, Jerusalem lies 48 kilometers (30
Christianity, and Islam—Jerusalem has miles) east of the Mediterranean Sea. It
a long and tumultuous history, during is bordered on the north, south, and
which it has been home to people of east by the West Bank of the Jordan
many nationalities and faiths. Reuni- River, occupied by Israel since the Six
fied since 1967, Jerusalem is really three Day War in 1967. Israel’s border with
Jordan is 40 kilometers (25 miles) east
cities in one: the historic walled Old
of the city.
City that is home to its holy places, the
modern urban center to the west, and
Highways
the Arab district to the east. In addition
to being Israel’s spiritual, political, and Route 60, the main north-south
administrative capital, Jerusalem is also highway, cuts through the middle of
107
Jerusalem
Airports
Jerusalem
Ben Gurion International Airport is
Population Profile
located 50 km (12 mi) west of Jerusalem
Population: 3,738,500 along Route 1 leading to Tel Aviv. Of
Area: 109 sq km (42 sq mi) the approximately 5 million passengers
Ethnic composition: 70% Jewish; 30% Arab who use the airport every year, more
World population rank1: approx. 68
Percentage of national population2: n.a. than 40 percent travel on flights oper-
Average yearly growth rate: n.a (Tel Aviv 1.98%) ated by El Al, Israel’s national airline.
Nicknames: The Holy City
——— Shipping
1. The Jerusalem metropolitan area’s rank among
the world’s urban areas. Jerusalem is not a port city.
2. The percent of Israel’s total population living in
the Jerusalem metropolitan area.
3 Getting Around
The modern municipality of Jerusa-
lem, as defined by its post-1967 bor-
Jerusalem, leading to Nablus to the ders, lies between Mount Scopus and
north and Hebron and Beersheba to the the Mount of Olives to the east, Hadas-
south. The major east-west highway, sah Medical Center to the west, and
Route 1, leads northwest to Tel Aviv and past Jerusalem’s municipal airport to
eastward to Jordan, first intersecting the north. Within these boundaries is
with Route 90, which in turn leads the historic, walled Old City, which
north to Jericho and beyond to Tiberias forms a rough quadrilateral measuring
and the Sea of Galilee. The Allon Road about 900 meters (3,000 feet) on each
traverses the Judaean Desert, leading to side. Seven gates lead to the twisting,
Israeli settlements on the West Bank. narrow streets of the Old City, which is
divided into Christian, Jewish, Muslim,
Bus and Railroad Service and Armenian quarters. To the west, the
Jaffa Gate provides the main access to
Intercity buses from points the modern Jerusalem, while the Dam-
throughout Israel, including Ben ascus Gate is the main entryway to the
Gurion International Airport, arrive Arab enclave of East Jerusalem.
and depart from the Egged Central Bus
Station on Jaffa Road. There is also bus Bus and Commuter Rail Service
service to Cairo, Egypt, and Amman,
Jordan. There are separate bus stations The Egged Bus Cooperative, which
for destinations within jurisdiction of offers inter-city bus transportation, also
the Palestinian Authority. There is train provides transportation within Jerusa-
service to Tel Aviv, continuing to Haifa, lem itself. Bus service is frequent, punc-
leaving from the train station in Remez tual, and reasonably priced, with a flat
Square. fare for all local bus rides, no matter

Jerusalem

Jerusalem
how short or long. Private Arab compa- Jerusalem’s population was 602,100,
nies provide service to the West Bank. and it is expected to reach 650,000 by
2000.
There is no real commuter rail ser-
vice, but shared taxis called sheruts, As of 1996, Jews accounted for 70
which seat up to seven passengers, are a percent of the city’s inhabitants, with
popular mode of transport in the city. Arabs making up the rest. Of the city’s
Arabs, 92 percent were Muslim and
Sightseeing eight percent Christian. Because of
Egged, which provides most of the Jerusalem’s large non-Jewish and
city’s public transportation, offers an Orthodox Jewish populations—both of
introductory tour of Jerusalem that which tend to have large families—
takes in 36 major tourist sites and young people account for an unusually
allows visitors to embark at any of them large percentage of the city’s popula-
and board another bus later at no extra tion: in 1996, 44 percent of the popula-
charge. Egged also offers half-day bus tion was aged zero to 19 (including 13
tours of the Old City and of the Yad percent aged zero to four) while only
Vashem Holocaust memorial. eight percent were senior citizens.
Walking tours are a popular way to
see many of Jerusalem’s historic sites. 5 Neighborhoods
Tours of both the Old City and the
newer part of Jerusalem are offered by Jerusalem consists of three main
Zion Walking Tours. Archaeological areas. The city’s great holy and historic
Seminars walking tours focus on the sites are found in the walled Old City,
historical periods of the first and sec- home to the Muslim Dome of the Rock,
ond temples, and the Society for the the Christian Church of the Sepulchre,
Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) and the Western Wall of the Jewish
offers tours of the Old City as well as Temple. To the west lies the modern,
nature hikes in the nearby countryside. predominantly Jewish city of Jerusalem,
also called the New City, the political
and administrative capital of Israel. To
4 People the east of the Old City lies East Jerusa-
Jerusalem is one of Israel’s most lem, the Palestinian part of the city,
populous city, and its population con- which was cut off from the rest of Jerus-
tinues to grow rapidly thanks to a high alem between Israeli independence in
birth rate and the arrival of new immi- 1948 and the Six Day War in 1967. The
grants, many of them from the former former dividing line, known as the
Soviet republics. Since 1986, the city’s Green Line, is now called HaShalom
population has grown by 28 percent, Road. Besides hotels and restaurants,
with peripheral neighborhoods, such as East Jerusalem, whose main streets are
Manchat and Pisgat Ze’ev, recording the Nablus Road and Salah ad-Din Street, is
greatest increases. At the end of 1996, home to many retailers and other small

Jerusalem

Jerusalem Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Israel) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Date the city was founded c. 4000 BC AD 969 753 BC 723 BC
Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Al-Quds La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
businesses. Further east is the Mount of pean forebears in the days before World
Olives. To the north lie Mount Scopus, War II (1939–45).
the main campus of Hebrew University,
and Hadassah Hospital. The district of Giv’at Ram to the
west is home to several notable land-
The heart of the New City is the tri- marks, including the Israel Museum,
angle formed by King George V Street, the Knesset (parliament building), and
Jaffa Road, and Ben Yehuda Street, the the Supreme Court. In an area further
site of numerous hotels, restaurants, to the west are Yad Vashem, Israel’s
and cafes, and the popular gathering Holocaust memorial and museum; the
place Zion Square. Just to the north lies tomb of Israel’s founding father The-
Mea She’arim (“One Hundred Gates”), odore Herzl (1860–1904); the famous
home to Jerusalem’s ultra-orthodox Chagall stained-glass windows of the
community (or, as they are known in Hadassah Medical Center; and Ein
Israel, “Haredim”), whose distinctive Kerem, a former Arab village that was
appearance and way of life evokes the the birthplace of John the Baptist (fl. c.
vanished world of their Eastern Euro- 27).

Jerusalem
A view of Jerusalem’s Old City Walls from Mount Olive. (A. Ramey; Woodfin Camp)
Among the city’s residential dis- inhabited longer than almost any other
tricts outside the downtown area are city in the world and has had a long
Yemin Moshe (the first settlement succession of rulers. Its first recorded
developed outside the city walls in the connection with the Biblical kingdom
nineteenth century), Talbiye, Rehavia, of Israel occurs in the middle of the sec-
Bet ha-Kerem, and the “German Col- ond millennium B.C. Around 1000 B.C.,
ony,” built by the German Templars in King David (c. 1013–c. 973 B.C.) made it
the nineteenth century. Arab neighbor- the capital of a united Israel. It also
hoods outside the Old City include ash- became the spiritual center of the Jew-
Shaykh Jarrah, Wadi al-Joz, Bayt Han- ish nation when David’s successor, King
ina, Bayt Safafa, and the American Col- Solomon, built the First Temple 50
ony. years later. Within the next thousand
years, the city was conquered and
6 History destroyed by the Babylonians (586 B.C.)
and the Romans (A.D. 70), who rebuilt it
With a history extending over yet once more under the name of Aelia
some 4,000 years, Jerusalem has been Capitolina in A.D. 130.

Jerusalem
After a period of Byzantine rule,

Jerusalem was conquered by Muslims in
the seventh century and remained part
of the Islamic world for more than
1,000 years, with an interruption of
about a century after it was captured by
Crusaders in 1099. Four hundred years
of rule by the Ottoman Empire began in
1517 and included the reign of Sule-
iman the Magnificent (1538–1566),
who oversaw major rebuilding of the
city. After his reign, however, the condi-
tion of Jerusalem declined, and it grad-
ually fell into a state of neglect. A
revival of European interest in the Mid-
dle East in the late eighteenth century
led to the building of consulates and
other public buildings.
The Crimean War (1853–56) in the

mid-nineteenth century also led to
some new interest in the region and
more development. This period also
saw the beginning of new settlement by Tower of David. (Chuck Fisherman; Woodfin Camp)
European Jews, beginning with the pur-
chase of land outside the city walls in
1855 by Sir Moses Montefiore. By 1900 Jerusalem into an internationally
there were 60 Jewish settlements sur- administered city, but Arab forces
rounding the old city. With the collapse rejected the plan and laid siege to the
of the Ottoman Empire in World War I city.
(1914–18), Jerusalem was captured by
British forces under the command of The British left Palestine on May
Gen. Edmund Allenby (1861–1936) 14, 1948, and the state of Israel was pro-
and, together with the rest of Palestine, claimed. The following year, Jerusalem
placed under British mandate by the was declared its capital, and it became
League of Nations. During this period, the seat of the Knesset (the Israeli par-
Jewish immigration to the city liament). The Old City and East Jerusa-
increased, resulting in escalating ten- lem, occupied by Arab forces during the
sions with Palestine’s Arab neighbors. Israeli-Arab war that followed the proc-
In its 1947 partition plan for Palestine, lamation of Israel’s independence,
the United Nations proposed turning remained under Arab control until

Jerusalem
1967, and East Jerusalem was declared streets of western Jerusalem are gener-
the second capital of Jordan. ally populated and safe at night. It is a
common observation, applicable both
In the 1967 Six Day War, Israeli in Jerusalem and other Israeli cities,
forces annexed the Old City, and all of that traffic congestion and aggressive
Jerusalem was placed under Israeli rule. driving are a greater threat to the per-
Since that time, extensive preservation sonal safety of both drivers and pedes-
and restoration have been carried out in trians than street crime.
the Old City while the newer part of the
city has been expanded by the addition
of new housing developments. This 9 Economy
expansion has made Jerusalem Israel’s
largest city. In 1980 the Israeli govern- As the political, religious, and
ment confirmed the official status of scholarly capital of Israel, Jerusalem’s
Jerusalem as the nation’s capital. economy is based on service industries,
including government, education, reli-
gion, and tourism, with manufacturing
7 Government playing a relatively small role. Preserva-
As the capital of the state of Israel, tion of the city’s historic character has
Jerusalem is the seat of its government also prevented the establishment of
and home to all government institu- large-scale industry in the city and the
tions, including the parliament, or surrounding area.
Knesset, and the Supreme Court. At the
local level, Jerusalem is governed by a In 1996 Jerusalem’s civilian work
mayor and city council whose members force numbered 188,500, of whom two-
are elected to four-year terms. Although thirds were employed in service-sector
Palestinian Arabs living in East Jerusa- jobs. Jerusalem has a highly educated
lem have the right to vote in Israeli work force, bolstered by an influx of
elections, they have refused to do so in well-educated immigrants. But due in
accord with their refusal to recognize part to the number of Orthodox Jewish
the legitimacy of the Israeli govern- and Muslim families with single-
ment. income households, the percentage of
Jerusalem’s overall population in the
labor force is relatively low compared to
8 Public Safety Israel’s other major cities of Tel Aviv
In spite of the ever-present threat and Haifa. In addition to the smaller
of terrorism due to Arab-Israeli ten- work force, the economic status of
sions, Jerusalem is statistically safer Jerusalem’s residents is further lowered
than virtually any large city in the by the fact that the public-service jobs
United States and many elsewhere in held by many residents pay less than
the world. In 1997, the city had a total jobs in such fields as manufacturing,
of 22 deaths from terrorism and 16 commerce, and financial services. The
non-terrorist-related murders. The average monthly salary for wage-earn-

Jerusalem
The Shrine of the Book with the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in the background. (A. Ramey; Woodfin Camp)
ing families in Jerusalem is significantly It has varied vegetation with as many as

lower than that of families in Tel Aviv 1,000 different plant species. About 70
and Haifa. bird species are present year round, as
well as 150 types of migratory fowl. The
Jerusalem also has a higher inci- shoreline of the nearby mineral-rich
dence of poverty than the two other Dead Sea, located in the Syrian-African
major cities. In 1996 as many as 21 per- Rift Valley, is the lowest point on earth.
cent of the city’s families lived below
the poverty line, including 40 percent
of the city’s children. In the 1990s, the 11 Shopping
number of families receiving public
assistance rose steadily, reaching 32,600 Jerusalem offers two distinctly dif-
households by 1996. ferent types of shopping venues: mod-
ern malls and department stores in the
western part of the city and the Arab
10 Environment markets of the Old City. In the west, the
Jerusalem lies on the watershed major downtown shopping area is the
between the hills and desert of Judaea. central triangle formed by King George,

Jerusalem
Ben Yehuda, and Jaffa streets, home to large population of school-aged chil-
two urban shopping malls and the city’s dren, numbering some 160,000. Of
major department store, Hamashbir. these, 65,000 are ultra-Orthodox chil-
The most upscale shopping, including dren whose education is overseen by a
most commercial art galleries, is found separate Ultra-Orthodox Educational
on King David Street, and the Nahalat Department, and 24,000 are Arabs. Edu-
Shiv’a neighborhood is known for its cation for non-Orthodox or Modern
selection of arts and crafts. Further Orthodox Jews is administered by the
afield, there is Jerusalem’s largest subur- Jerusalem Education Authority. The fol-
ban shopping center, the air-condi- lowing combined school enrollment
tioned Kanyon Mall in the Malkah was recorded in 1997: kindergarten,
district. 25,427; primary education, 64,278;
high school, 42,699; Arab students at
The most colorful shopping experi- all levels, 24,272; total, 159,403.
ence to be found in Jerusalem, however,
is afforded by the crowded, bustling Hebrew University, founded in
market stalls (or suks) of the Old City, 1925, is Israel’s most prestigious post-
where haggling with merchants is the secondary institution. Almost 23,000
rule and can reduce the initial asking full-time students are enrolled at its reg-
price of an item by over one-half. A ular campuses at Mount Scopus and
large selection of souvenirs is available Giv’at Ram, its medical school at Ein
for visitors of all religions, including Kerem, and its agricultural college at
many items that incorporate olive Rehovot. The university, which has
wood, silver, and turquoise. Ceramics 1,400 senior faculty members, is the site
are another of the many specialty items of nearly 40 percent of all civilian
available in the market stalls. research carried out in Israel. Other col-
leges in Jerusalem include the Bezalel
12 Education Academy of Arts and Design, Hebrew
Union College, and the Rubin Academy
As Israel’s center of scholarship and of Music. Al-Quds University, a national
religion, Jerusalem has a highly edu- Arabic Palestinian university, is the
cated population, even exceeding the only Arab University in Jerusalem. It
relatively high national average of the was originally established in 1984 by
nation as a whole. Approximately 36 the merger of four colleges in Jerusalem
percent of the population over the age and its suburbs.
of 15 have had over 13 years of educa-
tion, and 19 percent have had more
than 16 years. (Among the Jewish pop- 13 Health Care
ulation, these figures rise to 45 percent
and 24 percent respectively.) Jerusalem’s best-known health care
institution is the Hadassah Medical
Given Jerusalem’s high number of Organization, which operates hospitals
large families, the city has an unusually at Ein Kerem and Mount Scopus. The

Jerusalem
700-bed Ein Kerem Hospital is known guage coverage of local, national, and
for pioneering work with in vitro fertili- regional events. The free monthly pub-
zation, bone marrow transplantation, lication Your Jerusalem provides helpful
laser surgery, gene therapy, and other entertainment listings and restaurant
areas. With 300 beds, the Hadassah reviews for both visitors and residents.
Hospital at Mount Scopus serves the Several Palestinian publications, both
Jewish and Arab population of northern dailies and weeklies, originate in Jerusa-
and eastern Jerusalem, providing facili- lem, including the weekly Biladi, which
ties which include a physical rehabilita- is sold in East Jerusalem and the Old
tion center, a neonatal intensive care City.
unit, and a hospice to care for the ter-
minally ill. In 1998, the two hospitals Jerusalem is home to the headquar-
recorded a combined total of 72,893 ters of the Israel Broadcasting Associa-
hospitalization, 250,952 outpatient vis- tion, which operates two public
its, 22,068 major surgeries, and 114,992 television stations. There are also two
emergency room admissions. Arabic-language television stations, an
independent commercial station, and
Other hospitals in Jerusalem over 50 cable channels available.
include Sha’are Tzedeq, which special- National Radio 1 broadcasts news bulle-
izes in meeting the needs of Orthodox tins and current affairs programming.
Jewish patients; Biqur Holim; al- Radio programs from the British Broad-
Maqasid al-Khayriyah, a Muslim hospi- casting Company (BBC) and the Voice
tal; St. John’s Ophthalmic Hospital; and of America are also available.
Ezrat Hashim, a psychiatric facility. The
Magen David Adom (“red star of
David”) and the Red Crescent, counter-
15 Sports
parts of the Red Cross, provide supple- Sport is a somewhat problematic
mentary emergency services to the city. issue in Jerusalem, where the high-pro-
file ultra-Orthodox community opposes
14 Media it as a secular pursuit. However, con-
struction of Israel’s national soccer sta-
Only one daily newspaper for the dium—the Teddy Stadium, named for
Jewish community is published in former Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek
Jerusalem—the English-language Jerusa- (b. 1911)—was finally completed in
lem Post (published every day except 1992 despite ultra-Orthodox opposi-
Saturday). This traditionally left-wing tion. It is located in the Jerusalem sub-
paper, founded in 1932 by the Jewish urb of Malkah. For those who are sports
labor movement, has favored the right fans, the two favorites are soccer and
politically since its purchase in 1990 by basketball. The city’s premier soccer
the Canadian-based Hollinger media team is Betar Jerusalem, which won its
franchise. The bi-weekly Jerusalem league’s championship in 1993 and
Report provides in-depth English-lan- 1997 and competed for the European

Jerusalem
of the Cross. Directly opposite the

Knesset is the Wohl Rose Garden, con-
taining some 650 varieties of roses. Lib-
erty Bell Park, which contains an exact
replica of the U.S. Liberty Bell in Phila-
delphia, is a popular site for recre-
ational activities and also has an
amphitheater.
Southeast of the city, the Haas

Sherover Promenade, between Abu Tor
and East Talpiot, offers a dramatic view
of the Old City and the Judaean Desert.
Jerusalem Forest to the west has been
planted with trees (said to number six
million) in memory of the Jewish vic-
tims of the Holocaust. Another forest at
the outskirts of the city is Nahal Sorek,
located beyond Ein Kerem. Its caves
Dome of the Rock of Jerusalem.
(Nathan Benn; Woodfin Camp)
contain interesting stalactite and stalag-
mite formations. Wadi Qelt, located to
the east between Jerusalem and Jericho,
Cup. The city’s basketball team is is a desert gorge with a nature reserve,
Hapoel Jerusalem, which plays home spring, waterfall, and aqueduct. It is
games in the Goldberg Sports Hall at also the site of the picturesque St.
the Teddy Stadium. George’s Monastery, which is built into
the side of a cliff. Wadi Qelt and Nahal
16 Parks and Sorek are popular hiking spots.
Recreation
Popular recreational activities
Jerusalem’s parks, gardens, forests, include soccer, hiking, and bicycling.
and other cultivated open areas are Jerusalem also has both open-air and
maintained by the Jerusalem Founda-
indoor swimming pools and a skating
tion, founded in 1966. The city’s largest
rink with artificial ice made of silicon.
parks are Independence Park (Gan
Ha’Atzmaut), centrally located in the Sports programs are run by the city, the
downtown area of west Jerusalem, and Young Men’s Christian Association
Sacher Park, located further west, near (YMCA), and neighborhood sports
the Knesset. Sacher Park is connected clubs. The YMCA has a soccer field that
with a wooded area known as the Valley can seat as many as 10,000 spectators.

Jerusalem
17 Performing Arts 18 Libraries and

Museums
The Jerusalem Symphony Orches-
tra performs regularly at the Henry With some 2,500,000 volumes, the
Crown Theater, part of the Jerusalem Jewish National and University Library
is the largest in the country and has the
Centre for the Performing Arts (which
world’s premier collection of Judaica. It
also includes the Jerusalem Theater and
also has excellent collections in archae-
the Rebecca Crown Theater). In the
ology and Oriental studies. Jerusalem’s
summer months, the modern Sultan’s other major libraries are the library of
Pool Amphitheatre, near Yemin Moshe, the Knesset, the State Archives, and the
with a view of the Old City walls is a Municipal Library, which has multiple
dramatic venue for both classical and branches.
popular concerts. Classical, jazz, and
folk music concerts are performed at The Israel Museum, located in
the Gerard Bakhar Theater. Concerts are Jerusalem, is the country’s national
also presented at area universities and museum. Its holdings include some of
the Dead Sea Scrolls, an extensive col-
at the Israel Museum.
lection of archaeological artifacts from
the Middle East, Jewish ritual art, Jew-
Jerusalem does not have a resident
ish ethnography, and sculpture. Archae-
theater company, but audiences can
ological exhibits are also found in the
attend performances by troupes from Rockefeller Museum, the Bible Lands
Tel Aviv (the Habimah and Carmeri Museum, and the Citadel Museum of
Theater Companies) and by the Haifa the History of Jerusalem. Museums
Municipal Theater Company. The focusing on Arabic art, culture, and his-
annual Israel Festival in May and June tory include the Islamic Museum, the
brings performances by additional Islamic Art Museum, the L. A. Mayer
groups from many parts of the world, Memorial Institute for Islamic Art, and
and experimental theater can be seen the Palestinian Arab Folklore Centre.
regularly at the Khan Theatre. Musical
Specialized museums include
theater, often in English, is featured at
Ammunition Hill Museum, commemo-
Tzavta. The Train Theatre is a railroad
rating the 1967 Six Day War; the Arme-
carriage that has been converted to a nian Art and History Museum in the
puppet theater. The Bat Dor and Inbal Armenian Quarter of the Old City; the
dance companies perform frequently in Bloomfield Science Museum; the Burnt
Jerusalem, as does the Israel Opera. house of Kathros, the reconstructed
home of a Jewish family during the era
Arabic theater and dancing is pre- of the Second Temple; and the Second
sented at the Al-Masrah Centre for Pal- Temple model, a scale model of Jerusa-
estinian Culture and Art and the Al- lem before the destruction of the Sec-
Kasaba Theatre. ond Temple.

Jerusalem
Jerusalem’s historic and religious sites, like these remains of a synagogue, make it Israel’s top tourist
destination. (Israel Talby; Woodfin Camp)
Yad Vashem, in the Ein Kerem dis- 19 To u r i s m

trict, is both a museum of the Holo-
caust and a memorial to those who With its religious and historic sites,
perished in it. The Historical Museum cultural attractions, and picturesque
portion documents the Holocaust from mountain setting, Jerusalem is Israel’s
the rise of Nazism through World War foremost tourist destination, drawing
II. The Hall of Members Cemetery con- one-and-a-half million visitors a year,
tains ashes brought from Europe’s con- or roughly 70 percent of all persons
centration camps, an eternal flame, and who visit Israel. In the same year, Jerus-
pillars symbolizing the chimneys of the alem’s hotels employed 6,151 workers
crematoria in which the bodies of vic- and welcomed 970,000 guests. The city
tims were incinerated. Also included in has 65 hotels, with a combined total of
Yad Vashem are the Garden of Righ- 8,046 rooms. About 38 percent of trav-
teous Gentiles and a Children’s Memo- elers to Jerusalem come from the Amer-
rial. icas, and 43 percent come from Europe.

Jerusalem
Jerusalem is also Israel’s most popu- DECEMBER

lar site for international conferences, Liturgica
hosting about 50 percent of all such
events. 21 Famous Citizens
S. Y. Agnon (1887–1970), fiction writer.
20 Holidays and
Festivals Yehuda Amichai (b. 1924), poet.
JANUARY-FEBRUARY Aharon Appelfeld (b. 1932), novelist.
Tu B’Shvat
FEBRUARY David Ben-Gurion (1886–1973), Israel’s
Jerusalem Musical Encounters first prime minister.
FEBRUARY-MARCH David Grossman (b. 1954), novelist.
Purim
MARCH Teddy Kollek (b. 1911), longtime mayor.
International Festival of Poets
International Judaica Fair Gershom Scholem (1897–1982), histori-
an of mysticism.
MARCH-APRIL
Pesach (Passover)
Chaim Weizmann (1874–1952), early
APRIL-MAY Zionist leader and first president of
Independence Day Israel.
Lag Ba-Omer
MAY-JUNE Avraham B. Yehoshua (b. 1936), novel-
Israel Festival ist and playwright.
Jerusalem Liberation Day
Shavuot
JULY
International Film Festival
Websites
JULY-AUGUST Focus on Israel. [Online] Available http://
Tish B’Av www.focusmm.com.au/israel/is_anamn.htm
(accessed December 30, 1999).
AUGUST
Jerusalem International Puppet Theatre Festival Israel Tourist Information. [Online] Available
http://www.infotour.co.il (accessed Decem-
SEPTEMBER ber 30, 1999).
Early Music Workshop Jerusalem Post online. [Online] Available http://
www.jpost.co.il/ (accessed December 30,
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1999).
Rosh Hashanah
Jerusalem website. [Online] Available http://
Yom Kippur www.huji.ac.il/jerusalem.html (accessed
Succot December 30, 1999).
Simchat Torah Ministry of Tourism. [Online] Available http://
www.israel-mfa.gov.il/sites.html (accessed
OCTOBER
December 30, 1999).
Jerusalem Marathon
Municipality of Jerusalem Website. [Online]
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER Available http://www.jerusalem.muni.il/
Chanukah (accessed December 30, 1999).

Jerusalem
Government Offices Benvenisti, Meron. City of Stone: The Hidden His-

Ministry of Economy and Planning tory of Jerusalem. Translated by Maxine Kauf-
P.O. Box 292 man Nunn. Berkeley: University of
3 Rehov Kaplan California Press, 1996.
Kiryat Ben-Gurion Dumper, Michael. The Politics of Jerusalem Since
Jerusalem 91131 1967. New York: Columbia University Press,
1996.
Office of the Prime Minister Elon, Amos. Jerusalem: Battlegrounds of Memory.
P.O. Box 187 New York: Kodansha International, 1995.
3 Rehov Kaplan Elon, Amos. Jerusalem: City of Mirrors. 1st ed. Bos-
Kiryat Ben-Gurion ton: Little, Brown, 1989.
Jerusalem 91919 King, Anthony. Jerusalem Revealed. Cam-
bridgeshire, England: Boxer Publishing,
Ministry of Tourism Kroyanker, David. Jerusalem Architecture. Intro-
24 Rehov King George duction by Teddy Kollek. New York: Ven-
Jerusalem 91009 dome Press, 1994.
02-675-4910 Nellhaus, Arlynn. Into the Heart of Jerusalem: A
Traveler's Guide to Visits, Celebrations, and
Tourist Information Sojourns. Santa Fe, NM: John Muir, 1999.
17 Rehov Jaffa Romann, Michael, and Alex Weingrod. Living
Jerusalem Together Separately: Arabs and Jews in Contem-
02-628-0382 porary Jerusalem. Princeton, NJ: Princeton
University Press, 1991.
Publications Rosovsky, Nitza, ed. City of the Great King: Jerusa-
Al Quds lem from David to the Present. Cambridge,
P. O. Box 19788 MA: Harvard University Press, 1996.
Jerusalem
Videorecordings
The Jerusalem Post Jerusalem [videorecording] with Martin Gilbert. New
The Jerusalem Post Building York: A&E Home Video, 1996. 2 videocas-
P.O. Box 81 settes (ca. 150 min.): sd. col.; 1/2 in. Pro-
Jerusalem 91000 duced by Krosney Productions for the
History Channel. v. 1. From a dream to
Books destruction. v. 2. Pilgrims and Conquerors.
Ben-Dov, M. Jerusalem, Man and Stone: An Arche- Jerusalem 3000 [videorecording]. Yoram Globus
ologist's Personal View of His City. Translation presents Jerusalem 3000. Burbank, Califor-
from the Hebrew, Yael Guiladi. Tel-Aviv : nia: Warner Home Video, 1998.1 videocas-
Modan, 1990. sette (30 min.): sd., col. ; 1/2 in.

Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa, Africa

Location: On the Highveld in the South African interior
Time Zone: 2 PM in South Africa = noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Ethnic Composition: 70% black; 25% white; 5% Indian or mixed race
Elevation: 5,700 to 5,930 feet (1,740 to 1,810 meters)
Latitude and Longitude: 26º10’S, 28º2’E
Climate: Temperate, with mild summers and winters
Annual Mean Temperature: 15.5 ºC (59.9ºF); January 24ºC (75ºF); July 13ºC (55ºF)
Seasonal Average Snowfall: N.A.
Average Annual Precipitation (rainfall): 700 mm (28 in)
Government: Municipal and local councils
Monetary Units: The rand
Telephone Area Codes: 11 (Johannesburg); 27 (South Africa)
1 Introduction Johannesburg is also a city built on

a history of racial division that achieved
Located in north-central South its most dramatic form in the twentieth
Africa, Johannesburg is the country’s century policy of strict separation
largest and fastest-growing city, with known as apartheid. This legacy is
sprawling suburbs fanning out from the apparent in the racial divide between its
central city to cover an area of 1,100 various districts and suburbs, ranging
square kilometers (424.7 square miles). from the teeming streets of Soweto to
The nickname “eGoli” (“city of gold”)
the posh mansions of the northern sub-
evokes Johannesburg’s origin as a min-
urbs. The political changes of the 1990s
ing town in the late nineteenth cen-
can be seen most readily in the central
tury. Today, it is still the capital of
South African mining and commerce city, which has become a bustling mul-
and home to the headquarters of the ticultural area where thousands of street
country’s mining companies and major traders earn their living in the shadow
financial institutions, as well as head- of the city’s giant skyscrapers, and a
quarters to a variety of multinational blend of African and European lan-
corporations and transportation hub of guages evokes the city’s unique cultural
southern Africa. and social history.
123
Johannesburg
leading to Pretoria and beyond. A num-

Johannesburg ber of highways radiate outward from
Population Profile Johannesburg to the east, south, and
west, including N12 and N17 (east), N3,
Population: 2,412,000 R26, N1 and R29 (both leading to
Area: 1,100 sq km ( 424.7 sq mi)
Ethnic composition: 70% black; 25% white; 5% Soweto from the south), and N14 to the
Indian or mixed race west.
Average yearly growth rate: 2.1% Bus and Railroad Service
Nicknames: Jo’burg; Jozi; eGoli (City of Gold);
Africa’s Manhattan
Inter-city bus service is provided by
———
1. The Johannesburg metropolitan area’s rank Greyhound, Intercape, and Translux, all
among the world’s urban areas. of which arrive at and depart from the
2. The percent of South Africa’s total population Rotunda, which also serves as the city’s
living in the Johannesburg metropolitan area.
rail terminal.
2 Getting There Airports

Situated on the interior South Afri-
Direct flights to cities in Europe,
can plateau known as the Highveld,
Asia, Australia, and the Western Hemi-
Johannesburg stretches across a series of
sphere, as well as service to destinations
ridges called the Witwatersrand, or
throughout southern Africa are avail-
“Rand.” Located near the center of
able at Johannesburg (formerly Jan
South Africa and at the heart of a vast
developed area in Gauteng Province, Smuts) International Airport, South
Johannesburg is a transportation hub Africa’s largest international airport. It
for the region and the country as a is located around 20 kilometers (12.4
whole. The closest major city is Pretoria miles) east of the city. International air
to the northeast. traffic to Johannesburg has increased
greatly since the lifting of foreign
Highways embargoes against South Africa in early
1990s, and major renovations of the
The Johannesburg area has a well- airport are underway.
developed highway system that carries
thousands of commuters between the
city and its suburbs every day. The 3 Getting Around
major north-south route, N1, becomes
M1 when it reaches the metropolitan Greater Johannesburg consists of
area, while N1 becomes part of an over 500 suburbs fanning out, mostly
urban highway (the Eastern and West- northward, from the central city over
ern Bypass) ringing the city. Also lead- an area more than 518 square kilome-
ing north out of the city, R28 joins N1 ters (200 square miles).

Johannesburg

Johannesburg
Bus and Commuter Rail Service groups. A dozen or more languages are
spoken in the city on a daily basis.
Double-decker buses are operated
by the municipal transportation sys- In 1995 Greater Johannesburg had
tem, with most routes originating from a population of approximately 4.5 mil-
the main bus terminal in Venderbijl lion. Its average population density was
Square. Buses run within the city and the highest in South Africa.
between the city and suburbs but usu-
ally not from one suburb to another. 5 Neighborhoods
Since it is intended primarily for com-
muters, bus service is provided mostly Central Johannesburg is laid out in
during the work week, with few routes a rectangular grid pattern with narrow
and infrequent runs offered during the streets dating back to the city’s early
weekend. Many blacks use minibuses, history, although today they are lined
called “kombi-taxes,” operated by pri- with office towers that turn many of
vately owned black companies. them into virtual canyons and have
inspired the nickname “Africa’s Man-
Sightseeing hattan.” The central city today is prima-
rily a business district devoted to the
Bus and minibus tours of Johannes- financial and mining industries and
burg, Soweto, Gold Reef City, and area government. Located in this district are
parks are available. There are also tours the Magistrates Court, the Gauteng Leg-
of the Parktown mansions. Specialty islature, the public library and main
tours include balloon tours over the post office, the Johannesburg Stock
Magaliesberg Mountains and informa- Exchange, and the 50-story Carleton
tive tours of Johannesburg mines. Centre with an observatory that affords
an excellent view of the city. A variety
4 People of small shops and street traders pro-
vides a traditional atmosphere at odds
Johannesburg is a multicultural with the city’s skyscrapers. The New-
and multiethnic city. Racially, its popu- town district just west of the city is
lation is approximately 70 percent home to a number of cultural institu-
black and 25 percent white, with the tions, including several museums. The
remainder Indian or of mixed racial northern neighborhood of Braamfon-
background. However, there is great tein is home to the University of the
diversity within each racial group. Vir- Witwatersrand.
tually every ethnic and linguistic group
in southern Africa is represented among When first built, each of Johannes-
Johannesburg’s black population, and burg’s suburbs and townships was
the white population, although prima- racially restricted under the apartheid
rily of English or Afrikaans origin, also system as spelled out in the Group
includes Greeks, Portuguese, Italians, Areas Act. The Group Areas Act was nul-
Russians, Poles, Lebanese, and other lified in 1991, but Johannesburg’s

Johannesburg

Johannesburg Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(South Africa) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Sunday Times La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
neighborhoods remain largely segre- The inner-city suburbs of Joubert Park,

gated racially, with most blacks living Hillbrow, and Berea are formerly white
in townships close to the central city. areas that blacks began moving into
The two most populous are Soweto, when apartheid began to crumble in
with a population of at least one-and-a- the 1980s and 1990s. Today they are
half million, and Alexandra, with about mostly black and house many immi-
half a million. Living conditions in the grants from other parts of Africa, espe-
townships range from middle-class cially the Congo and Nigeria. The
enclaves to squatters’ camps with no suburbs of Yeoville and Observatory,
plumbing or electricity. Black migrant formerly Jewish and Portuguese neigh-
workers still live in hostels on the out- borhoods, are multiracial areas with a
skirts of the townships. colorful street scene.
Most of the city’s mixed-race popu- Johannesburg’s western suburbs,

lation is clustered in townships west of including Briston and Melville, are
the central city while the Indian popu- home to middle-class whites while the
lation lives in the township of Lenasia. northern suburbs, such as Parktown

Johannesburg
Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest city. (Martti Kainulainen; Woodfin Camp)
and Houghton, are elite enclaves with years it became the largest settlement in
posh homes. South Africa. By the 1890s, several large
mining companies had taken control of
6 History the area’s gold mines, creating huge for-
tunes for their owners. Tensions
Settlement of Johannesburg began between the mine barons, the English-
in 1886, when gold was discovered in speaking newcomers to the area, and
the Witwatersrand by an Australian the Transvaal’s Boer government—fed
prospector named George Harrison. The by British colonial aspirations in the
discovery spurred a feverish gold rush region—led to the Anglo-Boer War of
as fortune hunters from all over the 1899–1901. By its end, the Transvaal
world descended on the area. Blacks and the Orange Free State were under
from all parts of southern Africa came British control.
to work the gold fields either perma-
nently or temporarily as contract labor- At the start of the twentieth cen-
ers. The government of the Transvaal, tury, the population of Johannesburg
then a Boer republic, established a city had reached 100,000. Early in the cen-
at the site, and in the space of three tury, the British colonial government

Johannesburg
began forcibly relocating blacks from student protest in the black township of
the central city to areas on its outskirts, Soweto. The shooting sparked a
inaugurating the principle of racial sep- months-long popular uprising that
aration that became entrenched in the spread to dozens of other cities in South
administration of the city and eventu- Africa, and unrest continued through
ally led to the system known as apart- the 1980s, with massive violence erupt-
heid. The substandard conditions in ing in Johannesburg’s black townships
which most of the city’s black majority again in 1984. Black militancy, com-
lived led to protests and strikes, includ- bined with the effects of international
ing a 1920 strike by 70,000 black mine sanctions, finally toppled the apartheid
workers. There was agitation among system in the early 1990s and led to
Johannesburg’s white miners as well, South Africa’s first democratic elections
culminating in the general strike and in 1994.
“Rand Revolt” of 1922, in which over
200 people died. With the removal of discriminatory
laws, Johannesburg’s black townships
The growth of manufacturing in have slowly been integrated into the
the 1930s and 1940s brought an even city’s municipal government, and
greater influx of blacks into the city, blacks have moved into formerly white
especially during World War II (1939– districts in the central city and inner
45), when many white workers were suburbs. The city still faces many chal-
serving in the military. The city’s black lenges, including a serious crime prob-
population doubled, with many of the lem and de facto segregation as many
new arrivals crowded into squatters’ whites retreat to the northern suburbs.
camps. The beginnings of a black
nationalist consciousness that arose
during this period led to a white back- 7 Government
lash in the 1950s when the conserva-
tive National Party came to power and Greater Johannesburg has a multi-
level system of popularly elected local
implemented the policy of apartheid,
government that has been in place
banning all black opposition move-
ments. Beginning in the 1960s, hun- since November 1955 and has extended
the boundaries of municipal govern-
dreds of thousands of blacks were
ment to include the surrounding black
relocated from Johannesburg to remote
“homelands,” and their movements townships in the political process. At
the highest level, there is the Greater
were regulated by strict enforcement of
Johannesburg Metropolitan Board, a
pass laws.
metropolitan council that oversees the
The milestone event in the black distribution of municipal resources.
resistance movement that eventually Next there are four local councils that
overthrew apartheid and white domi- handle city services within their com-
nance came on June 16, 1976, when munities. The local councils are divided
South African police opened fire on a into wards, each of which has its own

Johannesburg
A blend of traditional and modern architecture, a result of Johannesburg’s economic development.

(P. Guerrini; Woodfin Camp)
elected representative. In addition to businesses have relocated to northern

voting for individual representatives suburbs such as Rosebank and Sandton.
from their wards, residents also vote for Muggings and car-jackings are common
the party of their choice in elections for occurrences in the central city, and
both the local and municipal councils. travelers are routinely warned to exer-
cise caution, whether walking, using
Johannesburg is also the legislative
capital of Gauteng Province (formerly public transportation, or driving. The
called the Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vaal government tourism office advises
triangle). motorists to know their routes in
advance, keep their doors and windows
locked, lock valuables in the trunk, and
8 Public Safety park in well-lit areas.
Violent crime is enough of a seri-
ous problem in Johannesburg, particu- Traffic control is handled by local
larly in the downtown area, that many police forces. Other aspects of public

Johannesburg
safety are under the jurisdiction of the

South African Police Services.
9 Economy
Johannesburg is South Africa’s
major commercial, financial, and
industrial center. It is home to the
South African stock exchange, the lead-
ing banks, the country’s mining compa-
nies, the Chamber of Mines, and the
government regulatory agency in
charge of mining. South Africa’s major
insurance, retail, engineering, and con-
struction companies are also located in
the city. Johannesburg is also a major
manufacturing center whose factories
produce a wide range of goods from
steel to textiles. The city is also home to
Drums and hides for sale by a street vendor.
some 10,000 to 12,000 street traders (P. Guerrini; Woodfin Camp)
whose operations in the central busi-
ness district bring in an annual com-
found in Alexandra, the Klip River area,
bined revenue of some 500 million
Roodepoort, Orange Farm, and Poortje.
rand.
11 Shopping
10 Environment
Offering a great variety of con-
The central city and some of the sumer goods in its shops and malls,
suburban areas suffer from a variety of Johannesburg is one of the major retail
environmental problems. These include centers in southern Africa and attracts
water pollution from industrial efflu- shoppers from throughout the region.
ents and sewer blockages, air pollution The thousands of informal street traders
from industry and vehicle emissions, who operate in the central business dis-
dust from mine sites, litter from the trict every day generate an estimated
many street traders in the downtown annual turnover of about 500 million
area, and excess refuse caused by over- rand.
crowding (which also results in noise
pollution). Soweto and the surrounding Greater Johannesburg is home to
area have poor air quality due to the some 20 shopping malls. Among its
burning of coal and high levels of water more popular malls are the Carlton
pollution. Other than Soweto, the Centre, the Smal Street Mall, and the
greatest environmental problems are upscale Hyde Park Mall. Further afield

Johannesburg
are the Randburg Waterfront, a shop- ing, law, medicine, and dentistry. The
ping center built around an artificial university has a staff of about 4,000,
lake; the Rosebank shopping complex, including 1,250 faculty members, and
which is a series of interconnected enrolls around 18,000 students, confer-
malls; and the huge Sandton City Shop- ring 4,500 degrees each year. Its main
ping Centre. campus, at Milner Park, covers 68 hect-
ares (168 acres). Rand Afrikaans Univer-
The city’s shops, galleries, street sity (RAU), founded in 1968, offers
vendors, and flea markets make it the degree programs to Afrikaans speakers.
country’s premier shopping destina- Soweto is home to a branch of Vista
tion for arts and crafts, including wood University. Johannesburg also has sev-
carvings, jewelry, beadwork, and such eral technical and teachers’ training
traditional items as fertility dolls. colleges.
Among the better-known crafts shops
are Art Africa; Diagonal Street, which
has a large selection of Sotho blankets; 13 Health Care
Jacana; Mai Mai Bazaar, which sells
Zulu crafts, foods, and other items; and Decades of apartheid have left a
Zebra Crossing. A large array of crafts legacy of substandard health conditions
can also be found at the Rosebank Roof- in Johannesburg’s black townships,
top Market. where the incidence of infant mortality
is significantly higher than that for the
A good selection of recordings of city’s white communities, and tubercu-
African music can be found in numer- losis remains endemic.
ous small shops in the central business
district. Located in the center of Johannes-
burg, Johannesburg Hospital, a State
Health Service Hospital operated by the
12 Education Gauteng Provincial Administration, is a
Although the legal framework for multidisciplinary teaching hospital
racial segregation has been dismantled, affiliated with the University of the
primary and secondary schools in Witwatersrand Medical School. The
Johannesburg, as elsewhere in South hospital has approximately 1,200
Africa, remain largely segregated in teaching beds in all areas of medicine.
practice. Its Level I trauma center, staffed in con-
junction with the Department of Sur-
Johannesburg is home to two uni- gery of the University of the
versities. The University of Witwa- Witwatersrand, is the only comprehen-
tersrand, originally founded in 1896 as sive unit of its kind in South Africa and
the South African School of Mines, is receives patients from throughout
the country’s largest English-speaking Gauteng Province, neighboring prov-
university, granting degrees in architec- inces, and neighboring states. The unit
ture, art, business, education, engineer- provides all levels of trauma care, from

Johannesburg
treatment of minor injuries to major The government-supported South

traumas, and its staff has full 24-hour-a- African Broadcasting Corporation
day access to diagnostic, laboratory, and (SABC) operates three public television
therapeutic support facilities. Approxi- channels. One broadcasts mostly in
mately 20,000 trauma patients per year English while the other two divide their
are seen in the center, and some 1,500 time among South Africa’s remaining
major resuscitations are performed ten official languages. News and sports
annually. programming and movies are available
to viewers who subscribe to the M-Net
Besides Johannesburg Hospital, satellite television service. The SABC
other publicly operated hospitals also offers both AM and FM radio pro-
include the J. G. Strijdom Hospital, the gramming. Voice of America English-
Hillbrow Hospital, and Baragwanath language broadcasts can also be heard
Hospital in Soweto. The city’s premier in Johannesburg. As part of a nation-
private health care facility is Morning- wide telecommunications expansion,
side Clinic. Millpark Hospital is another licenses for over 30 new radio stations
private facility. were granted for Gauteng Province in
1995, most of them in Johannesburg.
14 Media Notable for their quality musical and/or
public affairs programming are Johan-
Home to daily newspapers, major nesburg’s Greek and Portuguese stations
weeklies, and the country’s national and stations in the black townships of
television broadcasting service, Johan- Soweto and Alexandra.
nesburg is a major media center. The
Johannesburg Star (circulation 206,000),
an evening paper published seven days 15 Sports
a week, is the major English-language
daily. The Sowetan (circulation With the end of apartheid, South
225,000), South Africa’s top-selling Africa returned to international sports
daily newspaper, is targeted primarily to competition in the 1990s, most notably
a black audience and is available in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.
throughout the country. The most South Africa also hosted (and won) the
authoritative news source is the Weekly 1995 Rugby Union World Cup tourna-
Mail & Guardian (circulation 30,000). It ment, giving the sport—traditionally
is affiliated with and draws most of its considered a largely Afrikaaner pas-
international coverage from London’s time—a major boost in popularity. In
Guardian newspaper. Business Day (cir- Johannesburg. Rugby Union is played
culation 41,000), also published in at Ellis Park in Doornfontein east of the
Johannesburg, is South Africa’s major central city. The main stadium there
business daily. The Citizen is a conserva- can accommodate as many as 100,000
tive English-language daily. Afrikaans fans. The South Africa Open tennis
newspapers include Beeld and Rapport. tournament also takes place there.

Johannesburg
The Johannesburg area has two built by Johannesburg’s early gold bar-
venues for soccer, the favorite spectator ons. The 60-hectare (148-acre) Johan-
sport of black South Africans: Rand Sta- nesburg Botanical Garden in Roosevelt
dium near Turffontein; and Soccer City, Park extension includes rose and bonsai
on Soweto Road, which can hold gardens, pools, and fountains.
130,000 spectators. The Johannesburg
area is home to two of the nation’s top Over 3,000 species of mammals,
local soccer teams, the Orlando Pirates birds, and reptiles are on view at the
(popularly known as the Bucs) and the Johannesburg Zoological Gardens,
Kaiser Chiefs. The traditionally white, where large animals including lions,
English sport of cricket has attracted tigers, giraffes, and elephants are
new fans through programs to promote enclosed in areas surrounded by moats
the sport in the black townships. Wan- rather than locked behind bars. The zoo
derers in Melrose North is a top-notch also contains a lake, with a playground
cricket grounds; Elhak Ovel, a newer area and rowboat rentals. Snakes, rep-
cricket site, is located in Soweto. tiles, and fish can be seen at Johannes-
burg’s Aquarium and Reptile Park. De
Auto racing takes place at Kyalami Wildt Cheetah Research Centre at Sil-
between Johannesburg and Pretoria, kaatsnek, where cheetahs and hyenas
and Turffontein is the area’s premier are bred, is north of Johannesburg and
horseracing venue, with events sched- open to the public, with two-hour
uled nearly every week. guided tours available weekends. The
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, located
16 Parks and on the Nigel/Kliprivier Road 40 kilome-
Recreation ters (25 miles) from Johannesburg, is
the most extensive nature reserve in
Greater Johannesburg has more Gauteng Province. It contains vegeta-
than 600 parks and green spaces, tion typical of the Highveld, as well as
mostly in suburban areas. The Braam- many bird and other wildlife species,
fontein Spruit Trail, which winds for and has hiking trails and facilities for
about 25 kilometers (15 miles) through picnicking and camping, as well as an
Johannesburg, Randburg, and Sandton, educational center. Of archaeological
links a number of municipal parks in interest are the Sterkfontein Caves and
the region, including the 100-hectare the Kromdraai Caves near the town of
(250-acre) Florence Bloom Bird Sanctu- Krugersdorp west of the city. The
ary, which encompasses two dams and nearby Rhino Nature Reserve has white
has special areas provided for bird rhinos, wildebeest, hartebeest, giraffes,
watchers. Other self-guided walking and antelopes. The northern suburbs of
trails include the Bloubos Trail, the Johannesburg have many parks and
Parktown Urban Walk, the Sandspruit other open areas suitable for picnick-
Trail, and the Randlords Heritage Trail, ing, bird watching, and other outdoor
which includes views of the mansions activities.

Johannesburg
South Africans participate avidly in

outdoor pursuits, including such sports
as soccer, rugby, and cricket, as well as
hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding,
bird watching, canoeing and rafting,
flying and other aerial sports, such as
gliding and hot air ballooning.
17 Performing Arts
Johannesburg offers a variety of
resources for those interested in the per-
forming arts. The National Symphony
Orchestra performs regularly at Linder
Auditorium in Parktown. Mainstream
musical theater and opera is staged at “Bula Africa” Zulu dance troupe performs outside
the 1,100-seat Civic Theatre in Braam- of Market Theatre. (Jason Laure; Woodfin Camp)
fontein, the city’s premier theatrical
venue, which encompasses four stages.
Experimental and ethnically oriented
theater is offered at a variety of venues
by small, innovative troupes. Johannes- 18 Libraries and
burg’s other well-known multi-stage Museums
theater complex is the Johannesburg
Market Theatre, located in the city’s The Johannesburg Public Library,
former produce market. It has three founded in 1889, has a wide network of
stages, and is the city’s traditional home branch libraries. Johannesburg has a
for protest theater. Alternative theater is diverse selection of museums and gal-
offered at the Windybrow Theatre. leries. Established in the early twentieth
Leaders on the city’s dance scene are century, the Johannesburg Art Gallery,
the Dance Factory and the Moving into in downtown Joubert Park, has South
Dance Academy, where many choreog- Africa’s most extensive collection of
raphers are trained.
paintings by the European Impression-
Johannesburg is South Africa’s pre- ists. In recent years representation of
mier locale for popular entertainment. African artists has grown, and today its
Jazz, blues, and rock music are offered gardens are enhanced by the work of
by both local groups and touring per- South African sculptors while local art-
formers from all over the world. Major ists receive exposure in temporary
venues for large concerts are the Stan- exhibits. Commercial galleries, such as
dard Bank Arena in Ellis Park and the the Everard Read Gallery in Rosebank,
FNB Stadium. also display a wide variety of works by

Johannesburg
African artists, ranging from land- 19 To u r i s m

scapes to traditional tribal art.
As elsewhere in South Africa,
Museum Africa, which dates back Johannesburg has seen a dramatic rise
in tourism since the end of apartheid,
to the 1930s, has an outstanding sec-
with the greatest number of tourists
tion focusing on the history of Johan-
coming from Great Britain. With the
nesburg, including such displays as variety of cultural and recreational
reconstructed squatters’ shacks and attractions in the city and its environs,
homemade weapons. The museum’s tourism is expected to play an impor-
other collections encompass geology, tant role in its economic future.
rock art, and the Bensusan Museum of
Photography. Temporary exhibits are
also displayed. The South African Trans- 20 Holidays and
port Museum houses vintage steam
Festivals
engines and automobiles, ox wagons,
and other items. Visitors to the South JANUARY-FEBRUARY
Chinese New Year
Africa Breweries Museum, in the New-
town district, explore the history of FEBRUARY
Castle Cup Cricket Final
brewing, including the brewing of Euro-
Botanical Gardens Autumn Show
pean ale and lager beer. The South
Africa Museum of Military History dis- FEBRUARY-MARCH
FNB Vita Dance Umbrella
plays weapons and war memorabilia
dating back to the days of the Boer War MARCH
Human Rights Day
(1899–1902). The Madiba Freedom Benson and Hedges Cricket Final
Museum is dedicated to the life of Windybrow Theatre Festival
national hero Nelson Mandela (b.
MARCH-APRIL
1918), affectionately nicknamed Rand Easter Show
Madiba by his countrymen. Mandela’s
APRIL
hero status is based on his position as a Family Day
black nationalist leader, joint recipient Constitution Day
of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, and MAY
South Africa’s first black president Workers’ Day
(1994–99). The Workers’ Museum,
AUGUST
located in a converted compound that Women’s Day
once housed utility employees, is a
SEPTEMBER
national monument. Other museums Guinness Jo’burg Jazz Festival
in the Johannesburg area specialize in Heritage Day
Africana, banking, archaeology, Judaica, SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER
and costumes. Arts Alive Festival

Johannesburg
OCTOBER Virtual Africa. [Online] Available http://

Currie Cup rugby final www.africa.com/docs/satravel.htm (accessed
Johannesburg Biennale art exhibition December 30, 1999).
NOVEMBER
SA Formula 1 Grand Prix Government Offices
Most government offices are located in the capi-
DECEMBER tal city of Pretoria.
Day of Reconciliation
Day of Goodwill
Johannesburg Metropolitan Tourism Association
011–337–6650
21 Famous Citizens
South African Tourist Corporation (main office)
Nadine Gordimer (b. 1923), Nobel 442 Rigel Ave. South
Prize-winning novelist. Erasmusrand 0181
Pretoria, South Africa
Miriam Makeba (b. 1932), internation-
ally acclaimed vocalist. Publications
Business Day
Nelson Mandela (b. 1918), black na- 4 Beirman Place
tionalist leader, joint recipient of P.O. Box 1138
the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, and The Sowetan
South Africa’s first black president 61 Commando Rd.
(1994–99). Industria West
P.O. Box 6663
Cecil Skotnes (b. 1926), painter and
The Star
printmaker. 47 Sauer St.
P.O. Box 1014
Oliver Tambo (b. 1917), political leader
and president-in-exile of the Afri- Weekly Mail and Guardian
139 Smit St.
can National Congress.
Baamfontein
P.O. Box 32362
Desmond Tutu (b. 1931), religious and
political leader.
Books
Chipkin, Clive M. Johannesburg Style: Architecture
& Society, 1880s–1960s. Johannesburg:
Thorold's Africana Books, 1993.
22 For Further Study Kallaway, Peter, and Patrick Pearson. Johannes-
burg : Images and Continuities: A History of
Websites Working Class Life through Pictures, 1885–
Mail & Guardian home page. [Online] Available 1935. Braamfontein, South Africa: Ravan
http://www. mg.co/za/mg (accessed Decem- Press, 1986.
ber 30, 1999). McCrea, Barbara, Tony Pinchuck, and Greg
TimeOut Johannesburg. [Online] Available Mthembu-Salter. South Africa, Lesotho & Swa-
http://www.timeout.com/johannesburg ziland. Rough Guides. London: Penguin,
(accessed December 30, 1999). 1997.
Tourism Board website. [Online] Available http:// Paton, Alan. Cry, the Beloved Country. New York:
africa.com/satour (accessed December 30, Scribner's, 1948.
1999). Schadeberg, Jurgen. Sof'town Blues : Images from

Johannesburg
the Black '50s. Hurlyvale, South Africa: Afri- South Africa. New Haven: Yale University
can Book Centre, 1994. Press, 1995.
Sepamla, Sydney Sipho. A Ride on the Whirlwind:
A Novel. New York: Readers International,
1984.
Videorecordings
Themba, Can. The Will to Die. Ed. Donald Stuart Johannesburg [videorecording]. Super cities. Johan-
and Roy Holland. London: Heinemann, nesburg. San Ramon, California: Interna-
1972. tional Video Network, 1995. 1 videocassette
Thompson, Leonard Monteath. A History of (30 min.): sd., col.; 1/2 in.

Lagos
Lagos City, Lagos State, Nigeria, Africa
Founded: As “Oko” (farmland), precise date unknown; later corrupted as “Èkó.”

Christened Lagos, probably after lagoon, by Portuguese traders sometime after
the mid-15th century. Incorporated: October 1, 1963.
Location: Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, Africa
Time Zone: Noon = 11:00 AM GMT = 6:00 AM US Eastern Standard Time
Ethnic Composition: About two-thirds Yorùbá; remainder mixed from within Nigeria
and outside
Elevation: Generally at or below sea level, some parts already under threat
Coastline: 100 miles
Climate: Tropical; rainy season May through October; dry season November through
April
Annual Mean Temperature: 70–79ºF [23–26ºC] minimum and 78–90ºF [28–32ºC]
maximum
Government: City-state; town clerk-city council; appointed administrators
Monetary Units: Standard Nigerian Naira equals 100 Kobo; 100 Naira = US$ 1.00 as
of January 2000
1 Introduction istration and finally annexed the city in

1861. The former city-state would soon
Also known as “Èkó” in popular become a bridgehead to the conquest of
contexts, Lagos has been Nigeria’s pre- the territories that became Nigeria. In
mier city since at least 1861. Its role as 1914, Lagos was named Nigeria’s politi-
entrêpot (distribution center) to the cal capital, retaining that status until
West African coast assured by geogra- 1991 when Abuja formally became
phy, Lagos attracted Portuguese traders Nigeria’s new federal capital territory. It
and had become a major center for the has since remained Nigeria’s capital,
slave trade by early seventeenth cen- except in name.
tury. From 1851, the British bombarded
the city, seeking to expel Portuguese Lagos is Nigeria’s most cosmopoli-
slave dealers, abolish the slave trade tan city; it is probably also the most
altogether, and establish legitimate over-populated. At the first census in
trade in its place. In the process, the 1871, the city was home to just over
British set up their own colonial admin- 28,000 people; by 1952, the population
139
Lagos
translates literally to “Ékó fountain of

Lagos common sense,” but the metaphorical
Population Profile point is that doom awaits the visitor to
the city who is not streetwise or the
City Proper new migrant slow to adjust to urban
Population: 1,200,000 and competitive lifestyles in greater
Area: 69.7 sq km (27 sq mi)
Ethnic composition: About 67% Yorùbá;
Lagos.
remainder cosmopolitan, including from
outside Nigeria
Nicknames: “Èkó ar’omi sa l’egbelegbe” Èkó, The 2 Getting There
Island City; “Èkó ilé ogbón” Fountain of
Common Sense; Gateway to the Federal Lagos can be reached by air, water,
Republic of Nigeria; Center of Excellence and land transport. However, Nigeria’s
railroad system, built from the mid-
Metropolitan Area
1880s onwards, has not been expanded
Description: Èbúté Métta, Surùlérè, Àpápá, Yábã, substantially since. The passenger-car-
Mushin, Oshòdì, Ìkejà, Bàrígà rying ocean liner is no longer popular
either. The two best ways to reach Lagos
Percentage of national population2: 10.5% are thus by air and by road.
Ethnic composition: 70–80% Yorùbá; 15%
Nigerians; remainder non-Africans Highways
——— Three main bridges connect the
1. The Lagos metropolitan area’s rank among the
city with the mainland. The first is the
2. The percent of Nigeria’s total population living
Carter Bridge, built in 1901. Èkó and
in the Lagos metropolitan area. Third Mainland bridges have been con-
structed only since the 1970s. All three
provide easy and relatively fast access to
the island. In general Lagos has by far
stood at over 252,000. In the 1970s, the highest road density in Nigeria.
estimates ranged widely from near
600,000 to 1,500,000. These figures are Bus and Railroad Service
not necessarily accurate, but they do There are no train services in the
suggest that Lagos is a city of immi- city, the closest train station being at
grants. From early settlers through slave Ìddó, on the bridgehead to the island.
raiders to colonial officials, the city and The automobile is thus the best means
its mainland towns had always been a by which to get to the city. There are
place to move to in search of improved traffic tailbacks, or “go slow” in Nige-
life chances, political power, better liv- rian popular language, in part because
ing standards, and exposure to the eco- large numbers of people and vehicles
nomic opportunities offered by the compete for space. In the city some
larger world. One of the city’s aliases, major streets are estimated to take up to
“Èkó ilé ogbón,” reflects these themes. It 15,000 pedestrians and 7,500 vehicles

Lagos

Lagos
per hour. Commercial vehicles, both assured Lagos’ long-term role as impor-
buses and taxicabs, are available in rea- tant entrêpot to Nigeria.
sonable number—many in bad shape
physically. Parking space can be diffi- Lagos ports handle for four-fifths of
cult to find. Nigeria’s imports and 70 percent of
exports. The Àpápá port is estimated to
be the fifth busiest in West Africa.
Airports
The Lagos airport lies northwest of 3 Getting Around

the city. Also known as the Murtala
Lagos City is a picturesque mix of
Muhammed Airport, it is also a major
the modern and the traditional, with
hub for flights within West Africa and
skyscrapers and glass houses sitting
between the sub-region and Europe.
alongside old residential buildings.
Construction activity makes parts of
Cargo traffic averaged nearly
the city seem rather poorly planned
725,760 metric tons (800,000 tons) per
physically.
month in January–March 1980. In the
same months during 1983, over half of
all outbound passengers in Nigeria’s air-
ports (total 498,313) used the Lagos air- Mini- and midi-buses, as well as
port. Its average monthly share of larger lorries (motortrucks), known as
inbound passengers (monthly average molue, are the most widely used means
190,000) was about 47 percent. In 1986, of transport. The Lagos City Council
about 1.1 million international passen- owned stock in a private transport com-
gers used the Lagos airport; this was 85 pany until 1974 when the Lagos State
percent of the total for all three interna- Transport Corporation took over its
tional airports. The figures for domestic operations. Despite large-scale public
passengers are 2.7 million, or 72 per- investment, commercial vehicles have
cent of the total. The Lagos airport is been and remain largely privately
thus Nigeria’s busiest point for interna- owned. In the late 1970s, according to
tional and local air travel. survey estimates, about 53 percent of all
workers depended on the bus to get to
Shipping their workplaces; one-fifth or 20 per-
cent commuted by private automobile;
For long until the eighteenth cen- another 20 percent walked to work
tury, the Lagos creek system provided while less than one percent traveled to
the only outlet to sea-borne trade on work by train or water transport. The
the African West Coast. By 1907, con- number of private cars has increased
struction work on moles for the Àpápá over time; in 1960, 8,800 licensed cars
harbor had begun using rock brought existed in the city; between 1970 and
in by rail from Abéòkúta. Its extension 1974, over 42,000 cars were registered.
to the northern city of Kano in 1912 In 1985, nearly 20,000 minibuses, 6,000

Lagos

Lagos Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Nigeria) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
Daily Times/
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Sunday Times/ La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
Evening Times
1 United
2 The
3
midi-buses, and 30,000 taxis were esti- and Àpápá and from Victoria Island to
mated to run in metropolitan Lagos. Tarkwa Bay.
Bulk goods—industrial material, Sightseeing

foodstuff, and export produce—have
Organized commercial sightseeing
traditionally been transported by truck
tours of the city are rare, yet the island
and train; in recent times, the railways
is full of historical sites. A major monu-
have all but paled into insignificance in
ment is the Iga Ìdúngànràn, official resi-
its share of business in this sector. Still,
dence of the Oba of Lagos on Upper
the trains have often provided very
King Street. Another is The Old Secre-
cheap, alternative transport for people
tariat, built in 1906 to house colonial
commuting to Àpápá and Yábã from
offices. It still stands a short distance
high-density residential areas, such as from the Lagos Island Hospital.
Mushin, Oshòdì, Ìkejà, and Agége. A
metro conceived in the 1980s has yet to On the Marina stands NITEL
be built. Ferries run between Marina House, Africa’s tallest building and

Lagos
home to some magnificent sculpture. between non-Yorùbá speaking Nigeri-

Not far off is the State House where ans, Africans, and non-African resi-
colonial governors lived until 1960. The dents. The Yorùbás are also the majority
General Post Office building and the group in Greater Lagos though long-
Anglican Church, built in the eigh- term residence and the urge to partake
teenth century, are worth seeing too. in available economic opportunities
The NEPA building has a bronze statue may have encouraged assimilation on
of Shàngó, god of thunder, before it. The the part of non-Yorùbá immigrants.
Elder Dempster building, originally the Ajégúnlè near Àpápá is the only main-
main office block for the passenger and land town in Greater Lagos where eth-
freight steamship service to London nic Yorùbás are a numerical minority.
and the West African coast, also stands
on the Marina. 5 Neighborhoods
The Tafawa Balewa Square now The original settlement comprised
stands where once was the racecourse. what is now known as the City and
Nearby are King’s College and old Ìkòyí, both archipelagos divided by a
Supreme Court buildings. There is also man-made canal. They are bordered to
Lagos City Hall, seat of the island’s local the north by Èbúté Métta, Yábã, and
government. Nearly every street on the Surulere, three mainland suburbs that
island symbolizes history; the inter- are home to railway workshops and
ested sightseer cannot want for insights Army Ordinance Depot, as well as more
on life past. recently built edifices, such as the Uni-
versity of Lagos and various private
On the mainland, the National industrial and commercial establish-
Theatre, main venue of the Second ments.
World Black and African Festival held in
1977, stands out among many other What is now Greater Lagos used to
monuments. An exhibition on Nigeria’s be part of Western Region of Nigeria.
political history runs permanently. Among the towns are the high-brow
residential areas, like Surulere and Ìkejà,
as well as densely populated Mushin,
4 People
Agége, Oshòdì, and Ajégúnlè.
The city’s population estimates
range from over 500,000 to 1,500,000; 6 History
the number for Greater Lagos is esti-
mated at 6,000,000 (1990). Population Lagos was settled at various times
densities can also be as high as 20,000 by hunters and fishermen from the
per square mile in some places. Àwórì sub-nationality. Originally based
in Iseri on the Ògùn River about 20
Over two-thirds or 70 percent of miles from the island, the initial wave
the city’s population are Yorùbá-speak- of settlers led by Arómiré (“the one that
ing, with the remainder divided becomes personable at the sight of a

Lagos
Lagos rests on the Gulf of Guinea. (Betty Press; Woodfin Camp)
river”), established a presence in Ìddó was a part, had become embroiled in

and Èbúté Métta. Arómiré also grew the long-running wars involving ethnic
vegetables, especially pepper, on a site groups, communities, chiefdoms, king-
where Iga Ìdúngànràn, the palace or offi- doms, and other political units of the
cial residence of the Oba of Lagos now time. The island settlements faced war
stands. Iga Ìdúngànràn is an Àwórì term from the Ègbás and the Ìjèbús, both
meaning house on pepper farm. The Yorùbá-speaking nationalities. The
palace is thus not only an important ancient Benin Empire, in present-day
symbol of the historical traditions of Edo State of Nigeria also invaded the
Lagos; its name also helps keep alive the island around the year 1600.
site’s association with vegetable farming
by Arómiré, the city’s first settler. There are conflicting accounts of
the latter episode. Some have argued
From these bases the Àwórì settlers that the Binis actually founded the
moved further south, towards the Lagos monarchy or system of rulership,
creeks and the sea. One major reason apparently in the image of Benin’s. Ash-
why they moved was because their ipa, the first Oba of Lagos, was a Yorùbá
increasing population created the need chief but not a Lagosian. It is known
for more space. Another was safety and also that between the sixteenth and
security. Yorùbáland, of which Lagos nineteenth centuries, the Benin Empire

Lagos
extended as far as Porto-Novo, west of Kòsókó of Lagos sent his close friend
Lagos. The Oba of Benin did appoint and adviser Chief Oshòdì Tápà to South
viceroys or representatives on the America to invite slaves with Yorùbá
island and approved all appointees to ancestry to return home. The trip
the office of Oba of Lagos. In return, yielded results in 1851 when 130 expa-
Lagos Obas paid tribute to Oba of Benin triates arrived in Lagos. By 1861 when
in recognition of the latter’s superior Lagos formally became a British colony,
status. Other historians have insisted the number of returnees had risen to
that the Oba of Benin waged war on the about 3,000. The Brazilian expatriates
island for the same reasons wars were brought with them skills in masonry,
then prevalent. carpentry, and tailoring, a strong Cath-
olic faith, and extensive Portuguese cul-
One of these was the desire by
tural traits.
reigning monarchs to expand control
over weaker, less populous peoples or Sierra Leonean expatriates, or
neighboring communities, kingdoms, Saros, mainly of Ègbá origins in
and empires. Another reason concerned present-day Abéòkúta in Ògùn State of
the new trans-Atlantic slave trade. For Nigeria, started returning to Lagos in
those who participated in the trade as trickles about 1838. The reigning Oba
middlemen, warfare did provide a quick Kòsókó did very little to make them feel
and sure supply of war captives who welcome, so it was not until 1852 after
could then be sold as slaves and Oba Kòsókó had been deposed by the
shipped to the New World. By an esti- British and replaced by Oba Akíntóyè,
mate, some 500,000 people may have that Saros returned to Lagos in large
been sold as indentured slaves and numbers. They numbered about 2,500
shipped from Lagos to the Americas by 1861 and were granted land in a dis-
and the Carribean, in particular Bahia, trict on the island still known as Saro
Cuba, and St. Helena. Anyway, for Town.
Arómiré and early settlers of the island,
With their longer association with
moving further south away from the
English missionaries, Sierra Leonean
mainland towards the sea was a mecha-
nism to escape the wars that ravaged returnees appeared to enjoy higher
standards of material comfort than
Yorùbáland from the seventeenth cen-
Lagos indigenes. The Saros were devout
tury. The wars and the disruptions asso-
ciated with them were to become a Protestants and better educated in the
formal sense too. These attributes were
justification for imposing British colo-
to stand them in good stead to play a
nial control first on the island and later
on what is now Nigeria. leading role in the cultural life of Lagos;
they also helped infuse their fatherland
From the mid-nineteenth century, with a love of education. Their efforts
freed Yorùbá slaves started returning to were to help create a class of literate
Lagos in waves first from Brazil and indigenes who led the fight for human
then from Sierra Leone. In 1847, Oba dignity under British colonial rule and

Lagos
set the stage for the nationalist struggle elected representatives, as well as tradi-
that led to Nigeria’s independence in tional chiefs appointed by government.
1960.
Since the 1960s, the fortunes of
These main groups have since been city government had changed along
joined by a more heterogeneous mix of with Nigeria’s political climate; its
immigrants from far and near. The administrative system has thus varied
from elected council through sole
Vaughan family has American ancestry
administrators appointed by military
while the Bickersteth family originated
governments.
from Porto-Novo in present-day Benin
Republic. Lagos is also home to people
with Ghanaian ancestry. A much larger 8 Public Safety
number have moved south over the Crime is endemic in Lagos. Prop-
years from other parts of Nigeria—for erty crimes, including armed burglaries
example, from the Nupe and Benin and car theft, have been particularly
areas in addition to Yorùbá migrants, high, fueled as much by large-scale
especially from Ìjèbú, Ègbá, and unemployment as by wide disparities in
Badagry areas. income and life chances. Financial
fraud is also rampant, the most recent
7 Government variant being advance fee fraud, the
practice of obtaining money by decep-
The earliest attempt at modern for- tion and/or false pretense, popularly
mal government in the city occurred in known as “419” after the relevant sec-
1899 with the establishment of a Sani- tion of Nigeria’s penal code. Traffic acci-
tary Board. In 1917, a Townships Ordi- dents are rife too, reflecting
nance (or Law) established First, competition for space by people and
Second, and Third Class Townships. vehicles, as well as disrepair in the lat-
Lagos became a First Class Township ter.
and remained Nigeria’s only such town- Crime statistics are wide of the
ship for a long time. By 1950, after a mark: many incidents go unreported or
series of extensions to the powers of the become tangled in influence peddling
Township, the Lagos Local Government and corruption networks. There are
Ordinance created a fully elected Coun- plans to increase the number of police-
cil, making Lagos a self-governing men and improve law enforcement
municipality with its own mayor. The generally in and around greater Lagos.
office of mayor was abolished in 1953,
and traditional members or chiefs were
brought on board. In 1959, on the eve
9 Economy
of Nigeria’s independence, Lagos City Lagos is Nigeria’s single-largest
was designated a Federal Territory commercial center. Once described as
administered by a Council comprising an outpost of the industrialized West in

Lagos
In 1862, commercial exports from

Lagos stood at £78,000 and imports at
£62,000; by 1900 both had risen to
£830,000 and £885,000 respectively. By
1975, about 55 percent of Nigeria’s
industrial establishments were based in
Lagos; these accounted for over two-
thirds of industrial output. At present
Lagos State, of which the city is now
part, is Nigeria’s smallest, occupying
just 0.4 percent of the country’s land
surface. Yet, Lagos State is also Nigeria’s
most populous. It is perhaps also the
only one state capable of generating
enough internal revenue to sustain its
operations. The city forms the nucleus
of this affluence, home to most banks
and other financial institutions, includ-
ing the Stock Exchange.
Lagos was established as a fishing resort, where

fishermen rested and made repairs between trips. 10 Environment
Today, fishing still contributes to the economy.
(Betty Press; Woodfin Camp) The city lay on a tapestry of
islands, lagoons, and creeks inter-
spersed by mangrove. Much of its land
tropical Africa, it has a history of eco- surface is barely above sea level; since
nomic well being and relative affluence. 1989, parts of Victoria Island had been
The city and its neighborhoods had under threat from a rising tide. Land
long attracted upwardly mobile and has been reclaimed to build a road on
the Marina, as well as make the Five
ambitious people from across the
Cowries Island more functional; the fly-
world. As gateway to western sea-borne overs between Ìkòyí and the island also
commerce, and latterly to Nigeria, stand on once-swampy terrain.
Lagos had started as fishing resort
where fishermen from neighboring Air pollution is endemic. Local his-
areas mended their equipment and torian Kunle Akinsemoyin has
remarked that in present-day Lagos,
rested between fishing expeditions. The
“walking is … a dangerous hazard,
fifteenth century brought with it con- cycling a perilous venture, for the
tact with Portuguese traders, and Lagos motor car, particularly the lorries have
soon became a major market and depot grabbed the monopoly of roads from
for slave shipment to South America. the cyclists.” This reflects several fac-

Lagos
Street markets are popular in Lagos. Here, a vendor takes a rest from the busy shopping day.
(Betty Press; Woodfin Camp)
tors, including overpopulation, weak of the state’s land surface is just over
physical planning enforcement, and five meters (15 feet) above sea level.
emissions by vehicles and industrial
plants. Sewage disposal has been long 11 Shopping
problematic. The Lagos lagoon has long
served as dump for refuse and untreated Lagos is renowned as much for row
sewage; it is thus extremely polluted. after row of shops as for its irrepressible
street vendors. From dwellings through
Greater Lagos is bordered to the workshops to road shoulders and space
east, west, and north by other towns in between vehicles in “go slow,” hardly a
square yard of space knowingly goes to
Lagos State. Of the 3,577 square kilome-
waste without being put to some com-
ters (1,381 square miles) land surface in
mercial use.
Lagos State, lagoons constitute about
790 square kilometers (305 square The Jànkara market offers new or
miles) or 22 percent of the total. Much second-hand clothing, jewelry, musical

Lagos
instruments, and hardware; the Ìsàlè expatriate. Known subsequently as

Èkó market is known for food items Anglican Boys Grammar School, the
while the Balógun market specializes in school still operates today in Bàríga,
imported and African clothing material. one of the several outlying towns
The Bar Beach market on Ahmadu Bello around Lagos.
Road offers food products and handi-
craft, such as baskets, leather, and batik. In 1960, the city had 112 primary
Other markets in the city include the schools and 20 secondary schools. Two
Ògógóró market, named after local gin, years later, 124 primary schools on the
the main commodity on offer, and the island enrolled an estimated 96,152
Èbúté Èrò, Ìta Fãjì, and Sandgrouse mar- pupils, divided roughly equally
kets. The Fálomo shopping center in between boys and girls. Fifty secondary
Ìkòyí is on Awolowo Road. On the schools also catered to about 10,000
mainland the Téjúosó market in Surul- students, one-third of them female.
ere offers a variety of goods, as do other Enrollment in all formal educational
markets in Àpápá and Mushin, among institutions, including the University of
others. In all cases, traders are eager to Lagos, totaled 108,140; just over half
cut deals on prices; a consumer can buy (52 percent) were male while 48 percent
cheap or dear depending on the state of were female.
business, the trader’s mood, or time of
day. The economic boom of the 1970s
and elected civilian government from
1979 brought with them substantial
12 Education
expansion in educational facilities and
Education is traditionally regarded access. In 1981, about 125,000 pupils,
as a means of social mobility, so most or one-fifth of the population, were
parents are willing to invest heavily in enrolled in the city’s primary schools;
children’s schooling. Much of the secondary schools on the island also
responsibility for providing education catered to about 26,000 or less than five
rests with the public sector; a large and percent of the population. By 1989, 877
largely uncontrolled private educa- government-owned primary schools in
tional sector has thrived also, suggest- the metropolitan area employed 15,000
ing some dissatisfaction with public teachers; 342 secondary schools had
sector facilities and enabling the rich nearly 12,000 teachers. Adult education
and powerful to get more value for their programs also ran in the rural areas.
money. The sex ratio has been nearly balanced
over the years, though more males than
Islamic education had been avail- females enter higher institutions,
able since the early nineteenth century. including universities. The literacy rate
The first secondary school is the CMS is estimated at 20 percent in greater
Grammar School, founded in 1859 by Lagos. Figures for the city may well be
Rev. T. B. Macauley, a Sierra Leonean double.

Lagos
13 Health Care with the West African Pilot an urban per-

spective on Nigeria’s campaign for inde-
Up until the early twentieth cen- pendence.
tury, the city featured among West
Africa’s “white man’s grave,” with Today Greater Lagos is home to
malaria and yellow fever as main killer numerous newspapers and magazines,
diseases. Sanitary conditions were most privately owned and retaining
among the worst in the sub-region too. their editorial independence against the
Sewage treatment has remained a prob- odds. Among government-owned news-
lem while malaria and yellow fever are papers are the Daily Times and the Lagos
under control. Present-day Lagos now Horizon, owned by the Federal Govern-
boasts excellent health facilities, includ- ment and Lagos State Government
ing numerous state-of-the-art private respectively. Older privately owned dai-
hospitals and maternity centers, the lies include the Punch, Guardian, Con-
University of Lagos Teaching Hospital cord, and Vanguard; all four also publish
Medical School, a Dental School, an during weekends. The Post Express and
Institute for Child Health, and an P.M. News (an evening paper) were
orthopedic hospital at Igbobi. In 1988, established in the late 1990s. The list of
14 primary health clinics existed in the weekly news and lifestyle magazines
city; greater Lagos had an additional 60. published in greater Lagos include
The Lagos Island and Ìkejà general hos- Newswatch, African Guardian, African
pitals each had between 21,000 and Concord, Tempo, ThisWeek, and Tell. In
35,000 outpatients per month in 1989. turn, titles such as Quality and Lagos
Outpatients at health centers in Àpápá Life are devoted to soft human stories,
and Èbúté Métta stood at between gossip, and lifestyles.
8,000 and 14,000 each month over the Private radio and television sta-
same period. The large numbers are as tions have been in operation since
much indicative of the general popula- 1993. At least nine television channels
tion’s health as the popular response to and several radio stations are received
subsidized health programs in the with varying clarity in the city and met-
1980s. By far the best-known hospital is ropolitan Lagos. Some private TV chan-
the private Èkó Hospital on Mobolaji nels are seen to compete effectively
Bank-Anthony (formerly Airport) Road with government-owned stations and
in Maryland, Ìkejà. are relied upon to furnish views not
necessarily reflecting official prefer-
14 Media ences.
Lagos Times was first published in 15 Sports

1880, starting a tradition of active and
diverse debate in the mass media. The Football (known as soccer in the
Lagos Daily News became the first daily United States) was introduced in the
in 1920 and ran until 1936, providing 1930s and ping pong in 1949. The first

Lagos
Lagos National Theatre. (Betty Press; Woodfin Camp)
sports stadium was built in 1930 and six facilities for athletics and at least foot-
years later named after King George V; ball, the game Nigerians love above
between 1963 and 1973, it became anything else. Lagos has been the main
known as the Lagos City Stadium. The venue for several sports fiestas, among
Onikan Stadium, which replaced it, was them the Second All African Games
opened for football and cultural activi- held in 1972 and the African Cup of
ties in the 1980s. The Racecourse at Taf- Nations Cup tournament, co-hosted
awa Balewa Square is underutilized. The with Ghana and concluded in February
National Stadium was built in 1976 in 2000.
Surulere on the Mainland; its sitting
capacity is estimated at between 80,000 16 Parks and
and 100,000. Smaller facilities are scat- Recreation
tered around Greater Lagos, for exam-
ple in Agége and in premises owned by The city is well built up, so open
large commercial ventures. In the city, space is a rarity. In 1976, according to
as elsewhere, the average secondary some estimates, open space amounted
school is almost certain to have some to only three percent of the city’s land

Lagos
surface, which translates to 0.01 hectare mation Service also offer library services
(0.02 acre) for each 1,000 people. A lot from bases on the island.
of recreation does take place on land
not allocated for such purposes; social The National Museum is on
gatherings or parties also provide Awolowo Road. The Onikan National
opportunities for recreation. Museum east of Tafawa Balewa Square is
home to a variety of local art treasures
and handicraft, including the Benin
17 Performing Arts bronzes, the Ife and Owo terracotta
The Yoruba tradition of the travel- busts, and the Igbo-Ukwe bronze cast-
ing theatre, or Alárìnjo, dates back to ings.
the sixteenth century, with groups pro-
viding live drama, entertainment, sat- 19 To u r i s m
ire, and mild social commentary. The
English language theatre boasts well- Tourism is not particularly devel-
known names like Nobel laureate Wole oped in Lagos, yet the city’s history res-
Soyinka, Femi Osofisan, and John Pep- onates in its diverse architecture and in
per Clark. The Lagos State Government the names given to streets, communi-
runs a Cultural Standing Troupe, and ties, and districts. For example, Oke
amateur groups exist in several parts of Faji, Popo Aguda, Campos Square,
the city. The Pec Repertoire Theatre is a Pedro, and Martin Streets are steeped in
professional company founded by Brazilian traditions, having been settled
writer John Pepper Clark. The typical originally by Brazilian immigrants who
state function or communal gathering started returning in the 1850s. Saro
often includes some dance and drama Town was land assigned by the Oba of
by children, women, or other social Lagos to Sierra Leonean expatriates
groups. As an art form, however, critical after the 1850s. The Shitta-Bey Mosque
drama, especially satire, has often and the Holy Cathedral Church, both
caused the odd inconvenience to politi- in central Lagos, also bear testimony to
cally insecure administrations. Brazilian architectural influence.
18 Libraries and 20 Holidays and

Museums Festivals
In 1962, the central library boasted In Lagos, as elsewhere in Yorùbá-
over 7,500 adult members and about land, religious festivals including mas-
12,000 children subscribers. The Yábã querade displays are occasions to
branch had about 1,950 adults and commemorate the passing of the great
1,500 children on its membership. The and the good, cement relations
National Library is on Broad Street; the between generations, and offer prayers
City also runs its own library. The Brit- for social peace and the well being of
ish Council and the United States Infor- individuals.

Lagos
FEBRUARY News, the first daily newspaper

Àdìmú Òrìsà or Èyò masquerade display from 1920 to 1936.
JULY Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II (b. 1911), the

Festivals to honor Olókun, goddess of the sea eighteenth Oba of Lagos.
(heavily patronized by fishing families)
Madam Efunroye Tinubu (1807–85), an
SEPTEMBER Ègbá slave trader whose influence
Ìgunnukó masquerades (a tradition among the meant trouble for the reigning Oba
Nupe) of Lagos.
21 Famous Citizens 22 For Further Study

Alhaji H. P. Adebola (1920–82), a fore- Books
most trade unionist and railway Amman, Richard. Lagos Walking Tours. Port-Har-
worker. court: Riverside Communications, 1994.
Barnes, Sandra. Patrons and Power: Creating a
Felá Anikulapo-Kuti (1938–97), interna- Political Community in Metropolitan Lagos.
1986.
tionally renowned musician who
Fagbamiye, E. O. ed. Educational Development in
used his Afro-beat music—a blend Lagos State. Lagos: Okanlawon Publishers,
of African rhythm, Western instru- 1990.
ments, and popular language—to Lierberman, Irving. A Survey of the Lagos City
campaign against official corrup- Library. Lagos: Lagos City Council, 1964.
tion and dictatorship at home and Odumosu, O. Assessing the Quality of Working
Life: Case of Lagos and Ibadan Cities. Ibadan:
for respect for Africa abroad. Nigerian Institute for Economic and Social
Research, 1996.
Nnamdi Azikwe (b. 1904), politician Olajumoke, Remi. The Spring of a Monarch: The
who took a leading role in the Ni- Epic Struggle of Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II of
ge rian n atio nal i st m ov em en t, Lagos. Lagos: Lawebod (Nig.) Ltd., 1990.
founded a series of newspapers, Olomu, Olukayode A. Lagos State: The Corner-
stone of Nigeria’s Economic Development.
and became the first president of Lagos: International Management and
the Nigerian republic. Research Institute Limited, 1983.
Olowu, Dele. Lagos State: Governance, society and
Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the first elected Economy. Lagos: Malthouse Press, 1990.
Governor of Lagos State, serving Onikoyi, Agboola A. The History of Lagos. Pub-
from 1979 to 1983. lished by author, 1975.
Peil, Margaret. Lagos: The City is the People. Lon-
don: Belhaven Press, 1991.
Herbert Macauley (1864–1946), leading
Shitta-Bey, S. A. The Origin and Birth of Lagos
member of the Saro élite and major State. Lagos: Maybao Enterprises, 1979.
leader of Nigeria’s independence Watson, G. D. A Human Geography of Nigeria.
movement who ran the Lagos Daily London: Longman, 1960.

Lima
Lima, Peru, South America
Founded: Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro founded the city in 1535

Location: On southern bank of the Río Rímac (Rimac River), bounded by the Pacific
Ocean on the west and the foot of the Andes Mountains on the east, in the
coastal zone of central Peru, South America.
Time Zone: Four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Daylight Savings Time
is observed from January to April.
Ethnic Composition: 15% white, 37% mestizo (Indian-European mix), 45%
indigenous people of Peru, and small numbers of Asians and blacks
Elevation: 154 meters (about 500 feet)
Latitude and Longitude: 12º0'S, 77º2'W
Climate: The cool offshore Peru Current (also known as the Humboldt Current) affects
the climate of the city all year long. From April to December, a cool air mass off
the Pacific shrouds Lima with garúa, a dense sea mist that blots the sun and rusts
exposed metal. During the summer months of January through March, Lima
gets more sunshine, but humidity becomes unbearable. Humidity is high for
most of the year, remaining well above 60 percent.
Temperature: Winter temperature ranges from 60º to 64ºF (16º to 18ºC); summer
temperature ranges from 70º to 80ºF (21º to 27ºC).
Average Annual Precipitation: About 2 inches (50 mm) per year. Rain is often the
result of condensation of the garúa.
Government: Mayor and district council. As the nation's capital, Lima is home to the
President of the Republic and Congress.
Monetary Units: The Nuevo Sol (about 3.5 soles per US dollar in January 2000).
Notes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, and 100 soles. Coins come in
denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 50 centimos, and 1 sol. The US dollar is widely
accepted and openly traded.
Telephone Area Codes: 51 (country); 14 (city)
1 Introduction South America more than 500 years

ago, Lima no longer seems capable of
On its worst days, when the misty even controlling its own destiny. Most
air hangs thick with fumes from hun- of its seven million people live in pov-
dreds of thousands of cars, trucks, and erty, barely scratching a living to feed
buses, Lima easily earns the moniker of large families. Cholera outbreaks have
La Horrible, as it is called by many of its been common in the past few years,
citizens. Built to rule vast expanses of and the city has been the target of polit-
155
Lima
Pacific on the west and the rising Andes

Lima Mountains to the east.
Population Profile
And yet, Limeños, as citizens of this
Population: 7,443,000 city are known, are generally hospitable
Area: 3,900 sq km (1,506 sq mi ) and charitable, even friendly to strang-
Ethnic composition: Approximately 15% white; ers. Hundreds of thousands of them
37% mestizo (Indian-European mix); 45%
indigenous people of Peru; and small numbers came to Lima with virtually nothing to
of Asians and blacks their names. Here, they built homes
and families, and despite long odds,
Average yearly growth rate: 2.2% survived and even prospered. Many
Nicknames: The name of the city is a corruption of Peruvians continue to pour into the city
the Quechua Indian name Rímac, which
means “Talker.” Many residents informally call
looking for those same opportunities.
the city el pulpo (octopus) for its tremendous Perhaps sensing that they have some-
size. Its residents are known as Limeños. thing at stake, the city's leaders have
——— finally begun to rebuild old Lima,
1. The Lima metropolitan area’s rank among the
scrubbing its old buildings and reclaim-
2. The percent of Peru’s total population living in
ing its streets.
the Lima metropolitan area.
2 Getting There
Highways
ical assassinations, bombings, and state-
sponsored terrorism. The Pan-American Highway crosses
through Lima. Buses take about 24
Dubbed the City of Kings by its hours to reach both the Ecuadorian and
founder, the illiterate Francisco Pizarro Chilean borders.
(c. 1478–1541), Lima has struggled to
maintain its dignity. It is not a pretty Bus and Railroad Service
city, despite the tremendous amount of
Regional buses and trains depart
wealth that was originally spent to
from Lima to all corners of the country.
build it in the middle of a barren
The Central Railway of Peru has the
coastal desert. Even nature seems to
highest standard-gauge railway in the
have conspired against Lima. Three
world. From Lima, it climbs the Andes
major earthquakes have leveled large
to La Oroya. The city is connected to
parts of the city. For most of the year, a
the port of Callao by the oldest railway
thick mist known as garúa envelops the
line (1851) in South America.
city, slowly rusting away all exposed
metal. With less than five centimeters
Airports
(two inches) of rain a year, there are
hardly any trees. The same monoto- The Jorge Chávez International Air-
nous barren landscape surrounds the port is about 13 kilometers (eight miles)
city, stretching to the waters of the from the heart of the city, in the munic-

Lima

Lima
ipal district of Callao. Several airlines, door spot for visitors in the suburb of
including major U.S. carriers, travel to Miraflores.
Lima daily.
4 People
Shipping
Race and class define Peruvians.
Callao, located in the Lima metro- Limeños are deeply divided across class
politan area, is home to the nation's lines. About 15 percent of the nation's
most important port. Three floating citizens are white, 37 percent are mes-
docks have lifting capacities between tizo (Indian-European mix), and 45 per-
1,724 and 4,082 metric tons (1,900 and cent are indigenous people of Peru.
4,500 tons). It also hosts more than 40 There are small numbers of Asians and
workshops for marine and industrial blacks. One notable Asian is President
repair work. Alberto Fujimori, of Japanese descent.
Lima's racial breakdown resembles
3 Getting Around national characteristics. Nearly 30 per-
cent of the country’s 25 million people
Bus and Commuter Rail Service live in the Lima metropolitan area,
which has a density of 2,614 people per
Lima is a megalopolis that is diffi- square kilometer. Between 1993 and
cult to navigate. The city only has one 1998, the city's population grew by 2.1
highway and has not invested in large- percent annually. About 43 percent of
scale transportation systems, like the population are under the age of 20,
underground metro or light rail. There and nearly 50 percent are between the
are dozens of bus lines that connect dif- ages of 20 and 60. Infant mortality is
ferent parts of the city, but buses are among the highest in the Americas at
often crowded and uncomfortable. 57.5 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Roads are often clogged with traffic.
In the last decade, more poor
Sightseeing Indian immigrants have poured into
the city looking for work. Class is
While in Lima, visitors will want to directly tied to race. Most wealthy
see the Church and monastery of San Limeños are white while some of the
Francisco, the Palacio De Gobiernor, poorest people in the city are native
San Martin Square, and the Gold Peruvians. Most Limeños are Roman
Museum of Peru. Other sites rich in Catholic, and many of the city's most
Peruvian history and culture include important festivals are tied to religious
the Rafael Larco Herrera Museum, the activities.
National Museum of Anthropology and
Archaeology, the National Museum of Spanish and Quechua, the lan-
the Republic, the Museum of Peruvian guage of the Incas, are the most widely
Culture, and the Museum of the Inqui- spoken languages among Limeños. Que-
sition. Parque Central is a relaxing out- chua is mostly spoken throughout the

Lima

Lima Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Peru) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
La Cronica/La Akhbar El Yom/
Nueva Cronica Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
Andes and by some people in Lima; two million people moved into the city.
however, Spanish is the dominant lan- But there were no homes for them.
guage. Some migrants to the city speak They built hundreds of thousands of
Aymara, the second most important shantytowns around the original city
indigenous language in Peru. limits. The dwellings were made from
just about any scrap material the squat-
5 Neighborhoods ters could find: cardboard, discarded
Lima has been shaped and wood, stones; sheets of tin for the roof
reshaped by major earthquakes that were held down by old tires, bricks, and
have nearly leveled the city. The city the weight of rocks. The shantytowns
suffered major earthquakes in 1687, came to be known as barriadas, and
1746, and 1970. Only a few buildings later as pueblos jovenes, the young
survived the 1746 earthquake. In more towns. In time, many of these young
modern times, Lima has experienced towns received basic services like water
relentless growth, with neighborhood and electricity. Concrete or brick
communities sprouting almost over- replaced the cardboard walls, and the
night. From 1940 to 1980, more than shantytowns became established neigh-

Lima
A view of Lima from San Martin Square. (Katsuyoshi Tanaka; Woodfin Camp)
borhoods. Yet, thousands of people As Lima grew, the heart of the city
who live in some of the poorest shanty- was practically abandoned. At one time,
towns only have the thin walls of card- central Lima was a prestigious address,
board to protect them from the with splendid mansions and imposing
elements. government buildings and churches.
Colonial Lima was built with Peru’s
The poor neighborhoods stand in own gold and silver, and no efforts were
stark contrast with the more affluent spared for the “City of Kings.” Today,
neighborhoods of Miraflores and other little of that splendor remains. In a slow
wealthy suburban neighborhoods along process, the government is trying to
the coast south of Lima's central area. recover the heart of the city and make it
Here, visitors could easily believe that more than just a passing point for
nothing is wrong with Peru. Affluent Limeños.
Peruvians drink coffee and chat with
friends at sidewalk cafes; the streets are 6 History
free of trash; and many buildings are
new. Mansions, luxury apartment The Spanish conquistador Fran-
buildings, and small homes with mani- cisco Pizarro (c.1478–1541) arrived in
cured gardens are found throughout what is now Peru under propitious cir-
the Miraflores area. Stores offer just cumstances. The flourishing Inca
about anything that could be bought Empire, which dominated an area that
somewhere else in the world. In many extended from Quito in present-day
ways, it is a segregated world. Here, the Ecuador to central Chile (4,023 kilome-
rich seek protection from the masses. ters/2,500 miles in length and 805 kilo-

Lima
meters/500 miles wide) had been

weakened by internal conflict. The half-
brothers Huáscar and Atahualpa had
waged a bitter struggle for the throne.
When Pizarro arrived in Peru accompa-
nied by 180 heavily armed men and 30
horses in l531, Atahualpa had gained
the upper hand and ruled the empire,
one of the most developed in pre-
Columbian times in the Americas.
On November 15, 1532, Pizarro

arrived in Cajamarca, Atahualpa’s sum-
mer residence in the northern high-
lands of Peru. The next day, Pizarro
took Atahualpa hostage. The Incas had
never seen horses or experienced the
wrath of modern weapons. With the
element of surprise on their side, the
Spanish shattered Inca resistance.
While they would continue to resist the
Spaniards for many years, the Incas
never recovered from that first battle.
After taking Cuzco in southern

Peru, Pizarro began to consolidate his
empire. In the arid coastal region,
where people had been living for thou-
sands of years, he founded the city of
Lima on January 6, 1535. Because it was Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro (c.1478–
the day of the Epiphany (Christian hol- 1541) conquered the Incas and was the founder of
iday commemorating both the reveal- Lima. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
ing of Jesus as the Christ to the Gentiles
in the persons of the Magi and the bap- fer of wealth generated in South Amer-
tism of Jesus), he named it the “City of
ica. Pizarro never got to enjoy the
Kings,” but the name never stuck. The
wealth he had stolen from the Incas.
city was in a convenient place, adjacent
to a major river that provided plenty of Nor did he spend much time in his new
fresh water and only a few kilometers city. The greedy conquistadors began to
from the Pacific Coast, where the Span- fight among themselves. Pizarro and
iards would develop the Port of Callao. Diego de Almagro (1475–1538), a
The port became a major point of trans- former partner in the conquest, went to

Lima
war. Almagro was captured and exe- When Napoleon Bonaparte’s

cuted, and Pizarro was murdered in his (1769–1821; French general) forces
Lima palace in 1541. invaded Spain in 1808, the Spanish col-
onies in the Americas took advantage of
The kingdom of Spain designated the favorable political turn and sought
Lima the Viceroyalty of Peru in 1542, independence. Conservative Lima
but several years would go by before it remained loyal to Spain, but its subordi-
could reassert its authority. From here, nate regions did not. Unlike other parts
the Spaniards ruled vast areas of South of South America, insurrection in Peru
America. For the next three centuries, did not come from within its borders.
Lima boomed as the center of govern- In 1821, the Argentinean General Jóse
ment, commerce, and culture. It was de San Martín invaded Lima and forced
the seat of the audiencia, the high court, the city's royalist troops to retreat into
and the headquarters for the Inquisi- the mountains. The other great South
tion. The monarchs, through their dele- American liberator, Simón Bolívar,
gates, and the Catholic Church were moved in from the north to finish the
firmly in control. For most of its colo- job. Peru became the last mainland col-
nial history, Lima was a small and con- ony to declare its independence in July
servative town, confined within its 1821. Lima later became the capital city
protective walls. An earthquake devas- of Peru. While it would continue to
tated Lima in 1746. Yet, with the wealth grow, it never attained the power and
generated by thousands of indigenous wealth it enjoyed during its colonial
people who mined for silver and gold era. In the War of the Pacific (1879–83),
under horrible work conditions, the Limeños endured another invasion, this
Spanish rebuilt the city with more time by Chilean soldiers who occupied
exquisite architecture. the city for two years. The Peruvian
government was forced into the high-
By the early 1800s, Lima was losing lands and was allowed to return only
its influence. As other regions grew in after signing a treaty favorable to Chile.
importance, their residents began to
resent Spain's rule and rigid trade regu- Like many other cities, the devel-
lations, which forced all trade to go opment of modern Lima is traced to the
through the port of Callao. Goods from construction of railroads and roads that
Buenos Aires traveled over vast dis- made it easier for people to move
tances by land to get to Lima, where around the growing capital. The first
they were shipped to Panama, and then train line between Lima and Callao was
transferred to ships going to Spain. San- built in 1851. Other lines going south
tiago, in present-day Chile, and Buenos followed, allowing the more wealthy
Aires were developing societies quite Limeños to move along the coast. Here,
distinct from Lima. It was only a matter they built the wealthier communities of
of time before they would seek their Miraflores and Barranco. The new roads
independence. also made it easier for people from the

Lima
Palacio de Gobiernor is the home and office of Peru’s president. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
highlands to move to the city for work. residence, along with 72 hostages. Gov-
After World War II (1939–45), thou- ernment troops liberated the hostages
sands of Peruvians were moving into and killed all the guerrilla members in
the city each year, leading to the con- April 1997. While Peruvian President
struction of shantytowns throughout Alberto Fujimori has declared victory
the city. By the 1980s, Lima mirrored against the guerrillas, he has done little
the nation's massive social problems. for the country’s poor. Lima has
Crushing poverty, and injustice opened become the center of constant protests
the way to several leftist guerrilla move- against the government.
ments, chief among them Sendero
Luminoso (Shining Path), and Túpac 7 Government
Amaru Revolutionary Movement
(MRTA). While most guerilla activity The provinces of Lima and Callao,
took place well beyond Lima, the city each with its own government, make
was the target of assassinations, bomb- up the Lima metropolitan area. There
ings, and state-sponsored violence. In are 45 municipal districts, including the
1996, the MRTA shocked the world by capital district of Lima, within the met-
taking over the Japanese ambassador's ropolitan area. Each district is adminis-

Lima
tratively autonomous, with a mayor Peru’s human rights record has

and city council. Each district generates improved, with a sharp decrease in the
revenues, such as property taxes, to pro- numbers of political disappearances
vide services to its citizens. The arrange- and extra-judicial killings by govern-
ment has created huge inequalities in ment forces. Yet, international human
the metropolitan area. Wealthy neigh- rights groups continue to monitor the
borhoods like Miraflores provide rela- delicate political situation in Peru. The
tively good services to its citizens. But U.S. government remained concerned
some of the pueblos jovenes (young about reports of torture, arbitrary
towns) cannot even raise enough reve- detentions, lack of due process, and
nue to provide bare necessities, like Peru's reluctance to punish government
paved roads and water. and military officials accused of abuses.
In June of 1999, members of the U.S.
The unwieldy arrangement makes House of Representatives said they were
regional planning difficult. Any action concerned at the “erosion of democracy
requires negotiated decisions among and the rule of law” in Peru.
districts. A Metropolitan Council for
Greater Lima, made up of district may-
ors, was supposed to facilitate regional
9 Economy
cooperation. But local districts do not Lima is the leading industrial,
want to give up their autonomy. Lead- financial, and retail center in the
ers have called for greater intervention nation. With nearly 30 percent of the
from the national government, but that country's population, the city dictates
is unlikely. the national economy and accounts for
more than two-thirds of the nation’s
8 Public Safety gross domestic product (GDP). Most of
the country's imports and exports pass
Violent crimes that include carjack- through the port of Callao. Almost all
ings, assault, and armed robbery are of the country's heavy industry is
common in Lima. Sometimes, people located in and around Lima. Despite its
are kidnapped and forced to withdraw economic importance, Lima is not
money from automatic teller machines flushed with jobs. The national govern-
before they are released. Thieves posing ment has been a traditional leading
as taxi drivers prey on passengers, often employer, but the privatization of state
in stolen vehicles. To curb crime, the companies left thousands of people out
government authorized military court of work during the mid-1990s. The city
trials for kidnappers and armed gang suffers from severe unemployment and
members in 1998. Tourists are particu- underemployment, and many people
larly vulnerable. The theft of luggage who work just barely manage to feed
and travel documents, including pass- their families. Lima's economy grew
ports, is common at the international rapidly during the mid 1990s, but a
airport. severe two-year recession that started in

Lima
1997 left one out of two Peruvians living University. The city has several pri-
ing in poverty. vate universities. Among them are the
University of Lima, Pontifical Catholic
10 Environment University of Peru, Ricardo Palma Uni-
versity, University of San Martín de
Lima is a grimy, noisy, and polluted Porres, Women’s University of the
city. The garúa doesn't help. The mist Sacred Heart, and University of the
and low clouds trap pollution, and Pacific. A university degree remains out
Limeños often can taste the fumes in of reach for most young Limeños.
the air. The city’s infrastructure has
been overwhelmed by the rapid
growth. Hundreds of thousands of peo-
13 Health Care
ple don't have access to basic services Health is a matter of class. Wealth-
like electricity, water, and adequate san- ier residents can afford good health
itation. Wastewater goes straight into care, and many of them often travel
the Pacific without treatment. Cholera abroad for treatment. Millions of
epidemics have been common in Lima Limeños have little access to health
for several years. While the government care. There are 119 hospitals in the met-
has identified pollution as one of its ropolitan area, with 2.7 physicians per
national priorities, it lacks the money 1,000 residents. Unhealthy conditions
for any major fixes in the foreseeable have led to cholera outbreaks. Tubercu-
future. losis is common among the poorest
Limeños.
11 Shopping
Lima is not known for its shopping
14 Media
scene. The city’s wealthier neighbor- Under the Fujimori regime, free-
hoods and districts have the same types dom of the press has been curtailed.
of stores found in the United States, The U.S. State Department in 1999 con-
including modern shopping malls. cluded the Peruvian government
infringed on press freedom by harassing
12 Education and intimidating journalists. Several
international journalism organizations
Most children attend school in have condemned Fujimori’s systematic
Lima, but illiteracy rates have remained attacks on the press.
high. About 52 percent of students are
in primary schools, and 33 percent Despite government pressure, sev-
attend secondary schools. Lima is home eral newspapers in Lima continue to
to some fine universities, including the report government misdeeds. The city
National University of San Marcos, the is home to the nation's most influential
oldest university in the Americas newspapers, including El Comercio, La
(1551), La Molina National Agrarian República, and Gestion. Twenty-five
University, and the National Engineer- newspapers, including ten dailies, are

Lima
A room from the Museum of the Inquisition. (Enrique Shore; Woodfin Camp)
published in Lima. El Comercio is con- 15 Sports

sidered one of the best newspapers in
Soccer (futból) is by far the most
Latin America and has often taken a
popular sport in Lima. Professional
critical view of the Fujimori regime. The
teams are closely followed by Limeños,
city also has a lively, but untrustworthy,
especially the home teams of Alianza
tabloid press that caters to lower-
Lima and Universitaria. The game tran-
income residents. Caretas, a weekly
scends class, and neighborhood
newsmagazine, is widely respected and
matches are found in just about any
read. El Peruano is the official newspa- available open space.
per of record. Lima has eight non-cable
television channels, including the gov-
ernment-owned channel seven, and
16 Parks and
cable television, which is out of the Recreation
reach of most poor Limeños. Prices for Lima is not conducive to outdoor
cable television are comparable to those activities. While the suburb of Mira-
in the United States. Radio remains an flores does host Parque Central, Lima
important medium of communication. generally has few parks or open spaces.

Lima
The beaches off the coast are very popu- 19 To u r i s m

lar and often crowded, but the coastline
is heavily polluted by untreated sewage While Peru's social problems have
that flows untreated from the large hampered tourism, thousands of people
megalopolis. Despite health warnings, still come to this fascinating South
many people still surf and play in the American country. Lima is an impor-
water. tant port of call. In 1998, 819,530 visi-
tors from other nations came to Peru,
and about 483,000 of them stopped in
17 Performing Arts Lima. The average visitor to Peru stays
13.5 days, and spends about $1,100. In
The symphony plays at the Lima’s 1998, tourists spent more than $900
municipal theater, which also hosts bal- million.
let, opera, and theater performances.
The city also has many peñas, night- 20 Holidays and
clubs that feature folk music.
Festivals
JANUARY
18 Libraries and New Year’s Day
Museums
JULY
Independence Day
The library of the church and mon-
astery of San Francisco is renowned for OCTOBER
its collection of historical documents, Lord of the Earthquakes
including antique texts that date to the
time of the Spanish conquest of Peru. 21 Famous Citizens
The city has many museums. Among
them is the Gold Museum of Peru, Saint Martin de Porres (1579–1639), Pe-
which has a large collection of pre- ruvian Dominican friar, canonized
Columbian gold pieces. The Rafael in 1962 by Pope John XXIII.
Larco Herrera Museum has a large col-
Saint Rose of Lima (1586–1617), Roman
lection of pre-Columbian pottery, tex-
Catholic nun, canonized by Pope
tiles, gold pieces, and many other items
Clement X in 1671, the first native-
of historical importance. The National
born saint of the Americas.
Museum of Anthropology and Archae-
ology traces the pre-history of the coun- Javier Pérez de Cuellar (b. 1920), Peruvi-
try through the arrival of the Spaniards. an diplomat and fifth secretary
The city has several art and history general of the United Nations
museums. They include the National (1982–1991), negotiated an end to
Museum of the Republic, the Museum the Iran-Iraq war (1980–88) and
of Peruvian Culture, and the Museum ran unsuccessfully for the presiden-
of the Inquisition. cy of Peru in 1995.

Lima
Alberto Fujimori (b. 1938), of Japanese Tourist and Convention Bureaus

descent, became President of Peru Camara Nacional del Turismo
in 1990. Santander 170, Lima 18, Peru
[Online] Available http://www.si.com.pe/
Francisco Pizarro (1476–1541), Spaniard CANATUR/index.html (accessed February 1,
who defeated the Incas and found- 2000).
ed Lima.
Publications
Meredith Monk (b. 1942), born in Li- La Republica. [Online] Available http://www.lare-
ma, raised in Connecticut, she is publica.com.pe (accessed February 1, 2000).
known for her pioneering multime- El Comercio. [Online] Available http://
www.elcomercioperu.com (accessed Febru-
dia performance pieces. ary 1, 2000).
Isabel Allende (b. 1942), born in Lima, Gestion. [Online] Available http://
www.gestion.com.pe (accessed February 1,
the daughter of a diplomat, she is 2000).
one of the most successful female
Latin American writers, renowned Books
worldwide. Andrien, Kenneth J. Crisis and Decline: The Vice-
royalty of Peru in the Seventeenth Century.
Albuquerque: University of New Mexico
22 For Further Study Press, 1985.
Cameron, Ian. The Kingdom of the Sun God: A His-
Websites tory of the Andes and Their People. New York:
University of Texas’ Latin American Network Facts on File, 1990.
Information Center. [Online] Available Dietz, Henry A. Poverty and Problem-Solving under
http://www.lanic.utexas.edu (accessed Feb- Military Rule: The Urban Poor in Lima, Peru.
ruary 1, 2000). Austin: University of Texas Press, 1980.
Peru’s Chamber of Commerce. [Online] Available Lobo, Susan. A House of My Own: Social Organiza-
http://www.camaralima.org.pe (accessed Feb- tion in the Squatter Settlements of Lima, Peru.
ruary 1, 2000). Tempe: University of Arizona Press, 1982.
Peru’s National Institute of Statistics and Infor- Starn, Orin, Robin Kirk, & Carlos I. Degregori
mation. [Online] Available http:// (eds). The Peru Reader. Duke University Press,
www.inet.gov.pe (accessed February 1, 1995.
2000).
Stern, Steve J. Peru's Indian Peoples and the Chal-
lenge of Spanish Conquest. Madison: Univer-
Government Offices sity of Wisconsin Press, 1999.
Peruvian Embassy Wachtel, Nathan. The Vision of the Vanquished:
1700 Massachusetts Ave. NW. The Spanish Conquest of Peru Through Indian
Washington D.C. 20008 Eyes. New York: Barnes and Noble, 1977.

London
London, England, United Kingdom, Europe
Founded: 1st century A.D.

Location: Southeastern England on the Thames River
Motto: “God save the Queen.”
Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT); 1 PM British Summer Time (late March-
late October) = noon GMT
Climate: Mild winters and temperate summers
Annual Mean Temperature: 11ºC (52.0ºF); January 5.5ºC (42ºF); July 18ºC (65ºF)
Seasonal Average Snowfall: 20 days of snow, no accumulation; Average Annual
Precipitation (total of rainfall and melted snow): 101.6 cm (40 in)
Monetary Units: Decimal system based on the pound sterling, a paper currency of
100 pence
Telephone Area Codes: 20, followed by 7 or 8 depending on location; (UK Code,
44)
Postal Codes: Letter for general area (E = East; EC = East Central; N = North; NW =
Northwest; SE = Southeast; SW = Southwest; W = West; WC = West Central);
numbers for specific district
1 Introduction don was also a center of the Industrial

Revolution (c. 1750) and a showcase for
London, the capital of Great Brit- both the material progress and the dire
ain, is also one of the world’s capitals of social ills it created. In the twentieth
finance, fashion, arts and entertain- century, the city has rebuilt and
ment. The city has a recorded history renewed itself following the devastating
dating back to Roman times and
bombing attacks of World War II (1939–
encompassing the lives of such illustri-
1945) and discovered a new identity as
ous political figures as William the Con-
queror, Thomas à Becket, and Queen a post-imperial, multi-ethnic metropo-
Elizabeth I, as well as those of William lis. It enters a new century (and the
Shakespeare, John Milton, and the third millennium of its history) reinvig-
other authors who created one of the orated by a booming economy, as well
world’s great bodies of literature. For- as the inauguration of a new form of
merly the heart of a vast empire, Lon- local government.
169
London
in France and Belgium. London’s train

London stations provide direct connections to
Population Profile the city’s buses and Underground. The
Chunnel train runs between Paris and
City Proper London’s Waterloo station.
Population: 3,900
Nicknames: The Square Mile, The City
Airports
Metropolitan Area
Located 24 kilometers (15 miles)
Population: 7,640,000 from the center of London, Heathrow
Description: Consists of 33 boroughs Airport is one of the busiest in the
Area: 1,579 sq km (610 sq mi) world. Gatwick, which is about 40 kilo-
meters (25 miles) south of the city, is
Average yearly growth rate: 0% less heavily used, but traffic there is
——— growing steadily. Smaller airports are
1. The London metropolitan area’s rank among the Stansted, used primarily for travel to
world’s urban areas. and from the European continent, and
2. The percent of England’s total population living London City Airport, which is popular
in the London metropolitan area.
with business travelers from elsewhere
in Britain and from northern Europe.
Shipping
2 Getting There Historically, London’s location on

the Thames and its proximity to both
Located in southeastern England, the English Channel and the North
London is approximately 80 kilometers Sea—as well as its position as the center
(50 miles) upstream from the Thames of an international empire—made it
River’s estuary on the North Sea. one of the world’s great trading centers.
Until World War II the Port of London
Highways was the busiest in the world. Since the
Various highways lead into London late 1960s, however, London’s shipping
from all directions, like the spokes of a traffic has declined dramatically due to
wheel, intersecting with highway M25, competition, labor problems, and
which rings the Greater London area, changes in the shipping industry itself.
and, farther in, with highways A205 In 2000, the Port of London accounted
and 406, which circle the central part of for only eight percent of Britain’s total
the city. shipping traffic.
London’s port is administered by

the Port of London Authority (PLA),
Eurostar trains provide service which handles environmental and nav-
between London and six destinations igation issues for the part of the Thames

London

London
that falls under its jurisdiction. underground trains (known simply as

Through its 86 terminals, the port han- the Underground or “the Tube”) service
dles a full range of cargo, which is over 260 stations; 500 trains make over
shipped to destinations all over the 2.5 million passenger journeys daily.
world. The £3.2 billion Jubilee Line Extension,
opened in November 1999, runs
3 Getting Around between Green Park and Waterloo. It is
the single largest expansion of the
London can be divided into three underground system in 25 years.
concentric districts that reflect the city’s
growth over time. At the core is the his- Sightseeing
toric City of London, which covers only
A number of bus tours are avail-
2.6 square kilometers (one square mile).
able, including the hour-and-a-half
It forms part of a larger surrounding
Original London Sightseeing Tour
area known as Inner London, which
aboard an old-fashioned double-decker
was developed between the late eigh-
bus. Harrods department store operates
teenth and early twentieth centuries.
its own double-decker bus tours, and
Inner London is surrounded by the
Big Bus Company, Ltd. runs two-hour
remaining outer boroughs, consisting
tours in the summertime, covering 18
of residential suburbs built in the first
popular tourist attractions.
half of the twentieth century, which
complete the greater metropolitan area. Companies offering walking tours
include the Original London Walks,
The major means of orientation in Discovery Walks, Guided Walks in Lon-
Inner London is the Thames River, don, and John Wittich.
which divides the city into north and
south. (Most important points in the The Port of London, an increas-
city are on the northern bank.) Another ingly popular cruise ship destination,
major point of reference is the contrast has four cruise ship moorings, at Tower
between east and west: the wealthier Bridge, Greenwich, West India Dock,
and more prestigious parts of the city and Tilbury. Tours are also offered on
lie toward the west while the East End is London’s canals.
a working-class manufacturing and
shipping district. 4 People
In 1992, the population of the City
of London, the central downtown part
Bus and rail services are operated of the city, was estimated at 3,900. The
by London Transport throughout the surrounding area of Inner London, con-
Greater London area. A fleet of about sisting of the City of London and 13
5,400 buses covers 700 routes which boroughs of Greater London, had an
encompass 140 bus stations and stands estimated population of 2,632,100.
and some 10,000 bus shelters. The city’s Altogether, the population of the 33

London

London Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(England) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Date the city was founded 1st century AD AD 969 753 BC 723 BC
Major Newspapers3
News of the Akhbar El Yom/
World Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
boroughs of the Greater London metro- Since the influx of immigrants

politan area was estimated at 6,904,600. from Britain’s former colonies that
began in the 1950s, London’s popula-
In the nineteenth and early twenti- tion has steadily grown even more
eth centuries, London’s immigrant diverse. The new immigrants include
communities were mostly small and West Indians, East Indians, Bang-
self-contained, giving it a less cosmo- ladeshis, and people from a variety of
politan flavor than other comparable African nations. When the 1991 census
was taken, one child of every three born
cities. Nineteenth-century immigrant
in London was born to an immigrant
groups included Italians, French, Chi-
mother. In 2000, nearly one-quarter of
nese, Germans, Scandinavians, Irish,
the city’s population was born overseas.
and, in the last decades of the century, However, much of the ethnic diversity
Polish and Russian Jews. (More Jewish of Greater London is concentrated in its
immigrants from both Eastern and western boroughs while those to the
Western Europe followed in the years east are home primarily to British-born
before and after World War II.) whites.

London
A view of London from the London Bridge. (Jonathan Blair; Woodfin Camp)
5 Neighborhoods residents. However, there also tends to

be diversity within these neighbor-
Because London developed in a hoods, thanks to London’s multi-ethnic
random fashion rather than according population and the presence of public
to a plan, it is actually a cluster of dis- rental housing in most parts of the city,
tinct neighborhoods rather than a uni- assuring some diversity in income level
fied metropolis. Outside the older, in most areas.
original part of the city, London’s vari-
ous neighborhoods retain some features London’s oldest district is “the
of the individual villages they once City,” the part that corresponds to the
were before they were incorporated into original walled city (Londinium) built
the expanding capital. Each has its own by the Romans in the first century A.D.
character, with its own distinct combi- and still occupies its original area of
nation of residents, building styles, and roughly 2.6 square kilometers (one
local businesses, and each inspires a square mile). Today it is home to Lon-
strong feeling of attachment among its don’s major financial institutions,

London
including the Bank of England and the To the north, the cosmopolitan
London Stock Exchange, and is full of neighborhood of Soho has been rescued
hustle and bustle during weekdays. from its one-time decline into a red-
However, only a fraction of the City’s light district, although the famed Carn-
busy work force actually lives there, so aby Street has never recaptured the
it is all but deserted on weekends. glory of the 1960s when it was the heart
of swinging London. With its great cul-
Located along the Thames in the tural diversity, this district boasts a large
western part of London, and to the east number and variety of ethnic eateries.
of St. James’s Park, Westminster is the Bloomsbury, a great literary and artistic
political heart of London, home of the center in the early twentieth century, is
British parliament and the prime minis- still the academic heart of London, as
ter’s residence at Number 10 Downing the location of the University of Lon-
Street. It is also the location of one of don and other colleges. Holborn, home
the world’s great religious structures, to the Royal Courts of Justice, was his-
Westminster Abbey. Westminster has torically—and still is—the city’s pri-
more historic buildings and fewer com- mary legal center.
mercial sites than any other part of
London and also encompasses the area East of the City of London lie the
known as Victoria, which gets its name neighborhoods of the East End, includ-
from the Victoria Station stop on the ing Bow, Poplar, West Ham, Stepney,
Underground. Canning Town, and others. This has
traditionally been the poorest part of
Located in the fashionable West the city. Heavily bombed during World
End, St. James’ and Mayfair are the War II, the East End has undergone
wealthiest and most aristocratic parts of large-scale urban renewal, but the large
central London. The elite Mayfair dis- immigrant populations attracted to the
trict is the site of fashionable homes, area’s low rents over the generations
luxury hotels, and exclusive shops have left it a multicultural melting pot.
while St. James’ is the home of Bucking-
ham Palace and the last bastion of that 6 History
traditional hallmark of British privilege,
the all-male gentleman’s club. To the The Romans, who invaded Britain
north is Marylebone, home of the in A.D. 43, first founded London (which
famous Madame Toussaud’s waxworks. they called Londinium) at the site of
To the west, south of Hyde Park, is the present-day City of London (the
Knightsbridge, where the popular Har- oldest, walled part or the “square mile”)
rod’s department store is located; it is on the northern bank of the Thames
one of London’s most fashionable resi- River. Although burned down in a
dential and shopping districts. Further rebellion a scant 17 years later, the city
south lie aristocratic Belgravia and styl- was soon rebuilt and had become a
ish Chelsea. flourishing trading center by A.D. 100.

London
Hyde Park is surrounded by London’s fashionable, stylish, and aristocratic neighborhoods.

(Adam Woolfitt; Woodfin Camp)
By the middle of the third century, Lon- wark, on the south bank of the Thames,
dinium was the largest city in Britain, also grew and prospered, and Westmin-
with a population of as many as 50,000 ster, upstream from London and at that
inhabitants, and its boundaries corre- time an island surrounded by marsh-
sponded to those of today’s historic land, underwent development when
central core. In the fifth century, the King Edward the Confessor (c. 1003–
Romans, under siege by Germanic 1066) built a royal palace there follow-
invaders, vacated Londinium, and the ing his accession in 1042. This was the
city entered a long period of decay and beginning of Westminster’s history as
neglect. home to royalty and center of govern-
ment. It was in Westminster Abbey that
Following a Danish invasion in William, Duke of Normandy (1027–
878, King Alfred of Wessex (849–899) 1087), was crowned king of England
retook and began rebuilding the city, following the Norman Conquest in
which expanded northward and 1066. To win the cooperation of Lon-
became known as Londontown. South- don’s political leaders and wealthy mer-

London
chants, he granted the city special century, with a steadily expanding pop-
powers through a charter. ulation and new streets and neighbor-
hoods. Its first squares, including
By the end of the twelfth century, Covent Garden and Leicester Square,
London had a population of around added new elegance to the fashionable
40,000 and had elected its first mayor. parts of town. However, many in the
In the fourteenth century, disaster oldest districts lived in dire poverty, and
struck, in the form of the Black Death, crime and rioting were commonplace.
which spread to London via ships trav-
eling from Europe and ultimately killed In the nineteenth century, the
about one-third of England’s popula- Industrial Revolution caused further
tion. Over the next three centuries, deterioration in living conditions for
London was to undergo several recur- many Londoners, polluting their air
rences of the epidemic. and worsening the already existing pol-
lution of the Thames. Yet, London
The inception of the Tudor dynasty remained the largest and wealthiest city
in 1485 brought the city further growth in the world and the center of a vast
and prosperity, peaking with the reign empire, and the Great Exhibition of
of Elizabeth I in the sixteenth century, 1851, held in the Crystal Palace con-
by which time London was the center structed in Hyde Park, celebrated the
of a global empire and one of the fore- city’s achievements.
most cities of Europe. In the meantime,
the population outside the city walls The two world wars of the twenti-
had grown dramatically, reaching eth century brought air raids to Lon-
200,000 by the year 1600. Decrees were don; those of World War II left the city
issued to slow further growth, limiting decimated and necessitated large-scale
London to a “Green Belt” surrounding rebuilding. A major postwar develop-
the outer city. The restrictions caused ment was the exodus of many London-
overcrowding in the central city, con- ers to the suburbs. The drive to attract
tributing to a new outbreak of plague in immigrant labor from Britain’s former
1665. The following year, roughly two- Third World colonies turned London
thirds of the city (by now the world’s into a multi-ethnic city but also led to
largest) was burned down in the Great racial tensions.
Fire.
Recent decades brought the
A massive rebuilding effort restored “Swinging 60s,” when London became
the city, with brick and stone replacing the world’s capital of popular culture;
its original wooden buildings. A new the economic crises of the 1970s; and
grid-based plan for the city by architect the Thatcher Era of the 1980s, when the
Sir Christopher Wren was not adopted, Greater London Council (GLC) was
however, and London’s layout essen- abolished, leaving the city with no met-
tially retained its original patterns. Lon- ropolitan government. As the twentieth
don grew rapidly in the eighteenth century drew to a close, London was on

London
the eve of a new era in local govern- 2000, mayoral elections scheduled for
ment as its citizens prepared to elect a 1999 drew a colorful roster of contend-
mayor and council. ers, including actress Glenda Jackson
and novelist and political conservative
Jeffrey Archer.
7 Government
The City of London has had its 8 Public Safety
own local government—one of the
world’s oldest—since the Middle Ages. London’s Metropolitan Police Dis-
Even though it is now part of a much trict, first established in 1829, is respon-
larger urban entity, the city has sible for an area of 2,035 square
remained an autonomous jurisdiction kilometers (786 square miles), which
with a Lord Mayor, a City Corporation, includes the entire metropolitan area
and, among other powers, jurisdiction and some of its environs. The City of
over its own police force. The surround- London, however, has always retained
ing area of Greater London has been its own police force in addition to the
politically fragmented for most of its Metropolitan Police, and the two law
history. In 1965 more than 100 local enforcement organizations operate in
councils were merged into 33 boroughs tandem in the “square mile” at the cen-
(one of which was the City of London), ter of London. Separate forces are also
and the Greater London Council (GLC) maintained by the Royal Parks Constab-
was established to serve as the elected ulary and the British Transport Police.
government of the greater metropolitan Violent crime remains relatively rare in
area. In 1986 the conservative national London, which is safer than many
government led by Prime Minister Mar- major cities in Europe and the United
garet Thatcher (b. 1925) abolished the States. Although the regular police
left-leaning (and, by many accounts, forces still do not carry guns, special
ineffective) GLC, leaving the individ- “armed response units” now patrol the
ual borough councils as virtually the streets around the clock.
sole governing authority for Greater
London. 9 Economy
In a May 1998 referendum spon- London was historically a shipping
sored by the British labor government and manufacturing city. However, both
elected in 1997, London’s citizens voted of these sectors have declined sharply
for a restoration of government at the since the 1960s. Over a million manu-
metropolitan level with the establish- facturing jobs were lost between 1960
ment of a mayor-council government and 1990 as traditional craft-based
to consist of a strong mayor directly manufacturing waned and newer
elected by the voters and a 25-member growth industries relocated to areas
assembly. With the new government outside both London and other major
slated to take office in the autumn of cities, aided by government incentives

London
A clock tower—popularly known as “Big Ben”—dominates the British parliament building on the banks of
the Thames River in Westminster. (Karen Kasmauski; Woodfin Camp)
to attract industry to high-unemploy- for commercial development, subject to

ment regions. Manufacturing has been the space limitations of the district. By
eclipsed by financial services, in which the end of the 1990s, the recession of
London has become both a national the early part of the decade was over;
and a world leader. In 1990, business tourism was booming; and major public
and financial services accounted for works projects were under way, spurred
one in six jobs. London laid claim to by the approach of a new millennium.
one-third of all British employment in
this sector—reportedly the world’s larg- 10 Environment
est concentration of such jobs in one
metropolitan center. International The industrial revolution brought
banking, commodities, securities trad- both air and water pollution to London
ing, and reinsurance services have as early as the nineteenth century. The
crowded into modern office towers in term “smog” was coined at the turn of
the historic “square mile” of the City of the twentieth century to describe the
London, providing new opportunities mix of smoke from coal fires with Lon-

London
don’s characteristic fog. The heavily include Marks & Spencer, Selfridges,
industrialized East End suffered the and Liberty.
worst pollution of all. In the mid-twen-
tieth century, the British government The West End is home to the great-
began to take action, passing the Clean est number of high-profile shops and
Air Acts of 1956 and 1968, which out- department stores, many found in such
lawed coal burning. However, Lon- key venues as Oxford Street and Bond
don’s air is still polluted by carbon Street. Another popular shopping spot
monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, benzines, there is the glass-roofed Burlington
and other chemicals, and motor vehicle
Arcade, which features a wide selection
fumes remain a problem, endangering
of shops and boutiques. Soho and Cov-
the health of London’s residents and
even causing deterioration of the city’s ent Garden both provide ample shop-
buildings. Heavy smog was responsible ping opportunities, as does
for the deaths of over 160 people in Knightsbridge, home of the famous
1992. Harrod’s department store. Kensington
High Street is popular with devotees of
Industrialization and unregulated youth culture while Kensington Church
sewage disposal also compromised the Street is known for its selection of
condition of London’s lifeline, the antique shops.
Thames River, which was so polluted by
the mid-nineteenth century that its London’s open markets are legend-
smell wafted through the halls of Parlia- ary. The most famous is Covent Garden
ment. Tighter pollution controls since Market has crafts, antiques, and other
the 1960s have improved the water
specialty shops. The suburb of Green-
quality of the river, and there has been
wich is known for its flea and craft mar-
an upsurge in the river’s stock of fish
and other forms of aquatic life. Another kets, which brim with customers every
danger associated with the Thames is Sunday. Portobello Market in Notting
the likelihood of flooding, which posed Hill is another well-known venue for
serious threats to the population in antiques.
1928 and 1953. Authorized in the
1970s, the Thames Barrier, consisting of Charing Cross Road (made famous
ten steel gates, was completed in 1982 by 84 Charing Cross Road, a well-known
at a cost of £500 million. book by Helene Hanff) is the city’s
major booksellers’ district and includes
a number of antiquarian book dealers.
11 Shopping
Shopping is one of the favorite Other areas where London presents
activities in London for residents and special shopping opportunities include
visitors alike. Besides Harrod’s, well- designer clothing, china, and glass col-
known department stores in London lectibles.

London
12 Education Middlesex Hospital, Royal Free Hospi-

tal, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, St.
The 33 boroughs of Greater Lon- Mary’s Hospital, University College
don are responsible for operating their Hospital, Great Ormond Street Chil-
own school systems, which are dren’s Hospital, and Moorfields Eye
attended by nine out of ten children in Hospital.
London. The rest are enrolled in private
schools. Among the most prestigious
(with dates of founding) are St. Paul’s 14 Media
School (1509), Harrow School (1572),
Dulwich College (1618), and the City of The newspapers available in Lon-
London School (1834). don are mostly national publications.
At the upper end of the respectability
London’s 12 universities enroll spectrum are the daily “broadsheets”
more than 110,000 full-time and (with circulation figures from 1998):
50,000 part-time students. The Univer- the Daily Telegraph (1,047,861), the
sity of London consists of some three Times of London (766,999), the Indepen-
dozen separate institutions located dent (223,110), and the Guardian
throughout the metropolitan area, (393,856). All have Sunday editions
including Goldsmiths’ College, Impe- except the Guardian, whose publishers
rial College, King’s College, and the put out the Observer on Sundays. The
famous London School of Economics. “middle-brow” publications are the
Among London’s other universities are Daily Mail, the market leader
City University, Guildhall University, (2,387,867), and the Daily Express
South Bank University, University of (1,118,981). At the bottom rung are the
East London, and University of West- infamous tabloids, which cater to the
minster. universal taste for celebrity gossip, pho-
tographs by the paparazzi, and sensa-
13 Health Care tionalism of all kinds. Britain’s leading
tabloid is The Sun, which sells some
In London, as elsewhere in Britain, seven million copies daily. Its major
both British residents and nationals of competitors are the Daily Star and the
other EU countries receive free medical Mirror. London’s only local daily paper
treatment under the National Health is the Evening Standard, which resembles
Service (NHS). Other visitors are cov- a local counterpart, the Daily Mail.
ered for emergency care only. London’s
oldest hospital, St. Bartholomew’s, was More than 6,500 professional and
founded in 1123; other historic hospi- popular magazines are available in Lon-
tals are St. Thomas’s (1213), Guy’s don, one of the world’s publishing capi-
(1725), St. George’s (1733), and the tals. Women’s magazines are the biggest
London Hospital (1740). Among the sellers. Fashion magazines, men’s maga-
city’s other health-care facilities are zines, and sports magazines are popular
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, as well. International politics and busi-

London
ness are covered by The Economist. Downs and Ascot as the city’s last race-
Other serious publications include The course closed in 1970. Other spectator
Spectator, the New Statesman, and Pros- sports include greyhound racing,
pect. hockey, and auto racing. Both forms of
rugby—rugby league and rugby
BBC-operated BBC1 and BBC2 pro- union—are played in London, whose
vide London’s most-watched television rugby league team is the London Bron-
programming. BBC2 is the more cre- cos. The American games of basketball
ative and offbeat of the two. Indepen- and baseball are growing in popularity.
dent channels include ITV, Channel 4,
and Channel 5. A wide gamut of FM
stations broadcasts radio programming 16 Parks and
of all kinds. Recreation
London is famed for the network of
15 Sports parks, squares, and commons found
In London, as elsewhere through- throughout the city. Two of the best
out Britain, soccer (called football) tops known are Grosvenors Square and Tra-
the list of popular sports for both spec- falgar Square, the latter a major land-
tators and participants. Amateur games mark and popular venue for street
can be found in parks and other green performers. London’s most famous city
spaces throughout the city. The game is parks, all located in the West End, are
played professionally from August until St. James’s Park (the oldest one); Buck-
May. The sport is organized within indi- ingham Palace Gardens, adjacent to the
vidual boroughs rather than citywide, royal residence; Green Park; Hyde Park,
giving London 13 teams, each of which the largest at 248 hectares (615 acres),
is closely associated with a particular and famed for its “soapbox” for public
locality rather than the city itself. It is speakers; Kensington Gardens; and
common for crowds of up to 15,000 to Regent’s Park, site of the Zoological Gar-
attend regular-season games, rising to dens and Regent’s Canal. Other green
between 30,000 and 40,000 for playoffs. spaces include Chelsea Physic Garden,
where medicinal herbs and other plants
In summertime, cricket is popular. have been grown since the seventeenth
There are almost 1,000 clubs, and ama- century; Kew Gardens, famous for its
teur games abound. Spring brings the trees and hothouses; the Hill Gardens;
annual boat race between the rival uni- Kenwood; and Battersea Park on the
versities of Oxford and Cambridge. south bank of the Thames.
London draws the international atten-
tion of the sports world every June 17 Performing Arts
when the Wimbledon matches are held,
and horse racing remains a popular London, where the plays of Will-
spectator sport although Londoners iam Shakespeare were written and
must travel to such venues as Epsom staged, is still the undisputed theater

London
Double-decker buses line Trafalgar Square, a major landmark and popular location for street performers.
(Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp)
capital of the world. It is home to both that stands at the exact site of the origi-
venerable traditional companies and nal. “Fringe” theater groups present
cutting-edge experimental troupes. The first-rate productions of alternative the-
major established theaters are the Barbi- ater, revivals, musicals, and other con-
can Theatre, home of the Royal Shakes- temporary works at the ICA Theatre,
peare Company; the Royal Court the Almeida Theatre (also the site of an
Theatre, which produced the plays of annual festival of contemporary music),
London’s “angry young men” in the the Young Vic, and the King’s Head.
1950s; the Royal National Theatre,
which stages productions in three the- London is also one of the world’s
aters; the historic Drury Lane Theater, foremost centers for classical music,
which has stood since 1812; and, since supporting no fewer than five major
1997, the Globe Theatre, a replica of symphony orchestras: the London Sym-
the Elizabethan theatre where William phony, the Royal Philharmonic, the
Shakespeare’s plays were performed Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Sym-

London
phony, and the BBC Philharmonic. In

addition, the city is home to distin-
guished choral groups, early music
ensembles, and chamber groups. These
include the English Chamber Orches-
tra, the London Sinfonietta, and the
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.
One of the world’s most famous concert
halls is located in Royal Albert Hall,
which hosts concerts by a variety of
famous figures in the worlds of both
classical and popular music, as well as a
century-old London musical tradition
known as “the Proms,” a series of
orchestra concerts presented every sum-
mer.
Two of London’s most famous the- Derrick Coyle, raven master.

aters have undergone major improve-
ments in the 1990s. The Sadler’s Wells
Theatre, a hundred-year-old-building 18 Libraries and
that is home to opera and dance con- Museums
certs, was demolished (except for its
original facade) and reopened as a rede- London’s premier library is the
British Library, whose collection
signed modern facility in 1998. During
encompasses some 12 million items,
the same period, the world-famous
including books, manuscripts, and
Royal Opera House in Covent Garden
other materials. Formerly housed in the
closed for 30 months for a $360 million
British Museum, it moved to a newly
renovation, reopening in late 1999 with
designed building in St. Pancras in
a new foyer, as well as new backstage 1996. Among the treasured artifacts
facilities, new rehearsal rooms, and a contained in the library are two copies
studio theater. Royal Opera and Royal of the 1215 Magna Carta, a Gutenberg
Ballet both perform at the facility, Bible, an early-fifteenth-century copy of
whose new rehearsal studios will now The Canterbury Tales, and letters, jour-
make it the permanent home of the Bal- nals, and early editions of famous Brit-
let, which formerly rehearsed in other ish literary figures including William
quarters. Shakespeare.

London
With over six million visitors a world’s great tourist centers. Over ten
year, the British Museum is London’s million people visit the city annually.
most popular tourist attraction. From Collectively, visitors to London spend
ancient Egyptian statues to the Elgin over 100 million nights annually in the
Marbles to an extensive collection of city’s hotels, and more than 200,000
Japanese prints, the breadth of the people are directly employed by the
museum’s collection, begun in 1753, is tourist industry while tourism indi-
virtually unrivaled. Its present building rectly creates employment for many
was designed in 1847. London’s other more.
major museums include the National
Gallery, containing Western art from 20 Holidays and
the Middle Ages to the present; the Tate Festivals
Gallery, specializing in British art; and
the Victoria and Albert Museum, JANUARY
London Parade
devoted to the decorative arts. The Saat- London International Boat Show
chi Gallery is known for its outstanding London Contemporary Art Fair
collection of contemporary (and some- Charles I Commemoration
times controversial) art. The Museum of FEBRUARY
London traces the city’s history; Will- Chinese New Year
iam Hogarth’s satirical series The Rake’s Great Spitalfields Pancake Race
Progress is housed in Sir John Sloane’s MARCH
Museum; and the National Portrait Gal- St. David’s Day
lery features portraits of famous people Chelsea Antiques Fair
in British history. APRIL
Easter Parade
Among London’s multitude of Harness Horse Parade
Boat Race, Putney to Mortlake
other museums are the Design
London Marathon
Museum, which focuses on modern The Queen’s Birthday
design; the Imperial War Museum; the
Institute of Contemporary Arts; the APRIL-OCTOBER
National Gardens Scheme
Jewish Museum; the London Transport
Museum; the popular Museum of the MAY
Shakespeare Under the Stars
Moving Image, which chronicles the May Fayre and Puppet Festival
history of movies and television; the FA Cup Final
Natural History Museum; the Royal Royal Windsor Horse Show
Academy of Arts; the Science Museum; Chelsea Flower Show
and the Theatre Museum. MAY-AUGUST
Glyndebourne Festival Opera Season
JUNE
19 To u r i s m Vodafone Derby Stakes
Grosvenor House Art and Antique Fair
London’s historic and cultural Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition
attractions have made it one of the Royal Ascot Week

London
Trooping the Colour William Shakespeare (1564–1616), play-

Lawn Tennis Championships (Wimbledon) wright and poet.
JULY
City of London Festival
Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658), soldier
Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and statesman, lord protector of
Royal Tournament England.
JULY-SEPTEMBER Poet John Milton (1608–1674), author
Kenwood Lakeside Concerts of Paradise Lost.
Henry Wood Promenade Concerts at Royal
Albert Hall (“the Proms”) John Dryden (1631–1700), poet and lit-
AUGUST
erary critic.
Notting Hill Carnival
Samuel Pepys (1633–1703), diarist.
SEPTEMBER
Chelsea Antiques Fair Henry Purcell (1659–1695), composer.
Horse of the Year Show
Sir Christopher Wren (1632–1723), ar-
OCTOBER chitect.
Opening of Parliament
Alexander Pope (1688–1744), poet and
NOVEMBER
Guy Fawkes Night satirist.
Lord Mayor’s Procession and Show
William Hogarth (1697–1764), painter
DECEMBER and engraver.
Caroling Under the Norwegian Christmas Tree
Watch Night Samuel Johnson (1709–84), essayist,
critic, and lexicographer.
21 Famous Citizens Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723–92), portrait
Thomas à Becket (1118–1170), saint painter.
and martyr, archbishop of Canter- James Boswell (1740–95), diarist and bi-
bury. ographer of Johnson.
Poet Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400), au- William Blake (1757–1827), poet.
thor of The Canterbury Tales.
Joseph Turner (1775–1851), painter,
Thomas More (1477–1535), statesman master of landscape art and water-
and author of Utopia. colour.
King Henry VIII (1491–1547), Tudor William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–
king and founder of the Church of 1863), novelist.
England.
Charles Dickens (1812–1870), novelist.
Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603).
Poets Robert Browning (1812–1889)
Francis Bacon (1561–1626), writer and and Elizabeth Barrett Browning
philosopher. (1806–1861).

London
Queen Victoria (1819–1901). Home Office

50 Queen Anne’s Gate
William Gilbert (1836–1911), librettist. London SW1H 9AT
Lord Chancellor’s Department
Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), composer. House of Lords
London SW1A 0PW
Winston Churchill (1874–1965), prime
minister during World War II. Tourist and Convention Bureaus
British Tourist Authority
Virginia Woolf (1882–1941), novelist. Thames Tower
Black’s Rd.
T. S. Eliot (b. United States, 1888–1965), London W6 9EL
American-born British poet, critic, United Kingdom
and dramatist.
British Visitor Centre
Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977), screen 1 Regent St.
Piccadilly Circus
actor. London SW1Y 4PQ
Alfred Hitchcock (1889–1980), movie
Publications
director. The Daily Telegraph
1 Canada Sq., Canary Wharf
Margaret Thatcher (b. 1925), prime London, E14 5DT
minister.
The Guardian
Queen Elizabeth II (b. 1926), ascended 119 Farrington Rd.
London, EC1R 3ER
to the throne in 1952.
The Sun
Virginia St.
22 For Further Study London E1 9XJ
The Times
Websites Virginia St.
Digital City: London. [Online] Available http:// London, E1 9XT
london.digitalcity.com (accessed December
20, 1999).
London official internet site. [Online] Available Books
http://www.LondonTown.com (accessed Bradley, Simon and Nikolaus Pevsner. London:
December 20, 1999). The City Churches. London: Penguin Books,
This is London. [Online] Available http:// 1998.
www.thisislondon.com (accessed December Butler, Brian. London for Free: Hundreds of Free
20, 1999). Things to Do in London. 3rd rev. ed. Mem-
Time Out London. [Online] Available http:// phis, TN: Mustang Publishing, 1997.
www.timeout.com/london (accessed Clout, Hugh, ed. The Times London History Atlas.
December 20, 1999). New York: HarperCollins, 1991.
Collin, Francesca. The Arts & Entertainment in
UK for Visitors. [Online] Available http://
London. New York: Sterling Publishing, 1997.
gouk.miningco.com (accessed December 20,
Davies, Andrew. Literary London. New York: St.
1999).
Martin's Press, 1988.
Duncan, Andrew. Walking London: Thirty Original
Government Offices Walks in and around London. Lincolnwood,
Prime Minister’s Office IL: Passport Books, 1994.
10 Downing St. Edel, Leon. Bloomsbury: A House of Lions. 1st ed.
London SW1A 2AA Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1979.

London
Hall, Peter. London 2001. Boston: Unwin Hyman, Lain, Larry, and Michael Lain. London for Fami-
1989. lies. New York: Interlink Books, 1997.
Hendershott, Barbara Sloan, and Alzina Stone Parnell, Geoffrey. Book of the Tower of London.
Dale. Mystery Reader's Walking Guide, London. London: B.T. Batsford, 1993.
2nd ed. Lincolnwood, IL: Passport Books, Porter, Roy. London: A Social History. Cambridge,
1996. MA: Harvard University Press, 1994.
Howes, Karen. Living in London. Photographs by Weinreb, Ben, and Christopher Hibbert. London
Simon Upton. London: Thames & Hudson, Encyclopaedia. Rev. ed. London: MacMillan,
1999. 1993.
Kureishi, Hanif. London Kills Me: Three Screen- Young, Ken, and Patricia L. Garside. Metropolitan
plays and Four Essays. New York: Penguin London, Politics and Urban Change, 1837–
Books, 1992. 1981. New York: Holmes & Meier, 1982.

Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States of America, North America

Location: Pacific Coast of southern California, United States, North America
Time Zone: 4 AM Pacific Standard Time (PST) = noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Flag: Adopted in 1931, flag features the city seal centered on three panels (left to
right): green symbolizing olive trees, yellow symbolizing orange groves, and red
symbolizing grape vineyards.
Ethnic Composition: White, 75.7%; Black, 14%; Asian/Pacific Islander, 9.8% (1990)
Elevation: Sea level to 1,548 m (5,080 ft) above sea level
Climate: Mild temperatures year round, many sunny afternoons
(68.5ºF)
Average Annual Precipitation (rainfall): 37.6 cm (14.8 in)
Telephone Area Codes: 213 (downtown), 323, 310, 562, 626
Postal Codes: 90001–68; 90070–99; 90101
1 Introduction working to overcome the problems of

suburban sprawl as it heads into a new
Located on Southern California’s century.
Pacific coast, Los Angeles has long been
known as a city of dreams, a place for
the dispossessed or disillusioned to start 2 Getting There
over and rebuild their lives. In the Los Angeles is located in southern
course of the twentieth century it grew California, on the Pacific Coast, with
to be the second-largest city in the the Santa Monica Mountains to the
United States and the hub of a five- north and the San Gabriel Mountains
county metropolitan area. A tourist to the east.
magnet known for its sunny climate,
beautiful beaches, and entertainment Highways
industry, Los Angeles in recent decades
has experienced the downside of urban Los Angeles is known for its
expansion, with its well-publicized air crowded, labyrinthine freeway system,
pollution, traffic congestion, and racial which offers access to the city through
and ethnic tensions. Yet the city multiple north-south and east-west
remains a colorful, thriving metropolis routes. The major north-south high-
189
Los Angeles

Los Angeles
Amtrak provides service from
Population Profile Union Station in downtown Los Ange-
les. The Sunset Limited travels cross-
City Proper
country between Los Angeles and New
Area: 1,215 sq km (469.3 sq mi) Orleans; the Coast Starlight, as its name
Ethnic composition: 75.7% white; 14% black; suggests, follows a coastal route from
9.8% Asian/Pacific Islander
Nicknames: Tinseltown (Hollywood)
southern California to Seattle; the San
Diegan runs from Los Angeles to San
Metropolitan Area Diego.
Description: Los Angeles-Long Beach PMSA Airports
Area: 10,515 sq km (4,060 sq mi)
World population rank1: 8 Los Angeles International Airport,
known locally as LAX, is located on the
Ethnic composition: 75.2% white; 11.2% black; west side of the city. With flights to
and 12.9% Asian/Pacific Islander over 60 major cities, it is the world’s
——— third-busiest airport when it comes to
1. The Los Angeles metropolitan area’s rank among passenger service.
population living in the Los Angeles Shipping
metropolitan area.
Due in large part to trade with the
countries of the Pacific Rim, the Los
Angeles/Long Beach Port System is the
ways are I-5 (the Golden State and country’s top-ranked shipping port in
Santa Ana freeways), I-15 (which terms of both volume and value of
extends from the Canadian border to goods handled. The Los Angeles Inter-
San Diego), US Highway 101 (the Ven- national Airport (LAX) is a top shipping
tura and Hollywood freeways), extend- facility for air cargo. As the point of ter-
ing south along the Pacific coast from mination for several major rail lines,
Washington State, and State Highway 1 Los Angeles is also a busy rail freight
(the Pacific Coast Highway), stretching center, and the city is also served by all
along the coast from San Diego to San major interstate trucking companies.
Francisco and beyond. East-west free-
ways include I-8, which runs between 3 Getting Around
California and Arizona, I-10 (the San What most people refer to when
Bernardino and Santa Monica free- they say “Los Angeles” is more a sprawl-
ways), which traverses the country ing collection of suburbs than a single
between Santa Monica and Jackson- city laid out according to an orderly
ville, Florida, and I-40, stretching from plan. Nevertheless, Los Angeles does
California to Tennessee. have a downtown, an area largely

Los Angeles
bounded by the Harbor Freeway, the avenues running in the perpendicular

Santa Monica Freeway, and Alameda direction. Located in this district are the
street, with numbered streets running Los Angeles City Hall, the Convention
northwest to southeast, with several Center, the Los Angeles County Court,

Los Angeles

Los Angeles Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
Los Angeles Akhbar El Yom/
Times Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
the Civic Centre, and the Museum of including a subway system that was
Contemporary Art. launched in 1993.
Bus and Commuter Rail Service Sightseeing

Due to the sprawling layout of Several companies offer bus tours
Greater Los Angeles, the city is widely of Los Angeles that include attractions
known for its extensive freeway system such as the city’s film studios, Sunset
and dependence on automobiles, rather Strip, Hollywood, and homes of movie
than for its use of public transportation. stars; a helicopter tour is also available.
However, the California Metropolitan Special “theme” tours include a 3 A.M.
Transit Agency (called the MTA) does insomniac’s tour that takes in the Los
run local and express buses, including a Angeles Times building and the produce
shuttle service from downtown called markets and Grave Line Tours, which
the Downtown Area Short Hop (DASH). takes visitors to sites associated with the
L.A.’s MetroRail, largely used by com- deaths (by foul play and otherwise) of
muters from the more distant suburbs, famous Hollywood stars. There are also
operates three color-coded rail lines, separate tours of individual attractions,

Los Angeles
including movie and television studios its peak glamour days, especially
and the Los Angeles Times. around the fabled Hollywood and Sun-
set boulevards, but it is still the site of
4 People such show business shrines as the Walk
of Fame, the trendy Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles is the second most shopping district, and the Mid-Wilshire
populous city in the United States, sur- neighborhood of residential and com-
passed only by New York. In 1990, the mercial buildings. The area known as
population of Chicago was 3,486,000, the Westside, located between Holly-
with the following racial composition: wood and the coast, is a more upscale
75.7 percent white, 14 percent black, area and home to such glamorous
9.8 percent Asian/Pacific Islander, 0.5 neighborhoods as Beverly Hills, Bel Air,
percent American Indian. Hispanics (an and Brentwood. It is also the site of the
ethnic rather than a racial designation) famous Rodeo Drive shopping area.
accounted for 39.9 percent of the popu-
lation. The 1994 population estimate One of the most attractive and
for Chicago was 3,449,000. The popula- popular parts of greater Los Angeles is
tion of the Los Angeles Primary Metro- the coastal area, which stretches from
politan Statistical Area was estimated at Malibu in the north to the Palos Verdes
9,145,219 as of 1997. The region’s racial Peninsula and encompasses over 97
composition was listed by the U.S. Cen- kilometers (60 miles) of beachfront
sus Bureau in 1996 as 75.2 percent property. Besides Malibu, well-known
white; 12.9 percent Asian/Pacific communities here include Santa Mon-
Islander; and 11.2 percent black (1996). ica, known for its Bohemian atmo-
Hispanics accounted for 43 percent of sphere; Venice, whose famous Ocean
the metropolitan area population. Front Walk is the place where skaters
and others come to see and be seen;
Marina del Rey, known for its excellent
5 Neighborhoods
small-craft harbor; and Redondo Beach.
Downtown Los Angeles—home to Also located near the coast is the Los
the city’s Chinatown, Koreatown, and Angeles International Airport.
Little Tokyo, as well as its barrios (His-
panic neighborhoods), and the pre- The remaining region is the San
dominantly black South-Central Fernando Valley (“the Valley”), home of
neighborhood—is known for its ethni- the infamous “Valley Girl” image and
cally diverse population. Also located in slang popularized in the 1980s. Univer-
the downtown area are the El Pueblo de sal Studios is located here, in Universal
Los Angeles Historic District and a mod- City, and Burbank is nearby.
ern commercial and civic center com-
plete with modern high-rise buildings. 6 History
Hollywood, famed as the capital of The area of present-day Los Angeles
the movie industry, has declined from was first explored and settled by the

Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the United States.

(Michelle & Tom Grimm; Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Spanish in the eighteenth century. The In the wake of the Mexican-Ameri-

city, originally called El Pueblo de Nues- can War of 1846, Los Angeles, along
tra Senora la Reina de los Angeles (“the with the rest of California, became U.S.
pueblo of our lady the queen of territory, and California was admitted
angels”), was founded in 1781. Over the to the United States as the thirty-first
next century, Los Angeles was succes- state in 1850.
sively under Spanish, Mexican, and
The most significant milestone in
American rule. Spanish rule ended in
the development of Los Angeles was the
1821 when Mexico achieved indepen- city’s selection as the rail terminus for
dence, and the young town, then a pro- southern California. Rail linkage with
vincial outpost, came under its San Francisco, completed in 1876, was
jurisdiction. Growing trade with the followed by a population boom, as
United States, as well as such marine thousands flocked to the region, drawn
enterprises as seal hunting and whal- by its temperate climate, unspoiled
ing, made Los Angeles California’s larg- landscape, and available property, as
est town by the 1840s. well as cheap transcontinental fares

Los Angeles
resulting from rail price wars. A real- indelible part of the city’s image and lif-
estate boom rapidly drove up the price estyle. The growing dominance of the
of land, but it had collapsed by 1887, automobile and the spread of the
destroying the hopes of speculators. defense-related manufacturing plants
However, the city continued to thrive, during World War II (1939–45) both
its economy spurred by the discovery of helped trigger the suburban growth
oil in 1892 and the development of that was to change the physical land-
agriculture. Its population grew to scape of L.A. in the postwar decades.
50,000 by 1890 and then doubled to Another development of the 1950s—
102,000 by the turn of the century. the growth of television—at first was
feared as a threat to the movie industry
The film industry came to Los but proved an economic boon as the
Angeles in the early twentieth century,
city became the headquarters of the
with the opening of the first movie the-
popular new medium, as well as the
ater in 1902 and the establishment of growing recording industry, reinforcing
Hollywood’s first film studio in 1911. its status as the entertainment capital of
The first feature-length movie was
the world.
directed by Cecil B. DeMille in 1913;
the now world-famous “Hollywood” By the 1960s the golden image of
sign was erected in 1923; and the Acad- Los Angeles had began to unravel, as
emy Awards were inaugurated in 1929. unchecked urban sprawl led to environ-
The city’s growing reputation as “Tin- mental and social problems. Smog and
seltown” added yet another dream for pollution from automobiles and indus-
newcomers to pursue by going west. try were recognized as serious threats to
The film industry continued to thrive the quality of life in the area, and urban
during the 1930s, supplying relief from violence erupted in the black Watts
the woes of the Depression, which also neighborhood in August 1965. As the
brought a new wave of arrivals to the decade neared its end, the assassination
region, fleeing the dust bowls of the of senator and presidential candidate
Midwest and seeking to rebuilt their Robert F. Kennedy (1925–1968) at the
lives. Major infrastructure projects Ambassador Hotel following the 1968
assured a continued supply of water to Democratic primary election linked Los
desert-bound Los Angeles, in some Angeles with yet more violence.
cases triggering bitter and lasting dis-
putes over the rights to water chan- Strict air pollution guidelines were
instituted in the 1970s, together with
neled to the region from further north.
attempts to reduce pollution from autos
A new era—the era of the automo- by improving public transportation
bile—opened for Los Angeles with the over the following decades, including
completion in 1940 of the Arroyo Seco the inauguration of a subway system in
Parkway, which laid the groundwork for the early 1990s. In the 1970s and 1980s
the sprawling mass of freeways, and the Southern California became a hub of
car culture, that were to become an the human potential and New Age

Los Angeles
movements, adding yet another facet— 8 Public Safety

otherworldly eccentricity—to its multi-
faceted image. At the same time, the In 1995, violent crimes reported to
region’s economy thrived as the real police (per 100,000 population) totaled
estate, finance, and entertainment over 2,000 and included 25 murders,
industries soared. 840 robberies, and 1,123 aggravated
assaults. Property crimes totaled 5,645
The 1990s in Los Angeles were and included 1,192 burglaries, 3,120
marked by economic recession and cases of larceny/theft, and 1,333 motor
recovery, and a series of sensationalistic vehicle thefts.
events highlighting racial divisions in
both the city itself and in the nation as
a whole. First came the 1991 videotap- 9 Economy
ing of four white police officers beating
black motorist Rodney King, the 1992 Los Angeles is the seat of the top-
Simi Valley trial in which the police- ranked manufacturing county in the
men were acquitted, and the ensuing nation, producing a diverse array of
three days of rioting and looting that items including aircraft and aircraft
left 50 persons dead and caused an esti- equipment, games and toys, gas trans-
mated $1 billion in property damage. missions and distribution equipment,
The 1994 Brentwood murder of Nicole guided missiles, space vehicles and pro-
Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman pulsion units, and women’s apparel.
was followed by the 1996 trial of former Service is the major employment sector,
football star and actor O. J. Simpson, employing roughly one-third of the
who was tried for and acquitted of the county’s nonagricultural wage and sal-
murders. Physically, the city was shaken ary workers. In 1998 the top employers
by the 1994 the Northridge earthquake, in the county were county government,
measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, that the Los Angeles Unified School District,
has required a major rebuilding effort. the U.S. government, UCLA, and the
U.S. Postal Service.
7 Government The economy of the city of Los

Angeles is highly diversified, with
The Los Angeles municipal govern- strong sectors in services, wholesale and
ment is headed by a mayor and a 15- retail trade, manufacturing, govern-
member council, both elected to four- ment, financial service industries, trans-
year terms. Los Angeles is also the seat portation, utilities, and construction.
of Los Angeles County, which is under The entertainment and tourism indus-
the jurisdiction of a board of supervi- tries also contribute significantly to the
sors consisting of five members. A num- economy. The trade volume of its busy
ber of its districts, however, are self- port is the highest in the nation and
governing. one of the highest in the world.

Los Angeles
The Los Angeles economy took a Drive in Beverly Hills. Now augmented
downturn—together with the rest of by the addition of a cobble-stoned
California—in the early 1990s but walkway called Two Rodeo, or Via
rebounded later in the decade. Rodeo, the area boasts shops sporting
exclusive names, including Chanel,
10 Environment Armani, Ungaro, Christian Dior, Cart-
ier, and Tiffany. Beverly Hills is also
A booming population has brought home to upscale retailers Neiman-Mar-
nationwide recognition to Los Angeles cus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Barneys
and the surrounding area, but it has New York, all located nearby on
also brought increasing environmental Wilshire Boulevard. Other shopping
problems, including water shortages venues include Melrose Avenue, the
and pollution and air pollution. The Westside Pavilion, Montana Avenue (in
infamous L.A. smog was sighted by Santa Monica), and Abbot Kinney Bou-
farmers as early as 1940. In 1990 the levard (in Venice). Chinatown also
city was forced to impose water ration- offers a varied and colorful shopping
ing on its residents for the first time, experience that encompasses ethnic
and it was expected to spend billions of foods, clothing, and household items. A
dollars during the decade on pollution popular shopping destination in the
controls to comply with federal air district is the Chungking Mall. Popular
quality standards. malls in the greater Los Angeles area
include the Citadel Outlet Collection,
The many rare wildlife species
Century City, Beverly Center, and
found within 161 kilometers (100
Topanga Plaza.
miles) of the Los Angeles metropolitan
area include the California condor, one
of the world’s rarest birds, and the gray 12 Education
whale, whose annual southward migra-
tion to Baja, California, carries it to The Los Angeles Unified School
District, serving a population of more
within 0.8 kilometer (0.5 mile) of L.A.’s
than four million, is overseen by a
Pacific coastline, drawing numerous
observers, either in their own as part of seven-member elected school board. In
the fall of 1998, the district enrolled a
organized whale watches.
total of 607,143 students in grades K-
Southern California’s best-known 12—the second-largest enrollment of
physical feature is probably the San any district in the country, second only
Andreas fault, only one of the geologi- to New York City. The Los Angeles sys-
cal faults in the state. tem operated 420 elementary schools,
72 middle schools, and 49 senior high
schools. The district’s adult community
11 Shopping
schools, children’s centers, and occupa-
The best-known shopping district tional and skills centers enrolled an
in Los Angeles is glamorous Rodeo additional 913,119. The district

Los Angeles
Rodeo Drive is the most glamorous shopping district in Los Angeles.

employed 67,169 persons, including sities, including Loyola Marymount

teachers, support staff, and other certi- University, the California Institute of
fied personnel. It is the second-largest Technology (Cal Tech), Pepperdine Uni-
employer in Los Angeles County. versity, and Claremont College.
The two largest institutions of 13 Health Care

higher education in Los Angeles are the
University of California, Los Angeles The premier hospital in the Los
(UCLA) and the University of Southern Angeles area is Los Angeles County/
California (USC), respected as major University of Southern California Medi-
research centers (and known locally as cal Center, which includes General Hos-
sports rivals). In addition to these two pital and Women’s and Children’s
universities, the Los Angeles area is Hospital. In 1998 the complex had a
home to multiple campuses of both the total of 1,330 staffed beds; 45,979
University of California and the Califor- patients were admitted, and 744,933
nia State University systems, as well as a were seen on an outpatient basis. The
number of private colleges and univer- centrally located Cedars-Sinai Medical

Los Angeles
Center also has an outstanding reputa- azines published in Los Angeles is Bon
tion. Appetit.
In 1995 the Los Angeles-Long All the major television networks

Beach metropolitan area had 114 com- have affiliated stations in Chicago,
munity hospitals, with a total of 25,546
which has a total of seven commercial
beds and 16,681 office-based physi-
cians. The greater Los Angeles area, and public television stations, as well as
including Orange County, had 260 hos- some 30 AM and FM radio stations.
pitals altogether in the mid-1990s, but
this number was expected to decline 15 Sports
with the growing trend toward hospital
mergers. According to some reports, as Major league teams in most profes-
many as one-third of the region’s hospi-
sional sports play in the Los Angeles
tals would close in the coming years or
area, although football fans have been
become part of large multi-hospital net-
works. without a home team since the Los
Angeles Rams and Raiders departed for
other cities in the mid-1990s. In base-
14 Media ball, the National League’s Los Angeles
Since 1989 Los Angeles has had Dodgers play at Dodger Stadium, and
only one daily newspaper, the Los Ange- the American League’s Anaheim Angels
les Times (circulation 991,480 weekdays play at Anaheim Stadium. (Southern
and 1,361,202 Sundays), which has a Californians can also attend games of
distinguished history and a reputation the San Diego Padres.) Los Angeles has
as one of the leading newspapers in the two NBA teams, the championship-
nation. A number of regions in the met-
winning Lakers, who play home games
ropolitan area have their own dailies,
including the Daily News (San Fernando at the Staples Center, and the Clippers,
Valley), the News Pilot (San Pedro), the who play at the Los Angeles Sports
Daily Breeze (Torrance), the Evening Out- Arena. Professional hockey is repre-
look (Santa Monica), and the Press Tele- sented by the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings,
gram (Long Beach). Two free alternative who play at the Staples Center, and the
weeklies—the LA Weekly and New Disney-owned Mighty Ducks, who play
Times—cover entertainment and other at Arrowhead Pond. College-level sports
topics of interest to L.A. locals. Weeklies
are also popular, as fans follow the for-
are also published for the business com-
tunes of the UCLA and USC teams, who
munity and the area’s many ethnic
communities. The area’s two monthly field Division I NCAA teams in all
magazines are the older Los Angeles major sports. Horse racing is held at
Magazine and its younger rival, Buzz. Hollywood Park Racetrack and the
Among the nationally distributed mag- Santa Anita Racetrack.

Los Angeles
On New Year’s Day each year visitors travel to Pasadena, a Los Angeles suburb, to watch both the
Tournament of Roses parade and football game, which is played in the Rose Bowl stadium.
16 Parks and famed Griffith Observatory and Plane-

Recreation tarium, the 46-hectare (113-acre) Los
Angeles Zoo, and the Ferndall Nature
Los Angeles’s warm weather and Museum, as well as a bird sanctuary, a
sunny climate encourage a wide range transportation museum (Travel Town),
of athletic activities, especially water and the Autry Museum of Western Heri-
sports—including swimming, surfing, tage. For recreational purposes, the park
and boating—at its miles of municipal also boasts an 85-kilometer (53-mile)
beaches along the Pacific coast. The bridle trail, picknicking and swimming
city’s parks offer golf courses, tennis facilities, a golf course, and bicycle rent-
courts, swimming pools, ball fields, and als.
other facilities.
Hancock Park, near Wilshire Boule-
At more than 1,619 hectares (4,000 vard, is famed for its La Brea Tar Pits,
acres), Griffith Park is one of the ponds containing subterranean tar in
nation’s (and the world’s) largest which prehistoric mammoths, mast-
municipal parks. It is home to the odons, bears, and other mammals were

Los Angeles
entombed, and their skeletons pre-

served for posterity. Today, life-size
fiberglass replicas of mammoths, placed
in the pond, can be seen not only from
the park but also from Wilshire Boule-
vard, forming a startling contrast to its
stores and restaurants. Other Los Ange-
les-area parks include the 243-hectare
(600-acre) Elysian Park, the 13-hectare
(32-acre) Westlake Park, and the Lin-
coln, Exposition, Echo, and Arroyo Seco
parks.
In addition to its other parks, Los
Angeles is home to the world-famous
theme park, Disneyland, located in
Anaheim.
17 Performing Arts
Los Angeles’s favorable weather conditions
Although Los Angeles is best promote outdoor recreational activities, especially
known as the world capital of television swimming and boating. (Michelle & Tom Grimm; Los
and motion-picture production, the tra- Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ditional performing arts are also well
represented. The Los Angeles Philhar- UCLA Center for the Performing Arts.
monic Orchestra, under the direction of In addition, New York’s Joffrey Ballet
Finnish-born music director Esa-Pekka maintains an office and a regular per-
Salonen, performs at the Dorothy formance schedule in the city.
Chandler Pavilion during its regular
season and at the Hollywood Bowl in
the summer. The L.A. Opera is known
18 Libraries and
for its innovative interpretations of Museums
operatic classics, and the Los Angeles
Master Chorale performs at the Music Founded in 1872, the Los Angeles
Center during the concert season. Pop- Public Library System serves close to 3.7
ular venues for theatrical performances million people, with an annual circula-
are the Ahmanson Theatre, the Henry tion of 10,964,844. Its book holdings
Fonda Theatre, and the Center Theatre total approximately 5.8 million vol-
Group at the Mark Taper Forum. umes. The library moved into a new
central building downtown in 1993
Los Angeles residents can attend a after its former home was destroyed by
variety of performances in music, the- fire; the new building is the third-larg-
ater, and dance by touring artists at the est library in the country. The library

Los Angeles
Armand Hammer Museum of Art,

attached to the offices of Occidental
Petroleum and founded by the com-
pany’s CEO, has been praised for the
quality of its visiting and contemporary
exhibits.
Los Angeles is also home to a num-

ber of specialty museums. The West
Coast branch of New York’s Museum of
Television and Radio is located in Bev-
erly Hills, where visitors can view epi-
sodes of classic programs from the early
days of television. The Museum of Tol-
erance, located in the Simon Wie-
senthal Center, is an educational
museum dedicated to exposing the evils
of prejudice and encouraging open-
mindedness toward all groups. Other
museums in the region include the Hol-
Life-size replicas of prehistoric mammals may be
seen at La Brea Tar Pits. lywood Entertainment Museum, the
(Michelle & Tom Grimm; Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau) Museum of Miniatures, the Petersen
Automotive Museum, the California
system also operates 67 neighborhood African-American Museum, the Autry
branches. The areas in which it holds Museum of Western Heritage (located
special collections include California in in Griffith Park), the Japanese-American
Fiction, Film Study, Fiction By and National Museum, and the Los Angeles
About Blacks, Japanese Prints, Orches- Children’s Museum.
tral Scores and Parts, Rare Books, and
Automotive Repair Manuals.
19 To u r i s m
The leading art museum in the Los
Angeles area is the new J. Paul Getty The California climate and the
Museum, which opened in 1997 in a glamour associated with the motion-
building designed by Richard Meier. picture and television industries, as well
The museum, which houses the art col- as Disneyland, make Los Angeles one of
lection of the famous tycoon, is noted the nation’s top tourist destinations. In
for its antiquities, paintings, illumi- 1995 approximately more than three
nated manuscripts, and contemporary million foreign travelers visited the city,
collections. The Museum of Contempo- ranking it second nationally in this cat-
rary Art is devoted to art since 1940; the egory.

Los Angeles
20 Holidays and SEPTEMBER

Koreatown Multi-Cultural Festival
Festivals Los Angeles City’s Birthday Celebration
JANUARY SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER
Martin Luther King Celebration & Parade Alpine Village Oktoberfest
Tournament of Roses Parade & Rose Bowl Los Angeles County Fair
FEBRUARY OCTOBER
Chinese New Year’s Parade in Chinatown Los Angeles International Film Festival
Golden Dragon Parade South Bay Greek Festival
MARCH NOVEMBER
Academy Awards Hollywood Christmas Parade
City of Los Angeles Marathon Intertribal Marketplace
Grammy Awards
Los Angeles Bach Festival DECEMBER
Christmas Boat Parade
MARCH-APRIL Griffith Park Light Festival
Crystal Cathedral Glory of Easter
Las Posadas Candlelight Procession
APRIL
LA Fiesta Broadway
21 Famous Citizens
APRIL-JUNE
Renaissance Pleasure Faire Well-known Los Angeles natives in-
MAY clude:
Cinco de Mayo Celebrations
Choreographer and director Busby Ber-
Fiesta de las Artes
keley (1895–1972).
LATE MAY-EARLY JUNE
Spring Boat Show Child actor Jackie Coogan (1914–1984).
JUNE Actor Jackie Cooper (b. 1921).
Concours on Rodeo
Great American Irish Fair & Music Festival Figure skater Linda Fratianne (b. 1960).
Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Pride Celebration
Academy Award-winning actress Jodie
Mariachi USA Festival
Playboy Jazz Festival Foster (b. 1962).
JULY Ballerina Cynthia Gregory (b. 1946).
Los Angeles Classic Jazz Festival
Lotus Festival
Actor Dustin Hoffman (b. 1937).
Malibu Art Festival Actress Marilyn Monroe (1926–62).
JULY-AUGUST Sculptor Isamu Noguchi (1904–88).
California Plaza’s Moonlight Concerts
MID-JULY TO MID-SEPTEMBER Conductor Leonard Slatkin (b. 1944).
Page Museum’s Fossil Excavation at La Brea Tar Baseball players Duke Snyder (b. 1926)
Pits
and Darryl Strawberry (b. 1962).
AUGUST
Nisei Week Japanese Festival Famous residents include countless film
LATE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER stars and directors, of whom some of
African Marketplace & Cultural Faire the earliest were:

Los Angeles
Cecil B. DeMille (1881–1959). Los Angeles Times

Times Mirror Square
Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. (1883–1939). Los Angeles, CA 90053
Mary Pickford (1893–1979).
Books
Abelmann, Nancy, and John Lie. Blue Dreams:
22 For Further Study Korean Americans and the Los Angeles Riots.
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press,
Websites 1995.
CityView Los Angeles. [Online] Available http:// Anderson, Donald A. Los Angeles: Realm of Possi-
www.cityview.com/losangeles (accessed bility: A Contemporary Portrait. Chatsworth,
October 14, 1999). CA: Windsor Publications, 1991.
LA Directory. [Online] Available http:// Brook, Stephen. L.A. Days, L.A. Nights. New York:
www.ladir.com/ (accessed October 14, 1999). St. Martin’s Press, 1993.
Los Angeles City Net. [Online] Available http:// Cannon, Lou. Official Negligence: How Rodney
www.city.net/countries/united_states/cali- King and the Riots Changed Los Angeles and
fornia/los_angeles (accessed October 14, the LAPD. New York: New York Times Books,
1999). 1997.
LosAngeles.TheLinks.com. [Online] Available Cini, Zelda, Bob Crane, Peter Brown. Hollywood,
http://www.losangeles.thelinks.com/. Land & Legend. Westport, CN: Arlington
(accessed October 14, 1999). House, 1980.
Davis, Mike. Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the
Government Offices Imagination of Disaster. New York: Metropoli-
Los Angeles City Hall tan Books, 1998.
200 N. Spring St. Kaplan, Sam Hall. L. A. Lost & Found: An Architec-
Los Angeles, CA 90012 tural History of Los Angeles. New York:
(213) 485-2121 Crown, 1987.
Loh, Sandra Tsing. Depth Takes a Holiday: Essays
Los Angeles Planning Dept. from Lesser Los Angeles. New York: Riverhead
221 N. Figueroa St., Rm. 1600 Books, 1996.
Los Angeles, CA 90012 Martinez, Rubin. The Other Side: Notes from the
(213) 580-1168 new L.A., Mexico City, and Beyond. New York:
Vintage Books, 1993.
Mayor’s Office
Miller, John. Los Angeles Stories: Great Writers on
200 N Main St., Rm. 800
the City. San Francisco: Chronicle Books,
Los Angeles, CA 90012
1991.
(213) 485-2489
Rieff, David. Los Angeles: Capital of the Third
World. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1991.
Tourist and Convention Bureaus Sonenshein, Raphael. Politics in Black and White:
Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau Race and Power in Los Angeles. Princeton, NJ:
633 W. 5th St., Suite 6000 Princeton University Press, 1993.
Los Angeles, CA 90071 Thompson, Frank T. Los Angeles Uncovered. Plano,
(213) 624-7300 TX: Seaside Press, 1996.
Thorpe, Edward. Chandlertown: The Los Angeles of
Publications Philip Marlowe. New York: St. Martin’s Press,
1983.
Los Angeles Business Journal
5700 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 170
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Videorecordings
Los Angeles, Hollywood & Southern California.
Los Angeles Magazine [videorecording] Finley-Holiday Film Corpo-
11100 Santa Monica Blvd., 7th Fl. ration. Whittier, CA: Finley-Holiday Film
Los Angeles, CA 90025 Corp., 1993. 1 videocassette (40 min.)

Madrid
Madrid, Spain, Europe
Founded: Castilians defeated the Moors and captured Madrid in 1083. Philip II made
Madrid the capital of Spain in 1561.
Location: Province of Madrid, near the geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula. It
lies on top of a sand and clay plateau known as the Meseta (from the Spanish
word mesa, or table).
Time Zone: Spain is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Daylight
Savings Time is observed late March to late October.
Elevation: At 2,100 ft (635 m) above sea level, Madrid is one of the highest capitals in
Europe.
Latitude and Longitude: 40º26'N, 3º42'W. Madrid shares roughly the same latitude
as New York City, New York, and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Climate: Winters are cold, but mostly dry. Night temperatures often fall below 32 ° F,
and snow occasionally falls on the city. Spring is warmer and pleasant although
night temperatures remain low. Summer is often divided into two smaller
seasons. Early summer is quite pleasant, but late summer in July and August is
often unbearably hot. Autumn is a little wetter but more pleasant than summer.
Temperature: January is typically the coldest month, and temperatures range from
35 to 47°F (2 to 9°C). July: 63–87°F (17–31°C); September 57–77°F (14–25°C).
Average Annual Precipitation: 16.5 inches (419.1 mm)
Government: Mayor and city council
Monetary Units: The peseta (about 125 pesetas per one US dollar). Notes come in
denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 pesetas. Coins come in
denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 500 pesetas.
Telephone Area Codes: Spain Country Code: 34; Madrid City Code: 91
1 Introduction midnight. Madrileños, as its citizens are

called, are just getting started.
It is a balmy July night in Madrid,
Madrid has it all backwards, or so it
and the narrow colonial sidewalks of
seems. Between noon and 4:00 PM, the
the Chueca neighborhood are crowded citizens of this sprawling city go home
with fashionably dressed Madrileños. for a long lunch and a nap. Most shops
Many of them patiently wait in line to close, and the city calms down a bit.
get a table at some of the better restau- These are the habits expected from
rants and tapas bars in the cosmopoli- smaller towns, sleepy provinces that
tan neighborhood. In any other place, have not been touched by moderniza-
one might expect this pulsating scene tion.
during the early hours of the evening. Yet, the ways of a modern world,
But this is Madrid, and it is well past with longer working hours, and less lei-
205
Madrid
Yet, Madrileños don't give up easily. On

Madrid any given night, especially on week-
Population Profile ends, the streets continue to fill with
late night revelers.
City Proper
Population: 2,900,000 Madrileños, much like the citizens
Area: 606 sq km (234 sq mi) of many other capital cities, have been
Nicknames: Los Madriles (many Madrids) for its
distinct neighborhoods. The people are called
accused of snobbery. It is perhaps the
"Madrileños.'' Traditionally, Madrileños have weight of history that sustains this per-
also been called gatos, for cats. The nickname ceived aloofness. Madrid was once at
may have been coined during the Middle Ages
to describe troops who scaled castle walls with the center of an empire that stretched
the dexterity of cats. over large parts of the globe. In the
heart of Spain, it remained the center of
Metropolitan Area
cultural and political life for many cen-
Description: Province of Madrid turies.
World population rank1: 58 The city was actually founded by
Percentage of national population2: 10.2% the Moors, who traveled across the
Average yearly growth rate: 0%
Ethnic composition:
Mediterranean from North Africa to
conquer the Iberian Peninsula. During
———
1. The Madrid metropolitan area’s rank among the the Christian Reconquest, Madrid fell
world’s urban areas. to a Castilian king, but it would not be
2. The percent of Spain’s total population living in named the capital city of Spain until
the Madrid metropolitan area.
1561. Madrid suffered through all the
ups and downs of an empire, including
the occupation of the city by the
sure time, have encroached on Madrid. French in the early 1800s. By the 1930s,
Madrid was under heavy artillery fire,
Until recently, the entire city shut
its citizens trying to defend the Repub-
down during the afternoon. Residents
lic after getting rid of the monarchy.
returned to work at 4:00 PM, and stayed
Madrid eventually fell to the pro-mon-
at their jobs until about 8:00 PM. After
archy forces (1939). From here, one of
work, many of them retired to restau-
the most notorious dictators of the
rants, coffee shops, and tapas bars for
twentieth century, Francisco Franco,
long conversations with friends and
would rule the nation with a tight fist
family. Today more and more stores
for more than three decades.
and businesses stay open all day, and
fewer people have time for long Franco died in 1975, and the
lunches, even less a quick nap. The nation entered a new era. And so did
city's night life, which made it famous conservative Madrid, which woke from
around the world, has suffered a bit a long slumber. Culturally repressed by
from Spain's attempts to catch up eco- a conservative leader, Spain flourished
nomically with its European neighbors. under democracy. From its cinema to

Madrid
literature, music, and art, Spaniards Bus and Railroad Service

made headlines throughout the world.
Madrileños knew they would not be left There are two main train stations
behind. in the city: Chamartín and Atocha.
Trains from the north arrive at Chama-
rtín, while trains from the south, east,
2 Getting There and west arrive at Atocha. The station is
also the terminus for the high-speed
Highways
AVE trains, which travel south to Cor-
Six major highways lead to all cordova and Sevilla. The railways in Spain
ners of the country. are operated by the state-owned RENFE.

Madrid
Buses depart for destinations through- 4 People

out Spain from two main stations in the
Madrid area. Madrid was one of the fastest grow-
ing cities in Spain after World War II
Airports (1939–45), but growth leveled off by
the late twentieth century. Population
All domestic and international figures, which showed a small decline
flights arrive at the Barajas Interna- in the early 1990s, are expected to
tional Airport. remain stable for the next 20 years. The
city's population density is 13,419 per
3 Getting Around square mile). About 23 percent of resi-
dents are under the age of 20, while
Bus and Commuter Rail Service 11.3 percent are over the age of 60.
Madrid’s Metro system is made up Madrid is mostly inhabited by Castil-
of ten lines. It is cheap and efficient but ians, people who have lived in Spain's
not the best way to get around in the central meseta for many centuries.
summer months when the tunnels Castilians are overwhelmingly Catholic
become unbearably hot. The metro and generally conservative. Spaniards
operates from 6 AM to 1:30 AM. Madrid from other parts of the country also live
has an extensive bus system with more in Madrid, including Andalucians, Gal-
than 150 lines. Buses stop operating at legos, Catalonians, and Valencians.
1 AM. Taxis and buses known as buhos There are small numbers of
(owls) operate during the late night migrants from Northern Africa and
hours. There are 20 buho bus lines. political refugees from Latin America
The Cercanías trains (greater and the Middle East. The city is over-
Madrid light railway) serve the outskirts whelmingly Catholic, and many of the
of Madrid and towns nearby. In Madrid city’s holidays and celebrations are reli-
the railway stations are underground, gious.
but they go above ground on the out-
Castilian (castellano) is the official
skirts of the city. The modern trains are
language of Spain. In other countries,
comfortable. They are equipped with
castilian is known as Spanish.
heat and air conditioning. Prices vary
on distance traveled.
5 Neighborhoods
Sightseeing
Madrid is often called Los Madriles
Tourists and Madrileños alike use because of its distinctive neighbor-
the Cercanias trains to visit the pictur- hoods. La Puerta del Sol (Door of the
esque towns of Toledo, Segovia, Avila, Sun) is the heart of the city, a large cres-
El Escorial, and Aranjuez. World-class cent-shaped plaza that is the starting
museums, bullfights, and flamenco point for all roads in Spain. Eight roads
dancing are also popular attractions. converge there in a massive junction

Madrid

Madrid Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Spain) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Marca La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
Date largest newspaper was established n.a. 1944 1976 1948
1 United
2 The
3
surrounded by shops, restaurants, and markets, and has a lively art scene.
apartment buildings. Some of Madrid's Atocha lies next to Lavapiés. It is home
most important streets begin there, to the Reina Sofía museum (Museo
meandering their way through colonial Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía), and
neighborhoods before ending in the far the bustling Atocha train station. Many
reaches of suburbia. Some of Madrid's art galleries are located here.
most fascinating neighborhoods are
clustered near La Puerta del Sol. Closer to the heart of the city is
cosmopolitan Chueca, which remains
Lavapiés is one of the oldest, and one of the most important meeting
poorest, neighborhoods. It is often said places for Madrileños who enjoy night-
that Lavapiés is the most representative life. Chueca is a hive of activity, espe-
neighborhood of the city, the most cially during weekend nights. Large
“Madrileño.” Residents like to bring numbers of people take over sidewalks
chairs out on the sidewalk and sit for and streets, and restaurants are full at
hours into the night, sharing stories midnight. Residents party well into the
with neighbors. The neighborhood has dawn hours. Nearby is the more sedate
many restaurants, small shops, and Huertas neighborhood, which also

Madrid
Madrid skyline. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
attracts its share of night owls. Huertas cially in the old neighborhoods, apart-
has many small restaurants and pubs, ments are small and lack basic
old mansions, hotels, and crowded necessities like heat. In the summer,
streets. cramped quarters become hot. In some
of the poorer neighborhoods, people
Paseo del Prado, home to the Prado
are forced to share communal baths.
Museum, is an upper-class neighbor-
hood defined by the large mansions
along the streets. Salamanca, north of 6 History
the Parque Retiro, is a wealthy and con-
People have lived in Spain's central
servative enclave. Many of the city's
meseta for thousands of years. In the
expensive boutiques are here.
late ninth century, with the arrival of
Even with 1.2 million housing the Moors from Northern Africa, an
units and low occupancy rates, Madrid Arab town began to take shape in what
suffers from inadequate housing. Most is now modern Madrid. The Moors built
Madrileños live in apartments because a castle (alcazar) on a hill overlooking
they can't afford to buy homes. Espe- the Manzanares River to protect their

Madrid
newly acquired territories. Residents

followed the military and settled in the
area. The Moors developed an intricate
irrigation system, and agriculture
bloomed. During the early stages of the
Christian “Reconquest” of the Iberian
Peninsula, Madrid was attacked by King
Ramiro II of León in 932. The Moors
restored the town but remained under
siege.
In a final assault in 1083, Alfonso
VI of Castile and León captured Madrid.
The town was now under Castilian and
Christian control. Many Moors contin-
ued to live there until the final purge of
Muslims and Jews from Spain in 1492. An artist displays his work in the historical Plaza
The town's Arab-Muslim character Mayor. The square, built between 1617 and
1619, was the site of bullfights, trials, and
slowly faded over time. Madrid, which
executions. (Ignacio Lobos; EPD Photos)
had been of marginal importance under
the Moors, became home to many
Castilian kings and grew in importance.
sion of heresy and the punishment of
By 1309, the Cortes (parliament) was
heretics).
operating within the city.
The city continued to grow and
Madrid was already a large town
prosper under the Bourbon Kings, espe-
when Philip II (1527–1598) made it the
cially King Charles III (1759–1788).
capital of Spain in 1561. Now at the
Charles was not too fond of the city. He
center of Spanish power, Madrid began
considered it dangerous and dirty and
to grow rapidly. By the 1650s, more
came close to moving the capital to
than 100,000 people lived in Madrid.
Sevilla or Valencia. Yet despite his reser-
Architecture flourished under the Hab-
vations, Charles stayed and passed laws
sburg monarchs, who directed the con-
to force citizens to clean up, inside and
struction of many important structures
outside their homes. Acting much like a
that remain to this day. The Plaza
city planner, he engineered Madrid's
Mayor, a huge square surrounded by
continued growth and development.
five-story houses, was built between
His contributions to Madrid would earn
1617 and 1619. It became the center of
him the title of mayor-king.
life for early Madrileños. Bullfights were
held on the plaza, as well as trials and Madrid's tranquility was shattered
executions of the Inquisition (a general during the Napoleonic Wars when
tribunal established in the thirteenth French troops occupied the city, and
century for the discovery and suppres- Napoleon Bonaparte's brother Joseph

Madrid
(1822–1891) was installed on the dens, museums, and imposing govern-

throne. On May 2, 1808, the War of ment buildings dotted the city. In 1919
Independence began as Spaniards rose the city inaugurated the underground
against the unpopular Joseph and metro's first line. At the time, the ser-
fought French troops in bloody skir- vice offered first and second-class tick-
mishes. The date is remembered as a ets, a symbol of class differences in
national holiday, but France continued prosperous Madrid. By 1930, nearly one
to rule Spain until the war ended in million people had moved into the city.
1814 with the victory of the Spanish
The 1930s were difficult years for
army and guerillas, aided by British
Madrid and Spain. The nation was
troops. Ferdinand VII (1788–1833), who
had been imprisoned by Napoleon, deeply divided by political ideology.
Many Spaniards didn't want a monar-
returned to Madrid in 1814 and began
chy and sought a more democratic
to redevelop the city.
form of government. Fascism in Europe
By the 1850s, major projects was on the rise, and the Soviet Union
ensured the city's continued growth. sought to influence other nations with
More than 31 kilometers (50 miles) of its Communist ideology. In 1931, Spain
new canals brought fresh water into the became a Republic; soon after that, the
city. In 1851, the first train departed nation was divided by civil war. Fascists,
from Atocha station on its way to Aran- the military, the Catholic Church and
juez. In 1861, the Castro Plan, more its conservative devotees championed
commonly known as the Ensanche (the the return of the monarchy. Collec-
widening), was formally adopted to tively, these groups came to be known
guide the city's growth. The modern as Nationalists. A coalition of leftist par-
plan established areas for hospitals, ties that had narrowly won the 1936
cemeteries, hospices, and even jails. It elections and politically moderate
assigned certain areas as working-class Spaniards supported the continuation
neighborhoods and protected the richer of the Republic. In 1936, civil war broke
enclaves from undesirable urban uses. out. Francisco Franco, who had become
Yet despite the plan, Madrid was unable a general at age 33, led the Nationalist
to prevent poor areas from developing forces. The Republicans could not mus-
outside planned zones. During this ter a united front.
time, there were no major industries in
Madrid, and workers spent most of Epic battles were waged in Madrid
during the civil war. The Republican
their meager earnings on food. The
government moved to Valencia, fearing
bulk of the population lived in substan-
dard housing, many without water and that Madrid would crumble quickly to
the Nationalist forces. But Madrid held
sewage facilities.
up, despite heavy damage from con-
By the beginning of the twentieth stant aerial and artillery bombard-
century, nearly 600,000 people called ments. With help from Nazi leader
Madrid home. Beautiful palaces, gar- Adolph Hitler (1889–1945) and the Ital-

Madrid
ian fascist Benito Mussolini (1883– 7 Government

1945), Franco's troops defeated the
The government is made up of a
Republican forces in a final battle in
mayor and 52-member city council
Madrid on March 28, 1939. Franco (known as the Pleno or plenary). City
declared Spain a monarchy in 1947, but Hall is located in the Plaza de la Villa in
he remained the country's dictatorial the colonial section of Madrid. The
leader until his death in 1975. mayor and city council members repre-
sent three parties: Partido Popular (Popu-
Under Franco, Madrid's position as lar Party), Partido Socialista Obrero
the seat of power was further solidified. Español (Spanish Socialist Workers
Franco quickly set to rebuilding Madrid Party), and "Izquierda Unida" (United
while he ignored other regions of the Left). The conservative Popular Party
country. With the region established as won a majority for the 1999–2003 term
a growing industrial center, the city and controls the Governing Commit-
tee.
continued to grow rapidly, swallowing
many of its own suburbs. By 1951,
Madrid covered 205 square kilometers
8 Public Safety
(79 square miles). The Urban Plan of Madrid is mostly a safe city
1963 directed growth to other munici- although it shares the same social prob-
palities in the metropolitan area, turn- lems as other cities of its size. Madrileños
ing some of them into bedroom have no problems staying out at all
communities. During the 1960s, the hours of the night, most without facing
any problems. Some areas of the city,
automobile became a major mode of
however, are notorious for prostitution
transportation, choking the streets and
and drug deals. Purse snatchers and
the air. pickpockets prey on tourists in crowded
areas.
Franco's death in 1975 brought
profound changes to Spain and Madrid.
9 Economy
With King Juan Carlos (1938–) leading
the way, Spain embarked on a democra- Madrid is Spain's second largest
tization process that affected every industrial center after Barcelona. It
institution in the country. Free from the manufactures aircraft, electrical equip-
ment, agricultural machinery, and
conservative constraints of a dictator-
leather goods. The city is the center of
ship, Madrid became a more cosmopoli-
national government, finance, and
tan city during the 1980s and 1990s. Its insurance, and the nation's transporta-
elected leaders began to pay more tion hub. It is also one of the most
attention to the environment and important publishing centers of Span-
passed laws to protect the city's archi- ish language materials in the world.
tectural treasures, air, and water. Tourism is an important element of the

Madrid
National Palace of Madrid. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
economy. Wheat, vines, and olives are restore historic buildings damaged by
some of the agricultural products grown carbon particles. According to govern-
in the province of Madrid. ment figures, sulfur dioxide emissions
were reduced by 3,174 metric tons
(3,500 tons) and suspended particles by
10 Environment 727 metric tons (800 tons) annually
Reducing pollution and noise are between 1993 and 1999. The city uses
two of the most important tasks identi- seven treatment facilities to purify more
fied by the government. The city has an than 16,000 liters (60,600 gallons) per
extensive network of mobile laborato- second of wastewater. More than 907
ries and technicians who constantly metric tons (1,000 tons) of dregs per
monitor the environment. Two leading day are treated for agriculture and other
monitoring agencies include the Center uses. Gas (methane and carbon dioxide)
for Acoustic Studies and the Ecological obtained from the dregs is used to pro-
Patrol. The city has a formal plan to duce electricity to operate the wastewa-
clear the air, protect open spaces, and ter treatment facilities.

Madrid
11 Shopping circulation of more than 1.2 million

readers, is considered one of the world's
Madrid’s shopping is more sedate best newspapers. It is published daily in
and traditional than other European some Latin American countries, and its
cities. Small boutiques and specialized weekly international edition is available
stores command a major presence in in many countries of the world.
the city. Small food stores, where
expensive hams and olive oils from the 15 Sports
region are featured, are found through-
out the city. El Corte Inglés is just about Real Madrid’s soccer (futból) club is
the only department store similar to considered one the world's most accom-
those found in the United States. plished teams of the twentieth century.
Its games against its nemesis, Barcelona,
12 Education often sell out the 125,000-seat Santiago
Bernabéu stadium in the northern end
Madrid is one of the most impor-
of the city. Madrileños also enjoy bull-
tant centers of education in the country
fighting, and many other sports,
and home to some of its most presti-
including basketball, cycling (although
gious universities. Among them are the
not so much in the crowded city),
Universidad Complutense de Madrid,
horseback riding, tennis, and golf.
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Uni-
versidad Politécnica de Madrid, Univer-
sidad Nacional de Educación a
16 Parks and
Distancia (Open University). Recreation
With water fountains, lagoons,
13 Health Care playing fields, and plenty of seating
While Madrid has 56 hospitals and areas, the sprawling 350-acre Retiro is
approximately five physicians per 1,000 one of the city’s favorite parks. The city
residents, health care lags behind other has more than 40 parks, gardens, and
major European cities. Many hospitals many small plazas. Madrileños enjoy
lack adequate staff and equipment. taking long walks and meeting friends
Madrileños suffer from an abnormally at cafes or pubs. An important ingredi-
high rate of respiratory problems ent of city life is the Sunday afternoon
caused by pollution. stroll (paseo) in parks or neighborhood
streets.
14 Media
17 Performing Arts
Madrid is a major publishing cen-
ter in the Spanish-speaking world. More From flamenco dancing to bull-
than 30 publishers are located in the fighting (considered an art form by afi-
city, which is served by several daily cionados), Madrid has much to offer.
and weekly newspapers, as well as doz- Bullfights in Madrid are held at Las
ens of magazines. El País, with a Sunday Ventas bullring, considered the mecca

Madrid
of bullfighting. Fans of flamenco often

go to the small clubs of Lavapiés, where
performances often don’t get under way
until well past midnight.
18 Libraries and
Museums
Madrid is home to the prestigious
National Library (Biblioteca Nacional)
and the Library of the Royal Palace,
which has a recognized historic collec-
tion. Madrid has a long literary tradi-
tion. Each year, thousands of people
attend the Madrid Feria del Libro (book
fair), one of many events that continue
to thrive in the city’s lively literary
scene. The city is also well known for its
used bookshops.
Some of the world’s most impor-

tant museums are in Madrid. Foremost
among these is the Prado Museum,
which opened in 1819. The museum's
thousands of paintings were collected
by the Spanish monarchy and the Cath-
olic Church over several centuries.
About 1,500 paintings can be shown at
a time. Some of Spain’s most renowned
painters are represented at the Prado, A teenage boy performs stunts on his skateboard
including Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, in one of Madrid’s many plazas.
Zurbarán, Ribera, and Murillo, and (Ignacio Lobos; EPD Photos)
many other Europeans, like Rembrandt,

Rubens, Botticelli, Rafael, and Tintor-
etto. 19 To u r i s m
Picasso’s Guernica, which had been Spain is one of the most visited
housed in New York City, is now at the countries in Europe, both for its attrac-
Reina Sofía museum, home of Spain’s tions and low prices. Madrid, the hub
modern art. Works by Miró, Oteiza, and of national transportation, is a starting
Julio González are part of the perma- point for many visitors. It is a lively
nent collection. city, full of cafes, pubs, clubs, and res-

Madrid
taurants. Madrileños often party al drama with hundreds of plays to

through the night and sometimes right his name.
past breakfast. World-class museums,
cultural activities, festivals, and specta- Pedro Calderón de la Barca y Henao
tor sports can easily keep tourists busy (1600–1681), Spanish dramatist
for days. Many important towns are and poet, the last prominent writer
within easy reach, including Segovia, of the golden age of Spanish litera-
Chinchón, Avila, Aranjuez, and Alcalá ture.
de Henares, the birth place of Miguel
Cervantes, author of Don Quixote. Jose Echegaray y Eizaguirre (1832–
1916), Spanish playwright, states-
man, and co-winner of the Nobel
20 Holidays and Prize in literature in 1904.
Festivals
JANUARY José Ortega y Gasset (1883–1955), writ-
New Year’s Day er and philosopher known for his
Epiphany humanistic criticism of modern
MARCH civilization, whose articles, lec-
Feast of St. Joseph tures, and essays on philosophy
APRIL and political discourse led to the
Good Friday fall of the Spanish monarchy in
MAY 1931.
Labor Day
Feast of the Community of Madrid Plácido Domingo (b. 1941), great tenor.
Day of St. Isidro, the Patron Saint of Madrid
AUGUST Julio Iglesias (b.1943), internationally
Assumption renowned singer.
OCTOBER
National Day Carmen Maura (b. 1946), 1990 Felix
Award (Spain’s equivalent of the
NOVEMBER
All Saints’ Day Oscar) winner for best actress and
Almudena owner of a small art gallery in
Madrid.
DECEMBER
Constitution Day
Feast of the Immaculate Conception Because of its historic preeminence in
national culture, politics and society,
Madrid has always attracted some of
21 Famous Citizens Spain's most brilliant people. Most of
Lope de Vega (1562–1635), playwright Spain's authors and painters have stud-
and poet of the Golden Age of ied or lived in Madrid for part or most
Spanish literature (sixteenth and of their lives. The city has also attracted
seventeenth centuries), considered literary figures from other nations,
the founder of the Spanish nation- including:

Madrid
American author Ernest Hemingway www.comadrid.es (accessed January 29,

(1899–1961), who lived and 2000).
worked in Madrid for a short time. Municipality of Madrid. [Online] Available
http://www.munimadrid.es (accessed Janu-
Spanish poet and writer Federico García ary 29, 2000).
Lorca (1898–1936), who studied in National Statistical Office. [Online] Available
Madrid and spent most of his time http://www.ine.es (accessed January 29,
2000).
in the city between 1919 and 1934,
and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra Tourist and Convention Bureaus
(1547–1616), author of the epic Instituto de turismo de España
Don Quixote, who is considered the José Lázaro Galdeano 6
greatest Spanish author. 28017, Madrid, España
22 For Further Study Publications

El Pais. [Online] Available http://www.elpais.es
(accessed January 29, 2000).
Websites Madrid Daily. [Online] Available http://
Madrid’s Underground Metro. [Online] Available www.labanguardia.es (accessed January 29,
http://www.metromadrid.es (accessed Janu- 2000).
ary 29, 2000). The Broadsheet. [Online] Available http://
National Library. [Online] Available http:// thebroadsheet.com (accessed January 29,
www.bns.es (accessed January 29, 2000). 2000).
National System of Spanish Railways. [Online]
El Mundo. [Online] Available http://
Available http://www.renfe.es (accessed Jan-
www.elmundo.es (accessed January 29,
uary 29, 2000).
2000).
Postal Service. [Online] Available http://
www.correos.es (accessed January 29, 2000).
Prado Museum. [Online] Available http:// Books
www.museoprado.mcu.es (accessed January Besas, Peter. Behind the Spanish lens: Spanish cin-
29, 2000). ema under fascism and democracy. Denver,
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. [Online] Colorado: Arden Press, 1985.
Available http://www.offcampus.es/ Carr, Raymond. Modern Spain, 1875–1980.
museo.thyssen-bornemisza (accessed Janu- Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980.
ary 29, 2000). Cross, Esther and Wilbur Cross. Spain. Enchant-
ment of the World Series. Chicago: Children's
Government Offices Press, 1994.
Spanish Embassy Kent, Deborah. Madrid. Chicago: Children's
2700 15th St. NW. Press, 1999.
Washington D.C. 20009 Pérez-Díaz, V. M. The Return of Civil Society: The
emergence of Democratic Spain. Harvard Uni-
Community of Madrid. [Online] Available http:/ versity Press, 1993.

Glossary
illegal. U.S.S.R.
219
GLOSSARY
counted.
of Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myan-
mar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Junior
Worldmark
Encyclopedia of
World Cities
Junior
Worldmark
Encyclopedia of
World Cities
VOLUME 3
Manilla, Philippines
to Paris France
Edited by
Jill Copolla and
Susan Bevan Gall
U•X•L Staff
orously defended.
Copyright © 2000
U•X•L

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contributors

CONTENTS
R E A D E R ’S G U I D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
MANILA, PHILIPPINES ............................................................. 1
M E X I C O C I T Y, M E X I C O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
M I A M I , F L O R I D A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
M I N N E A P O L I S , M I N N E S O T A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
M O N R O V I A , L I B E R I A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
M O N T R É A L , Q U É B E C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
M U M B A I ( B O M B A Y ) , I N D I A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
N A I R O B I , K E N Y A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
N A S H V I L L E , TE N N E S S E E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
N E W O R L E A N S , L O U I S I A N A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
N E W YO R K , N E W YO R K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
P A R I S , F R A N C E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
G L O S S A R Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
vii

Africa
Mexico
Cairo, Egypt .............................[1]115
Rome, Italy ..................................[4]63
South America
North America
Canada Lima, Peru ................................[2]155
viii
Washington.
ix
READER’S GUIDE
ways. entries.

READER’S GUIDE

are also described.
summarized.

READER’S GUIDE



Manila
Manila, Luzon, the Philippines, Asia
Founded: 1571; Combined into metropolitan Manila: 1975

Location: Eastern shore of Manila Bay in Southwestern Luzon, the Philippines,
Southeast Asia
Time Zone: 8 PM in Manila = noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Ethnic Composition: Mostly Tagalog group, with approximately 6% Chinese
Elevation: 51 feet
Latitude and Longitude: 14º50'N, 121ºE
Coastline: Manila sits in the coastal lowlands of Manila Bay, and is divided into
southern and northern districts by the Pasig River.
Climate: warm and humid most of the year. Rainy season is May through November.
Annual Mean Temperature: 25ºC (77ºF); May average daily high 35ºC (95ºF)
Average Annual Precipitation: 81.3 inches (208.5 cm), falling mostly between
May and November
Government: Mayor, Vice-Mayor, 36 elected Councilors
Weights and Measures: Metric System
Monetary Units: Philippine Peso (P) = 100 centavos
Telephone Area Codes: 02 (city code for Manila); 63 (country code for the
Philippines)
Postal Codes: Rarely used in the Philippines
1 Introduction many of the country’s largest and most

prestigious universities and is also
Manila, also known as the Pearl of home to the National Library. It was the
the Orient, is located in Southern central location of the nation’s battles
Luzon, the largest of the more than for independence, first from Spain and
7,000 islands that make up the nation
later from the United States. Colonized
known as the Philippines. The city
by the Spanish and later governed by
flanks Manila Bay, and is divided into
northern and southern sections by the the Americans, Manila shows the signs
Pasig River. Manila serves not only as of foreign influence in the widespread
the country’s capitol, but also as its Roman Catholicism and the modeling
financial, publishing, and business cen- of its schools upon the American educa-
ter. The citizens of the city speak Taga- tional system. Despite these influences,
log, but most are also fluent in English, Manila and its citizens demonstrate a
which is the language of instruction in character and vitality uniquely their
the public schools. Manila contains own.
1
Manila
Highway, and the ESDA-North Diver-

Manila sion link.
Population Profile
City Proper
Area: 38.3 sq km (14.94 sq mi) Good public transportation is avail-
Ethnic composition: 94% Christian Malay; 6% able in Manila. Several major bus com-
Chinese
Nicknames: The Pearl of the Orient
panies provide transportation into the
city from the outlying areas; bus termi-
Metropolitan Area nals are located throughout the Metro
Population: 7,832,000 area. Those closest to downtown
Description: Includes Manila, plus seven other
cities and nine towns Manila are at Plaza Lawton (also known
Area: 636 sq km (248.04 sq mi) as Liwasang Bonifacio) and in Pasay
World population rank1: approx. 25 City, on the ESDA near Taft Avenue.
Average yearly growth rate: 3.1% There are train depots in Paco and
Nicknames: Metro Manila Makati districts, and commuter trains
——— running north-south during rush
1. The Manila metropolitan area’s rank among the hours.
2. The percent of the Philippines’s total population
living in the Manila metropolitan area. Airports
Manila is the main entry point into

the Philippines for international travel-
2 Getting There ers. International flights and many
domestic flights land at Ninoy Aquino
Metropolitan Manila is located in International Airport in Paranaque,
the southern region of Luzon, the larg- which is on the southern edge of Met-
est island in the Philippines, an archi- ropolitan Manila. Manila Domestic Air-
pelago nation comprised of more than
port also services domestic flights
7,000 islands in the southwest Pacific
within the Philippines. Limousine ser-
Ocean between the equator and the
vices, public buses, taxis, hotel shuttles,
Tropic of Cancer. Manila sits in the
coastal lowlands of Manila Bay and is and car rental firms service both air-
divided into southern and northern dis- ports. Carriers with service to Ninoy
tricts by the Pasig River. Aquino International Airport include
Northwest, China Airlines, Cathay
Pacific, Japan Airlines, Korean Air,
Highways
Malaysian Airlines, Singapore Airlines,
The major routes into Manila are Thai Airways, and PAL (Philippine Air
Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (ESDA), Lines), the national carrier of the Phil-
the South Super Highway, the C-5 ippines.

Manila

Manila
Shipping Sightseeing
Although Manila is a major Asian Hotels and travel agencies in

seaport, international travel to Manila Manila offer sightseeing trips by bus. A
by boat is very difficult to arrange. Reg- refitted tanker called the Tennessee
ular passenger boat service exists Walker provides nightly dinner cruises
between Manila and other Philippine of Manila Bay. The Department of Tour-
ports. ism can provide English, Spanish, Japa-
nese-speaking guides, as well as guides
in other languages.
3 Getting Around
A wide range of public transporta- 4 People
tion crosses the metro area every day. In 1990, the population of the city
The most uniquely Philippine mode of of Manila was 1,876,194, while the pop-
travel is the jeepney. Each of these jeep- ulation of the area known as Metro
minivan hybrids is uniquely painted Manila was 7,832,000. Approximately
and decorated by its owner. Jeepneys 94 percent of Manila's population is of
provide cheap transportation (fares Malay-Indonesian descent, often
average P5 to P10) for the short haul, infused with Spanish, Chinese, Ameri-
while buses might be more comfortable can, and European blood. Of the
for longer trips across town. Motorcy- remainder of the population, between
cles and bicycles with sidecars (called five and six percent are Chinese; this
“tricycles” and “pedicabs,” respectively) portion of the population includes
carry passengers on narrow city streets many of Manila’s wealthiest families
and alleyways for a charge of a few and businessmen. Because interracial
pesos. Taxicabs are used in the business marriage is common in the Philippines,
districts, while in other neighborhoods, many Manila residents can be described
including Chinatown and Intramuros, as Mestizos, the product of marriage
horse-drawn carriages carry both goods between Filipinos and Caucasians or
and passengers. Chinese and non-Chinese.
Bus and Commuter Rail Service Tagalog is the main language of

Manila. Part of the Malay-Polynesian
The Light Rail Transit provides safe, group of languages, it contains words
fast transportation on an elevated rail- borrowed from many sources including
way. It has a limited number of stops, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Sanskrit.
running from Caloocan City south to Because more than 70 dialects are spo-
Baclaran in Pasay City. Currently most ken in the Philippines, the country has
stops are in Manila, but more stations been working toward developing a true
are under construction. The Light Rail national language. The language, called
runs between 4 AM and 9 PM at a fare of Filipino, is based most heavily on Taga-
P5. log. A small percentage of the popula-

Manila

Manila Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Philippines) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
People’s Bagong Akhbar El Yom/
Taliba Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
tion—mainly the upper class—claims Rizal Park is at the city’s physical

Spanish as its mother tongue. English is center. To the north of the park is Intra-
widely spoken and is generally the lan- muros, an old, walled city built by the
guage of business and politics. English Spanish. Although Intramuros was
is also the language of instruction in heavily damaged during World War II
the public schools, although a move to (1939–45), it is being restored and is an
replace English with Filipino in the area of great cultural and historical
schools was backed by the Ramos gov- interest. To the south of Rizal Park are
ernment (1992–98). Ermita and Malate, areas that previ-
ously housed Manila’s middle and
5 Neighborhoods upper classes, but that now form the
tourist belt. These areas are home to
Metro Manila is a conglomeration many hotels and restaurants, as well as
of 17 municipalities, with neighbor- to Manila’s vibrant nightlife.
hoods ranging from the historic sights
of Intramuros to sophisticated business Manila’s business center is Makati,
centers in Makati to the squatter shan- a modern showplace of shopping cen-
tytowns of Tondo. ters and skyscrapers. Residential dis-

Manila
Manila, nicknamed the Pearl of the Orient, rests on the Manila Bay. (Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp)
tricts, home to wealthy Filipinos and ing small shops. It is located partly in
foreign residents, surround the business Santa Cruz and partly in Binondo.
hub. Forbes Park is Makati’s most exclu-
sive address, housing millionaires Each of the other towns that make
behind locked gates and under the pro- up Metro Manila has its own character.
tection of private security forces. Many A government center and home to the
embassies, consulates, polo clubs, and main campus of the University of the
golf clubs also claim Makati addresses. Philippines, Quezon City also contains
In contrast to Makati is Tondo, a slum many elegant residential neighbor-
area near the Tayuman train station, hoods. Cubao is Quezon City’s com-
where an estimated 180,000 of Manila's mercial center, and houses the Araneta
citizens live in subsistence conditions. Coliseum, the site of sporting events.
Manila’s Chinatown is a long- Paranaque and Las Pinas are both

established, lively area of restaurants, old salt-making towns, each known for
mah jong clubs, teahouses, and intrigu- their distinctive churches. The Las Pinas

Manila
Church houses a world-famous organ 1762 (during the Seven Years’ War)
made of bamboo. At Paranaque’s when the British occupied the city.
Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, When the Seven Years’ War ended,
the novenas held each Wednesday Manila was once again under the rule of
attract large crowds and turn the neigh- Spain as a condition of the 1763 Treaty
borhood into an informal marketplace of Paris. The Spanish brought Roman
of merchandise and food vendors. Mal- Catholicism to Manila, founding many
abon’s fame also stems from religious churches, convents, and schools. This
roots, for each year on Good Friday, this influence remains to this day, as the
fishing village is transformed by Philippines is the only Asian country in
parades of masked devotees whipping which Christianity is the predominant
themselves over the shoulders as a dem- faith.
onstration of their religious ardor.
The citizens of Manila chafed
6 History under the yoke of Spanish domination.
The seeds of revolution germinated in
The city of Manila was established 1886 with the publication of Dr. Jose
in 1571 when the Spanish conquistador Rizal’s book Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived and Not), a novel critical of the way the
made it the capitol of the colony Spanish friars were governing the Phil-
“Felipinas.” At the time of Legaspi’s ippines. The Spanish condemned Noli
arrival, Manila was a walled Moslem Me Tangere, and Rizal was exiled to
settlement ruled by the Rajah Sulay- Hong Kong. In 1892 he returned to
man, who collected duties from the Manila to found La Liga Filipina, a
traders from neighboring island coun- nationalistic organization. Later that
tries who wanted to travel up the Pasig year in the Tondo section of Manila,
River. Sulayman resisted the intrusion
Andres Bonifacio founded the
of the Spanish and fled across the river
Katipunan, a secret organization
to the area known today as Tondo.
devoted to attaining Filipino freedom
When Sulayman’s men met Legaspi's
from Spain. The Spanish discovered the
forces at the Battle of Bangkusay Chan-
Katipunan in August of 1896 and ban-
nel on June 3, 1571, they faced the
ished hundreds of Filipinos. Many oth-
muskets and cannons of the Spanish
with only spears and arrows. The Mos- ers were killed. Within ten days, the
lems were defeated, and Sulayman him- Katipunan Revolt began, with an open
self lost his life during the battle. declaration of war against Spain. Jose
Rizal became a martyr of the revolution
Although the Chinese invaded when the Spanish executed him by fir-
Manila in 1574 and the Dutch in the ing squad on December 30, 1896, in
mid-seventeenth century, the Spanish Bagumbayan, Taguig (now part of
retained control of Manila for 327 Metro Manila), for his alleged role in
years, except for a brief interlude in the Katipunan Revolt.

Manila
With the unmasking of the independence after a ten-year transi-

Katipunan, Andres Bonifacio called the tion, a period that was extended by one
Tejeros Convention, at which the revo- year due to World War II. On January 2,
lutionary Tejeros government was 1942, the Japanese landed in Manila,
formed, with General Emilio Agu- where they remained for three years
inaldo at its head. The Tejeros govern- until they were forced out of their Intra-
ment was unsuccessful in its fight for muros stronghold in February 1945.
freedom from Spain, and as part of the Manila was severely damaged by the
Pact of Biak-na-Bato peace treaty, Gen- bombings of World War II. Of national
eral Aguinaldo accepted exile in Hong capitols, only Warsaw, Poland, suffered
Kong. greater destruction. On July 4, 1946, the
Philippine flag was raised for the first
Despite the failure of the Tejeros time in Rizal Park in Manila, and the
revolution, Spanish rule of the Philip- nation celebrated its first day of inde-
pines was soon to come to an end. The pendence.
Spanish-American War battlefield
spread to Manila in 1898, where U.S. Manila played a key role in the
Commodore George Dewey defeated upsetting of dictatorial President Ferdi-
the Spanish fleet in the Battle of Manila nand Marcos. On August 21, 1983,
Bay. With the Americans came General exiled former senator Benigno Aquino
Aguinaldo, arriving on the U.S. warship was assassinated at Manila Airport
USS McCullock, ready to resume his rev- immediately upon his return to his
olutionary activities against Spain. On homeland. This assassination shocked
June 12, 1898, in Manila, General Agu- the city and the nation and united
inaldo declared the Philippines inde- opposition groups to fight for the end
pendent from Spain; however, his to his rule.
declaration was not recognized interna-
tionally. The United States paid Spain 7 Government
20 million dollars for their former col-
ony, and Filipinos once again found The government of the city of
themselves under foreign rule. Manila is under an umbrella govern-
ment called the Metropolitan Manila
War broke out between the Filipi- Authority. The Authority governs all
nos and the Americans on February 4, the towns and cities that make up Met-
1899, when an American soldier shot ropolitan Manila. The city government
and killed a Filipino in Manila. The consists of an elected mayor and vice-
Philippine-American War continued mayor, along with 36 elected council-
through 1903 at the cost of many lives ors.
both in Manila and elsewhere through-
out the islands. 8 Public Safety
In 1935, the U.S. government com- The Metro Manila police force is
mitted itself to granting the Philippines under the administration of the Philip-

Manila
The Manila Bay is one of the most protected natural resources in the Philippines. (Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp)
pines National Police (PNP) and is excellent protected harbor, Manila

divided into five geographic districts. In serves as the nation’s principal port. In
1997, the PNP instituted a special task addition, it is the financial and publish-
force called “Task Force Tanglow” in ing center for the Philippines. The
Manila and throughout the entire widespread use of English gives the city
country, focusing on the problems of an advantage in international trade not
violence and abuse directed at women shared by many Asian cities. Manila
and children. shares the problems of many large cit-
ies, however. It is overpopulated, and
9 Economy municipal agencies struggle to keep up
with the demand for services.
Manila’s economy is multi-faceted.
Diverse products, such as chemicals, 10 Environment
textiles, rope, coconut oil, and shoes,
are manufactured within the metropoli- One of Manila’s greatest natural
tan area. Food and tobacco processing resources is the protected harbor upon
also employ many residents. With its which it sits, the finest in all of Asia.

Manila
handicrafts, such as carvings, lamps

made of shells, and canework, would do
well to try the shops at the Nayong Pili-
pino or to visit the famous outdoor
market in Quiapo called Ilalim ng
Tulay. (The name means “under the
bridge,” for the market is located under
the Quezon Bridge.) Other outdoor
markets are found throughout the
Metro Manila area. Notable ones
include the Quinta Market in Quiapo,
not far from Ilalim ng Tulay; Cartimar
Market in Pasay, known as a place to
buy pets; and the Baclaran Flea Market,
located near the Baclaran Church in
Baclaran, Manila. The Baclaran Market
sells food, flowers, and household
items, and is especially lively after mass
on Wednesdays. Bargaining is accept-
able and even expected at most outdoor
markets.
Makati, the commercial hub of

Metro Manila and the nation, boasts
Shoppers can choose between traditional open-air department stores, designer boutiques,
markets, or air-conditioned shopping malls with and art galleries. Major shopping areas
department stores, art galleries, and food courts. include the Makati Commercial Center,
(Catherine Karnow; Woodfin Camp) the Atrium of Makati, Makati Cinema
Square, and the Greenbelt Square. The
The sea provides fish, shells, and salt.
Cubao area of Quezon City also con-
Although Manila is now overwhelm-
tains major shopping districts, includ-
ingly urban, outlying areas still provide
ing Araneta Center, which has nearly
coconuts, hemp for rope making, and
two thousand stores.
rice. Another source of Manila’s wealth
is its people, with their high literacy
rate and facility with languages. 12 Education
The Philippine educational system
11 Shopping is made up of six years of elementary
Manila offers a variety of shopping school, four years of secondary school
experiences, from colorful open-air (high school), and higher education
markets to air-conditioned shopping (college or university). Children are
malls. Shoppers seeking Philippine required to attend the first four years of

Manila
School children play during recess at Assumption College, an exclusive girl’s school.
elementary school. Approximately 88 the training hospital for the UPM col-
percent of those over 15 years of age are leges. Founded in 1611, the University
literate. of Santo Tomas is Asia’s oldest univer-
sity. Originally located within the
Several universities are based in walled city of Intramuros and intended
Metro Manila. The Ateneo de Manila
for the education of priests, it has
University in Quezon City offers ele-
moved to larger quarters in Sampaloc,
mentary, secondary and undergraduate
education, as well as graduate schools and now offers a wide range of courses,
of arts and science, law, and business. including music, architecture, engineer-
The University of the Philippines ing, business administration, and edu-
Manila (UPM) contains colleges of med- cation. Other institutes of higher
icine, nursing, public health, pharmacy, education in Metro Manila include the
and dentistry, and supports institutes of University of the Philippines (in Que-
ophthalmology and socio-biomedical zon City), De LaSalle University, the
research. Philippine General Hospital is University of the East (UE Manila),

Manila
Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT), critical and irreverent viewpoints.

and Asia Pacific College. American magazines, such as Time and
Newsweek, are widely available.
13 Health Care Seven commercial television sta-
Philippine General Hospital is the tions operate out of Manila, broadcast-
training hospital for the health colleges ing some shows in English, some in
of the University of the Philippines Tagalog. Satellite and cable TV are avail-
Manila. A large facility, it serves approx- able to a limited extent. More than a
imately 700,000 patients per year. The dozen commercial radio stations broad-
Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City cast from the Metro Manila area,
offers seminars and postgraduate including DWNU, “The Only Station
courses to health care professionals. that Rocks the Nation,” and DWFM,
Nearly a million patients have been whose slogan is “Most Requested
treated at the Heart Center since it Song.”
opened its doors in 1975. The Center is Movie-going is very popular in
also active in community outreach and Manila. Modern movie theaters
education. Other health care facilities throughout the Metro Manila area
in the Metro Manila area include the show both Philippine and foreign mov-
University of Santo Tomas Hospital, the ies.
Makati Medical Center, and St. Luke’s
Medical Center in Quezon City.
15 Sports
14 Media The most popular spectator sport
in Manila is basketball. Manila has its
For 20 years under the Marcos own professional team in the Philip-
regime, official government censorship pines Metropolitan Basketball League
limited what the newspapers in Manila (MBA), the Manila Metrostars. Games
could print, and only four daily papers for this league, as well as for the Philip-
served the population. Now, with the pine Basketball Association (PBA), take
absence of censorship, daily newspapers place at the Rizal Memorial Stadium
have flourished in the capital city, with and the Araneta Coliseum.
more than 20 daily papers available. A
variety of viewpoints are represented in Other popular spectator sports
the daily papers, which include the include jai-alai, horse racing, and cock-
Manila Bulletin, Inquirer, Malaya, and fighting. Jai-alai games take place seven
the Manila Chronicle. Most publish in days a week at Jai-alai de Manila sta-
English, although papers are also avail- dium in Malate. Horse races are held
able in Tagalog and, to a lesser extent, Wednesday nights and Saturday and
in Chinese. A few weekly magazines are Sunday afternoons at race tracks in
published in Manila, including Free Santa Ana and Santa Cruz. Cockfights
Press, which is known for expressing take place in various locations, mostly

Manila
on Sundays and holidays. The most Taoist traditions and the grandiose
well-known cockpits are the Philippine nature of some of the tombs. Some
Cockers Club in Santa Ana, La Lorna in monuments include mailboxes, refrig-
Quezon City, and Libertad in Pasay erators, and even air-conditioning. Tour
City. guides are available.
Golfing is available at 11 greens

16 Parks and throughout the Metro Manila area.
Recreation
Rizal Park, also known locally as 17 Performing Arts
Luneta Park, is a popular strolling
ground at the center of Manila. With Music of many types can be found
flowers, fountains, and lush lawns, it is in Manila. The Cultural Centre in
usually filled with thousands of people Manila hosts performances by interna-
in the late afternoons and evenings. It tional orchestras and artists as well as
contains a memorial to Dr. Jose Rizal, by the Philippine Philharmonic Orches-
the national hero who was executed tra and the Philippine Madrigal Singers.
nearby by the Spanish in 1896. A Free outdoor musical performances are
changing of the guard ceremony takes held weekly in Paco Park on Fridays, at
place regularly, as well as twice daily Puerta Real at the Intramuros Wall on
light shows near a set of statues reenact- Saturdays, and at Rizal Park on Sunday
ing the execution. The 6:30 PM show is afternoons. Jazz is performed regularly
in Tagalog while the 7:30 PM show is in in several of the larger hotels’ lounges.
English. The park also contains play- Numerous bistros and cafes provide a
grounds, a roller-skating rink, an open- stage for local singers or the chance for
air auditorium, and gardens in tradi- a karaoke experience.
tional, Japanese, and Chinese styles.
Folk dancing demonstrations are
Other parks in the Metro area held Sunday afternoons in the Mind-
include Fort Santiago Park in Manila, anao section of Nayong Pilipino in
and Quezon Memorial Circle and the Pasay City. Several restaurants in the
Ninoy Aquino Park and Wildlife Center, Metro area feature Philippine folk danc-
both in Quezon City. The Manila Zoo- ing as their dinner entertainment.
logical Garden is in Malate. While it
contains interesting specimens of the A variety of live theater experience
Philippine eagle and the dwarf buffalo, is available in Manila. The Rajah Sulay-
the facility is known to be crowded and man Theater, located in Intramuros,
many of the animals neglected. provides open-air performances. Other
theaters are located in Malate at the
The Chinese Cemetery in the area Cultural Center of the Philippines, as
of Santa Cruz known as Monumento is well as at the Folk Arts Theater and at
a fascinating place because of the the William Shaw Theater in Mandaluy-
blending of Catholic, Buddhist, and ong.

Manila
18 Libraries and once housed examples of the Marcos’s

Museums notorious extravagance but now con-
tains mostly photographs of former
Metro Manila offers visitors the presidents.
opportunity to explore the cultural
wealth of the Philippines through art The Nayong Pilipino (“Philippine
museums, historical museums, and cul- Village”) is a large complex providing a
tural and scientific displays. Three art miniaturized version of the entire coun-
museums can be found in Malate: the try, with representative native homes
Cultural Center Museum, the Metropol- and regional landscapes. It also con-
itan Museum of Manila, and the Museo tains several specialized museums,
ng Sining, which is the largest museum including the Museum of Philippine
of contemporary art in the Philippines. Dolls and the Nayong Pilipino Aquar-
The San Augustin Museum in Intra- ium. The Philippine Museum of Ethnol-
muros contains oil paintings, frescoes, ogy, also part of the Nayong Pilipino,
and vestments. contains information on the country’s
cultural minorities, with examples of
The National Museum, located in tools, musical instruments, weapons,
Rizal Park, contains prehistoric artifacts, and utensils.
as well as pottery, weapons, and cos-
tumes. Seven native boats, dating from The Museo Pambata in Ermita is a
between 890 and 710 B.C., are also fea- children’s museum that encourages
tured. The Ayala Museum in Malate hands-on exploration of a rainforest, a
presents a chronological display of Phil- streetcar, and an old-fashioned fire
ippine history in over 60 dioramas. The engine. The Museum of Arts and Sci-
Lopez Museum in Pasig has a collection ences at the University of Santo Tomas
of over 13,000 Filipino books, some dat- has a variety of exhibits, as well as an
ing back as far as 1524. Its large collec- extensive library.
tion of historical travel literature
includes the first printed account of The National Library in Manila has
Magellan’s journey to the Philippines. an extensive collection of approxi-
mately 1.3 million books. Other librar-
The Rizal Shrine, which honors ies may be found in the area colleges
national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, is located at and universities and at the Interna-
Fort Santiago in Intramuros. It displays tional Rice Research Institute.
some of his personal belongings, as well
as the cell in which he was imprisoned. 19 To u r i s m
Casa Manila Museum, also located in
Intramuros, is a reproduction of a typi- In recent years, many luxury hotels
cal Spanish residence. Another histori- have been built in Manila to handle the
cal residence on display is the former increasing tide of business travel and
Malacanang Palace, now known as the the tourists who are drawn by the tropi-
Museo ng Malacanang. This museum cal climate, diving opportunities, and

Manila
hospitable people. Budget-priced hos-

tels are available as well. Nearly all of
the 1.5 million tourists who visit the
Philippines each year enter through
Manila and spend at least some of their
holiday in the capital city. Many also
use Manila as a base from which to
explore other nearby attractions, such
as the beaches of Bantangas and the hot
springs of Los Banos.
20 Holidays and
Festivals
JANUARY The most unique and inexpensive way to take a
Black Nazarene Procession short trip around town is to ride in a Jeepney. Each
Feast of the Santo Nino (Holy Infant) one is exclusive in its decoration.
Chinese Lunar New Year, Chinatown (depending (George Hall; Woodfin Camp)
on lunar calendar, occurs between mid-January
and mid-February)
FEBRUARY DECEMBER
Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Quezon City Feast of Our Lady of the Immaculate Concep-
People Power Days, celebrating the peaceful end tion, night boat procession
of the Marcos era, Quezon City Simbang Gabi, night masses held just before
MARCH-APRIL dawn throughout the Christmas season
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
21 Famous Citizens
MAY
Labor Day, parade in Rizal Park Lorenzo Ruiz (c. 1600–37), calligrapher,
Flores de Mayo-Santacruzan, processions in executed in Japan for refusing to
honor of the Virgin Mary
renounce Christianity, canonized
JUNE in 1987, becoming first Filipino
Manila Day, anniversary of Manila’s being saint.
declared a city in 1571, parade and film festival
JULY Mariano Gomes (1799–1872), secular
Filipino-American Friendship Day, evening con- priest and martyr, founder of news-
cert in Rizal Park paper La Verdad, which reported
Paternos River Fiesta
Spanish abuses.
OCTOBER
La Naval de Manila, evening candle-lit proces- Jose Maria Basa (1839–1907), reformer
sion commemorating the 1646 sea victory over and patriot.
Dutch plunderers, Quezon City
NOVEMBER Numeriano Adriano (1846–97), reform-
All Saints Day er and patriot, leading member of

Manila
La Liga Filipina, executed by the Tourist and Convention Bureaus

Spanish for treason. Department of Tourism Office, Manila
TM Kalaw Street
Trinidad Pardo de Taverna (1857–1925), Ermita, Luzon
The Philippines
director of National Library and (02) 523-8411
Museum, co-founder of the Federal
Party, which advocated statehood Publications
in the Philippines. Abante
268 Atlanta
Orencio Lerma (1861–97), musician Manila
and martyr, executed by the Span- Ang Pahayagang Malaya (Freedom Newspaper)
ish. 202 Railroad and 13th Street
Port Area
Andres Bonifacio (1863–97), co-founder Manila
of the Katipunan, led revolution Ang Pilipino Ngayon
against Spain in 1896. (Philippines Today; in Filipino)
202 Railroad and 13th Street
Teodoro Plata (1866–96), co-founder of Port Area
Manila
the Katipunan, executed by the
Spanish. China Town News (in Chinese)
652 St. Tomas Street
General Antonio Luna (1866–99), called Intramuros
Manila
“the greatest soldier of the revolu-
tion,” founded and edited La Inde- Financial Times of Manila
pendencia, the newspaper of the Times Journal Building
Railroad and 19th Street
revolution. Manila
Malaya (Freedom)
22 For Further Study C. C. Castro Building
Tomog Avenue
Manila
Websites
Manila Bulletin. [Online] Available http:// Manila Bulletin
www.mb.com.ph (accessed January 21, Corner of Muralla and Recoletos
2000). P. O. Box 769
Manila Times. [Online] Available http:// Intramuros
www.manilatimes.net (accessed January 21,
Manila Chronicle
2000).
371 Bonifacio Drive
Port Area
Government Offices Manila
Mayor’s Office
Manila Standard
(02) 527-4991 Elizalde Building, 4th Floor
Ayalda Avenue
City Press Office
Manila
(02) 527-0909
Manila Times
Director, Public Recreation Bureau 30 Pioneer Street
(02) 524-8157 Mandaluyong

Manila
People's Bagong Taliba Trade: the Journal of Nathaniel Bowditch in

Times Journal Building Manila, 1796. New Haven: Yale University
Railroad and 19th Street Southeast Asia Studies, 1987.
Port Area Brittan, Dolly. The People of the Philippines. New
Manila York: Powerkids Press, 1998.
People's Journal Caoili, Manuel A. The Origins of Metropolitan
Times Journal Building Manila: A Political and Social Analysis. Dili-
Railroad and 19th Street man, Quezon City: University of the Philip-
Port Area pines Press, 1999.
Manila Connaughton, R.M., John Pimlott, and Duncan
Anderson. The Battle for Manila. Norvato,
Philippine Daily Inquirer CA: Presidio Press, 1995.
YIC Building, No. 1006 Davis, Lucille. The Philippines (Countries of the
Romualdez Street World). Mankato, MN: Bridgestone Books,
UN Avenue 1999.
Manila Kinkade, Sheila, and Elaine Little (photog). Chil-
Philippine Star dren of the Philippines (World's Children). Min-
202 Railroad and 13th Street neapolis: Carolrhoda Books, 1996.
Port Area Mansfield, Stephen. Guide to Philippines. UK:
Manila Bradt Publications, 1997.
Michel, John J.A. Mr. Michel's War: From Manila
Philippines Times Journal to Mukden: An American Navy Officer's War
Times Journal Building with the Japanese, 1941– 1945. Norvato, CA,
Railroad and 19th Street 1998.
Port Area
Moser, Caroline and Cathy McIlwaine. Household
Manila
Responses to Poverty and Vulnerability. Wash-
United Daily News (in English and Chinese) ington, D.C.: World Bank, 1997.
812 Benavides Street Peters, Jens. Lonely Planet Philippines (6th Ed.).
Binondo Hawthorne, Victoria, Australia: Lonely
Planet Publications, 1997.
Books Rizal, Jose, Raul L. Locsin, ed. and Ma Soledad
Allen, Francis J. Concrete Battleship: Fort Drum, El Locson-Locsin, transl. Noli Me Tangere.
Fraile Island, Manila Bay. Missoula, MT: Pic- Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1997.
torial Histories Publishing Company, 1989. Roth, Marissa, Jessica Hagedorn, and Hagedorn
Berner, Erhard. Defending a Place in the City: Roth. Burning Heart: A Portrait of the Philip-
Localities and the Struggle for Urban Land in pines. New York: Rizzoli International Publi-
Metro Manila. Manila: Ateneo de Manila cations, 1999.
University Press, 1998. Schemenauer, Elma. The Philippines. Charhassen,
Bowditch, Nathaniel. Early American-Philippine MN: Childs World, 1999.

Mexico City
Mexico City, Mexico, North America

Location: North America, Mexico, in a basin known as the Valley of Mexico, built on
the dried bed of Lake Texcoco. Mountains surround the city, with the 17,877-
foot active Popocatépetl Volcano (the smoking mountain) nearby.
Elevation: 7,340 ft (2,237 m)
Climate: Because of its altitude, Mexico City's weather is cool, with small seasonal
changes. While snow is rare, night frosts are common during the colder months
of December and January.
Annual Median Temperature: 18ºC (64ºF). During the colder months,
temperatures average 12.4ºC (54.3ºF). During the rainy season (May through
September) remperatures average 17.3ºC (63.1ºF)
Average Annual Precipitation: 180 cm (70.5 in) per year.
Monetary Units: The peso; 9.4 pesos = $ 1 (January 2000)
Telephone Area Codes: Country code: (52); Mexico City: (5)
1 Introduction residents—express contempt or hatred

for their city.
On a cold winter day, when the
wind doesn’t blow, Mexico City lies They cherish those rare clear days,
shrouded by a thick, brown cover. when the winds have scrubbed the skies
Caught within the tall mountains that clean and turned them deep blue. In
surround the mile-high city, the smog the distance the active Popocatepétl
permeates everything. The eyes sting, Volcano rumbles and spits fire, while its
and clothes smell like gasoline. The eternal companion, the dormant Iztac-
clearing of throats soon turns to hack- cíhuatl, stands silently by. Sitting in a
ing, and the lines at the hospitals grow small plaza adjacent to cobblestone
long. At its worst, Mexico City seems to streets and hundred-year-old trees in
take the very life out of its citizens. But one of the city's colonial neighbor-
while they complain about the smog, hoods, it is easy to forget that more
the traffic, even about its politics and than 20 million people live within the
the price of fruit, it is rare to hear Chi- radius of a few miles. Twenty million
langos—the name given to Mexico City people. Visitors shudder at the thought
19
Mexico City
remains of an Aztec temple peek over a

Mexico City protective wall. Two worlds came to a
Population Profile cataclysmic clash, and yet created
something new: Mexico City.
City Proper
2 Getting There
Nicknames: Mexico, "El D.F." (The Federal District);
informally, the residents of Mexico City are Highways
called chilangos.
Five main national highways con-
Metropolitan Area nect Mexico City to the rest of the
Population: 18,131,000 nation. By March 1999, nearly 240,000
Description: Mexico City and 27 neighboring
municipalities (second largest metropolitan vehicles per day used the highways to
area in the world) enter and leave the city.
Area: More than 2,330 sq km (900 sq mi)
Percentage of national population2: 18.3% Bus and Railroad Service
More than 24,000 passenger buses
——— arrive in the Federal District each week,
1. The Mexico City metropolitan area’s rank
among the world’s urban areas. bringing passengers from throughout
2. The percent of Mexico’s total population living the country. Overland travelers from
in the Mexico City metropolitan area. the United States can take their own
vehicles or travel by bus or train to
Mexico City.
of getting lost among the millions, for Airports

Mexico City has been called cruel, unre-
Most international visitors to Mex-
lenting, inhuman. Twenty million peo-
ico City arrive at the Benito Juárez
ple, and at times, just as many cars—or
International Airport, located on the
so it seems. It is a city where citizens
eastern border of the city. The airport is
trust the robbers more than police offic-
used by nearly 19 million travelers each
ers. How could anybody willingly want
year.
to live there? It has all been said; even
Chilangos have said it. And yet it has
also been said that this is a cosmopoli- 3 Getting Around
tan, deeply sophisticated, and marvel-
ous city, with a history that stretches
for many centuries. Anyone who stands With more than 3 million regis-
in the city’s Zocalo, the main square, tered vehicles, Mexico City is difficult
will see the mighty cathedral slowly to navigate. Major roads are nearly
sinking into the soft silt of a former always congested by every possible
lake. Next to the cathedral, almost as if mode of transport. Most common are
rising from that very soil, the excavated taxis, VW “bugs” painted green or yel-

Mexico City

Mexico City
low, and small buses known as “peseros” 5 Neighborhoods

because they originally charged one
Mexican peso for a ride. Buses that burn Similar to other major metropoli-
cleaner fuels are replacing the highly tan areas in developing nations, Mexico
polluting peseros. The city also is adding City’s neighborhoods range from those
more electric buses to its fleet. in extreme poverty, where residents live
in dilapidated homes without water
The efficient underground metro and electricity, to posh neighborhoods
system, which opened in 1969, carried that rival Beverly Hills, California, in
about four-and-a-half million passen- their wealth. It is still possible, in this
gers per day in 1999. By 2010, the megalopolis of millions, to find a quiet
metro system is expected to grow to 15 corner in some small tree-lined plaza
lines, stretch over 315 kilometers (196 where the noises and smells of millions
miles), and carry more than 12 million of cars seem to vanish.
passengers per day. Mexico City opened
a new underground metro line in The heart of the city, built over the
remnants of the Aztec city of Tenochti-
November 1999. When fully com-
tlán, is known today as “El Centro”
pleted, Line B will stretch for nearly 24
kilometers (15 miles), from the heart of (downtown) or Mexico Viejo (Old Mex-
ico). It is a large area of about four
the city to the fast growing northeast
square kilometers (two-and-a-half
suburbs. More than 600,000 passengers
per day were estimated to board along square miles) dotted by dozens of muse-
ums and plazas and thousands of shops
the line’s 21 stations in 2000.
and restaurants. Its sidewalks are often
In January 2000, the government crowded by thousands of street mer-
set the fare for the metro and buses at chants selling toys, piñatas, leather
1.50 pesos (about 25 cents). Senior citi- belts, and cure-all medicinal herbs. Des-
zens and the indigent travel for free. ignated as a historic treasure, Mexico
City has embarked on a revitalization
program spearheaded by the govern-
4 People ment that is expected to take many
years to complete.
About one-fifth of Mexico’s people
live in the metropolitan area. Most of The downtown area is defined by
its inhabitants are people of mixed its Zocalo, a massive open central plaza
European and Indian descent (mestizos) that is surrounded by the imposing
and Mexicans of European descent (cri- Cathedral of Mexico, the National Pal-
ollos). But steady immigration from ace, the official seat of the presidency,
rural areas has brought more indige- and many fine colonial buildings,
nous people to the city. Most Mexicans including City Hall. Next to the cathe-
are Roman Catholic, but other religions dral are the excavated ruins of Templo
have shown significant growth in Mayor, one of the most important cere-
recent years. monial buildings of the Aztec era. It was

Mexico City

Mexico City Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Mexico) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Esto La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
first uncovered in 1978, and archaeolo- visitors. As the city grew, its wealthy cit-
gists continue to make new discoveries izens continued to move west, building
in the area. The city plans to plant trees homes in the residential neighborhoods
in the vast and empty Zocalo to make it of Polanco, Lomas de Chapultepec, and
friendlier to visitors and to help combat Bosques de las Lomas.
air pollution.
The city stretched south as well,
During colonial times, Spaniards swallowing small surrounding towns
built fine mansions in Mexico Viejo. and incorporating them into the city.
Today, most of these have been turned Two of them are Coyoacan and San
into businesses or torn down to make Angel, where many neighborhoods are
way for newer buildings. Others lan- defined by their small plazas, cobble-
guish in disrepair. Near downtown is La stone streets lined by massive old trees,
Zona Rosa (the Pink Zone), a neighbor- and colonial mansions, many hidden
hood crowded with expensive restau- by high walls and colorful gardens. On
rants and shops. The neighborhood is weekends, thousands of Chilangos
not as vibrant as it once was but descend on Coyoacan and San Angel to
remains popular among international shop in the small boutiques and at

Mexico City
Mexico City’s skyline is lined with historical landmarks. (Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp)
street fairs. They sit at the coffee shops which maintain many ties to its pre-
and eat at the fine restaurants or buy Columbian past. With more than 304
paintings and sculptures from artists kilometers (189 miles) of canals lined
who display their work in the plazas. by cypress trees, seven major lagoons,
Here, visitors find a little of the old, and floating gardens, flower markets,
provincial Mexico. Farther south is and hundreds of festivals each year,
Ciudad Universitaria or University City, Xochimilco remains one of the most
home to Mexico’s National University visited districts in the city. To the north,
(UNAM). Nearby is the modern and there are many working-class neighbor-
wealthy neighborhood of Pedregal de hoods, including the Villa de Guada-
San Angel, where many homes offer lupe, home to the national shrine of
fine examples of modern architecture. the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guad-
The university campus and Pedregal’s alupe. Hundreds of thousands of pil-
homes were built on top of lava fields. grims from throughout Mexico and as
Still farther south, on the edge of this far north as the United States come to
megalomaniac city, is Xochimilco, the church to pay their respects.

Mexico City
The variety of architectural styles inexplicably abandoned around A.D.

in Mexico City is staggering. The only 750. Many other groups moved in and
constant is the height of buildings. out of the valley. Several lakeside com-
Because a large part of the city is built munities, some with 10,000 to 15,000
on the soft silt of former lakes, and residents, flourished in the Valley of
because of the frequent seismic (earth- Mexico during pre-Columbian times.
quake) activity, most buildings only
According to oral history, the
reach a few stories high. Mexico City is
not a city of towers. Some buildings, Aztecs were a nomadic tribe. Unskilled
and barbaric, they were not welcomed
especially in the historic downtown
by the inhabitants of the Valley of Mex-
area, continue to sink into the soft silt
under their own weight. Moorish, Span- ico when they arrived there in the thir-
teenth century. They were forced to
ish, Tudor, Greek, Roman, Victorian,
move from one place to another along
neo-classical and neo-gothic influences
are seen throughout the city. Housing the western shore of salty Lake Texcoco,
varies according to social status. and they ate whatever they could find,
including mosquito larva, snakes, and
According to government figures, about
other vermin. In time, the Aztecs set-
two-and-a-half million people (about
30 percent of the population) live in tled on some swampy islands on the
western shores of the lake. According to
apartment complexes. About 80 percent
legend, the Aztec war god Huitzilo-
of these buildings operate much like
condominiums, and most of them were pochtli led them to this place. They
knew they were home after seeing an
built between 1960 and 1980. In the
eagle perched on a cactus devouring a
richer enclaves, it is often impossible,
without an invitation, to know what serpent (today, this national emblem is
on the Mexican flag). From here, the
kind of home hides behind the 12-foot
Aztec city of Tenochtitlán spread over
walls, which are topped with high-volt-
age electric security wires. the marshes, swamps, and islands.
In 1428, in an alliance with several
6 History valley communities, the Aztecs defeated
the dominant city of Azcapotzalco.
People had been living in the Val- Until then, the Aztecs, known for their
ley of Mexico for many centuries before viciousness, had served as mercenaries
the arrival of the Aztecs in the thir- (hired soldiers) for the Tepanecs, the
teenth century and the conquering people of Azcapotzalco. To maintain
Spaniards soon after that. The basin power after their victory, the Aztecs
had no natural outlet and several lakes joined a triple alliance with the valley
formed in the valley, attracting inhabit- cities of Texcoco and Tlacopan. The
ants to their shores. Not far from three cities exacted tribute (money and
present-day Mexico City, more than goods in exchange for protection) from
100,000 people lived in Teotihuacán, surrounding communities, but it was
the "Place of the Gods,'' before it was Tenochtitlán that rose to become an

Mexico City
Remains of the Aztec Empire. (Kal Muller; Woodfin Camp)
empire, its grasp extending well beyond Moctezuma, who believed Cortés
the Valley of Mexico. was the returning god Quetzalcóatl,
welcomed the Spaniards into the city.
By the time Spanish explorer and He was soon their prisoner, however,
soldier Hernán Cortés traveled from and died in 1520. The Aztecs then
embarked on a futile defense of their
Cuba to Tenochtitlán in 1519, the city
city against the Spaniards and their
had grown to more than 100,000 peo- allies, native peoples like the Tlax-
ple. It was, in the words of the conquer- calans, who had been earlier defeated
ing Spaniards, an amazing city of fertile by the Aztecs. Tenochtitlán was heavily
gardens, canals, and massive temples, damaged during the final battle on
more beautiful than any European city. August 13, 1521, with Cuauhtémoc, the
Tenochtitlán was connected to the last of the Aztec kings, leading its
defense.
mainland by three large causeways
(bridges) that converged on the ceremo- Cuauhtémoc, who is now consid-
nial center, near Emperor Moctezuma ered a revered national hero, was later
II’s palace and the main temple. tortured and executed. Cortés ordered

Mexico City
the surviving Aztecs out of the city and The republican constitution of 1824
razed Tenochtitlán. Over its remnants, established Mexico City as the nation's
he began to build a Spanish city he capital. Unrest followed for the next
called Mexico. The city was established, several decades, as different factions
and Spain recognized its cabildo (town fought for control of Mexico. In 1847,
council) in 1522. The territory became during the Mexican-American War, U.S.
known as New Spain. troops captured Mexico City and forced
a peace treaty on the country. By the
By the 1530s, Mexico City was 1850s, Mexico’s rulers tried to curb the
given jurisdiction (rule) over other power of the Catholic Church. The
cabildos of New Spain and quickly city’s convents were destroyed or
established itself as the most important turned to other uses. Since then, Mex-
city in the Americas. Like that of the ico’s government has maintained an
Aztecs, the Spaniards’ grasp extended uneasy relationship with the Vatican
well beyond the Valley of Mexico—only (the seat of the Roman Catholic
much farther. At one point, Mexico Church).
City ruled a territory that extended
south to Panama and north to Califor- Through the turmoil, the only con-
nia. stant was continued growth, with
By the 1560s, diseases introduced wealth and power growing increasingly
by the Europeans, war, and indentured more concentrated in Mexico City. Por-
labor (a contract binding a person to firio Díaz, who ruled the nation for
work for another for a given length of more than three decades (1876–1910),
time) had decimated Mexico’s native developed the city’s infrastructure (the
population to one-third of its former basic facilities on which the growth of a
size. The wealth taken from New Spain community depends, such as roads,
allowed Cortés and those who followed schools, transportation, and communi-
him to build an impressive city. By the cation systems), encouraged foreign
eighteenth century, Mexico City’s archi- investment, and laid the groundwork
tecture was renowned, and often com- for industrial development. By the early
pared with the best Europe had to offer. twentieth century, Mexico City was
For a period, Mexico City remained by becoming a modern city, with gas and
the lakeside. But flooding became a electric lighting, streetcars, and other
constant problem. After 1629, when modern amenities. Yet, Díaz’s dictato-
several thousand people died in floods, rial, often cruel, regime concentrated
Lake Texcoco and surrounding lakes land and wealth in the hands of a few
were drained or filled in. Yet flooding people. The majority of the nation lan-
still remained a problem at the turn of guished in poverty. Social injustice led
the twenty-first century. to nationwide revolts, and ultimately
the Mexican Revolution (1910–17). The
Mexico gained its independence city was not untouched by the revolu-
from Spain in 1821, after a long war. tion. Battles were fought on its streets,

Mexico City
and thousands of displaced villagers eled the PRI’s hold on the nation and
sought refuge in the city. During the led to dramatic political changes by the
war, Mexico City was held briefly by the 1990s.
famous revolutionaries Ernesto “Pan-
cho” Villa and Emiliano Zapata. Yet, Under relentless growth, Mexico
Mexico City’s national eminence was City had lost its charm by the 1970s,
unaffected by the revolution. The city when the government could barely
continued to modernize at a rapid pace. keep up with services. The collapse of
Old palaces and colonial homes were oil prices starting in 1982 further cur-
demolished to make way for new roads tailed public spending (Mexico is the
and modern buildings. By 1924, leading producer of crude oil outside of
Avenida Insurgentes, considered today the Persian Gulf; the Mexican govern-
one of the world's longest avenues, was ment uses the great oil revenue to
being laid out. finance public spending). Mexico City
was choking in the smog and pollution.
By the late 1920s, the Institutional In 1985, a massive earthquake shook
Revolutionary Party (PRI) was well on the city, killing at least 7,000 people
its way to becoming the most powerful and destroying dozens of buildings. Vil-
political force in the nation. From Mex- lagers from the countryside who con-
ico City, it would rule the nation as a de tinued to pour into the city to escape
facto (existing in fact though not by poverty only compounded the city's
legal establishment) one-party state for problems. With no housing available,
the next 70 years. Under the PRI, politi- they took over lands surrounding the
cal power became more centralized in city, creating huge shantytowns that
Mexico City, which continued to bene- extended for many miles. By the mid-
fit at the cost of other regions in the 1990s, the city was suffering through a
nation. By 1930, Mexico City had debilitating crime wave that only
grown to one million and continued to seemed to increase each day.
prosper after World War II (1939–45).
But the strains of rapid growth were In 1997, Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, a
beginning to show. In 1968, Mexico member of the Party of the Democratic
City hosted the Summer Olympic Revolution, became the first elected
Games and two years later the Soccer mayor of Mexico City, dealing a major
World Cup. Both events were meant to blow to the PRI, which had ruled the
signal the prosperity of a developing city without interruptions since 1928.
nation, but serious problems had been Cárdenas promised a more democratic
masked by the PRI's authoritarian government, and his party claimed
regime. In 1968, government troops some victories against crime, pollution,
massacred an unknown number of pro- and other major problems. He resigned
testing students at a Mexico City hous- in 1999 to run for the presidency. Rosa-
ing complex. Mexican historians rio Robles Berlanga, the first woman to
believe the massacre eventually unrav- hold the mayoral post, promised she

Mexico City
would continue to reverse the city's the 1990s faced a “crime explosion,” in
decline. the words of its first elected mayor,
Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas. While crime
7 Government grew by 46 percent between 1960 and
1994, it grew by 59 percent between
In July 1997, Cuauhtémoc Cárde- 1994 and 1997, when about 700 crimes
nas became the first elected mayor of were reported daily.
Mexico City. Before his election, the
President of the Republic appointed the The Cárdenas administration was
mayor. In essence, the federal govern- overwhelmed by the crime wave and
ment controlled the city, historically embarrassed by its inability to end it.
the center of cultural, political, and eco- Yet, the government claimed some suc-
nomic power of the nation. cess by mid-1999. The number of daily
Today, Chilangos elect the mayor, crimes reported each day dropped to
considered the second most powerful less than 700 for the first time in several
political position in Mexico behind the years. In the first two months of 1999,
presidency. Running as a member of more than 50 banks were robbed, but
the Party of the Democratic Revolution, between March and September, only
Cárdenas' victory was a major blow to four banks were robbed. Assaults on
the Institutional Revolutionary Party, drivers dropped from 78 per day in
which had governed Mexico since the 1997 to 45 by 1999, and car theft
1920s. In 1999, Cárdenas resigned his dropped from 160 in 1997 to 123 by
post to run for the presidency in 2000. 1999. Yet, house break-ins remained the
Rosario Robles Berlanga was appointed same, about 25 per day, and assaults on
to the post, becoming the first woman pedestrians increased from 94 per day
mayor of the city. in 1997 to 132 per day in the first six
months of 1999.
Mexico City is made up of 16 dis-
tricts. Each district is headed by a dele-
A serious problem for the city is the
gado or district head, appointed by the
discredited and highly distrusted police
mayor and confirmed by the Federal
District’s Legislative Assembly. Each dis- department. The mordida (bribe) that
trict is in charge of providing services Mexican citizens are often forced to pay
for its citizens. when confronted by police is the most
enduring symbol of corruption. Police
officers in the 1990s have been accused
8 Public Safety of murder, rape, kidnapping, and many
Crime is one of the most serious other offenses. “The fight against crime
problems facing Mexico City, touching has encountered resistance within the
the lives of all its citizens, directly and police forces themselves,” Cardenas
indirectly. Considered one of the least told the Associated Press in September
safe cities in the world, Mexico City in 1999.

Mexico City
The city administration slowly has The informal economy plays an

been trying to reform the police depart- important role in the city. Each day,
ment, retiring and firing many officers. thousands of unlicensed vendors take
In 1998, the city hired 4,200 new to the streets, selling everything from
recruits and sought the assistance of windshield wipers and umbrellas to
French police and university professors electrical sockets, tacos, and soft drinks.
to train them. On average, police offic- These are people who would be other-
ers earn $350 per month, but the city wise unemployed, but they present a
has doubled the salary and improved different challenge to city officials. For
benefits for retrained officers. In August years, the city has tried unsuccessfully
1999, the city’s police chief ordered 900 to clear the vendors off streets in the
traffic officers, all of them men, to stop downtown area. Business owners com-
writing tickets. He said women officers plain that street vendors are not subject
would take over ticket-writing duties to taxes, do not pay rent, and compete
because they were less likely to be cor- unfairly by selling similar and often
rupted. cheaper products.
Crime has led to the creation of
many private security forces, and it is 10 Environment
not rare to see wealthier Mexicans
accompanied by bodyguards. The gov- Mexico City’s air pollution sent
ernment estimates there are 534 private more than one million people to hospi-
security companies with 17,500 tals in 1999. Despite planting ten mil-
employees. lion trees, forcing gasoline stations to
sell unleaded fuel and install vapor cap-
ture systems, and introducing alterna-
9 Economy
tive fuels for government vehicles, air
Mexico City remains the economic pollution remains one of the most
engine of the country even though daunting environmental issues facing
some industries have been encouraged Mexico City. More than three million
to move to other areas to reduce pollu- vehicles on the road each day are
tion and curb growth. Yet more than mostly to blame, but so are industries
half of the country's industrial output is and small factories, deforestation, and
still produced in the city. Important fires.
industrial activities include textiles,
chemicals, furniture, plastics and met- Over the years, the city has tried or
als, electronics assembly, and the pro- considered drastic measures to clear the
duction of pharmaceutical products. air. Among the wildest ideas that have
The food and beverage industry been proposed include blowing up sur-
remains a major employer while tour- rounding hills to increase air circulation
ism brings millions of dollars into the and installing large fans to blow smog
economy. out of the valley. Most recently, some

Mexico City
have proposed creating thousands of

rooftop gardens throughout the city.
The city also has tried some tradi-
tional approaches. To curtail smog, it
prohibited driving on certain days,
keeping vehicles off the road depending
on the last number of their license
plates. But the wealthier circumvented
the law by buying a second, sometimes
even a third car with a different license
plate number.
Garbage and water also remain crit-
ical problems. The city’s 17,000 sanita-
tion workers and a fleet of more than
2,000 trucks collect 11,850 tons of trash
per day. Mexico City, which has some
of the world’s highest rates of water
consumption in the world, suffers
chronic water shortages. Each day, it
needs 35,000 liters (9,259 gallons) of Open markets are a part of the Mexican shopping
tradition. Consumers buy fresh fruit, vegetables,
water per second for its inhabitants. and meat daily at the Plaza of Three Cultures.
About 30 percent of the city’s drinking (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
water is brought from a location 127
kilometers (79 miles) away and then thousands of artifacts, vegetables, flow-
pumped 1,000 meters (0.62 miles) ers, and animals. The open market has
uphill. About 67 percent of the city's kept its place in Mexican culture, but
water comes from underground shopping has expanded into sophisti-
sources, with about 588 wells in opera- cated and chic shopping malls, much
tion. like those found in the United States.
During colonial times, the down-

11 Shopping
town area was the most important com-
The Mexican shopping experience mercial center in the city. But in
begins at the tianguis, large open mar- modern times, the mall and regional
kets that predate the arrival of the Span- shopping centers dislodged the Centro
iards in the New World. One of the Historico (the historic center) as the
great tianguis, a word that is still used place to shop. Mexico City is renowned
today, was located in Tlatelolco during for shopping. Visitors can choose from
the Aztec reign, when thousands of street markets to sophisticated shop-
people would gather at an outdoor mar- ping centers, like Santa Fe in the north-
ket each day to buy, sell, and trade western part of the city. Arts and crafts

Mexico City
from throughout Mexico are found in of Nazareth Hospital early in the six-
the city. Jewelry, shoes, and other teenth century.
leather goods are important elements in
the retail industry. The city has 66 general hospitals,
47 specialized hospitals, more than
7,000 clinics, 542 surgical rooms, 286
12 Education clinical analysis laboratories, and more
The city has the highest literacy than 18,000 hospital beds. Many health
rate in the country, estimated at more facilities are operated by the govern-
than 90 percent. Students are required ment and provide basic health care for
to attend six years of primary school the city’s poor.
and three years of secondary school.
While the city has improved sani-
Students who want to go on to college
tary standards, the population faces
are required to attend three years of
daunting problems. In the first six
bachillerato (college prep courses). Dur-
months of 1999, the city reported 1.1
ing the 1997–98 school year, there were
million cases of respiratory problems
almost three million students and
caused by air pollution. That marked a
168,442 teachers in the city’s 9,460
37 percent decrease for the same time
schools.
period in 1998 when 1.7 million cases
Mexico City is home to some of the were reported. Diarrhea also was down
nation’s most important universities, by 49 percent. In 1998, 489,000 cases
including the National Autonomous were reported compared to 252,000 for
University of Mexico (UNAM), founded the same period in 1999.
in 1551. More than 350,000 students
are enrolled at the sprawling university. 14 Media
Some of Latin America’s most influen-
tial intellectuals have taught and Mexico City, along with Buenos
attended classes at the prestigious Cole- Aires, Argentina, is one of the most
gio de Mexico. Among other respected important book-publishing centers in
institutions are the National Polytech- Latin America, with more than 30 pub-
nic Institute and the Metropolitan lishing houses. Mexico City also
Autonomous University. The Ibero- remains one of the top exporters of
American University, Anáhuac Univer- Spanish-language television program-
sity, and the United States International ming in the Americas. Televisa, one of
University are private institutions. the largest communications conglomer-
ates in the developing world, produces
more than 20,000 hours of program-
13 Health Care ming each year. Television Azteca is a
Mexico City has a large number of competing but much smaller company.
public and private hospitals, including More than 30 daily newspapers, includ-
the oldest hospital in the Western ing an English-language daily, weekly
Hemisphere. Cortés founded the Jesus newspapers, and dozens of magazines

Mexico City
are published in Mexico City. More

than a dozen foreign bureaus are
located in Mexico City.
15 Sports
Mexico City has a long history in
sports. The city was host to the Summer
Olympic Games in 1968 and the Soccer
World Cup in 1970 and 1986 and has
played host to many other sporting
events. Estadio Azteca, one of the
world's largest soccer stadiums, seats
more than 100,000 people.
Today, the public uses many of the
former Olympics venues for other
sporting events. More than 200,000
people each month visit the city’s 11
major sports installations. Many of
these facilities have deteriorated, and
the city plans to fix them.
16 Parks and
Recreation
Mexico City is among the most important cultural
Chilangos prize open spaces. The centers in Latin America. Here, the Ballet Folklorico
city’s parks and plazas are always performs at the Palace of Fine Arts.
crowded, often overused. On weekends,
it is often hard to find a quiet corner in
any park, garden, or city plaza.
pec, including a mansion that became
One of the city’s most treasured Mexico’s military academy. United
open spaces is Chapultepec Park, which States troops attacked and captured the
at 1,600 acres is the largest wooded area school, known as Chapultepec Castle,
in the city. Chapultepec, which in the during the final battle of the Mexican-
Nahuatl language means “Hill of the American War, on September 13, 1847.
Grasshopper,” also is important histori- Today, Chapultepec is home to some of
cally. Aztec emperors used the park for the city’s finest museums.
hunting and recreation. Tenochtitlan
also got its drinking water from the Many other large parks dot the city,
park. During colonial times, the Span- including the Alameda Central near the
ish built many buildings at Chapulte- Zocalo. Created in 1592, the Alameda

Mexico City
was an exclusive area reserved for the National Museum of Anthropology in

well-to-do. In time, the park was Chapultepec Park, considered the
opened to everyone. Today, the world’s finest in its specialty. The park
Alameda is known for strolling couples also houses the Museum of Modern Art,
who hold hands during romantic inter- the Rufino Tamayo Museum, the Papal-
ludes. Viveros, a large park in Coyoa- ote Children’s Museum, and the muse-
can, is popular with runners and ums of natural history and technology.
walkers who come to do laps among Coyoacan has the Frida Kahlo Museum
the large trees. The Desert of the Lions while Xochimilco is home to the
(“El Desierto de los Leones”), southwest Dolores Olmedo Museum, which has
of the city, is known for its large open important works by Kahlo and Diego
spaces, mountains, forests, and springs. Rivera. Many museums are free on Sun-
days. The city is also home to the
17 Performing Arts National Library.
Mexico City is one of the most 19 To u r i s m

important cultural centers in Latin
America, attracting talent from Mexico is among the top ten
throughout the Spanish-speaking nations in the world in tourism, with
world. The Palace of Fine Arts, a concert about 19 million visitors in 1999.
and opera hall in the historic down- According to government figures, Mex-
town area, is the hub of Mexico’s cul- ico City was visited by nearly eight mil-
tural activity. The stunning building lion people in 1998, with nearly two
regularly plays host to ballets, concerts, million from outside Mexico. Nearly 60
and plays. Its galleries feature artists percent of visitors are from the United
from throughout the world. Within its States and Canada, about 21 percent
walls, there are stunning murals by from Europe and eight percent from
Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, South America. Even the most tireless
and José Clemente Orozco. The city has travelers would need days just to see the
many theater groups and dance compa- city’s most important sights. The city
nies. Mexicans come to the city to has world-class museums, hotels, shops
study at its fine art, music, and dance and restaurants, and a history that
schools. The National Center of the Arts expands for hundreds of years. There
opened in 1994. It contains a library are more than 44,000 rooms in 589
and concert hall, and offers classes in hotels.
cinema, dance, music, and drama.
20 Holidays and
18 Libraries and Festivals
Museums JANUARY
New Year’s Day
Dozens of public and private muse- FEBRUARY
ums dot Mexico City, including the Constitution Day

Mexico City
Mexicans celebrate the Day of Our Lady of Guadeloupe, the most religious holiday in Mexico.
MARCH 21 Famous Citizens

Birthday of Benito Juárez
MAY Octavio Paz (1914–98), writer, the first
Labor Day Mexican to win the Nobel Prize in
Battle of Puebla literature, and career diplomat,
Mother’s Day serving in France, Switzerland, Ja-
SEPTEMBER pan, and India.
Independence Day
Frida Kahlo (1907–1954), painter.
OCTOBER
Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day) Because Mexico City has been the
NOVEMBER center of national culture, the country’s
All Saints' Day most important writers, painters, and
All Souls' Day musicians have left their stamp on the
Revolution Day city. Some came to study and later to
DECEMBER teach and work. Artists like Diego Riv-
Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe era (1883–1957 husband to Frida Kahlo)

Mexico City
and fellow muralists David Alfaro Books

Siqueiros (1898–1974) and Jose Clem- Arrom, Silvia Marina. Women of Mexico City.
ente Orozco (1883–1949), executed Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1985.
many of their murals and paintings in Bernal, Ignacio. Tenochtitlan. Garden City, NY:
Mexico City. Anchor Books, 1975.
Broda, Johanna. The Great Temple of Tenochtitlan:
Center and Periphery in the Aztec World. Berke-
22 For Further Study ley: University of California Press, 1988.
Carrasco, David. Daily Life of the Aztecs: People of
Websites the Sun and Earth. Westport, CT: Greenwood
Press, 1998.
Official government of Mexico City. [Online]
Available http://www.df.gob.mx (accessed Cassaro, Michael A. and Enrique Martinez, eds.
June 28, 2000). The Mexico City Earthquake, 1985. New York:
American Society of Civil Engineers, 1990.
Mexican Ministry of Tourism. [Online] Available
http://www.mexico.travel.com (accessed Cope, R. Douglas. The Limits of Racial Domina-
January 20, 2000). tion: Plebeian Society in Colonial Mexico City:
1660–1720. Madison: University of Wiscon-
sin Press, 1994.
Government Offices
Cory, Steve and Ray Webb (illustrator). Daily Life
Mexican consulates in the United States: in Ancient and Modern Mexico City. Chicago:
Lerner Publishing Group, 1999.
540 North LaSalle Street
Cross, John C. Informal Politics: Street Vendors and
Chicago, IL, 60611 the State in Mexico City. Stanford: Stanford
312-670-0240 University Press, 1999.
Davis, Diane. Urban Leviathan: Mexico City in the
8 East 41st Street 20th Century. Philadelphia: Temple Univer-
New York, NY. 10017 sity Press, 1994.
212-689-0456 Gutmann, Matthew C. The Meanings of Macho:

Being a Man in Mexico City. Berkeley: Univer-
125 Paseo de la Plaza sity of California Press, 1996.
Los Angeles, CA 90012 Johns, Michael. The City of Mexico in the Age of
Diaz. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1997.
213-624-3261
Levitt, Helen. Mexico City. New York: Center for
Documentary Studies, W.W. Norton, 1997.
Tourist and Convention Bureaus Poniatowska, Elena, Arthur Schmidt, & Aurora
Mexican Government Tourism Office(s): de Camacho Schmidt. Nothing, Nobody: The
Voices of the Mexico City Earthquake. Philadel-
405 Park Avenue, Suite 1401 phia: Temple University Press, 1995.
New York, New York 10022 Poniatowska, Elena and Kent Klich (photogra-
pher). El Niño: Children of the Streets, Mexico
1-800-446-3942.
City. New York: Syracuse University Press,
1999.
10100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 224
Sabloff, Jeremy A. The Cities of Ancient Mexico:
Los Angeles, CA 90067 Reconstructing a Lost World. New York:
213-203-8151 Thames and Hudson, 1997.

Miami
Miami, Florida, United States of America, North America

Location: East coast of South Florida, United States, North America
Ethnic Composition: White, 71.8%; Black, 27.4%; American Indian, 0.2%; Asian
0.6%; Hispanics, 62.5% (may be of any race)
Elevation: 3.4 m (11 ft)
Climate: Semitropical climate with a warm summer and a dry winter, and high
humidity. Second most humid city in the U.S.
Annual Mean Temperature: 24ºC (76ºF); January 20ºC (68ºF); July 28ºC (82ºF)
Government: Mayor-commission
1 Introduction diversity. Its sunny climate and natural

beauty continue to make it a prime
Located nearly at the southeastern- tourist destination, even as it struggles
most point of the continental United to contain crime and other urban prob-
States, the city of Miami, which cele- lems resulting from large-scale flight to
brated its one-hundredth birthday in suburban areas.
1996, conjures images of sunny
beaches, tourists, and immigrants, and 2 Getting There
it is also a major center for interna-
tional trade. Since Fidel Castro came to Miami is located in South Florida.
power in Cuba at the end of the 1950s, Situated on the Atlantic coast bordering
Key Biscayne Bay, it is also located at
successive waves of Cuban immigrants
the mouth of the Miami River.
have dramatically changed the ethnic
composition of the city, which is now
Highways
over 50 percent Hispanic, and infor-
mally known as “the capital of Latin Miami can be accessed by high-
America.” Miami today is a colorful, ways running both north-south (I-95,
cosmopolitan city, reveling in its ethnic the Palmetto Expressway, the Florida
37
Miami
Turnpike) and east-west (the Airport

Expressway, the Dolphin Expressway, Miami
and the Tamiami Trail). Also running Population Profile
east-west are the Miami Beach, Bal Har-
bor, Sunny Isles, and William Lehman City Proper
Causeways. Population: 365,498
Ethnic composition: 71.8% white; 27.4% black;
Bus and Railroad Service 0.2% American Indians; 0.6% Asians; 62.5%
Hispanic (may be any race)
Greyhound and Trailways provide Nicknames: Gateway of the Americas, Cruise
service to Miami from points across the Capital of the World
United States. Amtrak offers trains with

Metropolitan Area
sleeping berths and restaurant cars. Population: 2,210,000
Description: Includes Miami and the surrounding
Airports region
Area: 5,037 sq km (1,945 sq mi)
Miami International Airport is sec- World population rank1: 143
ond nationally in the number of inter- Average yearly growth rate: 1.2%
national passengers transported every Ethnic composition: 77% white; 21.1% black;
year. Over 85 scheduled carriers offer 1.8% Asian; 54.4% Hispanic (may be any race)
flights to and from the city. In 1997 the ———
airport served 34 million passengers, 19 1. The Miami metropolitan area’s rank among the
million domestic and 15.5 interna-
tional. About 70 percent of all passen- population living in the Miami metropolitan
gers arriving in the United States from area.
Central and South America come
through Miami’s airport.
(seven million tons) of cargo in 1997.
Shipping The port employs 45,000 people, gener-
ating $8.3 billion in revenue annually.
Miami International Airport leads
the nation in transport of international
cargo and is the world’s third-busiest 3 Getting Around
airport in terms of total freight ton-
nage. In 1997, it handled 1.7 million Greater Miami extends along the
metric tons (1.9 million tons) of cargo. coast of Biscayne Bay. The major ave-
Nearly 278,700 square meters (three nue in the city is Biscayne Boulevard, a
million square feet) of new cargo han- four-lane road that borders the city’s
dling space will be added to the facility oceanfront parkland to the east (Bicen-
by 2006 as part of a $4 billion major tennial Park and Bayfront Park). The
improvement plan. downtown streets are laid out in a grid
pattern, with the Dolphin Expressway
Miami’s Dante B. Fascell Port han- and the North-South Expressway form-
dled nearly 6.4 million metric tons ing major arteries through the city. To

Miami

Miami

Miami Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
The Miami Akhbar El Yom/
Herald Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
the east a number of bridges, called Sightseeing

causeways, connect the mainland with
Miami Beach, Virginia Key, and Key Bis- Various walking tours are offered,
cayne. including tours of a variety of neighbor-
hoods and an architectural tour of the
Bus and Commuter Rail Service Art Deco District. There are also boat
A 7.1-kilometer (4.4-mile) elevated tours and aerial tours by helicopter and
rail service, Metrorail, carries passengers hot-air balloon.
around downtown Miami, while
Greater Miami is served by the 34-kilo- Miami is known as the “Cruise
meter (21-mile) Metromover system. In Capital of the World.” Its port is home
addition, the Metrorail line connects to ocean liners operated by Cunard
with Tri-Rail, which serves Miami-Dade, Lines (including the Queen Elizabeth II),
Palm Beach, and Broward counties over Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean,
a 108-kilometer (67-mile) route. Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Premier
Miami’s Metrobus service is used by Cruises. Cruise ships launched from
about 200,000 passengers every day. Miami dock at ports in the Caribbean,

Miami
Mexico, Central America, and South restaurants, cafés, galleries, and stores
America. have opened in this area that used to be
known primarily as a mecca for Jewish
4 People retirees from northern states, drawing
an eclectic mix of urban yuppies, art-
In 1995 Miami had an estimated ists, and vacationers. The pedestrian-
population of 365,498, up from only thoroughfare Lincoln Road, occu-
358,548 recorded in the 1990 census. In pying 11 blocks in the heart of South
1990, blacks accounted for 27.4 percent Beach, is a popular center for culture,
of the population, Asians 0.6 percent, nightlife, and shopping. Here one may
and American Indians 0.2 percent. His- view contemporary art by the area’s up-
panics (who may be of any race) made and-coming painters, hear a bookstore
up 62.5 percent of the population. The poetry reading, or peer through the
Miami Metropolitan Area had an esti- windows of the Miami City Ballet’s
mated population of 2,210,000 in 1998,
rehearsal studio to see its dancers at
up from 1,937,194 in 1990. Its popula-
work.
tion was 77 percent white, 21.1 percent
black, and 1.8 percent Asian. Hispanics
Surrounding the central city are
(counted as an ethnicity, not as a race)
suburbs including Little Havana, the
accounted for 54.4 percent of the popu-
Bohemian-flavored Coconut Grove,
lation.
West Miami, North and South Miami,
and Coral Gables.
5 Neighborhoods
Downtown Miami is an area of 6 History
great cultural diversity, where one can
often hear Spanish, English, Hebrew, The name “Miami” means “Big
and other languages spoken. The heart Water” in the language of the Calusa
of downtown is the intersection of Indians, the major Native American
Miami Avenue and Flagler Street. A tribe inhabiting the region when the
dozen or so blocks along Flagler make Spanish arrived there in the sixteenth
up the city’s shopping and theater dis-
century. Although the Spanish never
trict.
really succeeded in the settling the
After undergoing a period of blight region, the Calusa had been wiped out
and neglect, Miami Beach, a sand bar in by the early eighteenth century, from
the Atlantic Ocean about five kilome- their lack of resistance to the diseases
ters (three miles) east of the mainland, the Europeans brought with them, and
is enjoying a renaissance, both among the Creeks and Seminoles became the
Florida natives and tourists. The trendi- dominant tribes. The British gained
est spot is South Beach (nickname: control of Florida in 1763, during the
SoBe), renowned for its colorful Art French and Indian War, but the Spanish
Deco buildings. New nightclubs, hotels, won it back 20 years later, only to lose it

Miami
Miami skyline. (Catherine Karnow; Woodfin Camp)
again in 1821, ceding the territory to and established a trading post that
the United States. eventually grew into a commercial cen-
ter.
Hostility by the Seminoles slowed
settlement in the region until their ban- However, development of Miami
ishment to the Everglades in 1842 and began in earnest when the wealthy
even afterward. As northern Florida widow Julia Sturdivant Tuttle bought a
prospered, the south remained sparsely large tract of land in the area and con-
inhabited and undeveloped. The area of vinced Henry Flagler to extend his Flor-
present-day Miami, at the mouth of the ida East Coast Railroad there. The
Miami River, was part of a tract of land railway construction was completed in
belonging to a plantation owner and 1896, and Miami was incorporated in
also the site of Fort Dallas, which the same year. Another major advance
became a permanent outpost of the U.S. in transportation—expanded highway
army in 1849. Following the Civil War access—brought the city a building
(1861–65) two entrepreneurs, William boom in the 1920s, when its popula-
Brickell and J.W. Ewan bought the land tion jumped from 30,000 to 200,000

Miami
people within five years. The boom 8 Public Safety

ended with a devastating hurricane in
1926, but the infrastructure put in place A well-known negative aspect of
Miami is the city’s reputation as the
in the preceding years had laid the
nation’s crime capital. Home to movie
groundwork for future development.
stars, multinational corporations, and a
culturally and ethnically diverse popu-
Industrialization and military bases
lation, Miami, in the eyes of the public,
came to the city during World War II is also linked to drug lords and high-
(1939–45), leading to another popula- profile killings, such as the murders of
tion boom, and Miami has grown nine foreign tourists in Florida from
steadily ever since. The face of the city October 5, 1992, to September 14,
was changed forever when Fidel Castro 1993—five of which took place in
(b. 1927) came to power in Cuba in Miami. In 1997, the city made head-
1959, and over 150,000 Cubans flocked lines with the murder of clothing
to Miami over the following decade. designer Gianni Versace.
Today it is a bilingual city and the only
In 1995, the city’s crime index per
major city in the United States with a 100,000 residents was 15,623.7, the
majority Hispanic population. In the highest in the nation. Violent crimes
1990s, Hurricane Andrew, rising crime, reported to police totaled 3,413.3 (mur-
and inter-ethnic tensions led to the der, 29.0; rape, 52.3; robbery, 1,498.7;
exodus of some 100,000 non-Hispanic aggravated assault, 1,833.3). Property
whites from Greater Miami, leaving the crimes totaled 12,210.3 (burglary,
city struggling with growing social and 2,607.2; larceny/theft, 7,271.1; motor
fiscal problems. vehicle theft, 2,332.1).
7 Government
9 Economy
Miami has a highly diversified
Miami is the seat of Dade County. economy with over 170 multinational
The Miami-Dade County Government, companies headquartered in the city
whose offices are headquartered in and its environs. Top economic sectors
downtown Miami, is headed by a include tourism, services, trade, manu-
strong “executive” mayor, a country facturing, real estate, and construction.
manager, and a county commission, Major employers include the Miami-
and has a budget of $4 billion. County Dade County school district, county,
commissioners are elected by district. federal, and state governments, Univer-
sity of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medi-
Each of the 29 municipalities in the
cal Center, and Bell South.
county also has its own government.
The city employs approximately 3,500 The Miami Customs District
persons. reported $47 billion in imports and

Miami
Miami’s beaches attract nearly 10 million visitors annually. Tourism contributes billions of dollars in revenue
to the economy of Miami. (Catherine Karnow; Woodfin Camp)
exports for 1997, mostly from trade totaled $558 million. Top industries in
with Latin America. The 19-hectare (47- the manufacturing sector are apparel,
acre) Miami Free Zone, established in metal fabrication, printing, and medical
1978, was the world’s first privately products, and the biomedical sector is
owned and operated foreign trade zone. showing rapid growth.
It consists of a 78,593-square-meter
(846,000-square-foot) warehouse and The film and entertainment indus-
office complex near Miami Interna- try is another major generator of
tional Airport. income for Miami. Together, movies,
television, and commercial and fashion
Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was fol-
lowed by a building boom, and the con- photography generated more than $212
struction industry remains active, with million in income in the area. Recent
rising demand for single-family homes movies filmed in the Greater Miami
and condominiums. In 1997, sales of area include Donnie Brasco, Speed II, Out
single-family homes totaled $1.9 bil- of Sight, and There’s Something About
lion; sales of condominium units Mary.

Miami
Miami’s access to Latin America has only 12 meters (40 feet) above sea level,
made it a top international banking and the groundwater table is only one
and investment center, with most bank to two meters (three to six feet) below
offices located in the city’s financial dis- the earth’s surface. When it rains, water
trict along Brickell Avenue. Today it is is sucked through the sandy earth and
home to the international trade divi-
further still into the cracks of some of
sions of a number of major U.S. banks.
the sanitary sewer pipes crisscrossing
The city’s financial institutions have
won important business in connection beneath Metropolitan Dade County.
with economic development and priva- When unexpected water makes its way
tization in Latin American countries. into these pipes, the system becomes
overloaded.
Agriculture remains an important
part of the Greater Miami economy. Downtown flooding in the late
The region is the nation’s leading sup- 1980s and early 1990s caused raw sew-
plier of vegetables during the winter
age to spill into the Miami River,
season. As the only subtropical farming
prompting Metropolitan Dade County
area in the continental United States, it
is a leader in the production of tropical to sign consent decrees with the Envi-
fruits and vegetables, with crops valued ronmental Protection Agency (EPA)
at $81 million annually. The Miami that mandated comprehensive sanitary
area also supplies one-fourth of all sewer system rehabilitation. The metro-
ornamental plants sold in the country. politan area’s water and sewer depart-
ment is in the midst of a $1.1 billion
10 Environment sewer upgrade project scheduled for
completion by 2002. Pumping station
Miami, located only two degrees
capacities will be expanded; three
above the Tropic of Cancer, is a subtrop-
ical city located on flatlands that were wastewater treatment plants will be
once home to pine and palmetto trees. upgraded; and studies of utility opera-
Its coastal area consists of sandy tion will be conducted.
beaches, and even the region’s interior
is only thinly wooded. Lake Dade County’s Department of Solid
Okeechobee, 145 kilometers (90 miles) Waste Management collects waste from
north of the city, is linked to Miami by more than 260,000 residential
manmade canals. addresses, disposing of approximately
2.1 million metric tons (2.3 million
During the wet season, Greater
Miami must contend with problems tons) annually. Its disposal system con-
caused by tropical storms and hurri- sists of one resources recovery facility
canes. Among the worst is sanitary and associated ash monofill, two land-
sewer overflow, exacerbated by the fills, and three regional transfer sta-
city’s low terrain: its highest elevation is tions.

Miami
11 Shopping school system are 66 magnet school

programs, charter schools, satellite
Miami and its suburbs offer abun- learning centers housed in private busi-
dant and varied shopping. The down- nesses, and the New World School of
town shopping district centered around the Arts for high school and college stu-
Flagler Street and South Miami Avenue dents. A new type of school, the
is one of the busiest shopping areas, Elemiddle School serving grades K
with some 1,500 retail outlets, includ- through eight, was introduced in 1998,
ing the second-largest jewelry district in with the goal of replacing large middle
the country. The Omni International schools with smaller community-based
Hotel has a two-level shopping plaza units. Students in the Greater Miami
with a multiplex movie theater. Bayside area also have the choice of attending
Marketplace on Biscayne Boulevard is over 445 private schools, which enroll
an open-air waterfront arcade modeled more than 45,000 students.
on Boston’s Quincy Market, with doz-
ens of shops as well as restaurants and With more than 50,000 students,
entertainment facilities. Picturesque Miami-Dade Community College (M-
CocoWalk in Coconut Grove offers DCC) is the nation’s largest single-dis-
major retail stores, specialty shops, and trict multi-campus community college.
cafes, all in a setting that has the feel of This two-year school, which operates
an Old World village. A variety of eth- six campuses, leads the nation in num-
nic stores in Little Havana offer spe- ber of degrees awarded to minority stu-
cialty products, and the Falls, an dents. Florida International University,
upscale shopping center anchored by a four-year state university, has two
Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, features campuses and enrolls over 30,000 stu-
manmade waterfalls, footbridges, and dents. The 72-year-old University of
covered walkways. In South Beach, Lin- Miami is a private research university
coln Road, the nation’s first pedestrian- with an enrollment of 14,000 and
only shopping street, offers a colorful respected programs in law, engineering,
mix of culture, cuisine, and shopping. medicine, and business, and is noted
Miami’s Design District offers dozens of for its Rosenstiel School of Marine and
showrooms for interior decorators. Atmospheric Sciences and Jackson/UM
Medical Center.
12 Education Other four-year institutions

include Nova Southeastern University,
The Miami-Dade County school home of Florida’s first dentistry school;
district enrolls more than 340,000 stu- Barry and St. Thomas universities,
dents, making it the fourth largest in which are both Catholic-affiliated; Bap-
the country. About one quarter of its tist-run Florida Memorial College; and
students are foreign-born and speak 62 Johnson & Wales University, a degree-
different languages. Among the educa- granting college that prepares students
tional innovations instituted by the to enter the hospitality and restaurant

Miami
fields. Johnson & Wales runs an on- biomedical corridor to further enhance
campus restaurant and two off-campus the presence of this sector in the region.
eateries staffed by its students.
14 Media
13 Health Care Miami’s major daily newspaper is
the Miami Herald, published in the
Miami is the home of the nation’s morning and on Sundays (circulation:
second-largest public hospital, the Uni- weekdays, 349,114; Sundays, 461,201).
versity of Miami/Jackson Memorial The city has two Spanish-language daily
Medical Center, which forms the core papers, El Nuevo Herald (published by
of a major medical complex located the Herald for Spanish speakers) and
near the city’s downtown. The complex Diario las Americas (circulation, 68,011).
also houses the highly respected Bas- Miami also has a daily business newspa-
com-Palmer Eye Institute and the per, the Daily Business Review. The news-
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Cen- paper of the black community is The
ter. Miami Times, and New Times of Miami is
an alternative paper focusing on news
Miami-Dade County has a total of
and the arts. Spanish-language maga-
28 hospitals and 33,000 licensed
zines published in Miami include Hom-
health-care personnel, the most of any
bre Internacional, TV y Novelas (a soap-
region in Florida. Hospital facilities
opera fanzine), and a Spanish-language
were reported to have had a combined
edition of Harper’s Bazaar.
revenue of $120 million in 1997 and to
have treated some 15,000 patients from Miami has television stations affili-
Florida and around the world. ated with all the major commercial net-
works, as well as two public
In addition to direct patient ser- broadcasting stations and 19 AM and
vices, the Miami area is home to a sub- FM radio stations, some of which
stantial biomedical industry that broadcast exclusively or mostly in
produces pharmaceuticals and medical Spanish.
devices and conducts important
research and development projects,
such as those that led to the develop-
15 Sports
ment of ultrasonic diagnostic equip- Miami is home to several major
ment and artificial kidneys. Biomedical league sports teams. The National Foot-
companies located in the region ball League’s Miami Dolphins play at
include Cordis/Johnson & Johnson, Joe Robbie Stadium. In the National
Beckman-Coulter, and Kos Pharmaceu- Basketball Association, the Miami Heat
ticals. In 1998 the Miami-Dade County plays at the Miami Arena. The National
commissioners set aside an 11.7-square- League’s Florida Marlins, who play at
kilometer (four-and-a-half-square-mile) Pro Player Stadium, won the 1997
area for the development of a proposed World Series. Miami also has a team in

Miami
The Miami-Dade County Government is centrally located in downtown Miami. (Gerd Ludwig; Woodfin Camp)
the American Soccer League—the in the summer and winter. Greyhound

Miami Freedom, whose home matches racing, also popular with Miamians, is
are usually played at Milander Stadium sponsored by the Biscayne Kennel Club.
in nearby Hialeah. The Miami Grand Prix is held in Home-
stead every February.
A variety of other sports are also
played in the Greater Miami area. Jai-
Alai, a game that originated in the 16 Parks and
Basque region of Spain and has players Recreation
chasing balls called pelotas that can
travel at speeds of up to 274 kilometers Miami has 37 parks, covering a
(170 miles) per hour. The South Florida total of 1,012 hectares (2,500 acres),
Cricket Association has more than 25 and there are some 700 parks and recre-
teams. Miami is home to Florida’s larg- ation areas found throughout Dade
est thoroughbed race track, the Calder County. Miami’s parks offer facilities for
Race Course, which offers racing both picnicking, hiking, camping, basketball,

Miami
softball, handball, racquetball, as well Florida Shakespeare Theater performs at

as 129 kilometers (80 miles) of bike the Biltmore Hotel. The Miami Light
trails. The city also operates ten public Project offers musical theater, comedy,
swimming pools, 15 public tennis and dance at a variety of locations.
courts, two golf courses, and four mari-
nas, with a capacity of 940 boats.
18 Libraries and
Water sports are the premier recre- Museums
ational attraction in the Miami area and
include boating, canoeing, fishing, The Miami-Dade Public Library
swimming, scuba and skin diving, System operates a main branch down-
windsurfing, and waterskiing. Hau- town, as well as 25 neighborhood
lover Park and Biscayne National Park branches and four regional libraries
are popular with divers, while Haulover throughout the area. The downtown
Beach and South Pointe are among the library, located in the Metro-Dade Cul-
spots favored by surfers. tural Center, has the largest library col-
lection in the southeastern United
States. More than 500,000 patrons
17 Performing Arts annually take advantage of the library
Miami’s Florida Philharmonic special educational programs and exhi-
Orchestra is the major symphonic bitions. Its Porta-kiosk Library in the
ensemble in South Florida. The region Metrorail Civic Center Station, opened
is also home to the Greater Miami in 1992, is the world’s first library
Opera, whose productions feature solo- located in a transit-system facility.
ists from around the world. Other musi-
cal groups include the Miami Chamber The Historical Museum of Southern
Symphony and the New World Sym- Florida and the Miami Art Museum of
phony, a youth orchestra. Dance is rep- Dade County (together with the Miami-
resented by the Miami City Ballet Dade Public Library) are housed in the
Company, directed by renowned dancer Metro-Dade Cultural Center in down-
Edward Villella, and the Ballet Fla- town Miami. The art museum (formerly
menco La Rosa. A variety of touring art- the Center for the Fine Arts) features
ists also performs at the Gusman Center major artworks from around the world,
for the Performing Arts, the Jackie Glea- including many traveling exhibits.
son Theater of the Performing Arts Other museums in the Miami area
(called TOPA), and the Dade County include the Miami Museum of Science
Auditorium, which is also home to the and Space Transit Planetarium; the
city’s opera company. The Miami Beach Weeks Air Museum, whose exhibits
Symphony Orchestra performs at the chronicle the history of aviation; the
Jackie Gleason Theater. Gold Coast Railroad Museum, where
historic railroad cars are on display; the
Regional theater is presented at the American Police Hall of Fame and
Coconut Grove Playhouse, and the Museum; and the Miami Youth

Miami
Museum, which features hands-on

exhibits for children.
A unique facility located in Coco-
nut Grove is the Vizcaya Museum and
Gardens. Originally a palatial private
residence built in 1916 in Italian
Renaissance style, the museum features
34 rooms whose decor ranges from
rococo to neoclassic, including a gilded
music room and a tapestry-filled dining
room. Surrounding the mansion are
four hectares (ten acres) of formal gar-
dens overlooking Biscayne Bay.
19 To u r i s m
Tourism is one of the mainstays of
Miami’s economy, and it continues to Key Biscayne Bay offers fun in the sun, as well as
grow steadily. In 1997 the tourist indus- educational opportunities such as the Seaquarium.
(Piero Guerrini; Woodfin Camp)
try generated $11.6 billion in revenue
and created full-time employment for
125,000 people. In the same year, Regency Hotel, and the University of
nearly ten million people visited Miami Conference Center. The Conven-
Greater Miami, breaking tourism tion Center auditorium seats 4,800 peo-
records for the third year in a row. ple, and the facility also offers lecture
Warm weather, sunshine, abundant halls, meeting rooms, and a 2,601-
beaches, and a wide variety of enter- square-meter (28,000-square-foot) hall
tainment are among the elements that for exhibits. Giving the city’s conven-
draw large numbers to the region. The tion industry a major boost was the
three most popular districts among visi- recent completion of the $135 million
tors to Miami are (in order) South oceanfront Loews Miami Beach Hotel
Beach, Bayside Marketplace, and Coco- in 1998, located within walking dis-
Walk. Miami is surpassed only by New tance of the convention center.
York City and Los Angeles in numbers Another new facility, the 422-room
of foreign visitors, attracting 5.3 million Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Resort, was
in 1997 from Europe, Canada, and completed in late 1999.
South America.
Miami’s major convention facility
20 Holidays and
is the James L. Knight International Festivals
Center, a complex consisting of the JANUARY
Miami Convention Center, a Hyatt Miccosukee Tribe’s Indian Arts Festival

Miami
National Children’s Theatre Festival AUGUST

Orange Bowl Miami Reggae Festival
Art Deco Weekend Festival
EARLY SEPTEMBER-LATE OCTOBER
Freddick Bratcher Florida Dance Festival Festival Miami
LATE JANUARY-EARLY FEBRUARY OCTOBER
Original Miami Beach Antique Show West Indian Carnival Extravaganza
FEBRUARY Caribbean Festival
Miami Film Festival Columbus Day Regatta
Miami International Boat Show Hispanic Heritage Festival
Bob Marley Festival
Coconut Grove Arts Festival NOVEMBER
Miami Book Fair International
LATE FEBRUARY-EARLY MARCH Puerto Rican Festival
Doral-Ryder Open South Florida International Auto Show
MARCH South Miami Art Festival
Taste of the Beach Feria de Espana
Calle Ocho Festival
LATE NOVEMBER-EARLY JANUARY
Carnaval Miami Santa’s Enchanted Forest
Florida Derby
Grand Prix of Miami DECEMBER
Italian Renaissance Festival Big Orange New Year’s Eve Celebration
Lipton Tennis Championships King Mango Strut
King Orange Jamboree Parade
MID-MARCH-EARLY APRIL
Dade County Fair & Exposition LATE DECEMBER-EARLY JANUARY
Kwanzaa Celebration
APRIL
Fairchild Tropical Garden Rain Forest Festival DECEMBER-MID-MAY
Merrick Festival of Coral Gables Metropolitan South Florida Fishing Tournament
MAY
Roots & Culture Festival 21 Famous Citizens
Subtropics Music Festival
Arabian Nights Festival Dave Barry (b. 1947), longtime Miami
Great Sunrise Balloon Race & Festival resident, writes a Pulitzer Prize-win-
ning humor column for the Miami
LATE MAY-EARLY JUNE
Miami International Home & Garden Show Herald.
JUNE Polish-born Isaac Bashevis Singer
Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival (1904–91), Nobel-Prize winning
Florida Dance Festival
novelist who maintained a resi-
JULY dence in Miami starting in the
4th of July at Bayfront Park
1970s.
Tropical Agricultural Fiesta
Colombian Festival Edna Buchanon (b. 1939), crime report-
International Mango Festival er and novelist.
Key Biscayne 4th of July Parade & Fireworks
JULY-EARLY OCTOBER Carl Hiaasen (b. 1953), author of crime
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival and mystery novels.

Miami
Janet Reno (b. 1938), attorney general Miami, FL 33131

of the United States. (305) 539-3000
Sidney Poitier (b. 1924), the first black Publications

actor to become a major motion Daily Business Review
picture star. 1 SE 3rd Ave., Suite 900
Miami, FL 33131
Ellen Zwilich (b. 1939), composer and Diario Las Americas
first woman to win the Pulitzer 2900 NW 39th St.
Prize for music. Miami, FL 33142
New York-trained dancer Edward Villel- Miami Herald

1 Herald Plaza
la (b. 1936), director of the Miami
Miami, FL 33132
City Ballet Company.
Miami Metro Magazine
800 Douglas Rd., Suite 500
22 For Further Study Coral Gables, FL 33134
Websites Books
Miami City Hall. [Online] Available http:// Allman, T. D. Miami, City of the Future. New York:
www.ci.miami.fl.us (accessed October 14, Atlantic Monthly Press, 1987.
1999). Cerwinske, Laura. Miami, Hot and Cool. Photo-
Miami-Dade County. [Online] Available http:// graphs by Steven Brooke. New York: C.N.
www.metro.co.dade.fl.us (accessed October Potter, 1990.
14, 1999). Davies, Frank. Kidding Around Miami: What to
Miami Information Access. [Online] Available Do, Where to Go, and How to Have Fun in
http://www.info-access.com/ (accessed Miami. Santa Fe, NM: John Muir Publica-
October 14, 1999). tions, 1997.
MiamiSite. [Online] Available http:// Dunn, Marvin. Black Miami in the Twentieth Cen-
www.miamisite.com/ (accessed October 14, tury. Gainesville: University Press of Florida,
1999). 1997.
Grenier, Guillermo, and Alex Stepick III, eds.
Government Offices Miami Now: Immigration, Ethnicity, and Social
City Hall Change. Gainesville: University Press of Flor-
3500 Pan American Drive ida, 1992.
Miami, FL 33133 Harris, Daryl B. The Logic of Black Urban Rebel-
(305) 250-5400 lions: Challenging the Dynamics of White
Domination in Miami. Westport, CN: Praeger,
Mayor’s Office 1999.
3500 Pan American Drive Moore, Deborah Dash. To the Golden Cities: Pur-
Miami, FL 33133 suing the American Jewish Dream in Miami and
(305) 250-5300 L.A. New York: Maxwell Macmillan Interna-
tional, 1994.
Miami Planning and Development Department
Portes, Alejandro, and Alex Stepick III. City on
444 SW 2nd Ave. the Edge: The Transformation of Miami. Berke-
Miami, FL 33130 ley: University of California Press, 1993.
(305) 416-1400 Rieff, David. The Exile: Cuba in the Heart of
Miami. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993.
Tourist and Convention Bureaus Rieff, David. Going to Miami: Exiles, Tourists, and
Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau Refugees in the New America. Boston: Little,
701 Brickell Ave., Suite 2700 Brown, 1987.

Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America, North America

Location: Eastern Minnesota on the Mississippi River, United States, North America
Ethnic Composition: White, 81%; Black, 13%; Asian, 4%; Hispanic origin (of any
race) 2% (1996)
Climate: The Twin Cities region has wide fluctuations in temperature, with long, cold,
and snowy winters but warm temperatures and low humidity in the summer.
Annual Mean Temperature: 7ºC (44.7ºF); January -11ºC (12.2ºF); July 22ºC (72ºF)
Average Annual Precipitation (rainfall and melted snow): 56 in (142 cm)
Telephone Area Codes: 612 (Minneapolis & suburbs), 651 (St. Paul & suburbs)
1 Introduction tion has become increasingly a subur-

ban one, but urban redevelopment has
Located at the confluence of the kept its central cities vital and safe.
Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, Min-
neapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, once
heated rivals, are known today as the 2 Getting There
Twin Cities and are the nexus of a thriv-
ing 11-county metropolitan area. Home The Twin Cities are located in east-
to the largest of the four campuses of ern Minnesota, at the junction of the
the University of Minnesota, the area Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers, near
has rich cultural resources and a reputa- the Wisconsin border. St. Paul is located
tion for civic involvement by ordinary roughly eight kilometers (five miles)
citizens and by its business community. southeast of Minneapolis, which is the
It is home to numerous major corpora- seat of Hennepin County. The Twin Cit-
tions, which draw on a well-educated ies Metropolitan Statistical Area com-
labor pool. In the decades since World prises ten Minnesota counties, as well
War II (1939–45), the region’s popula- as one (St. Croix) in Wisconsin.
53
Minneapolis
shuttle van service, providing transpor-

Minneapolis tation to hotels in downtown Minneap-
Population Profile olis. Airport Express shuttles depart the
airport (in front of luggage pick-up
City Proper area) approximately every half-hour
Population: 358,785 and stop at all of the downtown hotels;
Ethnic composition: 81% white; 13% black; 3.3% likewise, the shuttles depart major
American Indian; 4.3% Asian hotels approximately every half-hour.
Nicknames: Twin Cities (with St. Paul), City of
Lakes, Land of 10,000 Lakes
Airports
Metropolitan Area
Population: 2,792,137 In 1998–99, over 30 million pas-
Description: Covers counties in Minnesota and
Wisconsin sengers passed through the Minneapo-
Area: 15,076 sq km (6,064 sq mi) lis-St. Paul International Airport on
491,273 arriving and departing flights.
Average yearly growth rate: 1.1% The Airport is located 20 minutes from
Ethnic composition: 91.2% white; 4.4% black; downtown Minneapolis. The airport,
which is served by 13 commercial air-
——— lines and is the international headquar-
1. The Minneapolis metropolitan area’s rank
among the world’s urban areas. ters of Northwest Airlines, services a
2. The percent of the United States’ total total of over 1,000 arriving and depart-
population living in the Miami metropolitan ing flights every day. Direct flights are
area.
available to major foreign cities. The
Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport is ranked
as one of the nation’s safest.
Highways Shipping
The Twin Cities region is accessible
The Twin Cities are among the
by I-94, a major east-west route running
nation’s major transportation hubs.
from coast to coast of the United States,
Some 150 trucking companies serve the
and I-35, bisecting the country north to
region, making it a major trucking cen-
south from Lake Superior to the Gulf of
ter. The Minneapolis-St. Paul ports
Mexico. In addition, I-494 and I-694
together handle about ten million met-
offer access to the Twin Cities suburban
areas. ric tons (11 million tons) of cargo annu-
ally. Four air cargo carriers and 40 air
freight forwarders service the Minneap-
olis-St. Paul International Airport; more
Amtrak and Greyhound both serve than 154 metric tons (170 tons) of
the Twin Cities region. If traveling from freight pass through the airport annu-
the airport, Airport Express is a public ally.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis
3 Getting Around The Twin Cities are also served by more

than 800 taxis.
The streets of Minneapolis are laid
out in two adjacent grid patterns. Sightseeing
Streets north of Grant Street follow a Visitors might want to launch their
northeast-southwest axis, while those sightseeing venture with an overview of
to the south are laid out north-south the city from the observation deck atop
and east-west. With the Mississippi the Foshay Tower and catch a glimpse
River wending right through its center, of the Farmers' Market along the Nicol-
St. Paul’s layout is more irregular and let Mall. The Minneapolis Planetarium
broken up by hills and bluffs. Both cit- is a popular site, as is Underwater
ies have extensive systems of elevated, World, a 4.5 million-liter (1.2 million-
covered skywalks connecting virtually gallon), walk-through aquarium at the
all of their major government and com- Mall of America. The Minnesota Zoo
mercial buildings. The skywalk systems hosts 450 species of animals featured in
move much of the cities’ street life to their natural habitats. For a thrill, visi-
second-story level during the region’s tors can take a ride on the Wild Thing
notorious winters, when they provide a "hyper coaster" at Valleyfair! Family
climate-controlled haven from biting Amusement Park. For a tamer after-
winds, frigid temperatures, and heavy noon, there are an abundance of muse-
snowfall. The Minneapolis skywalks ums in Minneapolis. While many
can take pedestrians as far as 12 city display fine art and history, several host
blocks—from a city-operated parking unique exhibits, from medical quackery
ramp to the convention center. to children's interactive games. Gray
Line sightseeing tours of the Twin Cities
The Twin Cities area is known for
area visit Nicollet Mall and other attrac-
ease of commuting, with traffic flow
tions.
aided by an efficient freeway system,
medium population density, and the
fact that commercial and public build- 4 People
ings are spread out over two downtown In 1990, the population of Minne-
areas. The legendary politeness of Mid- apolis was 368,000, of which 81 percent
westerners may contribute as well. were white; 13 percent were black; 4.3
percent Asian; and 3.3 percent Ameri-
Bus and Commuter Rail Service can Indian. Hispanics (both white and
black) accounted for 2.1 percent of the
Metropolitan Council Transit Oper- population. The 1996 population esti-
ations (MCTO), the nation’s second- mate was 358,785. The population of
largest bus system, operates more than the St. Paul-Minneapolis Metropolitan
900 buses every day in the Twin Cities Statistical Area was estimated at
and the surrounding suburbs, carrying 2,792,137 as of 1997. The region’s racial
over 60 million passengers annually. composition was listed by the U.S. Cen-

Minneapolis

Minneapolis Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Star Tribune La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
sus Bureau in 1996 as 91.2 percent shopping district, Nicollet Mall, which
white; 4.4 percent black; 3.4 percent is closed to all vehicles except buses and
Asian/Pacific Islander. taxis. The city’s financial district is
located on Marquette Avenue. The Uni-
5 Neighborhoods versity of Minnesota campus is mostly
located on the east bank of the river.
The city of Minneapolis identifies The Lake of the Isles area houses an
81 distinct neighborhoods, 11 commu- upscale residential neighborhood.
nities, and four industrial areas within Divided between both river banks,
its boundaries. The central historic between two bridges, is the grain-mill-
landmark of Minneapolis is Bridge ing district.
Square, the spot that marks the found-
ing of the city. The city is located on Inner-ring suburbs on the west
both the east and west banks of the bank of the river include Brooklyn Cen-
Mississippi River, with the larger part ter, Robbinsdale, Crystal, Golden Valley,
located west of the river. Nicollet Ave- St. Louis Park, Edina, and Richfield. Sec-
nue is home to the major downtown ond- and third-tier suburbs include

Minneapolis
A view of the Minneapolis skyline. (Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Bloomington (home of the Mall of St. Anthony Park, Merriam Park, Macal-
America), Eden Prairie, Chaska, Min- ester-Groveland, and Highland Park.
netonka, and Plymouth. The neighbor-
hoods surrounding the University of 6 History
Minnesota are located in the eastern The area that today comprises the
part of the city. Twin Cities was home to the Sioux tribe
when it was first discovered in the late
St. Paul is smaller than Minneapo- seventeenth century by Europeans—a
lis and preserves more of a traditional French party headed by Father Louis
“small town” feeling. Its neighbor- Hennepin (for whom Hennepin
hoods include Summit Hill, Crocus Hill, County is named) that explored the

Minneapolis
area where the Mississippi and Minne- post-World War II decades, although
sota rivers meet and named the water- the area’s economic base shifted from
fall at the navigable head of the the traditional lumber and milling
Mississippi River after St. Anthony. Per- industries to new areas, including farm
manent settlement began after the machinery and electronics. Suburbs
establishment of Fort St. Anthony by mushroomed in the region, which grew
the U.S. military in the early nineteenth into the nexus of a seven-county metro-
century. Settlers began arriving from politan region, two-thirds of whose cur-
the East, followed by immigrants from rent residents are suburbanites.
Germany, Sweden, Norway, and Ire- However, the cities themselves
land. In 1872 present-day Minneapolis remained vigorous through major
was formed by the merger of cities on urban redevelopment efforts, including
the east and west banks of the Missis- Minneapolis’s Nicollet Mall and the
sippi. Fueled by its two major indus- networks of skywalks in both cities.
tries—timber and flour milling—and an
abundant supply of immigrant labor, 7 Government
the city grew rapidly. Rail line expan-
sion also made it a major transportation Minneapolis, the seat of Hennepin
center. Both Minneapolis and St. Paul County, is divided into 77 local legisla-
flourished through the late nineteenth tive districts and comprises six U.S. con-
and early twentieth centuries, as their gressional districts. Its government is
infrastructure grew and civic and cul- headed by a mayor and a 13-member
tural institutions sprang up. A rivalry city council elected to four-year terms
developed between Minneapolis, the of office.
state’s most populous city and home of
industrial giants such as Cargill and 8 Public Safety
General Mills, and St. Paul, the state
capital, venue of the state fair and In the 1990s the spread of drug
home to the “gentry” that populated trafficking and other types of street
the Summit Hill neighborhood. crime from such urban centers as Chi-
cago was a concern in the Twin Cities
The 1920s saw a building boom in region. However, major development
both cities. However, it stalled during projects and the assignment of more
the Depression years of the 1930s when beat cops to the area have kept down-
most new construction was sponsored town Minneapolis a busy, safe, and
by government relief programs. The clean area. In 1995, Minneapolis police
area’s reputation for social activism reported 1,978 violent crimes per
grew during these years, when it 100,000 population, including 27 mur-
became a focal point for the organized ders, 162 rapes, and 992 robberies.
labor movement, as well as both the Property crimes reported numbered
Socialist and Communist parties. The 9,567 and included 2,243 burglaries
Twin Cities continued to flourish in the and 1,255 motor vehicle thefts.

Minneapolis
responded to some 23,000 medical

emergencies.
9 Economy
The Twin Cities region has a
strong, diversified economy. Thanks to
a well-educated work force, average
unemployment in the Twin Cities is
consistently below the national aver-
age, and per capita income is above it.
Numerous major corporations are head-
quartered here, including Cargill,
Northwest Airlines, 3M, Honeywell,
Weyerhauser, Medtronic, and many
more. Reflecting the agricultural legacy
of America’s heartland, the food-pro-
cessing industry was historically the
mainstay of the area’s economy and is
still represented by General Mills, Land
O’Lakes, Pillsbury, International Multi-
foods, and others. The proximity of the
Nicollet Mall was a part of a major urban University of Minnesota and other
redevelopment effort, aided by the Twin Cities’
research facilities has helped make the
strong economy.
(Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Bureau) Twin Cities one of the nation’s major
high-technology centers, with over
1,300 research-based high-tech firms.
The Minneapolis Police Depart- The Twin Cities is also an important
ment serves five precincts with 910 financial center—the major one in the
sworn personnel, 165 civilian person- upper Midwest, with a number of major
nel, and 12 police dogs. It responded to financial companies, as well as a branch
almost 400,000 calls in 1998–99. of the Federal Reserve Bank. Service
industries and retailing are also impor-
In 1997 the Minneapolis Fire
tant sectors of the region’s economy.
Department operated 20 stations in
four districts, with 73 civilian personnel Major retailers located in Minneapolis-
and 413 sworn firefighters operating 30 St. Paul include Dayton Hudson, Target,
fire trucks. In 1998–99, the department SUPERVALU, and the Fingerhut cata-
answered nearly 11,000 fire alarms and logue business.

Minneapolis
10 Environment stores is still the main shopping district

in downtown Minneapolis, boasting
There are 22 lakes within the city four department stores, numerous spe-
limits of Minneapolis (thus the nick- cialty stores, and four multilevel malls,
name “City of Lakes”) and 31 within including the City Center, Gaviidae
the Minneapolis-St. Paul city limits (as Common, and IDS Crystal Court. Major
well as hundreds more in the surround- department stores include Dayton’s,
ing suburbs). Of Minneapolis’s total Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
area of 143 square kilometers (59 square Retail complexes in downtown St. Paul
miles), almost seven percent is water. In include Galtier Plaza, Town Square, and
addition to the multitude of lakes, the the World Trade Center. The St. Paul
Mississippi and Minnesota rivers wend Farmers’ Market, open April through
their way through the region, which November, features fresh produce,
has one of the country’s most extensive baked goods, cheese, and arts and
networks of parklands. The immediate crafts.
seven-county area boasts four state
parks and 19 wildlife management and/ The best-known shopping outlet in
or refuge areas. the Greater Twin Cities area is the Mall
of America in the Minneapolis suburb
In 1998–99, Minneapolis city ser- of Bloomington. The country’s most
vices recycled 38,516 metric tons extensive shopping and entertainment
(42,456 tons) of materials, including complex, this “mega-mall” occupying
19,716 metric tons (21,733 tons) of 390,180 square meters (4.2 million
newspapers, cans, and glass. Minneapo- square feet) of space opened in 1992.
lis residents use 246 million liters (65 Offering movies and even amusement-
million gallons) of water annually. park rides, as well as some 400 shops,
restaurants, and entertainment sites, it
11 Shopping is also a major tourist attraction, draw-
ing over 40 million visitors a year.
As the home of major retail corpo-
rations including Dayton Hudson, Tar-
get, and Best Buy, the Twin Cities has a
12 Education
history of innovative retailing. In 1956, The Twin Cities population is a
the suburb of Edina became the site of well-educated one. Of all adults ages 25
the nation’s first enclosed shopping and over, 82 percent have a high school
mall, Southdale. Still a commercial suc- diploma (compared with a U.S. average
cess, Southdale today is the anchor of of 75 percent); 28 percent have com-
an entire business district and residen- pleted four years of college (versus the
tial complex. national average of 20 percent).
In the 1960s, downtown Nicollet With a budget of over $625 million
Mall was turned into a pedestrian-only and per-pupil spending of nearly
thoroughfare. This 12-block stretch of $8,000 annually, the Minneapolis

Minneapolis
doctoral degrees. In addition to aca-

demic excellence, the university is also
an important cultural resource in the
region.
Other institutions of higher learn-
ing in the Twin Cities include the Cath-
olic-affiliated College of St. Catherine;
Hamline University, Minnesota’s oldest
private university; Macalester College
in St. Paul, a highly respected liberal-
arts college; Metropolitan State Univer-
sity a “college without walls” offering
classes for adult students at locations
throughout the Twin Cities; Minneapo-
lis College of Art & Design (MCAD),
one of the nation’s most respected art
schools; and William Mitchell College
of Law in St. Paul.
13 Health Care
The location of the Mayo Clinic
129 kilometers (80 miles) to the south
Gaviidae Common is among the four multi-level
in Rochester, Minnesota, has long asso-
malls found in the 12-block stretch of Nicollet ciated the Twin Cities region with
Mall, a pedestrian-only thoroughfare. excellence in health care. However, its
(Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Bureau) own facilities and medical personnel
are also first rate. The area has 37.3 doc-
school system employs 8,114 people. In tors per 100,000 population. Abbot
the 1998–99 school year, the system’s Northwestern Hospital is the Twin Cit-
120 schools enrolled a total of 49,388 ies’ largest not-for-profit hospital, as
students. There are also 248 private well as a major regional medical center.
schools in the Twin Cities area. With a staff of 1,300 physicians and
4,500 employees, the hospital provides
The Twin Cities campus of the Uni- services to some 180,000 patients annu-
versity of Minnesota is ranked among ally.
the nation’s top 20 public universities. Minneapolis has seven hospitals.
Located in the heart of the Twin Cities Operated by Hennepin County, Henne-
metropolitan area, the university offers pin County Medical Center (HCMC),
bachelor’s degrees in over 150 fields, as located in downtown Minneapolis,
well as 200 master’s degrees, and 100 anchors the county’s health services

Minneapolis
system, which also includes a physician zine. Other magazines of local or

group practice, a system of community regional interest are Corporate Report
clinics, and a health maintenance orga- Minnesota, Minnesota History, Minnesota
nization (HMO), as well as respected Monthly, Minnesota Parent, Minnesota
teaching and research programs. In Sports, and Minnesota’s Journal of Law
1998, HCMC had a daily average of 360 and Politics. A popular national maga-
filled beds; 104,590 day patients; zine produced in the region is the Utne
317,411 clinic visits; and 87,566 emer- Reader.
gency services visits.
All the major television networks
have affiliated stations in the Twin Cit-
14 Media ies and several cable firms serve the
area, although fewer than 50 percent of
The Twin Cities are served by two
households in the area subscribe to
daily newspapers. The Star Tribune,
cable—one of the lowest rates in the
based in Minneapolis, publishes sepa-
nation. There are over 30 AM and FM
rate editions for Minneapolis and St.
radio stations in the region. Operator of
Paul. With a daily circulation of over
27 stations throughout the Midwest
400,000 and about 700,000 on Sun-
and originator of such programs as the
days, the Star Tribune offers home deliv-
popular “Prairie Home Companion”
ery throughout the Twin Cities area.
hosted by Garrison Keillor, Minnesota
The paper won a Pulitzer Prize in 1990
Public Radio has become a major force
for investigative reporting. The St. Paul
in the nation’s public radio program-
Pioneer Press is delivered only in the
ming. Minnesota is also home to the
eastern part of the Twin Cities region
Public Radio International (formerly
but available throughout the area in
American Public Radio) network, which
vending machines and at newsstands. It
offers an alternative (or complement) to
is known particularly for the quality of
the programs produced by National
its feature and sport writing and its
Public Radio in Washington, D.C.
unique Bulletin Board section.
Weekly newspapers available in 15 Sports

Minneapolis-St. Paul include the Ameri-
can Jewish World, the Asian American The Twin Cities support major
Press, the Asian Pages, the Minnesota league baseball, football, and basketball
Women’s Press, the Minneapolis Spokes- teams. The Minnesota Twins (baseball),
man and St. Paul Recorder, both serving 1987 and 1991 World Series champions,
the black community, and two alterna- drew crowds of nearly one-and-a-half
tive news weeklies, City Pages and the million fans in the 1997 season. Since
Twin Cities Reader. Business publications 1982, the Twins have played their
include Finance and Commerce, Minneap- home games in the Hubert H. Hum-
olis St. Paul City Business. Mpls. St. Paul phrey Metrodome. (The Mall of Amer-
is a locally distributed monthly maga- ica now stands at the site of their

Minneapolis
former home, Met Stadium.) The Met-

rodome is also home to the NFL’s Min-
nesota Vikings, who went to the Super
Bowl four times between 1969 and
1977. About 700,000 fans annually
come to see the Minnesota Timber-
wolves play basketball at Target Center
in downtown Minneapolis, even
though the ten-year-old team has yet to
deliver a winning season.
The University of Minnesota’s
sports teams bring the full spectrum of
intercollegiate sports to the Twin Cities
region and attract a loyal following.
Especially popular are men’s basketball,
hockey, and football, and women’s bas-
ketball. Auto racing can be viewed at
Elko Speedway and Raceway Park; horse
racing is held at Canterbury Park; and
greyhounds race at St. Croix Meadows.
Popular participant sports in the
Twin Cities include bicycling, bowling,
canoeing, fishing, golf, horseback
riding, ice skating, roller skating, skiing,
and tennis.
Minnesota Timberwolves’ Stephon Marbury.
16 Parks and (Courtesy Minnesota Timberwolves)
Recreation
The Twin Cities are graced with include 396 baseball diamonds, 183
extensive parklands, especially Minne- tennis courts, 85 ice rinks, 11 super-
apolis, most of whose 22 lakes are sur- vised beaches, 124 public golf courses,
rounded by public parks. An 88- eight city courses, and 20 private
kilometer (55-mile) series of parkways courses. St. Paul has about 1,416 hect-
called “Grand Rounds” connects many ares (3,500 acres) of parkland.
of the city’s parks. Altogether, Minneap-
olis has over 170 parks, located on some 17 Performing Arts
2,428 hectares (6,000 acres) of land. Its
residents enjoy 120 kilometers (75 The Twin Cities have a rich array of
miles) of pedestrian, bike, and skate cultural resources. The Minnesota
trails. The city’s recreational facilities Orchestra, founded in 1903, has played

Minneapolis
under the batons of such renowned the campus of the University of Minne-
music directors as Eugene Ormandy, sota; State Theatre; and Southern The-
Dmitri Metropoulos, and Sir Neville ater. Large audiences for rock concerts
Marriner. The St. Paul Chamber Orches- and other events are accommodated by
tra is a distinguished full-time ensemble the Target Center in Minneapolis and
of 37, known for both its live perfor- the St. Paul Civic Center.
mances and recordings. Other musical
groups in the region include the Bach 18 Libraries and
Society of Minnesota; the 150-member Museums
Minnesota Chorale; and the Minnesota
Opera, which presents classic operas The Minneapolis Public Library
and offers classes in opera. Concerts are operates a central library downtown, 14
sponsored by the Minnesota Compos- neighborhood branches, and one book-
ers Forum, Plymouth Music Series, the mobile. In addition, its Municipal
Schubert Club, and the Twin Cities Jazz Information Library, housed in City
Society. Hall, has two-and-a-half million items,
including 2,800 periodical subscrip-
Home to the renowned Guthrie tions; its Central Library has the largest
Theatre, the Twin Cities have more the- collection in the state. The library sys-
aters per capita than any other place in tem had some 400,000 registered bor-
the United States except New York City. rowers in 1997, who checked out
Other theater groups include the Chil- approximately two-and-a-half million
dren’s Theatre Company, the Great books and other items.
American History Theatre, Illusion The-
The Twin Cities houses several
atre, and In the Heart of the Beat Pup-
pet and Mask Theatre. Dance major art collections and more than 50
art galleries. The Minneapolis Institute
companies include the Minnesota
of Arts houses a collection of over
Dance Theatre; the James Sewell Ballet,
showcasing the choreography of its 85,000 art objects, including an excel-
lent Impressionist display and a world-
director; and the experimental groups
famous Rembrandt painting, and
Ballet of the Dolls and the Margolis/
Brown Company. numerous works by nineteenth- and
twentieth-century European and Ameri-
Touring performances of all kinds can painters. The Walker Art Center is
are staged at many venues in the Twin well known for the quality of its con-
Cities, including the Fitzgerald Theatre temporary art collection, as well as its
(home of the popular National Public presentation of innovative performance
Radio program “A Prairie Home Com- programs. The University of Minne-
panion”); the Northrup Auditorium; sota’s Frederick R. Weisman Art
Orchestra Hall on the Nicollet Mall, Museum houses a mostly modern col-
home of the Minnesota Orchestra; the lection in a dramatic contemporary riv-
Ordway Music Theater; the Orpheum erfront building designed by architect
Theatre; the Ted Mann Concert Hall on Frank Gehry.

Minneapolis
The Minnesota History Center in MAY

St. Paul displays all things Minneso- Heart of the Beast May Day Parade & Festival
Scottish Country Fair
tan—from the mysteries of grain silo Eagle Creek Rendezvous
operation to facets of the state’s multi- Main Street Days
cultural past. Also located in St. Paul are
JUNE
the Science Museum of Minnesota and Gay and Lesbian Pride Festival
Minnesota Children’s Museum. Spe- Edina Art Fair
cialty museums in Minneapolis include Grand Old Day
the James Ford Bell Museum of Natural Midsommar Celebration and Scandinavian Art
History, the American Swedish Insti- Fair
Minnesota Crafts Festival
tute, and the Bakken Library and
SummerFolk
Museum of Electricity in Life. Twin Cities Juneteenth Celebration
Civil War Weekend Live in the Zoo
19 To u r i s m Alive After Five Concerts
Nicollet Mall Car Classic
Minneapolis has 18 hotels, with a
total of 5,027 rooms. The major con- JULY
Lyn-Lake Street Fair
vention facility, opened in 1990, is the All-Star Festival of the Blues
Minneapolis Convention Center, fea- Minneapolis Aquatennial
turing 26,012 square meters (280,000 Minnesota Heritage Festival
square feet) of exhibit space topped by Movies and Music in the Park
three soaring copper domes, as well as a Rice Street Festival
Rondo Days
ballroom with proscenium stage for A Taste of Minnesota
gala events. The convention center is Twin Cities Ribfest
linked to the city’s eight-kilometer Viennese Sommerfest
(five-mile) system of walkways that Grand Prix of Minnesota
connects with hotels, shops, restau- AUGUST
rants, and entertainment venues. Minnesota Renaissance Festival
Minnesota State Fair
20 Holidays and Powderhorn Festival of the Arts
Uptown Art Fair
Festivals Bloomington Jazz Festival
JANUARY Cedarfest
St. Paul Winter Carnival SEPTEMBER
MARCH Country Folk Art Show
St. Patrick’s Day Parades Fall Festival Horse Show
Dayton’s-Bachman’s Flower Show Oyster & Guinness Festival
Northwest Sports Show OCTOBER
Warehouse District Art Walk European Oktoberfest
Fall Home & Garden Show
APRIL
Festival of Nations Farmers Market on Nicollet Mall
Antique Show Twin Cities Marathon
Easter Egg-Stravaganza NOVEMBER
International Film Fest Ski Snowmobile & Winter Sports Show

Minneapolis
The University of Minnesota’s Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum collection includes the sculpture
Spoonbridge and Cherry. (Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, Spoonbridge and Cherry, 1987–88. Aluminum, stainless steel,
paint. Collection Walker Art Center. Gift of Frederick R. Weisman in honor of his parents, William and Mary Weisman, 1988.)
DECEMBER The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzger-

Folkways of Christmas ald (1896–1940).
Holidazzle Parades
International Festival of Trees Comedian and political satirist Al Fran-
Holidays at the Zoo ken (b. 1951).
New Year’s Eve Fireworks Celebration
Industrialist and billionaire J. Paul Get-
21 Famous Citizens ty (1892–1976).
U.S. Supreme Court justices Warren Senator, Vice President, and Democratic
Burger (b. 1907) and Harry Black- presidential candidate Hubert H.
mun (1908–99). Humphrey (1911–78).
Author Robert Bly (b. 1926). Radio personality and author Garrison
Filmmakers Joel (b. 1954) and Ethan Keillor (b. 1942).
Coen (b. 1957). U.S. senator and vice presidential candi-
Aviatrix Amelia Earhart (1897–1937). date Walter F. Mondale (b. 1928).

Minneapolis
Singer Prince Rogers Nelson (the Artist 33 S. 6th St., Multifoods Tower
Formerly Known as Prince) (b. Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 661-4700
1958).
Newscaster Harry Reasoner (b. 1923). Publications
Corporate Report Minnesota
Cartoonist Charles Schulz (1922–2000), 105 S. 5th St., Suite 100
creator of the Peanuts comic strip. Minneapolis, MN 55415
Longtime NAACP director Roy Wilkins Minneapolis-St. Paul
(1901–81). 220 S 6th St., Suite 500
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Author Meridel Le Sueur (1900–96).
Minneapolis-St. Paul City Business
Journalist Eric Sevareid (1912–92). 527 Arquette Ave., Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Actress Lea Thompson (b. 1961).
Star Tribune
425 Portland Ave. S
22 For Further Study Minneapolis, MN 55488
Websites Books
Minneapolis City Net. [Online] Available http://
Adams, John S., and Barbara J. Van Drasek. Min-
www.city.net/countries/united_states/
neapolis-St. Paul: People, Place, and Public Life.
minnesota/minneapolis (accessed October
Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press,
14, 1999).
1993.
Minneapolis-St. Paul City Guide. [Online] Avail-
able http://www.tgimaps.com/marketplace/ Arthur, Lindsay G., and Jean Arthur. Twin Cities
cityguide (accessed October 14, 1999). Uncovered. Plano, TX: Seaside Press, 1996.
Twin Cities Global Connection. [Online] Avail- Borchert, John R., et al. Legacy of Minneapo-
able http://www.tcglobal.com/ (accessed lis:Preservation Amid Change. Bloomington,
October 14, 1999). MN: Voyageur, 1983.
Twin Cities Internet Guide & Directory. [Online] DeGroot, Barbara, and Jack El-Hai. The Insiders’
Available http://www.tcigd.com/ (accessed Guide to the Twin Cities. St. Paul, MN: St. Paul
October 14, 1999). Press, 1995.
Fairbanks, Evelyn. The Days of Rondo. St. Paul:
Government Offices Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1990.
City Hall Kunz, Virginia Brainard. St. Paul, A Modern
350 South Fifth Street Renaissance. Northridge, CA: Windsor Publi-
Minneapolis, MN 55415 cations, 1986.
(612) 673-2491 Millett, Larry. Twin Cities Then and Now. St. Paul,
MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press,
Mayor’s Office 1996.
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Minneapolis, MN 55415 sota Historical Society Press, 1992.
(612) 673-2100
Nelson, Rick. Minneapolis/St. Paul. CitySmart
Minneapolis Planning Department Guidebook. Santa Fe, NM: John Muir Publi-
350 South Fifth Street cations, 1997.
Minneapolis, MN 55415 Nyberg, Joan. A Rustling of Wings: An Angelic
(612) 673-2597 Guide to the Twin Cities. St. Paul: Wingtip
Press, 1994.
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Greater Minneapolis Convention Cities, Their People. Helena, MT: American
and Visitors Bureau Geographic, 1988.

Monrovia
Monrovia, Liberia, Africa
Founded: 1822
Location: Western coast of Liberia
Motto: “The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here” (national motto)
Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Ethnic Composition: 16 major ethnic groups, the most numerous being the Bassa
Climate: Warm and humid year round; rainy season between May and October
Average Annual Precipitation (total rainfall): 5,200 mm (205 in)
Government: Administered directly by the federal government
Monetary Units: Liberian dollar
Telephone Area Codes: 231 (both the country and city code)
Postal Codes: 10 (Downtown Monrovia)
1 Introduction dents were hopeful that a United

Nations-sponsored peace agreement
Named after the fifth U.S. president and free elections would bring perma-
James Monroe (1758–1831; president nent peace to their home.
1817–25), Monrovia, the capital of
Liberia, welcomed the first freed slaves
to arrive from the United States in the 2 Getting There
1820s. Located on the country’s Atlan- Monrovia is located at the north-
tic coast at the mouth of the Mesurado ern portion of the Liberian coast, on
River, it is the seat of the national gov- the promontory of Cape Mesurado at
ernment and the country’s principal the mouth of the Mesurado River. The
deepwater port. This once bustling city city extends across a series of small
was a major battleground in the civil islands and peninsulas divided by
war that raged in Liberia from 1990 to lagoons.
1997. Many of Monrovia’s buildings
were destroyed, and its infrastructure Highways
sustained heavy damage. In the late
1990s, life began returning to normal as Most thoroughfares in Liberia are
the city started to rebuild, and its resi- dirt roads although the major northeast
69
Monrovia
meters (300 miles) of track are used pri-

Monrovia marily to transport iron ore to
Population Profile Monrovia and Buchanan. Limited pas-
senger service from the mines to Bucha-
Population: 1,413,000 nan was introduced in 1964.
Ethnic composition: 16 major ethnic groups, the
most numerous being the Bassa Airports
The Spriggs-Payne Airfield, south-
east of the city, is used for all domestic
———
1. The Monrovia metropolitan area’s rank among
air travel (there are no regularly sched-
the world’s urban areas. uled flights). Liberia’s sole international
2. The percent of Liberia’s total population living airport is located at Roberts Interna-
in the Monrovia metropolitan area. tional Airport (popularly known as Rob-
ertsfield), 58 kilometers (36 miles) from
Monrovia. There are direct flights
between Monrovia and Abidjan (Cote
road out of Monrovia is paved with tar, d’Ivoire) and Conakry (Guinea), and
as are the roads connecting Monrovia flights from Europe and the United
with Bo, Tubmanburg, and Buchanan. States must connect through these
Monrovia’s infrastructure suffered points as well.
heavy damage in the civil war of the
1990s, and rebuilding began late in the Shipping
decade. In 1998 the Liberia Electricity
The Free Port of Monrovia, opened
Corporation turned on the first traffic
in 1948, is Liberia’s major deepwater
light to function in the city since 1990.
port. Improvements in the early 1960s
increased the size of the ships it can
Bus and Railroad Service accommodate. Together, the ports of
Crowded inter-city buses (actually Monrovia and Buchanan handle nearly
minivans) travel most major routes in all the country’s shipping. A large num-
Liberia. There is direct bus service sev- ber of foreign-owned ships are regis-
eral times weekly to Abidjan, Cote tered in Liberia, giving it one of the
d’Ivoire. Another major mode of inter- world’s largest merchant fleets with
city travel is bush taxi. There is daily more than 1,600 vessels.
bush taxi service between Monrovia
and Buchanan, Gbarnga, Ganta, San- 3 Getting Around
niquellie, and destinations in Sierra
Leone. Boats are often used to travel Monrovia extends along the Atlan-
between Liberian coastal cities. Liberia’s tic coast, reaching north to Free Port
railroads are all owned by the country’s and Bushrod Island and southeast to
mining companies, and their 480 kilo- the suburb of Sinkor. Both Sinkor and

Monrovia

Monrovia
the downtown area of the city itself are 5 Neighborhoods

laid out in grid patterns.
The Monrovia metropolitan area,
Bus and Commuter Rail Service including the downtown area, nearby
districts, and suburbs, has an area of
The primary mode of public trans- approximately 13 square kilometers
port in Monrovia is sharing taxis. Fares (five square miles). The downtown grid
are standardized according to a zone is home to government buildings,
system. including the Capitol, Executive Man-
sion, City Hall, and Temple of Justice;
Sightseeing foreign embassies; the Waterside Mar-
Years of warfare have curtailed ket; the National Museum; and hotels.
sightseeing in Monrovia, destroying Diminutive Providence Island, north of
many buildings and much of the city’s the city center, is the spot where the
infrastructure. first freed slaves from America arrived
in Liberia in 1822. To the east lie Bush-
rod, Bally, and Bank Islands. Bushrod
4 People Island, where the Free Port of Monrovia
Monrovia is Liberia’s largest city; in is located, is the city’s industrial center
1995, its metropolitan population was and the location of its deepwater port.
estimated at 962,000. It is estimated Sinkor, southward along the Atlantic
that more than one-third of the coun- coast, is Monrovia’s major suburb and is
try’s population lives within 80 kilome- also laid out in a grid pattern, with
ters (50 miles) of the city. numbered streets and named avenues.
Yet further south are the older district
The major demographic divide in of Congotown, the Spriggs-Payne Air-
Liberia is the distinction between the field, and the Robertsfield Airport.
country’s indigenous residents and the Shantytowns with corrugated iron and
descendants of freed American slaves, cardboard houses extend along the
known as Americo-Liberians. The indig- edges of the city.
enous peoples (found mainly in the
interior) outnumber Americo-Liberians
(who live mainly on the coastal areas) 6 History
by a ratio of about 30 to one.
European exploration of the coast
All 16 of Liberia’s major ethnic of present-day Liberia began in 1461
groups can be found among the popu- with the arrival of the Portuguese navi-
lation of Monrovia, with the most gator Pedro de Sintra. He was followed
numerous being the Bassa, who belong by other Portuguese explorers, who
to the Kwa linguistic group. Monrovia named Cape Mesurado and other geo-
also has a foreign population consisting graphical features of the area, which
of both Africans and Europeans. became known as the Grain Coast.

Monrovia

Monrovia Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Liberia) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Daily Observer La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
By the early nineteenth century, Christopolis). The first settlers arrived

anti-slavery sentiment was growing in in 1822, settling on Providence Island.
the United States, and one proposed In spite of the formal agreement, the
solution to the problem of accommo- settlers were attacked by local tribes but
dating freed slaves was resettlement in managed to survive.
Africa. In 1818 representatives of the
Under the leadership of another
American Colonization Society, a pri-
American, Jehudi Ashmun, Liberia’s
vate U.S. organization, made a trip to
first governmental and economic insti-
the Grain Coast to assess the area. Three tutions were formed, and additional
years later the society acquired settle- settlements were begun in nearby
ment rights for Cape Mesurado through coastal areas. Liberia’s first governor
agreements signed with local chieftains. was appointed in 1839, and the terri-
These efforts were aided by the U.S. tory proclaimed its independence in
government under President James 1847. A constitution based on that of
Monroe, after whom Monrovia was the United States was adopted, and dur-
later named (its original name was ing the following decade the new

Monrovia
Monrovia was named after the fifth U.S. president James Monroe (1758–1831; president 1817–25).
(Werner Gartung; Woodfin Camp)
nation was recognized by most of the Early twentieth-century events in

world’s major powers. A large loan from Liberia included the establishment of a
Britain, necessitated by the withdrawal rubber plantation near Monrovia by the
of aid from American colonization soci- Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in
eties following Liberian independence, 1926 and, a few years later, the resigna-
plunged the new nation into debt later tion of the national government fol-
lowing a scandal over the shipment of
in the century. Unable to meet its obli-
African laborers to Fernando Po (in
gations, the nation was forced to bor-
present-day Equatorial Guinea). During
row yet more money; its foreign debt World War II (1939–45), Liberia joined
was not paid off until 1952. Toward the the Allies in declaring war on Germany
end of the nineteenth century, border and Japan. As the result of a defense
disputes erupted with the French in agreement signed with the United
neighboring Cote d’Ivoire and the Brit- States in 1942, an international airport
ish in Sierra Leone. and deepwater harbor were constructed

Monrovia
in Monrovia by 1948. In 1964 the free

port of Monrovia was placed for the
first time under the jurisdiction of the
Liberian government.
In spite of the economic progress
spurred by Monrovia’s growing impor-
tance as an international port city,
Liberia fell prey to economic troubles in
the 1960s and 1970s, as the world mar-
ket for its major exports declined. The
economic situation and continuing ten-
sions between the coastal elite, mostly
descended from ex-slaves, and the tribal
population in the interior of the coun-
try, led to the overthrow of the demo- A monument dedicated to the first settlers of
1822. (Werner Garttung; Woodfin Camp)
cratically elected government of
President William R. Tolbert in 1980 in
a military coup led by Samuel K. Doe reached in 1996, followed by elections
(1951–90), who ruled Liberia for ten the following year, with Charles Taylor
years until civil war erupted in 1989 and the National Patriotic Party win-
when rebels under the leadership of ning some 75 percent of the vote.
Charles Taylor invaded Liberia from
Since the area around the capital
Cote d’Ivoire.
was the major contested territory dur-
President Doe, who had barricaded ing the war, it suffered the greatest
himself in the presidential mansion, damage—to infrastructure and industry.
was killed, together with many of his In the late 1990s, however, life in Mon-
supporters, in 1990, after which Mon- rovia was beginning to return to nor-
rovia was torn between the remnants of mal, although fears of future violence
Doe’s army and breakaway rebel forces were raised when ECOMOG troops
led by Prince Johnson, a former associ- withdrew in early 1998. As many of the
ate of Taylor. Taylor’s forces ultimately refugees who had fled to neighboring
seized control of about 90 percent of countries poured back into the country,
the country and stormed Monrovia in both Liberians and the international
1992, after which an international community hoped that rebuilding
peacekeeping force known as ECOMOG efforts could be undertaken without
(the Economic Community of West further bloodshed and brutality.
African States Monitoring Group) was
stationed in the country. A series of 7 Government
temporary UN-sponsored peace agree-
ments temporarily halted the fighting, As the seat of the national govern-
and a permanent agreement was ment, Monrovia is home to the Execu-

Monrovia
ular vote every six years, as are the legis-

lators in the House of Representatives.
Senators are directly elected for nine-
year terms. During the civil war of 1990
to 1997, competing factions overran
the country, and there was no effective
central government. Central govern-
ment was restored in 1995 under
interim leadership in the form of a
Council of State. In 1997 Charles Taylor
was elected president of the country,
and the Council of State was dissolved.
There are no elected local councils

in Liberia, and most local government
centers around the country’s 13 coun-
ties. Monrovia, however, is governed
directly by the federal government
rather than at the county level.
8 Public Safety
The greatest threat to public safety
A boy stands with the national flag of Liberia. in Monrovia’s recent history was the
Monrovia has no city or county government, but is civil war that raged throughout the
governed directly by the federal government. country between 1990 and 1997, bring-
(Werner Gartung; Woodfin Camp) ing lawlessness and destruction to this
formerly peaceful capital. By 1996 the
city lay in ruins while armed gangs
tive Mansion (the residence of the employed by rival warlords roamed the
president), the Capitol building, the streets killing, raping, and looting.
Temple of Justice, and various ministry Thousands fled the fighting in the capi-
tal, and at least 100 peacekeepers lost
buildings. Thanks to its close associa-
their lives while trying to restore secu-
tion with the United States, Liberia’s
rity to the city and its environs. A U.S.
government has always been modeled
airlift evacuated more than 2,300 peo-
on that of the United States, with exec- ple from Monrovia, including 461
utive and judicial branches and a American citizens, and nearly the entire
bicameral legislature. The 1986 consti- U.S. embassy staff left the city.
tution adopted during the regime of Although conditions improved substan-
General Samuel K. Doe provides for the tially following the 1996 peace agree-
president to be directly elected by pop- ment and the 1997 elections, the threat

Monrovia
of violence remained, especially once 10 Environment

ECOMOG forces had been withdrawn
from the country. Wildlife on Liberia’s coastal plain,
where Monrovia is located, has been
virtually wiped out by hunting and
9 Economy habitat destruction, including increased
poaching during the prolonged period
Monrovia’s economy is centered on
of political instability since 1990. The
its harbor, home to the country’s major
Society for the Conservation of Nature
commercial port, which has accommo-
of Liberia (SCNL), headquartered in
dated ocean-going vessels since
Monrovia, is primarily concerned with
improvements made in the 1940s with
preserving Liberia’s rain forests, located
U.S. assistance. It is a free port, and ves-
in the northwest and southeastern parts
sels from countries around the world
of the country. However, following the
can obtain Liberian registration, giving
country’s civil war, the society also
the port one of the world’s largest
mounted a major campaign in the capi-
tanker fleets with more than 1,600 ves-
tal to rehabilitate its zoo, spearheading
sels. The main Liberian exports handled
extensive renovations intended to
through the port are the country’s two
include a guest house and environmen-
major natural resources, latex from rub-
tal education center on the zoo
ber plantations and iron ore. Monrovia
grounds. The SCNL also initiated a
also has storage and ship repair facili-
project to plant acacia seedlings at some
ties. Items manufactured in or near the
50 sites around the city.
city include food products, cement,
bricks, tiles, furniture, and pharmaceu- Liberia’s largest generating station,
ticals. the Mount Coffee hydroelectric plant
on the Saint Paul River, is located near
Following the civil war of the Monrovia. About half of Liberia’s elec-
1990s, Liberia, a country that was once tric energy comes from hydroelectric
prosperous by African standards, is one generation.
of the poorest countries on the conti-
nent, its economy decimated by dis- Pollution of the river by iron ore
placement of its population and tailings is a growing problem, while
destruction of its infrastructure. Utility purity of the waters off the Atlantic
operation in Monrovia broke down in coast is threatened by untreated sewage
1990, after which the city had no cen- and waste water and oil residues.
tral power supply, and residents
resorted to personal power generators. 11 Shopping
Now heavily dependent on foreign aid,
Liberia faces the challenges of repatriat- Monrovia’s Free Port has tradition-
ing refugees who fled to neighboring ally ensured the city a good supply of
countries, rebuilding its infrastructure, consumer goods, as well as specialties
and restoring its public institutions. such as African cloth and clothing. The

Monrovia
Modern consumer goods as well as traditional African specialty items are shipped into and out of
Monrovia’s Free Port. (Homer Sykes; Woodfin Camp)
largest number of textile and apparel Liberia are high. Although primary and
stores can be found on Benson Street, secondary education for children ages
and textiles can be purchased at the six to 16 are theoretically compulsory,
Waterside Market. A large concentra- only about 50 percent of Liberian chil-
tion of retailers can also be found on dren receive a primary education, with
Randall Street. African crafts, including the number dropping to 20 percent for
wood carvings, stone statues, and musi- secondary education. However, school
cal instruments, are sold in booths near attendance is better in cities than in
the U.S. embassy and MBK Brother Afri- rural areas.
can Arts Dealer on Carey Street. There
are also several supermarkets in Mon- Liberia’s most important institu-
rovia. tion of higher education, the University
of Liberia (founded in 1862), is located
12 Education in Monrovia, as are the William V. S.
Tubman College of Technology
Compared to most other countries (founded 1978), several teacher-train-
in Africa, educational standards in ing and community colleges, and the

Monrovia
Monrovia Torrino Medical College, a Voice of America and the BBC World
training institute for paramedics. Cut- Service can be received; programming
tington University College, an Episco- from the Sudan, France, and Italy, is
palian institution that is the oldest also available through direct satellite
private, coeducational, four-year college links.
in sub-Saharan Africa, is located 193
kilometers (120 miles) north of Mon- 15 Sports
rovia in Suakoko.
Soccer (“association football”) is
13 Health Care the most popular sport in Monrovia, as
elsewhere in Liberia. The city’s team,
The health-care network in Liberia the Lone Stars, plays at a stadium about
as a whole suffered from the civil war of 12 kilometers (seven-and-a-half miles)
the 1990s. Damage to the country’s from downtown and participates in
infrastructure and economy reduced its inter-county competition for the
capacity to combat diseases, such as national championship annually. At
malaria, tuberculosis, dysentery, and the international level, the Liberian
schistosomiasis. At the end of the war, national team competes in an African
Liberia had some 85 hospitals, with 15 soccer league, and the country also has
beds to every 10,000 persons. Health a national basketball team. Other popu-
care facilities in Monrovia are among lar sports in Monrovia are squash and
the best in the country and include the swimming. At the collegiate level, the
John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital and University of Liberia, located in the cap-
the Roman Catholic Hospital, both of ital, competes against Cuttington Uni-
which are affiliated with medical and versity College in a variety of sports.
nursing schools.
16 Parks and
14 Media Recreation
There are several daily newspapers Outdoor activities abound in and
published in Monrovia. The foremost around Monrovia. Located on Liberia’s
one, the Daily Observer, had a circula- Atlantic coast, Monrovia has a number
tion of 30,000 in 1998. The New of beaches, including Ellen’s Beach,
Liberian is the official newspaper of the Kendeja Beach, Thinker’s Village, and,
Liberian government. The other news- farther out, Marshall Beach. Snorkeling,
papers include Liberian Age, the Sun spear fishing, and scuba diving are all
Times, the Mirror, and Footprints Today. popular activities. Boating and fishing
Liberia’s single, state-owned television are centered on the St. Paul River. The
station broadcasts from the capital, privately owned Monrovia Zoo offers a
which is also the only area where its sig- glimpse at some of birds and wildlife
nal can be heard. Liberia has four radio one would find in the country’s tropical
stations, and programming by the rainforests. The Bong Mining Com-

Monrovia
pany, about two hours north of Mon- of galleries and a flourishing collection
rovia, has extensive recreational at the National Museum of Liberia,
facilities, including a swimming pool, located in the Supreme Court building.
soccer field, golf course, tennis courts, The museum was looted during the war,
restaurants, and aircraft and shooting but a number of its masks and ceramic
clubs. objects were salvaged and are now
housed at Cuttington University Col-
17 Performing Arts lege in Suakoko. Other museums in
Monrovia include the Africana Museum
Music and dance in Monrovia and and a museum at the University of
Liberia’s other coastal cities combines Liberia. Some of Monrovia’s local art-
traditional African and Western ele- ists, including Leslie Lumeh and Law-
ments. The most common instruments son Sworh, display their works at their
on which traditional Liberian music is private studios.
played include various types of xylo-
phone, rattles, a variety of stringed
instruments, and drums. Modern
19 To u r i s m
Liberian music has been influenced not Tourism to Liberia has been sup-
only by American gospel and soul but pressed by close to a decade of civil war
also by the big band music of Ghana and political instability. Of the coun-
and Sierra Leone and the music of the try’s existing hotels, most are located in
West Indies and Latin America. Gospel Monrovia, whose beaches are one of
music is widely heard over the radio in the country’s only tourist attractions.
Monrovia and other parts of the coun- Located on Liberia’s Atlantic coast, pop-
try. Live popular music can be heard in ular beaches include Ellen’s Beach,
a few clubs and discos although Mon- Kendeja Beach, Thinker’s Village, and,
rovia’s night life is much quieter than it farther out, Marshall Beach.
was in the years before the civil war.
20 Holidays and
18 Libraries and Festivals
Museums
FEBRUARY
Monrovia is home to the govern- Armed Forces Day
ment-run National Library, which holds MARCH
some 15,000 volumes. Other libraries in Decoration Day
the capital include a UNESCO facility, a J. J. Roberts Day
children’s library, a research library
APRIL
operated by the Liberian Information Fast and Prayer Day
Service, and the University of Liberia
library, which holds 108,000 volumes. MAY
National Unification Day
Before Liberia’s civil war, Monrovia JULY
had a thriving art scene, with a number Independence Day

Monrovia
Costumed dancers wait their turn to perform at a festival celebration. (Homer Sykes; Woodfin Camp)
AUGUST Samuel K. Doe (1951–90), military lead-

Flag Day er and head of government.
NOVEMBER George Weah (b. 1966), European Foot-
Tubman Day baller of the Year and African Foot-
ball Player of the Year.
21 Famous Citizens Charles Taylor (b. 1947), former rebel
Joseph Jenkins Roberts (1809–76), leader and current president of
Liberia’s first president. Liberia.
Jehudi Ashmun (1794–1828) and Ralph 22 For Further Study

Randolph Gurley (1797–1872),
Americans who helped organize Websites
the first settlement. Friends of Liberia. [Online] Available http://
www.fol.org (accessed February 3, 2000).
William V. S. Tubman (1895–1971), MIT. [Online] Available http://groove.mit.edu/
liberiapages (accessed February 3, 2000).
president of Liberia from 1944 to University of Pennsylvania. [Online] Available
1971. http://www.sas.upenn.edu/african_studies/

Monrovia
country_specific/liberia.html (accessed Feb- Books

ruary 3, 2000). Belcher, Max, ed. A Land and Life Remembered:
Americo-Liberian Folk Architecture. Athens:
Government Offices University of Georgia Press, 1988.
Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs Chea, Augustine S. Joy after Mourning: The Liberia
Broad St. Civil War. Decatur, GA: A.S. Chea, 1996.
P.O. Box 10–9016 Daniels, Anthony. Monrovia Mon Amour: A Visit
1000 Monrovia 10 to Liberia. London: John Murray, 1992.
Dolo, Emmanual. Democracy Versus Dictatorship:
Office of the President
The Quest for Freedom and Justice in Africa’s
Executive Mansion
Oldest Republic—Liberia. Lanham, MD: Uni-
P.O. Box 10–9001
versity Press of America, 1996.
Capitol Hill
1000 Monrovia 10 Harris, Katherine. African and American Values:
Liberia and West Africa. Lanham, MD: Uni-
versity Press of America, 1985.
Tourist and Convention Bureaus Huband, Mark. The Liberian Civil War. Portland,
Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism OR: F. Cass, 1998.
Capitol Hill Kulah, Arthur F. Liberia Will Rise Again: Reflec-
P.O. Box 10–9021 tions on the Liberian Civil Crisis. Nashville:
1000 Monrovia 10 Abingdon Press, 1999.
Liebenow, J. Gus. Liberia: The Quest for Democ-
Publications racy. Bloomington: Indiana University Press,
Daily Observer 1987.
117 Broad St. Saha, Santosh C. Culture in Liberia: An Afrocentric
Crown Hill View of the Cultural Interaction between the
P.O. Box 1858 Indigenous Liberians and the Americo-Liberi-
ans. Lewiston, NY: E. Mellen Press, 1998.
Liberian Age
Carey St. Sawyer, Amos. The Emergence of Autocracy in
P.O. Box 9031 Liberia: Tragedy and Challenge. San Francisco,
CA: Institute for Contemporary Studies,
New Liberian 1992.
Capitol Hill Shuster, Lynda. “The Final Days of Dr. Doe.”
P.O. Box 9021 Granta. Vol. 48. 1994.

Montréal
Montréal, Québec, Canada, North America

Location: Southern Quebéc, at the junction of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers
Flag: A red cross on a white background, with four emblems, as follows (clockwise
from upper left): fleur de lys, rose, shamrock, and thistle, representing historic
French, English, Scottish, and Irish influences
Ethnic Composition: White, 82.4%; black, 5.6%; other visible minorities, 12%
Latitude and Longitude: 45°31’N, 73°34’W
Coastline: 24 km (15 mi) along the St. Lawrence River
Climate: Continental climate with heavy snowfall and strong winds; warm summers
Annual Mean Temperature: 6.5°C (43°F); January –6.3°C (27°F); July 22.2°C (72°F)
Average Annual Precipitation: 115–150 cm (45–60 in)
Monetary Units: Canadian dollar
Telephone Area Code: 514
Postal Codes: All postal codes begin with the letter ‘H’
1 Introduction the city has ensured Montréal’s position

prominence in shipping, manufactur-
Montréal is the largest city in east- ing, and until recently, finance.
ern Canada and after Paris, the second Although today its manufacturing
largest French-speaking city in the industries are in decline, Montréal
world. Located on an island at the junc- remains an important port for both
tion of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa riv- ocean-going freighters and shipping on
ers, to the north of New York state. the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great
Montréal is a center for trade and Lakes. Initially settled by the French,
exchange. The stockaded settlement of Montréal’s population has been divided
Hochelaga predated the arrival of the between an English-speaking business
first white explorers, such as Jacques elite and a poorer working French-
Cartier. European settlement dates from speaking class.
1642 when Maisonneuve established a Montréal’s ethnic complexion and
small fort, Ville Marie, on the St. its importance in both English Canada
Lawrence River. Montréal takes its and Québec has changed. Under pres-
name from Mt. Royal, an imposing hill sure from Québec Nationalists, major
in the center of the city. The location of businesses and the English-speaking
83
Montreal
than any other North American city

Montréal except the provincial capital Québec
Population Profile City.
City Proper 2 Getting There

Population: 1,005, 000
Area: 192 sq km (74 sq mi) Montréal is easily accessible by
Ethnic composition: 82.4% white; 5.6% black
other visible minorities 12%
road, rail, water, and air.
Nicknames: City of Churches
Highways
Metropolitan Area
Population: 3,401,000 Ten super highways converge on
Area: 3500 sq km (1,355 sq mi) Montréal from Toronto, Ottawa, the
World population rank1: 79 Laurentians, Québec City, the Eastern
Townships, New England, and New
York state. Principal highways include
———
1. The Montréal metropolitan area’s rank among the Trans-Canada Highway, which
the world’s urban areas. passes underneath the downtown;
2. The percent of Canada’s total population living Autoroute 20 from Toronto; I-89 from
in the Montréal metropolitan area.
Vermont and New England; and I-87
from Albany and New York City.
Québec City is approximately three
hours away; Ottawa, 90 minutes; Tor-
elites who dominated them have
onto, five hours; and New York City, six
departed for Toronto and English-
hours by car.
speaking Canada. Québec City, the pro-
vincial capital, has surpassed Montréal
as the center of Québec political life.
Although Montréal, particularly the Montréal is a hub for both the
eastern part of the city, remains French, Canadian Pacific and Canadian
Francophone middle classes have National Railways. Via Rail operates
departed for the suburbs. Immigrants trains to Ottawa, Toronto and points
from southern and eastern Europe and west, and Québec City and Eastern Can-
other parts of the world have made ada. Amtrak operates a daily service
Montréal an ethnically diverse city. The from Washington, D.C., and New York
city remains an important cultural cen- City. Montréal can also be reached from
ter and a destination for North Ameri- numerous points by bus.
can and European tourists enticed by its
restaurants, entertainment, neighbor- Airports
hoods, and the character of its older Montréal’s Dorval Airport is served
city. Narrow cobblestoned streets, stone by Air Canada, as well as major Ameri-
buildings, and numerous cafes give Old can and international carriers. Flights
Montréal a more European character depart regularly for 130 cities in eastern

Montreal

Montreal
and western Canada, as well as major 3 Getting Around

American and European cities. There is
shuttle service to Toronto, which is one Montréal is served by a metro,
hour away by air. Ottawa, Canada’s cap- buses, and an extensive but sometimes
traffic-choked road network. Travel by
ital, is 15 minutes away by plane and
auto can be frustrating. Although the
can be reached in 90 minutes by car.
city is traversed by broad boulevards
Mirabel Airport, 58 kilometers (36
and several expressways, roadways,
miles) to the north, provides charter
bridges, and tunnels to suburbs in the
and freight service.
south are often stopped with traffic.
Drivers unfamiliar with exits and
Shipping entrances find it difficult to maneuver
across lanes to exits and entrances, and
Linked to numerous ports around in accordance with provincial language
the world by various shipping lines, laws, signs are in French.
Montréal is the leading North American
container port on the North Atlantic Bus and Commuter Rail Service
market. Over the past decade, the Port
The easiest way to get around the
of Montréal has handled an average of
city is by Metro and bus. The Metro is
some 18 million metric tons (20 million
modern, efficient, and quiet. Following
tons) of cargo each year, including con-
a French design, trains run on rubber
tainerized and non-containerized gen-
tires. Metro stations are spacious; each
eral cargo, grain and other dry bulk, has a unique modern design. There are
and petroleum products and other liq- four separate lines: the green line runs
uid bulk. In addition, the port wel- east to west through the downtown; the
comes thousands of visitors to its red line runs south from Henri-
Iberville Passenger Terminal every year. Bourassa, west through the downtown
and north again, intersecting the green
The Port of Montréal engages in line at Berri-UQAM and Lionel-Groulx;
year-round domestic and international the yellow line runs from Berri-UQAM
trade. Moreover, the St. Lawrence River south to Longeuil on the opposite side
has been navigable year-round for of the St. Lawrence River. The Metro
ocean-going vessels for more than 35 and bus systems are integrated: buses
years. A computerized dispatching sys- stop at Metro stations, and transfers are
tem ensures that the correct number of available from bus drivers or special
longshoremen with the precise skills machines at station entrances. Cash
required are assigned to a ship each day. fares are $1.90 per trip. Six-ride tickets,
The Port of Montréal is also among the one- and three-day tourist cards, and
safest ports in the world as the entire weekly and monthly passes are also
port perimeter and individual terminals available. Bicycles can be transported in
are enclosed, and entrances are always non-rush hours in the front car of each
monitored. train. Dorval Airport, 18 kilometers (11

Montreal

Montréal Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Canada) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
Le Journal de Akhbar El Yom/
Montréal Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
miles) west of the city, can be reached stantial numbers of Italians (84,000),
by bus, limousine, or taxi. Irish (43,000), Scots (26,000), Jews
(27,000), Greeks (20,000), Chinese
(22,000), South Asians (27,000), Hai-
4 People
tians (37,000), and Lebanese (14,000).
The city of Montréal has a popula- Nearly one-fifth of the population
tion of one million, but the Montréal (204,000) is composed of visible minor-
metropolitan area has 3.1 million peo- ities. Nearly half of Montréal’s popula-
ple, 1.75 million of whom live within tion (492,000 people) is bilingual and
the Montréal Urban region. The popu- thus capable of speaking both of Can-
lation of the city is diverse. The largest ada’s two official languages; 370,000
groups within the population are others speak French only, and 100,000
Québecois (French Canadians, approxi- speak English only. This is a substantial
mately 319,000) and English Canadians change from the past when most of the
(301,000). However, Montréal is home English Canadian population spoke
to numerous ethnic and linguistic only English. However, to the dismay of
groups. The 1996 census reported sub- many Québec nationalists, many Fran-

Montreal
the area of initial settlement, is a his-

toric area with cafes and restaurants.
The contemporary downtown is nearby,
between Boulevard René Lévesque and
Sherbrooke. Urban renewal projects
under Mayor Jean Drapeau (1916–1999)
replaced many low-rise buildings with
modernistic high rises and a network of
underground passages connecting
shopping and office complexes.
The modern city surrounds Mount

Royal, a large glacial formation in the
middle of Montréal island. Residential
neighborhoods have distinctive com-
plexions. North of Sherbrooke Street,
mansions line streets running up to
Mount Royal and extend into West-
mount, an English-speaking area to the
west of the downtown core. Westmount
has been a center for Montréal’s
English-speaking population. The east
end of Montréal is a poorer and pre-
dominantly French. Housing stock here
consists primarily of three-story walk-
up apartment buildings, with wrought-
French settlers established Ville Marie in Place
Royale in 1642 in what is now Old Montréal.
iron exterior stairways. Further west is
(Bernard Boutrit; Woodfin Camp) Notre Dame du Grace, home to middle
classes and immigrant communities.
cophones are moving to Montréal’s The Jewish and many other immigrant
suburbs. As a result, the proportion of communities originally settled in the
Montréal residents speaking French is heart of the city, along St. Lawrence (St.
declining; there is less insistence on the Laurent) Blvd., a north-south artery
use of French in bars, cafes, and restau- dividing the eastern and western por-
rants. tions of the city. Italian areas are
located further north, around the Jean-
Talon metro. Mount Royal, to the north
5 Neighborhoods of the mountain of the same name, is
Montréal grew up in the area primarily an Anglophone area. Outrem-
between the St. Lawrence River and ont, in contrast, is predominantly
Mount Royal. Older industries are on French speaking. Laval, on Jesus Island,
low lands to the west. Old Montréal, is a French-speaking suburb. Longeuil

Montreal
on the southern shore of the St. Railway), solidifying Montréal’s posi-

Lawrence is mixed. tion as a shipping and commercial cen-
ter. The city of Montréal was
incorporated in 1832. English migra-
6 History tion briefly produced an English-speak-
Montréal is one of Canada’s oldest ing majority from 1831 to 1867, but
settlements. Iroquois and Algonquin this was reversed by migration from the
Indians had established a trading post countryside later in the nineteenth cen-
and settlement, Hochelaga, well before tury. European immigration lead to fur-
the arrival of Europeans. The French ther growth in the nineteenth and early
explorer, Jacques Cartier, sailed up the twentieth centuries. The city’s popula-
St. Lawrence in 1635 and explored the tion reached one million in the 1930s
island and surrounding areas. French and has remained stable since then.
settlers, under Sieur de Maisonneuve However, surrounding areas have con-
(Paul de Chomedey, b. early seven- tinued to grow. Montréal island has 1.7
teenth century; d. 1676), established million people, the larger metropolitan
Ville Marie in 1642 at Place Royale in area, 3.1 million. Water and rail trans-
what is now Old Montréal. Initially, port and available work force facilitated
Montréal was governed as a seigneury, or the growth and diversification of indus-
concession held by a religious order, the try.
Gentlemen of St. Suplice. Ease of water
transport established Montréal as the Montréal quickly emerged as a
center of the North American fur trade. major city in both Canada and the
Montréal remained under the French province of Québec. Until the 1970s,
until 1760 when they were displaced by Montréal was the center of Canadian
the British during the French and banking and commerce, as well as an
Indian War (1755–63). The Treaty of important industrial center. Although
Paris in 1763 ceded Montréal to the the transfer of business and commercial
British. interests to Toronto has undermined
the economic position of the city, Mon-
Following the British conquest, tréal’s earlier position has left the city
Scottish and English merchants dis- with a legacy of public buildings and
placed the French and in the next 100 institutions, reflected in the major
years established a commercial and museums and cultural centers described
banking empire. Construction of the below. Montréal is also the center of
Lachine canal in 1825, bypassing rapids Québec cultural and intellectual life,
in the river, opened up inland trade. and until recently dominated the
The Bank of Montréal was established smaller, more traditional and homoge-
in 1817. Montréal banking interests nous provincial capital, Québec City. In
financed the construction of the Cana- the late nineteenth century, Montréal
dian Pacific and the Grand Trunk Rail- provided a center for French-Canadian
ways (later the Canadian National nationalism and was at the heart of the

Montreal
Quiet Revolution, which transformed traditional upper classes and the

Québec in the 1960s and 1970s. Roman Catholic Church. Montréal
became a major center for competing
Relations between English and
views of the position of Québec in Can-
French speakers have been central in
ada. Trudeau and other federalists
the development of Montréal, Québec,
argued for bilingual and multi-cultural
and Canadian politics. English con-
Canada while Québec nationalists, such
quest in 1763 transformed Montréal
as Lévesque, insisted on primacy for the
from a French to an English commercial
French language in Québec and sover-
center. Anglophone financial and com-
eignty for the Québec people. In the
mercial interests in Montréal allied with
late 1960s and early 1970s, Québec
Québec upper classes, enabling English-
nationalism provoked massive demon-
speaking Montréal to flourish in an
strations and occasional acts of terror-
otherwise rural, traditional, Catholic
ism by organizations such as the
and church-dominated province. In
Québec Liberation Front (FLQ). Kidnap-
Montréal, English was the language of
pings led to the imposition of the War
business, and French Canadians found
Measures Act, a martial law, in Québec
themselves frustrated by demands to
in the spring of 1970.
“speak white”—in English, rather than
their native French. Elimination of
After 1976, new language laws,
Catholic (and thus Francophone)
requiring education in the French lan-
schools in Manitoba and other parts of
guage for all, except the children of
western Canada cut off Québec migra-
Anglophones born in Québec, and a
tion to other parts of Canada, encour-
dominant position for French in the
aging French-Canadian populations to
workplace and on signs, transformed
turn in on themselves in solitude, sepa-
Québec society. Sign laws—Signage—
rate from the rest of Canada. Cut off
became a point of friction between
from both the rest of Canada and
Anglophones, unable to operate in
France, Québecois opposed Canadian
French, and Québec nationalists.
involvement in both world wars. Oppo-
Québec sign laws originally permitted
sition to the draft led to the arrest and
signs only in French, but after negative
imprisonment of Montréal Mayor Cam-
court decisions, the law was re–written
illien Houde until 1944.
to require that French lettering be at
Social and economic change trans- least twice the size of lettering in any
formed Québec in the 1960s and 1970s. other language. Anglophones unwilling
French Canadian intellectuals, includ- to become bilingual left Montréal and
ing former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot the province. In the process, Montréal
Trudeau (b. 1919; prime minister 1968– lost many of its head offices but
79 and 1980–84) and former Québec emerged as vibrant center of Québec
Premier René Lévesque, a Montréal intellectual and cultural life. However,
journalist, joined with others in a Quiet language laws demanding that the chil-
Revolution against the domination of dren of immigrants be educated in

Montreal
French became a source of friction in

Montréal’s many ethnic communities.
More recently, tensions have subsided,
in part because of Francophones. To the
dismay of Québec nationalists, Mon-
tréal has regularly voted against a refer-
enda demanding that Québec establish
itself as a sovereign nation loosely asso-
ciated with the rest of Canada. In turn,
Parti Québecois governments have chan-
neled badly needed investment to
Québec City instead of Montréal.
7 Government
Montréal has two levels of govern-
ment. The city of Montréal has its own
57-member council and a directly
elected mayor. The city has a long and
colorful political history. Mayor Camil-
lien Houde was jailed during World War
II (1939–45) because of his opposition Reflecting its bilingual character, Montréal uses
to military conscription. Jean Drapeau both English and French in day-to-day life.
(Timothy Eagan; Woodfin Camp)
(1916–99), mayor during the 1960s, was
responsible for the urban renewal and
reconstruction of the downtown core, representing mayors and councilors
the construction of the Metro, and from each of its 29 municipalities.
Expo ‘67, which brought numerous vis-
itors to Montréal. Drapeau’s Civic Party 8 Public Safety
governed Montréal from 1960 to 1986
when it was replaced by Jean Dore’s Cit- Policing and fire protection are
izen’s Union. provided by the Montréal Urban Com-
munity. Crime rates are relatively low
The City of Montréal is the largest in comparison to American cities, but
of the 29 municipalities in the Mon- the changing composition and relative
tréal Urban Community. The Montréal poverty of Montréal’s population
Urban Community (MUC) handles results in friction between police and
police, fire protection, water supply, fireman and visible minorities. Mon-
roads, public transportation, and tréal crime rates are higher than Tor-
regional planning for towns and cities onto but lower than Western Canadian
on the island of Montréal. Created in cities, such as Winnipeg, Saskatoon,
1970, MUC is governed by a council Edmonton, Regina, and Vancouver. The

Montreal
The streets of Old Montréal are lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes. (Timothy Eagan; Woodfin Camp)
Montréal Urban Community employs harbor and rail lines made it Canada’s
nearly 6,000 policeman, one per 174 premier port and a major center for
residents. manufacturing. However, in recent
decades, older industries, such as tex-
tiles, have declined, and Montréal has
9 Economy lost prominence as a banking and com-
Montréal originated as trading post mercial hub. The shift reflects linguistic
and subsequently developed as a cul- conflict and changes in modes and
tural and industrial center of Québec methods of production. The rise of
and Canada under French rule. Mon- Québec nationalism in the 1960s and
tréal was home to the Hudson’s Bay 1970s provided the opportunity for the
Company and a major center of the fur rise of Francophone professional elites.
trade. English-Canadian commercial However, successive language laws
and banking elites emerged in the nine- ensuring the pre-eminence of the
teenth century, making Montréal the French language forced English Canadi-
center of the Canadian economy. Its ans to relocate or become bilingual.

Montreal
Many took the latter course, but banks economic decline is that housing is less
and insurance companies relocated expensive than in cities like Toronto,
head offices or key functions to Tor- Ottawa, or Vancouver.
onto. Linguistic conflicts coincided
with the decline of older industries, 10 Environment
such as textiles. In addition, in recent
years, provincial governments have Montréal has an inland climate.
favored investment in Québec City over Temperatures in winter months are
Montréal. One sign of Montréal’s eco- cold, averaging –3°C (23°F). With an
nomic decline is a recent decision to annual snowfall of 214 centimeters (84
shift trade in common stocks from the inches), Montréal receives more snow
Montréal to the Toronto Stock than Moscow. Temperatures rise to 11°C
exchange. (52°F) in April or October. Summers can
be hot. Average summer temperatures
Despite the departure of corporate are 26°C (79°F).
and banking headquarters and the
decline of older industries, Montréal Water quality in the St. Lawrence
remains an important industrial and River has improved with the clean up of
commercial center. Its port receives the Great Lakes. However, Montréal
ocean-going ships, via the St. Lawrence does not yet treat sewerage, creating
River, and Montréal remains an impor- major pollution problems. Portions of
tant trans-shipment point for grain, the downtown and older industrial
agricultural, and industrial products, areas are now derelict and unoccupied,
which arrive by rail and Great Lakes providing a sharp contrast to adjacent
steamers. In addition to its port, Mon- renewed areas of the city. Prevailing
tréal is a major center for food process- winds bring pollution from Ontario
ing, oil refining, and the production of and the American Midwest.
electrical machinery and electronic
equipment. Bombardier is a major pro- 11 Shopping
ducer of snowmobiles, subway and rail
Montréal is a shopper’s paradise.
cars, and aircraft. Nevertheless, Mon-
tréal is plagued by an aging industrial The city is a center of fashion and
design; stores in almost any price range
base, making it difficult to provide suf-
are easily found. The principal shop-
ficient employment for a workforce
continually augmented by industrial- ping areas are downtown, in and
around St. Catherine and Peel Streets.
ization. Nearly one-fourth of the city’s
Department stores include the Bay and
population lives below the poverty line.
Oligivies. Numerous shops are located
Montréal is the home of Radio in Montréal’s underground city, an
Canada, the Francophone equivalent of extensive network of underground
the Canadian Broadcasting Corpora- malls and shopping centers. These link
tion. French and English cultural life not only shops but also office com-
thrive. One advantage of Montréal’s plexes, hotels, and the central station.

Montreal
The principal shopping streets are St. campus and St. Denis Street, north of
Catherine Street from Place Ville Marie Sherbrooke.
to Rue Guy. Smaller boutiques may be
In addition to its four universities,
located along St. Catherine or Sher-
Montréal is also home to the Bibliote-
brooke Street, two blocks to the north,
que Nationale, Québec’s principal
and on the streets in between.
library, housed in buildings near
UQAM. McGill attracts students from
12 Education across the country and from the United
States, and the University of Montréal
Reflecting its bilingual character, attracts students from all over the prov-
Montréal has both English and French ince of Québec. Concordia and UQAM
schools and universities. Until recently, typically enroll larger percentages of
most English-speaking students studied local students.
in Protestant schools, which were pri-
marily—but not exclusively—Anglo- 13 Health Care
phone, while French-speaking students
The Province of Québec, like all
studied in Catholic schools. However,
Canadian provinces, provides universal
the province of Québec has recently
health insurance for all its citizens.
reorganized its schools on linguistic
Montréal is home to 20 hospitals,
rather than religious lines. Students
including the Royal Victoria Hospital,
study in public schools through grade
Montréal General Hospital, Saint-Luc,
11 and then move on to more special-
Sacré-Coeur, Hôtel-Dieu, Jewish Gen-
ized schools (CGEPS) for an additional
eral, Montréal General, and others.
two years of study.
Many hospitals are affiliated with either
the McGill or University of Montréal
Montréal has two Francophone
Medical faculties. In addition to hospi-
and two Anglophone universities. The
tals, 56 community health centers have
University of Montréal, the oldest and been instrumental in providing health
principal French-speaking university, care, particularly in poorer neighbor-
has an extensive campus on the north hoods. However, both medical centers
side of Mt. Royal. The University of and hospitals have been hit by funding
Québec in Montréal (UQAM) is down- cuts, resulting in closure of beds and
town at the intersection of St. Cathe- cutbacks in services.
rine and St. Denis Streets. McGill
University, the principal English Uni-
versity has its main campus downtown,
14 Media
between Sherbrooke Street and Mt. Montréal is a center for both Fran-
Royal. Concordia University is a few cophone and Anglophone media. The
blocks to the west. Numerous students principal French-language newspapers
live in apartments in the “McGill are Le Devoir, La Presse, and Le Journal de
ghetto,” located between the McGill Montréal. The Montréal Gazette serves

Montreal
Anglophone Montréalers. Numerous the cancellation of the remainder of the

ethnic groups are also served by weekly season.
ethnic newspapers. Montréal has 33
AM and FM radio stations and is home
to Radio Canada, Canada’s public Fran-
16 Parks and
cophone radio and TV network. Can- Recreation
ada’s National Film Board (NFB) is Montréal’s most famous park,
based in Montréal. Available television Mount Royal, occupies most of the
includes Radio Canada and the Cana- mountain by the same name. Designed
dian Broadcasting Corporation, as well by Frederick Law Olmstead (1822–
as numerous private broadcasters. Cable 1903), Mount Royal contains wooded
connections augment local broadcast- land, trails, gardens, a skating rink and
ing, providing among other things, ski area, and sports fields along its base.
access to the American media. A large iron cross, commemorating the
original settlement, dominates the sky-
15 Sports line, and two lookouts provide spectac-
ular views of the city, particularly the
The most important sports in Mon- downtown core, harbors, and the St.
tréal are hockey and baseball. The city’s Lawrence River.
sports teams include the Montréal
Canadiens. The Canadiens, winners of The Parc des Îles (Park of Islands) is
24 Stanley cups, were one of the six located on artificial islands in the St.
teams that originally made up the Lawrence River. Originally built with fill
National Hockey League. Fans flocked from the construction of the Metro, the
to Montréal Forum, particularly to islands were the site of Expo ‘67, the
watch Montréal deal with its rival, the 1967 World’s Fair. The Parc des Îles con-
Toronto Maple Leafs. Known for its inti- tains the Stewart Museum, exhibition
macy, the Forum was recently replaced space, an open air gallery with ten
by a new arena, the Molson Centre. The sculptures (including Alexander
Alouettes, Montréal’s Canadian Foot- Calder’s L’ Homme), the Floralies Gar-
ball League (CFL) team, play at McGill dens, sculptures, and the Biopshere, a
stadium. Montréal has also been home large globe built to house the former
to minor and major league baseball. U.S. pavilion at Expo ‘67. The Biosphere
The Montréal Expos play National now houses the Ecowatch center, an
League baseball in Montréal’s Olympic interactive museum that focuses on the
Stadium. The Expos team has had diffi- complex ecosystem of the Great Lakes
culty maintaining its standing in the and St. Lawrence River. The islands also
league and attracting sufficient fans to house a casino and Le Ronde, the
fill the cavernous stadium that the amusement park built for Expo ‘67.
Expos inherited. The one time that the Other parks include the Botanical Gar-
Expos were close to winning the dens (East on Sherbrooke) and And-
national league pennant, strikes forced rigon, in the western part of the city.

Montreal
The Olympic Stadium, built in 1976, seats 80,000 and is home to the Montréal Expos baseball team.
Several parks and recreation areas large theaters and exhibition centers
are a one- to two-hour drive from the and is home the Montréal Symphony
city. Mont Tremblant, in the Laurentian Orchestra, the Montréal Opera, Les
Mountains, is north of the city. The Grandes Ballets Canadiens, and the
Eastern Townships, a region of glacial Feux Follets, as well as numerous
hills and lakes just to the north of Ver- ensembles and quartets. Theater com-
mont and New England, provide sum- panies include Le Theatre du Nouveau
mer and winter recreation. Lake Monde and Le Theatre du Rideau-Vert.
Champlain, Vermont’s mountains, and Clubs and frequent festivals supple-
the Adirondack region of New York are ment regular offerings, ensuring that
also in easy reach of Montréal. music for any taste is readily available.

Museums
Montréal is a major center for
music, dance, and French-language the- In addition to the Biblioteque
ater. The Place des Arts contains several Nationale and its university libraries,

Montreal
Montréal is home to numerous muse- on the relationship between architec-

ums. The Montréal Museum of Fine tural trends and their relationship to
Arts contains classical and modern col- natural and social environments. Col-
lections and hosts numerous traveling lections are drawn from societies, past
exhibitions. Located on Sherbrooke and present, in all parts of the world.
Street, the museum is housed in a neo- Reflecting its interest in the interplay
classical building, and a modern annex between past and present, the Centre is
faces it on the opposite side of the housed in a modern building located in
street. a garden built to restore the surround-
ing urban area. The center includes
The McCord Museum concentrates
Shaughnessy House, one of the few
on the history of Montréal, the Prov-
nineteenth-century Montréal homes
ince of Québec, and Canada from the
still open to the public.
eighteenth century to the present. Its
collections include paintings, drawings McGill University’s Redpath
and photographs, costumes and tex- Museum focuses on the history and
tiles, and ethnographic objects from diversity of the natural world. One of
native peoples. the cities oldest museums, the Redpath
functions both as a university teaching
The Cinémathèque Québécoise
facility and a natural history museum
tracks trends in Québec, Canadian, and
for elementary and high school stu-
international film, television, and
dents. However, budgetary cutbacks
visual media. Photos, books, posters,
have forced the museum to restrict the
scripts, clippings, and other documents
hours in which it is open to the public.
are housed at an ultramodern location
on Boul. De Maisonneuve East. Other museums include the Stew-
Although films and tapes are stored in art Museum, an original fort with exhi-
special vaults in Boucherville, the Ciné- bitions documenting the settlement of
mathèque in Montréal regularly screens the new world, located in the Parc des
films, old and new, and is a major cen- Îles.
tre for exhibitions and meetings.
The Montréal Museum of Decora- 19 To u r i s m
tive Arts on Rue Crescent contains
Montréal’s rich history and its sta-
major collections on twentieth-century
tus as North America’s only bilingual
decorative trends, including furniture,
city make it a tourist’s delight. Tourists
glass, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, and
come to enjoy not only its museums,
graphic and industrial design.
galleries, and shops, but also a wide
The Canadian Centre for Architec- range of restaurants, theater, music, and
ture is a museum, library, and research an active night life. Old Montréal, adja-
center devoted to architecture, land- cent to the port and a short distance
scape, and urban design, past and from the downtown, is a regular stop
present. Exhibits and collections focus on tourist itineraries. Located between

Montreal
the present downtown and the St. 21 Famous Citizens

Lawrence River, Old Montréal provides
access to the river and port. Gray stone Pierre Elliot Trudeau (b. 1919), Prime
buildings line cobblestone streets and Minister of Canada, 1968–79 and
squares, such as Place-d’Armes and 1980–84.
Place Royale. The Champ-de-Mars, a Former Mayor Jean Drapeau (1916–
public park is nearby. Attractions 1999), architect of the city’s urban
include the nineteenth-century domed renewal.
Bonsecours Market, the City Hall, the
Customs House, the Saint-Sulpice Semi- Humorist and economist Stephen Lea-
nary (Montréal’s oldest building) Notre- cock (1869–1944).
Dame-de-Bonsecours Chapel, and the Novelist Mordecai Richler (b. 1931).
Notre-Dame Basilica, noted for its
richly gilded neo-gothic architecture. French-Canadian intellectual Henri
Other attractions include visiting St. Bourassa (1868–1932), founder of
Helene, the artificial island built to the influential newspaper, Le De-
house the 1967 World Fair Expo, and voir.
strolling along streets lined with cafes
Although not born in Montréal, the
and restaurants, such as St. Laurent, St.
first Parti Québecois premier, René
Denis, or Prince Arthur. In addition,
Lévesque (1922–87), spent much of
there are numerous exhibitions and fes-
his journalistic career in the city
tivals. The Oratory of St. Joseph is a
before entering politics.
domed church on the north side of Mt.
Royal; it attracts pilgrims who climb its
many steps on their knees to seek salva- 22 For Further Study
tion.
Websites
Tourisme Montréal. [Online] Available http://
20 Holidays and www.tourism-montreal.org (accessed Janu-
Festivals ary 7, 2000).
MARCH-APRIL Tourist and Convention Bureaus

Good Friday Infotouriste
MAY 1001 Square Dorchester
Victoria Day Montréal (Québec) H3B.1G2
(514) 873-2015
JUNE (800) 363-7777
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day
JULY Books
Canada Day Hamilton, Janice. Destination Montreal. Minneapo-
lis, MN: Lerner Publications, 1997.
SEPTEMBER Lloyd, Tanya. Montreal. Vancouver: Whitecap
Labor Day
Books, 1998.
OCTOBER Water, Paul, ed. Montreal & Quebec City. Halifax,
Thanksgiving Day NS: Formac Publishing, 1999.

Mumbai (Bombay)
Mumbai, Maharashtra State, Republic of India, Asia
Founded: 1668
Location: Arabian Seacoast of Maharashtra, India, South Asia
Motto: Urbs Prima in Indis (“First City in India”)
Time Zone: 5:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST) = noon Greenwich Mean Time
(GMT)
Ethnic Composition: Maratha, more than 50%; Gujarati,18%; Marwari, Sindhi,
Punjabi, Bohra, Khoja, Koli, and others, 32%
Elevation: Sea-level
Latitude and Longitude: 18º58'N, 72º50E
Coastline: 36 km (23 mi), Bombay Island
Climate: Tropical monsoonal; warm temperatures all year, with heavy rainfall
concentrated in the summer months
Annual Mean Temperature: 27°C (81°F); January 24ºC (76ºF); May 30ºC (86ºF)
Government: Municipal corporation
Weights and Measures: Metric; imperial measures also used; common numbers are
one lakh (100,000) and one crore (10 million)
Monetary Units: Indian Rupee (Re)
1 Introduction gateway to Britain’s expanding Indian

empire. The city emerged as a center of
The city Mumbai, know as Bombay manufacturing and industry during the
until 1995, is a great port city, situated eighteenth century. Today, Mumbai is
on the west coast of the Indian penin- India’s commercial and financial capi-
sula. It is one of India’s dominant urban tal, as well as the capital city of Maha-
centers and, indeed, is one of the largest rashtra State.
and most densely populated cities in
the world. Deriving its name from
Mumba Devi, a goddess of the local Koli 2 Getting There
fishing peoples, Mumbai grew up The city lies on Mumbai Island,
around a fort established by the British located off the Konkan coast of western
in the mid-seventeenth century to pro- India.
tect their trading interests along India’s
western coast. The city’s superb natural Highways
harbor provided a focal point for sea
routes crossing the Arabian Sea, and Mumbai is approachable by land
Mumbai soon became the main western only from the north (National Highway
99
Mumbai (Bombay)
Victoria Terminus (now called Chhatra-

Mumbai (Bombay) pati Shivaji Terminus) and Mumbai
Population Profile Central, carrying passengers to distant
parts of the country. The headquarters
City Proper of India’s Western Railway and Central
Population: Approximately 10 million Railway are located in the city. The
Area: Mumbai Island: 65 sq km (25 sq mi)
Nicknames: City of Gold; City of Dreams;
Maharashtra State Road Transport Cor-
Bollywood poration and other State and private
companies provide bus service to and
Metropolitan Area from the city.
Description: Area administered by the Municipal
Corporation of Greater Mumbai Airports
(Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or
BMC)
Mumbai’s Sahar International Air-
World population rank1: 3 port (recently renamed the Chhatra-
Percentage of national population2: 1.8% pati Shivaji Maharaj International
Airport), on Salsette Island, handles
Ethnic composition: Maratha, Gujarati, Marwari,
Sindhi, Punjabi, Bohra, Khoja, Koli, and others almost two-thirds of India’s interna-
——— tional air traffic. The airport is served by
1. The Mumbai (Bombay) metropolitan area’s rank most major international carriers.
among the world’s urban areas. Domestic flights use Santa Cruz Airport
2. The percent of India’s total population living in (also renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji
the Mumbai (Bombay) metropolitan area.
Maharaj Airport), which shares the
same runways but operates from sepa-
rate terminals.
8) and east, where National Highways 3
and 4 converge and cross over from the Shipping
mainland to Thane on Salsette Island.
Mumbai’s deepwater harbor and
This route then continues southward
harbor facilities make it the largest port
into the city, where a single main road
in western India, handling some 40 per-
continues to Colaba Point, the south-
cent of India’s total maritime trade.
ernmost tip of Mumbai Island. Bridges,
Catamaran and hovercraft services
such as the Thana Creek Bridge, link
carry passengers from Mumbai to Goa,
Mumbai to the suburbs of Greater
a major tourist destination.
Mumbai on the mainland.
Bus and Railroad Service 3 Getting Around

Mumbai is an important rail center. Mumbai Island, the heart of Mum-
Trains with colorful names, such as the bai city, is only 65 square kilometers (25
Frontier Mail and Deccan Queen, set square miles) in area and extremely
out from the city’s two main stations, congested. Six million people com-

Mumbai (Bombay)

Mumbai (Bombay)
a fleet of buses over an extensive route

system covering Mumbai and its envi-
rons. Recent improvements in this ser-
vice include the introduction of luxury
and air-conditioned buses. Black-and-
yellow painted taxis ply the streets of
Mumbai; however, unlike in most
Indian cities, three-wheeled auto rick-
shaws are banned from the city center.
Land transportation in Mumbai is
supplemented by a ferry system, which
carries passengers across Mumbai Har-
bor to the eastern suburbs of Greater
Mumbai on the mainland. Traditional
watercraft plying these routes have
recently been augmented by speedboats
and hovercraft.
Sightseeing
Mumbai hosts a variety of major
attractions for Indian natives, as well as
visitors from overseas. The most popu-
lar of these attractions is the rock-cut
Victoria Station, one of the gates to Mumbai’s
colonial past, carries passengers to distant parts of
temples on Elephanta Island in Mum-
the country. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp) bai Harbor. Many sightseers travel to
the island by boat from Apollo Bunder,
mute daily on Mumbai’s public trans- the location of another famous attrac-
portation system. tion, the Gateway of India arch. Other
sites of interest include the Crawford
Bus and Commuter Rail Service Market, the bazaars of Kalbadevi and
Bhuleshwar, the Parsi Towers of Silence,
The most heavily used form of and Haji Ali’s Mosque.
transport is the surburban electric rail
system, with local trains—overflowing 4 People
with passengers during peak commute
hours—linking Mumbai’s suburbs to With a population of 9.9 million
the city. It is common during the rush people in the central city, Mumbai is
hour to see commuters hanging on for the third-largest city in the world. Some
dear life to the outside of trains as they 15.4 million live in Greater Mumbai
travel to the work place. The munici- (Mumbai and its suburbs). Though
pally-owned BEST corporation operates much of the city’s population are Mar-

Mumbai (Bombay)

Mumbai Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(India) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Hotel (single occupancy) n.a. $193 $172 $129
Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) n.a. $56 $59 $62
Incidentals (laundry, dry cleaning, etc.) n.a. $14 $15 $16
Total daily costs (hotel, meals, incidentals) n.a. $173 $246 $207
Major Newspapers3
The Times of Akhbar El Yom/
India Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
athas, inhabitants of Maharashtra and the Gateway of India, a yellow basalt

speaking the Marathi language, Mum- arch built in 1924 to commemorate the
bai is a cosmopolitan city. Its inhabit- British presence in India. Just to the
ants include diverse ethnic groups, such north lies the Fort Area, the site of the
as Gujaratis, Marwaris, Sindhis, and old British fort around which Mumbai
people from other Indian states, as well was built. Its Victorian gothic buildings,
as religious minorities, such as Muslims, such as Victoria Terminus and the High
Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains. Court, are monuments to the city’s
Mumbai is home to the largest commu- colonial past. Marine Drive, lined with
nity of Parsis (Zoroastrians) in India, as high-rise apartments, runs along the
well as a small population of Jews. shoreline of Back Bay from Nariman
Point to Chowpatty Beach. Malabar
5 Neighborhoods Hill, an exclusive residential area, lies to
the northwest of Back Bay. This neigh-
Mumbai city has many distinctive borhood is known for the Hanging Gar-
neighborhoods. The southern tip of dens, as well as the Towers of Silence,
Mumbai Island, Colaba, is known for where the Parsis lay out their dead to be

Mumbai (Bombay)
Mumbai skyline from Marine Drive on the Back Bay area. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
consumed by vultures and crows. The Creek, form part of the Greater Mumbai
crowded, bustling Kalbadevi and area.
Bhuleshwar bazaar areas north of Craw-
ford Market were known as “Native 6 History
Town” to Mumbai’s early European
inhabitants. Other well-known city The area of the Konkan coast where
landmarks are the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai 1ies has been settled since pre-
Oval Maidan, Cuffe Parade, Horniman historic times. It later came under the
Circle, and Flora Fountain. control of several states that ruled west-
ern India. These included the Buddhist
Bandra and Juhu Beach are pros- Mauryan Empire (fourth–third centu-
perous residential areas just north of ries B.C.) and the Hindu Satavahana,
the Mahim Causeway. Further north are Shaka, and Rashtrakuta dynasties. The
many large suburbs, including Andheri, Chalukyas (A.D. 550–750) built the
Kandivili, and Borivali. New Mumbai magnificent cave temples on Elephanta
and Nhava Sheva, on the mainland to Island in Mumbai Harbor. At the end of
the east of Mumbai Harbor and Thana the thirteenth century, the Yadava rul-

Mumbai (Bombay)
ers, who had their capital at Auranga- Mumbai had a population of around
bad, some 300 kilometers (186 miles) to 60,000. The very end of the seven-
the northeast, established a settlement teenth century saw the beginning of
at Mahim on one of Mumbai’s original the construction of seawalls, breakwa-
seven islands. This was in response to ters, and reclamation projects that
raids on their territory by the expand- eventually connected the original seven
ing Delhi Sultanate. islands (Mahim, Worli, Mazagaon, Old
Woman’s Island, Colaba, and Mumbai
Mahim was captured by the Mus- Island) into a single Mumbai Island.
lim ruler of Gujarat in 1348. The Portu-
guese reached India’s western shores in During the seventeenth and eigh-
1498, Francisco de Almeida becoming teenth centuries, Mumbai lagged
the first Portuguese to enter Mumbai behind Calcutta and Madras in impor-
Harbor when he seized a Gujarati ship tance. However, a series of events in the
there in 1508. The Portuguese eventu- early and mid-nineteenth century pro-
ally forced Bahadur Shah, the sultan of pelled the city to a position of promi-
Gujarat, to cede them Mumbai in 1534. nence. The continuing struggle for
Mumbai was acquired by the British in power between the Mughals (the Mus-
1664 as part of Catherine of Branga- lim rulers based in north India) and the
nza’s dowry when the sister of Portu- Hindu Marathas created unstable politi-
gal’s king married Charles II (1630– cal conditions in Gujarat and western
1685; r. 1660–1685) of England. In India. Artisans and merchants fled to
1668, the British East India Company Mumbai for security, providing the
leased the islands from the Crown for stimulus for growth and expansion.
the nominal rent of ten pounds per This was further enhanced by the Brit-
year. ish defeat of the warlike Marathas and
the expansion of trade both with the
Recognizing the potential of Mum-
mainland and with Europe. In 1857,
bai and its harbor, the East India Com- the first spinning and weaving mill was
pany set about strengthening the
established in Mumbai, creating a cot-
settlement’s defenses and soon shifted
ton textile industry that was given a
its administrative headquarters to great boost by the American Civil War
Mumbai from Surat, in Gujarat. Mum-
(1861–65), which cut off supplies of
bai’s second governor, Gerald Aungier
cotton to Britain. The opening of the
(d. 1677), laid the foundations for the Suez Canal in 1869 was another stimu-
city’s future growth. Political stability,
lus to Mumbai’s growth, further
the promise of religious freedom, and
enhancing its position as a major trade,
land grants soon attracted large num- commercial, and industrial center.
bers of settlers, including Gujarati and
Parsi merchants, to Mumbai. These, and Mumbai’s size and economic power
later immigrants, contributed signifi- are reflected in its role in India’s mod-
cantly to the growth of Mumbai as an ern political history. The city was an
important trading center. By 1676, important center in India’s struggle for

Mumbai (Bombay)
independence from British colonial missioner, is appointed every three

rule. The Indian National Congress, years by the state government of Maha-
which led the nation’s fight for free- rashtra. The office of mayor is a prima-
dom, was founded there in 1885. rily ceremonial one, with its occupant
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869– being elected annually by the BMC.
1948), the Mahatma, spiritual leader of
the independence movement, launched Some city services are administered
his “Quit India” campaign against the by the state while others, such as com-
British in Mumbai in 1942. Linguistic munications, are the responsbility of
tensions between Mumbai’s Marathi India’s central government. As the capi-
and Gujarati speakers resulted in vio- tal of Maharashtra, Mumbai is the site
lence in the city in the late 1950s. This of the state government’s headquarters.
led eventually to the separation of
Gujarati-speaking areas from Mumbai 8 Public Safety
state and the creation of Maharashtra The Mumbai Police Force, some
State (1960). 40,000 strong, is administered by the
state government. Its head, the Police
During the early 1990s, communal
Commissioner, answers to the home
violence between Hindus and Muslims
secretary of Maharashtra State.
in Mumbai again shattered the myth of
Although Mumbai is a relatively safe
a tolerant, cosmopolitan city. Rioting
city, it is renowned for its underworld.
led to the deaths of several hundred
The dons, the leading figures of the
people (mostly Muslims) and culmi-
Mumbai mafia, have become legendary
nated in the bombing (with numerous
figures in the city. Recently, organized
fatalities) of several buildings in March
crime has expanded its activities from
1993. The Shiv Sena, a right-wing
smuggling, the black market, and drugs
Maharashtra-based Hindu political
to infiltrate political and business cir-
party led by Bal Thackeray, was widely
cles. Kidnapping of wealthy citizens for
blamed for instigating Hindu violence
ransom is becoming an increasingly
against Muslims in the city. Subse-
common occurrence. City services
quently elected to office, the Shiv Sena
include a Fire Brigade and ambulance
party in 1996 changed Mumbai’s name
service, as well as police.
to “Mumbai,” the Maratha name for
the city.
9 Economy
7 Government Though once dominated by the
cotton textile industry, Mumbai’s eco-
Mumbai is administered by the nomic base is now diversified. Textiles
Municipal Corporation of Greater still remain important, but the city’s
Mumbai (Brihanmumbai Municipal industries include petrochemicals, auto-
Corporation or BMC), whose chief mobile manufacturing, metals, elec-
executive officer, the Municipal Com- tronics, engineering, food processing,

Mumbai (Bombay)
Mumbai is the home to some of India’s leading industrial, commercial and financial centers.
and a wide range of light manufactur- Stock Exchange, and a variety of other
ing. Mumbai is home to some of India’s major financial institutions. The gov-
largest and wealthiest industrial con- ernment and service sectors are also
glomerates, such as the Aditya Birla important in the city’s economy.
Group, Godrej, and Tata & Sons. More
specialized economic activities are dia- Business in Mumbai has tradition-
mond cutting, computers, and movie ally been dominated by Gujaratis and
making (in sheer numbers, Mumbai, or the Parsis, and Gujarati is the language
“Bollywood,” produces more movies
in which most business is conducted.
than any other city in the world,
Mumbai’s economic success, however,
including Hollywood).
and its burgeonong population have
In addition to manufacturing, created their own problems. The city is
Mumbai is a leading commercial and rated among the worst in India in terms
financial center. The city is home to the of housing, cost of living, education,
Reserve Bank of India, the Mumbai and health care.

Mumbai (Bombay)
10 Environment 11 Shopping
Built on what is, in effect, a penin-
Mumbai is among the best shop-
sula, surrounded on three sides by
ping centers in all of India. It offers the
water, and with the backdrop of the
hills of the Western Ghats, Mumbai shopper everything from modern, air-
occupies a site of natural scenic beauty. conditioned department stores to tradi-
However, sheer numbers of people and tional bazaars and open-air, roadside
rapid population growth have contrib- stalls. Most modern shops, where prices
uted to some serious social and envi- are fixed, accept credit cards. In private
ronmental problems. Mumbai attracts handicraft shops, antique and curio
immigrants from rural areas seeking shops, and on the street, prices are usu-
employment and a better life. Despite ally negotiable, and bargaining is part
government attempts to discourage the
of the shopping experience.
influx of people, the city’s population
grew at an annual rate of more than
As a major textile and fashion cen-
four percent a year. Many newcomers
ter, Mumbai is known for its fabrics and
end up in abject poverty, often living in
slums or sleeping in the streets. An esti- clothes. Boutiques at Kemp’s Corner sell
mated 42 percent of the city’s inhabit- trendy western-style designer clothes
ants live in slum conditions. Some areas though more traditional Indian clothes
of Mumbai city have population densi- and fabrics may be found at Mangaldas
ties of around 46,000 per square kilo- Market in Kalbadevi, the nearby Mulji
meter—among the highest in the Jetha Market, and along M. Karve Road
world. north of Churchgate Station.
As a result of Mumbai’s size and
high growth rate, urban sprawl, traffic Other shopping areas are Crawford
congestion, inadequate sanitation, and Market (fruits and vegetables), Zhaveri
pollution pose serious threats to the Bazaar (jewelry), and Chor Bazaar
quality of life in the city. Automobile (“Thieves’ Market”), where everything
exhausts and industrial emissions, for from used car parts to furniture can be
example, contribute to serious air pollu- bought. Stalls along Colaba causeway
tion, which is reflected in a high inci- sell handicrafts, watches, perfumes,
dence of chronic respiratory problems clothes, jewelry, and leather goods.
among the populace. Breathing Mum-
Many luxury hotels, such as the Oberoi
bai’s air has been likened to smoking
and Taj Mahal, have exclusive (and
more than 20 cigarettes a day! The scale
of such environmental problems, how- exclusively priced) shops while a variety
ever, pales in light of a United Nations of traditional handicrafts can be pur-
(UN) report that projects Mumbai’s chased at government emporiums, such
population to reach 27.4 million by the as those found in the World Trade Cen-
year 2015. tre Arcade in Cuffe Parade.

Mumbai (Bombay)

Mumbai is a major center of learn- The city of Mumbai has around
ing and education. The University of 1,000 health care centers to serve its
Mumbai was founded in 1857 as an population. Most of these are private
affiliating and examining body pat- hospitals and clinics with excellent doc-
terned after the University of London. tors and medical staff, many of whom
Although it still has numerous constitu- have been trained overseas. There are,
ent colleges, the institution has also however, 17 municipal hospitals that
taken on teaching functions. Other provide care which is affordable to the
important educational and research city’s poor. Major health problems in
institutions include SNDT Women’s
the city include AIDS, tuberculosis,
University, the Indian Institute of Tech-
malaria, chronic respiratory ailments,
nology (ITT-Mumbai), the Bhabha
and gastro-intestinal diseases related to
Atomic Research Center (BARC), the
poor sanitation and hygiene. Numerous
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
pharmacies (“chemists”) supply a wide
(TIFR), and the National Center for
range of prescription and non-prescrip-
Software Technology (NCST). The
tion drugs.
Haffkine Institute is an important cen-
ter for research in medicine and allied
sciences. 14 Media
Mumbai municipality runs more
Both the Times of India and the
than 1,000 primary and secondary
Indian Express, two national papers,
schools for the city’s children. Instruc-
have Mumbai editions. Other local
tion is provided in the student’s mother
papers include Asian Age, the Free Press
tongue (mainly Marathi, Hindi, Urdu,
Journal, and the Economic Times. The
and English) though Marathi is a com-
List is a weekly guide to what’s going on
pulsory subject in all municipal
in Mumbai. In addition to these
schools. Education is free up to certain
English-language papers, newspapers
grades although parents pay for text
are also published in Hindi, Marathi,
books and school uniforms. Literacy
Gujarati, and Urdu (the language com-
rates in Mumbai are high (c. 82 percent
in 1998) although school drop-out rates monly spoken by India’s Muslims).
are also high.
All India Radio (AIR) and two local
Inadequate resources and declining stations provide radio service to Mum-
standards in public institutions result in bai. Several local TV stations provide
parents sending their children to the programming in Marathi, Gujarati,
city’s elite private secondary schools, Hindi, and English. BBC World, CNN,
such as Sophia College and St. Xavier’s Star TV, and other international pro-
College. Many wealthier families look gramming can be accessed by satellite
overseas for higher education. cable.

Mumbai (Bombay)
15 Sports Moviegoing is a universal pastime

in Mumbai. Film City in northern
Mumbai is the home of Indian Mumbai is the center of India’s movie
cricket (a game played on a large field industry, and the lives and activities of
with a leather ball and a flat wooden popular film stars are eagerly followed
bat by two teams of 11 players each), by fans all across the country. Visits to
and international matches between restaurants, clubs, pubs, and discos are
India and other countries are held at
popular among the city’s westernized
Wankhede Stadium. Cricket games can
youth. Pool halls and cybercafes are a
be found at almost any time on Mum-
rapidly growing aspect of the Mumbai
bai’s maidans (open spaces). Soccer,
entertainment scene.
field hockey, and kabbadi, a form of
Indian wrestling, are also popular
sports. Local beaches are available for 17 Performing Arts
swimming although the famous Juju
Beach has serious problems with pollu- At one time, Mumbai was a thriv-
tion. ing center of live theater, with perfor-
mances in English, Hindi, Marathi, and
Horse races are held from Novem-
Gujarati. Many of the city’s theaters
ber to April at Mahalaxmi Race Course.
have now been converted into movie
Golf, tennis, swimming, badminton,
houses. However, the National Center
and squash facilities are available at pri-
vate clubs, such as the Breach Candy for Performing Arts (NCPA) at Nariman
Club, Mumbai Gymkhana, and Willing- Point was established in Mumbai in
don Sports Club. 1966 to promote Indian music, dance,
and drama. The NCPA stages perfor-
mances ranging from concerts by visit-
16 Parks and ing western classical music groups
Recreation (Zubin Mehta regularly takes the Israeli
People in Mumbai enjoy strolling Philharmonic to Mumbai) to regional
along beaches, such as Chowpatty Indian theater and Indian classical
Beach, or in the city’s numerous parks. dance and music. The Prithvi Theater at
The Hanging Gardens (Pheroze Shah Juhu Beach, founded by the actor Prith-
Mehta Gardens) and Kamala Nehru viraj Kapoor, provides a home for Hindi
Park, in the residential neighborhood of theater. Performances also include pro-
Malabar Hill, provide interesting views ductions in Marathi, Gujarati, Urdu,
of the city. The Mumbai Zoo is located and English. The Prithvi also runs a
in Jijamata Garden. Further afield, in summer theater workshop for children.
northern Greater Mumbai, is the Sanjay Other venues for live theater and music
Gandhi National Park. The nearby Kan- performances include Nehru Centre
heri Caves, a complex of Buddhist caves (Worli), Shivaji Mandir (Dadar), Bhais-
dating to the second century, are a pop- das Hall (Vile Parle West), and Shanmu-
ular destination. kananda Hall (King’s Circle).

Mumbai (Bombay)
18 Libraries and also the location of the famous Gate-

Museums way of India, the arch built to comem-
morate the visit of King George V
Mumbai’s imposing Town Hall, (1865–1936; r. 1910–1936) of England
overlooking Horniman Circle, houses to India in 1911. Other tourist attrac-
the Royal Asiatic Society of Mumbai’s tions include the city’s impressive
library, as well as the State Central gothic architecture, Crawford Market,
Library, which is a repository for every the bazaars of Kalbadevi and Bhulesh-
book published in India. Other libraries war, the Parsi Towers of Silence, and
in the city include the David Sassoon Haji Ali’s Mosque.
Library and the Max Müller Bhavan
library, both in Kala Ghoda. Mumbai is also a departure point
for excursions to the old Portuguese fort
Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, at Bassein, to the hill stations in the
the Prince of Wales Museum (also in Western Ghats (Matheran, Lonavla, and
Kala Ghoda) has sections on art, archae- Khandala), to Pune, and other attrac-
ology, and natural history and is known tions in western Maharashtra.
for its collection of Rajasthani and Dec-
cani miniature paintings. The Dr. Bhau 20 Holidays and
Daji Lad Museum (Byculla), formerly Festivals
the Victoria and Albert Museum, has
exhibits relating mostly to Mumbai and India uses a lunar calendar, and fes-
western India. The Mumbai Society of tivals may fall in different months in
Natural History is located in the Fort different years. The date of Muslim reli-
area. gious festivals falls about 11 days earlier
in each succeeding year according to
The city’s art galleries include the the western calendar.
National Gallery of Modern Art, which
JANUARY
houses both permanent and touring Makara Sankranti (a Gujarati festival celebrated
exhibits, and the Jehangir Gallery. by kite-flying)
Banganga Festival (music festival held at Banga-
nga Tank)
19 To u r i s m
FEBRUARY
Mumbai is a destination for Indian Elephanta festival (classical Indian music and
tourists, as well as visitors from over- dance performed on Elephanta Island)
seas. The rock-cut temples on Elephanta FEBRUARY-MARCH
Island in Mumbai Harbor can be Mahashivratri (Hindus worhip the god Shiva.)
Holi (spring festival of the Hindus)
reached by boat from Apollo Bunder
and are the city’s major attraction. Ded- MARCH-APRIL
Gudi Padava (Maharashtrian New Year)
icated to the Hindu god Shiva and dat-
Mahavir Jayanti (Jains celebrate birth of founder
ing to around the sixth century, the of Jainism.)
temples were declared a UNESCO World Muharram (Muslims comemmorate the martyr-
Heritage Site in 1984. Apollo Bunder is dom of Hussain, the Prophet's grandson.)

Mumbai (Bombay)
Tourists may enjoy strolling and shopping in Mumbai’s open markets. Here, food vendors sell fresh fruit
and vegetables on Chowpatty Beach. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
JULY-AUGUST NOVEMBER
Coconut Day Nanak Jayanti (Sikhs celebrate the birthday of
Guru Nanak, founder of their religion.)
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER Prithvi Theatre Festival
Parsi New Year
DECEMBER
Ganesh Chaturthi (Images of Ganesh are Christmas (celebrated by Christians December
immersed in the sea.) 25)
Gokulashtami (Krishna’s birthday) New Year’s Eve (celebrated by Christians Decem-
Dussehra (nine-day festival celebrating Rama's ber 31)
victory over Ravanna, the demon king of Lanka) DECEMBER-JANUARY
Ramadan (Muslim month of fasting during day-
SEPTEMBER light hours)
Bandra Fair (Feast day of the Virgin Mary is cele-
brated at the Basilica of Mount Mary in Bandra.)
21 Famous Citizens
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER
Diwali (The Festival of Lights marks the New H. J. Bhabha (1909–66), nuclear physi-
Year for Jains and many Hindus.) cist.

Mumbai (Bombay)
Madhuri Dixit (b. 1967), movie star. M. A. Jinnah (1875–1948), lawyer, Mus-
lim political leader, and the father
S. M. Gavaskar (b. 1949), cricket-player. of the state of Pakistan.
Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy (1783–1859), Sir David Sassoon (1792–1853), Baghda-
Parsi businessman, social reformer, di-born Jew, business tycoon, and
and philanthropist, the first Indi- philanthropist.
an to be knighted (1847) by the
British Government.
Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), English
author. Websites
Bombay Net. [Online] Available http://
Zubin Mehta (b. 1936), orchestral con- www.bombaynet.com (accessed February 5,
2000).
ductor. Mumbai Central. [Online] Available http://
www.mumbai-central.com (accessed Febru-
Dom Moraes (b. 1938), writer. ary 5, 2000).
Mumbai Net. [Online] Available http://
Dr. Dhadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917), www.mumbainet.com (accessed February 5,
first Indian to become a Member of 2000).
the British House of Commons and The Mumbai Pages. [Online] Available http://
www.theory.tifr.res.in/bombay/index.html
President of the Indian National (accessed February 5, 2000).
Congress. Rediff on the Net. [Online] Available http://
www.rediff.com (accessed February 5, 2000).
Salman Rushdie (b. 1947), Indian-born
British writer. Government Offices
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
J. N. Tata (1839–1904), industrialist and BMC Building
philanthropist. Dr. D. Naoroji Rd.
Nagar Chowk
Sachin Tendulkar (b. 1973), cricket- Mumbai 400002
player. Mantrayala (Maharashtra State Civil Service)
Madame Cama Road
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (1891–1956), a lead- Nariman Point
er of the “untouchable” Hindus Mumbai 400021
widely regarded as the chief archi-
tect of the Indian constitution. Tourist and Convention Bureaus
Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Amitabh Bacchhan (b. 1942), movie Mackinnon Mackenzie Building
Ballard Estate, Shoorji Vallabhdas Marg
star. Mumbai 400001
Tel: 2614681
W. M. Haffkine (1860–1930), doctor Fax: 2621213
and discoverer of the plague vac-
Government of India Tourist Office
cine. 123 Maharshi Karve Rd.
Mumbai 400021
M.F. Hussein (b. 1915), contemporary Tel: 2033144
artist. Fax: 2014496

Mumbai (Bombay)
Maharashtra Tourism Development Office (Tours Island. 3 vols. Bombay: Times Press, 1909–10
Division and Reservations Office) [reprinted 1977–78].
CDO Hutments, Madame Cama Rd. Mehta, Rina. Mumbai Mum's Guide. Bombay:
Nariman Point Oxford and India Book House, 1999.
Mumbai 400021 Moraes, Dom. Bombay. Amsterdam: Time-Life
Tel: 2026713 Books, 1979.
Fax: 2852812 Patel, Sujata and Alice Thorner. Bombay: Meta-
phor for Modern India. Bombay: Oxford Uni-
Publications versity Press, 1995.
Indian Express (Bombay) Inc. Patel, Sujata and Alice Thorner. Bombay: Mosaic
Express Towers of Modern Culture. Bombay: Oxford Univer-
Nariman Point sity Press, 1995.
Mumbai 400021 Rohatgi, Pauline, Pheroza Godrej and Rahul
Tel: 2022627 Mehrotra, eds. Bombay to Mumbai: Changing
Perspectives. Mumbai: Marg Publications,
Fax: 2022139
1997.
The Times of India Rohinton, Mistry. Swimming Lessons, and Other
Times of India Building Stories from Firozsha Baag. New York: Vin-
Dr. D. Naoroji Road tage, 1997.
Mumbai 400001 Rohinton, Mistry. Such a Long Journey. New York:
Tel: 2620271 Vintage, 1992.
Fax: 2620144 Rushdie, Salman. Midnight’s Children. New York:
Knopf, 1995.
Rushdie, Salman. The Moor’s Last Sigh. New York:
Books Pantheon, 1995.
Bhojani, Namas and Arun Katiyar. Bombay: A Tindall, Gillian. City of Gold: the Biography of
Contemporary Account of Mumbai. New Delhi: Bombay. Harmondsworth, England: Pen-
Harper Collins, 1996. guin, 1992.
Collins, David. Mumbai (Bombay). Melbourne: Virani, Pinki. Once Was Bombay. New Delhi: Pen-
Lonely Planet Publications, 1999. guin Books India, 1999.
Contractor, Behram. From Bombay to Mumbai.
Mumbai: Oriana Books, 1998.
Desai, Anita. Baumgartner's Bombay. New York: English-language movies set in Bom-
Penguin, 1998. bay
Dwivedi, Sharada and Rahul Mehrotra. Bombay: Bombay 2000. Mira Nair, 1999.
The Cities Within. Bombay: India Book Bombay Boys. Mani Ratnam, 1994.
House, 1995. Perfect Murder. Zafar Hai, 1988.
Edwardes, S. M. The Gazetteer of Bombay City and Salaam Bombay. Mira Nair, 1988.

Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya, Africa

Location: 500 km (300 mi) west of the Indian Ocean in Kenya’s Central Highlands
Flag: Field divided into yellow and green quarters, with center circle featuring blue
and white waves.
Motto: City in the Sun
Flower: Glorisa Superba (Kenya)
Time Zone: 3:00 PM Universal Coordinated Time (UCT-3) = noon Greenwich Mean
Time (GMT)
Ethnic Composition: Kenyan African groups—Kikuyu, Luo, Luhyia, Kalenjin, Kisii,
and Kamba; Asians (people who trace their origins to India and Pakistan),
Europeans, and Somalis
Elevation: 1,680 meters (5,512 feet)
Latitude and Longitude: 1°16'S, 36°48'E
Climate: Tropical highland with sunny days, mild daily temperatures, and cool nights
Annual Mean Temperature: September to April maximum average daytime
temperature 24°C (75°F) and minimum average nighttime temperature 13°C
(55.4°F); May to August maximum average daytime temperature 21°C (70°F)
and minimum average nighttime temperature 11°C (51.8°F)
Seasonal Average Rain: Heavy rains March to May; lighter rains November to
December
Monetary Units: Kenyan Shilling
Telephone Area Codes: 254 (Kenya country code); 2 (Nairobi city code)
1 Introduction and businesses. The city has a cosmo-

politan flair that combines African,
Nairobi is the main commercial Asian, European, and Middle Eastern
and cultural center for East Africa. It is cultures. Although it is a relatively new
the largest city between Cairo, Egypt, in city (founded in 1899), it has played an
north Africa, and Johannesburg, South important role in the region. It was at
Africa. Located on the edge of the rich the epicenter of the nationalist move-
agricultural region of the Central High- ment, which eventually led to Kenya’s
lands, Nairobi is the capital city of independence from Great Britain in
Kenya, the most developed country in 1963. Since independence, the city has
East Africa. As one of Africa’s leading grown at a tremendous rate. The city
cities, it hosts important international reflects the stark contrasts of wealth
conferences and is the home for many that characterize Kenyan society. In the
embassies, international organizations, shadows of the skyscrapers in the pros-
115
Nairobi
African urban centers. Railways link

Nairobi Nairobi to Mombasa, Kenya’s second
Population Profile largest city, on the Indian Ocean and
Kisumu, the third largest city, on the
Population: 2,320,000 shores of Lake Victoria.
Ethnic composition: Kenyan African groups—
Kikuyu, Luo, Luhyia, Kalenjin, Kisii, and Highways
Kamba; Asians (people who trace their origins
to India and Pakistan), Europeans, and Somalis Nairobi is connected by paved
roads to Kenya’s other major urban cen-
Average yearly growth rate: 5.0% ters, such as Mombasa, Kisumu,
Nicknames: City in the Sun; Nairobbery Nakuru, Kisii, and Kericho. A paved
——— road also links Nairobi to northern Tan-
1. The Nairobi metropolitan area’s rank among the zania’s major tourist, agricultural, and
commercial center, Arusha. Traffic jams
2. The percent of Kenya’s total population living in
the Nairobi metropolitan area. are common leading into the city dur-
ing the morning rush hour and leading
out of the city after work hours.

perous and efficient central business
district lives an army of up to 100,000 There are a large number of long-
homeless. Side by side with beautiful distance bus companies in Nairobi that
upscale neighborhoods, like Karen and provide transportation to most areas of
Westlands, are desolate slum areas, such the country. Long-distance buses also
as Mathare Valley and Kibera. The provide service to major cities in
grinding poverty of some of the city’s Uganda and Tanzania. In addition to
residents, coupled with the world-class long-distance buses, there are mini-
wealth of others, has contributed to one buses with regular service to Mombasa
of the Nairobi’s most serious problems: and shared taxis to nearby urban cen-
crime. Muggings, car jackings, and rob- ters including the Kenya-Tanzania bor-
beries are common. However, for many der. Shared taxis are Peugeot station
residents the “City in the Sun” remains wagons that usually carry seven passen-
a dynamic and bustling place in which gers. Often the minibuses and shared
to live, work, and go to school. taxis leave when they are full and there-
fore do not follow fixed schedules.
2 Getting There While the large buses often follow a
schedule, at times they operate along
Nairobi is located in south-central lines similar to those of shared taxis
Kenya, 140 kilometers (87 miles) south and leave when full. Road transport can
of the equator. It is well served by inter- be dangerous. Many of the long-dis-
national airlines, and a regional road tance buses travel at night and, in addi-
network links it to other major East tion to transporting passengers, carry

Nairobi

Nairobi
cargo. There have been a number of Kenyatta International Airport. Many

horrific accidents in which large num- charter flights to Kenya’s game parks or
bers of passengers have been killed or coastal resorts fly out of Wilson.
injured.
Nairobi railway station serves as

3 Getting Around
the main point of departure for trains Downtown Nairobi is in the shape
to and from Mombasa and Kisumu. of a triangle. Most of the skyscrapers
There is also a direct Nairobi to Kam- and major government offices are cen-
pala, Uganda, train once a week. tered inside of three borders: Uhuru
Highway to the west, what used to be
Airports the old United States Embassy building
to the south, and the Nairobi River to
The Jomo Kenyatta International the northeast. In general, the discount
Airport, about 13 kilometers (eight shops, hotels, and poorer neighbor-
miles) southeast of the town center via hoods are located east of the central
the Mombasa Highway, is the main air- business district; to the west are the
port in East Africa. It offers flights to more affluent areas. The streets in the
many destinations in Africa, Europe, central business district are laid out in a
the Middle East, and Asia, as well as grid pattern. Major roads lead out of the
internal flights to Kisumu on Lake Vic- central business district to the residen-
toria and Malindi and Mombasa on the tial areas that encircle it.
coast. In addition to Kenyan airlines,
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is Bus and Commuter Rail Service
serviced by a large number of interna-
tional airlines. Major airlines that fly Mass transit in Nairobi is made up
into Kenyatta include Air France, Air of buses and minibuses. These can be a
India, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, cheap, if not adventurous, way of get-
Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, El-Al, and Paki- ting around Nairobi. They are usually
stan International Airlines. African air- packed during the morning rush hours
lines that service Nairobi include as people head to work and in the
Ethiopia Airlines, Air Tanzania, South evening as Nairobians return home.
African Airways, Air Madagascar, Air However, at other times and on week-
Malawi, Air Mauritius, Air Rwanda, Air ends the congestion is not bad. Com-
Zimbabwe, Cameroon Airlines, Egypt muters are not the only people who
Air, and Royal Swazi. make use of mass transit: passengers
need to be wary of pick-pockets. Kenya
Wilson is Nairobi’s other main air- Bus Service (KBS) operates a large fleet
port. Located close to the Nairobi of commuter buses that serve the city.
National Park, this airport caters prima- However, the most important means of
rily to smaller planes and charter mass transit are matatus. Matatus are
flights. In terms of the number of privately owned minibuses. Many are
flights, it is said to be busier than Jomo outrageously decorated (Minnesota

Nairobi

Nairobi Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Kenya) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Daily Nation La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
Timberwolves, Dennis Rodman, Scud Nairobi, their fares are negotiable.

Missile), encouraged by competitions Shared taxis, Peugeot station wagons
for most original design. Other charac- packed with people, operate on some
teristics of matatus include loud music routes and also take passengers to
blaring from the sound-systems and nearby towns.
drivers who seldom obey traffic regula-
tions. Although matatus are often jam- Walking
packed with people, the drivers always Because traffic congestion is a
believe there is space for one more. major problem in downtown Nairobi,
walking is the best way to get around
Taxi and Shared Taxi the city center. The distances are short,
Taxis are a more expensive but and the streets are well marked.
more reliable mode of transportation
Sightseeing
than the matatus. They come in all
shapes and conditions, including some Nairobi is home to many tour oper-
London-style cabs. Usually, they are not ators and travel agents. Excursions can
metered and, like most other things in be arranged to all parts of Kenya and to

Nairobi
Nairobi is the most developed city in East Africa. (Christina Thompson; Woodfin Camp)
visit Tanzania’s impressive northern jin, Kisii, and Kamba. While it is diffi-
game parks. Most tour companies and cult to know the exact percentages of
travel agents can organize tours of the ethnic makeup of Nairobi, there are
Nairobi. Tours of central Nairobi will probably more Kikuyu living in the city
normally include visits to the Parlia- than any other group. The Kikuyu make
ment Building, the City Market, and up around 20 percent of the Kenyan
the National Museum. Trips to Nairobi population, and their home area bor-
National Park, the Giraffe Center, and ders Nairobi. In addition to the Kenyan
the Karen Blixen Museum can also be African ethnic groups, there is a sizeable
easily arranged. population of Asians (people who trace
their origins to India and Pakistan),
4 People Europeans, and Somalis. Nairobi is also
home to a sizeable expatriate (people
Nairobi is a culturally diverse city. who have left their homeland) commu-
All the major Kenyan ethnic groups are nity as numerous embassies and inter-
represented in the city, and these national organizations have offices in
include the Kikuyu, Luo, Luhyia, Kalen- the city.

Nairobi
5 Neighborhoods 1800s to the 1960s. Kenya was a British

protectorate from 1895 to 1920 and a
Nairobi’s neighborhoods have been colony from 1920 to 1963.
influenced by the colonial-era segrega-
tion of the nineteenth and twentieth Prior to 1870 the peoples of what is
centuries, when living space was now Kenya were independent of Euro-
divided into European, Asian, and Afri- pean control; they governed themselves
can areas. In general, western Nairobi through councils of elders. However, in
was reserved for Europeans and wealthy 1884 the Sultan of Zanzibar, Seyyid Bar-
Asians. The east was for Africans and gash, allowed a trading concession to
poor Asians. the British East Africa Company; thus,
British interest in East Africa was
One of Nairobi’s largest neighbor- sparked by private enterprise.
hoods is Eastleigh. It was originally an
Asian and African area, but since inde- In addition to the British East
pendence, it has become a large, over- Africa Company, pioneer missionaries
crowded, primarily African residential also came to East Africa to spread Chris-
estate. Across Juja road from Eastleigh is tianity and to help abolish the slave
Mathare, a large slum. On the west side trade. An 1886 Anglo-German treaty
of town are former white-only areas partitioned East Africa between the two
that now house the wealthy from all of powers, placing the future Kenya in the
Nairobi’s ethnic groups. Karen, Langata, British sphere and the future Tanzania
Lavington, and Westlands are some of in the German sphere. In 1888 the Brit-
Nairobi’s posh residential addresses. ish East Africa Company was granted a
These neighborhoods are home to Royal Charter and renamed the Impe-
high-quality schools, mini-shopping rial British East Africa Company (IBEA).
malls, and restaurants. There are a The company was given exclusive
number of housing estates, like South C rights to commercially exploit the Brit-
and Buru Buru, that have been built to ish sphere. In 1895 the territory lying
accommodate the city’s growing middle between Mombasa and the eastern edge
class. of the Rift Valley (the future Kenya) was
declared the East African Protectorate.
Ngong Hills, situated west of In 1902, the eastern province of
Nairobi, along with Limuru to the Uganda was added to the East African
north were sites where many white set- Protectorate. In 1920 the Protectorate
tlers set up farms and built their houses was declared a Crown Colony and
in early colonial days. renamed Kenya. The name Kenya
appears to have come from the Kamba
6 History word Kinyaa, meaning “ostrich.”
The country known today as Kenya The word “Nairobi” came from the
was created by European colonialism in Masai word enairobe, which literally
Africa, which lasted from the mid- means “stream of cold water.” Nairobi

Nairobi
was founded in 1899. It grew up around strong fiber used to make rope), and
a railway line constructed by the British pyrethrum (a perennial plant yielding
colonial officials from Mombasa on the flowers used to make insecticide). Cattle
Indian Ocean coast to Uganda. The rearing also proved to be a profitable
present site of Nairobi was selected as a undertaking, spurring the establish-
stores depot, shunting yard (place ment of huge ranches. The develop-
where trains are shifted from one track ment of the settler economy allowed
to another), and camping ground for the railway venture to reverse its defi-
the thousands of Indian laborers (also cits.
British colonials, who came to Kenya
Due to high demand for laborers in
seeking work) employed by the British
to work on the line. the established plantations, a system
was designed to force Africans to work
From this point Nairobi developed for Europeans. Until the early twentieth
slowly, unplanned, and unexpectedly. century, most Kenyans were subsistence
The outbreak of plague and the burning farmers, growing only enough food to
down of the original compound neces- meet their needs. In 1920 the colonial
sitated the town’s rebuilding. By 1907, state began to confiscate African land;
Nairobi was firmly established and the Africans were taxed, and a cash econ-
colonizers decided to make it the capi- omy was created, forcing many Africans
tal of the newly formed British East to give up peasant farming to search for
Africa. cash incomes by working on the Euro-
pean plantations. The Indians who
European settlers were encouraged
remained behind after the completion
to settle in the country, and Nairobi was
of the railway took up trade as their
their natural choice due to its cool cli- major occupation.
mate and fertile soils. British authorities
hoped these settlers would develop a In the early 1950s, the Mau Mau
modern economic sector that would launched one of the most severe inter-
enable the railway to pay for itself. nal wars in Kenya, aimed at removing
Until that happened, the railway the British from the country. Although
scheme seemed a useless venture that the war was mainly fought in the coun-
would consume more money than was tryside and mountains surrounding
called for in the initial plans. White set- Nairobi, the British launched sweeps of
tlement in the early years of the twenti- the city to make mass arrests. Africans
eth century was led by Lord Delamere, a were the main target of the sweeps—in
pugnacious farmer from Cheshire, particular Kikuyu Africans, a somewhat
England. The lord and many other pio- militant interest group focused on such
neer farmers suffered a lot in their farm- issues as land scarcity, labor passes,
ing ventures as little was known of the regressive taxation, and inadequate
kind of crops to grow there. By trial and educational and employment opportu-
error they established plantations of nities. The Mau Mau were defeated only
coffee, tea, sisal (a plant yielding a after troops were sent from Britain to

Nairobi
A statue of Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta (1890–1978). (Betty Press; Woodfin Camp)
Kenya. By 1954 the British enacted Also in 1957, the first elections of
Operation “Anvil,” an effort to rid African members of the Legislative
Nairobi of Mau Mau supporters. More Council were held. Eight African mem-
than 30,000 arrests were made, most of bers were elected and chose not to
them Kikuyu; of these, 16,000 were cooperate with the colonial administra-
detained as active Mau Mau supporters. tion by advocating free and direct elec-
In 1956, Dedan Kimathi, recognized as tions without preference given to any
the leader of the Mau Mau, was cap- racial group. In 1958, the eight African
tured, tried, and found guilty; in 1957, council members boycotted council
he was executed by the British in a proceedings in a protest against the
Nairobi prison. Lennox-Boyd Constitution, which

Nairobi
emphasized a multiracial Legislative corruption, ethnic clashes, economic

Council. They also called for the release deterioration, and inept governance.
of Jomo Kenyatta, who had been
arrested as a Mau Mau leader and sen- In January 1993, Moi was sworn in
tenced to seven years of hard labor in for his fourth five-year term in office.
1952. By July public rallies were being held to
protest Moi’s human rights abuses and
In 1960 both the Kenya African to demand constitutional reforms. For
National Union (KANU) and the Kenya the first time in Kenya, the police
African Democratic Union (KADU) were entered All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi
formed. In February 1961 primary and and beat the demonstrators seeking
general elections were held under the sanctuary there.
Lancaster House Constitution. KANU One of the most shocking single-
won 19 seats and KADU 11. Although day events in Nairobi’s history was the
still detained, Jomo Kenyatta was U.S. Embassy bombing on August 7,
named as president of KANU. By Octo- 1998. Nairobians were stunned by the
ber, Kenyatta was released and assumed tragedy, in particular because the terror-
the presidency. ist attack had nothing to do with their
country. In simultaneous attacks on the
Between February and April 1962, U.S. Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es
the second Lancaster House Conference Salaam, Tanzania, 227 people were
was held in London. A self-government killed, including 12 Americans, and
“framework” constitution was agreed over 5,000 injured. The bulk of those
upon and drawn to include representa- injured and killed were Kenyans as the
tion from both political parties. By U.S. Embassy was located at a busy
1963 Kenya achieved internal self-gov- intersection near the railway station. A
ernment with Kenyatta as the first neighboring four-story building col-
prime minister. The third Lancaster lapsed during the mid-morning work-
House Conference was held to finalize day attack. The attacks were apparently
the constitution for the granting of orchestrated by Osama bin Laden, a
independence; the conference also wealthy Saudi Arabian who has dedi-
declared Kenya a dominion. On Decem- cated his life to attacking American
ber 12, 1963, Kenya finally became an interests. In the aftermath of the bomb-
independent state. ing, Kenyan and other governments
worked closely to rescue survivors, find
President Kenyatta died in 1978 victims, and apprehend suspects.
and was succeeded by his vice presi-
dent, Daniel arap Moi. Moi became 7 Government
both the second president and head of
KANU. Sworn in for a five-year term, he Nairobi is the main administrative
ruled as a dictator, and his government center for the national government.
was marked by human rights abuses, The mayor and the city commission are

Nairobi
responsible for management of the city. province. Since the colonial era the
Nevertheless, the central government is state has arrested, harassed, and tor-
very strong, leaving the Nairobi local tured political dissidents. Some Nairobi
government with little power. businesses, especially those associated
with the political opposition, have been
ransacked by state security officials.
8 Public Safety Political tensions have led to rioting,
Crime is a growing problem. The demonstrations, and violent conflicts
“City in the Sun” has earned itself the between rival political factions in
dubious unofficial nickname of Nairobi.
“Nairobbery.” Petty crime is rife and The relationship between the
serious crimes are becoming more fre- police and citizens is not good. There is
quent. The chief causes for rising crime a widespread belief that the police cause
rates are the breakdown of the tradi- more problems than they solve.
tional social values, a tense political sit- Through soliciting bribes and police
uation, and high unemployment. In brutality, the effectiveness of the force
1998, two vehicles a day were stolen in has been weakened. Probably because
Kenya. Due to the high incidence of car of this, most wealthy people find it nec-
theft and car jackings, the insurance essary to hire their own private security
companies have for years been threat- guards, and there are many private
ening to discontinue auto insurance security companies, such as Ultimate
because too many claims have made Security, Total Security, and Securicor.
the business unprofitable. Auto insur-
ance premiums are currently ten per-
cent of the value of the vehicles per 9 Economy
year (that is, if an auto costs $20,000, Kenya has the most vibrant econ-
the owner pays $2,000 per year in omy in East Africa, and Nairobi is the
insurance). main commercial center of the country.
Nairobi has a well-developed infrastruc-
Ironically, public safety has been ture, including modern financial and
weakened by the state, the institution communications systems. Leading
entrusted to provide domestic security. domestic (Kenya Commercial Bank)
Violent political conflicts between vari- and international banks (Barclays, Cit-
ous political and ethnic groups accom- ibank, Standard Chartered) operate out
panied Kenya’s transition to multi- of Nairobi. Kenya also has a relatively
party politics. These conflicts followed well-developed industrial base, which
threats by high-ranking government accounts for some 20 percent of the
officials directed at the Kikuyu commu- gross domestic product (GDP).
nity and caused opponents of the gov-
ernment to charge that the state was Nairobi is also the largest industrial
behind a campaign of “ethnic center. The principal products include
cleansing” (genocide) in the Rift Valley processed food, beer, vehicles, soaps,

Nairobi
construction material, engineering, tex- Nevertheless, several streams criss-cross

tiles, and chemicals. There is also a the city. Streams running from the
thriving sector that provides employ- Ngong Hills to the south and the ridges
ment to carpenters, metal workers, fur- to the north become the Athi and
niture makers, vehicle repairmen, and Nairobi Rivers. Occasionally hippos and
retailers. crocodiles can be spotted in the Athi
River. Other important sources of water
The cornerstone of Kenya’s econ- for Nairobi are the Chania and Thika
omy is agriculture, which employs Rivers. There is also the manmade
around 80 percent of the population, Thika dam, which was constructed as a
contributes 29 percent of the GDP, and water reservoir. Natural springs feed a
accounts for over 50 percent of the number of small swamps in secluded
country’s export earnings. The areas hollows. In addition, temporary wet-
around Nairobi are prime agricultural lands are created with the coming of
lands. The principal food crops are each rainy season. The planting of euca-
maize, sorghum, cassava, beans, and lyptus trees, however, has drained most
fruit. Cash crops, such as coffee, are of these springs.
grown by small-scale farmers. Horticul-
ture is a new agricultural growth sector. Nairobi National Park is another
Flower exports are an important source preservation of natural environment. It
of foreign exchange. is covered by a highland forest of hard-
woods. A spectrum of birds and animals
With a well-developed system of find their home in the park. The park
hotels and top-rate tour companies and itself was established in 1948 as an
the country’s spectacular game parks effort by the government to preserve
and beautiful coast, tourism is an the remaining natural beauty of
important part of Kenya’s economy. It Nairobi.
has replaced coffee as the country’s
largest foreign exchange earner. Nairobi Nairobi has a bustling population
is the center for many tour companies growth. Rapid urbanization and indus-
and travel agencies. City hotels range trialization consume a lot of natural
from low cost budget to luxury and resources, causing alarming environ-
offer good value and excellent service. mental degradation. Construction
places a very heavy burden on natural
resources. Sand is an important con-
10 Environment
struction material; thus, all rivers in
Nairobi is well endowed with a Nairobi have been extensively exca-
pleasant environment that preserves vated in search of sand. The result has
much of its pristine natural beauty. been serious soil erosion. Timber is also
Ponds, seasonal springs, rivers, flooded used in construction, causing depletion
grasslands, and swamps abound. Unlike of forests surrounding the city. Addi-
other major cities, Nairobi is not situ- tionally, Nairobi attracts hundreds of
ated on a large river or near the sea. new immigrants daily. This has an

Nairobi
impact on the environment as service

struggles to keep pace with rapid popu-
lation growth. The city’s sewage system
frequently breaks down, adversely
affecting the environment.
11 Shopping
A wide variety of shopping experi-
ences can be found in Nairobi. It is a
good place to pick up souvenirs and
handicrafts. All sorts of goods can be
obtained from vendors, kiosks, bou-
tiques, small shops, department stores,
and malls.
Souvenirs and handicrafts can be

purchased all over Nairobi. The city
market on Muindi Mbingu Street has a
good range of items from souvenir
kiondo (colorful woven sisal bags), jew-
elry, wood, and soapstone carvings to
everyday goods like meat, fish, and Open markets like this one are common in
fruits. However, shopping at city mar- Nairobi. Everything from souvenirs to fresh fish
ket will test any shopper’s bargaining can be purchased from street vendors. (Christina
Thompson; Woodfin Camp)
abilities. On Tuesdays there is a Masai
market (which is an informal market) at
Kenyatta Avenue near the roundabout Street. More upscale handicrafts, art-
on Uhuru Highway. There Masai
work, and jewelry from all over Africa
women sell beaded jewelry, gourds, bas-
can be found at the African Heritage
kets, and other Masai crafts. The Kigali Center on Kenyatta Avenue.
market, between Kigali Road and Tub-
man Road, is an overpopulated tourist The appropriately named Biashara
spot. All kinds of souvenirs can be (Business) Street is the core of down-
found there, and if the shopper’s bar- town Nairobi’s shopping district; it is
gaining skills are sharp, some good made up of endless small shops and
deals can be obtained. Safari wear, T- cafes. In the Langata area, the Ostrich
shirts, wood carvings, and better assort- Park has a craft center with an artisans
ments of jewelry can be found at a workshop where passersby can see
number of downtown shops situated items being made and enjoy a nice cafe.
along the major roads of Kenyatta Ave- The Yaya and Sarit Centers are well-
nue, Koinange Street, and Kimathi known shopping malls located outside

Nairobi
of the city center. Uchumi supermar- industry. The college has a strong repu-
kets, located throughout Nairobi, cater tation and runs its own hotel in Ruar-
to grocery shopping needs, as do stalls aka on the outskirts of the city.
that sell fresh vegetables, fruits, and
meat. 13 Health Care
The best medical facilities in East
12 Education Africa can be found in Nairobi. Two pri-
vate hospitals with strong reputations
During the colonial era, education
are the Nairobi and the Aga Khan.
was segregated along racial lines with
Kenya’s main teaching hospital is Ken-
schools built for Europeans, Asians
yatta, though its reputation regarding
(those from the Indian Subcontinent),
patient care is not as strong as in the
and Africans. With independence, the
past. Nairobi and all of Kenya are also
school system was desegregated. Educa-
served by “Flying Doctors,” an insur-
tion is seen as an important avenue for
ance organization that provides expert
upward social mobility and is very com-
care and medical evacuations should a
petitive. In Nairobi, even at the pre-
health emergency occur. However, if a
school level, parents are interested in
patient does not have the foresight to
enrolling their children in schools with
join Flying Doctors, they must bear the
strong academic reputations. Competi-
full cost of the often very expensive ser-
tion becomes especially intense for
vices they receive should they become
places in top government and private
sick. In addition to hospitals, there are
high schools. A student’s educational
numerous private clinics and practices
future is largely determined by results
that serve the capital city’s population.
on national exams taken after primary
school and high school. Many of
Nairobi’s approximately 77 private sec- 14 Media
ondary schools and 44 state-run schools Nairobi is the media hub of East
are among the country’s best. Africa. The Nation Group of Compa-
nies, which publishes newspapers and
Nairobi is well served by institu- runs radio and television stations, has
tions of higher learning. The oldest uni- its headquarters in the city. In addition
versity in Kenya is Nairobi University. to the Kenyan daily newspaper, The
Another leading state-related univer- Nation, the company publishes the East
sity is Kenyatta University, which grew African, a weekly newspaper that covers
out of a teachers college. A number of the region of Kenya, Uganda, and Tan-
private universities were opened in the zania. The Nation Group also publishes
1980s and 1990s. Nairobi Polytechnic the Taifa Leo, a Swahili-language daily
and Utalii College are other leading newspaper.
learning institutions. Utalii College was
started in 1969 to provide highly Kenya’s oldest newspaper is the
trained manpower for Kenya’s tourist Standard. It is a daily English-language

Nairobi
newspaper that is well known for its and long-distance running at the inter-
business coverage. The Standard Group national level. National track and cross-
also owns Kenya Television Network, country meets are usually held at the
the country’s first private television sta- national stadium or at the Ngong Race
tion, based in Nairobi. Course in Nairobi. These events tradi-
tionally produce a new group of world-
Kenya’s third most popular news-
class runners, ready to challenge their
paper is closely affiliated with the rul-
already-established peers.
ing Kenya African National Union and
is called the Kenya Times. Kenya Times
The most popular sport in the
Ltd., the parent company, also pub-
country and the capital city is soccer.
lishes the Swahili language Kenya Leo.
Nairobi has three large stadiums
Other major media companies (Nyayo, City, and Kasarani) in which
operating in the capital are the govern- domestic league and international
ment-owned Voice of Kenya radio sta- matches are played. Two clubs with
tion and the government owned large followings in Nairobi are AFC and
television station, Kenya Broadcasting Gor Mahia, which are both nationally
Company, which first began broadcast- popular clubs with home bases of sup-
ing in 1961. port in western Kenya. Recently, a
Nairobi-based team, Mathare United,
Popular magazines published in
has taken the soccer scene by storm.
Nairobi include the Weekly Review,
Named after one of Nairobi’s most
which provides in-depth local news;
notorious slums and made up of young
Viva (for women); Drum; and a puzzle
impoverished players, Mathare United
magazine called Chemsha Bongo, which
translated from Swahili means Boil Your is a formidable challenger to the tradi-
Brain. tionally strong teams of Gor Mahia,
AFC, and Kenya Breweries.
15 Sports Motor sports are popular in Kenya.
Kenya has a strong reputation for One of the biggest sporting events is
sports, and Nairobi is the center of the the Kenya Safari Rally, which takes
sporting scene. In particular, Kenya is place around Easter. The rally, which
well known for its world-class runners. starts and finishes in Nairobi, follows a
Kenyan runners exploded onto the route that covers 4,000 kilometers
international scene during the 1968 (2,486 miles). Large crowds follow the
Mexico City Olympic Games when event in the rural areas and the cities.
three distance runners won gold med- During the rally, daily results dominate
als, including Kipchoge “Kip” Keino, radio, print, and television news cover-
who beat the American favorite Jim age as Kenyans cheer for the local
Ryun in the 1500-meter race. Since heroes competing against top interna-
1968, Kenyans have dominated middle- tional drivers.

Nairobi
well-maintained country clubs in

Nairobi that offer good golfing facili-
ties. Muthaiga Country Club, the old
premier settler club, has a top-flight
golf course as well as other sporting
facilities. Other prominent clubs that
have golf courses are Karen Country
Club, Limuru Country Club, Royal
Nairobi Golf Club, Sigma Golf Club,
and the Railway Golf Club.
16 Parks and
Recreation
There are a wide variety of parks
and recreational activities in Nairobi.
The most spectacular, Nairobi National
Park, is located just five miles south
from the city center. The 117-square-
kilometer (45-square-mile) park con-
tains impala, Grant’s gazelle, Thom-
son’s gazelle, hartebeest, eland, kudu,
zebra, wildebeest, giraffes, birds, rhinos,
and hippos. Probably the most visited
Kids play on a monument in Uhuru Park. game park in East Africa, it provides a
(Betty Press; Woodfin Camp)
wonderful opportunity to view the
wildlife of Africa silhouetted against the
Nairobi skyline. It is open daily from
Other sports gaining popularity in dawn to 7:00 PM.
the nation’s capital are rugby, cricket,
and field hockey. These games, previ- Uhuru Park and Uhuru Gardens are
ously the domain of Nairobi’s settler located along Uhuru Highway, not far
and Asian communities, are becoming from Nairobi University and the city
popular among Africans. With increas- center. Uhuru Park and Gardens are a
ing numbers of participants, Kenya’s large urban green space. The Nairobi
rugby, field hockey, and cricket teams Arboretum, also located near Nairobi
have done well in international compe- University, provides a restful setting for
titions. Polo is often played on the a walk among its 300 different species
weekends in Jamhuri park. of trees. City Park, located two miles
north of the city center, is a well-pre-
For the country’s affluent, golf is a served remnant of the woodlands that
popular sport. There are a number of covered the area before the construc-

Nairobi
Costumed dancers perform during festivals in downtown Nairobi. (Betty Press; Woodfin Camp)
tion of the railway. City Park features countries, sing in Swahili. Pop music in
well-kept lawns, gardens of rare plants, Nairobi is heavily influenced by the
playgrounds, and sports fields. benga beat, which originated in west-
ern Kenya among the Luo people.
Attending horse races at Ngong
Music from the Democratic Republic of
Racecourse is a popular weekend activ-
Congo and Tanzania are also major
ity. Open almost every Sunday, the race-
course is set amid green grass, and it influences. Gospel and choir are popu-
hosts a beautiful old grandstand. lar musical genres. Choral music con-
certs, organized by the Nairobi music
society, can often be heard at All Saints
17 Performing Arts Cathedral. Visiting jazz and classical
Popular music is an important part musicians occasionally hold concerts at
of Nairobi’s cultural life. Many musi- the Kenya National Theater.
cians sing in Kenyan languages, such as
Luo, Kamba, Luhyia, and Kikuyu. Other Drama and plays are very impor-
pop musicians, some from neighboring tant forms of expression. In Nairobi,

Nairobi
two resident theater companies offer The Kenya National Museum has
performances. One is the Kenya an excellent exhibit on pre-history
National Theater, located across from based on the work of the famous Leaky
the Norfolk Hotel and next to the Uni- family of anthropologists. There are
versity of Nairobi. The other is called also exhibits on insects, animal life, and
the Professional Center and is located Kenyan culture. The museum houses a
on Parliament Road in the city center. display of Joy Adamson’s (naturalist
Kenyatta University and the University and author of Born Free) paintings. Film
of Nairobi have amateur theater groups screenings and public lectures spon-
that stage performances. Nairobi hosts sored by the museum are very popular.
the national school drama and music Across from the Kenya Museum is the
competitions at the Kenyatta Confer- Snake Farm, which features live speci-
ence Center. These competitions, which mens of snakes, lizards, chameleons,
start at the local level and culminate in tortoises, turtles, and crocodiles found
the national finals, generate a great deal in Kenya.
of national interest.
For people interested in trains, the
Railway Museum, located near the
18 Libraries and Nairobi Train Station, features a display
Museums of locomotives that have operated in
Kenya since the railway was built. A
Nairobi is home to a number of well-known part of Kenyan history is
libraries and museums. The national represented in the form of a carriage in
archives are kept in the old Bank of which a man-eating lion killed and
India building, located in the central dragged away a railway worker during
business district on Moi Avenue across the line’s construction. In December
from the Hilton Hotel. Apart from 1898, lion attacks brought work on the
housing important historical docu- railway to a halt 194 kilometers (121
ments, it features photographs and craft miles) from the coast in what is now
exhibits. Tsavo National Park. Lion attacks,
which usually consisted of a worker
The McMillan Memorial Library is being dragged away from his tent in the
also located in central Nairobi near the
night, resulted in a number of deaths. A
Jamia Mosque. This library is distinctive
major labor dispute threatened to erupt
for its two large stone lions that guard as the largely Indian workforce
its entrance steps. Inside is a display fea-
demanded to be returned home. Con-
turing the furniture of writer Karen
struction of the line was held up for
Blixen, famous for her novel Out of three weeks as the lions were hunted
Africa. The library has an extensive col-
and killed.
lection of books and newspapers. It also
houses the parliamentary archives. For Karen Blixen’s house, located in
a fee, people can become members of the fashionable suburb that bears her
the library and check out books. name, has been turned into a museum

Nairobi
in her honor. Not far away is the Lan- ment Building, the City Market, and
gata Giraffe Center, which is mainly for the National Museum. Trips to Nairobi
children. The center is supported by the National Park, the Giraffe Center, and
African Fund for Endangered Wildlife the Karen Blixen Museum are also pop-
and is home to a number of giraffes ular. The city offers a well-developed
that visitors can feed from raised infrastructure, excellent hotels, and fine
wooden platforms. In addition to the food. Nairobi has been host to numer-
giraffes, the center contains warthogs, ous international conferences, conven-
bushbuck, and dikdik. The trees and tions, and meetings.
shrubbery at the Giraffe Center are an
ideal habitat for birds, and there are 20 Holidays and
over 160 species. For those interested in Festivals
bird watching, the Langata suburb is
also home to a private bird sanctuary. JANUARY
New Years Day
Appointments must be made in
advance, and all visitors are accompa- MARCH-APRIL
nied by an ornithologist. Good Friday and Easter Monday
Safari Rally Motor Sports
The Bomas of Kenya features per- MAY
formances of traditional songs and Labor Day
dances from Kenya’s various ethnic JUNE
groups. It is located two kilometers (one Madaraka Day
mile) past the gate of Nairobi National SEPTEMBER
Park in the Langata suburb. On the Nairobi International Show
grounds is an open-air museum that
OCTOBER
depicts the traditional lifestyle of Kenyatta Day
Kenya’s African ethnic groups.
DECEMBER
Independence Day
19 To u r i s m *Ramadan is also a national holiday. The date of
this holiday depends on the sighting of the
Tourism is an important part of the moon and varies from year to year.
Nairobi economy. With a well-devel-
oped system of hotels and top-rate tour
companies, tourism has actually
21 Famous Citizens
replaced coffee as the country’s largest As the political, cultural, and com-
foreign exchange earner. City hotels mercial center of Kenya, Nairobi has a
range from low cost budget to luxury. long list of famous citizens. Many peo-
Trips to Kenya’s impressive game parks ple living in Nairobi may identify their
and beautiful coast can be arranged in ancestral village as home; however,
the city. Tours of the city itself also can Nairobi is considered the second home,
be arranged; tours of central Nairobi if not first home, for most of the coun-
normally include visits to the Parlia- try’s leading personalities.

Nairobi
A.M. Jevanjee (1861–1923), real estate Richard Leakey (b. 1944), palaeoathro-
tycoon and businessman who start- pologist who has served as director
ed the Africa Standard, Kenya’s first of the Kenya Department of Wild-
newspaper, created the Jevanjee life Services and who discovered
Gardens, and served as a represen- c r a n i a o f Austro pithecus boisei
tative of the Indian community in (1969), Homo habilis (1972), and
the colonial Legislative Council. Homo erectus (1975).
Baroness Karen Blixen-Finecke (1885– Meja Mwangi (b. 1948), outstanding

1962), writer, also known by her writer, winner of the Jomo Kenyat-
pen name Isak Dinesen, who ta Prize.
moved to Nairobi in 1918 and
wrote the novel Out of Africa. 22 For Further Study
Jomo Kenyatta (1890–1978), Kenya’s Websites
first president and a dominant fig- Kenya Web. [Online] Available http://
www.kenyaweb.com (accessed February 5,
ure in th e Ken yan n ation alist 2000).
movement, jailed in the 1950s by Living Encyclopedia for Kenya. [Online] Avail-
the colonial government for al- able http://www.sas.upenn.edu/
African_studies/NEH/Ke.html (accessed Feb-
leged connections to the Mau Mau. ruary 5, 2000).
Nation Newspaper. [Online] Available http://
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga (1911–94), fa- www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/
mous politician and one time vice- Today/ (accessed February 5, 2000).
president, who was dismissed from
the government for quarreling with Government Offices
Kenya Embassy in Washington D.C.
Kenyatta, but who remained a lead- 2249 R. Street
er of the political opposition until N.W. Washington D.C. 20008
his death. (202) 387-6101
Daniel arap Moi (b. 1924), president of Tourist and Convention Bureaus
Kenya Government Tourist Office
Kenya, who took over power in and Consulates:
1978 when Kenyatta died.
424 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10017
Tom Mboya (1930–69), staunch trade (212) 486-1300
unionist, founder of the Kenya Fed-
Dohery Plaza Suite 160
eration of Labor, and principal 9150 Wilshire Boulevard
leader in Kenya’s independence Los Angeles CA 90212
movement, who was assassinated (310) 274-6635
in 1969.
Publications
Ngugi wa Thiongò (b. 1938), famous Nation Newspapers
PO Box 49010
novelist imprisoned and exiled for Nairobi Kenya
political reasons. 254-2-221222

Nairobi
Weekly Review Ltd. Hutton, J. Urban Challenges in East Africa.

PO Box 42271 Nairobi: East Africa Publishing House, 1970.
Nairobi Kenya Huxley, Elspeth. Nine Faces of Kenya. London:
254-2-251560 Harvil, 1991.
Lonely Planet. East Africa. Singapore: SNP Print-
Books ing House, 1997.
Cohen, William, and E. S. Ohdiambo. Burying McHugh, Kathleen. (ed.) Kenya, Tanzania, Sey-
SM: The Politics of Knowledge and the Sociology chelles. London: Fodo Travel Publications,
of Power. Heinemann, 1992. 1990.
Denison, Isak (Karen Blixen). Out of Africa and Mwangi, Meja. Going Down River Road. Heine-
Shadows on the Grass. Vintage Books, 1989. mann, 1976. [Fiction]
Donelson, Linda. Out of Africa: Karen Blixen’s Ngugi wa Thiongo. A Grain of Wheat. Heine-
Untold Story. Coolsang List, 1998. mann, 1994. [Fiction]
Finlay, Hugh, and Geoff Crowther. Lonely Planet Quick, T.L., (et al). Rhinos in the Rough: A Golfer`s
Kenya. Lonely Planet, 1997. Guide to Kenya. Nairobi: Kenways Publica-
Hauman, Mathew, and R. Van Eyndhoven. Africa tions, 1993.
Give me Your Eyes: Stories About Meeting People Robertson, Claire. Trouble Showed the Way:
in Kenya. Source Books, 1997. Women, Men, and Trade in the Nairobi Area
Hodd, Michael. East Africa Handbook. Chicago: 1890–1990. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana
Passport Books, 1998. University Press, 1997.

Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America, North America

Location: On the Cumberland River in Central Tennessee
Motto: “Agriculture and Commerce” (state motto)
Flag: Royal blue field with white center and gold elements on the city seal.
Flower: Iris (state flower)
Ethnic Composition: White, 74.1%; Black, 24.3%; Native American, 0.2%; Asian,
1.4%
Coastline: None
Climate: Temperate climate with hot, humid summers and occasional snow in winter
(79.4ºF)
Seasonal Average Snowfall: 27.2 cm (10.7 in); Average Annual Precipitation
(total of rainfall and melted snow): 121.9 cm (48 in)
Weights and measures: Standard U.S.
1 Introduction the trucking and financial services sec-

tors and has also become the capital of
Located in the rolling hills of mid- privatized health care with the growth
dle Tennessee, Nashville is the state and merger of HCA and Columbia
capital. Home of the Grand Ole Opry
Health Care.
since the 1920s, it is the country-and-
western music capital of the world. The
As home to the first public educa-
city of Andrew Jackson, it combines the
tion system in the South, as well as the
grace and warmth of the Old South
site of the pilot project on which the
with the economic vitality of today’s
Sun Belt states. The rising popularity of nationwide Head Start programs were
country music in the past two decades modeled, Nashville is also a leader in
has created a booming entertainment the field of education. When it merged
industry in Nashville, spurring tourism its city and county governments in the
and attracting new residents with jobs 1960s, the city also became a pioneer in
at all levels of the music business. The the development of metropolitan gov-
city retains its traditional strength in ernment.
137
Nashville
2 Getting There
Nashville
Nashville, which has one of the Population Profile
largest geographical areas of any U.S.
city, is located in central Tennessee, on City Proper
both banks of the Cumberland River Population: 505,000
and surrounded on three sides by the Area: 1,225 sq km (473 sq mi)
Highland Rim, which rises up to 122 Ethnic composition: 74.1% white; 24.3% black;
0.2% Native American; and 1.4% Asian
meters (400 feet) above the elevation Nicknames: Music City USA, Garden Spot of the
level of the city. World, The Athens of the South
Highways Metropolitan Area

More than 129 kilometers (80 Description: Nashville and Davidson County
Area: 10,549 sq km (4,073 sq mi)
miles) of interstate highway pass World population rank1: approx. 320
through Nashville. The major inter- Percentage of national population2: <1%
states are I-65 (north-south) and I-40 Ethnic composition: 82.6% white; 15.7% black;
and 1.4% Asian/Pacific Islander
(east-west between Knoxville and Mem-
phis and further in both directions). I- ———
1. The Nashville metropolitan area’s rank among
265 forms a ring around Downtown the world’s urban areas.
Nashville, and I-440 encircles midtown 2. The percent of the United States’ total
Nashville. I-24, running southeast to population living in the Nashville metropolitan
area.
northwest, also leads into the metropol-
itan area, merging into I-40 to the
south and I-65 to the north.
ing flights daily. The airport, which
covers 76,178 square meters (820,000
Interstate bus service to all parts of square feet) and has 47 carrier gates, is
the country is available on Greyhound, serviced by 16 carriers. In 1998, Nash-
whose terminal is downtown on Eighth ville International Airport handled over
Avenue South. Amtrak service is not eight million passengers.
directly available in Nashville; the clos-
est connection is through Memphis. Shipping
Nashville’s extensive network of
Airport
interstate highways and 100 freight ter-
Originally constructed as a Works minals have made the city an impor-
Progress Administration (WPA) project tant regional trucking center, and it is
and opened as Berry Field in 1937, served by 135 trucking carriers. The city
today Nashville International Airport is also a rail hub for the Southeast, with
provides air service to almost 90 cities local railroads handling about 80
in the United States, Canada, and Mex- freight trains per day. Another major
ico, averaging 388 arriving and depart- mode of shipping in the area is barge

Nashville
traffic on the Cumberland River, which the perpendicular named streets run
connects Nashville to both the Missis- southwest to northeast. Bridges cross
sippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. the river at Jefferson and Spring streets,
the James Robertson Parkway, Union
and Woodland streets, and Shelby Ave-
3 Getting Around nue.
Nashville is laid out in a grid pat-
tern that straddles and is oriented to Bus and Commuter Rail Service
the Cumberland River. Numbered
streets run parallel to the river in a The Metropolitan Transit Authority
northwest to southeast direction while of Nashville operates hourly bus service

Nashville
to most areas of the city, as well as a The percentage of residents of Hispanic

motorized trolley in the downtown area origin (an ethnic rather than a racial
during daytime hours. Private automo- designation) was 1.1 percent.
biles are the preferred mode of transit
for most Nashville residents, and use of
public transportation is relatively light.
5 Neighborhoods
Dominated by the state capitol
Sightseeing building and War Memorial Plaza,
A one-and-a-half hour guided walk- downtown Nashville is located near the
ing tour of the city beginning at Fort riverfront and the site of historic Fort
Nashborough is offered by the non- Nashborough, built by Nashville’s early
profit Historic Nashville, Inc. on Satur- settlers. In addition to the capitol, the
day mornings in May through October. city’s historic landmarks, and its older
The Metropolitan Nashville Historical commercial buildings, this area is home
Commission provides maps for self- to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park,
guided walking and driving tours, commemorating Tennessee history
including the African-American His- with gardens and stone inscriptions
toric Sites Tour and the Battle of Nash- and located at the foot of the capitol.
ville Driving Tour. Commercial Also located in the downtown area are a
companies offering tours include Grand two-story shopping arcade between
Old Opry Tours, Johnny Walker Tours, Fourth and Fifth Avenues, built in 1903;
and Country & Western/Gray Line the Printer’s Alley Historic District and
Tours. the Nashville Farmers Market; the
Ryman Auditorium, original home of
the Grand Ole Opry; and two other
4 People well-known musical landmarks—Ernest
In 1990, the population of Nash- Tubb’s Record Shop and Gruhn Guitars.
ville was 488,000, with the following Riverfront Park, at First Avenue and
racial and ethnic composition: 74.1 per- Broadway, is a popular venue for musi-
cent were white; 24.3 percent black; 1.4 cal events. In recent years, lower Broad-
percent Asian; and 0.2 percent Native way and Printer’s Alley have developed
American. The population estimate for into the commercialized and crowded
1994 was 505,000. area known as “the District,” which
attracts crowds of both tourists and
The population of the Nashville locals.
Metropolitan Statistical Area was
reported as 985,026 in 1990 and esti- Midtown Nashville, encompasses
mated at 1,134,524 as of 1997. The an area bounded roughly by I-70 on the
region’s racial composition was listed north, Fourteenth Avenue on the east,
by the U.S. Census Bureau in 1996 as Blair Boulevard on the south, and
82.6 percent white; 15.7 percent black; Natchez Trace and Centennial Park on
and 1.4 percent Asian/Pacific Islander. the west. This district is home to both

Nashville

Nashville Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
Population of urban area1 505,000 10,772,000 2,688,000 12,033,000

Total daily costs 114 $173 $246 $207
Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper The Tennessean La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
Vanderbilt University and Belmont complex that includes the Grand Ole
University, as well as Centennial Park. Opry House, an associated theme park
The Music Row area on Sixteenth and and museum, a theater, and the studios
Seventeenth Avenues includes a num- of TNN (The Nashville Network) televi-
ber of country music-oriented museums sion, scene of regular performance tap-
and souvenir shops, the Country Music ings open to the public.
Hall of Fame, and a variety of recording
studios and music publishers. South and west of the city lie natu-
ral and recreational areas, such as the
The area north of I-40 is home to a
historic visitors center built at the site Cheekwood mansion and gardens,
of the first Dutch settlement in the Percy Warner Park and Golf Course, and
region. Tennessee State University and Radnor Lake State Natural Area. Resi-
Fisk University are also located in this dential areas are primarily found in the
area, as is the Nashville Zoo. To the east north and east, including the suburbs
of I-65 and north of I-40 is Opryland of Belle Meade, Green Hills, and Har-
USA, a large music and entertainment peth Hills.

Nashville
Nashville is the country music capital of the world. (Timothy Eagan; Woodfin Camp)
6 History settlers retreated to Kentucky later the

same year as a result of Indian attacks,
The area of present-day Nashville incited by the British as part of the
was occupied by Cherokee and Chick- ongoing Revolutionary War (1776–
asaw Indians when the first Europe- 1783).
ans—French traders—arrived there in
the eighteenth century and built trad- Nevertheless, the remnant of the
ing posts. The first permanent settle- community was incorporated in 1784,
ment was founded at Christmas time of and its name changed to the less Brit-
1779 by pioneer families from North ish-sounding “Nashville.” The settle-
Carolina and eastern Tennessee led by ment prospered, as schools, churches,
James Robertson. A second party led by and businesses were founded, and Ten-
John Donelson arrived the following nessee gained its statehood in 1796. In
spring, and the new settlement, consist- the early years of the nineteenth cen-
ing of log cabins, was named Nashbor- tury, a young lawyer named Andrew
ough for General Francis Nash, a Jackson (1767–1845) gained increasing
Revolutionary War hero. Most of the prominence in Nashville as a military

Nashville
hero of the Creek War and the War of the technological innovation of electric
1812, a member of Congress, and, by lighting.
1830, the seventh president of the
In the twentieth century, both
United States. During this period,
financial services and manufacturing
steamboats were introduced to Nash-
thrived in Nashville, the former led by
ville, and the city became a center for
the National Life and Accident and Life
river trade. New waves of settlers from
& Casualty insurance companies, and
the east, as well as immigrants from
the latter boosted by wartime demand
England, Scotland, and Ireland, boosted
during the world wars. It was on
its population and work force. In 1843
National Life’s radio station, WSM, that
Nashville was named the capital of Ten-
the Grand Ole Opry broadcasts were
nessee.
inaugurated and grew into a popular
local phenomenon. In the 1930s and
In 1861 Nashville’s citizens joined
1940s, federal projects, including the
their fellow Tennesseans in voting to
Works Progress Administration (WPA)
secede from the Union, and Tennessee
and the Tennessee Valley Authority
became the eleventh and last state in
(TVA), brought new jobs and infrastruc-
the Confederacy. The following year,
ture modernization to the city. Nash-
the city was invaded by Union forces,
ville also benefited greatly from the
which occupied it for the next three
development of the federal highway
years, commandeering its railroads and
system, which made the city a trucking
river transport facilities. Tennessee’s
and rail freight center. The TVA made
Confederates made a final, unsuccessful
electricity for home heating available in
attempt to retake the city in Battle of
the 1940s.
Nashville—one of the bloodiest of the
war—in December 1864. In the postwar years, the new high-
ways and the ascendance of the auto-
By the mid-1870s the city had mobile brought suburbanization to
largely recovered from the war and Nashville, as well as other cities
began to enjoy consistent economic throughout the country, and city ser-
progress and development, accompa- vices became increasingly fragmented.
nied by cultural and educational In the 1950s a pioneering plan for con-
advances, including the establishment solidated city-county administration
of Vanderbilt and Fisk universities. A was proposed; it became a reality in
milestone in the city’s postwar progress 1963 with the formation of the Nash-
was the 1897 Tennessee Centennial ville-Davidson metropolitan govern-
Exposition. The Union Station railroad ment. Efficient government has
terminal was built for the exposition, enabled the city to launch urban reha-
and a replica of the Parthenon, also bilitation and development projects
built for the occasion, was later dupli- that have boosted the economy by
cated in the permanent version that spurring downtown retail and commer-
still stands today. Also on display was cial development, as well as tourism.

Nashville
With the introduction of country- and have remained an important part

and-western music into the commercial of the economy. Banks headquartered
mainstream since the 1970s, Nashville in the city include Bank of Nashville,
has won new prominence as one of the First American, and Citizen’s Bank.
nation’s musical capitals. Even though Nashville is also home to the securities
its traditional insurance, publishing, firm J. C. Bradford. American General
education, and health sectors remained Life Insurance has remained in the city
strong, Nashville in the late 1990s was after acquiring two other locally based
positioned as a major sports and enter- companies and is now linked to Nash-
tainment venue with the construction ville’s entertainment industry as a sub-
of a major new sports arena and other sidiary of the Gaylord Entertainment
development projects. Network, which owns the Ryman Audi-
torium, former home of the Grand Ole
7 Government Opry, and the Opryland Theme Park.
The Nashville Metropolitan Char- Nashville is also a center of the pri-

ter, drafted in 1962, made Nashville a vate healthcare industry as home to
leader in the development of a consoli- Columbia-HCA, the largest operator of
dated city-county government. The for-profit hospitals in the country. This
Nashville-Davidson County metropoli- sector has also gone in new directions,
tan government was inaugurated in spinning off companies in child care
1963 and is still in place, headed by a and prison management.
mayor and a 40-member metropolitan
council consisting of five members at Nashville’s location in the Sun Belt
large and 35 representatives elected by puts it in prime manufacturing terri-
district. Its bi-monthly meetings are tory. Nissan Motors located its first U.S.
televised on a cable government-access plant here in the early 1980s. In the
channel. 1990s, a Saturn plant was operating in
nearby Spring Hill, and the area is also
home to a Bridgestone-Firestone plant.
8 Public Safety
In 1995, Nashville-Davidson’s inci- Media and communications are
dence of reported violent crimes per represented by BellSouth, headquar-
100,000 population was 1,790, includ- tered downtown, and the publishing
ing 20 murders, 93 rapes, and 511 rob- and electronic media firm Ingram
beries. The incidence of property crimes Industries.
was 8,920 and included 1,573 burglaries
and 1,560 motor vehicle thefts. 10 Environment
Nashville is situated amid rolling
9 Economy hills and abundant natural vegetation.
Banks and insurance companies The Highland Rim forms a natural
were among Nashville’s first businesses escarpment around the city, encircling

Nashville
The increasing popularity of country music has boosted Nashville’s economy. Performers dance on the
“Showboat” at the Grand Ole Opry. (Al Stephenson; Woodfin Camp)
it on three sides. Nashville extends Village, a two-block shopping area with

across both banks of the Cumberland clothing, housewares, crafts, and other
River, and there are two lakes—Old retailers. Suburban malls in the Nash-
Hickory Lake and the J. Percy Priest
ville area include Bellevue Center, Cool-
Lake—east of the city.
spings Galleria, Hickory Hollow Mall,
the Mall at Green Hills, and One Hun-
11 Shopping
dred Oaks Mall.
As in many other American cities,
much of Nashville’s retail trade has Souvenirs can be purchased at the
relocated to malls in the surrounding Country Music Hall of Fame and the
areas. Urban shopping centers include
Centennial Park museum shop. With
Church Street Centre, in the heart of
an encyclopedia inventory that occu-
the city’s traditional retail district; Mar-
ket Street, which houses a variety of pies three floors, Gruhn Guitars is con-
small shops and restaurants; the Eighth sidered by some to be the best guitar
Avenue antique district; and Hillsboro store in the country.

Nashville
12 Education funded by rail and shipping magnate

Cornelius Vanderbilt, is a private teach-
The nickname “Athens of the ing and research university. Its ten
South” comes not only from the Nash- schools, including schools of engineer-
ville’s replica of the Greek Parthenon ing, nursing, law, and medicine, enroll
but also from its reputation for educa- approximately 10,000 students in
tional excellence. It was home to the undergraduate, graduate, and profes-
first public education system in the sional programs. Fisk University, estab-
South, established in 1855. One-hun- lished in 1866, was one of the nation’s
dred years later, three prominent Afri- first black colleges.
can-American residents of Nashville
mounted one of the nation’s first Tennessee State University, a coed-
school desegregation lawsuits. Nash- ucational land-grant university located
ville was also a pioneer in early-child- on a 182-hectare (450-acre) campus
hood education for disadvantaged west of downtown Nashville, enrolls
children—the prototype for Head Start some 8,200 students. It is one of 46
programs was developed by a teacher public colleges and universities admin-
there. istered by the Tennessee Board of
Regents.
The Metropolitan Nashville Public
Schools, the nation’s forty-ninth largest
urban school district, are attended by 13 Health Care
83 percent of the city’s school-aged
children. The system encompasses 127 Vanderbilt University Medical Cen-
schools, including magnet programs, ter (VUMC) encompasses Vanderbilt
special education schools, alternative Hospital, the Vanderbilt Clinic, the uni-
schools, and an adult education center. versity’s schools of medicine and nurs-
Total enrollment in 1998–99 was ing, and a variety of other facilities.
69,400. The racial and ethnic break- VUMC employs over 8,000 persons,
down was 47.7 percent white, 45.4 per- making it middle Tennessee’s largest
cent black, 3.3 percent Hispanic, 3.2 private employer and the second largest
percent Asian, and 0.2 percent Native in the state. Vanderbilt University Hos-
American. The schools are administered pital has 658 beds housed in a twin-
by a nine-member elected school board towered facility that is also home to the
and an appointed director of schools. region’s only Level I trauma center and
Level I burn center. Several of the hospi-
Nashville is home to more than a tal’s departments, including cancer,
dozen institutions of higher education, endocrinology, and gynecology, have
including Vanderbilt University, Ten- won nationwide recognition. In 1997,
nessee State University, Scarritt College, the Vanderbilt clinic recorded nearly
George Peabody College, Belmont Uni- 29,000 admissions and scheduled
versity, and Fisk University. Vanderbilt 473,000 outpatient visits. Specialty clin-
University, founded in 1873 and ics associated with VUMC include the

Nashville
Nashville lives up to its nickname, the “Athens of the South,” not only because of the replica of the Greek
Parthenon, but also because of its dedication to excellence in education. (Jodi Cobb; Woodfin Camp)
Henry-Joyce Cancer Clinic and Clinical also has a daily afternoon newspaper,
Research Center. The School of Medi- the Nashville Banner, as well as a weekly
cine was ranked fourteenth nationwide alternative paper, the Nashville Scene,
in a U.S. News & World Report survey in which covers local news and entertain-
1997.
ment. Both the Metropolitan Times and
Other major hospitals in the Nash- Nashville Pride are weekly newspapers
ville area include Baptist Hospital, Met- serving Nashville’s black community.
ropolitan General Hospital, Nashville Trade magazines published in Nash-
Memorial, St. Thomas Hospital, and the ville focus on insurance, banking, agri-
following Columbia Health System hos- culture, music, education, and other
pitals: Centennial, Hendersonville,
fields.
Southern Hills, and Summit.
All major television networks have
14 Media affiliates in Nashville, which has a total
The Tennessean, a morning daily, is of seven commercial television stations,
Nashville’s major newspaper. In 1998 it and about 30 AM and FM radio stations
has a circulation of 184,979 during the provide news, music, and local features
week and 269,959 on Sunday. Nashville to the Nashville area.

Nashville
15 Sports Mall State Park, downtown next to the

capitol building. Built to celebrate the
Nashville is home to the former bicentennial of Tennessee’s statehood
Houston Oilers football team, now the in 1997, the park features river foun-
Tennessee Titans, who began playing at tains, an amphitheater, and a 61-meter
the brand-new 67,000-seat Adelphia (200-foot) map of Tennessee carved in
Coliseum stadium in 1999. The city granite. Park rangers offer organized
also has a Triple-A minor league base- tours of the park. The Tennessee cen-
ball team, the Nashville Sounds (the tennial celebration 100 years earlier
farm team for the Chicago White Sox), also left Nashville with a park: Centen-
and a Central Hockey League team, the nial Park at West End and Twenty-Fifth
Nashville Night Hawks. Avenue, whose best-known feature is its
College sports have an enthusiastic replica of the Greek Parthenon. The
following in Nashville, home to both park also includes a small lake, statues,
Vanderbilt University and Tennessee sports facilities, and a band shell.
State University, both of which are
The adjoining Percy Warner and
known for their football teams and
Edwin Warner Parks (covering approxi-
other sports.
mately 834 hectares/2,060 acres com-
The Nashville Speedway hosts bined) make up one of the country’s
stock-car racing every weekend. Special largest urban parks and offer riding and
sporting events held in Nashville annu- biking trails, a nature center, picnic
ally include the Iroquois Memorial Stee- shelters, playing fields, and a racing
plechase, held at Percy Warner Park course. Other city parks include Reser-
each May, and the Sara Lee Classic voir Park, Sevier Park, Shelby Park, and
Ladies Professional Golfer’s Association Two Rivers Park. Adding to the city’s
Tournament, also in May at Hermitage green space are the Cheekwood Botani-
Golf Course. Pro wrestling is a popular cal Gardens and International Garden.
spectator sport in the area.
Bledsoe State Park, northeast of
Nashville, offers lodging and camp-
16 Parks and grounds, horse trails, hiking, and swim-
Recreation ming. Recreational activities are also
Nashville has about 70 city parks, offered at Long Hunter State Park about
both large and small, giving the city 30 minutes southeast of Nashville. Rad-
roughly 2,833 hectares (7,000 acres) of nor Lake State Natural Area to the south
park land altogether. In addition, the is a nature preserve and sanctuary for
surrounding areas include several state observation, research, photography,
parks and nature reserves, such as Long and hiking.
Hunter and Radnor Lake.
Swimming in the area’s pools,
Nashville’s newest park is the 8- lakes, and rivers is the number-one rec-
hectare (19-acre) Bicentennial Capitol reational activity during Nashville’s

Nashville
President Andrew Jackson’s (1767–1845) home, the Hermitage. (Timothy Eagan; Woodfin Camp)
hot, humid summer. The area’s rolling through such resources as the Vander-
terrain is enjoyed by cyclists, equestri- bilt Orchestra and both student and fac-
ans, and golfers. Camping, boating, ulty performances sponsored by
canoeing, and fishing are other popular Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music and
outdoors activities in the region. the Belmont University School of
Music. In addition, the Friends of Music
brings touring artists and ensembles to
17 Performing Arts the city, and the Scarritt-Bennett Center
Series features free performances by
Although known primarily as the
local musicians.
capital of country-and-western music,
Nashville also has regular classical Nashville’s theater troupes include
music concerts by the Nashville Sym- the Tennessee Repertory Theater, Circle
phony and Nashville Opera. The music Players, Lakewood Theater Company,
departments of the city’s universities the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, and
also enrich the classical music scene Mockingbird Public Theatre. The Amer-

Nashville
ican Negro Playwright Theater presents County operates a central library down-
plays focusing on the African American town and 18 neighborhood branches.
experience and heritage, as does Blue With a total of 262,800 book titles and
Wave Productions. The Nashville Ballet 781,800 volumes, the library serves a
has been offering regular dance con- population of more than half a million
certs since the 1980s, and the Tennessee and employs a staff of 248. It has spe-
Dance Theater concentrates on mod- cial collections in the subject areas of
ern dance. Touring dance groups are business, Nashville genealogy and his-
brought to Nashville in concert series tory, children’s literature, drama, and
sponsored by such groups as Friends of oral history.
Music, the Tennessee Performing Arts
Center, and Vanderbilt University. Although Nashville has several art
collections, none is actually housed in a
As the home of the Grand Ole building designed as a museum (a
Opry and the major center for record- downtown museum building is in the
ings of country-and-western music, planning stages, however). The Cheek-
Nashville is the world’s undisputed cap- wood Museum of Art, in the Depres-
ital of country music, a position cele- sion-era Cheek Mansion, displays a
brated in the city’s nickname of “Music permanent collection of American art
City USA.” Live performances by both and a variety of temporary exhibits.
established and up-and-coming country Nashville’s full-scale replica of the
artists can be heard weekly at the Grand Greek Parthenon, built in the 1920s to
Ole Opry House in Opryland USA. replace the temporary version erected
Country, folk, and rock concerts still for the 1897 centennial celebrations,
take place at historic Ryman Audito- houses the Cowan Collection of paint-
rium, home of the Opry from its incep- ings by American artists and other arti-
tion in the 1920s until the 1970s and facts. Yet another non-traditional venue
newly restored in 1994. Other Nashville for art exhibits is Nashville Interna-
venues for country music are the “Mid- tional Airport, where the works of
night Jamboree” at Ernest Tubb’s regional artists are showcased in the ter-
Record Shop, which is broadcast live on minal’s atrium, as well as in the air-
WSM-AM radio; taping sessions of the port’s halls and lobbies. These include
“Prime Time Country” television show large suspended sculptures and Dale
at the TNN studios; and Nashville on Eldred’s “Airport Sun Project,” an instal-
Stage. A variety of local clubs also fea- lation of solar reflecting panels. Art col-
ture country music. lections are also housed in galleries at
Vanderbilt University and Fisk Univer-
sity.
18 Libraries and
Museums The Country Music Hall of Fame
and Museum traces the history of coun-
Founded in 1904, the Public try music in a colorful variety of exhib-
Library of Nashville and Davidson its that include musical instruments

Nashville
and other artifacts, videos, and such 20 Holidays and

unique items as a gold Cadillac that Festivals
belonged to Elvis Presley. The Grand
JANUARY
Ole Opry Museum focuses on perform- Nashville Boat & Sport Show
ers associated with this famed perfor- FEBRUARY
mance venue. The Lotz House Museum Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville
is dedicated to the Civil War (1861– Heart of Country Antiques Show
1865), and the Hartzler-Towner Multi- MARCH
cultural Museum displays artifacts that Nashville Lawn & Garden Show
highlight cultures around the world. APRIL
Other museums include the Cumber- Americana Sampler Craft Folk & Antique Show
Main Street Festival
land Science Museum, the Museum of Wildflower Fair
Tobacco Art and History, the Nashville
MAY
Toy Museum, and the Tennessee State Colonial Fair Day
Museum. Hermitage Spring Garden Fair
Historic Edgefield Tour of Homes
Iroquois Steeplechase
19 To u r i s m Opryland Gospel Jubilee
Tennessee Crafts Fair
Nashville’s music industry gener- Tennessee Renaissance Festival
ates considerable tourism, which has MAY-AUGUST
Dancin’ in the District
become one of the city’s major sources
of income. Tour buses are a common JUNE
Balloon Classic
sight throughout Nashville, as visitors Chet Atkins Musician Day
attend live performances and radio or Fan Fair
television tapings or wander through International Country Music Fair
the Country Music Hall of Fame and Southern Gospel Music Fest
Museum. The white-columned Opry- JULY
land Hotel, located on 12 hectares (30 Independence Day Celebration
acres) of land and renovated in 1996, is AUGUST-SEPTEMBER

Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
located adjacent to the Grand Ole Opry
House, and the Opryland USA theme SEPTEMBER
African Street Festival
park is nearby. Both the hotel and the Belle Meade Fall Fest
Nashville Convention Center also offer Italian Street Fair
convention facilities, including meet- TACA Fall Crafts Fair
ing and exhibit space, as does the Tennessee State Fair
recently completed Nashville Arena. OCTOBER
Boo at the Zoo
Another of the city’s high-profile hotels
Grand Ole Opry Birthday Celebration
is the Loew’s Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel NAIA Pow Wow
next door to Vanderbilt University. Oktoberfest

Nashville
NOVEMBER Nashville City Hall

Longhorn World Championship Rodeo 107 Metro Courthouse
Sinking Creek Film & Video Festival Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 862–5000
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER
A Country Christmas Tourist and Convention Bureaus
Nashville’s Country Holidays Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau
161 4th Ave. N.
Nashville, TN 37219
21 Famous Citizens (615) 259-4700
President Andrew Jackson (1767–1845).
Publications
Vice President Al Gore (b. 1948). The Nashville Business Journal
222 2nd Ave.
Artist Red Grooms (b. 1937). Nashville, TN 37201
The Tennessean
Comedienne Minnie Pearl (1912–1996). 1100 Broadway
Nashville, TN 37203
Flutist Paula Robeson (b. 1941).
Singer Dinah Shore (1917–94). Books
Ben-Amotz, Noa. Discover Another Nashville: An
Track star Wilma Rudolph (b. 1940). Essential Guide for Natives & Newcomers.
Nashville, TN: Common Ground, 1994.
Rock star Greg Allman (b. 1947). Doyle, Don Harrison. Nashville Since the 1920s.
Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press,
1985.
22 For Further Study Faragher, Scott. Nashville: Gateway to the South.
An Insider's Guide to Music City, U. S. A. Nash-
ville, TN: Cumberland House, 1998.
Websites Goodstein, Anita Shafer. Nashville, 1780–1860:
CitySearch Nashville. [Online] Available http: // From Frontier to City. Gainesville: University
nashville.citysearch.com (accessed Decem- of Florida Press, 1989.
ber 8, 1999). Kingsbury, Paul. The Country Reader: Twenty-Five
Nashville City Net [Online] Available http: // Years of the Journal of Country Music. Nash-
www.city.net/countries/united_states/ ville, TN: Vanderbilt University Press, 1996.
tennessee/nashville (accessed December 8, Kreyling, Christine M. Classical Nashville: Athens
1999). of the South. Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt Uni-
Nashville.Net. [Online] Available http: // versity Press, 1996.
www.nashville.net/ (accessed December 8, Squires, James D. Secrets of the Hopewell Box: Sto-
1999). len Elections, Southern Politics, and a City's
Coming of Age. 1st ed. New York: Times
Government Offices Books, 1996.
Davidson County
205 Metro Courthouse Videorecordings
Nashville, TN 37201 A Tour of Nashville, Tennessee. [videorecording]
(615) 862-6770 City Productions Home Video. Memphis,
TN: City Productions, 1994. 1 videocassette
Mayor’s Office (ca. 45 min.).
107 Metro Courthouse Nashville Music City U.S.A. [videorecording]
Nashville, TN 37201 Video Postcards, Inc., 1986. 1 videocassette
(615) 862-5000 (45 min.).
.

New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America, North America

Location: Southeastern Louisiana on Lake Pontchartrain near the mouth of the
Mississippi River; United States, North America
Motto: “Laissez le bon temps rouler!” (“Let the good times roll!”)
Flag: White field with red (top) and blue (bottom) stripes, and three gold fleur de lys.
Flower: Magnolia (Louisiana state flower)
Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST)
Ethnic Composition: 34.9% white, 61.9% black, 3.5% Hispanic origin, 3.2% other
Elevation: 5 ft. below sea level
Latitude and Longitude:29º95’44N, 90º07’50W
Coastline: 40 miles
Climate: Semitropical climate. Winters are mild, and snowfall is rare; summers are hot
and humid, and thunderstorms are common.
Annual Mean Temperature: 70.4°F (21.4°C)
Seasonal Average Snowfall: .20 in. (50 mm); Average annual precipitation (total
of rainfall and melted snow): 62.08 in. (1,580 mm)
Postal Codes: 70053, 70056, 70112–70119, 70122, 70124–70131
1 Introduction the New Orleans metro area today

remains an important commercial and
The cosmopolitan city of New industrial hub, it is arguably most
Orleans is located on Lake Pontchar- famous as a tourist destination. In the
train near the mouth of the Mississippi early nineteenth century, the American
River in southeastern Louisiana. A Sector was located just upriver of the
beguiling combination of old and new, original French colony, founded in
New Orleans has been dubbed “Amer- 1718. Today, visitors come from around
ica’s Most Interesting City.” For most of the globe to experience the old-world
its history, New Orleans’ status as a charm of the carefully preserved French
major port city has made it a bustling Quarter, also called the Vieux Carre
center of commerce and industry. Eco- (Old Square). Travelers come to dine in
nomic opportunity attracted hundreds its fine restaurants, listen to incompara-
of thousands of early settlers, resulting ble jazz, and browse in Royal Street’s
in today’s ethnically diverse population fine antique shops. Home to the world-
of Creoles, Cajuns and those of Italian, famous annual Mardi Gras celebration,
African and Caribbean descent. While New Orleans lives by its motto: “laissez
153
New Orleans
cities within 161 kilometers (100 miles)

New Orleans include Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Gulf-
Population Profile port, Biloxi, and Pascagoula, Missis-
sippi; and Mobile, Alabama.
City Proper
Population: 496,000 Highways
Ethnic composition: 34.9% white; 61.9% black; Four major north-south highways
3.5% Hispanic origin; 3.2% other serve the New Orleans area: Interstate
Nicknames: America’s Most Interesting City; The
Crescent City; The Big Easy 55 runs from New Orleans to Chicago,
Illinois; U.S. Highway 61 runs from
Metropolitan Area New Orleans to Memphis, Tennessee;
Population: 1,072,000 U.S. Highway 11; and State Highway
23. The two main east-west routes are
Percentage of national population2: 0.4% Interstate 10, which runs from Jackson-
Average yearly growth rate: 0.4% ville, Florida, to Los Angeles, California;
——— and U.S. Highway 90, which connects
1. The New Orleans metropolitan area’s rank the city with Lafayette to the west and
Mobile, Alabama, to the east.
population living in the New Orleans
metropolitan area. Bus and Railroad Service
Buslines serving New Orleans
include Baptiste, Canary’s Transporta-
tion, Loews Express, Louisiana Transit,
le bon temps rouler!” (“Let the good and Greyhound. The main bus terminal
times roll!”) is the Greyhound/Trailways Bus Station
at 1001 Loyola Avenue. Amtrak passen-
2 Getting There ger trains arrive and depart from the
Amtrak Station, also located at 1001
New Orleans is situated on the Mis- Loyola Avenue. New Orleans is con-
sissippi River, 177 kilometers (110 nected via rail to California, Chicago,
miles) northwest of its mouth at the Florida, New York, and points in
Gulf of Mexico. Lake Pontchartrain bor- between.
ders the city to the north. Most of New
Orleans lies between Lake Pontchar- Airports
train and the east bank of the Missis-
sippi, which follows a crescent-shaped Major domestic airlines running
bend, giving New Orleans the nick- flights to and from New Orleans Inter-
name the Crescent City. national Airport include American,
Continental, Delta, Northwest, South-
Surrounding communities include west, TWA, United, and US Airways.
Covington, Grenta, Harahan, Kenner, Many international airlines also fly
Metairie, Slidell, and Westwego. Major directly into the airport, which is 23

New Orleans

New Orleans
kilometers (14 miles) northwest of and Audubon Park are also bicycle-
downtown New Orleans (approxi- friendly locations.
mately 20 minutes). Locals sometimes
still call it Moissant Field, its former Ferry Service
name. In a 25-minute round trip, the
Canal Street Ferry travels across the
Shipping Mississippi between the Canal Street
Wharf and Algiers Ferry Landing. The
In the world of trade, New Orleans
ride is free to pedestrians; motorists pay
is known as one of the busiest and most
one dollar for return to the wharf. The
efficient international ports in the
ferry runs daily from 5:30 AM to 9:30
country, handling 14 million tons of
PM.
cargo annually. More than 100 steam-
ship lines dock there, and as many as Bus and Commuter Rail Service
52 vessels can be berthed at one time.
The Regional Transit Authority
(RTA) operates buses, shuttles, and
3 Getting Around streetcars throughout the New Orleans
area. Buses require one dollar exact
In the early nineteenth century,
change or a token (sold only in banks).
the city of New Orleans was divided:
Transfers are ten cents extra. The Vieux
Americans settled upriver of the origi-
Carre shuttle runs weekdays from 5:00
nal French colony. Today, Canal Street
AM to 7:30 PM. Visitor passes allow
acts as the official dividing line between
unlimited travel on buses and street-
the historic French Quarter and the rest
cars. One-day passes are issued for four
of the city. Street names actually change
dollars; three-day passes may be pur-
as one crosses Canal Street from the
chased for eight dollars. The Riverfront
French Quarter: Bourbon becomes
Streetcar operates along the river
Carondelet; Royal becomes St. Charles;
between Esplanade Avenue and the
and so on. Directions in New Orleans
Robin Street Wharf. It makes five stops
are described with respect to the waters,
above Canal Street and five stops below.
which weave around the city: lakeside
The streetcar runs from 6:00 AM to mid-
means toward Lake Pontchartrain; riv-
night on weekdays and 8:00 a.m. to
erside means toward the Mississippi
midnight on weekends. The fare is one
River; upriver refers to Uptown; and
dollar and 25 cents.
downriver refers to Downtown.
Sightseeing
Bicycle Paths
Walking tours are one of the most
The French Quarter welcomes bik- popular ways to see New Orleans. A
ers, with Royal and Bourbon streets walk through the historic French Quar-
closing off during the day to all traffic ter offers access to various jazz clubs,
but cyclists and pedestrians. City Park museums, antique shops, and galleries.

New Orleans

New Orleans Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Times-Picayune La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
A stroll through the Garden District jazz cruise from 7:00 to 9:00 PM daily.
offers a view of the elegant mansions, The evening cruise fare is $22.50,
known for their extravagant gardens, $42.50 with dinner. A smaller boat, the
built by the Americans who settled in John James Audubon, runs between the
New Orleans after the 1803 Louisiana Aquarium of the Americas and the
Purchase. A walking tour through the Audubon Zoo. The Audubon cruise
foot of Canal Street in the Central Busi- leaves daily at 10:00 AM, noon, 2:00,
ness District offers shopping mall stops, and 4:00 PM from the aquarium; and
as well as visits to the World Trade Cen- 11:00 AM, 1:00, 3:00 and 5:00 PM from
ter and the Aquarium of the Americas. the zoo. Round-trip fare is $13.50.
Sightseeing tours by steamboat and The St. Charles Streetcar offers a

streetcar are also popular. The New 90-minute, 13-mile sightseeing oppor-
Orleans Steamboat Company runs the tunity. An official historic landmark,
two-hour Natchez harbor cruise for a the streetcar travels up St. Charles Ave-
fare of $14.75 at 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM nue, through the Garden District, past
daily. It also runs a two-hour evening the Audubon Park and Zoo, as well as

New Orleans
Buildings of old New Orleans in the foreground contrast with skyscrapers under construction and the
Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints football team. (Sepp Seitz; Woodfin Camp)
other popular Uptown sights. For a one- also listed the racial/ethnic breakdown
dollar fare, the streetcar boards in the as 34.9 percent white, 61.9 percent
Central Business District at Canal and black, 3.5 percent Hispanic origin, and
Carondelet Streets. It runs daily every 3.2 percent other. However, in a city as
five minutes from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM; cosmopolitan as New Orleans, there is a
every 15 to 20 minutes from 6:00 PM to lot more to racial/ethnic heritage than
midnight; and every hour from mid- can be revealed by a statistical break-
night to 7:00 AM. down. Today’s population is a colorful
amalgamation of Creole, Cajun, Carib-
4 People bean, African, and Italian descent.
However, the Creole and Cajun cultures
In 1990, the U.S. Census Bureau are probably those most distinctive of
estimated a year-2000 population of New Orleans.
487,780 for the city of New Orleans.
However, by 1999 the population count One very important thing to
exceeded 496,000 people. The census understand is that while both groups

New Orleans
are French in descent, Creoles are not 5 Neighborhoods

Cajuns, and Cajuns are not Creoles. By
strict definition, a Creole is a descen- Major neighborhoods and other
dant of an early French or Spanish set- well-known parts of the city include the
tler, born in the colony, not in Europe. French Quarter, the Central Business
From the beginning, Creoles were District, the Garden District, the Uni-
strictly city dwellers. They called them- versity Section, Mid-City, and Lake-
selves “French,” spoke French, and con- shore Drive. Surrounding communities
sidered themselves the true natives. As a include Covington, Grenta, Harahan,
result of their stubborn insistence on Kenner, Metairie, Slidell, and
French language, culture, and customs Westwego.
(and consequent inability to adapt to
The French Quarter
anything American), they were eco-
nomically overrun by “Les Americ- Also called Vieux Carre (Old
aines” after the Louisiana Purchase. Square), the French Quarter is the origi-
However, the Creole legacy lives on in nal colony, founded by French Creoles
New Orleans culture in many ways—its in 1718. The carefully preserved his-
food, its music, and the French Quarter. toric district is delineated by Canal
Street, Esplanade Avenue, North Ram-
Cajuns, on the other hand, are part Street, and the Mississippi River.
descendants of rustic, country dwellers
The neighborhood is characterized
who lived along the bayous amid the
by two- and three-story buildings of old
swamps. They were manual laborers
brick and pastel-painted stucco. An
who celebrated as hard as they worked.
eclectic crowd passes beneath hanging
Happily isolated, they were devoutly
plants that dangle from the eaves of
Catholic and spoke their own provin-
buildings. Home to some 7,000 resi-
cial version of French, dating back to
dents, most houses date from the early
their ancestral home in Brittany and
to mid-nineteenth century and are
Normandy. The word Cajun is actually
fronted by secluded courtyards.
a corruption of the word “Acadian.”
The Cajuns’ ancestors were actually Although the district encompasses
exiled from New Acadia (today known only about two-and-a-half kilometers
as Nova Scotia) by the British in 1755. (one square mile), it is packed full of
In one of the nation’s largest mass must-see locations. Other than world-
migrations, more than 10,000 made renowned French Creole restaurants,
their new home in Louisiana. Today, jazz clubs, and antique shops, the dis-
there are nearly one million people of trict is home to St. Louis Cathedral at
Cajun descent. Those once isolated and Jackson Square, the Cabildo, Washing-
ridiculed have acquired a kind of nou- ton Artillery Park, the Old U.S. Mint,
veau chic status as Cajun restaurants, the Beauregard-Keyes House, the Gallier
music, artwork, and folklore have House, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, the
become all the cultural rage. New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum,

New Orleans
the nineteenth-century LaBranche The Garden District

Houses, First Skyscraper, Preservation
One of the nation’s most pictur-
Hall, the Historic New Orleans Collec-
esque neighborhoods, the Garden Dis-
tion, the New Orleans Pharmacy
trict is defined by St. Charles Avenue,
Museum, Napoleon House, Hermann-
Louisiana Avenue, Jackson Avenue, and
Grima House, the Musee Conti Wax
Magazine Street. It was settled by Amer-
Museum, and the Old Ursuline Con-
icans who rushed to New Orleans after
vent, which is the only remaining origi- the 1803 Louisiana Purchase but
nal French colonial structure today. remained upriver of the already-estab-
lished French Quarter. Countering the
Downriver Creole penchant for secluded court-
yards, they built elegant homes sur-
Downriver of the French Quarter rounded by lavish gardens; however,
are the suburbs of Marigny, Bywater, many of the district’s most stunning
Treme—famous for Congo Square and mansions were built during the city’s
Basin Street—Arabi, and Chalmette, “golden age,” from 1830 until the Civil
where the Battle of New Orleans was War.
fought in 1815. Algiers is a very old res-
idential section on the city’s west bank, Today, the grand mansions are pri-
vate homes and closed to the public,
across the Mississippi from the Quarter
but they are worth seeing from the out-
and the foot of Canal Street.
side. Sites of particular interest include
Colonel Short’s Villa, the Robinson
The Central Business District House, and the home of novelist Anne
Rice.
The heart of America’s second-larg-
est port, as well as the main parade Upriver
route during Mardi Gras, the Central
Business District cuts a wide path Beyond the Garden District lies the
between Uptown and Downtown, University Section, home of Loyola
Canal Street being the official dividing University and Tulane University,
line. Defined by Canal Street, the river, Audubon Park and Audubon Zoo, one
Howard Avenue, and Loyola Avenue, of the nation’s top five zoos, and the
the Central Business District is home to Carrollton and Broadmoor residential
the city’s newest convention hotels, sections. Riverbend is both a residential
shopping malls, and department stores, and shopping area that is situated in an
uptown bend in the Mississippi.
international trade agencies and consu-
lates, monuments, and the Superdome.
Mid-City
Points of particular interest include the
World Trade Center, the Aquarium of Located between downtown and
the Americas, Woldenberg Riverfront Lake Pontchartrain, Mid-City is pre-
Park, and the Spanish Plaza. dominantly a residential area. It is also

New Orleans
home to one of the nation’s largest

urban parks. City Park encompasses 607
hectares (1,500 acres) and contains the
New Orleans Museum of Art, boating
and fishing lagoons, golf and tennis
courts, botanical gardens, a playground
and amusement park with an antique
carousel, and the world-renowned Live
Oak trees. Also in Mid-City is the Fair
Grounds Race Course, host to thor-
oughbred racing and the annual Jazz
and Heritage Festival.
Lakeshore Drive
As is suggested by its name, Lake-
shore Drive follows the south bank of
Lake Pontchartrain. On the east end is
Lakefront Airport, and on the west is
West End Park, known for its fine sea-
food restaurants. The area is a popular
picnic, fishing, sailing, and sunning
spot. It is also host to the Mardi Gras
The War of 1812 ended in New Orleans when U.S.
Fountain, which is surrounded by
General Andrew Jackson defeated the British
plaques bearing various Carnival krewe forces. (Bernard Boutrit; Woodfin Camp)
emblems.
6 History La Nouvelle Orleans, the colony was

named in honor of Phillippe, duc
The region today called New d’Orleans, the Regent of France. In
Orleans was first visited by Europeans 1763, the Spanish overtook control of
in 1541 when a Spanish exploration the Louisiana Territory and ruled until
party led by Hernando de Soto discov- 1801 when Napoleon regained it for
ered the Mississippi River. It was the France. Just two years later, in 1803,
French, however, who claimed the Mis- Napoleon sold the land to the United
sissippi River Territory when explorer States in a deal known historically as
Robert Cavalier de la Salle visited the the Louisiana Purchase.
area in 1682. At the turn of the eigh-
teenth century, French brothers Pierre New Orleans grew tremendously in
le Moyne d’Iberville and Jean Baptiste the nineteenth century. It was incorpo-
le Moyne de Bienville established a col- rated as a city in 1805. The College of
ony in southeastern “Louisiane” when Orleans, the first institution of higher
they arrived with 200 settlers. Dubbed learning in Louisiana, opened in the

New Orleans
city in 1811. The following year the At the turn of the twentieth cen-
first steamboat began operating tury, Louisiana established the Board of
between New Orleans and Natchez. The Commissioners of the Port of New
War of 1812 actually ended in New Orleans, and modernization of the port
Orleans when, on January 8, 1815, was underway. In 1917, a screw-type
General Sir Edward Pakenham attacked electric pump made substantial swamp
the city with a British force and was drainage possible, and formerly unin-
defeated by U.S. General Andrew Jack- habitable land became habitable. By the
son at Chalmette Plantation, now a 1930s, all of the swamp areas were as
National Historical Park. Louisiana was effectively drained as the higher sites.
admitted to the Union on April 30,
1812, with New Orleans as the state In addition to swamp problems,
capital. It remained so until 1849, fires, hurricanes, and yellow fever epi-
except for a brief period between 1830 demics have taken their toll on the city,
and 1831. especially in the eighteenth and nine-
teenth centuries. However, New
The city’s location near the mouth Orleans’ ongoing battle with nature has
of the Mississippi River made it an been made easier by twentieth century
excellent locale for trade with cotton technology, and the city has experi-
and sugarcane as the primary commod- enced continuous growth since 1900.
ities. Hundreds of thousands of people In the second half of the twentieth
were drawn by economic opportunity, century, establishment of the National
and New Orleans’ population skyrock- Aeronautics and Space Administration
eted to 166,375 by the 1850s. New (NASA) space-flight facility and further
Orleans had become the third-largest expansion of port facilities contributed
city in the United States. to New Orleans’ accelerated growth
rate. In 1984, New Orleans’ Mississippi
An important Confederate port, River waterfront even hosted the Louisi-
New Orleans was captured by Union ana World Exposition.
troops early in the Civil War and held
under military rule for the duration. In the 1990s, the Port of New
The Civil War led to a period of eco- Orleans remained among the busiest in
nomic decline, and it was not until the country. Rich in heritage and cul-
1880 that port tonages were compara- ture, the population continues to be
ble with those of the late 1850s. Recov- extremely diverse, consisting of Creoles
ery was due largely to government (descendants of the original French and
construction of the Eads jetties (walls Spanish colonists), Cajuns (descendants
built out into the water to restrain cur- of the Acadians who were driven from
rents and protect a harbor or pier) at Nova Scotia by the British in 1755), and
the mouth of the Mississippi in 1879, other groups whose ancestry lies in
greatly improving access to the Port of Italy, Africa, and the Caribbean islands.
New Orleans. New Orleans is also a major tourist des-

New Orleans
tination, famous for its historic French in the number of violent crimes. The
Quarter and annual Mardi Gras celebra- most notable is the 23 percent reduc-
tion. With a population of more than tion of violent crime citywide for the
496,000 people at the outset of the first six months of 1997 compared to
twenty-first century, New Orleans is the first six months of 1996. The com-
Louisiana’s largest city. parison of non-violent crimes for the
same periods also shows a decrease by
7 Government 11 percent.
The New Orleans city government In 1997, the total crime index
operates under the Home Rule Charter stood at 53,399. Violent crimes
of the City of New Orleans, as amended reported to police (per 100,000 popula-
January 1, 1996. This charter calls for a tion) included 363 murders, 487 rapes,
mayor-council form of government, 5,349 robberies, and 4,677 aggravated
wherein the mayor is to be aided by a assaults. Property crimes included
chief administrative officer who is 10,236 burglaries and 2,044 motor
responsible to the mayor in the perfor- vehicle thefts.
mance of duties. The council is to con-
sist of seven members, five of whom are 9 Economy
to be elected from districts and two
from the city at large. The mayor and Since its founding in 1718, New
council members are all elected to four- Orleans’ status as a port city has been a
year terms. major factor in its economic develop-
ment. Its location near the mouth of
the Mississippi River enabled the city to
8 Public Safety grow as an important center for trade.
As the New Orleans City Council In the nineteenth century, primary
conducted hearings for the 2000 Mille- commodities included cotton and sug-
nium Budget, the recommended oper- arcane. During the Civil War, the port
ating budget of $507,304,152 proposed served as a vital military post. However,
to continue the city’s commitment to the region experienced economic
improving public safety. Highlights of decline as New Orleans, originally part
the budget included the provision of of the Confederacy, was captured by
funding to bring the New Orleans Union troops early in the war. The city
Police Department to a full force of recovered its prosperous economic sta-
1,700 officers and the provision for tus by the early 1900s.
continuation of the city’s five-year
Rebuild New Orleans Now! capital ini- In the twenty-first century, the
tiative to repair streets, parks, and pub- New Orleans metro area remains an
lic buildings. important commercial and industrial
hub. In the world of trade, it is known
Overall, the New Orleans Police as one of the busiest and most efficient
Department has reported a steady drop international ports in the country. Not

New Orleans
Traveling in New Orleans is difficult because of all the swamps, rivers, lakes, and bayous that are scattered
throughout the city, but street cars make it easier to get around. (Bernard Boutrit; Woodfin Camp)
only does the Port of New Orleans play The economy has diversified signif-
a vital role in the region’s economy, but icantly since the 1980s, and service
in Louisiana’s economy as a whole: ten industries currently make up the largest
percent of the state’s entire workforce is employment sector in the region. Tour-
employed in port-related activities. ism and health care are among the
city’s fastest-growing industries.
Despite a decline during the 1980s,
Other major boosters of the New
the oil and gas industry also remains an
Orleans’ economy range from higher
important part of the city’s economic education to aerospace to finance. Both
base. Major U.S. petroleum companies Tulane and Loyola Universities are
located in New Orleans include Shell, major employers. The National Aero-
Exxon, Mobil, and British Petroleum nautics and Space Administration
(BP). (NASA) maintains an assembly facility

New Orleans
in the city. Major companies headquar- The Greater New Orleans area cov-
tered in the New Orleans’ area include ers about 941 square kilometers (363.5
Hibernia Corp; Lockheed Martin square miles), but only 514 (198.4) are
Michoud Space Systems; Schwegmann somewhat dry land. This is because, at
Giant Super Markets; and Union Car- five feet below sea level, New Orleans is
bide Corp. the lowest point in the state of Louisi-
ana.
As of June 1999, the New Orleans
labor force numbered 624,200, and 11 Shopping
unemployment stood at 4.6 percent.
Shopping in New Orleans winds
along the Mississippi River, all the way
10 Environment from the French Quarter to Uptown
beyond Riverbend.
New Orleans may be a thriving
metropolis, but it was once written off The French Quarter is the place to
as nothing more than an alligator and hunt for antiques. There shoppers will
mosquito-infested swamp. The maze of also find art galleries, designer bou-
river, bayous, lakes, and swamps made tiques, bookstores, and an array of
land access and travel difficult. The unique shops. Along Canal Place,
semitropical climate provided the per- located on Canal Street, shoppers can
fect breeding conditions for mosqui- admire the finery of jewelry designer
toes, and diseases, such as yellow fever Mignon Faget and browse in the likes of
and malaria, ran rampant. In its earliest Saks Fifth Avenue, Laura Ashley, Gucci,
days the area was actually referred to as and Brooks Brothers. Riverwalk, located
the Isle of Orleans. at 1 Poydras Street, is a long market-
place boasting more than 200 shops,
Today, New Orleans is defined by restaurants, food courts, and huge win-
the very bodies of water that once made dows overlooking the Mississippi. New
habitation so unlikely. Its nickname— Orleans Centre, between the Hyatt
the Crescent City—actually refers to the Regency Hotel and the Superdome on
shape of the land that has been molded Poydras Street, has more than 100 ven-
by the Mississippi River. The river winds dors, including Macy’s and Lord & Tay-
through the city and rushes out into lor. For six miles along Magazine Street,
the Gulf of Mexico, which lies 177 kilo- Victorian houses and small cottages
meters (110 miles) to the south. To the filled with antiques and collectibles
north of the city lies Lake Pontchar- welcome shoppers. Riverbend, located
train, actually a coastal lagoon, 40 kilo- at Maple Street and Carrollton Avenue
meters (25 miles) wide and 64 is comprised of turn-of-the-century Cre-
kilometers (40 miles) long with a total ole cottages that host toy shops,
area of more than 1,606 square kilome- designer boutiques, delis, and more.
ters (620 square miles). Metairie’s three-level Esplanade Mall at

New Orleans
West Esplanade Avenue houses 155 Orleans. There were also three public
shops, including Macy’s and Mervyn’s. and five private four-year universities,
Finally, the Warehouse District, bor- two community colleges, two medical
dered by Girod Street, Howard Avenue, schools, two law schools, and two theo-
Camp Street, and the river, is a major logical seminaries. Among the post-sec-
center for the visual arts, Julia Street ondary institutions, the most well-
being particularly noteworthy. known include Loyola University of
Louisiana and Tulane University, two of
Shopper’s guides are published by the most distinguished private universi-
the Magazine Street Merchants Associa- ties in the South, Dillard University, the
tion and the Royal Street Guild; shop- University of New Orleans, and South-
ping information can also be found at ern University of New Orleans.
the New Orleans Welcome Center.

Most education in the state of Lou- A few of the many medical care
isiana was provided through private facilities in New Orleans include Mercy
schools until Reconstruction. In fact, Baptiste Medical Center, Ochsner Foun-
New Orleans’ Creole population often dation Hospital, Pendleton Memorial
sent their children to be educated Methodist Hospital, Saint Charles Gen-
abroad in France. It was not until Huey eral Hospital, Touro Infirmary, Tulane
Long’s administration, when spending University Medical Center, and Univer-
for education increased significantly sity Hospital of Medical Center of Loui-
and free textbooks were supplied, that siana. According to 1997 reports, there
education became a high priority for were 23 hospitals and 2,368 physicians
the state. in New Orleans. The citizen to physi-
Desegregation of Louisiana schools cian ratio for the county was 203 to
actually started in New Orleans. Inte- one.
gration of New Orleans public schools
began in 1960; two years later, the arch- 14 Media
bishop of New Orleans required that all
Catholic schools under his jurisdiction New Orleans has two major televi-
be desegregated. sion stations: WYES-TV; and WWL-TV,
In 1996, the parish was ranked as Channel 4. WYES-TV boasts chip beta
the thirty-third-largest school district in cams, an eight-camera mobile unit, and
the nation with an enrollment of editing studio facilities. Clients include
85,064 students. HBO, ESPN, MTV, and Bob Hope.
WWL-TV, Channel 4 is a legendary CBS
In 1999, there were 274 public and affiliate that boasts a strong “Eyewit-
135 private elementary schools, 53 pub- ness News” franchise, double-digit rat-
lic and 29 private high schools in New ings, and network-quality production.

New Orleans
Major newspapers include the played in the Louisiana Superdome

Times-Picayune and USA Today, the from August through December.
number-one newspaper in the nation.
The Crescent City is also home to
Magazines include Ambassador’s, the 1998 Triple-A World Series Cham-
Inc., a high quality restaurant guide; pion New Orleans Zephyrs. The base-
New Orleans Magazine, consumer-life- ball team is the top affiliate of the
style reading dedicated to the upscale Houston Astros and plays 71 home
local, business, and visitor markets; games from April through September at
Where Magazine; and Where Y’at Maga- their state-of-the-art facility on Airline
zine, the city’s free guide to complete Drive.
restaurant, club, and bar listings and For golf enthusiasts, the Freeport-
timely articles about local and national McDermott Golf Classic is held in late
entertainment news. March-early April. The Classic Founda-
tion also hosts the annual PGA Tour
15 Sports golf tournament at English Turn to ben-
efit youth charities.
The same qualities that make New
Orleans an optimal convention and fes- The New Orleans Brass represents
tival town also make it a great sports the city in the world of hockey, and
town. An accessible downtown area and horse racing takes place at the New
a plethora of attractions and hotel Orleans Fair Grounds.
accommodations have qualified the
Crescent City as host to world-class 16 Parks and
sporting events on numerous occasions. Recreation
It has been an eight-time Super Bowl
host; three-time NCAA Men’s Final Four New Orleans may be a thriving
Championships host; NCAA Women’s metropolis, but its parks are nothing
Final Four Championships host; 1992 short of urban oases.
Olympic Track and Field host; SEC Bas- Woldenberg Riverfront Park
ketball Tournament host; and AAU Jun- encompasses 5.3 hectares (13 acres) of
ior Olympics host. landscaped territory, featuring more
than 300 oak trees, magnolias, willows,
For football fans, New Orleans and crepe myrtles, a large lawn and a
hosts the annual Nokia Sugar Bowl, as brick walkway offering direct access to
well as the National Football League’s the Mississippi River.
Saints team. The Sugar Bowl college
football classic, held in January, is spon- City Park, located on City Park Ave-
sored by a non-profit civic group that nue, spans 607 hectares (1,500 acres)
sponsors seven other amateur sporting and features moss-draped oaks, lagoons,
events throughout the year. As for the hiking-biking trails, picnic grounds,
New Orleans Saints, home games are golf courses, tennis courts, luxuriant

New Orleans
to visit for a close view of sea life. Visi-

tors can explore the aquatic world of
the Caribbean, Amazon Rainforest, Gulf
of Mexico, and Mississippi Delta.
For fishing enthusiasts, the bayous

and inlets off the Mississippi River are
rich with redfish, trout, and bass;
lemon fish, tuna, and red snapper can
be found around the oil rigs a few miles
offshore. A license issued by the Depart-
ment of Wildlife and Fisheries is
required for any outing and is available
from most sporting goods stores and
marinas.
Game around Louisiana includes a

wide variety from deer and water fowl
to rabbit and alligator. Hunting permits
are available from most expedition out-
Travelers from all over the world come to listen to fits.
the incomparable jazz of New Orleans.
(Olivier Rebbot; Woodfin Camp)
As the New Orleans City Council
conducted hearings for the 2000 Mille-
botanical gardens, and an amusement nium Budget, the recommended oper-
park featuring a late nineteenth-cen- ating budget of $507,304,152 proposed
tury carousel. to continue the city’s commitment to
youth development and improving the
Audubon Park, located on St. parks. The proposed budget recom-
Charles Avenue, offers golf and tennis, mended increasing funding to the New
a 2.9-kilometer (1.8-mile) jogging path Orleans Recreation Department to nine
shaded by giant oak trees, and 18 exer- million dollars to include summer and
cise stations. teen camps, public pools, and after-
school recreational programs.
The Audubon Zoo, located on Mag-
azine Street behind Audubon Park, is
ranked among the top five zoos in the 17 Performing Arts
nation. It is noted for its famed white
World-renowned for its jazz his-
tiger, white alligators, the Louisiana
tory, New Orleans swings with live per-
Swamp exhibit, and the World of Pri-
formances around the clock. Traditional
mates.
jazz can be found at Preservation Hall
Aquarium of the Americas, located and Palm Court Jazz Café. Snug Harbor
at the foot of Canal Street, is the place and Pete Fountain’s Club are also popu-

New Orleans
lar spots. Free jazz concerts are held on ranging from art to history to novelty.
weekends during the day in Dutch Leading art museums include the New
Alley. Orleans Museum of Art, the Ogden
Museum of Southern Art, and the
For those with a more classical taste
Lampe Gallery. As for historical muse-
in music, the Louisiana Philharmonic ums, the Louisiana State Museum, an
Orchestra performs at the Orpheum
eight-building historic complex in the
Theatre.
French Quarter, is the oldest and largest
In the realm of dance and opera, museum in the state of Louisiana. There
the New Orleans Ballet Association and is also the Confederate Museum, the
the New Orleans Opera Association pro- American Italian Renaissance Museum,
duce performances of visiting compa- BAND—Black Arts National Diaspora,
nies at the New Orleans Theatre for the Inc., Gallier House Museum, Hermann-
Performing Arts in Armstrong Park. Grima Historic House, the Historic New
Orleans Collection, the House of Broel’s
In dramatic theater, the Contem- Historic Mansion and Dollhouse
porary Arts Center hosts the avant- Museum, Longue Vue House and Gar-
garde, offbeat, and satirical. Classics, dens, Pitot House Museum, and St.
contemporary drama, children’s the- Alphonsus Art and Culture Museum.
ater, and musicals are presented at Le Novelty museums include Louisiana
Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre. Touring Children’s Museum, Musee Conti—the
Broadway shows, dance companies, and Wax Museum, New Orleans Historic
top-name talent appear at the Saenger Voodoo Museum, the Audubon Living
Performing Arts Center. Science Museum, and the six museums
of the Rivertown Museums, including
18 Libraries and Jefferson Parish Mardi Gras Museum
Museums and the Saints Hall of Fame.
New Orleans boasts a total of 65
public libraries and three institutional 19 To u r i s m
libraries. The official New Orleans Pub-
lic Library, with 11 branches and New Orleans has a reputation as a
good-time town. With a motto like
1,003,274 books, features a special col-
“Laissez le bon temps rouler!” (“Let the
lection on jazz and folk music. The
Tulane University Library, with good times roll!”), it is no wonder that
the September 1997 Conde Nast Traveler
1,470,549 books, has special collections
ranked the Big Easy as the second most
on jazz and Louisiana history. The
libraries at Tulane University and popular tourist destination in the
United States. The New Orleans Metro-
Xavier University of Louisiana each
politan Convention and Visitors Bureau
carry a special black-studies collection.
reported between 11 and 14 million vis-
New Orleans also hosts a staggering itors and $3.358 billion in expenditures
number of museums with collections attributed to tourism for 1997.

New Orleans
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

MAY
Greek Festival
JUNE
Great French Market Tomato Festival
Reggae Riddums Festival
JULY
Go 4th on the River
OCTOBER
Swamp Festival
Gumbo Festival
Jeff Fest
New Orleans Film and Video Festival
Oktoberfest
NOVEMBER
Bayou Classic Football Game
DECEMBER
New Orleans Christmas
New Year’s Eve Countdown
New Orleans is the home to the world-famous
Mardi Gras celebration. Masks like these can be
purchased in souvenir shops. 21 Famous Citizens
Well-known New Orleans natives in-
clude:
20 Holidays and Louis Armstrong (c. 1898–1971), world-
Festivals renowned jazz musician.
JANUARY George Washington Cable (1844–1925),
Chinese New Year Festival
Sugar Bowl
author.
Nokia-Sugar Bowl Mardi Gras Marathon Truman Capote (1924–84), author
FEBRUARY whose works include In Cold Blood
Lundi Gras and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Mardi Gras
MARCH Harry Connick, Jr. (b. 1967), Grammy-
African Heritage Festival International winning jazz musician.
Louisiana Black Heritage Festival
Mensaje’s Spanish Festival Antoine “Fats” Domino (b. 1928), one
New Orleans Literary Festival of the founding fathers of rhythm
St. Patrick’s Day Parade and blues.
Spring Fiesta
Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829–69),
APRIL
Crescent City Classic celebrated nineteenth-century pia-
French Quarter Festival nist.

New Orleans
Lillian Hellman (1907–84), noted au- New Orleans Times and Directory. [Online]
thor whose works include Julia and Available http: //www.gna.com (accessed
November 19, 1999).
The Little Foxes. Neworleans.com. [Online] Available http: //
www.neworleans.com (accessed November
George Herriman (1880–1944), cartoon- 19, 1999).
ist, best known for Krazy Kat.
Mahalia Jackson (1911–1972), one of Government Offices
New Orleans City Hall
the world’s greatest gospel singers. 1300 Perdido St.
New Orleans, LA 70112
Branford Marsalis (b. 1960), jazz saxo-
(504) 565–6000
phonist, once leader of the Tonight
Show band. New Orleans City Council
1300 Perdido St. 2nd Fl W
Wynton Marsalis (b. 1961), Grammy- New Orleans, LA 70112
winning jazz and classical trumpet- (504) 565-7655
er. New Orleans Mayor
1300 Perdido St.
Paul Morphy (1837–84), father of mod-
ern chess. (504) 565–8076
Jelly Roll Morton (1890–1941), famous
jazz pianist. Tourist and Convention Bureaus
New Orleans Visitor Center
Joseph “King” Oliver (1885–1938), cor- 529 Saint Ann St.
netist, bandleader, and principal New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 566–5031
mentor of Louis Armstrong.
New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and
Mel Ott (1908–1958), 1930s major Visitors Bureau
league baseball star credited with 1520 Sugar Bowl Dr.
more than 511 major-league home New Orleans, LA 70112
runs. (504) 566–5011
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

Anne Rice (b. 1941), author of best-sell- 900 Convention Center Blvd.
ing novels featuring vampires. New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 582–3023
22 For Further Study New Orleans and River Region
Chamber of Commerce
Websites 601 Poydras St., Suite 1700
Chamber/New Orleans and the River Region. New Orleans, LA 70130
[Online] Available http: //www.gnofn.org/ (504) 527–6900
chamber (accessed November 19, 1999).
Greater New Orleans Free-Net. [Online] Avail-
able http: //www.gnofn.org (accessed
Publications
November 19, 1999). Ambassador’s, Inc.
New Orleans City Government. [Online] Avail- 4955 W. Napoleon Ave., Ste. 116
able http: //www.tulane.edu/~uccr/gov.html Metairie, LA 70001
(accessed November 19, 1999). (888) 716–1792

New Orleans
Natives’ Guide to New Orleans Where Y’at Magazine

3923 Bienville St. 5500 Prytania St., PMA 248
(504) 486–5900
(504) 891–0144
New Orleans Magazine
111 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Ste. 1810
Metairie, LA 70005–4955
(504) 838–7737 Books
Barrett, Tracy. Kidding Around Nashville. Santa Fe:
Offbeat Publications John Muir, 1998.
333 St. Charles Ave., #614
New Orleans, LA 70130 Chappell, Susan. The Opryland Insider’s Guide to
(504) 944-4300 Nashville. New York: Ballantine, 2000.
Deegan, Paul. Nashville, Tennessee. New York:
Times-Picayune Publishing Corp. Crestwood, 1989.
3800 Howard Ave.
Jackson, Joy. New Orleans in the Gilded Age: Poli-
tics and Urban Progress, 1880–96. Baton
(504) 826–3279
Rouge: Louisiana State University Press,
Where Magazine 1969.
528 Wilkinson Row Lovett, Bobby L. The African American History of
New Orleans, LA 70130 Nashville, Tennessee 1780–1930. Fayetteville:
(504) 522–6468 University of Arkansas Press, 1999.

N e w Yo r k
New York, New York, United States of America, North America

Location: Southeastern New York on the Atlantic coast, United States, North America
Ethnic Composition: White, 63.9%; Black, 28.7%; Asian/Pacific Islander, 7%
Coastline: 1,942 km (750 mi)
Climate: Continental climate moderated by the Atlantic Ocean, with hot summers,
cold winters, mild springs, and crisp autumns
(76.6ºF)
Seasonal Average Snowfall: 737 mm (29 in)
Average Annual Precipitation (total of rainfall and melted snow): 1016 mm (40 in)
Postal Codes: 10001–99; 10101–99; 10201–82
1 Introduction intellectuals and draws millions of tour-

ists every year. In its 400-year history
Located at the mouth of the Hud-
the city has grown and changed rapidly,
son River in southeastern New York
repeatedly renewing itself through suc-
state, New York is one of the world’s
great cities. It has the largest population cessive waves of immigration and urban
of any city in the United States, and it is development. As a new century
unrivaled in the diversity of its neigh- approaches, it remains, perhaps more
borhoods and their often-colorful resi- than anything else, a city on the move.
dents. New York runs the gamut from
great concentrations of wealth, epito-
mized by luxury apartment buildings 2 Getting There
and hotels and mammoth corporate
headquarters, to the grinding urban Located at the southeastern-most
poverty of its ethnic and racial ghettos. point in the state of New York, New
A major financial and economic center, York City is situated on the Atlantic
it is also a cultural mecca that has coastal plain, at the mouth of the Hud-
attracted generations of artists and son River.
173
New York
(the New York Thruway) becomes the

New York Major Deegan Expressway as it nears
Population Profile the city from the north. I-80 (the Ber-
gen-Passaic Expressway) approaches
City Proper New York heading eastward from Penn-
Population: 7,333,000 sylvania.
7% Asian/Pacific Islander Bus and Railroad Service
Nicknames: The Big Apple; The Empire City
Amtrak offers daily service to New
Metropolitan Area York’s Penn Station from Chicago (on
Population: 16,626,000 the Lake Shore Limited), Miami (the Sil-
Description: New York City and surrounding ver Star), New Orleans (the Crescent),
communities
Toronto (the Maple Leaf), and Montreal
Percentage of national population2: 6.0% (the Adirondack). Amtrak also operates a
Average yearly growth rate: 0.4% high-speed rail shuttle, the Metroliner,
between New York and Washington,
D.C. Other rail lines that operate out of
———
1. The New York metropolitan area’s rank among Penn Station are the Long Island Rail-
the world’s urban areas. road and New Jersey Transit. Metro-
2. The percent of the United States’ total North operates service from New
population living in the New York metropolitan
area.
Haven, Connecticut, and Poughkeepsie,
New York, to Manhattan’s Grand Cen-
tral Railroad Terminal.
Airports
Highways Almost every major domestic car-

rier operates flights to and from New
New York City is known for its traf- York, as do most international airlines
fic congestion, and many New Yorkers as well. The city is served by three
walk or use public transportation major airports: John F. Kennedy Inter-
within the city itself. The major north- national Airport (which handles over
south interstate routes leading to New 200 international flights per day) and
York are I-95 and I-87 (which LaGuardia Airport, both in Queens, and
approaches New York from the north Newark International Airport in New
only). In New Jersey, I-95 becomes the Jersey.
New Jersey Turnpike. East of the Hud-
son River, it becomes the Cross Bronx Shipping
Expressway before heading north up New York is home to two Foreign
the coast of New England. I-95 leads to Trade Zones—one at Kennedy Interna-
the Holland and Lincoln tunnels and tional Airport and one at the Brooklyn
the George Washington Bridge. I-87 Navy Yard—which encourage trade by

New York

New York

New York Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
The Wall Street Akhbar El Yom/
Journal Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
providing exemptions from certain Staten Island occupy separate islands.

import duties. Although New York has Brooklyn and Queens, across the East
one of the world’s largest and safest har- River, are located at the western end of
bors, shipping traffic through its port Long Island, and the Bronx occupies
(and that of New Jersey) has been cut part of the mainland to the north,
by more than half in the past 30 years, across the Harlem River.
as shippers have begun using modern
railroad flat cars that cross over land Although it is the smallest of the
bridges. However, the World Trade Cen- five boroughs, Manhattan—bounded
ter, home to many of the world’s largest on the west by the Hudson River and
trading companies, is still owned by the on the east by the East River and Har-
Port Authority of New York. lem—is geographically, financially, and
culturally the heart of the city. The
3 Getting Around streets at the southern end of the
island—in areas including the Wall
New York City consists of five divi- Street financial district, Chinatown,
sions called boroughs. Manhattan and and SoHo—are laid out in an irregular

New York
pattern that dates back to the days of and from Fifth to Eighth avenues
Dutch settlement in the seventeenth (Eighth Avenue is called Central Park
century. As settlement later expanded West for the length of the park).
northward, a grid pattern of streets and
avenues emerged. The streets run east- Bus and Commuter Rail Service
west, with numbers ascending north-
ward; avenues run north-south, with New York’s subway system is one of
numbers ascending westward. Fifth the largest in the world, with 1,149
Avenue, running north-south, is the kilometers (714 miles) of track and 469
dividing line between streets labeled stations. Trains run 24 hours a day,
“east” and “west”: to the east of Fifth making frequent stops during rush hour
Avenue, 23rd Street is East 23rd, to the and other daytime hours. Both local
west it is West 23rd. Instead of num- and express trains are available. Buses
bers, a few avenues east of Fifth Avenue run daily from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM in all
are labeled by names (Madison, Park, five boroughs; more than 200 routes are
Lexington) or, in the southern part of covered by a fleet of 3,700 buses. Taxi-
the city, letters (A, B, C, and D). In addi- cabs are a popular mode of transporta-
tion, Sixth Avenue is also known as tion in Manhattan—during peak traffic
Avenue of the Americas, and some of hours, an ocean of yellow cabs seem to
the other numbered avenues on the fill the city’s streets. Taxi stands abound
west side are known by other names throughout the city, and cabs can be
above 59th Street (Central Park West, easily hailed in most areas.
Columbus, Amsterdam, and West End
avenues). Sightseeing
The streets and avenues north of Visitors may tour New York in orga-
14th Street are perpendicular to each nized tours by trolley or double-decker
other except for Broadway, which runs bus, and many walking tours of specific
diagonally across the island, northwest neighborhoods are offered, as well as
to southeast, from the Upper West Side self-guided walking tours of historic
to 14th Street, after which it runs sites in Manhattan. Brief helicopter
southward to the tip of Manhattan, tours offer a dramatic view of the Man-
serving as the dividing line between hattan skyline, as do scenic cruises of
east and west for this section of the New York Harbor. In addition there are
island. The famous “squares” of the city many specialized tours of specific sites,
(Times Square, Herald Square, Union including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Cen-
Square, etc.) are located at the intersec- ter, Radio City, and the studios of the
tions of Broadway and the major ave- NBC television network.
nues.
4 People
A major point of reference in upper
Manhattan is Central Park, which runs New York is the nation’s most pop-
northward from 59th to 110th streets ulous city and has more than twice the

New York
Manhattan is the smallest of New York’s five boroughs in area, but its skyline is the symbol of
New York to people around the world. (Katsuyoshi Tanaka; Woodfin Camp)
population of its nearest competitor, Bureau in 1996 as 91.2 percent white;

Los Angeles. In 1990, the population of 4.4 percent black; and 3.4 percent
New York was 7,323,000, with the fol- Asian/Pacific Islander. Hispanics
lowing racial composition: 63.9 percent accounted for two percent of the metro-
white, 28.7 percent black, and seven politan area population.
percent Asian/Pacific Islander, with
other groups accounting for percent- 5 Neighborhoods
ages of less than one percent. Hispanics
(an ethnic rather than a racial designa- In the busy financial district in
tion) accounted for 24.4 percent of the lower Manhattan, the maze of narrow
population. The 1994 population esti- streets laid down during the oldest
mate was 7,333,000. The population of period of the city’s history are home to
the New York Primary Metropolitan Sta- the towering skyscrapers of Wall Street,
tistical Area was estimated at 8,611,099 the nation’s foremost symbol of finan-
as of 1997. The region’s racial composi- cial power and prosperity. To the north
tion was listed by the U.S. Census of the financial district lie New York’s

New York
teeming, colorful Chinatown and East Village, located, as its name sug-
Tribeca (“Triangle Below Canal Street”), gests, east of Greenwich Village, is the
a former market district whose ware- edgier counterpart of the Village,
houses have been converted to artists’ although even this formerly gritty area
lofts and galleries to create one of Man- has become more fashionable and
hattan’s trendiest upscale residential expensive since the 1980s. However, it
neighborhoods, graced by fashionable remains a focal point for the city’s
shops and restaurants. pierced and tattooed youth culture, a
popular site for after-hours clubs, and
The chic SoHo (“South of Hous-
an ethnically diverse area.
ton”; pronounced HOW-stun) neigh-
borhood just to the north of Tribeca has Chelsea, stretching from 14th
had a similar history of rejuvenation Street to about 30th Street, west of Sixth
fueled by its popularity with the artistic Avenue, is yet another neighborhood
community; today, however, gentrifica- traditionally linked with artists and
tion has brought the district out of writers, especially through its most
reach of many artists—like the ones famous landmark, the Chelsea Hotel.
who were responsible for the rebirth of Today it is home to large Hispanic and
the neighborhood in the 1960s. To the gay communities, and its “main drag,”
east of SoHo are Little Italy, known for Eighth Avenue between 15th and 23rd
its authentic Italian cuisine, and the streets, is known for its cafes, bistros,
Lower East Side, the former home to a boutiques, fitness clubs, and the
teeming population of Eastern Euro- Chelsea Piers sports complex, which
pean immigrants and today a mecca for includes a climbing wall. Midtown
shoppers in search of both local color Manhattan is primarily a business
and bargains on Orchard Street. rather than a residential neighborhood.
Home to numerous corporate head-
Greenwich Village, between Hous-
quarters—including those of many
ton (pronounced HOW-stun) and 14th entertainment and communications
streets and west of Broadway, is the his-
giants—it is also the site of landmarks
torical capital of Bohemianism in Amer-
including Rockefeller Center, Radio
ica, once home to a dizzying array of City Music Hall, the Museum of Mod-
artists, writers, musicians, and political
ern Art, and the main branch of the
radicals. Like other once-marginal areas
New York Public Library, “guarded” by
of New York, the Village has become a the famous stone lions outside its front
prime upscale neighborhood with soar-
entrance.
ing rents, including some of the highest
in the city. However, it is still a colorful New York’s Upper West Side is a
area and cultural mecca, as well the colorful, heavily residential area that is
center of the city’s gay community and home to many middle-class families
home to three colleges: New York Uni- and young professionals, although its
versity, Parsons School Design, and the residents run the gamut from homeless-
New School for Social Research. The ness to upper-echelon wealth. The

New York
neighborhood’s landmarks include the famous black musicians and intellectu-

Lincoln Center performing arts com- als, and such historic venues as the Cot-
plex, the Museum of Natural History, ton Club and the Apollo Theater.
and, at its northernmost point, Colum-
bia University. The major thoroughfare
in this district is Broadway, which offers
6 History
a wide variety of shopping experiences, Four hundred years ago, the
including Zabar’s gourmet foods and present-day site of New York City was
Shakespeare & Company’s eclectic book forest land inhabited by Algonquin and
selection. The Upper East Side is New Iroquois Indians who called the central
York’s most exclusive neighborhood. Its island “Manhattan,” which meant “city
residents live in posh apartment build- of hills.” In 1609 Henry Hudson (c.
ings with uniformed doormen; its visi- 1550–1611), an Englishman employed
tors stay at luxury hotels. It is home to by the Dutch East India Company,
Christie’s and Sotheby’s auction houses, sailed up the river that now bears his
Bloomingdale’s, and a host of foreign name, and settlement of the region
embassies and consulates, as well as the began five years later. In 1625 the first
Metropolitan Museum of Art and the permanent European settlement—a
Guggenheim and Frick museums. trading post called New Amsterdam—
was formed on Manhattan, and the
Washington Heights, at the north- Dutch “purchased” the island from its
ern end of the city, is primarily a Latino Native American inhabitants by barter-
enclave. Home to the largest Domini- ing items that amounted to the modern
can population in the United States, in equivalent of $24.
recent decades it has been plagued by
problems associated with the drug By 1664, the Netherlands’ colonial
trade. However, it is still the site of rivals, the British, had taken control of
noteworthy landmarks, including the the growing settlement and renamed it
Cloisters (home of the Metropolitan New York, and it became their second-
Museum’s medieval collection), the busiest trading port in North America,
Audubon Ballroom, Columbia Presbyte- surpassed only by Boston to the north.
rian Medical Center, and Yeshiva Uni- The rapidly growing town had about
versity. Beginning at 125th Street on 4,000 residents by the turn of the cen-
the West Side and 96th Street on the tury, and had nearly doubled its popu-
East Side, Harlem is America’s most lation by 1720, becoming the third-
famous black neighborhood. From the largest population center in the British
days of the 1920s literary and cultural colonies. New Yorkers played an active
phenomenon known as the Harlem role in the agitation that led to the
Renaissance until urban decay and vio- American Revolutionary Revolutionary
lence set in the 1960s, the neighbor- War (1775–83). The city was overrun
hood was a unique cultural and and occupied by British forces early in
political center and home to many the war, and the occupation continued

New York
throughout the conflict. In the period

after the colonies won their indepen-
dence, New York served briefly as the
seat of the new nation’s government
(from 1785 to 1790).
By the beginning of the nineteenth

century, New York—with a population
of 30,000—had become the nation’s
second-largest city, after Philadelphia.
In the first half of the century, the city’s
growth was further bolstered by the
opening of the Erie Canal linking the
East Coast with the Great Lakes, and by
the first waves of mass immigration,
from Ireland, Germany, and Scandina-
via. Although New York was a center of
the abolitionist movement, pro-slavery
feeling was strong among unskilled
laborers who feared that their jobs
would be threatened by freed slaves.
The Civil War (1861–65) brought a new
economic boom, and the city’s popula-
tion reached one million by the 1870s. The Statue of Liberty was given to the United
By this time, New York’s government States as a symbol of friendship in the early 1880s.
had become a locus of graft and corrup-
tion under the infamous Tammany Hall
political machine, which spurred a Greater New York City, with a popula-
series of political reforms. The last two tion of three million. The shape of
decades of the century saw new waves things to come was previewed in the
of immigration, much of it from East- first years of the new century: the Flat-
ern Europe, and the completion of iron building—one of its first skyscrap-
some of the city’s greatest landmarks, ers—went up in 1902, and the first
including the Metropolitan Opera subway line opened in 1904. During
House and the Statue of Liberty (1882), World War I (1914–18), New York was a
and the Brooklyn Bridge (1883). The major shipping center for Allied weap-
immigration station at Ellis Island ons and military equipment. The 1920s
opened in 1892. brought an era of cultural brilliance
marked by the achievements of the
In 1898 New York achieved its Harlem Renaissance, the heyday of the
present form with the official consoli- Algonquin Round Table and the found-
dation of its five boroughs to form ing of the New Yorker magazine, and the

New York
growth of Greenwich Village as a bohe- 1978–90) helped reverse the city’s

mian mecca for writers and others decline through his policies and his
involved in the arts. In 1929 New York popularity with ordinary citizens.
was the epicenter of the stock market
By the late 1980s New York,
crash that ushered in the Great Depres-
together with much of the country, was
sion of the following decade. Mayor
slipping into recession. In 1989 the city
Fiorello LaGuardia (1882–1947; mayor,
elected its first black mayor, David Din-
1933–1945) led the city through these
kins (b. 1927; mayor 1990–1994), who
dark times, which nevertheless saw the
was replaced in the 1993 mayoral elec-
construction of the Empire State Build-
tion by U.S. attorney Rudolph Giuliani
ing, Rockefeller Center, and the
(b. 1944; mayor 1994–), the first Repub-
Chrysler Building, the reform of local
lican to hold the post in 28 years. The
government, the hosting of two World’s
city’s fortunes revived in the 1990s as
Fairs, and the introduction of the Art
the city shared in the country’s eco-
Deco style into art and architecture.
nomic upswing, and tourism boomed.
Giuliani was credited with a major
New York’s international stature
decrease in the New York’s crime rate,
was further enhanced with the estab-
although the city’s police department
lishment of United Nations headquar-
drew universal condemnation in the
ters in the city following World War II
late 1990s for widely publicized inci-
(1939–45). It was also during the post-
dents of brutality against members of
war era that the city became an interna-
minority groups.
tional leader in the fields of culture and
fashion. In every decade, the city
became a focal point for trends in pop- 7 Government
ular culture, from the literary “beat gen- New York City has a mayor-council
eration” of the 1950s to the government. The mayor and the coun-
counterculture of the 1960s and the cil president (who presides over council
opening of the disco club Studio 54 in meetings) are elected to four-years
the 1970s. Beginning in the 1950s, a terms by all the city’s voters. Of the 51
wave of Puerto Rican immigration and council members (all of whom also
increased migration of blacks to the city serve four-year terms), 35 are elected
from rural areas transformed the city’s from their own districts, and 16 are
ethnic makeup, leading to the flight of elected at large. New York had an esti-
whites from the city and the eruption mated 232,588 city employees in 1997.
of racial tensions in the 1960s. The ero-
sion of the city’s tax base, aggravated by
the flight of businesses, brought the
8 Public Safety
city to the point of bankruptcy by 1975. In spite of its violent reputation,
It was rescued by the newly formed New York City actually has less crime
Municipal Assistance Corporation, and per capita than a number of other
a new mayor, Ed Koch (b. 1924; mayor major cities, including Washington,

New York
Not only is New York City a financial and economic center, but it is also the headquarters to the United
Nations. (Frank Fournier; Woodfin Camp)
D.C., Boston, New Orleans, and Dallas. ough Commands, which are in turn
The city’s crime rate actually has subdivided into 76 precincts.
dropped in recent years, thanks partly
In 1995, violent crimes reported to
to public safety policies, such as gun
police (per 100,000 population) totaled
amnesties and gun confiscation, as well
1,573 and included 16 murders, 32
as anti-drug initiatives. In 1997, New
rapes, 810 robberies, and 715 aggra-
York’s crime rate was the lowest it had vated assaults. Property crimes totaled
been since 1968. The New York Police 4,503 and included 1,009 burglaries,
Department is one of the country’s larg- 2,500 cases of larceny/theft, and 993
est. It covers a jurisdiction of some 829 motor vehicle thefts.
square kilometers (320 square miles)
and has an annual budget of $2.4 mil-
lion. Over 38,000 uniformed officers
9 Economy
and about 9,000 civilians are employed With over 200,000 businesses—and
by the department. The city’s five bor- the headquarters of some 65 Fortune
oughs are divided into eight Patrol Bor- 500 companies—New York is one of the

New York
country’s major economic and financial 10 Environment

centers. All of the world’s major finan-
cial institutions—including some 400 Although New York is better
foreign banks—have offices in the city, known for skyscrapers and traffic con-
and more than $15 billion worth of gestion, the city Department of Parks
stocks are traded every day on the New and Recreation has jurisdiction over
York Stock Exchange. In addition to 834 square kilometers (322 square
banking and finance, New York is also miles) of urban wilderness, including
an important center for the major ser- 83,368 hectares (206,000 acres) of park-
vice industries of insurance, account- land and 2,024 hectares (5,000 acres) of
ing, and law. forest preserves. Also included in the
resources protected by the parks depart-
New York is the nation’s publishing ment are approximately 500,000 trees
capital. By far the largest number of located on the city’s streets. These trees
major publishers in the country are are also protected by the Department of
located here, as well as the two leading Environmental Conservation and citi-
newsmagazines, Time and Newsweek, zens’ groups, notably Trees New York,
and the major wire services, the Associ- founded in 1976.
ated Press and United Press Interna- In addition, volunteers are helping
tional. Film and television production restore 341 hectares (843 acres) of wild-
are also thriving industries in New York. life habitat in Central Park, including
Madison Avenue is famed as the world’s areas frequented by migrating birds and
advertising capital, and the city boasts the New Yorkers who gather regularly
over 1,000 ad agencies. to watch them. Also within the city’s
borders are beachfront wildlife habitats,
Although it now takes a back seat such as that along Rockaway Peninsula
to the service sector, manufacturing still in Queens, which is home to two feder-
plays an active role in New York’s econ- ally listed endangered species and one
omy. The city is home to some 11,000 listed by the state of New York. The
manufacturers and 20 industrial parks. city’s Urban Park Rangers have taken
The garment industry, in which the city measures to protect these rare beach-
has historically been a leader, still dwelling species, including monitoring,
employs approximately 75,000 people, patrolling, vehicle exclusion, and fenc-
and the city is known worldwide as a ing.
center of high fashion. New York is also
known for its diamond and jewelry
industry, which has traditionally been
11 Shopping
centered around Canal Street and West New York is a mecca for shoppers,
47th Street. Newer sectors that are in terms of sheer abundance and vari-
emerging as industrial leaders include ety. The most famous shopping venue
semiconductors, computer equipment, is Fifth Avenue, with its major depart-
and health-care equipment. ment stores, including Saks Fifth Ave-

New York
nue and Lord & Taylor, and large 12 Education

bookstores (Borders, Barnes & Noble,
Rizzoli). Specialty retailers include Cart- In the fall of 1996 the New York
ier, Tiffany, the Warner Brothers Studio City Public School System—the nation’s
Store, and the famed toy store FAO largest—enrolled 1,063,561 students in
Schwarz. Also located on Fifth Avenue grades K through 12; 16.1 percent were
is the Trump Tower shopping complex, white, and 83.9 percent belonged to
which boasts more than 40 stores and minorities, including 37.3 percent His-
restaurants. Seventh Avenue is home to panic, 36.1 percent black, and ten per-
garment and fur wholesalers (some of cent Asian/Pacific Islander. The school
which will also sell retail). In the system operated 1,120 schools with a
Chelsea neighborhood are the Manhat- staff of 110,709, of whom 57,338 were
tan Mall and Macy’s (West 34th St.), the teachers, making a pupil-teacher ratio
world’s largest department store. of 18 to one. The school system has
won acclaim for its career magnet
The Upper East Side mixes upscale schools, which include the High School
retailers, including Bloomingdale’s, of Music and Art, the High School of
with fashionable second-hand shops. Fashion Industries, the School of the
The Lower East Side is famous as a bar- Performing Arts, the New York School
gain hunter’s paradise, with designer of Printing, Bronx High School of Sci-
clothing and other high-quality items ence, and Stuyvesant High School.
regularly sold at a discount, especially The City University of New York
on Orchard Street, the best-known operates branches in all five boroughs,
shopping venue in the area. Specialty including eight liberal arts colleges, the
shops and boutiques abound in Green- Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and
wich Village, whose Bleecker Street is the John Jay College of Criminal Jus-
home to ethnic bakeries and grocery tice. Since 1970, the city university sys-
stores. tem has had an open admissions policy
for all New York City high school grad-
A special form of shopping is avail- uates. New York also has more than 20
able at New York’s exclusive auction private colleges, some of the best
houses, which include Christie’s and known being Columbia University (the
Sotheby’s, and the city’s many museum oldest), New York University, Fordham
gift shops also offer unusual and high- University, Rockefeller University, and
quality items. the Juilliard School, which trains stu-
dents for careers in music, theater, and
Mixing commerce and local color dance.
are New York’s open-air markets, which
sell everything from flowers to
antiques. Specialty gourmet food mar-
13 Health Care
kets include Dean & Deluca, Zabar’s, New York City has over 130 hospi-
and Balducci’s. tals, including more than 30 teaching

New York
hospitals. Its public hospital system is pers, the New York Post (the city’s oldest
the largest in the country, employing newspaper, founded in 1801), and the
over 45,000 people at over 20 facilities, New York Daily News. Among the most-
including acute care hospitals, long- quoted examples of their bold banner
term care institutions, and family care headlines are the Daily News’ “FORD
centers. Among the city’s best-known TO CITY—DROP DEAD” (referring to
hospitals are Columbia-Presbyterian President Gerald Ford and the 1970s
Medical Center, Memorial Sloan-Ketter- budget crisis) and the Post’s “HEADLESS
ing Cancer Center, and Mount Sinai WOMAN FOUND IN TOPLESS BAR.” A
Medical Center, whose health system fourth daily newspaper is published in
consists of 21 hospitals and 13 long- New York: the Wall Street Journal, the
term care facilities. The New York Uni- country’s most authoritative financial
versity School of Medicine, which dates publication. The city’s best-known
back to 1837, has 1,360 full-time and weekly newspaper is the Village Voice,
2,175 part-time faculty members. which features investigative reporting
on local topics and comprehensive arts
In 1995, New York’s primary metro- coverage and listings. Other weeklies
politan statistical area was served by include New York magazine, Time Out
19,337 office-based physicians and 84 New York, and the New York Press.
community hospitals, with a total of Another local publication with a
39,205 beds. national audience is the New Yorker
magazine (also a weekly), whose tradi-
14 Media tion of urbanity and high-quality writ-
ing received a contemporary spin in the
New York’s major daily newspaper
1990s by British-born editor Tina
is the New York Times, the nation’s
Brown.
“paper of record.” Although competi-
tion from the city’s spirited tabloid pub- In addition to the wide spectrum of
lications has expanded the Times’ local cable television programming, New
coverage, it is still known for the York has over a dozen broadcast televi-
breadth and depth of its international sion stations, representing the four
and national coverage and its news major networks and the Public Broad-
analysis, as well as its coverage of spe- casting System (PBS), as well as inde-
cific areas such as business and the arts. pendent, educational, and Spanish-
Favorite features of the Sunday edition language stations. The city also has 17
include the weekly magazine, the book AM and 33 FM radio stations.
review supplement (whose reviews are
influential throughout the literary and
academic world), and the notoriously 15 Sports
huge and difficult crossword puzzle.
The professional sports scene in
Specializing in local news are the New York is a busy one, with two major
city’s two remaining tabloid newspa- league teams in all the main profes-

New York
Central Park offers many recreational activities—Central Park Zoo, the International Peace Garden,
Belvedere Castle Shakespeare Garden, Conservatory Garden, and ice-skating on Wolman Skating Rink.
sional sports. The New York Yankees of in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in
the American League, who play at Yan- New Jersey. New York has two NBA
kee Stadium in the Bronx, are the city’s (National Basketball Association) teams:
most famous sports team. The team of the Knicks, who play at Madison Square
such baseball legends as Babe Ruth Garden, and the Jets, who play at Con-
(1895–1948) and Joe DiMaggio (1914– tinental Airlines Arena. The city’s two
99), the Yankees have won more World NHL (National Hockey League) teams
Series than any other baseball team. are the New York Islanders, who play at
the Nassau Coliseum, and the New York
The New York Mets, of the National
Rangers, who play at Madison Square
League, play at Shea Stadium in
Garden.
Queens. In football, New York is home
to New York Giants and the New York The New York area also has four
Jets; both teams play at Giants Stadium horse racing tracks (the Aqueduct, Bel-

New York
mont, and Meadowlands race tracks the 101-hectare (250-acre) New York
and the Yonkers Raceway) and is the Botanical Garden, the city’s oldest and
site of the annual U.S. Open tennis largest public garden. Brooklyn is home
championship games. to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and
Prospect Park, and Flushing Meadow-
Corona Park is located in Queens.
16 Parks and
Recreation In Manhattan, Central Park is a
Extending over 341 hectares (843 favorite venue for recreational activities
acres) at the heart of the city, Central of many kinds, including jogging, in-
Park is one of New York’s most famous line skating, walking, frisbee, and bicy-
landmarks. Designed by famed land- cling (altogether New York has some
scape architect Frederick Law Olmstead 161 kilometers/100 miles of bicycle
(1822–1903), together with Calvert paths). The Chelsea Piers Sports and
Vaux (1824–95), the park was laid out Entertainment Complex in the Chelsea
between 1859 and 1870. In spite of its neighborhood offers a gymnastics cen-
association with some high-profile ter, golf club, running track, roller and
crimes, the park is still heavily used by a ice-skating rinks, and rock-climbing
wide spectrum of New Yorkers, from wall.
joggers and rollerbladers to picnicking
families. Special features of the park
include the Central Park Zoo (and
17 Performing Arts
recently opened children’s petting zoo),
Home to 240 performance venues,
International Peace Garden, Belvedere
including such famous sites as Carnegie
Castle Shakespeare Garden, Conserva-
Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and Lin-
tory Garden, and many others. Other
parks in Manhattan include Battery coln Center, New York is one of the
Park, at the island’s southern-most tip; world’s great centers for the performing
Bryant Park, located behind the public arts. It is the theatrical capital of the
library at 42nd Street; Union Square nation, with performances ranging
Park, Gramercy Park, and Washington from large, expensive Broadway hits to
Square Park. the smaller and more innovative Off-
Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway pro-
The Bronx Zoo—one of the ductions (the last two designations are
nation’s most famous—is home to more actually determined by the size of the
than 4,000 animals. Over the years, the theater rather than its location). New
century-old facility has transferred York is also home to the prestigious
many of its animals from cages to areas New York Shakespeare Festival, which
resembling their natural habitats, a mounts productions at the Joseph Papp
change reflected in the zoo’s current Public Theater most of the year and pre-
name: the Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conser- sents the Shakespeare in the Park series
vation Park. Also located in the Bronx is in Central Park in the summer.

New York
The All-Star Cafe is just one of the many shops and restaurants lining Times Square.
New York is home to the New York featuring performances by both stu-
Philharmonic, one of the nation’s most dents and faculty. A unique classical
acclaimed symphony orchestras (and its music experience is offered by Barge-
oldest), and the country’s premier opera music, a series of chamber music con-
company (the Metropolitan Opera), as certs presented on a boat docked on the
well as classical music ensembles of all East River.
kinds, from early music groups to those
specializing in contemporary perfor- New York is also a thriving center
mance. Opera is also presented by the for all kinds of dance and is particularly
New York City Opera and several other known for its classical ballet companies,
groups. In addition to the famous Juil- notably the American Ballet Theater
liard School, the city is home to two and the New York City Ballet, which
other highly regarded schools of music, have boasted such illustrious names as
the Manhattan School Music and the George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins,
Mannes College of Music, both of and Mikhail Baryshnikov. New York
which present their own concert series also has several other ballet companies,

New York
and modern dance is represented by the Special features include the Frank Lloyd
Merce Cunningham Dance Company Wright Room, a Costume Hall, the larg-
and other groups. est Arms and Armor galleries in the
West, and a Musical Instrument Collec-
Many types of popular music— tion containing the world’s oldest
including jazz, rock, blues, and Latin piano. The Cloisters at the northern-
music—thrive in New York in clubs most tip of Manhattan houses the
scattered throughout the city. Among museum’s medieval collection.
the city’s legendary jazz clubs are the
Blue Note, Sweet Basil, the Five Spot, The Museum of Modern Art
and the Village Vanguard. (known as MOMA) has one of the
world’s most extensive collections of
18 Libraries and modern art, with holdings that include
Museums not only paintings and sculpture but
also architectural plans, photographs,
The main branch of the New York
and films (two classic or foreign films
Public Library has one of the world’s
are screened daily). The Solomon R.
five largest library collections, with
Guggenheim Museum displays twenti-
book stacks stored on eight different
eth-century artworks in a unique Frank
levels and covering an area of at least
Lloyd Wright-designed building featur-
half an acre. Its legendary reading room
ing a spiral that winds down through
is one of the city’s treasures. Founded in
six levels of displays on its outer walls.
1895, the New York Public Library Sys-
A ten-story annex completed in 1992
tem consists of both research libraries
provides room for four additional gal-
and branch libraries that serve the bor-
leries.
oughs of Manhattan, the Bronx, and
Staten Island. The library’s book hold-
Manhattan’s other museums
ings total 17,762,034 volumes. The
include the Frick and Whitney collec-
library system operates 79 neighbor-
tions; the Lower East Side Tenement
hood branches, serving a population of
Museum, which features a restored ten-
3,070,302, with an annual circulation
ement that re-creates nineteenth-cen-
of over 11 million items.
tury apartment life as lived by New
There are 150 museums and some York’s immigrant population; the Jew-
400 art galleries in New York. With over ish Museum; the Children’s Museum of
3.5 million artworks, the Metropolitan Manhattan; El Museo del Barrio; and
Museum of Art is the largest museum in the International Center of Photogra-
the Western Hemisphere, as well as the phy. Museums in New York’s other bor-
premier American museum. Its 148,640 oughs include the Brooklyn Museum,
square meters (1.6 million square feet) the New York Transit Museum, and the
house not only its famed European and Brooklyn Historical Society in Brooklyn
American collections, but also extensive and the American Museum of the Mov-
Asian, Classical, and Islamic collections. ing Image in Queens.

New York
19 To u r i s m MAY-AUGUST
Seafest
Over 25 million people visit New JUNE
York every year to see its historic land- American Crafts Festival
marks, sample its cultural activities, and Belmont Stakes
enjoy its fine dining and varied shop- JVC Jazz Festival
New York Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
ping. The city’s hotel rooms have an Queens Day Festival
average occupancy rate of about three- Texaco New York Jazz Festival
quarters, and new hotel construction Welcome Back to Brooklyn Festival
activity has been brisk in recent years. JUNE-JULY
Conventions generate millions of dol- Shakespeare in the Park
lars in income annually for the city. Washington Square Music Festival
New York attracts more foreign visi- JUNE-AUGUST

Bryant Park Summer Film Festival
tors than any other U.S. city. In 1995 SummerStage
approximately 4,252,000 foreign travel-
JULY
ers visited the city. Fourth of July Concert in Battery Park
Great July Fourth Festival
Lincoln Center Festival
20 Holidays and Macy’s Fireworks Celebration
Festivals
JULY-AUGUST
JANUARY Celebrate Brooklyn Festival
Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observance Mostly Mozart Festival
National Black Fine Art Show JULY-OCTOBER
New York National Boat Show Moonlight Dancing in the Park
Outsider Art Fair
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER
FEBRUARY U.S. Open Tennis Championships
Chinese New Year Celebrations SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER
MARCH New York Film Festival
Art Expo New York OCTOBER
New York Restaurant & Foodservice Show Fifth Avenue Art & Antiques Show
New York Underground Film Festival Chrysanthemum & Bonsai Festival
Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Greenwich Village Halloween Parade
MARCH-APRIL OCTOBER-JANUARY
Passports to Off-Broadway Theatres Big Apple Circus
APRIL NOVEMBER
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
African Film Festival
New York Marathon
APRIL-MAY NOVEMBER-DECEMBER
Music Hall at Snug Harbor Radio City Christmas Spectacular
MAY DECEMBER
Ninth Avenue International Food Festival First Night New York
Crafts on Columbus Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Center Flower Sale Paul Winter’s Winter Solstice Celebration

New York
New Year’s Celebration & Ball Drop in Times Architect Philip Johnson (b. 1906).
Square
DECEMBER-JANUARY Former mayor Ed Koch (b. 1924).
Empire State Building Holiday Lights
Lincoln Center Family Art Show Former mayor Fiorello LaGuar dia
Winter Wildlife Holiday Events (1882–1947).
Novelist Norman Mailer (b. 1923).

21 Famous Citizens
Film director, comedian, and author Industrialist and financier J. Pierpont
Woody Allen (b. 1935). Morgan (1837–1913).
A b o l i t i on i s t H e n r y Wa rd B e e c h e r City planner Robert Moses (1889–

(1813–1887). 1981).
Poet William Cullen Bryant (1794– Landscape architect Frederick Law Olm-
1878). stead (1822–1903).
Statesman Aaron Burr (1756–1836). First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Industrialist and philanthropist Andrew (1929–94).
Carnegie (1835–1919). Playwright Eugene O’Neill (1888–1953).
Composer George M. Cohan (1878–
Humorist Dorothy Parker (1893–1967).
1942).
Former New York state governor Mario Photojournalist Jacob Riis (1849–1914).
Cuomo (b. 1932). Oil magnate John D. Rockefeller (1839–
Former New York City mayor David N. 1937).
Dinkins (b. 1927).
New York governor Nelson Rockefeller
African-American activist Marcus (1908–79).
Garvey (1887–1940).
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld (b. 1954).
“Beat” poet Allen Ginsberg (1926–
1997). Playwright Neil Simon (b. 1927).
Journalist Horace Greeley (1811–72). Baseball entrepreneur George Stein-
brenner (b. 1930).
Writer and editor Pete Hamill (b. 1935).
Statesman Alexander Hamilton (1755– Real estate developer Donald Trump (b.
1804). 1946).
Artist Keith Haring (1938–90). Railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt

(1794–1877).
Author Washington Ir ving (1783–
1859). Pop artist Andy Warhol (1926–1987).

New York
22 For Further Study The New York Times

229 W. 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
Websites
New York Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Village Voice
[Online] Available http://www.nycvisit.com/ 36 Cooper Square
(accessed October 14, 1999). New York, NY 10003
The Official New York City Website. [Online]
The Wall Street Journal
Available http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/ (accessed
200 Liberty St.
October 14, 1999).
New York, NY 10281
Government Offices Books

Mayor’s Office Alleman, Richard. The Movie Lover’s Guide to New
1 Centre St. Municipal Building York. New York: Perennial Library, 1988.
New York, NY 10007 Auster, Paul. The New York Trilogy: City of Glass,
(212) 788-3000 Ghosts, and The Locked Room. San Bernar-
dino, CA: Borgo Press, 1996.
New York City Hall Baldwin, James. Another Country. New York: Dial
1 Centre St. Municipal Building Press, 1962.
New York, NY 10007 Barile, Susan Paula. The Bookworm’s Big Apple: A
(212) 788-3000 Guide to Manhattan’s Booksellers. New York:
Columbia University Press, 1994.
New York County
Biondi, Joann, and James Kaskins. Hippocrene
60 Centre St. U.S.A. Guide to Black New York. New York:
New York, NY 10007 Hippocrene Books, 1994.
(212) 374-8359 Hijuelos, Oscar. Our House in the Last World. New
York: Persea Books, 1983.
Tourist and Convention Bureaus Jackson, Kenneth T., ed. The Encyclopedia of New
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center York City. New Haven, CT: Yale University
655 W. 34th St. Press, 1995.
New York, NY 10001 Leeds, Mark. Ethnic New York. Lincolnwood, IL:
(212) 216-2300 Passport Books, 1995.
Mitchell, Joseph. Up in the Old Hotel. New York:
New York Convention & Visitors Bureau Pantheon Books, 1992.
810 7th Avenue, 3rd Fl. Parker, Dorothy. Complete Stories. New York: Pen-
New York, NY 10019 guin, 1995.
(212) 484-1200 Riis, Jacob. How the Other Half Lives. New York:
Penguin Books, 1997.
Roth, Andrew. Infamous Manhattan. New York:
Publications Carol Publishing Group, 1996.
The New York Post White, N., and E. Willensky, eds. AIA Guide to
1211 Avenue of the Americas New York. San Diego: Harcourt Brace
New York, NY 10036 Jovanovich, 1988.

Paris
Paris, France, Europe
Founded: 53 B.C.
Location: North-central France, Western Europe
Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (“Battered, but never sinks”)
Flag: Shield with white sailing ship and three yellow fleur de lys centered on a field
with blue (left) and red (right) halves.
Time Zone: 11 AM = noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT); 6 AM = noon Eastern
Standard Time (EST)
Climate: Moderate. Winters are damp, but not severe. Snowfall is light; sunshine is
rare in winter; gray, foggy days are frequent. Summer temperatures are rarely
oppressive, but rain can be heavy.
Annual Mean Temperature: 12°C (54°F)
Average Annual Precipitation (total rainfall and melted snow): 68 cm (27 in)
Monetary Units: The franc, with one hundred centimes to a franc
Postal Codes: Five-digits beginning with 75.
1 Introduction aura of romance and mystery and has

been the setting for many novels and
Paris is synonymous with all that is movies. A character in a play by Oscar
French. Known throughout the world Wilde said, “When good Americans die,
as the “City of Light,” Paris is celebrated
they go to Paris.”
for its beautiful city plan, its architec-
ture, museums, bridges, cathedrals,
parks, shopping, flea markets, sidewalk 2 Getting There
cafés, wide and luxurious boulevards,
elegant cuisine, and numerous monu- Paris is easily accessible by plane,
ments. Once confined to an island in railroad, and automobile.
the middle of the Seine River, the Ile de
la Cité, Paris, founded more than 2,000
Highways
years ago, quickly spread to both banks
of the river—the rive droit (right bank) Driving to Paris from anywhere in
and the rive gauche (left bank). The right
France, road markers can be found indi-
bank is known for being the commer-
cial heart of the city while the left bank cating routes to Paris. There is a stone
is home to the University of Paris and marker in front of Notre Dame Cathe-
all that is intellectual and artsy. Paris dral in Paris from which all French
has always been known to have the roads begin.
195
Paris
Austria). The information web site is

Paris www.sncf.fr.
Population Profile
Airports
City Proper
Population: 2,200,000 Two main airports, Roissey-Charles
Area: 100 sq km (40 sq mi) de Gaulle and Orly, serve the metropo-
Nicknames: The City of Light lis of Paris and neighboring areas. From
these airports travelers can easily take
Metropolitan Area
public transportation (subway) or taxis
Description: The 20 total arrondissements to the heart of Paris in less than an
World population rank1: 22 hour. For more specific information,
Percentage of national population2: 16.3% visitors can visit the Office du Tourisme
booth in either airport.
———
1. The Paris metropolitan area’s rank among the
world’s urban areas. 3 Getting Around
2. The percent of France’s total population living
in the Paris metropolitan area.
Paris has many buses and local
trains (called the RER), but the main
mode of travel around Paris is the
Railroad Service Metro or subway. No place in Paris is
less than 500 meters (1500 feet) away
The letters S.N.C.F. indicate the from a metro stop. The cheapest way to
French railway system, which is quite travel is to buy a booklet (carnet) of ten
extensive. Paris is the center of the TGV tickets for use on the metro and city
(high speed train). One must make res- buses. There are 368 metro stations in
ervations in advance to ride this train. Paris serving more than six million peo-
Train stations that connect Paris to the ple every day. To see more sights and
rest of Europe are the Gare de Lyon (for have more time, the city buses are a
trains arriving from Switzerland, Italy, more picturesque way to travel. Maps
and Greece); the Gare d’Austerlitz (for inside the metro indicate the shortest
trains arriving from Spain and Portu- way to a given destination, as well as
gal); the Gare Montparnasse (for trains where to change trains if necessary. The
arriving from western France); the Gare metro is indicated by the letters R.A.T.P.
Saint-Lazare (for connection with boats The web site offering practical informa-
arriving in Normandy from the United tion, routes, and maps is www.ratp.fr.
States and Great Britain); the Gare du
Nord (for trains arriving from Great Sightseeing
Britain, Belguim, Holland, and Scandi-
navia); the Gare de l'Est (for trains arriv- The best tours of Paris are by boat.
ing from Germany, Switzerland, and One can get a one-hour cruise on the

Paris

Paris

Paris Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(France) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Date the city was founded 53 BC AD 969 753 BC 723 BC
Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Le Parisien La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
Seine in a sightseeing boat or bateau- ulation of France was largely mono-

mouche, which points out the main lithic in character. Most French people
monuments, bridges, and cathedrals are descended from ancient Teutonic
(the best view ever of Notre Dame) and and Celtic tribes dating from at least
gives a history of the city. Bus tours are 200 B.C. The language of the Parisians is
provided by various companies: French, which is required in all state-
Cityrama, Vision, and Parisbus are a few
supported schools. After World War II,
of the large companies.
many people from former French colo-
nies in Africa and Indonesia immi-
4 People grated to France and particularly to
Paris is the most populated city in Paris where they could find employ-
France. The last estimate (1997) claimed ment. Consequently, the population of
2,152,000 inhabitants lived in Paris. Paris, although largely of original
However, there are about ten million French stock, now includes people of
more people in the metropolitan area. African and Indochinese descent.
Until World War II (1939–45), the pop- Although these people speak a variety

Paris
of languages, French is the only official I (1769–1821) to commemorate his mil-

language of France. itary victories.
A full 90 percent of Parisians claim 2nd Arrondissement

to be of the Roman Catholic faith.
However, as in any large metropolis, There are the banks, the stock
Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, and Protes- exchange (La Bourse), and some whole-
tant Christian faiths are represented. sale fashion stores.
There are many Protestant churches as
well as Jewish synogogues, the most 3rd Arrondissement
renowned being the Rothschild Syn- This district is called the Marais. An
ogogue. The imposing structure of ethnic mélange, the Marais was once
Notre Dame Cathedral on the Ile de la home to the majority of the Jewish
Cité speaks for the majority Catholic population of Paris. It has undergone
influence on the city. some urban renovation at many times
in the history of Paris.
The French are wildly enamored
with their pet dogs. Dogs can be seen 4th Arrondissement
everywhere—even in fancy restaurants.
The Ile de la Cité, the island in the
middle of the River Seine, comprises
5 Neighborhoods this arrondissement. This was the origi-
Paris is divided into 20 arrondisse- nal site of Paris at its beginnings, and it
ments (wards). They are referred to as boasts the gorgeous cathedral of Notre
arrondissements in English as well as in Dame de Paris. Bridges cross the Ile, so
French. Each arrondissement has its sightseers can visit Notre Dame Cathe-
own character. Central Paris is com- dral on walking tours, as well as by way
prised of the first eight arrondisse- of the Metro or bus.
ments; it is in these eight that most of
the major historical and cultural sites of 5th Arrondissement
the city can be found. The remaining On the Left Bank, the Quartier
12 make up the surrounding area. Latin, home of the University of Paris
(Sorbonne college of arts and sciences),
1st Arrondissement is the main living quarters for students
and artists. There are many good places
At one end of the Champs Elysées
to eat and fine entertainment, such as
is the Louvre, arguably the greatest art
the Comédie Française.
museum in the world. Formerly the pal-
ace of the kings of France, the Louvre
6th Arrondissement
looks out on the Champs Elysées to the
Place de la Concorde with its Egyptian Charming cafés attract many intel-
oblelisk, and on to the Arc de Tri- lectuals and college students in this dis-
omphe, built by the Emperor Napoleon trict.

Paris
A view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
7th Arrondissement 12 large boulevards going out into vari-

ous points of Paris and beyond.
Also on the Left Bank is the famous
Eiffel Tower (La Tour Eiffel). Visible
Ile Saint-Louis
from all points in Paris, the main
entrance to this monument is on the A neighbor to Ile de la Cité, Ile
Champ de Mars. One can also visit the Saint-Louis is renowned for a beautiful,
Musée D'Orsay, dedicated to French small church called the Sainte-
Impressionist paintings. Chapelle.
8th Arrondissement La Défense

At the end of the Champs Elysées is The newest development in Paris is
the Arc de Triomphe built by the French the business and residential center to
Emperor Napoleon to commemorate the west of Paris called La Défense. This
his military victories. The Arc is located area, developed in the 1960s and 1970s,
over a traffic circle called the Place has a new arch called the Grande Arche
Charles de Gaulle (formerly la Place de to celebrate the bicentennial of the
l'Etoile). This point is the beginning of French Revolution. It is set in a straight

Paris
line with the Champs Elysées. There are region, most notably in the Paris Basin
many modern high-rise buildings that on the Ile de la Cité. One of their tribes,
do not have to conform to the old the Parisii, eventually gave their name
building codes of Paris. to the present-day city. The Gauls were
composed of warrior tribes who
Montmartre hunted, fished, and lived in huts with
thatched roofs. Their religion, called
High on a hill overlooking the city
druidism, celebrated nature. Many
is the area of Montmartre. The basilica
present day religious festivals include
of Sacré Coeur and many of the famous
remnants of druidic worship. The main
cabarets, including the Folies Bergères
festival, la fête du gui (mistletoe), wel-
at le Moulin Rouge—home of the can-
comed in the new year. They also
can dance—are located here.
burned the Yule log to celebrate the
return to light after a long dark season
Le Marais
of winter. Their chief warrior, Vercingé-
Once known as the old Jewish torix, was defeated by the Roman army
quarter, Le Marais (once a swamp) is under Julius Caesar (c. 100–44 B.C.) in
home to small hotels, restaurants, and about 50 B.C. The Romans renamed the
bars. It is bordered by the Rue Beau- Gaulish capital Lutetia, which it
bourg and the Boulevard Beaumarchais. remained until it was reconquered by a
Germanic tribe called the Franks—
Beaubourg hence the name for present day France
(land of the Franks). Their king, Clovis
Once an embarrassing slum, the (465–511) converted to Christianity
district of Beaubourg has been reno- and took the old name of Paris for its
vated and showcases the Centre capital. By brute force, Clovis estab-
Georges Pompidou. Pompidou was lished the Merovingian dynasty of
once the president of France. The center kings and established a code of laws
has a museum of modern art and a per- known as the Salic Law. In 800, Charle-
forming arts theater. magne (747–814) moved his capital
from Aix-la-Chapelle to Paris, thus
Neuilly, Auteuil, and Passy solidifying Paris as the permanent capi-
The rich and super-rich inhabit tal city of what would become modern
these beautiful suburbs of the chic six- day France. Between 900 and 1000,
teenth and seventeenth arrondisse- another tribe of invaders called Vikings
ments west of the city. (actually Norsemen) repeatedly invaded
and pillaged Paris until they eventually
became a civilized part of the commu-
6 History
nity.
The history of Paris goes back more
than 2,000 years when some 60 Celtic By the middle of the twelfth cen-
tribes called the Gauls inhabited the tury, King Philippe Auguste (1165–

Paris
Side view of the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris (1163), a world-famous example of Gothic architecture.
1223) turned Paris into a true medieval were erected further and further out to
city with a protective wall around it. He accommodate the growing commu-
built his castle, which was little more nity. The last of these protective walls
than a fortress on the site of the mod- was razed in 1919 by the government of
ern-day Louvre. No one knows what the Third Republic. The kings of France
the word Louvre means, except that it is slowly enlarged and modernized the
thought to come from the Latin word Louvre to become the palace of kings.
for wolves. Philippe housed his wolf- The French Revolution (1789–93) was a
hunting dogs in the fortress. The Mid- turning point for the modernization of
dle Ages saw the beginning of the con- Paris. During that turbulent period,
struction of the cathedral of Notre there were riots in the streets, and the
Dame de Paris (1163), one of the most people barricaded the narrow, winding
famous examples of Gothic architec- streets to thwart the power of the gov-
ture, and the founding of one of the ernment. The reign of Emperor Napo-
greatest universities in the world, the
leon I (1769–1821) saw the building of
University of Paris. The city of Paris,
monuments and the creation of a mod-
surrounded by walls, still was contained
ern sewer system, which beautified and
on the Ile de la Cité in the middle of the
cleansed the city. The brief restoration
River Seine.
of the monarchy (1848–1870) saw the
Gradually the city of Paris became rebuilding of Paris from a medieval
so heavily populated that the walls town to a city of breathtaking beauty

Paris
and grandeur. Under the leadership of Modern-day Paris is truly a feast for
Baron Haussmann (1809–1891), the all of the senses. The classical beauty of
boulevards were widened so that they the city is breathtaking at night when
could no longer be easily barricaded. many of the monuments are lighted. A
Parks and monuments were created; the new opera house has been added at the
Louvre was completed; the Opera house former location of La Bastille (a political
was built; and an extensive system of prison during the French Revolution),
sewers was constructed. The city was at and some high-rise buildings have been
that time organized into its present-day constructed outside the central area.
20 arrondissements. Building codes Basically, Paris remains true to the
were enforced to keep the neo-classical architectural plans of Baron Hauss-
look and to maintain a low building mann. The wide, main boulevards are
height. crowded with people 24 hours a day.
One can relax in a sidewalk café or visit
In 1889, the World’s Fair came to any number of the many museums
Paris, which unveiled the newest Paris has to offer. The cuisine is deli-
cious, whether from a café or an elegant
crowning glory, the Eiffel Tower. At the
five-star restaurant. Shoppers can find
time of its construction, it was thought
the very latest in fashion or browse the
to be a monstrosity, and the French
flea markets for a bargain. New urban
people wanted it torn down immedi-
renewal during the 1990s saw the reno-
ately. The tower outlasted the contro- vation of the Beaubourg area with the
versy to become the symbol of Paris. In destruction of Les Halles (a central mar-
1900, Paris joined London in the con- ket place) and the creation of the Cen-
struction of the subway (the Métropoli- tre Pompidou (arts) in its place. New
tain). The metro stations at the turn of business centers in La Défense have
the century were beautiful examples of been added to the International Com-
Art Deco, with intricately designed munication Center. At the beginning of
ironwork gates. Some of these still exist the twenty-first century, Paris has
today. retained all the allure, mystery, and
romance of its fabled past. That is why
During World War II, the city of Paris is the number one destination for
Paris was almost destroyed by German travelers around the world.
bombs. Miraculously, Paris survived the
war intact. All of the treasures in the
Louvre art museum were hidden by the
7 Government
French people during the war, so they The city of Paris is headed by an
would not be taken by the invading elected mayor. The mayor is in charge
German army. The government of Gen- of the police force, which is headed by
eral Charles de Gaulle brought the the préfet, and works with the town
French government to the present Fifth halls of the 20 arrondissements of Paris.
Republic. The coat of arms of the city was created

Paris
in 1210 featuring a boat from the water- country. France is also a member of the
men’s guild. The motto Fluctuat nec Mer- European Economic Community.
gitur is the Latin for “buffeted by waves
but does not sink” and was added in the 10 Environment
sixteenth century. The Regional Coun-
cil and the Economic and Social Com- Paris is divided by the Seine River,
mittees govern any local problems. The which drains west to the Atlantic
most influential political parties are the Ocean. It is used for transportation and
Communist Party and the Socialist tourism. Many tour boats, called
Party. The national government is a “bateaux mouches,” give tours of the
coalition government comprised of the city by circling the Ile de la Cité. Paris
various political parties. also has the feel of open spaces created
by wide boulevards and parklands. The
8 Public Safety Champs Elysées is a 12-lane divided
highway with wide sidewalks to encour-
All tourists visiting Paris, as well as age walking, window shopping, and
France, must register with the police people-watching at cafés. The Jardin du
department. Usually the hotels will Luxembourg, the Bois de Boulogne, the
check passports and make a list of all Tuilerie Gardens, and the Place des Vos-
registered guests. Paris has laws that ges (to name a few) give the tourists
prohibit the carrying of guns and is and residents beautiful garden spaces to
generally a safe city. However, there are relax and enjoy the magnificent views.
always professional pickpockets and, as There are many fountains and small
of late, gangs of small children orga- squares in which to sit. Paris is very
nized by gangsters to be pickpockets much a walking city. The sidewalks are
reminiscent of those in Oliver Twist by always filled with strollers, as well as
Charles Dickens. businessmen and tourists. The beautiful
monuments give the city the air of an
9 Economy outdoor museum. The French govern-
ment is concerned with cleanliness,
The French currency is called the and large fines are imposed for littering
franc, with 100 centimes to the franc. and graffiti. Every morning, workers
The economy of Paris is comprised of armed with buckets and brooms can be
high finance, banking, and luxury tour- seen sweeping the streets, getting the
ist goods. The Champs Elysées and city ready for another day.
neighboring streets house many high-
fashion couturiers (designers), par- 11 Shopping
fumiers (perfume shops), and other lux-
ury items. Universities, museums, and Paris is a shopper's dream city. Two
cafés cater to tourists and residents large department stores, Au Printemps
alike. Government employees are and the Galeries Lafayette, can fill the
numerous as France is a bureaucratic most discerning shopper's wish list. The

Paris
Au Bon Marché has gourmet delicacies university. The catch is that one must
galore. There are also boutiques that pass a rigorous exam, called the bacca-
cater to the high-end market. Designers laureat, to gain entrance. Many stu-
such as Chanel, Yves St. Laurent, Her- dents do not take this exam or fail it.
mès, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier are also School attendance is compulsory until
located on or near the Champs Elysées. age 16. One can decide on a college pre-
The Boulevard Montaigne, off the paratory course or a technical course.
Champs Elysées, also houses many All are free. The levels are in reverse—
expensive boutiques. Also the Rue du that is, kindergarten is level 13 while
Faubourg St. Honoré has many clothing the senior level is called one or “classes
stores. For budget-minded shoppers, terminales.” The educational system is
the Monoprix or Prisunic (dime stores), run by the central government, which
supply some moderately priced souve- determines the curriculum. All students
nirs. Fine leather goods, jewelry, per- everywhere in France are studying the
fumes, clothing, wines, gourmet foods, same lessons at pretty much the same
and fine art are plentiful. Bargain hunt- time. If a student moves, he or she will
ers can cruise the flea market (marché fit right in to the new school curricu-
aux puces). Sidewalk vendors (some lum because it will be exactly the same
very fine artists) are always displaying as the school he left. Students must
their wares. Along the banks of the study French at every grade level. The
Seine are also many artists and book- French are purists when it comes to lan-
sellers. On Sunday mornings near Notre guage, and the courses are very diffi-
Dame Cathedral, one can visit the bird cult. Attention to grammar and spelling
market. Live caged canaries, finches, are important. People are constantly
and other exotic birds are for sale. One judged on their accent and grammar.
of the most unique stores, almost a Every educated person strives to attain
must for tourists, is Le Drugstore. This is a Parisian accent. Having other accents,
a Parisian’s idea of an American drug- such as that of southern France, is con-
store. It has many high-priced goods for sidered inferior. Discipline in French
sale, as well as toiletries; however, the high schools (lycées) is strictly
toiletries are too expensive there for the enforced. The famous cooking school Le
average tourist! Cordon Bleu offers courses in French,
English, and Japanese.
12 Education
13 Health Care
The University of Paris, on the left
bank of the Seine, is arguably the most The government of France is
famous school in the world. Outsiders largely socialistic. Every French citizen
often refer to it as the Sorbonne, but is afforded health care provided by the
that is only the school of arts and sci- state. Taxes are very high—in some
ences. Everyone in France is entitled to cases almost 60 percent of total
a free education, including that of a income—but the government provides

Paris
newspaper at a local kiosk or a café.

Usually these papers reflect different
political thought or are business papers.
Some of the more well-known newspa-
pers include France-Soir, Le Monde, Le
Figaro, and Le Canard Enchainé. Radio
stations are also government con-
trolled. France Inter (87.8MHz) is the
main radio station. Recently, the gov-
ernment made it mandatory to play 60
percent of all music in French. This
angered French teenagers who love to
listen to British and American rock and
roll. All advertising must be in French,
except for foreign companies.
15 Sports
The Tour de France, a bicycle race through the
countryside of France, begins and ends at the Arc
One of the main sports in France is
de Triomphe. (Bernard Boutrit; Woodfin Camp)
soccer. There is a French national team,
as well as many university teams. For-
most social services. Life expectancy for mula-One car racing, famous through-
men is 74 years, and for women it is 82 out Europe, is also very popular. The
years. There is one doctor for every 361 French Tennis Open is in June, just
people, and infant mortality is five per
before Wimbledon in London. The
100 live births. Many French people
smoke, and the government has only most well-known sport, however, is
recently tried to discourage people from cycling. The Tour de France, which
smoking. takes place for about two weeks at the
end of June and into July, is the most
14 Media widely publicized sport. The race begins
and ends in Paris with the winner
French television is controlled by cycling under the Arc de Triomphe and
the government (outside of satellite
down the Champs Elysées. Another
television). There are five stations: TF1,
competitive sport is lawn bowling. This
Antenne 2, FR 3, M 6, and Arte. The
Parisians do not have their newspapers is played by average citizens, as well as
delivered to their homes because there championship teams. Information
are too many French publications. Each about sporting events can be found in
Parisian usually picks up his favorite the newspaper Le Figaro.

Paris
16 Parks and cent grounds and gardens. A one-day

Recreation visit may not be long enough to see
everything. By RER (local train) it is
Paris is surrounded by greenery. about a 40-minute ride from Paris to
The most famous park in Paris is the Versailles.
Bois de Boulogne. Comprising more
than 809 hectares (2,000 acres), the Also just outside Paris is EuroDis-
Bois boasts walking trails, lakes for neyland. As it is the same as the Ameri-
boating, two courses for horseracing can Disney parks, American visitors
(Longchamp and Auteuil), a children’s may want to spend their time on other
amusement park, an area for puppet sites.
shows, a miniature golf course, cafés Giverny, about 80 kilometers (50
and restaurants, a giant doll’s house, miles) outside Paris, is the home and
and a small zoo. Another famous gar- famous gardens of Impressionist painter
den is the Tuileries, located in front of Claude Monet (1840–1926). It was here
the Louvre museum. At the Place des that he painted the famous Waterlilies.
Vosges in the Marais district is a small
park featuring the famous author Victor
Hugo’s house. The Place de la Concorde 17 Performing Arts
has a beautiful fountain and small gar- The National French Theater, La
dens. In the Seine River is an enclosed Comédie Française, was established in
public swimming pool. On the left 1680 under the direction of the cardinal
bank are the Luxembourg Gardens. Richelieu. Modern-day productions
Impressive fountains and beautiful stat- include mainly the works of classical
ues representing Greek and Roman French writers of the seventeenth cen-
gods decorate this park. There is also tury—Moliere, Racine, and Corneille.
the palace of Marie de’Medici (1573– There are two opera houses—the Opéra
1652), wife of King Henri IV. Garnier, an eighteenth-century classi-
cal building, and the newer opera house
Another huge parkland is the Bois
at the Place de la Bastille. The Opéra
de Vincennes. It is comparable to the
Comique does light opera and works of
Bois de Boulogne with a racecourse and
French lyric composers. In the newer
a zoo. However, the zoo is larger in that
district of La Défense, the indoor arena
the animals seem to roam free in unre-
of Bercy stages musical performances of
stricted habitats.
popular performers. The famous can-
Off the Périférique (ring road) is can dancers can be found at the Moulin
the Parc de la Villette with an interac- Rouge in Montmartre. Paris also has
tive science museum and IMAX theater. many smaller theaters and many movie
houses. The Chaillot National Theater
Just outside of Paris is the city of (next to the Eiffel Tower) also serves as a
Versailles with the chateau of King multicultural center. In the area of
Louis XIV (1754–93) with its magnifi- Beaubourg, the Centre Pompidou

Paris
Once a castle to the kings of France, the Louvre is the most famous art museum in the world containing
such works as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. (Bernard Boutrit; Woodfin Camp)
always has some interesting displays some a first-time tourist should not
and performances. miss.
The Louvre is one of the most
18 Libraries and famous art museums in the world. Once
Museums the palace of the kings of France, the
Louvre was updated in 1989 by the
The Bibliothèque Nationale architect I.M. Pei (b. 1917) who
(National Library) was founded in the designed a new glass pyramid entrance
Middle Ages. In 1537, a copyright law to the museum. The Louvre contains
was passed that requires every pub- paintings, sculptures, and other objects
lished work to be in the National of antiquity famous around the world.
Library. The library has many annexes The Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory, the
and houses old manuscripts, engravings Venus de Milo, the paintings of David
and photographs, maps, music, and and Leonardo, Egyptian treasures and
printed books. Paris has a plethora of classical sculptures are all too numerous
famous museums, but the following are to mention. A two-hour tape tour is rec-

Paris
ommended for the casual visitor. The Gobelins’ Tapestry Factory recounts the
building itself is a work of art represent- history of the famous tapestry maker
ing the history of France as many kings from its beginnings in the thirteenth
added to the original structure begun century. There are guided tours of the
by Philippe Auguste in the twelfth cen- workshops, which still produce tapes-
tury. The basement contains the oldest tries. The Hôtel de Cluny Museum is
known foundations of the Louvre and the remains of the old Roman baths
the torture chambers of Philippe and the medieval monastery. Wonder-
Auguste. ful artifacts, tapestries, and medieval art
The Musée d'Orsay, housed in a are on display. The Grévin Museum is a
renovated railway station, now con- wax museum portraying scenes from
tains most of the important Impression- history and interesting historical fig-
ist paintings. Edouard Manet, Claude ures.
Monet, Edgar Degas, Jean Renoir, Paul
Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh are all Père Lachaise Cemetery may seem
well represented, as well as post-Impres- a bit morbid, but millions of visitors
sionist artists. come to see the graves of Bizet, Molière,
Colette, Gertrude Stein, Victor Hugo,
The National Museum of Modern Balzac, Chopin, and perhaps the most
Art is housed on the fourth floor of the visited, the American Jim Morrison. So
Pompidou Center in Beaubourg. The many people come to visit and decorate
Musée Rodin is dedicated to the works Morrison’s grave that there is usually
of the famous sculptor, Auguste Rodin security around it.
(1840–1917).
Notre Dame Cathedral is located 19 To u r i s m
on the island Ile de la Cité. One of the
most perfect examples of Gothic archi- The year 1999 saw France as the
tecture, Notre Dame has thousands of top destination for travelers around the
sculptures and stained glass windows. world, with the overwhelming majority
Tours are also given. On a neighboring including Paris in their visit to France.
island in the Seine, the Ile Saint-Louis, Over 70 million tourists visited the City
is the smaller church, the Sainte- of Light last year, spending nearly $30
Chapelle. The stained glass windows are million (American dollars) in France.
among the finest in the world.
The best tours of Paris are by boat. One
Historical museums abound. Les can get a one-hour cruise on the Seine
Invalides houses the tomb of Napoleon in a sightseeing boat called a bateau-
and a military museum, while the Arc mouche, which features the main mon-
de Triomphe has a museum dedicated uments, bridges, and cathedrals (the
to Napoleon’s victories. The Eiffel best view ever of Notre Dame) and gives
Tower has a display of the construction a history of the city. Bus tours are pro-
of the Tower for the 1889 World’s Fair. vided by various companies: Cityrama,

Paris
Vision, and Parisbus are a few of the

large companies.
The official tourist information
center is at the Hôtel de Ville (town
hall). However, there are tourist infor-
mation centers at all train stations and
airports.
20 Holidays and
Festivals
JANUARY
Fashion shows begin
MARCH-APRIL
Easter Monday
Foire de Paris (Fair)
MAY
May Day Celebration (1st)
VE Day (8th)
Ascension Day
Pentecost The Pantheon includes the tombs of Victor Hugo
JUNE and Voltaire. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
Air Show
French Open
Tour de France
Nostradamus (b. Michel de Notredame,
JULY
Bastille Day (14th) National Holiday 1503–66), philosopher and astrolo-
ger.
AUGUST
Many museums, restaurants, and other facilities
are closed for the traditional Parisian vacation René Descartes (1596–1650), father of
month. modern mathematics.
Assumption (15th)
NOVEMBER Louis XIV, the “Sun King” (1638–1715),
All Souls' Day (1st) built the palace of Versailles.
Armistice Day (11th)
Beaujolais Nouveau (18th) Wine Festival
Molière (b. Jean-Baptiste Poquelin,
1622–1673), playwright.
21 Famous Citizens
Robert de Sorbon (1201–74), philoso- Napoleon Bonaparte (b. Napoleone
pher and theologian, founded the Buonaparte, 1769–1821), Emperor
Sorbonne, which became the Uni- of France from 1805 to 1809 and
versity of Paris. from 1810 to 1814.

Paris
Jean-François Champollion (1790– Edith Piaf (1915–63), songstress nick-

1832), discovered the Rosetta named the “sparrow”.
Stone.
François Truffaut (1932–84), cinematog-
Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841–1919), rapher who invented the nouvelle
Claude Monet (1840–1926), Ed- vague of the film industry.
ouard Manet (1832–83)—all French
painters of the Impressionist style. Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80), father of the
philosophical movement of exis-
Victor Hugo (1802–85), one of the tentialism.
greatest and most prolific of all
Simone de Beauvoir (1908–86), author
French writers, wrote Notre-Dame
of The Second Sex.
de Paris (Hunchback).
Albert Camus (1913–60), philosopher
Alfred Dreyfus (1859–1935), involved
and writer.
in exposing the French govern-
ment’s policy of anti-Semitism, ac- Antoine de St. Exupéry (1900–44),
cused of treason, and exonerated in World War II pilot, best known for
a famous court-martial. his short novel The Little Prince.
Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann Brigitte Bardot (b. Camille Javal, 1934 ),
(1809–91), created wide boule- most famous French female movie
vards which mark modern Paris star.
and improved sewer system.
Gérard Dépardieu (b. 1948), French and
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (1832–1923), American movie star.
engineer and one of the founders
of aerodynamics, built the Eiffel 22 For Further Study
Tower for the World’s Fair of 1889
and designed the locks for the Pan- Websites
ama Canal. Air France airline. [Online] Available
www.airfrance.fr (accessed December 20,
Georges Bizet (1838–75), composer of 1999).
the operas Carmen and The Pearl La Conciergerie. [Online] Available
Fishers. www.conciergerie.com (accessed December
20, 1999).
General Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970), Paris Pages. [Online] Available www.paris.org
famous World War II general who Paris Tourist Office. [Online] Available http://
helped Eisenhower with the World www.paris-touristoffice.com (accessed
War II D-Day invasion of Nor- December 20, 1999).
mandy to defeat Hitler and Nazi RATP. [Online] Available www.ratp.fr (accessed
December 20, 1999).
Germany. Smartweb. [Online] Available http://smartweb.fr
Maurice Chevalier (1888–1972), French SNCF. [Online] Available www.sncf.fr (accessed
singer and movie star (Gigi). December 20, 1999).

Paris
Government Offices Books

American Embassy in Paris Guide Michelin, Paris. John Murray Publishers,
2 Rue St. Florentin 1999.
Paris, 75001 Insight Guide Paris. Maspeth, NY: Langenscheit
Tel: 01.43.12.22.22 Publishers, 1999.
Jones, Colin. The Cambridge Illustrated History of
Tourist and Convention Bureaus France. London: Cambridge University Press,
France and Paris Tourism 1994.
444 Madison Ave. Paris. London: Dorling Kindersley, 1999.
N.Y., N.Y. 10020
(212) 838-7800 Safran, William. The French Polity. New York and
London: Longman, 1985.
676 N. Michigan Ave. #3360
Chicago, IL 60611 Videorecordings
9494 Wilshire Blvd. The Louvre (narrated by Charles Boyer).
Beverly Hills, CA 90212 Monterey Home Video., n.d.

Glossary
illegal. U.S.S.R.
213
GLOSSARY
counted.

Junior
Worldmark
Encyclopedia of
World Cities
Junior
Worldmark
Encyclopedia of
World Cities
VOLUME 4
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania to
Washington, D.C.
Edited by
Jill Copolla and
Susan Bevan Gall
U•X•L Staff
orously defended.
Copyright © 2000
U•X•L

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contributors

CONTENTS
R E A D E R ’S G U I D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA ................................................ 1
P H O E N I X , A R I Z O N A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
P R A G U E , C Z E C H R E P U B L I C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
R I O D E J A N E I R O , B R A Z I L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
R O M E , I T A L Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
S A N F R A N C I S C O , C A L I F O R N I A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
S E A T T L E , WA S H I N G T O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
S Y D N E Y, A U S T R A L I A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
TO K Y O , J A P A N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
TO R O N T O , O N T A R I O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
VA N C O U V E R, B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
WA S H I N G T O N , D . C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
G L O S S A R Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
I N D E X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
vii

Africa
Mexico
Cairo, Egypt .............................[1]115
Rome, Italy ..................................[4]63
South America
North America
Canada Lima, Peru ................................[2]155
viii
Washington.
ix
READER’S GUIDE
ways. entries.

READER’S GUIDE

are also described.
summarized.

READER’S GUIDE



Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, North America

Location: Eastern Pennsylvania, between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers
Flag: Outer vertical stripes of blue, with seal centered on center yellow stripe.
Ethnic Composition: White, 57.2%; Black, 39.9%; Native American, 0.2%; and
Asian/Pacific Islander, 2.7%
Climate: Continental climate moderated by the Appalachian mountains and the
Atlantic Ocean; hot, humid summers
Annual Mean Temperature: 12.5 ºC (54.6ºF); January 0.6ºC (33.1ºF); August
23.7ºC (74.7ºF)
Seasonal Average Snowfall: 50.8 cm (20 in)
Average Annual Precipitation (rainfall and melted snow): 105.2 cm (41.4 in)
1 Introduction service-oriented economy as well as the

number one freshwater port in the
Located in southeastern Pennsylva- United States. Its central location in
nia, at the confluence of the Schuylkill relation to the cities of the Eastern Sea-
and Delaware rivers, Philadelphia is the board, and the eastern United States as
state’s largest city and the fifth largest a whole, combined with its population,
in the United States. Home of the Dec- size, and cultural and recreational
laration of Independence and the Lib- resources continue to make Philadel-
erty Bell—and the first capital of the phia one of the nation’s major cities.
United States—Philadelphia has one of
the nation’s greatest concentrations of 2 Getting There
historic sites, which play a major role in
attracting some three million visitors to Philadelphia is located in south-
the city every year. Although it has eastern Pennsylvania, where the
ceded its one-time position as manufac- Schuylkill and Delaware rivers meet.
turing capital of the nation, Philadel- The city’s fairly flat terrain resembles
phia today is home to a vigorous that of surrounding areas in New Jersey
1
Philadelphia
west of the city, connecting I-76 and I-

Philadelphia 276 to the north with I-95 to the south.
Population Profile
City Proper
Philadelphia is one of the main
Area: 349.6 sq km (135 sq mi) stops on the Amtrak route that traverses
Ethnic composition: 57.2% white; 39.9% black; the Boston-Washington corridor in the
0.2% Native American; and 2.7% Asian
Nicknames: City of Brotherly Love
northeast of the country. Trains arrive
at and depart from Penn Station. Inter-
Metropolitan Area city bus service is available on Grey-
Population: 4,398,000 hound and Peter Pan/Trailways. Inter-
Description: Philadelphia and surrounding city service to nearby destinations is
communities
Area: 9,984.5 sq km ( 3,855 sq mi) provided by New Jersey Transit.
Percentage of national population2: 1.6% Airports
Ethnic composition: 76.9% white; 20% black; Philadelphia International Airport
is a hub for Midway Airlines and US Air-
——— ways. It also services the other major
1. The Philadelphia metropolitan area’s rank
among the world’s urban areas. U.S. carriers, including American, Con-
2. The percent of the United States’ total tinental, Delta, Northwest, TWA, and
population living in the Philadelphia United.
metropolitan area.
Shipping
and Delaware rather than the hilly land Penn’s Landing is the largest fresh-
characteristic of much of Pennsylva- water port in the United States.
nia’s interior. Together with facilities in southern New
Jersey and Delaware, it constitutes the
Highways Ports of Philadelphia, operated by the
Philadelphia Regional Port Authority.
The major interstate access to Phil- The jointly operated port complex han-
adelphia is via I-95, running from Bos- dles the East Coast’s largest volume of
ton and points north all the way down international shipping freight.
to Florida. Intersecting with I-95 is I-76
(the Schuylkill Expressway), which
extends westward through southern
3 Getting Around
Pennsylvania. Other major routes in The streets of Philadelphia are laid
the area are I-276 (the Pennsylvania out in a grid pattern, with numbered
Turnpike), and I-676 (the Vine Street streets running north-south. Many of
Expressway), which links I-76 to Cam- the east-west streets were named—by
den, New Jersey. I-476 (the “Blue founding father William Penn (1644–
Route”) runs along the suburbs to the 1718)—for local plants and trees,

Philadelphia
including Cherry, Chestnut, Walnut, Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and

Locust, Spruce, and Pine. The Delaware includes buses, trolleys, subways, and
River to the east and the Schuylkill commuter trains. Bus lines include the
River to the west meet south of the city. PHLASH Bus service, which makes a
loop through many of the downtown’s
Bus and Commuter Rail Service major commercial and cultural sites,
the Ben FrankLine, the Mid-City Loop,
Public transportation is operated and the Chestnut Street Transitway. The
by the Southeastern Pennsylvania commuter rail line, PATCO, connects

Philadelphia
the city with Camden, New Jersey, via 5 Neighborhoods

the Ben Franklin Bridge. Underground
Rapid Transit lines intersect underneath The historic central city is known
City Hall. as Center City. At its center lies Penn
Square, the site of Philadelphia’s city
Sightseeing hall. The surrounding area can be
divided into four quadrants, each
Bus tours of Philadelphia’s historic arranged around a central square (or, in
sights are offered by Gray Line Tours the case of Logan Circle, the site of a
and American Trolley Tours, whose former square). In the northwest quad-
“trolleys” are actually double-decker rant, the gracious, tree-lined Benjamin
buses. Candlelight walking tours of his- Franklin Parkway passes through Logan
toric Philadelphia are available also, as Circle, in a district that includes the
well as tours by horse and carriage. Boat Franklin Institute Science Museum and
tours that offer views of the city’s sky- the Academy of Natural Sciences. South
line from the harbor are offered on the of this section lies Rittenhouse Square,
Spirit of Philadelphia and the Liberty Belle an urban park surrounded by buildings
II. that reflect the district’s nineteenth-
century history as an exclusive neigh-
borhood that was home to some of the
4 People city’s wealthiest citizens.
In 1990, the population of Phila- In the southeast quadrant is Wash-

delphia was 1,586,000, of which 39.9 ington Square, where the city’s historic
percent were black, 2.7 percent Asian, colonial district (also known as Old
and 0.2 percent Native American. His- City) begins and stretches eastward to
panics (both white and black) the Delaware River. This area includes
accounted for 5.6 percent of the popu- Independence National Historic Park.
lation. The population estimate for Colonial architecture is also on display
1994 was 1,524,249. to the south, in the area known as Soci-
ety Hill, a fashionable neighborhood of
The population of the Philadel- restored Federal, Georgian, and colonial
phia Primary Metropolitan Statistical homes. Further south is Queen Village,
Area was reported as 4,922,257 in 1990 an area originally settled by Swedes that
and estimated at 4,940,653 as of 1997. boasts the oldest church in the state of
The region’s racial composition was Pennsylvania. South Street, which lies
listed by the U.S. Census Bureau in between Society Hill and Queen Village,
1996 as 76.9 percent white; 20 percent became a counterculture enclave in the
black; and 2.9 percent Asian/Pacific 1960s and is still a trendy and sophisti-
Islander. The percentage of residents of cated venue filled with bookstores,
Hispanic origin (an ethnic rather than a cafes, natural food stores, restaurants,
racial designation) was 4.3 percent. and other businesses.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
The Philadelphia Akhbar El Yom/
Inquirer Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
South of Center City is South Phila- latter has become a fashionable neigh-
delphia, the oldest section of Philadel- borhood graced by a lively assortment
phia. Today it is a colorful and of galleries, restaurants, boutiques, and
ethnically diverse neighborhood with a cafes. Chestnut Hill, originally a
strong Italian influence. planned community designed by Brit-
ish architects in the mid-nineteenth
West of the Schuylkill River lies
century, has been designated a National
University City, home of the University
Historic District thanks to its distinctive
of Pennsylvania (“Penn”), which
buildings.
moved to this location in the 1870s,
and Drexel University. In recent years,
Other municipalities in the metro-
the university has helped gentrify the
politan Philadelphia area include Upper
area by supporting the establishment of
bookstores and other businesses. Darby, Levittown, Doylestown, and
New Hope (all in Pennsylvania), as well
Northwest of Center City lie the as Haddonfield, Moorestown, and Mer-
residential communities of Chestnut chantsville in New Jersey. Also geo-
Hill, Mount Airy, and Manayunk; the graphically associated with

Philadelphia
Philadelphia skyline. (Jim McWilliams; Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Philadelphia are a series of Pennsylva- town with broad avenues and public
nia communities known as the Main squares. Settlers were attracted by the
Line, including Merion, Wayne, Ard- economic opportunities available in the
more, Villanova, Haverford, and Bryn new land, as well as by the promise of
Mawr. religious freedom guaranteed by Penn,
a Quaker who had rejected the dictates
6 History of England’s established Anglican
Church.
The Philadelphia region was first
settled by Swedes in the first half of the By the eighteenth century, thanks
seventeenth century. It was not until to its fine port and good agricultural
1682 that the Englishman William land, Philadelphia had become the fore-
Penn, having received a land grant most city in the 13 British colonies. Its
from King Charles II, founded his settle- considerable wealth, reflected in both
ment between the Delaware and its architecture and in the interior decor
Schuylkill rivers, north of the existing of its houses, also supported an impres-
Swedish settlement. Penn planned a sive infrastructure and network of pub-

Philadelphia
lic services and cultural institutions.

The first hospital in the future United
States was opened in Philadelphia in
1755 (a project in which the city’s most
famous son, Benjamin Franklin, partici-
pated). Franklin was also a driving force
behind the founding of the University
of Pennsylvania, the Free Library of
Philadelphia, and the American Philo-
sophical Society.
Although the Philadelphians were

more politically moderate than their
neighbors in New England, they partici-
pated actively in the debate that pre-
ceded the adoption of the Declaration
of Independence (which occurred in
the city’s own Independence Hall, then
known as the State House) and were
heavily involved in the Revolutionary
War (1775–1783), during which their
city was occupied by British troops
under General Howe between 1777 and The Declaration of Independence was signed in
1778 before Howe’s army moved on to Independence Hall, then known as the State
New York. The members of the Conti- House. (Marcia Conrad; Philadelphia Convention & Visitors
Bureau)
nental Congress fled to Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, taking the Liberty Bell
with them. After the war, Philadelphia access made the Philadelphia the man-
was the site of the Constitutional Con- ufacturing capital of the United States,
vention, at which the U.S. Constitution as well as one of its premier financial
was drafted in 1787, and the city served centers. Cultural progress continued
as the capital of the new country in the also with the establishment of public
1790s before the completion of Wash- education and the creation of such
ington, D.C. institutions as the Walnut Street The-
ater. Although the national capital had
The nineteenth century brought moved to Washington, Philadelphia
continued prosperity and cultural remained the national center for the
advancement to the city. In 1805 the minting of money, shipbuilding, and
first permanent bridge over the weapons production.
Schuylkill River connected Philadelphia
with the fertile farmland of the interior. As an enlightened city, Philadel-
In the 1820s and 1830s, seaport and rail phia was a hotbed of antislavery senti-

Philadelphia
ment, although many of the city’s elite, (1914–18), the city boasted the largest
dependent on Southern trade, opposed shipbuilding plant in existence at the
the war for economic reasons. War time. The city’s population continued
brought its own economic compensa- to grow—from one million to two mil-
tion as Philadelphia became a center for lion between 1900 and 1930, an
military supplies and transport equip- increase that included a large number
ment. of African Americans. However, the
Great Depression of the 1930s signaled
However, nothing could compen- the end of Philadelphia’s predominance
sate for the loss of thousands of Phila- as a manufacturing center, even though
delphia’s native sons in the Civil War the city’s economy rebounded with the
Battle of Gettysburg (Pennsylvania) in advent of World War II (1939–45).
1863. When Abraham Lincoln was
assassinated in 1865, his body lay in In the post-war years, Philadel-
state in Independence Hall before trav- phia’s leaders have slowed migration to
eling to its final resting place in Illinois. the surrounding suburbs with an ambi-
tious program of urban renewal that
Immigration to Philadelphia, restored Center City, preserving Phila-
already heavy before the Civil War delphia’s historic heritage while allow-
(1861–65), continued in the last ing for development that would draw
decades of the century. New arrivals businesses to the city. Like other urban
from Italy and Eastern Europe joined centers in the United States, Philadel-
the large number of Irish immigrants phia has seen the growth of a service-
who had arrived earlier and helped oriented economy replace its former
maintain Philadelphia’s position as the manufacturing base; today, manufac-
nation’s manufacturing capital, with a turing in this former industrial capital
varied manufacturing base that ranged employs only about ten percent of the
from sugar refining to hat manufactur- work force. As the twenty-first century
ing. In 1876 Philadelphia hosted the began, the city continued to combine
first World’s Fair held in the United historic preservation with new develop-
States: the Centennial Exhibition in ment as the National Park Service
Fairmount Park, which included a dem- worked on plans to transform Indepen-
onstration of the telephone. Philadel- dence Mall, and a new National Consti-
phia went on to become a pioneer in tution Center entered the planning
the establishment of modern utilities, stages as well.
claiming the first residential and office
electric lighting and the first telephone
exchange, both in place by 1878. 7 Government
As the new century arrived, Phila- Both the city and the county of
delphians were prospering, with the Philadelphia are administered by the
greatest home ownership rate of any same mayor-council government,
city in the world. During World War I established under a 1951 charter that

Philadelphia
served as a national model for big-city

government, eliminating the adminis-
trative role of council and strengthen-
ing the powers of the mayor. The mayor
and the 17 council members are elected
to four-year terms, with ten council
members elected by district and seven
elected at large. The mayor may not
serve more than two consecutive terms,
although there are no limits on the
number of non-consecutive mayoral
terms.
8 Public Safety
Philadelphia is considered one of
the nation’s safest large metropolitan
areas. In 1995, the city’s incidence of
reported violent crimes per 100,000
population was 1,436, including 28
murders, 51 rapes, and 889 robberies.
The incidence of property crimes was
5,642 and included 1,057 burglaries
and 1,556 motor vehicle thefts.
9 Economy
Like other cities in the Northeast,
Philadelphia—once the manufacturing
capital of the nation—has seen a
decline in its traditional industrial base
since World War II, as heavy industry Philadelphia’s City Hall at night. (R. Andrew Lepley;
moved to areas in the South and West. Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Until the 1980s, the city’s port and
petroleum-refining plants contributed
substantially to the economy, but since Today’s leading economic sectors
that time service industries have
include advertising, financial services,
replaced manufacturing as the domi-
law, and book publishing. The health
nant economic sector. Manufacturing,
which used to account for 50 percent of care field is also a major income pro-
the city’s employment, now accounts ducer, with some 20 percent of the
for only about ten percent. work force employed in health care ser-

Philadelphia
vices or the city’s growing biomedical 11 Shopping

and pharmaceutical industries. Phila-
delphia has also made a concerted Philadelphia offers both tradi-
tional retail outlets in its historic neigh-
effort to capitalize on its historic attrac-
borhoods and abundant mall and
tions by promoting tourism, most nota-
outlet shopping. For sheer size, the
bly through the construction of a new dominant shopping venue is the King
$525 million convention center, com- of Prussia Court and Plaza north of the
pleted in 1993, and developing its city, which is America’s second-largest
waterfront areas. shopping mall, superseded only by the
Mall of America in Minnesota. The King
Another target of the city’s eco- of Prussia facility, which boasts 450
nomic planning has been the promo- stores and 51 hectares (126 acres) of
tion of Philadelphia as a venue for parking, offers major stores such as Nor-
corporate headquarters, and new build- dstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Bloom-
ings as well as entire office parks have ingdale’s, and specialty retailers
multiplied rapidly along Route 202 just including Tiffany, Williams-Sonoma,
west of the city. Major corporations and Hermes.
headquartered in the Philadelphia area The Franklin Mills outlet mall
today include SmithKline Beecham, northeast of Center City is a single-
Aramark, Advanta, and CIGNA. story mall that attracts millions of
shoppers annually with over 200 dis-
count and outlet stores, including out-
10 Environment lets for Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom,
and Burlington Coat Factory, as well as
The physical features of the Phila-
a 14-screen multiplex cinema.
delphia region have determined many
aspects of its history, from the fertile Popular traditional urban shopping
river-wash soil that drew its early set- venues include Liberty Place, a down-
tlers to begin farming the area to its town skyscraper that contains over 70
ports, which guaranteed an abundant stores; South Street, which has evolved
supply of water, encouraged the growth from a 1960s hippie district into a
of shipbuilding, and have made the city trendy upscale commercial and enter-
tainment center; University City, the
a major transport and shipping center
area surrounding the University of
throughout its history. The Fairmount
Pennsylvania, west of the Schuylkill
Waterworks, constructed in 1840 and river, which is home to a variety of bou-
still standing in Fairmount Park, was a tiques and specialty shops; and the
state-of-the-art project that pumped community of Manayunk northwest of
water from the Schuylkill River into the Center City. A new shopping center
community for residential and com- near Philadelphia International Airport
mercial use. also draws large numbers of shoppers.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia, home of the first There are more than 100 hospitals
public school in the United States in the Philadelphia metropolitan area
(opened in 1698), was also a pioneer in and six medical schools, as well as
the education of gifted children, estab- schools of nursing, dentistry, and phar-
lishing special admission schools to macology. There are major teaching
meet the needs of students with special hospitals affiliated with both the Uni-
abilities in a variety of areas. Today versity of Pennsylvania and Temple
Philadelphia has the nation’s fifth-larg- University.
est public school system, enrolling
almost 220,000 students at all levels, Pennsylvania Hospital, part of the
from preschool through twelfth grade. University of Pennsylvania Health Sys-
In the fall of 1996, Philadelphia’s public tem, is the oldest hospital in the United
school enrollment was 63.8 percent States, established in 1751 by Dr. Tho-
black, 19.8 percent white, 11.6 percent mas Bond (1712–84) and Benjamin
Hispanic, and 4.7 percent Asian/Pacific. Franklin (1706–90). This 505-bed facil-
ity was also home to the country’s first
The school system employed 11,144
surgical amphitheater and was the first
classroom teachers and 23,216 staff per-
hospital in the country to treat mental
sonnel.
illness.
The city of Philadelphia has about
Temple University Hospital, affili-
20 post-secondary institutions, and its
ated with the Temple University Medi-
metropolitan area is home to nearly 90.
cal School, is a 514-bed facility that
The University of Pennsylvania, a pri- provided care to 20,000 patients and
vate Ivy League college located in 150,000 outpatients in 1998. Its emer-
downtown Philadelphia, is over 250 gency department, a certified Level I
years old. It was home to the nation’s regional trauma center, treats more
first medical school (1765), law school than 37,000 patients a year. Commu-
(1790), and business school (1881) and nity hospitals that belong to the Temple
pioneered the integration of a classical University Health System include Epis-
education with modern fields of study. copal Hospital, Jeanes Hospital, Lower
Situated west of the Schuylkill River Bucks Hospital, Neumann Medical Cen-
since the 1870s, the university enrolls ter, and Northeastern Hospital. Also
over 20,000 students in four undergrad- part of Temple’s hospital system is Tem-
uate and 12 graduate schools. Located ple University Children’s Medical Cen-
nearby is Drexel University. ter.
Philadelphia is also home to the Philadelphia is also home to Chil-

Curtis Institute, one of the nation’s top dren’s Hospital of Philadelphia and
music schools. Wills Eye Hospital, both considered

Philadelphia
among the best in the country in their ship in 1993 and advanced to the play-
respective specialties. offs two years later, play at Veterans
Stadium, which is also the home of the
14 Media NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. The Philadel-
phia 76ers of the National Basketball
Philadelphia’s major daily newspa- Association compete in the modern,
pers (with 1998 circulation figures) are $230 million First Union Center, as do
the Philadelphia Inquirer, published the Philadelphia Flyers of the National
seven mornings a week (weekdays, Hockey League.
428,895; Sunday, 880,918), and the
Philadelphia Daily News, published As an area with one of the nation’s
Monday through Saturday evening heaviest concentration of colleges,
(weekday circulation 175,448). (Both Greater Philadelphia has an active col-
papers are now owned by the same legiate sports scene, many of whose
company.) The Inquirer is better known games take place at Franklin Field and
for its national coverage, while the the Palestra in West Philadelphia. Every
Daily News has more local news. City April, Franklin Field is the site of the
Paper and Philadelphia Weekly are free Penn Relays, an intercollegiate and
alternative weeklies with articles on amateur track event. Also popular are
local issues and entertainment listings. regattas on the Schuylkill River.
Monthly magazines include Philadel-
phia Magazine and Where Philadelphia
Magazine.
16 Parks and
Recreation
All major television networks have
affiliates in Philadelphia, and the met- Fairmount Park, the largest land-
ropolitan region is home to more than scaped park in the country, extends
30 AM and FM radio stations providing over 3,602 hectares (8,900 acres) north-
news, music, and local features. The west of Center City. In addition to 161
acclaimed interview program “Fresh kilometers (100 miles) of hiking, bicy-
Air,” hosted by Terry Gross, originates cling, and bridle trails, the park also
from WHYY, Philadelphia’s National encompasses historic and cultural
Public Radio (NPR) affiliate, and is syn- attractions, including the Philadelphia
dicated on NPR stations throughout the Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Zoo
country. (the nation’s oldest), the historic Fair-
mount Waterworks, nearly 30 colonial
mansions open to visitors, Japanese gar-
15 Sports dens and a teahouse, outdoor sculpture,
Philadelphia—where the world’s and the Philadelphia Orchestra’s sum-
first baseball game was played in mer home, the Mann Music Center. Vis-
1860—fields teams in all major-league itors to the park can use hike-and-bike
sports. The Philadelphia Phillies, who trails; rent rowboats and canoes for use
won the National League champion- on the Schuylkill River, which runs

Philadelphia
through the park, dividing it into east-

ern and western sections; visit the
waterworks, built in 1840; tour the his-
toric houses, which include Lemon Hill,
Mt. Pleasant, Laurel Hill, Strawberry
Mansion, and Chamounix Mansion;
take their children to Smith Play-
ground; take in horticultural exhibits;
or visit the 40-hectare (99-acre) Laurel
Hill Cemetery.
The metropolitan area has over 100
golf courses, five of which are 18-hole
municipal courses operated by the city
of Philadelphia. Tennis courts can be
found in Fairmount Park, on the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania campus, and at
other locations. Philadelphia has 86
municipal swimming pools, and the Visitors to Independence National Historic Park are
Blue Cross River Rink at Penn’s Landing transported back to the colonial period by tour
is a popular spot for ice skating. guides in historic costume.
(Nick Kelsh; Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau)
17 Performing Arts
Rittenhouse Square. The Philadelphia
Anchored by its symphony orches- Chamber Music Society presents con-
tra and the renowned Curtis Institute, certs featuring well-known soloists and
Philadelphia has a top-notch classical ensembles performing both classical
music scene. The Philadelphia Orches- and popular music. In addition, the city
tra, which grew to greatness under mae- has its own chamber orchestra, the
stros including Leopold Stokowski and Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra,
Eugene Ormandy, remains one of the
as well as a group that specializes in
best in the world under music director,
contemporary music, the Relache
Wolfgang Sawallisch. The orchestra pre-
Ensemble. The Opera Company of Phil-
sents a regular season of concerts at the
adelphia presents four fully staged
Academy of Music between September
opera productions annually at the
and May and also plays a six-week sum-
Academy of Music.
mer season at the Mann Music Center
amphitheatre in Fairmount Park.
Philadelphia presents varied oppor-
The talented faculty and student of tunities for theater goers. In addition to
the Curtis Institute can be heard in reg- traveling productions of Broadway
ular solo recitals and chamber music plays, local audiences can attend pro-
concerts in the school’s concert hall in ductions by the resident company at

Philadelphia
the Walnut Street Theatre, the Philadel- and one of its best. Its collection ranges
phia Theater Company, the Arden The- from the middle ages to the present and
atre Company, and the American Music features special attractions, including a
Theater Festival, which specializes in medieval courtyard and fountain, a
musical theater. The Wilma Theater is a Gothic chapel, and a Hindu temple.
respected troupe dedicated to present- Both older and contemporary European
ing contemporary works, which are also masters are represented, as well as a
the focus at the Philadelphia Festival broad array of American artworks,
Theatre for New Plays and the InterAct including the decorative arts, and a
Theatre Company. variety of special exhibits. The Museum
of American Art, housed in a distin-
The acclaimed Pennsylvania Ballet guished Victorian building designed by
performs at the Academy of Music, the Frank Furness and George Hewitt and
Annenberg Center, and the Merriam extensively refurbished for the 1976
Theater, in a season that includes an American bicentennial and further ren-
annual performance of The Nutcracker ovated in 1994, houses an outstanding
in the original version choreographed collection of works by American artists
by Balanchine. A variety of local groups from colonial times to the present. The
make up the Philadelphia Dance Alli- Philadelphia Art Alliance promotes all
ance. Movement Theatre International the fine arts, displaying paintings,
performances showcase dance and sculptures, and photography and also
movement of all kinds, including mime serving as a venue for readings, con-
and even circus acts. certs, and dramatic performances.
18 Libraries and With its rich history dating back to

colonial times, Philadelphia is home to
Museums
a variety of historic sites and historical
The Free Library of Philadelphia museums. The Atwater-Kent Museum
operates a central library downtown illuminates the city’s history through
and 49 neighborhood branches. With a exhibits detailing changing urban life
total of 7,983,088 items, the library has over the past three hundred years. The
a circulation of over six million. Its spe- Civil War Library and Museum houses a
cial collections cover subject areas collection of research materials and arti-
including fine prints and printmaking, facts from the war years, including a
automobiles, Judaica, choral music, weapons display. Independence Seaport
jazz, Americana, British writer Beatrix Museum, located at Penn’s Landing, is
Potter (1866–1943), and British illustra- devoted to the maritime history of the
tor Arthur Rackham (1867–1939). It Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay.
also has an exceptional children’s
library. Independence Hall (where the Dec-
laration of Independence was drafted),
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is together with the nearby pavilion that
the nation’s third-largest art museum houses the Liberty Bell, is Philadelphia’s

Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is the third largest museum of its type in the world. (Philadelphia Convention &
Visitors Bureau)
most famous historic site. Nearby are The University of Pennsylvania

the quarters occupied by the U.S. Con- Museum of Archaeology and Anthro-
gress and the Supreme Court in the pology is devoted to the history of the
1790s when Philadelphia served as the world’s cultures, while the Balch Insti-
nation’s capital. Another major historic tute for Ethnic Studies focuses on Phila-
attraction in Philadelphia is Gloria Dei delphia’s history as a major
Church. Built in 1700 by early Swedish immigration center. In addition, several
colonists in the region, it is the oldest museums in Philadelphia are devoted
church in Pennsylvania. The former to the history of specific ethnic groups.
home of poet and short-story writer These include the Afro-American His-
Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) has been torical and Cultural Museum, the
turned into the Edgar Allan Poe National Museum of American Jewish
National Historic Site, which displays History, the Polish American Cultural
artifacts illuminating Poe’s life and Center, the American Swedish Histori-
work. cal Museum.

Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s legacy as the home Purim Festival

of statesman and scientist Benjamin Philadelphia Boat Show
Philadelphia Flower Show
Franklin is reflected in the city’s distin-
guished science museums. Originally APRIL
Historic Houses in Flower
founded in 1824, the Franklin Institute
Penn Relays
Science Museum (also the site of the Springside School Antiques Show
Benjamin Franklin National Memorial)
APRIL–MAY
was a leader in the development of Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema
hands-on science exhibits. The Acad- Philadelphia Open House Tours
emy of Natural Sciences has exhibits
MAY
that include dioramas, hands-on exper- Chestnut Hill Garden Festival Blooms
iments, and a gem and mineral display. Flower & Garden Festival
The College of Physicians of Philadel- Devon Horse Show & Country Fair
phia sponsors both the C. Everett Koop Jam Festival
Jam on the River
Community Health Information Center
Pennsylvania Fair
and the Mütter Museum.
MAY-SEPTEMBER
Festival of Fountains
19 To u r i s m JUNE
An estimated three million tourists First Union U.S. Pro Championship
Manayunk Arts Fest
visit Philadelphia every year, drawn by
Midsommarfest
the city’s historic and cultural attrac- Odunde African Street Festival & Marketplace
tions. The Philadelphia Convention Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Annual
Center, located in the central historic
JUNE-JULY
district, has boosted the city’s economy Welcome America
by creating new jobs in the service and
JULY
retail sectors, as growing numbers of Philadelphia International Film Festival
convention delegates visit Philadelphia.
SEPTEMBER
Yo Philadelphia Festival
20 Holidays and SEPTEMBER-MARCH
Festivals Bach Festival of Philadelphia
JANUARY OCTOBER-NOVEMBER
Mummers Parade Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show
FEBRUARY NOVEMBER
Black Writer’s Festival Advanta Tennis Championships for Women
Chocolate Festival DECEMBER
Junior Jazz Weekend Market Street East Holiday Festival
Mardi Gras Jamboree
PECO Energy Jazz Festival
U.S. Hot Rod Grand Slam Monster Jam 21 Famous Citizens
MARCH Marian Anderson (1897–1993), singer.
Book & Cook Fair
Maple Syrup Festival Mary Cassatt (1844–1926), painter.

Philadelphia
Wilt Chamberlain (1936–99), basketball Tourist and Convention Bureaus

player. Philadelphia Convention Center
1101 Arch St.
W. C. Chamberlain (1879–1946), comic Philadelphia, PA 19107
(206) 447-5000
actor.
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Thomas Eakins (1844–1916), painter. 1515 Market St., Suite 2020
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Benjamin Franklin (1706–90), states- (215) 636-3300
man and inventor.
Publications
Grace Kelly (1929–82), screen actress Philadelphia Business Journal
and princess of Monaco. 400 Market St., Suite 300
Margaret Mead (1901–1978), anthro-
Philadelphia Daily News
pologist. P.O. Box 7788
William Penn (1644–1718), founder of
Pennsylvania. Philadelphia Inquirer
P.O. Box 8263
Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49), author. Philadelphia, PA 19101
Betsy Ross (1752–1836), flag maker. Books

Adams, Carolyn. Philadelphia: Neighborhoods,
Division, and Conflict in a Post-industrial City.
22 For Further Study Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1991.
Cotter, John L., Daniel G. Roberts, and Michael
Websites Parrington. The Buried Past: An Archaeological
Philadelphia City Net. [Online] Available http:// History of Philadelphia. Philadelphia: Univer-
www.city.net/countries/united_states/ sity of Pennsylvania Press, 1992.
pennsylvania/philadelphia (accessed Davis, Allen F., and Mark H. Haller, eds. The Peo-
December 8, 1999). ples of Philadelphia: A History of Ethnic Groups
Philadelphia City Pages. [Online] Available http: and Lower-class Life, 1790–1940. Philadel-
//philadelphia.thelinks.com/ (accessed phia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press,
December 8, 1999). 1998.
Ellison, Elaine Krasnow, and Elaine Mark Jaffe.
Philadelphia Liberty Net. [Online] Available
Voices from Marshall Street: Jewish Life in a
http: //www.libertynet.org (accessed Decem-
Philadelphia Neighborhood, 1920–1960. Phila-
ber 8, 1999).
delphia: Camino Books, 1994.
Philadelphia Online. [Online] Available http: //
Gephart, Elizabeth S. Philadelphia with Children:
www.phillynews.com/ (accessed December
A Guide to the Delaware Valley Including Lan-
8, 1999).
caster and Hershey. Illustrated by Candace
Stringer. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Camino
Government Offices Books, 1996.
Mayor’s Office Hulin-Salkin, Belinda. Greater Philadelphia: Into
215 City Hall the Future, a Contemporary Portrait. 1st ed.
Philadelphia, PA 19107 Chatsworth, CA: Windsor Publications,
(206) 686-2181 1991.
Hutchins, Catherine E. Shaping a National Cul-
Philadelphia City Hall ture: The Philadelphia Experience, 1750–1800.
Philadelphia, PA 19107 1st ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 1994.
(215) 686-1776 Morrone, Francis. An Architectural Guidebook to

Philadelphia
Philadelphia. Photography by James Iska. 1st Photography by Blair Seitz ; foreword by

ed. Salt Lake City, UT: Gibbs Smith, 1999. James A. Michener. Harrisburg, PA: RB
Rockland, Michael Aaron. Snowshoeing Through Books, 1994.
Sewers: Adventures in New York City, New Jer- Stevick, Philip. Imagining Philadelphia: Travelers'
sey, and Philadelphia. New Brunswick, NJ: Views of the City from 1800 to the Present.
Rutgers University Press, 1994. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania
Seitz, Ruth Hoover. Philadelphia & Its Countryside. Press, 1996.

Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America, North America

Location: The Salt River Valley, south-central Arizona, United States, North America
Motto: Ditat Deus (“God enriches,” state motto).
Flag: Design adopted in 1990 features stylized symbol of the mythical bird, the
phoenix, on a dark purple field.
Flower: Blossom of the saguaro cactus (state flower)
Time Zone: 5 AM Mountain Standard Time (MST) = noon Greenwich Mean Time
(GMT)
Ethnic Composition: White, 91.2%; Black, 5.2%; American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut,
1.9%; Asian and Pacific Islander,1.7%; Hispanic origin (may be of any race),
20%.
Elevation: 332 m (1,090 ft) above sea level. Phoenix is located on flat desert land.
Climate: Desert climate with warm temperatures and low rainfall and humidity; very
little wind except for storms in July and August. Hot summers and mild winters,
with an average of 211 days of sunshine annually, one of the nation’s sunniest
cities.
Annual Mean Temperature: 22ºC (72ºF); January 11ºC (51ºF); August 32ºC (89ºF)
Seasonal Average Snowfall: None
Average Annual Precipitation: 19.5 cm (7.66 in)
Government: Council-manager government
Telephone area codes: 602
Postal codes: 85001-85086
1 Introduction magnet for retirees, Phoenix now

attracts new residents of all ages and
When Phoenix, the capital of Ari- has been a major beneficiary of the
zona, was founded, its first settlers wave of migration to the Sun Belt in
named it after a mythical beast that recent decades. Its population today is
rises from the ashes, reflecting their 1.2 million and growing. It has become
hopes for the city that they rescued a leading commercial center of the
from decay by rebuilding a network of Southwest, with a city government rec-
abandoned irrigation canals. People ognized as one of the nation’s most
have always been drawn to the city by effective.
its year-round warm weather, sunny cli-
mate, and natural beauty, and in the
twentieth century the development of
2 Getting There
air conditioning and the construction Phoenix, the city between southern
of major irrigation projects added to Texas and California, is located in the
Phoenix’s appeal. Long regarded as a Salt River Valley in south-central Ari-
19
Phoenix

Phoenix
Two Amtrak trains are available
Population Profile daily, and bus service is provided at the
Greyhound/Trailways bus station on
City Proper
East Buckeye Road.
Ethnic composition: 20% Hispanic, 5.2% Black, Airports
1.9%; American Indian, 1.7% Asian (minorities
represented) Phoenix has three airports, of
Nicknames: Valley of the Sun
which the major one is Sky Harbor
Metropolitan Area International Airport, located five kilo-
Population: 2,607,000 meters (three miles) southeast of down-
Description: Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona town. The airport’s ongoing series of art
Area: 37,747 sq km (14,574 sq mi) exhibits, arranged by the Phoenix Art
Percentage of national population2: 0.94% Commission, has been copied by other
Average yearly growth rate: 2.1% airports around the country. More than
Ethnic composition: 91.4% white; 4% black; 23 airlines operate flights into and out
2.2% Asian; approximately 20% Hispanic
(may be of any race) of the city. Nearly 28 million people
———
annually arrive at and depart from
1. The Phoenix metropolitan area’s rank among Phoenix by air.
2. The percent of the United States’ total Shipping
population living in the Phoenix metropolitan
area. Phoenix benefits from its central
location in relation to markets in Colo-
rado, Utah, Texas, southern California,
and Mexico, to which it is connected by
zona. The Superstition Mountains and a a network of interstate highways. The
series of lakes form the city’s eastern city is served by more than 50 trucking
boundary, and the Phoenix Mountain companies, which provide commercial
Preserve encircles the city. freight service to these and other loca-
tions. Two transcontinental rail lines
Highways provide rail freight service, and two air-
lines—American and American West—
The major interstate highways run- provide wide-body air cargo service.
ning through Phoenix are I-10 (the
Papago Freeway) and I-17 (the Black
Canyon Freeway), which intersect in
3 Getting Around
the city to form the Maricopa Freeway. The streets in the central part of
(South of the city it becomes the Pima the city are laid out in a grid plan, with
Freeway). State Route 89 (the Grand numbered streets and avenues running
Avenue Expressway) enters the city north-south, and east-west streets
from the northwest. named after presidents of the United

Phoenix

Phoenix

Phoenix Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
The Arizona Akhbar El Yom/
Republic Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
States (including Washington, Adams, days only in Tempe and Mesa. The base
and Jefferson). The core of the down- fare is $1.25, and the average daily rid-
town area can be found between Glen- ership is 112,400. The Reserve-a-Ride
dale Avenue and Maricopa Freeway. The transportation program has served
Squaw Peak Freeway, a 16-kilometer 196,000 elderly and disabled residents.
(ten-mile) artery that connects down-
town Phoenix with its northern sub- Sightseeing
urbs, is lined with giant sculpted In addition to the major attractions
versions of Indian utensils in a public in the city itself, sightseers can take day
arts project that has drawn mixed reac- trips by bus or charter plane to the
tions from Phoenix residents. Grand Canyon and other regional
attractions.
The Phoenix Transit System oper-

4 People
ates a fleet of 380 buses six days a week In the decades following World
in the metropolitan area, and on week- War II (1939–45), Phoenix, together

Phoenix
with other areas of the Southwest, streets and avenues, surrounded by

enjoyed a dramatic population increase mountains and desert. Downtown
as residents of northern cities moved Phoenix, the historic center of the city,
westward. Phoenix itself has a popula- is home to Arizona’s capitol building,
tion of 1,246,712, up from 983,403 the Phoenix Civic Center, Heritage
(487,589 males and 495,814 females) in
Square, and other important sites. A
1990; its rank has risen from ninth- to
newer neighborhood, called “midtown”
sixth-largest city in the nation. The
population of the Phoenix-Mesa Metro- serves as an extension of the down-
politan Statistical Area (MSA) was town, housing the city’s main library,
2,238,498 in 1990, and an estimated its art museum, and other museums, as
2,839,539 in 1997—an increase of over well as office buildings.
25 percent—making it the fifteenth-
largest MSA in the United States. Phoenix is the hub of a rapidly
growing metropolitan area that
In 1990, minorities represented in includes 23 satellite towns, all located
Phoenix’s population were Hispanics along the Salt River Valley. Relatively
(20 percent), blacks (5.2 percent), Amer-
low housing costs contribute to the
ican Indians (1.9 percent), and Asians
popularity of Phoenix. In 1990 the
(1.7 percent). As of 1996, the Phoenix-
Mesa MSA was 91.4 percent white, four average value of a single home was
percent black, and 2.2 percent Asian. $77,100, well below the national aver-
Hispanics (an ethnic category that age. In addition, Phoenix’s property
crosses racial lines) make up about 20 taxes have been rated the ninth lowest
percent of Phoenix’s population. in the nation by Money magazine.
Because of its large Hispanic presence,
Phoenix has traditionally been a A number of government and pri-
heavily Catholic city. Catholics still vate groups oversee urban redevelop-
make up between one-fourth and one- ment, including the Central Phoenix
third of the population, although this Redevelopment Agency, Phoenix Com-
percentage has been declining. The munity and Economic Development
next largest denominations are the
Administration, and Metro Phoenix
Church of Latter-Day Saints, or Mor-
Economic Development Consortium.
mons (Phoenix has the nation’s third-
highest Mormon population), Southern Since the late 1980s, the city has carried
Baptists, and United Methodists. out a $1.1 billion redevelopment pro-
gram that has included construction of
the Arizona Center and Mercado shop-
5 Neighborhoods ping complexes and the 18,000-seat
Phoenix and its suburbs form a America West Arena, home of the Phoe-
2,072-square-kilometer (800-square- nix Suns. The city has 7,364 federally
mile) grid of north-south and east-west assisted housing units.

Phoenix
The city of Phoenix. (Jessen Associates, Inc. Greater Phoenix Convention & Vistors Bureau)
6 History By the sixteenth century, Hispanic

conquistadors had arrived in Arizona,
Native Americans occupied the site introducing new agricultural tech-
of present-day Phoenix hundreds of niques, as well as horses and cows. Over
years ago, building a thriving commu- the following centuries, Europeans
nity between 700 and 1400, establish- began settling in the region, drawn by
ing an agriculture-based civilization in mining and trading opportunities. The
the dry land of the region by develop- modern city of Phoenix had its begin-
ing an irrigation system that included nings in the late 1860s when a small
over 161 kilometers (100 miles) of group of settlers formed a colony in the
canals. By the middle of the fifteenth area and began building canals on the
century, this civilization had vanished, site of the former Hohokam irrigation
possibly decimated by an extended system. Because the new settlement was
period of drought. Their Native Ameri- rising from the ashes of a former civili-
can successors called them the Hohokam zation, the name “Phoenix” was chosen
(“the people who have gone”). for it in 1868. In 1881, its local govern-

Phoenix
ment was changed from a village try. In the 1990s, it experienced yet
trustee system to one consisting of a another in a series of population
mayor and a city council, and the city booms, as a number of Californians
was incorporated. Its population was moved to the area. Although Phoenix
2,500 at the time. Phoenix progressed has inevitably experienced some of the
rapidly. Within a decade it had a horse- disadvantages of rapid growth, includ-
drawn streetcar line and one of the ear- ing urban sprawl and air pollution, its
liest electric plants in the West, and the city government has been recognized as
Southern Pacific railroad had arrived, one of the most effective in the nation
promoting the economy of the growing and is committed to maintaining the
city. quality of life for its residents as the
city’s growth continues into the
The completion of the Theodore
twenty-first century.
Roosevelt Dam in 1911 was a milestone
in Phoenix’s history. The largest
masonry dam in the world, it was also 7 Government
the first dam constructed to supply
Phoenix government is structured
both water and electricity. The follow-
as a council-manager system, with eight
ing year, Arizona became a state, and
council members who are elected to
Phoenix became its capital. In the first
four-year terms. The mayor is also
two decades of the twentieth century,
elected to a four-year term. Phoenix’s
the city’s population grew from approx-
municipal government has been widely
imately 5,000 to 29,000 as Phoenix
recognized for its effective city manage-
began to make the transition to a mod-
ment. In 1993 the city shared the Carl
ern city. In addition to the railroad and
Bertelsmann Prize, an international
the Roosevelt Dam, a third technologi-
prize for well-run local government,
cal advance—the development of air
with Christchurch, New Zealand.
conditioning—played an important
role in the city’s continued growth.
World War II (1939–45) brought large 8 Public Safety
numbers of men to military bases in the
area and contributed to the growth of Phoenix has 2,320 sworn police
officers and 1,138 sworn firefighters.
industry, which rapidly replaced agri-
The city is divided into six police pre-
culture as the most important sector in
the city’s economy. cincts. In 1997 a total of 124,884 crimes
were reported to police, down from
In the postwar decades, Phoenix 131,628 the previous year. Violent
prospered, growing more rapidly than crimes accounted for 11,386 calls, and
ever. Since 1950, the city’s population property crimes 103,306. Numbers for
has risen from 106,000 to 1.2 million, individual types of crime included
the seventh largest in the nation, and arson, 116; homicide, 229; sexual
Phoenix has become the leading south- assault, 825; robbery, 3,806; and bur-
western center for business and indus- glary, 39,905.

Phoenix
Most recently, the high-technol-

ogy and service sectors have also moved
to the forefront—retail trade and ser-
vices account for close to half of all
employment in the city. More than 40
companies have corporate headquarters
in Phoenix. Service-sector companies
with headquarters in the city include
Ramada, Best Western, Greyhound, and
U-Haul. Financial services companies
with a corporate presence in the city
include Wells Fargo Bank, Chase Bank,
American Express, Discover Card Ser-
vices, and Bank of America.
10 Environment
Phoenix has experienced some of
the problems associated with urban
growth, including air pollution. In 1995
Phoenix was among the cities failing to
meet national ambient air quality stan-
dards for carbon monoxide and ozone
for at least a few days of the year.
Shoppers at one of Phoenix’s many malls. (Jessen
Associates, Inc.; Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau) The city of Phoenix collects
514,382 metric tons (567,000 tons) of
solid waste annually and handles
9 Economy 395,887 metric tons (436,383 tons) as
part of recycling programs in which
With continuous population 100,000 households participate. The
growth and an abundance of land and city operates five water treatment
water, Phoenix has a thriving economy. plants, treating 270 billion liters (71.3
In the decades since World War II, agri- billion gallons) of wastewater annually.
culture, manufacturing, and tourism
have all played a major role in Phoe-
nix’s economy, creating jobs to keep
11 Shopping
pace with the city’s growing popula- In addition to the standard depart-
tion. Industries include agricultural ment stores and specialty shops, Phoe-
chemicals, aircraft parts, electronic nix offers stores specializing in regional
equipment, radios, air-conditioning items, including Western-style clothing,
equipment, leather goods, and Native copper products, Native American
American crafts. crafts, and leather crafts. The Arizona

Phoenix
Center in downtown Phoenix has some 12 Education

500 shops and restaurants on two lev-
Phoenix has over 20 public school
els, as well as a one-hectare (three-acre)
districts, with individual superinten-
garden area; live entertainment also
dents and school boards; altogether
performs in the evenings. Also down-
they operate more than 400 schools.
town, the Town and Country Shopping The city’s largest school district, the
Center (Arizona’s first open-air mall) Phoenix Union High School District,
has about 70 shops, eateries, and ser- had 15 schools in the 1995–96 school
vice providers spread throughout an year, with a total enrollment of 21,083
attractive setting with fountains and students. The Phoenix-Mesa metropoli-
red brick sidewalks. The exclusive Bilt- tan statistical area had a public school
more Fashion Park features such enrollment of 443,053 in 1994–95, up
nationwide chains as Saks Fifth Avenue, 12.6 percent from 1991–92. The region
Macy’s, and Ann Taylor, as well as a has a large magnet school program that
variety of smaller clothing, jewelry, and offers intensive study in a variety of
specialty shops. Other downtown shop- fields. There are 63 Head Start class-
ping centers include the Tower Plaza room sites in Phoenix, with 126 class-
Mall and the award-winning Colonade rooms.
Mall. Institutions of higher education in
Phoenix include Grand Canyon Univer-
A unique shopping experience is sity, a campus of Arizona State Univer-
provided by the Mercado, a two-block- sity, Phoenix College, DeVry Institute of
long complex of commercial buildings Technology, Maricopa Community Col-
adjacent to the Phoenix Civic Plaza that leges, Phoenix Institute of Technology,
is modeled on a traditional Mexican vil- and South Mountain College. Mari-
lage. The colorful buildings and court- copa Community Colleges is the coun-
yards of this Mexican-theme mall and try’s second-largest community college
cultural center house shops featuring system.
Mexican arts, crafts, and clothing, as
well as Mexican restaurants. A variety of 13 Health Care
specialty items can be found at the gift
Health care plays an important part
shops of the Phoenix Art Museum and
in Phoenix’s economy, employing over
the Desert Botanical Garden. Once a 33,000 people in the greater metropoli-
week farmers from the region come to tan region. The Phoenix-Mesa metro-
sell their produce at the farmers’ market politan statistical area had 3,927 office-
in the courtyard of Heritage Square, and based physicians in 1995. Phoenix’s
American Park ‘N Swap—the largest largest hospital is St. Joseph’s Hospital
outdoor flea market in the Southwest— and Medical Center, with 629 beds.
is open for business all weekend and Other facilities include the world-
two days a week. renowned Barrow Neurological Insti-

Phoenix
vision station, and several cable outlets,

as well as 27 AM and FM radio stations,
some of which broadcast in Spanish.
15 Sports
Phoenix is home to the National
Basketball Association’s Phoenix Suns,
who play at the America West Arena;
the National Football League’s Phoenix
Cardinals; the National Hockey
League’s Phoenix Coyotes; and the
International Hockey Leagues’ Phoenix
Roadrunners, as well as baseball’s Triple-
A Firebirds. An expansion baseball
team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, was
launched in 1998. In addition, Arizona
State University fields Sun Devils teams
Tourists escape the city to hike the Grand Canyon, in baseball, basketball, and football.
only a short distance from Phoenix. (Jessen Associates, Other spectator sports include auto rac-
Inc.; Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ing at the Phoenix International Race-
way and the Manzanita Speedway,
tute, Arizona State Hospital, Good horse racing at Turf Paradise, and grey-
Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix hound racing at Phoenix Greyhound
Children’s Hospital, Maricopa Medical Park.
Center, Phoenix Indian Medical Center,
and the Veterans Administration Medi- Phoenix is also the site of the fol-
cal Center.3 lowing annual sporting events: five golf
tournaments, including the Phoenix
14 Media Open and the LPGA Turquoise Classic;
the Formula One Grand Prix auto race;
Phoenix has two major daily news-
and the Phoenix Jaycees’ Rodeo of
papers: The Arizona Republic (morning)
and The Phoenix Gazette (evening), as Rodeos.
well as about 50 other daily and weekly
publications. Also published in Phoenix Almost ten major league baseball
are the Phoenix Magazine and Arizona teams hold spring training in Phoenix
Highways. The city has eight commer- and play exhibition games in March
cial television stations, one public tele- and early April.

Phoenix
A hoop dancer performs at the Heard Museum. (Jessen Associates, Inc.; Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau)
16 Parks and hectares (30,441 acres). Reportedly the

Recreation nation’s largest city park at 6,475 hect-
ares (16,000 acres), South Mountain
Phoenix’s parks, including Moun- Park provides a scenic view of the city
tains Preserve, are comprised of 12,319 and offers hiking trails and horseback

Phoenix
riding. There is a boat lagoon at The Desert Botanical Garden dis-

Encanto Park, which is located at 15th plays over 2,000 species of desert
Avenue and Encanto Boulevard. The plants, situated along a 2.4-kilometer
Margaret T. Hance Deck Park, part of
(1.5-mile) trail.
the ongoing improvements to the
downtown area, is a 12-hectare (29-
acre) strip of land between Third Street 17 Performing Arts
and Third Avenue with fountains,
wooded areas, and a Japanese garden (a The performing arts are well repre-
gesture toward Phoenix’s sister city of sented in Phoenix and enhanced by the
Hemeji, Japan). Other parks in the completion in 1989 of the downtown
Phoenix area include Papago Park,
Herberger Theater Center, next door to
Squaw Peak Recreation Area, Estrella
Mountain Regional Park, and White the Phoenix Civic Plaza Convention
Tank Mountain Regional Park. Center. The complex houses the 820-
seat Center Stage and the 330-seat Stage
Phoenix has 663 kilometers (412
West. The Phoenix Symphony performs
miles) of bicycle paths, 141 municipal
tennis courts, 27 municipal swimming both classical and pops concerts at Sym-
pools, and five municipal golf courses. phony Hall, which seats 1,400. The
Together, Phoenix and the surrounding Phoenix Little Theatre, the city’s oldest
Salt River Valley area have over 140 golf theater company, was founded in 1920
courses and more than 1,000 tennis and and has operated continuously since
racquetball courts. Water sports are that time. Theater groups that perform
played at a variety of natural and artifi-
in the new theaters of the Herberger
cial lakes in the region. Other outdoor
activities enjoyed year round in the complex include the Arizona Theatre
Phoenix area include hiking, mountain Company, Black Theater Troupe, Actors
climbing, camping, and horseback Theatre of Phoenix, Aurora Mime The-
riding. atre, and Musical Theater of Arizona.
The Phoenix Zoo, situated on a Phoenix is also home to the Centre
hilly site covering 51 hectares (125 Dance Ensemble and Opera Musical
acres), houses over 1,300 animals, rep- Theatre. The Arizona Opera also per-
resenting 300 different species both forms regularly in Phoenix, and a vari-
from the region and throughout the ety of touring artists appear at the
world, and including 150 animals clas- Phoenix Desert Sky Pavilion, Celebrity
sified as endangered. The animals are
Theatre, and Grammage Auditorium.
maintained in open settings that are as
The newly restored 1929 Spanish
close as possible to their natural habi-
tats, including facsimiles of mountains, baroque-revival Orpheum Theatre is a
rain forests, grasslands, and deserts. showcase for the performing arts as well
There is also a petting zoo for children. as civic events.

Phoenix
18 Libraries and drawn equipment to state-of-the-art

Museums computerized dispatch systems. Other
museums in the Phoenix area include
Phoenix’s first library, housed in the Phoenix Museum of History; the
two rooms of a building, was launched Arizona Museum of Science and Tech-
at the turn of the century, thanks to the nology, an interactive museum geared
efforts of the Phoenix Library Associa- primarily toward children; Arizona
tion, formed in 1899. Today the Phoe- Mining and Mineral Museum; Cave
nix Public Library has a collection Creek Museum; Pioneer Arizona Living
totaling 1.8 million book volumes, as History Museum; Arizona Military
well as publications and other media. It Museum; the Pueblo Grande Museum
has a main building downtown, and 11 and Cultural Park, which focuses on
neighborhood branches throughout the archaeology and the history of the
city. Altogether, Phoenix has more than Hohokam Indians, the first known
50 libraries of all types, including uni- inhabitants of present-day Phoenix;
versity libraries and research centers. and the Plotkin Judaica Museum. The
Arizona Hall of Fame, located in down-
The Phoenix Art Museum displays
town Phoenix, honors individuals who
artworks by American, European, and
have made a significant contribution to
Asian artists. Its permanent collection
the state.
consists of some 18,000 objects, and it
is noted particularly for its collections Historic artifacts are on view in
of Asian and Latin American art, and four turn-of-the-century homes located
eighteenth-century French painting. in Heritage Square: the Arizona Doll
The museum of the Arizona Historical and Toy Museum, the Silva House, the
Society offers interactive exhibits focus- Stevens-Haustgen House (home of the
ing on the history of central Arizona Pueblo Grande Museum described
and includes life-size re-creations of above), and the Rosson House, which
stores and other buildings from the features an exceptional collection of
city’s early days. The Heard Museum of period furniture.
Anthropology and Primitive Art fea-
tures an outstanding collection focus-
ing on regional Native American 19 To u r i s m
cultures. Displayed are artifacts ranging
from prehistory to the present, includ- Visitors from many areas have long
ing tools, clothing, weapons, and been drawn to Phoenix’s dry, sunny cli-
Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni crafts. mate and its year-round warm weather,
making tourism one of the city’s top
The Phoenix Hall of Flame is a fire- sources of income and the state’s sec-
fighting museum with one of the ond-largest source of employment.
world’s most extensive collections of Phoenix receives almost ten million vis-
fire-fighting gear, gathered from all over itors a year from the United States and
the world and ranging from horse- Canada. Visits by Japanese tourists were

Phoenix
(340,00-square-foot) Civic Plaza and

Convention Center is Phoenix’s major
convention facility. Other convention
venues include Veterans Memorial Coli-
seum at Arizona State University.
20 Holidays and
Festivals
JANUARY
Arizona Stock Show & Rodeo
Copper World Classic Auto Racing
Fiesta Bowl
Phoenix Open Golf Tournament
FEBRUARY
ARR Desert Classic Marathon
Fountain Hills Festival of Arts & Crafts
Fountain Hills Great Fair
Lost Dutchman Days
MARCH
Arizona’s Cactus League Spring Training
Chandler Ostrich Festival
Indy Racing League Phoenix 200
Scottsdale Arts Festival
Phoenix hosts the Arizona Stock Show and Rodeo APRIL

every January. (Jessen Associates, Inc.; Greater Phoenix Easter Pageant
Convention & Visitors Bureau) Maricopa County Fair
Music by Moonlight Concert Series
Southwest Salsa Challenge
boosted with the introduction of direct MAY
flights to and from Tokyo in 1991, and Cinco de Mayo Festival
European tourism was increased when Peach Festival
direct flights to and from London were Queen Creek Potato Festival
started in 1996. The city has 83 hotels JULY
and resorts, with a total of 21,272 July Fourth Festivities
rooms. Phoenix has become an increas- OCTOBER
ingly popular convention site in the Coors Light World Finals Drag Boat Racing
Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition
past two decades, with convention
attendees accounting for almost 40 per- NOVEMBER
French Week in Arizona
cent of all visitors to the city. With a Holiday Out West Arts & Crafts Festival
total seating capacity of more than Hot Air Balloon Race & Thunderbird Balloon
29,000, the 31,586-square-meter Classic

Phoenix
DECEMBER Government Offices

Electro Magic Mayor’s Office
Pueblo Grande Indian Market 200 W. Washington St., 11th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Tumbleweed Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 602-262-7111
Phoenix City Hall
21 Famous Citizens 200 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Joan Ganz Cooney (b. 1929), television 602-262-6659
producer. Phoenix Community & Economic Development
Department
Barry Goldwater (1909–98), U.S. Sena- 200 W. Washington St., 11th Floor
tor and Republican presidential Phoenix, AZ 85003
candidate. 602-262-5040
Stevie (Stephanie) Nicks (b. 1948), mu- Tourist and Convention Bureaus
sician, member of the rock band Phoenix Civic Plaza Convention Center
225 E. Adams St.
Fleetwood Mac. Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-262-7272
Mare Winningham (b. 1959), singer
and actress. Phoenix and Valley of the Sun Convention &
Visitors Bureau
400 E. Van Buren
22 For Further Study 1 Arizona Center, Suite 600
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-254-6500
Websites
DigitalCity WebGuide Phoenix. [Online] Avail- Publications
able http://www.webguide.digitalcity.com/ Arizona Business Guide
phoenix. (accessed October 14, 1999). P.O. Box 194
The Links.com. “Phoenix.” [Online] Available Phoenix, AZ 85001
http://www.phoenix.thelinks.com (accessed
October 14, 1999). Arizona Republic
Phoenix City Hall. [Online] Available http:// P.O. Box 1950
www.ci.phoenix.az.us. (accessed October 14, Phoenix, AZ 85001
1999). Phoenix Magazine
Phoenix City Net. [Online] Available http:// 5555 N. 7th Ave., Suite B200
www.city.net/countries/united_states/ Phoenix, AZ 85013
arizona/phoenix. (accessed October 14,
1999).
Books
Phoenix Guide. [Online] Available http:// Arizona Atlas and Gazetteer. Freeport, ME: De
www.phoenixaz.com. (accessed October 14, Lorme Mapping, 1993.
1999). Atchison, Sterwart, and Bruce Grubbs. The
Phoenix Online. [Online] Available http://www. Hiker’s Guide to Arizona. Helena, MT: Falcon
phoenixonline.com. (accessed October 14, Press Publishing, 1991.
1999). Dolainski, Stephen. Hidden Arizona. Berkeley,
Phoenix & Valley of the Sun Convention & Visi- CA: Ulysses Press, 1997.
tors Bureau. [Online] Available http:// Freeman, Roger, and Ethel Freeman. Day Hikes
www.arizonaguide.com-phxcvb. (accessed and Trail Rides In and Around Phoenix. Phoe-
October 14, 1999). nix, AZ: 1991.

Phoenix
Johnson, G. Wesley. Phoenix, Valley of the Sun. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing
Tulsa, OK: Continental Heritage Press, 1982. Co., 1996.
Johnson, G. Wesley, ed. Phoenix in the Twentieth
Century: Essays in Community History. Nor-
man: University of Oklahoma Press, 1993. Videorecordings
Luckingham, Bradford. Phoenix: The History of a
Southwestern Metropolis. Tucson: University A Tour of Phoenix and the State of Arizona. [video-
of Arizona Press, 1989. recording] Memphis, TN: City Productions
Trimble, Marshall. Roadside History of Arizona. Home Video, 1996.

Prague
Prague, Central Bohemia, Czech Republic, Europe
Founded: 870
Location: North-central Czech Republic on both sides of the Vltava River, Central
Bohemia, Europe
Ethnic Composition: Czech, Moravian, Slovak, German, Polish, Gypsy, and
Hungarian
Elevation: 300 m (1000 ft) above sea level
Coastline: Vltava River
Climate: Winters are cold, cloudy, and humid, with little snow and ice; summers are
warm and sunny.
Annual Mean Temperature: January, high of 0°C (32°F) and a low of 6°C (22°F);
July, high of 24°C (76°F) and low of 56°F
Government: Mayor and a city council
Weights and measures: Metric
Monetary Units: The koruna (Kc) equals 100 haleru.
Telephone Area Codes: Country code 420; area code 02 (It is sometimes necessary
to dial several times before making a connection because the system is old.)
1 Introduction center of commerce and industry, an

economic, social, and cultural hub.
Often called the “City of a Hun-
dred Spires,” Prague is an ancient Euro-
pean city, situated between hill and
2 Getting There
valley on the banks of the Vltava River. Although the roadblocks of com-
Renowned for its beauty, visitors travel munism have only recently been lifted,
from around the world to see the city’s Prague is not hard to access these days.
medley of Gothic, Renaissance, Numerous flights, trains, and buses
baroque, and art nouveau architecture, connect with the city every day, and
its bridges, domes, palaces, and espe- the roads are getting better as the city
cially its spires. However, a great deal of strives to forge closer ties with the West.
construction in recent years has trans-
formed Prague into a modern city as Highways
well, with state-of-the art public build-
ings, an underground railway, and a Prague has been undergoing a
newly designed highway system. The major reconstruction project, includ-
capital and the largest city of the Czech ing a redesigned highway system that
Republic, Prague is the nation’s leading will connect this "Eastern" country with
35
Prague
Czech National Express, have buses

Prague running from Prague to Brno and other
Population Profile destinations.
Ethnic composition: Czech, Moravian, Slovak, Airports
German, Polish, Gypsy, and Hungarian
World population rank1: 298 The airport serving Prague and the
Average yearly growth rate: 0.1% general vicinity is Ruzyne Airport,
Nicknames: Golden Prague, City of a Hundred located about 15 kilometers (9 miles)
Spires, The Only Medieval City Still Standing in
the World, A Town Built of Stone and Mortar northwest of the city center. Transpor-
tation to and from the airport is pro-
———
1. The Prague metropolitan area’s rank among the vided by Cedaz shuttle bus 119, taxis,
world’s urban areas. and Belinda, a private shuttle company.
2. The percent of the Czech Republic’s total Air France, Austrian Airlines, British Air-
population living in the Prague metropolitan
area. ways, Czech Airlines, Delta, Lufthansa,
Sabena, Swissair, and other airlines
operate at this airport.
the West. The speed limits have been 3 Getting Around

raised to other European standards, 121
kilometers (75 miles) per hour on four- The easiest way to get around Pra-
lane freeways, 88 kilometers (55 miles) gue is by car, but it is relatively simple
per hour on open roads, and 48 kilome- to see the city by foot and public trans-
ters (30 miles) per hour in built-up portation. Most guidebooks describe
regions. Seatbelts are compulsory on all walking tours that allow plenty of time
roads in Prague, a transportation system
to enjoy the scenery.
that covers over 55,557 kilometers
(34,524 miles).
There are three metro lines, trams,
The city of Prague is connected to and buses that traverse Prague. Tickets
most major European centers by rail can be purchased from automats, ticket
and bus, especially to locations in the booth attendants, or local Trafika shops
Czech Republic, including Plzen, Kutná that offer tickets good for three, seven,
Hera, and Brno. Most trains arrive at and 15 days. Transportation informa-
Praha Hlavmi Nadrczi (Main Station), tion centers are located at Karlovo
or Praha Holesovice, Praha Sovichori or Namesti, Muzeum, Mustek, and
Praha Marsarykovo Nadrezi stations. Nadrazi Holecovice metro stops. The
The major bus companies, CAD and the underground operates from 5:00 AM
express coach of the CEBUS firm and until midnight.

Prague

Prague
Taxis of itinerant Gypsies. The official lan-

guage is Czech, but many know Russian
Prices are not regulated for Prague as well, and many more would have
taxis; therefore, rider and driver usually known German if, after World War II
agree on a price before entering the car. (1939–45), around 2.5 million ethnic
It is necessary to call the taxi company Germans had not been expelled from
in advance; AAA Taxi and ProfiTaxi are the Sudenten region in retaliation for
recommended companies. wartime atrocities.
Sightseeing
5 Neighborhoods
Parks, public gardens, and a zoo
adorn the city of Prague, and weekend Prague is divided into sections that
excursions to castles and historical cit- are formed directionally and according
ies are popular. The city’s many muse- to the position of historical monu-
ums are accessible by bus and rail, ments. To the east lies Zizkov, an old
especially close to the metro stations, quarter with little tourism and few
and are sometimes located directly attractions, but the Letecke Meuseum
inside metro passageways. By train, one (Aviation Museum) and Zizkov TV
may also visit the famous Marianske Tower, with a restaurant 63 meters (207
Lazne spa town, a three-hour journey feet) above ground, are worth visiting.
west from Hlavni Nadrazi train station. In western Prague, the city suburbs take
The Bohemian Express tour guide com- visitors into more rural areas, where the
pany organizes customized itineraries Grand Hvezda (Star) hunting lodge and
in Prague and the rest of the Czech Brevnov Monastery lie in pastoral soli-
Republic. tude. To the north lie Troja Chateau,
which is used as lecture, concert, and
4 People theater hall, as well as an exhibition
space by the Gallery of the Municipality
The population of Prague stands of Prague, and the zoo, known espe-
somewhere around 1,225,000, a num- cially for its exhibition of the rare Prze-
ber that has been declining since the walski horse. The south hosts the
1980s. Despite a sizable number of famous Velka Chuchle Horse Racing
immigrants and foreign workers, the Course. The Old Town, at the very cen-
city (like most advanced European soci- ter of Prague, is the showpiece of the
eties) has an extremely low birthrate. city, including Mala Strana (Little Quar-
Most Czech citizens are Roman Catho- ter or Lesser Town) with a marketplace
lic (43 percent) while the minority are in front of the church of St. Nicholas
Protestant (15 percent), and a total of below Castle Hill. This part of town
82 percent are Christian. Most of the used to hold the Jewish Ghetto, but
population consists of Czech nationals, today the only vestiges are the syna-
Moravians, Slovaks, Germans, Poles, gogues and Old Town Hall. Hradcany,
Hungarians, and an unknown number Prague Castle, was built in the ninth

Prague

Prague Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Czech Republic) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Blesk La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
century, on one of the hills surrounding 6 History

the community. Its rustic environs
invite tourists to visit the ramparts and The erection of Prague Castle by
learn about Prague’s history. In con- Premyslid Prince Borivoj in 870 marks
the first permanent settlement in Pra-
trast, the New Town is the commercial
gue. Hradcany, or Prague Castle, then
center, or “Golden Cross,” consisting of becomes the first seat of the Premyslid
Wenceslas Square and the nearby roads, (Premyslovci) princes who rule the
where in 1989, with the Soviet Union Kingdom of Bohemia after 894 (with
about to crumble, students gathered the aid of the western Germans against
and demanded free elections in what the eastern Hungarian Maygars). Dur-
came to be known as the "Velvet Revo- ing the next three centuries, the city is
populated by many Germans and built
lution." Wenceslas Square is crossed by
up around the Vltava River, with Vyse-
Narodni and Naprikope streets, making hrad Castle, the Gothic Cathedral of St.
it the busiest shopping area with many Vitus, and Judith’s stone bridge. The
markets. Bohemian Premsylid dynasty ends in

Prague
A view of Prague from Berlin Hill. (Catherine Karnow; Woodfin Camp)
1305 when Vaclav II (r. 1280–1305) dies Ferdinand of Hapsburg is elected to

from consumption and excess, and his the Crown of St. Wenceslas. As a result,
son is murdered, leaving no heirs. the next three centuries are marked by
the rule of the House of Catholic Haps-
Czech nobles give the throne to burgs, which experiences the opposi-
John of Luxembourg and his son tion of a predominantly Protestant
Charles IV (1346–1378), who also citizenry. There is a fire in 1541 at Pra-
becomes Holy Roman Emperor. He gue Castle, Hradcany, and the Lesser
brings a great time of prosperity to Pra- Town, and many Bohemians lose prop-
gue, second only to Rome, by founding erty during anti-Hapsburg uprisings.
Charles University, the first one in Cen- However, this period also is known for
tral Europe. This “Golden Age” is fol- its development of the arts under
lowed by a period of unrest as the Emperor Rudolph II (1576–1612). In
Hussite Revolution, started by the burn- 1618, two Protestant churches are
ing of Jan Hus, brings a reaction against closed, precipitating the “Defenestra-
domination of the Germans and the tion of Prague,” when Protestants
Catholic Church. throw two Imperial Governors out of

Prague
the windows of Prague Castle. This

action, and the execution of 27 Protes-
tant nobles, leads to the Thirty Years
War (1618–48), pitting Catholics
against Protestants, ending with the
Peace of Westphalia and German-Cath-
olic rule.
Industrialization brings growth to

the city, and in 1784 Emperor Joseph II
(1741–90) merges the four towns: Old
Town, New Town, Lesser Town, and
Hradcany, into the contemporary Capi-
tal City of Prague. In 1848, riots in Pra-
gue bring about a Pan-Slavic Congress,
which emancipates the Czech nation
from the Austrio-Hungarian Empire,
under Bohemian historian Francis
Palacky.
Thomas Masaryk (1850–1937)

becomes the first Czechoslovakian Pres-
ident from 1918 to 1937, ruling Bohe-
mia, Moravia, and Slovakia, but in 1939
Hitler occupies the Sudetenland, end-
The St. Vitus Cathedral was built during the
ing independent rule. By 1945, the Bohemian Premsylid dynasty, which was part of
Communist Party had grown consider- the first permanent settlement of Prague.
ably in the Czech nation under Russian (Catherine Karnow; Woodfin Camp)
influence, allying the government with
the Soviet Union until the 1968 Prague the Czech Republic. In 1993, Czecho-
Spring and revolution. Under President slovakia splits into the more affluent,
General Ludwik Svoboda (1895–1979), western, democratic Czech Republic
the country begins to liberalize, but the and the eastern, left-leaning Slovakia,
U.S.S.R. and the Warsaw Pact allies making way for Prague, as part of the
quell this rebellion by occupying Czech Republic, to enter the European
Czechoslovakia with 650,000 troops. By Union.
1989, the Soviet Union is ready to
crumble. In what is known as the "Vel-
vet Revolution," students gather on 7 Government
Wenceslas Square and demand free elec-
tions. In 1990, Vaclav Havel becomes Prague’s city government is admin-
president of Czechoslovakia and later of istered by a mayor and city council. The

Prague
Although not too intimidating during the day, at night Old Town in Mala Strana is home to petty thieves
and pickpockets. (Bernard Boutrit; Woodfin Camp)
mayor and city council members are collapse of Russia, with Russian gang-
popularly elected to four-year terms. sters operating in most major central
For administrative purposes, the city is and eastern European cities. This kind
divided into ten districts that possess of crime will not affect most travelers,
separate offices. Some major concerns but pickpockets and petty thieves
of contemporary politicians include the abound in Wenceslas Square, Old Town
housing shortage caused by commu- Square, Charles Bridge, and near Prague
nist neglect, pollution, and a recent rise Castle. In case of emergency, citizens
in crime. Prague is one of eight regions and visitors can dial 158 for the police,
of the Czech Republic, all governed by 155 for an ambulance, and 150 in the
President Vaclav Havel (b. 1936) and event of a fire. Na Homolce Hospital
Prime Minister Milos Zeman (b. 1944). has a foreigner’s clinic.
8 Public Safety 9 Economy

The rise in crime in Prague during The monetary denomination of the
1999 is largely a result of the financial Czech Republic is the Koruna (Kc),

Prague
which has an exchange rate of about are exacerbated during the winter
30.5 Kc to one U.S. dollar, remaining months by the burning of soft coal to
fairly stable since its inception. The city provide heat. For this reason, lung can-
of Prague has a well-diversified, highly cer is prevalent in the city, and in 1992
industrial economy. Main products are the country was measured as having
metals and machinery, aircraft engines, the world’s highest industrial carbon
automobiles (Volkswagen AG), diesel dioxide emissions levels. The air is also
engines, machine tools, refined oil contaminated by sulfur dioxide emis-
products, electronics, beer, chemicals, sions, mainly from ore of lignite, also a
and food. During the communist era, popular heating fuel, which contributes
Prague and the surrounding country- heavily to the occurrence of acid rain
side produced approximately 80% of throughout Europe. Acid rain floating
the products it consumed, but recently over from Poland and Germany has
there has been a boom in the newly also destroyed a large portion of forest
privatized service sector as the country in the northern part of the country.
strives for free-market, democratic prac- Western nations offered $1 billion to
tice. Unemployment holds steady at the Czech Republic for environmental
about three percent, and inflation con- reforms in the early 1990s, but eco-
tinues to level out through excellent nomic growth was more important to
economic planning, but the gross the government at the time. Rich in
domestic product (GDP) per capita is natural resources, there are more than
still below most other industrialized 15,000 lakes and ponds in the Czech
countries, at a purchasing power parity Republic and 2,000 medicinal mineral
of about $10,000. The collapse of the springs in 30 spa towns, but unfortu-
Russian economy negatively affected nately most of these are polluted. Clay,
the banking system and caused a short tin-tungsten, lead, zinc, and uranium
recession in 1999, driving away inves- mining adds to the agricultural defores-
tors. However, eventual entrance to the tation and soil erosion of the land, and
European Union is expected to balance a nuclear power plant at Dukovany
out the effects. The city still depends on adds the danger of radioactive poison-
Russia for its oil and gas, but officials ing in the event of a nuclear meltdown.
are looking for alternatives, such as Prague also acts as the country’s trans-
solar power, nuclear plants, and new portation hub, making pollution from
sources of oil and gas. aircraft, trains, and boats prevalent.
10 Environment 11 Shopping
Due to rapid industrialization dur- Most stores in Prague are open dur-
ing the twentieth century, there are ing the week from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM
serious levels of air, water, and soil pol- (some until 9:00 PM) with lunch breaks,
lution in Prague and its surrounding closed from noon until 4:00 PM on Sat-
environment. The levels of air pollution urday and closed all day Sunday. Prague

Prague
is well known for its beautiful glass School of Prague, founded in 1948 for
works, most notably from Moser glass- foreign students, teaches pre-kindergar-
works in Karlovy Vary, from Bohemia ten through eleventh grade, and the
Podebrady, Crystalex Novy Bor, Lustry French Cultural Center teaches in
Kqmenicky Senov, Zelezny Brod, and French to nursery and kindergarten-
Svetla nad Sazavou. Crystal, porcelain, aged children. With 100 percent liter-
and red garnet stones are also popular acy levels since the early twentieth cen-
items that can be purchased in many tury, Prague’s educational system is
tourist shops and city stores, especially more successful than those of many
near the center of town. The biggest countries.
shopping area is located at Wenceslas
Square and the surrounding streets, 13 Health Care
with a number of daily markets. At res-
taurants, it is normal to tip around ten Health care in Prague under com-
percent of the total bill, and it is better munist control was under strict state
to tell the waiter how much you are tip- administration. Standards were not
ping before he takes the payment. high, and equipment was outdated in
clinics and hospitals. Since 1990, priva-
12 Education tization has improved services under
the guidance of the Ministry of Health
In Prague, children generally through the National Health Service.
attend school from ages six to 11; they Factories and offices often still have on-
then have eight years of secondary site facilities for employees, but the
schooling in the academic and techni- government is encouraging private
cal tracks and for teaching careers. medical practices. Life expectancy is
Twenty-three universities operate in the between 69 and 77 years, which is ris-
Czech Republic, and students must pay ing due to new medicines and inocula-
only one-quarter of the fees. Charles tions, while the birthrate is falling. One
University, founded in 1348, is one of interesting facet of Prague health care is
the oldest and best-known institutions that insurance companies are required
of higher learning in Europe. The Czech by law to pay doctors within five days
Academy of Sciences and a large techni- of treatment. Citizens and visitors can
cal university also reside in Prague. For dial 155 for emergency medical service.
centuries, education in Prague has been
heavily influenced, first by the Haps- 14 Media
burgs, who forced the German language
on Czech natives, and then by the The Prague Post puts out a weekly
Communists, who forced socialist prin- paper for English speakers; Prague Guide
cipals and the Russian language and comes out monthly; and What, Where,
banned religion. Now, education in Pra- When is also published monthly. Czech
gue is notably free of religious and publications from Prague include Lidove
political persuasion. The International Noviny, Mlada Fronta, Rude Pravo, Svo-

Prague
bodne Slovo, Prace Revolutionary Trade

Union Movement, and ZN Noviny. Radio
Prague broadcasts daily in five lan-
guages. Nova TV is the most popular
television station but is also known for
its low-brow programming.
15 Sports
Skiing and ice skating are popular
winter sports in Prague, and most skiing
hills are close enough for a one-day out-
ing. Indoor and outdoor skating rinks
are open to the public. Prague inhabit-
ants also enjoy their natural surround-
ings by hunting, hiking, fishing, and
camping, while water sports are
enjoyed on the many lakes. There are
three golf courses, Marianske Lazne, Lis-
nice, and Karlovy Vary. Tennis has
become very popular because of Czech
greats Martina Navratilova, Ivan Lendl,
and Jana Novotna. Soccer, hockey, vol-
leyball, and basketball are also played
in Prague.
Most of Prague, including this old Jewish
cemetery, survived World War II. (Catherine Karnow;
16 Parks and Woodfin Camp)
Recreation
Some of the most relaxing places to
go in and near Prague are the spas and woods with waterfalls, and view the
mineral springs whose waters boast gorgeous architecture. Other places to
medicinal properties. The well-known go are the Prague Zoo, Botanical Gar-
ones are Karlovy Vary spa, which is said dens (among the finest in Europe), Pra-
to help disorders of the digestive system gue Castle, and the famous steeplechase
and which hosts the International Film at Pardubice. Walking through the city
Festival; Janske Lazne, which treats ner- to see the historical sites and municipal
vous diseases; and Luhacovice which parks is a recreational activity as well.
offers unspecified treatment for the There are 147 castles and mansions and
whole body. At Marianske Lazne, one 41 protected urban reservations in the
can stroll through gardens, drink from Czech Republic. Most of Prague sur-
the hot springs, walk in the nearby vived World War II relatively intact, so

Prague
its palaces and churches from the world. Established in 1958, it is an

Renaissance (1450–1600) and Baroque amalgamation of six Prague libraries
(1600–1750) periods still stand as they and holds a collection of Mozart’s
have for centuries. papers and manuscripts. The National
Museum of Prague holds permanent
17 Performing Arts exhibitions on the prehistory of Bohe-
mia, Moravia, Slovakia, Minerology and
The National Theater company, Petrology, Paleontology, Zoology, and
also producer of the Czech Philhar- Anthropology. Lubkowitz’s Palace,
monic Orchestra (c. 1896), offers three located at Prague Castle, is open to the
types of ensemble: opera, ballet, and public for a nominal fee. Naprstek’s
drama. These companies alternate per- Museum contains pieces from Austra-
formances at the National Theater, The- lian and Oceanic Cultures, Indian Cul-
ater of the Estates (Stavovske divadlo, tures of North and South America, and
which premiered Mozart’s Don Giovanni Asian Cultures. At Tyrs’s Museum of
and the Clemency of Titus), and Kolow- Physical Culture and Sport, the history
rat Theater, performing both classical of the Sokol physical education move-
and contemporary pieces. The Theater ment (1862–1992) is documented.
of the Estates is one of the only eigh- There is also a Museum of Czech His-
teenth-century theaters still in exist- tory and literature, as well as the fasci-
ence in Bohemia. The State Opera (c. nating Prague Wax Museum, featuring
1783) has boasted such famous conduc- Prague’s celebrities through history.
tors as Maria von Weber, Gustav Many galleries and castles are closed on
Mahler, and Carl Muck. The Spring Mondays, and the National Museum is
International Music Festival holds a closed the first Tuesday of each month.
world-class competition in May. Smaller
but still well-known theaters include 19 To u r i s m
Archa, Celetna Theater, Cerne Divaldo
Jiriho Srnce, Labyrinth, Laterna Magika, There are many housing options
Original Music Theater Prague, Theater for the holiday traveler visiting Prague,
Ta Fantastika, and Theater Image. Many including hotels which are more expen-
perform in English and often provide sive near the center of town, but which
experimental “Black Theater,” combin- are closer to the major sights. Bed-and-
ing dance, music, and pantomime to breakfast inns offer a glimpse into the
tell a story. There are also marionette private lives of Czech citizens, as do pri-
shows for children. vate homes that rent rooms, but apart-
ments near the city center afford more
18 Libraries and privacy. For the more adventurous,
Museums Youth Hostels are available in Prague,
but there are very few. Camping sites
The Prague National Library is one are very cheap, and "Botels" float on the
of the largest and best libraries in the Vltava River not far from the city cen-

Prague
ter. As for the food, Czech cuisine is a

bit fattening, consisting mostly of meat
and potatoes. The most popular dishes
are roast pork, sauerkraut and dump-
lings, and goulash, usually accompa-
nied by a hearty Czech beer, like Pilsner
Urquell or Budweiser Budvar. If visitors
are lucky enough to be invited into a
Prague native’s home for a meal, the
hospitality should be overwhelming
and the food more than ample.
20 Holidays and
Festivals
APRIL
Paleni Crodejnic (the Burning of the Witches)
MAY
The Spring International Music Festival
Labor Day The Astrological Clock is found in Old Town
square, the center of Prague. (Bernard Boutrit; Woodfin
JULY Camp)
Celebration of the arrival of Saints Cyril and
Methodius (Byzantine priests who brought
Christianity to Prague) Vaclav Havel (b. 1936), dramatist,
Anniversary of Jan Hus’s death statesman, and president.
OCTOBER
Czech Independence Day Jaroslav Heyrovsky (1890–1967), chem-
ist and Nobel Prize laureate for po-
NOVEMBER
Commemoration of the Velvet Revolution larography.
DECEMBER Jan Hus (c. 1369–1415), religious re-
St. Nicholas Day former.
St. Stephen’s Day
Franz Kafka (1883–1924), writer.
21 Famous Citizens Ivan Klima (b. 1931), author.
Eduard Benes (1884–1948), statesman.
Oskar Kokoschka (1886–1980), artist
Karel Capek (1890–1938), author. and writer.
John Amos Comenius (1592–1670), ed- Milan Kundera (b. 1929), writer.
ucational reformer and theologian.
Thomas Garrique Masar yk (1850–
Antonin Dvorak (1841–1904), compos- 1937), founder-president of Czech-
er. oslovakia.

Prague
22 For Further Study Prague Informtion Service (in Czech only)

Staromestske nam 22, Napikoke 20er
Betlemske nanesti 2
Websites Tel.: (12) 264022
Office of the Government of the Czech Republic. e-mail: pis@dial-up.cz.
[Online] Available http://
www.vlada.cz.index.eng.htm (accessed Janu- Ticketpro
ary 7, 2000). Salvatorska 10
110 000 Praha 1
Official site of the Czech Republic. [Online] Tel.: (12) 2481-4020
Available http://www.czech.cz (accessed Jan- Fax: (12) 2481-4021
uary 7, 2000). e-mail: ticketpro@bsdi.infima.cz.
Prague cybercafe. [Online] Available http://
www.cyberteria.cz (accessed January 7,
2000). Publications
The Prague Post
Prague Post. [Online] Available http://
Tel.: (2487-5016)
www.praguepost.cz (accessed January 7,
Fax: (2487-5050)
2000).
e-mail: prgpost@traveller.cz.
Government Offices What, Where, When

Tel.: (691-0905)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
Fax: (691-1497)
Consular Department
125 10 Prague 1
Books
tel.: (12) 2418 2125
The Czech Republic and Economic Transition in
fax: (12) 2431 0018 Eastern Europe. San Diego, Calif.: University
Press.
U.S. Embassy
Holy, Ladislav. The Little Czech and the Great
Trziste 15 Czech Nation: National Identity and the Post-
Mala Strana Communist Transformation of Society. Cam-
tel.: (12) 2451-0847) bridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
King, John and Richard Nebesky. Lonely Planet
Prague. Hawthorne, Aus.: Lonely Planet,
CKM: Zitna (Student Travelers) Skalnik, Carol. The Czech Republic and the Slovak
Tel.: (12) 2491-5767 Republic: Nation vs. State. Boulder, Colo.:
Fax: (12) 2435-1297 Westview Press, 1997.

Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, South America
Founded: Spanish navigator Vicente Yáñez Pinzón is credited with being the first
known European to sight Brazil when he landed near present-day Recife on
January 26, 1500. The Portuguese Estácio de Sá founded the city in 1565 after
expelling the French.
Location: On a flat and narrow coastal plain, between the foothills of the Brazilian
Highlands and the Atlantic Ocean, on the shore of Guanabara Bay, in the state of
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the tropical zone in South America.
Ethnic Composition: African, White, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian
Latitude and Longitude: 22º54'S, 43º10'W
Climate: Rio is in a tropical zone, and the weather is typically hot and humid. Cool
ocean breezes temper the temperatures in the area.
Temperature: Summer months of December to March are very hot, with
temperatures sometimes exceeding 35 to 39ºC (95 to 100ºF). During the rest of
the year, temperatures range between 20 to 30ºC (68 and 86ºF). The annual
average temperature is 23ºC (73ºF).
Average Annual Precipitation: 1,080 mm (43 in), but some of the higher
elevations get more than 60 inches.
Government: Mayor and municipal council
Monetary Units: the Real (about 1.78 per one US dollar)
Telephone Area Codes: Country code: 55; city code: 21
1 Introduction Brazil, cariocas are known as fun, sen-

sual, and easygoing. Their main play-
Rio de Janeiro, the second largest grounds are the beaches of Copacabana
city in Brazil, is often called Cidade and Ipanema, names that easily roll off
Maravilhosa, the Marvelous City. the tongue. Yet, Rio is a great city of
Squeezed by the Atlantic Ocean and the extremes, often cruel in its indifference
verdant hills of Brazil, Rio’s dramatic to the poor. Next to five-star hotels, the
natural setting has impressed visitors poorest cariocas live in cardboard
for decades. The energy of its residents houses. The great favelas, shantytowns,
is legendary. No one dances more reach high into the hills, where many
exquisitely or parties longer than the residents are lost to poverty, drug abuse,
cariocas (residents of Rio). Even within and a life of crime. In the early 1990s,
49
Rio de Janeiro
trying to regain its streets from crimi-

Rio de Janeiro nals and years of decay. Many favelas
Population Profile now have basic city services. Its social
problems are daunting, but cariocas
City Proper have an uncharacteristic optimism.
Ethnic composition: African, White, Portuguese, 2 Getting There
Spanish, and Italian
Nicknames: Rio de Janeiro is Portuguese for “river Between the mountains and the
of January.” They thought the large entrance
of what is now known as Guanabara Bay was sea, Rio is located on the western shore
the mouth of a river. In Brazil, Rio is known as of Guanabara Bay. On a flat and narrow
the Cidade Maravilhosa, the Marvelous City. Its
residents are called cariocas. The word is of coastal plain adjacent to the foothills of
Tupi Indian origin (kari'oka, white house or the Brazilian Highlands, Rio is one of
house of white man).
the most important transportation
Metropolitan Area
hubs in the country. Most international
Population: 10,556,000 visitors arrive in Rio, one of the best-
Description: City of Rio and 16 other municipalities known international cities in the world.
Area: Over 5,384 sq km (over 2,079 sq mi)
Percentage of national population2: 6.2% Highways
Ethnic composition: African, White, Portuguese, Rio’s imposing natural setting has
Spanish, and Italian its drawbacks. The city snakes along the
——— coast and the mountains, and so do its
1. The Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area’s rank streets. Cariocas are well known for
aggressive driving, and navigating the
2. The percent of Brazil’s total population living in
the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area. city's roads is difficult for drivers unfa-
miliar with the terrain. Rio is connected
by highway to major Brazilian cities.
cariocas were shaken from their com-
placency to social problems when the Bus and Railroad Service
media reported that corrupt police There is rail service to São Paulo
officers—paid by business owners— and Belo Horizonte. Many bus compa-
were murdering homeless children. The nies offer international travel to the
city lost its luster, as well as many of its neighboring countries of Paraguay, Uru-
tourists. In one of the most famous guay, and Argentina.
incidents, roaming bands of youths
from the favelas descended on Copaca- Airports
bana Beach, robbing tourists and cario-
cas alike. Cidade Maravilhosa (marvelous Two airports serve the city: Galeão
city)? Perhaps only in geography. Yet, for domestic and international services
cariocas no longer appear complacent and Santos Dumont for domestic air-
about their problems. The city is slowly lines.

Rio de Janeiro
3 Getting Around are many taxis and thousands of private

automobiles. Rail connects Rio to its
Bus and Commuter Rail Service suburbs and satellite cities. Motorboats,
ferries, and hydrofoils serve communi-
Rio opened the first of two under-
ties across Guanabara Bay.
ground metro lines in 1979 and plans
to continue expanding the system to
Sightseeing
alleviate traffic congestion. Two lines
connect some parts of the city. An Many visitors go to Rio strictly to
extensive bus system accounts for about enjoy the world-renowned beaches of
70 percent of all passenger trips. There Copacabana and Ipanema. Others go to

Rio de Janeiro
take part in the internationally famous While the country prides itself on its
Carnival and Carnival parade, cele- racial harmony and tolerance, racial
brated for five days preceding Ash issues are much more complicated. In
Wednesday (the first day of Lent), Rio, and Brazilian society in general,
attracting thousands of visitors. How- whites are better off economically and
ever, there are many other sights to see enjoy more privilege. In something as
in the Marvelous City. simple as television programming and
advertising, blacks and native Brazilians
One of the most visited sites in Rio
are greatly outnumbered. In Rio, mostly
is Mount Corcovado, with its Christ the
whites live in the wealthier enclaves of
Redeemer statue. Another is Sugar Loaf,
Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon,
offering an impressive view of the city
while mostly blacks live in the favelas
below. Many people go to the Quinta
that surround the city.
da Boa Vista, the park that is home to
the National Museum, and the Zoologi-
Although separated by class and
cal Garden. Also popular are the Botani-
race, Brazilians have many things in
cal Gardens and Tijuca National Park,
located in the Forest of Tijuca; the common. The dominant language is
National Museum of Fine Arts; the Portuguese. Most are Catholic,
Museum of Modern Art; and the Indian although many follow Afro-Brazilian
Museum. religions like Umbanda and Condom-
ble. All races dance to the same beat of
the samba and other Afro-Brazilian
4 People sounds. The beach, especially in Rio, is
During most of the twentieth cen- the great equalizer. Here, where just
tury, Rio de Janeiro grew rapidly, mostly about everybody wears skimpy swim-
with Brazilian migrants from the states suits, it is difficult to pinpoint the elite
of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and from the poor masses.
Espírito Santo. Growth began to level
off in 1960 when Rio lost its status as
the nation's capital. About two-thirds of
5 Neighborhoods
Rio's residents are of African descent, a
Geography and class define Rio's
reflection of the nation's early history
neighborhoods. The rich live close to
when millions of African slaves were
the water. The great masses of poor peo-
brought to the New World to work on
ple have been pushed high into the
plantations. By the mid-1800s, there
hills. There, the poor have built favelas,
were two-and-a-half million slaves in
shantytowns that lack basic necessities
Brazil.
like water, electricity, and paved roads.
Like the nation, Rio is ethnically Cariocas have also redefined their space
diverse, with widespread racial mixing. periodically. As the city grew over diffi-
Many of the city's residents are of Por- cult terrain, they leveled hills or bored
tuguese, Italian, and Spanish roots. tunnels through them. They reclaimed

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Brazil) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper O Globo La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
parts of Guanabara Bay to make room favelas inched closer down the slopes,
for the growing city. many wealthy people abandoned the
southern-zone neighborhoods. Copaca-
Today, Rio is divided into three dis- bana, Leblon, and Ipanema experienced
tinct zones. The traditional historical slight population decreases in the last
center is sandwiched by the eastern decade of the twentieth century. Many
base of the Serra de Carioca and Guana-
wealthier residents have moved to Barra
bara Bay. The Serra is a small coastal
da Tijuca, further west along the coast.
mountain range that runs east-west and
cuts the city in half. West and north of It is considered one of the city's most
the historic center is the northern zone, fashionable neighborhoods.
a large urban area of mostly low-
income housing, and factories. The Many of the favelas have become
southern zone, with the fashionable established neighborhoods with basic
Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and city services. From 1991 to 1996, the
Gávea neighborhoods, is home to mid- number of households in the city
dle-class and wealthy cariocas. As the increased from 1.6 million to 1.7 mil-

Rio de Janeiro
Situated between the Brazilian Highlands and the Atlantic Ocean, Rio attracts travelers from all over the
world. (Stephanie Maze; Woodfin Camp)
lion. The occupancy rate went down, The Spaniards didn’t make a claim
from 3.4 people per household to 3.3. to the territory as it was assigned to Por-
tugal under the Treaty of Tordesillas
(1494). Under papal authority, the
6 History agreement divided the New World
between Spain and Portugal. In theory,
Long before Europeans arrived in
the other European countries were not
what is now Brazil, the area was popu- allowed to colonize the New World.
lated by many different groups of
native people, including the Arawak In April 1500, apparently blown off
and Carib. The Spanish navigator Vice- course, Portuguese navigator Pedro
nte Yáñez Pinzón (c.1460–c.1524) is Alvarez Cabral (c.1467–c.1520) reached
credited with being the first known Brazil and formally claimed the area for
European to sight Brazil when he Portugal. Explorers sighted what is now
landed near present-day Recife on Janu- Rio in 1502, but the Portuguese didn’t
ary 26, 1500. build any permanent settlements. By

Rio de Janeiro
1530, with other European nations work in the plantations—lived in the

eager to establish a foothold in the New city.
World, the Portuguese monarchy
strengthened its hold on Brazil, divid- The discovery of gold, diamonds,
ing the territory into 15 captaincies silver, and other precious minerals in
(administrative districts), each under what is now the state of Minas Gerais
the jurisdiction of powerful members of (general mines), northwest of Rio,
the court. boosted the city’s fortunes during the
1700s. The Portuguese moved their cap-
If it hadn’t been for French inter- ital city from Salvador to Rio in 1763, a
lopers, Rio may have never developed symbol of its growing importance. Rio
as a city. Salvador and Sao Paulo were grew rapidly, with thousands of Euro-
founded several years before the Portu- pean immigrants attracted by diamonds
guese took any interest in the Rio area. and gold. By the late 1700s, Rio
While the Portuguese frantically built expanded beyond its protective walls.
forts to keep other countries at bay, the Rio’s growth faltered a bit by the
French began to test Brazil’s defenses. 1790s. Dependent on an export econ-
French traders were after the valuable omy, the city was facing formidable
brazil wood, for which the country is competition for its sugar from other
now named. By the mid-1550s, they colonies in the Americas, and the mines
founded a settlement on one of the were showing signs of declining pro-
islands of Guanabara Bay and called it duction. In just a few years, the value of
La France Antarctique (Antarctic France). exports shipped through Rio’s port was
cut in half. Yet, Rio would not stay
Portugal’s monarchy sent Estácio down for too long.
de Sá, a nephew of Governor Mem de
Sá of Brazil, to get rid of the French in During the Napoleonic wars (1799–
1565. For the next two years, the Portu- 1815), Portugal remained faithful to
guese and French waged bloody battles England, earning France's scorn. Napo-
in what is now Rio de Janeiro. De Sá leon Bonaparte’s troops invaded Portu-
was killed during one of the skirmishes, gal. Maria I (r. 1777–1816) and her son,
but the French were finally ousted from the future João VI, escaped to Brazil and
the area in 1567. By 1568, Rio had established a government in exile in Rio
begun to take formal shape with the de Janeiro in 1808. Outside the city, cof-
construction of a citadel. As in many fee production had replaced sugar as a
other early colonies, Rio survived by main crop, and Rio was again on its
farming, especially sugarcane. By 1660, way to economic recovery. With the
Rio had attained some degree of impor- monarchs in town, Rio reinvented
tance and was named the seat of gov- itself, growing in population and in
ernment for the southern captaincies. beauty. Older buildings were restored;
About 8,000 people—mostly Indian hundreds of new mansions and smaller
and black slaves who were forced to living quarters were built; streets were

Rio de Janeiro
paved and lighted. More land was already had more than 500,000 resi-
reclaimed. The monarchs established dents, was named the capital of the
the Royal Press, the Royal Library, and republic.
the Botanical Gardens, among many
During the early years of the repub-
others. In 1808, the city's first newspa-
lic, Rio de Janeiro changed dramatically.
per was published.
The federal government set out to mod-
ernize the city, first bringing tropical
With the death of Maria I, who had
diseases like yellow fever under control.
been insane for the last 24 years of her
By 1920, the city was becoming an
life, her son João VI (r. 1816–1826)
important industrial center with a pop-
became king. João was initially popular
ulation that exceeded one million peo-
in Rio and the rest of Brazil. Some Cari-
ple. The city grew by reclaiming land
ocas, perhaps sensing his importance to
from Guanabara Bay and leveling hills.
the city, did not want him to return to
By 1940, Rio had grown to nearly two
Portugal, where liberals demanded an
million people with no signs of slowing
end to the monarchy. Under growing
down. By then, the government could
political pressure, João accepted greatly
no longer control growth. Skyscrapers
diminished powers and returned to rule
and large apartment buildings replaced
Portugal in 1821. His son, Pedro I
homes and small buildings. Poorer resi-
(1798–1834; r. 1822–31), stayed in Bra-
dents were pushed further into the
zil. Portugal attempted to reassert its
fringes of the city. Rio was now under
authority over Brazil. But with British
siege from national interests. Many of
aid, Pedro declared Brazil’s indepen-
Brazil’s politicians wanted to develop
dence and became emperor in 1822. By
the vast interior of the country. In
now, Rio had grown to more than
1957, Brazilians began to build the city
100,000 people. Pedro ruled until 1831
of Brazilia, which replaced Rio as the
when he abdicated in favor of Pedro II
national capital in 1960.
(1825–1891), the five-year-old heir-
apparent. By 1840, Pedro II was old Yet Rio remained an important cen-
enough to rule and was named ter of politics, culture, and business. By
emperor. Under his leadership, Brazil the 1960s, the beachside residential
continued to thrive with coffee, sugar, areas of Copacabana and Ipanema were
cotton, and rubber exports. Pedro II's among the most desirable addresses in
administration oversaw the continued the world. Its importance would in time
modernization of Rio. Rail, gas lighting, turn against the city. Because it offered
telephone, and steamboat service to so many more opportunities than other
other cities were all in place by the cities and towns, Rio continued to grow
1870s. However, Pedro would not last. as Brazilians without jobs or education
He was against slavery and abolished it continued to move into the city. They
in 1888. The move cost him. He was built massive favelas (shantytowns) and
overthrown in 1889, and a republic contributed to massive social problems
replaced the monarchy. Rio, which that continue to affect the city. Rio is

Rio de Janeiro
no longer growing through massive

immigration, but serious urban prob-
lems, like crime, overcrowding, and
pollution, continue to plague the city.
7 Government
The city is governed by a prefeito
(mayor). The government is divided
into several departments, each adminis-
tered by a secretary who answers to the
mayor, who is elected to a four-year
term. The Municipal Chamber, whose
members are elected proportionally
from Rio's 24 administrative regions,
dictates legislation. The city is divided
into five planning areas and 158 neigh-
borhoods.
8 Public Safety
In February 2000, Brazilian Presi-
dent Fernando Henrique Cardoso called
for immediate action to curb crime after
his wife's car was stolen. His presiden- Tourism plays a large role in Rio’s economy.
tial car had been stolen three months Celebrations and parades bring millions of tourists
earlier. Compared to the atrocious pub- annually. (Stephanie Maze; Woodfin Camp)
lic safety situation in Brazil, the theft of
these cars was minor but symbolic of
how crime touches all people through- in the 1980s and early 1990s, deterred
out the country. by highly publicized crimes against
tourists. Rio authorities created a special
In the 1990s, crime gangs con-
police force to protect tourists and have
trolled entire Rio neighborhoods. Cor-
rupt police officers, hired by business tried to underplay the crime situation.
owners, murdered homeless children
and engaged in other criminal activity. Whether Cardoso’s call for action
By 1994, Rio had one of the highest will bring any changes remains to be
murder rates in the world, at 61 per seen. One of Brazil’s largest problems is
100,000 people. While most crimes the unrelenting poverty of its people,
were directed at cariocas, tourists also which is only augmented in cities like
suffered. The city saw a steady decline Rio, where shantytowns are built next
in the number of international visitors to wealthy enclaves.

Rio de Janeiro
9 Economy vendors. In Copacabana and Ipanema,

street vendors sell men’s and women’s
Only São Paulo is more economi- swim suits, towels, sunglasses, and just
cally important than Rio de Janeiro in about anything needed on the beach.
Brazil. With a major port and interna- Some small boutiques specialize in
tional airport, Rio is an important native art from throughout Brazil.
industrial, financial, and commercial
center. The city has a large tourism
industry that appears to be bouncing
12 Education
back after years of decline. Rio remains Brazil was expected to enter the
the economic engine for a large twenty-first century with an illiteracy
regional area that extends for several rate of 16 percent despite massive
hundred kilometers (miles). efforts to educate the population.
About 25 percent of the poorest chil-
Rio’s factories produce processed
dren do not attend school. In Rio, those
foods, textiles, furniture, chemicals,
numbers are better, with literacy rates at
petroleum products, pharmaceuticals,
about 90 percent for people over ten
and metal products. The manufacture
years of age. Yet, many children in the
of electronics and computers has begun
favelas do not go to school, and thou-
to play a major role in the economy.
sands of homeless children lack any
The city is a leading financial and bank-
opportunity to better their lives.
ing center. The country’s most active
stock market, the Bolsa da Valores do In Rio, there are 1,033 primary
Brasil, is located in Rio. schools with 25,594 teachers and
667,788 students (1995). There are 370
10 Environment secondary schools with 9,699 teachers
and 227,892 students. There are 53 col-
Guanabara Bay is highly polluted. lege preparatory schools with 14,864
Throughout the year, many of Rio's teachers and 154,447 students. The city
beaches, including the internationally has six major universities and 47 pri-
known beaches of Ipanema and Copac- vate schools of higher learning. The
abana, are off limits to swimmers Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and
because of high levels of fecal coliform the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio
bacteria. Poor sanitation in the favelas de Janeiro, which offer graduate
lead to the proliferation of many dis- courses, and the State University of Rio
eases. de Janeiro are located in the city.
11 Shopping 13 Health Care

Rio is an important retail center. It The city has made major improve-
has major shopping centers and count- ments in health, dramatically reducing
less small shops that specialize in differ- high infant mortality rates in a short
ent products. There are many street number of years, from 75.3 to 36 deaths

Rio de Janeiro
per 1,000 births between 1980 and playing soccer on the sand. Brazilians
1987. The overall life expectancy has are passionate about volleyball. The
also increased, from 45 to 63 years women’s national team won the gold
between 1940 and 1980. Mortality rates medal in the Barcelona Olympics in
have decreased by improving sanitary 1988. Cariocas have even managed to
conditions throughout the city. Yet, combine their passion for soccer and
some of those gains have been offset by volleyball into one game—futevolei. It is
increases in violence and accidents. played on the sand with players kicking
There are more than 300 hospitals with the ball over the net instead of using
25,872 beds in metropolitan Rio. their hands.
14 Media 16 Parks and

Rio remains one of the most impor-
Recreation
tant publishing centers in Brazil. The With more than 78 kilometers (48
country’s first newspaper, Gazeta do Rio miles) of coastline and 72 beaches,
de Janeiro, was published in Rio on Sep- playing in the sand and water are
tember 10, 1808. Two of the country's among the most important recreational
leading newspapers today, O Globo and activities in Rio. The city has 33 parks
Jornal do Brazil, are published in Rio. and three natural reserves. It has 20
Several daily and weekly newspapers, areas classified under environmental
including the business daily Jornal do protection, ten permanent preserva-
Commercio, are also published in the tion areas, and three areas of ecological
city. There are seven television stations interest.
and numerous AM and FM radio sta-
tions. Samba schools are a popular source
of recreation, especially in the favelas.
The schools act as neighborhood clubs
15 Sports where residents come to meet each
Capable of holding 200,000 peo- other, learn how to dance, and work
ple, Maracanã stadium is a symbol of together.
Rio’s passion for sports. There are more
than 130 sports associations in the city, 17 Performing Arts
several professional teams, and thou-
sands of cariocas playing soccer, volley- Rio is an important center for the
ball, and many other sports on any arts. The city is home to the Companhia
given day. Rio is host to several interna- de Balé Clássico do Teatro Municipal, the
tional events each year in surfing, ballet company, and the Orquestra Sin-
beach volleyball, car, motorcycle, and fônica Brasileira, the symphony orches-
horse racing. tra. The nationally renowned School of
Music is part of the Federal University
On weekends, the sprawling Copa- of Rio de Janeiro. The Municipal The-
cabana beach is crowded with teams ater hosts ballet and operas. There are

Rio de Janeiro
Christ the Redeemer stands atop Mount Corcovado, the most visited site in Rio de Janeiro.
(Stephanie Maze; Woodfin Camp)
many theater groups in the city and earthquake in Lisbon. There are many
dozens of cultural centers. Rio hosts other libraries in the city.
many musical events, including jazz,
dance, and cinema festivals. Rio has Despite losing its title as capital
more than 60 art galleries, 75 book- city, Rio remained a center of culture
stores and libraries, and dozens of cine- after 1960. The Brazilian Academy of
mas, clubs and dance halls. Letters and the Brazilian Academy of
Sciences are in the city. The National
18 Libraries and Museum of Fine Arts was founded in
1818 and houses important twentieth-
Museums
century works by leading Brazilian art-
The city’s National Library was ists. The National Museum has a large
founded in 1810 to house the remains collection of pre-Columbian ceramics,
of the Royal Library of Ajuda, brought dinosaur fossils, and stuffed wildlife.
to Brazil from Portugal after the 1755 Rio also hosts the National Historical

Rio de Janeiro
Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, ited site is Sugar Loaf, which reaches a
and the Indian Museum. height of 395 meters (1,296 feet). At the
entrance of Guanabara Bay, Sugar Loaf
19 To u r i s m is only reachable by cable car. It offers
impressive views of the city below.
International arrivals increased Many people go to the Quinta da Boa
from 8.3 million passengers in 1994 to Vista, a park that is home to the
10.3 million in 1998 at Rio’s interna- National Museum, and the Zoological
tional airport. Domestic arrivals rose Garden. The historic Botanical Gardens
from 34.7 million to 63.7 million. Visi- (1808) and the Tijuca National Park are
tors come to the Cidade Maravilhosa for located in the Forest of Tijuca.
its beaches, restaurants, music, exhila-
rating city life, and the annual Carni- 20 Holidays and
val, one of the world's most famous Festivals
festivals.
JANUARY
Celebrated for five days preceding Epiphany
Ash Wednesday, Carnival attracts thou- FEBRUARY-MARCH
sands of visitors. While it is a national Carnival (five days before Ash Wednesday)
holiday, Carnival is often associated
APRIL
with Rio, which is consistently more Tiradentes Day
exuberant than its neighbors. It is there
that the major Carnival parade is held. MAY
May Day
Samba schools from the favelas and
other Rio neighborhoods practice for JUNE
Corpus Christi
months to prepare for the festival.
SEPTEMBER
On the night of December 31, Independence Day
Copacabana hosts hundreds of thou- OCTOBER
sands of people who come to celebrate Our Lady of Aparecida Day
the New Year. According to tradition,
NOVEMBER
people dress in white for good luck and All Soul’s Day
offer a white flower to Yemanjá, the Proclamation Day
goddess of the seas. Residents party well
into the morning hours.
21 Famous Citizens
One of the most visited sites in Rio Olavo Bilac (1865–1918), Brazilian poet.
is Mount Corcovado, 704 meters (2,310
feet) high. On top, is Christ the Fernando Affonso Collor de Mello (b.
Redeemer, a massive 907-metric-ton 1949), became Brazil’s youngest
(1,000-ton), 30-meter (98-foot) statue president in 1990, with his promise
standing with welcoming outstretched to cut inflation and reform the
arms over Rio. Another frequently vis- economy, but was impeached in

Rio de Janeiro
1992 by the Chamber of Deputies Government Offices

on charges of corruption. Embassy of Brazil
3006 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Afonso Henriques de Lima Barreto Washington, D.C. 20008
(1881–1922), novelist and journal- Government of Rio de Janeiro. [Online] Avail-
able http://www.rio.rj.gov.br (accessed Feb-
ist. ruary 5, 2000).
Antonio Carlos Jobim (1927–94), com-

poser, guitarist, and pianist, who Tourist and Convention Bureaus
pioneered the musical style known Ministry of Sport and Tourism. [Online] Avail-
as bossa nova (new wave). able http://www.embratur.gov.br (accessed
February 5, 2000).
Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis
(1839–1908), great master of Brazil-
ian literature. Publications
O Globo. [Online] Available http://
www.oglobo.com.br (accessed February 5,
Oscar Niemeyer Soares Filho (b. 1907), 2000).
one of Brazil's most important Jornal do Brazil. [Online] Available http://
modern architects, known for the www.jb.com.br (accessed February 5, 2000).
fluid lines of his buildings. Jornal do Commercio. [Online] Available http://
www.jornaldocommercio.com.br (accessed
February 5, 2000).
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887–1959), impor-
tant twentieth-century composer,
self-trained and influenced by the Books
music of Native American people, Burns, E. Bradford. A History of Brazil. New York:
credited with revolutionizing musi- Columbia University Press, 1993.
cal training in public schools. Fausto, Boris. A Concise History of Brazil. London:
Cambridge University Press, 1999.
Gay, Robert. Popular Organization and Democracy
22 For Further Study in Rio de Janeiro: A Tale of Two Favelas. Phila-
delphia: Temple University Press, 1994.
Levine, Robert M., and John C. Crocitti. The Bra-
Websites zil Reader. Raleigh: Duke University Press,
1999.
Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics.
[Online] Available http://www.ibge.gov.br McGowan, Chris, and Ricardo Pessanha. The Bra-
(accessed February 5, 2000). zilian Sound: Samba, Bossa Nova, and the Pop-
ular Music of Brazil. Philadelphia: Temple
Rio de Janeiro Modern Museum of Art. [Online] University Press, 1997.
Available http://www.mamrio.com.br Rojas-Lombardi, Felipe. The Traveler’s Guide to
(accessed February 5, 2000). Latin American Customs and Manners. New
University of Texas Latin American Network York: St. Martins Press, 1991.
Information Center. [Online] Available Skidmore, Thomas E. Brazil: Five Centuries of
http:// www.lanic.utexas.edu (accessed Feb- Change. New York and Oxford: Oxford Uni-
ruary 5, 2000). versity Press, 1999.

Rome
Rome, Italy, Europe
Founded: 753 B.C.; Unified: 1870

Location: Lazio region in Italy, Europe, on a peninsula extending from southern
Europe into the Mediterranean Sea, bordering France to the northwest,
Switzerland and Austria to the north, Slovenia to the northeast, and the
Mediterranean Sea to the south
Flag: Vertical bands of orange (left) and yellow.
Ethnic Composition: Italian; German, French, Slovenes, Albanian-Italians, Greek-
Italians
Elevation: 4,336 m (14,453 ft) above sea level
Latitude and Longitude: 41°54’N, 12°30’E
Climate: Temperate, mild winters and long, dry, hot summers
Annual Mean Temperature: 7.4°C (45.3°F) in January; 25.7°C (78.3°F) in July
Average Annual Rainfall: 890 mm (35 in)
Government: Multi-party republic, headed by a president and prime minister,
legislative power held by bicameral Parliament: Senate and Chamber of
Deputies
Monetary Units: The euro (EUR). As of January 1, 1999, the lira became a subdivision
of the Euro (conversion rate: 1,936.27 lira to one Euro; one Euro equals 100
cents.)
Telephone Area Codes: Italy country code 39; Rome city code 6
1 Introduction Located inland about 27 kilometers

(17 miles) from the Tyrrhenian Sea,
Near the banks of the Tiber River, Rome is the capital city of Italy. Within
2,700 years ago on seven hills, the Rome’s enclave is Vatican City. The seat
foundation of Rome was laid. It is one of the papacy of the Roman Catholic
of the most ancient cities in Europe. Church, Vatican City has been recog-
nized as an independent state by the
Since then, it has been continuously
Italian government since 1929. The
inhabited and has grown into a city of
majestic dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in
almost three million people, covering Vatican City dominates the Roman sky-
1,502 square kilometers (580 square line. Once the center of the Roman
miles). Rome is in southern Italy, in Empire, Rome has been the capital of
southern Europe, and has a parallel lati- united Italy since 1871. The economy
tude with New York state. remains strong—essentially based on
63
Rome
nary wealth of artwork, Rome is a major

Rome world center for creative study and per-
Population Profile forming arts.
2 Getting There
Percentage of national population2: 4.7% Italy is bound to the north by Swit-
Average yearly growth rate: 0.0% zerland and Austria, to the east by Slov-
——— enia and the Adriatic Sea, to the south
1. The Rome metropolitan area’s rank among the by the Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian, and
Ligurian seas, and to the west by
2. The percent of Italy’s total population living in
the Rome metropolitan area.
France. It covers 301,308 square kilome-
ters (116,335 square miles), and Rome is
located about halfway down Italy’s
western coast.
tourism and government operations. Highways

After World War II (1939–45), the city Driving to and around Rome can
developed a wide base of industries; be challenging. The main road linking
thus, the Rome of today hosts the head- Rome to the north and south of Italy is
quarters of many multinational corpo- the Autostrade del sole, which connects
rations and agencies. with the ring road circling the city. The
13-kilometer (8-mile) Mount Frejus
Divided into two regions, the highway tunnel, integrating France and
sprawling outer city is changing with Italy through the Alps, opened in l980.
suburban growth. The historical center The legal age for an auto rental is 21
is a small area, located on the eastern years of age. There are several rental car
bank of the Tiber River and contains agencies at both airports and a few at
many monuments of Rome’s past great- Termini Stazione.
ness. The city is an unparalleled reposi-
tory of monuments from all periods in Bus and Railroad Service
European history. The legacy of the
Roman Empire is extensive, witnessed Train is by far the most efficient
from the preservation of the Pantheon, means of transportation for any land
considered one of the finest surviving journey within Italy, to or from Rome.
temples of antiquity, to the impressive The Italian State Railways have several
Colosseum, an amphitheater that levels of service, from local trains that
hosted gladiatorial combat and other stop at every station, to the Pendolino,
spectacles. Ancient city walls, trium- a fast, luxurious first-class-only train.
phal arches, public meeting places, From the airport, the Stazione Termini
churches, and palaces are scattered direct train runs hourly. The Stazione
throughout Rome. With an extraordi- Termini, Rome’s main train station, is

Rome

Rome
the hub of the urban transportation sys- 12:30 AM on Saturday. Tickets for
tem. Beneath it is the only interchange metros are valid for one single journey
between the city’s two Metro lines, and only. Daily and weekly travel passes are
directly outside, on Piazza dei Cinque- also available. For sightseers, favorite
cento, is the central bus terminal, a metro stops include the Spanish Steps,
stunning twentieth-century building. Spagna, Vatican Museums, Ottaviano,
Colosseo, Circus Maximus, Bath of Car-
Buses run from 6:00 AM to mid-
acalls, Circo Massimo, the Catacombs,
night, with some services running
and Colli Albani.
throughout the night. The city’s Metro
service has two lines, and both go The main bus terminal is outside
through Termini. A bus ticket is also Termini Stazione. Most day buses have
valid for the city’s subway and train ser- only a driver while night buses usually
vices. have a conductor who issues tickets.
Tickets are not sold on day buses, and
Airports passengers board from the rear. There
Rome is serviced by two interna- are several bus lines that run from 5:30
AM until midnight. Night buses run
tional airports. Leonardo da Vinci, com-
monly known as Fiumicino, handles from 1:00 AM until 5:30 AM. Tickets are
most scheduled flights and is about 29 time stamped and are valid for 90 min-
kilometers (18 miles) southwest of the utes of travel.
city. Ciampino is about 14 kilometer Rome’s public orange buses and
(nine miles) southeast and is used for handful of trams cover much of the
charter flights. The national airline car- city, but they do not travel through the
rier Alitalia is 89.3 percent owned by narrow streets of the historic center.
the state. Several routes, however, are within a
short distance of most main attractions.
3 Getting Around Communal stops include the Vatican,
Spanish Steps, and Trevi Fountain.
Navigating the streets of Rome can
be tricky. Often it is easiest to take Official taxis in Rome are yellow
advantage of the city’s public transpor- and must bear the taxi sign on the roof.
tation. Tickets for city metros, buses, An expensive venture, taxis also charge
and trams must be purchased before extra for baggage, late night trips, Sun-
boarding. day travel, or public holiday travel. The
fare may begin from the telephone
Bus and Commuter Rail Service request, not from the point of origin.
The Metro system is useful and
Sightseeing
simple to master. There are two lines, A
and B, which cross at Termini. Metro The center of Rome is compact,
trains run approximately every ten and wandering the ruins on foot is a
minutes, from 5:30 AM until 11:30 PM, great way to see the city. Street life is

Rome

Rome Cairo New York Beijing
Indicator
(Italy) (Egypt) (United States) (China)

Date the city was founded 753 BC AD 969 1613 723 BC
Major Newspapers3
Al Akhbar Journal
Circulation of largest newspaper 754,930 1,159,339 1,740,450 3,000,000
1 United
2 The
3
vibrant and constant. The architectural east. The Vatican is northwest of the
design is consuming, and close proxim- Forum, across the Tiber River. Small
ity of ancient sights make for a comfort- patches of central Rome have sidewalks
able and convenient walk. For instance, and streets closed to cars for use by
the Colosseum is approximately one- cyclists and scooters.
and-a-half miles from the Spanish steps.
One route travels by the Forum, Piazza Bike tours from the north to the
Venezia, and several churches, passing south of the city are actually a popular
through charming neighborhoods. A way to see the sights of Villa Borghese,
longer, more scenic route weaves from Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Venezia, and
the Colosseum to the Vatican. Most the Spanish Steps. Conversely, the nar-
major monuments are west of the train row streets combined with steep hills
station. The Pantheon and Trevi Foun- can make cycling a bit of a challenge.
tain are a short detour away. The
Palatine Hill and the Forum are the cen- Mopeds and scooters, called Vespa
ter of ancient Rome. Via del Corso runs or wasps in Italy because of the buzzing
north from the Forum to Piazza del noise they make, are an efficient way to
Popola, and Trevi Fountain is to the get around the narrow streets. Bikes and

Rome
The dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica dominates the skyline of Rome. (Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp)
mopeds can be rented from Roma Rent and the influence of the media, differ-
and Scoot-a-Long, among others. ences between northern and southern
Italians are diminishing. However, Ital-
For a gentler tour of the historic ians still refer to one another by their
center, sightseers can hire a horse- city of origin (Milanese, Roman, Floren-
drawn carriage. Trips can be taken for a tine), and some regional attitudes
half-hour, an hour, half-day, or a day, remain. Adopting practices of their Ger-
for up to five people. Prices for longer man and Austrian neighbors, people in
rides are negotiable and can be hired the industrialized north traditionally
from Piazza di Spagna, the Coliseum, value punctuality, reliability, organiza-
Trevi Fountain, St. Peter’s, Via Veneto, tion, and economic success. They view
Villa Borghese, Piazza Venezia, and time as a precious resource not to be
Piazza Navona. wasted. Communities take pride in
maintaining a low tolerance for public
4 People corruption and escalating crime.
Due to improved economic and Southerners tend to be gracious

social conditions in southern regions, and known for their warm character

Rome
and friendliness. Neighborhoods and Hills, a term coined to describe the Cap-
citizens of Rome value leisurely days itoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline,
and take their time conducting busi- Caelian, Aventine, and Palatine hills
ness. Family values prevail in the south surrounding the old community.
and are often revered over economic Archaeological evidence indicates, how-
success. ever, that human settlement dates from
at least 1000 B.C. Capitoline Hill was
Regional economic differences long the seat of Rome’s government,
have contributed to tensions within the and Palantine Hill was the site of the
country. Northern Italians feel they are epic Palace of the Flavins, built by the
too heavily taxed for subsidized Roman emperor Domitian. As a result
projects in the south. Southerners of construction throughout the centu-
resent the higher income and better ries, today most of the Seven Hills are
employment opportunities offered only hardly distinguishable from the adja-
in the north. Political movements that cent plain.
call for regional autonomy in a federal
system have gained momentum in the Rome is easily divided into two
north, but most Romans oppose any regions: the inner city, within the Aure-
political separation. alian Wall, built in the late third cen-
tury to enclose the area around the
Social life and interaction is impor- Seven Hills; and the sprawling outer
tant to Romans. Citizens enjoy public city, with its suburbs. The historical
events, parties, and celebrations. center is a small area, located almost
Humor, reliability, and success in busi- entirely on the eastern bank of the
ness and social lives are all regarded Tiber River. Monuments of Rome’s past
more favorably than individual asser- eminence are located mostly within the
tiveness. historical center and are a stark contrast
to the modern districts.
The dominant language in Rome
and throughout the country is Italian. The street pattern of the city
However, German and Ladin, a dialect reflects its long and complex history.
of the Rhaeto-Romanic, are spoken in The Via del Corso traverses most of the
the Alto Adige region on the Austrian historic center from Piazza Venezia, the
border; French is spoken in the Valle geographic center of Rome, to the
d’Aosta region bordering France and Piazza del Popolo at the foot of Pincio
Switzerland; and Greek and Albanian Hills. Its use dates from the Middle Ages
are spoken in southern Italy. English is when it was a horse-racing course.
a common second language.
6 History
5 Neighborhoods
Of all of Italy’s historic cities, Rome
According to tradition, Rome was summons the most compelling fascina-
founded in 753 B.C. on one of the Seven tion. There is more to experience in

Rome
Rome’s streets are often narrow and busy, offering a vibrant city life. Here, a couple dodges the traffic on a
moped, an efficient way of getting around town. (Ignacio Lobos; EPD Photos)
Rome than almost any other city in the are based on Latin; many political and
world, with relics of more than 2,700 legal systems follow the ancient roman
years of continuous occupation packed model of civil service, and buildings all
into a sprawling urban area. As a con- over the world demonstrate styles and
temporary European capital, Rome has techniques perfected in Rome. The
a unique sense of leadership. The city ancient city spaces are filled with layers
features are classical, the Colosseum, of buildings spanning two millennia.
the Forum, and Palantine Hill, while
relics from the early Christian period Rome began as an Iron Age hut vil-
decorate ancient basilicas. The Baroque lage founded in the mid-eighth century
and Romanesque fountains and B.C. In 616 B.C., the Romans’ neighbors,
churches are only part of the picture. the Etruscans, seized power but were
First headquarters of the Roman ousted in 509 B.C. when Rome became a
Empire, and then of the Catholic Republic. By the time Rome entered
Church, Rome has had an immense into the first of the three Punic wars in
impact on social customs throughout 264 B.C., its power in Italy spanned the
the world. Several European languages whole peninsula as far north as Arimi-

Rome
num. The driving motivation behind and many Christians were executed.
all three Punic wars was for Rome to Even so, the new religion spread
defeat the African city of Carthage and through all levels of Roman society. By
gain Mediterranean dominance. In 241 the time the apostles Peter and Paul had
B.C. the Romans won Sicily. In the Sec- arrived in Rome, a small Christian com-
ond Punic War (218–201 B.C.), they munity had been established, and in
defeated General Hannibal of Carthage spite of persecution by the state, Chris-
(247–182 B.C.), and in the Third Punic tianity flourished.
War (149–146 B.C.) they seized the city
Having little success with the Sen-
of Carthage itself. Rome then went on
ate, Tiberius withdrew himself from
to conquer Syria and Macedonia to gain
office and was succeeded by a medley of
dominance over the western Hellenistic
emperors, including Caligula (12–41),
world.
Claudius (10 B.C.–A.D. 54), and Nero
(37–68). Nero’s suicide in A.D. 68 ended
The expansion of the empire pro-
the Augustus reign of emperors, and
vided opportunity for individuals to
Rome entered into a state of constant
gain power and rule. However, leaders
civil war. Sulpicius Galba (3 B.C.–A.D.
became abusive of their power, and the
69), governor of Spain, seized control,
clashing of egos led to the crashing of
but the throne changed hands four
democracy. Julius Caesar (c. 100–44
more times. It wasn’t until Diocletian
B.C.) ruled for a time as dictator, but the
(A.D. 245–313), a traditional militaristic
Roman Republic came to an end when
Roman, took control in A.D. 284 that
he was assassinated in 44 B.C. Taking his
Rome was restored to order. He divided
place was the famous triumvirate: Mark
the empire in half and appointed two
Antony (c. 80–30 B.C.), Aemilius Lepi-
rulers for both east and west Rome. In
dus (d. 13 B.C.), and Octavian Caesar
A.D. 302, Diocletian banned Christians
(63 B.C.–A.D. 14). Octavian defeated
from the Roman Army, brought religion
Lepidus in 39 B.C. and Antony in 31 B.C.
into the office of emperor, and made
to become emperor of the Roman
the position a “divine monarchy.”
world. He then gave all his power to the
Senate in an effort to create a “restored In A.D. 313, the Emperor Constan-
republic.” The Senate placed him in tine (c. 274–337; r. 306–337), pro-
control of nearly all Rome’s military claimed ruler by Britiain, issued an edict
strength, and he was given the title granting Christians freedom of wor-
Augustus. Upon Octavian’s death in ship, and he founded the city of Con-
A.D. 14, his chosen heir, Tiberius (42 stantinople as the new capital. Even
B.C.–A.D. 37), took the throne. It was after securing Rome’s position as the
during the reign of Tiberius that Jesus center of Christianity, its political
Christ was crucified. Within a few years, importance waned in the fifth century,
the followers of Christ became legend- and the city fell to Goths and other
ary in Rome, but their teachings were invaders. For a while, Rome was
perceived as a threat to public order, reduced to a few thousand residents

Rome
and little power. But the next couple discovering a new style of its own in
centuries uncovered a newfound Baroque (1600–1750).
strength. The growing importance of
the papacy revived the city and rejuve- Under Napoleon, Italy tasted unity
nated its power. Conversely, ongoing but by 1815 was again divided into
conflict between the Pope and the Holy many small states, and papal rule was
Roman Emperor undermined the restored in Rome. The next 50 years
papacy. The tenth, eleventh, and experienced patriots struggling to create
twelfth centuries were among the an independent, unified Italy, and
bleakest in Roman history: violent con- Rome was briefly declared a Republic,
flict with invaders left Rome poverty but forces were driven out by French
stricken, and constant warring tore troops. The French continued to protect
apart the city. In 1309, the papacy the Pope while the rest of Italy united
moved to Avignon, leaving Rome to as a kingdom under Vittorio Emanuel
slide further into squalor and strife. of Savor. In 1870, troops stormed the
city, and Rome became the capital of
The city recovered spectacularly in the newly unified Italy.
the mid-fifteenth century. Pope Nicho-
las V (1397–1455; r. 1447–1455) came Twentieth-century Rome endured
to power and groomed Rome to be a
the dictator Benito Mussolini (1883–
city worthy of the papacy and the cen-
1945; r. 1922–1945) and his dreams of
ter of Renaissance culture. Successors
recreating the immense order and
followed his lead, and the city’s appear-
power of the Roman Empire. In 1922,
ance was transformed. The Classical
the fascist leader was appointed prime
ideals of the Italian Renaissance (1450–
1600) inspired artists, architects, and minister. In 1929, the Lateran Treaty
craftsmen, such as Michelangelo, Bra- brought over a century of tension
mante, and Raphael. A newly confident between Church and State to an end by
Rome was nurturing a massive papal creating a separate Vatican State. Dur-
patronage of the arts. ing the World War II (1939–45), British
forces captured much of Italy’s colonial
By the sixteenth century, the Cath- empire. From 1947 to the early 1990s,
olic Church had accumulated exten- Italy had no less than 57 governments,
sive wealth and was therefore criticized and the first non-Italian pope since the
by other reformed religions. Displays of sixteenth century, Pope John Paul II (b.
grandeur and extravagance by the papal 1920), was appointed in 1978.
court contrasted vividly with the pov-
erty of the people. Galileo (1564–1642), Rome is in many ways the ideal
a physicist/astronomer, was con- capital of Italy. Each era in history
demned to death for heresy (beliefs added its own layer of culture to create
opposed to the traditionally accepted a city unparalleled by any other in the
beliefs of the church). Rome was also world.

Rome
Vatican City, the seat of the papacy, has been recognized as an independent state by the Italian
government since 1929. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
7 Government is responsible to the regional council.

The regional council is a legislative
The Italian Republic is divided into assembly while the Giunta holds execu-
20 regions, five of which (Sicily, Sar- tive power. The regions are subdivided
dinia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Vene- into a total of 95 provinces.
zia Giulia, and Valle d’Aosta) enjoy a
special status; there is a large degree of Officers of the government include
regional autonomy. Each locale has a the president, who is chief of state, and
council elected every five years by uni- the prime minister, who is head of gov-
versal suffrage, and a Giunta regionale ernment. The prime minister is gener-

Rome
ally head of a majority party or a every two kilometers (one mile). Infor-
majority coalition of parties but can mation about breakdown service is pro-
also be appointed from other parties. A vided by the 18 ACI representatives at
proposed prime minister must be the frontier posts for entry to Italy.
approved by a parliamentary vote of
confidence and can be removed from 9 Economy
office at any time if parliament passes a
vote of no confidence. Since World War II, Italy has
evolved from an economy based on
agriculture into an economy of indus-
8 Public Safety trial ranking, with approximately the
same total and per capita output as
In Rome, speed limits are fixed at
France and the United Kingdom. Yet,
50 kilometers (31 miles) per hour in
urban areas, 110 kilometers (68 miles) the country remains partially divided
per hour on main roads outside urban by the private companies developing in
the industrial north and the public
areas, 90 kilometers (56 miles) per hour
enterprise that governs the agricultural
on secondary and local roads, and 130
kilometers (81 miles) per hour on south.
motorways. The new highway code Rome is headquarters to many
recently introduced in Italy also stipu- multinational corporations, including
lates that one must not drive at a speed the United Nations Food and Agricul-
which is so slow as to hinder the flow of ture Organization (FAO), International
traffic. There are speed limits of 80 kilo- Fund for Agricultural Development
meters (50 miles) per hour on all roads (IFAD), and several World Food pro-
outside urban areas and 100 kilometers grams. Service accounts for 48 percent
(62 miles) per hour on motorways for of the gross domestic product (GDP),
cars towing trailers or caravans. Drivers industry for 35 percent, public adminis-
and passengers are required by law to tration for 13 percent, and agriculture
wear seat belts in front and rear seats. for four percent. Most raw materials
Also, while driving, the use of portable needed by Italian industry are
telephones is prohibited if they require imported, including over 75 percent of
intervention by hand to function. Hel- energy requirements.
mets are required by law for drivers on
two-wheeled vehicles. In the early 1990s, Rome was
unsettled at the prospect of not qualify-
Emergency breakdown services in ing to participate in plans for European
Italy are run by ACI (Automobile Club economic and monetary union; thus,
d'Italia). The service operates 24 hours a the city’s financial imbalance was
day throughout the road network. On addressed, and subsequently the gov-
the motorways, breakdown services can ernment adopted stringent budgets,
be summoned using the yellow emer- abandoned an inflationary wage index
gency posts located approximately system, and scaled back social welfare

Rome
programs, including pension and to reduce emission of carbon dioxide,

health care. Monetary officials were improve electrical sector efficiency,
forced to withdraw the lira in Septem- diversify energy sources, reduce energy
ber 1993 when it came under extreme consumption in both urban and trans-
pressure in currency markets; it was not port, and double production of renew-
re-engaged until in November 1996. On able energy.
January 1, 1999, the euro (EUR) became
the legal currency in Italy, and the lira 11 Shopping
became a subdivision of it, the irrevoca-
ble conversion rate being 1,936.27 lira Rome is a city full of treasures. The
to one euro. The euro, which consists of prime shopping area for fashion is
100 (U.S.) cents, will not be in circula- along Via dei Condotti and Via Frattina,
tion until January 2002. from Via del Corso to Piazza di Spagna,
and all of the avenues in between. Shop
With the start of the new millen- windows are dressed with jewelry, foot-
nium, Rome’s economy is strong, but wear, and of course, Italian designer
familiar issues remain a concern: high clothes. Moderately priced fashions
unemployment figures, government coupled with quality workmanship
deficit, tottering communications sys- make the area popular.
tems, and environmental concerns for
the ongoing expansion and industrial The elegant Ludovisi District is
integration of the European Union. lined with famous cafes, divine restau-
rants, and exclusive shops. Radiating
out from one of the world’s most
10 Environment famous streets, Via Veneto, the sur-
Italy has limited mineral resources rounding area has a wealth and style all
but has consistently increased its pro- its own.
duction of mineral imports, like petro-
Between Via Del Tritone and Via
leum, lignite, iron ore, sulfur, mercury,
Nazionale, the scaled-down boutiques
and marble. The country is rich with
are competitive and of classic quality.
deposits of natural gas; however,
The Trevi Fountain area shops are plen-
reserves are dwindling. Demanding
tiful and quite shoe savvy.
energy requirements keep Italy depen-
dent on oil. Cultivated hydroelectricity Antique shopping can be found
does generate some power, and there between Via Margutta, Via Ripetta, Via
are several nuclear stations in the coun- dei Coronari, and Via Del Babuino.
try. Across the Tiber River is the Via cola di
Rienzo and the Via Ottaviano, and both
Roman industrial groups and envi- avenues are lined with clever shops.
ronmental organizations have made a
joint declaration to reduce the environ- The department stores in Rome
mental impact of energy use, signed in range from the Coin and Rinascente to
December 1998. The declaration aims Upim and Standa. The Coin is in Piaz-

Rome
Street markets add to the multitude of shopping opportunities in Rome. (Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp)
zale Appio at Porta San Giovanni, and The markets are another facet of
La Rinascente is in Piazza Colonna and shopping in Rome, especially the flea
in Via del Corso. Both Upim and Standa markets. One of the most famous in
are more accessible at various locations Italy is the Porta Portese market, held
every Sunday morning. Merchant wares
throughout the city.
that contain everything from antiques
to the unlikely cover a three-kilometer
Stores close on Sundays and for a
(two-mile) stretch of streets, from the
half day during the week (Thursday
Porta Portese to the underpass that
afternoon for food stores, Monday leads into Piazza della Radio.
morning for most others); however,
some tourist area shops will remain
open on Sundays. During the summer,
12 Education
the half-day closing schedule is on Sat- School attendance is compulsory
urday afternoon. Some shops and most from ages six to 14 in Italy. Classes may
department stores have opted for non- be held six days a week, and education
stop operating hours. is a serious matter. There are many uni-

Rome
versities, educational centers, and history and economy. The withdrawal

degrees available in higher education. of the lira from the monetary system
Italy’s largest institution, the University signaled the beginning of a period of
of Rome, has an enrollment of 190,000 economic austerity. In an attempt to
students. Founded in 1303, the univer- control spending by Rome, social bene-
sity confers many degrees in interna- fits, including health care, were cut
tional relations and communications. back. Despite Italy being the world’s
Due to an extraordinary wealth of art, fifth-largest economy, governmental
Rome is a major center for studies in intervention policy has strangled pro-
creative dance, dramatic arts, music, ductive growth.
and art restoration.
Generally, health care services are
The oldest university in Europe was coordinated through government agen-
founded in Bologna in the twelfth cen- cies, and 95 percent of Italians rely on
tury. Present-day academic institutions the public system for health care. The
and educational centers near Rome system provisions offer cradle-to-grave
include Istituto Guglielmo Tagliacarne, medical and surgical care at public facil-
Istituto Quasar Design school, John ities throughout the nation. Of those 95
Cabot University, Pontifical Athanaeum percent relying on public health care,
Regina Apostolorum, Pontifical Univer- about five percent have private insur-
sity of Saint Bonaventure, Pontifical ance, which debuted about three years
University of St. Thomas Aquinas in ago, and they tend to live in the north-
Rome, Universita Cattolica del Sacro ern region of Italy.
Cuore, Universita degli Studi di Roma
La Sapienza, Universita degli Studi di About one percent of the popula-
Roma Tor Vergata, Universita Popolare tion pays privately for health services,
di Roma, Universita degli Studi Roma and a small number of private hospitals
Tre, Libera Universita degli Studi Maria and clinics exist to serve their needs.
SS Assunta, Libera Universita, Internazi- Italy spends about seven-and-a-half per-
onale Studi Sociali Guido Carli, Libero cent of its GDP on health care or, in
Istituto Universitario Campus Bio med- terms of U.S. dollars, about $1500 per
ico, Pontifico Ateneo della Santa Croce, person.
Pontifica Universita Gregoriana, Pontif-
ica Universita Lateranense, Libero Isti- Large public hospitals are the
tuto Universitario San Pio V, and the prominent features of the Italian health
Osservatorio Astronomico. care landscape. Managed by the gov-
ernment, medical universities, or the
13 Health Care Roman Catholic Church, the number of
services available and the quality of ser-
The problems that plague Italy’s vice at public facilities correlates with
health care system are complex and each hospital’s geographic location. Pri-
deeply rooted in the nation’s political vate urban hospitals that tout the best

Rome
equipment are rivaled by large public The state television channels

facilities in big cities. include RAI, Uno, Due, and Tre; all are
politically aligned. Satellite dishes and
There are three types of hospitals in cable TV allow for reception of various
Italy: general care facilities, specialist European channels, as well as channels
centers, and psychiatric care hospitals. for sports and news in English.
Facilities are further defined by the
number of patients they intend to
serve. Local or zone hospitals serve
15 Sports
25,000 to 30,000 people and are the Romans are sports enthusiasts and
most common facilities. Provincial hos- play with passion. A peaceful afternoon
pitals serve about 400,000 people, and may suddenly explode with the sounds
regional facilities, located in large urban of victory—cheers from excited crowds
areas, serve about one million and offer and honking car horns. Football, com-
the most services. The Italian Ministry monly known as soccer in North Amer-
of Health’s National Health Service, ica, is the national sport. Playing for
known as the SSN, oversees the opera- Rome in the Campionato Italiano (Ital-
tion of all government facilities, but ian championship league) are two
each hospital is governed directly by an teams, Roma and Lazio, and they take
administrative council whose members turns playing in Stadio Olimpico on
are locally elected. Sundays at 3:00 PM.
Overall, health care tends to be Spring in Rome is synonymous
unevenly distributed in Italy; the north with tennis. For tennis players, there
is equipped with a greater number of are an abundance of clubs from which
facilities and more professionals than to choose. For tennis fans, the Interna-
the neighboring south. tional Tennis Championship meets for
two weeks every May at Foro Italico.
14 Media The event draws the world’s top tennis
players to smash it out on clay courts.
Rome’s two main newspapers are Spring also brings out golf enthusiasts.
La Republica and Il Messaggero. British Golfers in Rome can play at several golf
and American newspapers are readily associations in and around the city.
available, and the International Herald Some will accept a touring golfer with a
Tribune is sold on the day of issue. home membership. Golf fans can also
watch the National Championships in
British Broadcast Communications and around the city. The tournament
(BBC) world service can be heard on play runs in October, and the Rome
radio 15.070 MHz (shortwave) in the Masters is held in April.
morning and 648KHz (medium wave)
at night. Listeners can tune in to Vati- Rome also hosts a plethora of rac-
can Radio on 93.3 MHz, and 105 MHz ing venues. For horseracing fans, the
broadcasts news in English. trotters run at the Ippodromo di Tor di

Rome
Valle. Steeple chase or flat races are run palm trees, and evergreen oaks to hide
at Ippodromo delle Capannelle. Auto- the zig-zag road that climbs up to the
racing enthusiasts head to Valle Lunga, gardens.
where Formula-1 and Formula-3 cars
vie for the lead position on Sundays. Villa Borghese, designed in 1605
Dogs race at the Cinodromo Track, for Cardinal Borghese, was the first park
where greyhounds run Wednesday and of its kind in Rome, with 400 planted
Thursday evenings, as well as Sunday pine trees and dramatic waterworks.
mornings. Finally, for the fans of row- The garden layout was often imitated
ing, a British Oxbridge team challenges by prominent Roman families. Honor-
the historic Aniene team to race, alter- ing the eighteenth-century renovation,
nately on the Thames and the Tiber riv- the intersections of paths and avenues
ers, in mid June. are now marked by fountains and stat-
ues. Long avenues of trees are dotted
with picturesque villas that double as
16 Parks and museums and galleries. The woods,
Recreation lakes, and grass cover a vast area. This
Rome’s perfect climate and stun- park also offers a running track.
ning scenery beckon many people into
the plentiful city parks. People don’t A beautiful villa and garden, Villa
have to travel far to experience park set- Torionia was once the Mussolini family
tings and exquisite monuments. The residence. Its well-maintained com-
Trevi Fountain, begun by Italian sculp- mons area contains a variety of exotic
tor Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598–1680) plants and ample trees. Another small,
in 1640, is a perfect example. The serene park villa with a scenic view of
Roman Forum’s archaeological area is a the city is Rome’s Villa Aldobrandini.
public garden in itself that is open from The supreme Villa Celimontana is
morning until sunset. located between the Colosseum and the
baths of Caracalla. Open dawn until
The largest park in Rome, Villa sunset, only a part of another comely
Doria Pamphilj, is located just south of city park, Villa Ada, is open to the pub-
the Vatacian. The park was designed in lic.
the mid-seventeenth century for Prince
Camillo Pamphilj. A beautiful place to If exercise is on the agenda, bicy-
stroll, there is plenty of open space, a cles are available for rent from many
network of paths to explore, and three places, including Porta Pinciana in Villa
different tracks for walking dogs or jog- Borghese, Collalti, and Via del Corso.
ging. Organized bike tours are advertised in
various publications.
On a hillside above Piazza del
Popolo is another lush and inviting For the indoor enthusiast, there are
park, Pincio Gardens. The streets are sport centers that offer swimming
skillfully terraced with umbrella pines, pools, gym facilities, and dance classes.

Rome
Some health clubs do require member- 18 Libraries and

ship. Museums
Italy has more than 2,400 public
17 Performing Arts libraries and 3,442 museums that store
and specialize in information. Some
Italy is considered by many to be a institutions circulate only materials
birthplace of the arts. Today Romans that cover a particular field of study—
still enjoy cultural events and are proud archaeology, ancient art, bio-medics, to
of their country’s artistic heritage. name a few. With a history as rich as
Rome’s, it takes numerous institutions
Throughout the year there are to house and display all the ancient
numerous musical and artistic venues treasures. The following is only a partial
to experience, both indoors and out- list of the many libraries: Accademia
doors. For classical music, the city’s Dei Lincei, Accademia di Danimarca,
churches host a range of choral, cham- Accademia di Ungheria, Accademia
ber, and organ recitals, many free of Spagnola di Storia, Biblioteca A. Sarti,
charge. For jazz and blues afficionados, Angelica, Casanatense, Comunale
the gardens at Villa Celimontana host Rispoli, Belle Donne, Di Storia Moderna
premiere musicians for an evening of E Contemporaena, Raccolta Teatrale Del
music under the stars. Throughout the Burcardo, Nazionale Centrale, Universi-
year, the local Accademia di Santa taria Alessandrina, Vallicelliana, Vati-
Cecilia stages concerts, with either cana, British Council, Centro Studi
national artists or visiting orchestras, at Americani, Fondazione Lelio Basso,
Via dei Greci 18, and in the summer Fondazione Luigi Einaudi, Goethe Insti-
concerts are held at the Piazza del Cam- tut, Istituto Austriaco Di Cultura, Isti-
pidoglio. Rome’s opera scene concen- tuto di Norvegia a Roma, and Istituto
trates on the Teatro dell’ Opera. Winter Svizzero Di Roma.
season is conducted on the Via Firenze;
Rome also hosts more than 50 dif-
for summer season, the ensemble
ferent visual art museums and galleries.
moves outdoors to Villa Borghese park.
Not all are inside structures; some
Finally, for a colorful open-air theater,
museums operate within the very struc-
Janiculum Hill plays host to Teatro di
ture they represent, like the Catacombs.
Pulcinella Puppets on late afternoons
and weekend mornings. The oldest art collection in Rome,
housed in the Capitoline Museum, was
Reflecting diverse styles, the mag- established in 1471 and contains excep-
nificence of Rome is preserved through tional antiquities. Other Roman muse-
arts and culture. The city is host to hun- ums are the National Museum of the
dreds of theaters throughout the streets, Villa Giulia, which has an outstanding
in open spaces, and among ancient collection of Etruscan and Roman art,
ruins. and is located in the mid-sixteenth-cen-

Rome
The Pantheon, a temple, survives from the era of the Roman Empire. (Robert Frerck; Woodfin Camp)
tury country house of Pope Julius II seventeenth-century Baroque palace

(1443–1513). The Borghese Gallery, a with a remarkable picture gallery.
museum of paintings and sculpture is The Vatican Museum, Viale Vati-
housed in an early seventeenth-century cano, is open from March through
palace. The National Roman Museum, October and offers student pricing.
designed by Michelangelo (1475–1564), Archaeological museums tend to be
features exhibits of Greek and Roman closed on Mondays. Several within the
sculpture, including the Ludovisi col- city include Antiquarium Comunale,
lection of antiquities. Important collec- Museo Barracco Corso Vittorio Eman-
tions of art and decorative pieces can uele, Capitoline Museums Piazza del
also be seen in the city’s other palaces. Campidoglio, Museo Della Civilta’
Among these are the Farnese Palace, Romana Piazza Giovanni Angel, Museo
built between 1514 and 1589; the mid- Nazionale Romano, and Museo Preis-
fifteenth-century Venetian Palace, with torico ed Etnografico L. Pigorini.
a noted collection of small renaissance For inspirational art, visitors
bronzes; and the Palazzo Barberini, a should see Museo Gregoriano Profano,

Rome
Museo Pio Clementino, Museo Chiara- famous opera houses. Each province of
monti, Museo Gregoriano Etrusco, Italy has a Board of Tourism; in addi-
Museo Storico, Castel Sant’Angelo tion, there are more than 300 supple-
Museum, National Roman Museum of mental listings for further information
the Thermae, Museum of Roman Civili- in Rome.
zation, Natural History Museum, Napo-
The latest figures indicate that
leonic Museum, Palazzo delle
close to 60 million people visit Italy
Esposizioni Via Nazionale, Galleria
every year. Tourist dollars spent in 1996
Nazionale d’Arte Antica, Galleria Nazio-
amounted to more than 46 million lira.
nale d’Arte Moderna, Galleria dell;
City authorities estimate more than 40
Accademia, Galleria Colonna Via della
million pilgrims traveled to Rome dur-
Pilotta, and Galleria Doria Pamphili.
ing the year 2000.
Museums and monuments to the
deceased are also popular places to visit 20 Holidays and
in Rome. One rather unusual place is an Festivals
eclectic museum devoted to the dead
JANUARY
souls trapped in purgatory who leave Epiphany
messages for the living. Admission is
FEBRUARY
free at Museo delle Anime dei Defunti. Lenten season
Near the Pantheon on Piazza della MARCH

Ides of March
Minerva is Santa Maria Sopra Minerva.
Here lies the body of St. Catherine. APRIL
Easter (The Pope says mass on Holy Friday at the
After her death in 1380, her body was
Colosseum.)
severed from her head, which remained Natale di Roma (Rome’s birthday is celebrated
in Siena, the town of her birth. with fireworks.)
Liberation Day
The Saint Maria della Concezione’s International Horse Show
Cappuccini monk cemetery is elabo- Rome Masters Golf Tournament
rately decorated with the bones of MAY
4,000 monks and a Barberini princess. Labour Day
Located on Via Vittorio Veneto, it is a Foro Italico (Roman International Tennis Cham-
place of startling spirituality. pionship)
Spanish Steps Azaleas Display
JUNE
19 To u r i s m Derby Horse Racing
Anniversary of the Republic
A great number of tourists are St. Peter’s Square papal benediction (Sundays)
attracted to Rome by its Alpine and Crew race between teams Oxbridge and Aniene
Mediterranean scenery, sunny climate, JULY
archaeological remains, medieval and Expo Tevere (artisan fair)
Baroque churches, Renaissance towns AUGUST
and palaces, painting, sculpture, and Assumption of the Virgin Mary

Rome
OCTOBER Enrico Caruso (1873–1921), tenor.

National Golf Championship
Saint Clare of Assisi (1198–1253), re-
NOVEMBER
All Saints Day vered female of the early Fran-
National Unity Day ciscan Order.
Premio Roma horse race
Dante (1265–1321), poet and founder
DECEMBER of modern Italian literature with
Birth of the Virgin Mary
his The Divine Comedy.
Feast of St. Stephen
Federico Fellini (1920–93), film director.
21 Famous Citizens Saint Francis of Assisi (1182–1223), reli-
Francisco Accorso Accursius (c. 1182–c. gious figure, founder of the Fran-
1260), jurist and professor, com- ciscan Order (1209).
piled Glossa Magna on Roman law.
Augustus William Hare (1792–1824),
Alfieri (1749–1803), poet. author of guidebooks and travel-
ogues of Italy and the Mediterra-
Saint Ambrose (340–397), patron saint. nean.
Fra Angelico (1387–1455), renaissance Pope John Paul I (Albino Luciani, 1912–
painter. 1978), Catholic Pope.
Saint Anthony of Padua (1195–1231), Julius Caesar (c. 100–44 B.C.), assassinat-
Franciscan preacher, who holds the ed a month after being named im-
record for being canonized in the perial Roman dictator for life.
shortest period of time after his
death, less than one year. Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527), au-
thor.
Saint Augustine (354–430), bishop
whom scholars call the greatest Angelo Mariani (1821–73), music direc-
thinker in the Latin language. tor, collaborator of Verdi.
Augustus Caesar (63 B.C.–A.D. 14), the Saint Mark (d. 68), patron saint of Ven-
first and perhaps greatest Roman ice.
emperor.
Giulietta Masina (1920–94), actress,
Dario Bellezza (1944–95), poet and nov- wife of Federico Fellini.
elist.
Marcello Mastroianni (1924–96), actor,
Saint Benedict (c. 480–c. 547), founder discovered by Fellini.
of the Benedictine monastic order,
patron saint of engineers. Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564),
painter, sculptor and architect, who
Filippo Brunelleschi (1377–1446), archi- rejected the restrictions of classical
tect and sculptor. design theory and generated an

Rome
imaginative approach to architec- 22 For Further Study

tural composition.
Websites
Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643), com- Enjoy Rome. [Online] Available http://
poser. www.enjoyrome.com (accessed February 7,
2000).
Northern Italy. [Online] Available http://
Niccolo Paganini (d. 1840), violin virtu- www.northernitaly.com (accessed February
oso. 7, 2000).
Theodora. [Online] Available http://
www.theodora.com (accessed February 7,
Pope Paul VI (Giovanni Montini, 1897– 2000).
1978), Catholic pope.
Government Offices
Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924), compos- Consiglio Superiore della Magistratura
er. Piazza dell’ Indipendendza 6, 00185 Rome
Francesco Paolo Fulci
Ambassador to United Nations
Raphael (1483–1520), artist.
Unione Italiana delle Camere di Commercio
Gioacchino Rossini (1792–1868), com- Piazza Sallustio 21, 00187 Rome
Tel: (6) 47041
poser.
U. S. Embassy
Tintoretto (1518–1594), Venetian paint- Via Veneto 119A/121
Tel.: 467 41
er.
Arturo Toscanini (1867–1957), conduc- Dipartimento del Turismo:
tor. Via della Ferratella in Laterano 51, 00184
Rome
Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901), composer. Ente Nazionale Italiano per il Turisom (ENIT)
Via Marghera 2, 00185
Gianni Versace (1946–97), fashion de- Rome
signer.
Books
Virgil (70–19 B .C .), Rome’s champion Absalom, R. Italy since 1880: A Nation in the Bal-
ance. Harlow, 1995.
epic poet, wrote literary master- Smith, D.M. Modern Italy: A Political History. Yale
piece the Aeneid. University Press, 1997.

San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States of America, North America

Location: The Pacific coast of northern California, United States, North America
Motto: “Gold in Peace and Iron in War”
Flower: Dahlia
Ethnic Composition: White, 67%; Black, 11%; American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut,
0.5%; Asian and Pacific Islander, 29%; Hispanic origin (may be of any race), 14%
Coastline: 40–50 km (25–30 mi)
Climate: Mediterranean-type climate with consistent, moderate temperatures. The
year is divided into distinct dry and wet seasons, with most precipitation
occurring between November and March. A distinguishing climate feature is the
fog that rolls in from the Pacific Ocean.
Annual Mean Temperature: 15ºC (59ºF); January 12ºC (53ºF); August 18ºC (65ºF)
Average Annual Precipitation (rainfall and melted snow): 49 cm (19.33 in)
Postal Codes: 94101-88
1 Introduction cisco was the gathering place of the

“beat” generation in the 1950s and a
Situated on a peninsula separating focal point of the 1960s counterculture,
San Francisco Bay from the Pacific a hotbed of political protest and the
Ocean, San Francisco is a uniquely pic- birthplace of the “San Francisco
turesque city, whose scenic attractions Sound.” Still known for its cultural
include the largest cultivated urban attractions, today the Bay Area is also
park in the country, Golden Gate Park. famous for its concentration of cutting-
Its notoriously steep streets, traversed edge high-technology firms, which
by the famous cable cars, are home to a have drawn even more new residents to
remarkably diverse ethnic population, this populous region.
and the city’s reputation for tolerance
and diversity is also evident in its his-
tory as a mecca for the gay community.
2 Getting There
Known for sophisticated cultural inno- The city of San Francisco is situated
vation and experimentation, San Fran- at the tip of a peninsula surrounded by
85
San Francisco

San Francisco
Amtrak provides service to San
Population Profile
Francisco on the California Zephyr,
City Proper which runs through Salt Lake City,
Population: 724,000 Denver, and eastward to Chicago, and
Area: 122 sq km (47 sq mi) the Coast Starlight, which runs between
Ethnic composition: 59.5% white; 29.1% Asian or San Francisco and Los Angeles. Trains
Pacific Islander; 10.9% black; and 0.5% Native
American with regional routes through California
Nicknames: The Golden Gate City, Baghdad in the include the Capitols and the San
Bay
Joaquins.
Metropolitan Area
Population: 4,051,000 Airports
Description: San Francisco and surrounding
communities San Francisco International Air-
World population rank1: 59 port, one of the nation’s busiest, han-
Average yearly growth rate: 1.0% dles most domestic and international
Ethnic composition: 67% white; 25% Asian or flights to and from the city. It services
Pacific Islander; 7% black; 1% other flights from about 50 major carriers.
———
1. The San Francisco metropolitan area’s rank
among the world’s urban areas. Shipping
population living in the San Francisco With 40 deep-water piers, San Fran-
metropolitan area. cisco is one of the leading port cities on
the Pacific coast, handling about one-
third of the country’s West Coast trade,
amounting to more than 200,000 tons
of cargo annually. It has been desig-
the Pacific Ocean on the west, the San
nated a U.S. Port of Entry and a free
Francisco Bay on the east, and the
trade zone. Freight is also carried to and
Golden Gate, a narrow marine passage-
from the region by a number of major
way between San Francisco and Marin
rail carriers and trucking companies,
County to the north.
and all major air freight carriers land at
San Francisco International Airport.
Highways
Several interstate highways provide 3 Getting Around
easy access to the city, including U.S.-
101 and State Route 1 (the Pacific Situated on 40 hills of varying
Coastal Highway). I-5, the north-south heights—among the highest are Tele-
highway that runs from Canada to graph Hill, Nob Hill, and Russian Hill—
Mexico, reaches San Francisco through San Francisco is known for its steep
Loops 580 and 680. U.S.-50 also passes streets, many of which ascend and
through the city. descend hillsides, the result of insis-

San Francisco
tence by early planners on imposing a the land. The two hills of Twin Peaks
strict grid pattern on the city rather mark the geographic center of the city,
than following the natural contours of which is divided into a number of dis-

San Francisco
Sightseeing
Many of the sights in downtown

San Francisco can be covered on walk-
ing tours. Areas for which tours are
available include Chinatown and
Pacific Heights. Among the tours focus-
ing on specific areas of interest are Vic-
torian homes tour and a Dashiell
Hammett tour that covers sites linked
to his detective, Sam Spade. The city’s
restored cable cars—which have been
declared a historical landmark—carry
visitors over a 16-kilometer (ten-mile)
route. Bus tours of San Francisco and
San Francisco’s historic cable cars cover a 16 the Bay Area are also available, as are
kilometer (10-mile) route.
(Carol Simowitz; San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau)
scenic cruises of San Francisco Bay,
which offer views of the San Francisco
skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, and
tinct neighborhoods, many of whose Alcatraz prison.
streets are laid out in grid patterns.
Bisecting much of the city from south-
west to northeast is Market Street, 4 People
whose southwestern-most portion is
called Portola Drive. The Golden Gate Known for its ethnic diversity, San
Bridge runs northward across the Francisco has one of the country’s high-
Golden Gate straight; the San Fran- est concentrations of new immigrants.
cisco-Oakland Bay Bridge runs north- The 1990 census recorded a population
eastward across San Francisco Bay. of approximately 724,000 in the city of
San Francisco, of which 59.5 percent
were white, 29.1 percent Asian or
Pacific Islander, 10.9 percent black, and
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) 0.5 percent Native American. The sur-
provides commuter rail service between rounding area, designated by the Cen-
the city and 26 stations in the East Bay sus Bureau as San Francisco’s Primary
area. The Municipal Railway System Statistical Metropolitan Area (PMSA),
(Muni) operates San Francisco’s famed had a 1990 population of 1.6 million.
cable cars—popular with both commut- In 1996 its population was still under
ers and tourists—and a system of above- 1.7 million, and its racial composition
and underground light-rail vehicles. was 67 percent white; 25 percent Asian
There is also ferry service between San or Pacific Islander; and seven percent
Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. black.

San Francisco

San Francisco Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
San Francisco Akhbar El Yom/
Chronicle Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
5 Neighborhoods of the 1960s counterculture; the Mis-

sion District, site of the historic Mission
Neighborhoods in the northern Dolores and home to the city’s largest
part of San Francisco include the Hispanic population; the Central area,
wealthy Pacific Heights district, whose home of the Castro, for decades a gay
mansions provide dramatic views of the and lesbian mecca; and the South of
Bay; Nob Hill, site of the “crookedest Market district, a heavily commercial
street in the world” (Lombard Street);
area that has attracted many high-tech-
North Beach and Chinatown, home to
nology start-up firms. To the south lie
the largest single concentration of Chi-
South Bayshore, which combines resi-
nese outside of China; the financial dis-
trict, dominated by the TransAmerica dential and commercial properties and
Pyramid and the Bank of America is also home to the city’s produce mar-
building; and the Western Addition, kets; the largely working-class South
with its gracious restored Victorian Central area; and the pricier Ingleside,
homes. Districts close to the center of near San Francisco State University and
the city include Haight-Ashbury, cradle San Francisco City College.

San Francisco
A view of San Francisco from across the San Francisco Bay. (Glen McLeod; San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau)
6 History nearly doubled with the arrival of over

200 Mormon settlers.
The fog that rolls in off the Pacific
Ocean hid the present-day site of San The town’s situation changed dra-
Francisco from Spanish conquistadors matically with the discovery of gold in
for two centuries after they first discov- 1848 at Sutters Mill, about 225 kilome-
ered California. A small party of explor- ters (140 miles) away, and the onset of
ers traveling overland from Mexico the California Gold Rush. The Gold
Rush brought wealth and expansion to
toward Canada and led by Sergeant José
the city as it grew to accommodate the
Ortega first stumbled on the area in
thousands of prospectors arriving to
1769, and settlement began in 1776. A seek their fortunes, many of whom later
small town, called Yerba Buena, was settled permanently in the area. How-
established, but for over half a century ever, the Gold Rush also created a wave
it attracted little attention and was pop- of lawlessness as saloons, gambling
ulated mostly by missionaries. The joints, and brothels were opened to
United States claimed it in 1846, during serve thousands of temporary settlers
the Mexican War, and its population who considered themselves outside the

San Francisco
law. San Francisco was incorporated in one of the dominant powers in the city.
1850, and the city’s permanent resi- The longshoremen’s strike in 1930 was
dents began forming vigilante groups in the largest in U.S. history. World War II
the 1850s to clean up the town, eventu- (1939–45) further boosted industrial
ally restoring order. production in the city, although the
period was marred by the forced reloca-
San Francisco continued to grow in
tion of thousands of Bay Area Japanese
the latter half of the nineteenth cen-
Americans and their detention in
tury, receiving a major boost from the
internment camps for the duration of
completion of the transcontinental rail-
the war.
way in 1869, as well as a silver boom in
Nevada. By the turn of the century, it
The postwar period has seen con-
was home to about a third-of-a-million
tinued economic growth and civic
people. The new century, however,
expansion, but the city has also had to
soon brought disaster in the form of the
confront problems typical of major
great earthquake of April 18, 1906, in
urban areas, including flight to the sur-
which over 500 people perished. Ten
rounding suburbs, and the blight and
square kilometers (four square miles) of
decay of downtown areas. Urban
the city were destroyed as fires raged
renewal began in the 1960s and 1970s;
out of control for three days. However,
the downtown area was redeveloped,
the people of San Francisco forged
and the Rapid Transit System was intro-
ahead in the face of tragedy and rebuilt
duced to make the central city more
their city, with the help of donations
accessible to those on the periphery.
that poured in from many quarters fol-
During this period, the Bay Area
lowing the disaster. By 1915 the city tri-
became a focal point of the youth coun-
umphantly hosted its first world’s fair,
terculture that was sweeping the
the Panama-Pacific International Expo-
nation, and a center for student protest
sition in honor of the completion of
against the Vietnam War (1945–1973)
the Panama Canal.
and other types of activism, including
The first half of the twentieth cen- the struggle for gay rights. The 1970s
tury was a period of continued growth ended on a somber note with the 1979
spearheaded by the completion of assassination of Mayor George Moscone
major buildings and infrastructure and the city’s first openly gay city
projects, including the damming of the supervisor, Harvey Milk. That same year
Tuoloumne River at the Hetch Hetchy San Francisco elected its first woman
Canyon and the construction of two mayor, Dianne Feinstein.
great bridges completed within a year
of each other: the San Francisco-Oak- In 1989 San Francisco experienced
land Bay Bridge (1936) and the Golden another major earthquake. However,
Gate Bridge (1937). With the growth of the city moved forward in the following
industry came the development of an decade. Its city hall was refurbished,
active labor movement, which became and important new facilities were built,

San Francisco
Because of its location on a natural harbor, shipping has played an important part in the history of San
Francisco’s economy. Today, the Fisherman’s Wharf is a popular tourist attraction.
(Mark Gibson; San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau)
including a museum of modern art, a Francisco’s municipal government

new main library, and an arts center. employed 26,000 persons.
7 Government 8 Public Safety

San Francisco, which is both a city In 1995 San Francisco had a total
and a county, has a mayor-council form crime index figure of 8,190 crimes
of government. The mayor, who serves reported to police per 100,000 resi-
as the chief executive, is elected to a
dents. A total of 1,737 reports were vio-
four-year term, as are the 11 members
of the city council. The city administra- lent crimes (murder, 17; rape, 69;
tor and controller are appointed by the robbery, 653; and aggravated assault,
mayor. Elected officials include the city 998), and 6,713 were property crimes
assessor, public defender, district attor- (burglary, 965; larceny, 4,625; and
ney, sheriff, and attorney. In 1995 San motor vehicle theft, 1,123).

San Francisco
In May 1999, the city of San Fran- and the site of the Pacific Stock
cisco, together with three other Califor- Exchange, as well as branches of the
nia municipalities and two counties, Federal Reserve and United States Mint.
sued gun manufacturers for promoting Some 500 Fortune 500 companies are
the illegal sale of guns that are ulti- headquartered in the city, including
mately used to commit crimes. Three Charles Schwab & Co., Bechtel Engi-
industry trade associations and 28 gun neering, Chevron Oil, and Levi Strauss
makers were named in the suit, which & Co.
charged them with creating an illegal
secondary market for guns and deliber- San Francisco’s newest growth
ately producing enough guns to perpet- areas are computers and electronics,
uate it; designing guns to make them and biotechnology. The city’s history of
attractive to criminals; falsely advertis- involvement in defense-related indus-
ing the safety of their products; evading tries and its location near such high-
state and federal gun control laws; and tech centers as Stanford University and
selling defective and unsafe weapons. the famed Silicon Valley have created a
The gun-industry suit follows the prece- boom in computers, scientific instru-
dent set in 1996 when San Francisco ment, and other electronics fields.
became the first city in the United Home of the pioneering Genentech
States to sue the tobacco industry, also firm, founded in the 1970s, San Fran-
under California’s unfair business prac- cisco is also on the cutting edge of the
tices law. Under the terms of the 1998 biotechnology industry, with some 500
settlement of that suit, California companies in the area specializing in
became the only state in which cities pharmaceuticals, medical electronics,
were to receive direct compensation bionics, and related areas.
from the tobacco industry.
The cost of living in the Bay Area is
substantially higher than the national
9 Economy
average. In 1996 the median sale price
San Francisco’s coastal location and for a single-family home was $319,985,
natural harbor have made it an impor- well above the national average, and
tant shipping center throughout its his- apartments rent from $550 per month
tory, and it is still one of the major port for a one-room studio to $1,500 for
cities on the West Coast, although two- and three-bedroom apartments or
today most shipping activity actually houses. However, the income of the
occurs in nearby Oakland. area’s residents is also above average—
their wages and salaries are among the
Since the nineteenth century, San highest in the nation, partly as a result
Francisco has been known as a financial of their relatively high level of educa-
center. Today it is home to leading tion and the concentration of jobs in
banks (Wells Fargo) and insurance com- well-paid areas, including high-technol-
panies (TransAmerica, Fireman’s Fund) ogy fields and the professions.

San Francisco
10 Environment city, is the major shopping district and

home to most of the city’s department
San Francisco is situated on a pen- stores, including Macy’s, Neiman Mar-
insula that forms the western boundary cus, Gump’s, and Nordstrom, which
of the 1,285-square-kilometer (496- anchors the huge San Francisco Shop-
square-mile) San Francisco Bay. Its hilly ping Centre, site of over 100 stores and
terrain is part of the Coast Ranges, restaurants. The Embarcadero Center,
which extend from Oregon southward located in the financial district, is a
to Santa Barbara County. Among the four-hectare (ten-acre) commercial
highest peaks in the region are Mount complex of shops and restaurants. Also
Tamalpais (784 meters/2,571 feet) and located in the financial district is the
Mount Diablo (1,173 meters/3,849 exclusive Crocker Galleria, featuring
feet). designer clothing and specialty shops.
The Jackson Square Historic District
Other than its harbor, the out-
offers over 20 antique stores.
standing natural feature of the Bay
Area—and the one with the greatest In addition to souvenir shops and
potential to affect the lives of its resi- specialty museums, Fisherman’s Wharf
dents—is the region’s location on top of offers four major retail complexes:
a network of fault lines, which has led Ghirardelli Square, anchored by a choc-
to two major earthquakes in this cen- olate factory, the Cannery (a converted
tury, in 1906 and 1989. The San canning factory), Pier 39, and the
Andreas is the best known of these tec- Anchorage. For the budget-minded, the
tonic faults, where portions of the South of Market neighborhood offers a
earth’s crust slide past each other. Nor- variety of bargain outlets and second-
mally these motions amount to an hand shops. San Francisco’s ethnic
imperceptible five centimeters (two neighborhoods provide a colorful shop-
inches) per year; occasionally, however, ping experience: goods from through-
excess pressure builds up against these out Latin America can be found in the
plates, and when it is released, an earth- heavily Hispanic Mission District, and
quake occurs. Chinatown offers all types of Asian
In 1994 the city inaugurated a 50- goods, some in open-air markets. San
year plan to dispose of the millions of Francisco is also widely known as a
tons of sediment that wash into San bookstore lover’s paradise.
Francisco Bay annually, threatening
shipping and other activities. 12 Education
11 Shopping The San Francisco Unified School
District has approximately 105 public
San Francisco offers a varied and schools covering kindergarten through
eclectic shopping experience. Union grade 12, with an average daily atten-
Square, in the northeastern part of the dance of 63,900. The city’s private and

San Francisco
Visitors pass under the gate to Chinatown, one of San Francisco’s many ethnic neighborhoods.
(Kerrick James; San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau)
parochial schools, numbering about and the San Francisco Conservatory of

140, enroll an additional 23,600 stu- Music.
dents.
13 Health Care
Altogether, there are more than 35
colleges and universities located in the San Francisco offers state-of-the-art
Bay Area, including the University of health-care facilities. The San Francisco
California at San Francisco, San Fran- metropolitan statistical area had 5,209
cisco State University, the University of office-based physicians in 1995 when
San Francisco, Golden Gate University, its 23 community hospitals had 4,999
beds. San Francisco’s largest hospital is
and the University of California at Ber-
San Francisco General Medical Center,
keley. Specialized educational facilities with 550 beds and a highly respected
include the Hastings College of Law, the emergency and trauma center. The hos-
California School of Professional Psy- pital was also the site of the first special-
chology, the San Francisco Art Institute, ized AIDS unit in the country. In 1996–

San Francisco
97, it had 23,764 admissions, 391,661 Oakland Raiders. In basketball, Oak-

outpatient visits, and employed 3,239 land’s Golden State Warriors play in the
people. Other health-care facilities National Basketball Association (NBA).
include the University of California at All the San Francisco teams play in
San Francisco Medical Center, St. Fran- 3Com Park (formerly Candlestick Park);
cis Memorial Hospital, and Seton Medi- the Oakland teams play at the Oakland
cal Center. Coliseum. Also in the Bay Area are the
National Hockey League’s San Jose
14 Media Sharks.
San Francisco has two major daily San Francisco is also home to the
newspapers: the San Francisco Chronicle nation’s third-largest marathon, the San
(morning) and the San Francisco Exam- Francisco Marathon, held annually in
iner (evening); both papers jointly pub- July. Other spectator sports include
lish the Sunday paper, the San Francisco horse racing at Golden Gate Fields and
Examiner and Chronicle. Neighborhood Bay Meadows and auto racing at Bay-
publications include the Richmond lands Raceway Park and other venues.
Review, San Francisco Downtown, the
Haight Ashbury Free Press, and the New
Mission News. San Francisco Business 16 Parks and
magazine is published by the city’s Recreation
chamber of commerce, while San Fran-
cisco Focus is a regional-interest maga- Golden Gate Park, stretching five
zine. San Francisco is also the book kilometers (three miles) inland from
publishing capital of the West Coast. Ocean Beach toward the heart of the
The major commercial networks, public city, is the nation’s largest cultivated
television, and foreign-language sta- urban park. Covering a total area of
tions are all represented among the over 405 hectares (1,000 acres), it has
city’s nine television stations, and there 43 kilometers (27 miles) of footpaths
are 33 AM and FM radio stations. and 12 kilometers (seven-and-a-half
miles) of equestrian trails. Its varied
landscape includes gardens and woods,
15 Sports as well as man-made lakes and water-
The Bay Area is home to major falls. San Franciscans use the park for
league teams in all the major spectator everything from quiet strolls and pic-
sports. In baseball, there are the nics to outdoor sports. Located within
National League’s San Francisco Giants its boundaries are an arboretum, a glass
and the American League’s Oakland flower conservatory housing over
Athletics (“Oakland A’s”). Teams from 20,000 species of rare plants, a Japanese
both San Francisco and Oakland also tea garden, an eight-hectare (20-acre)
play in the National Football League rhododendron garden, and a children’s
(NFL): the San Francisco 49ers and the playground.

San Francisco
Situated on both sides of the

Golden Gate waterway between the
Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay,
and connected by the Golden Gate
Bridge, is the Golden Gate National
Recreation Area, the world’s largest
urban park. Covering a total of 28,329
hectares (70,000 acres), it offers hiking
trails, beaches, campgrounds, nature
preserves, and scenic lookouts over
both the ocean and the bay.
Outdoor activities available in San

Francisco year round include hiking,
camping, bicycling, horseback riding,
hang gliding, and golf. Popular water
sports include swimming, fishing, boat-
ing, water skiing, and surfing.
17 Performing Arts The Palace of Fine Arts provides a naturally

beautiful setting for all sorts of recreational
San Francisco is known for its rich activities. (Glen McLeod; San Francisco
and varied cultural scene, which Convention & Visitors Bureau)
embraces both European (Western) and

non-Western traditions in the perform- the 1940s and 1950s, the heyday of area
ing arts. Its flagship musical institution
native Dave Brubeck (b. 1920). The
is the San Francisco Symphony Orches-
1960s made San Francisco one of the
tra, founded in 1911. Appointed in
nation’s rock capitals, birthplace of the
1995, music director Michael Tilson
Thomas has expanded the group’s rep- “San Francisco Sound,” exemplified by
ertoire to include a greater number of the Grateful Dead, the Jefferson Air-
twentieth-century works, as well as the plane, and Janis Joplin’s band, Big
standard classical and Romantic offer- Brother and the Holding Company.
ings. Other well-known musical ensem-
bles founded in San Francisco include The San Francisco Ballet, the coun-
the Kronos Quartet and the male choir try’s oldest resident ballet company, has
Chanticleer. The San Francisco Opera, a wide repertoire of works by both clas-
widely considered the leading opera sical and twentieth-century choreogra-
company in the western United States, phers, and the Oakland Ballet has also
was founded in 1923, making it one of made a name for itself in the region.
the nation’s oldest opera companies. San Francisco’s modern dance troupes
Jazz has flourished in the Bay Area since include Contraband.

San Francisco
San Francisco’s American Conser- Museum, the San Francisco Interna-

vatory Theatre is considered one of the tional Toy Museum, the Old Mint, the
country’s leading regional theaters and Telephone Museum, the San Francisco
also runs a highly regarded drama Fire Department Museum, the Chinese
school. The San Francisco Mime Culture Center Museum, and the San
Troupe, founded 40 years ago, is still Francisco Crafts and Folk Art Museum.
popular with local audiences and tours
widely. 19 To u r i s m
San Francisco’s natural beauty, mild
18 Libraries and weather, and cultural attractions have
Museums made tourism one of the city’s leading
industries, and there are some 30,000
The San Francisco Public Library,
hotel rooms available for visitors. In
founded in 1878, serves a population of
addition to vacationers and sightseers,
nearly 800,000 from a main building
about one-and-a-half million visitors to
and 26 branches. With almost two-and-
the city attend conventions and trade
a-half million book volumes, it has an
shows in the city every year. They are
annual circulation of close to five-and-
served by an outstanding array of meet-
a-half million. The library has special
ing facilities, including the Civic Audi-
collections in the areas of Chinese lan-
torium, which seats nearly 8,000
guage, calligraphy, gay and lesbian his-
people; the Brooks Exhibit Hall, which
tory, science fiction, and humor.
provides 8,361 square meters (90,000
San Francisco’s premier art square feet) of exhibition space; and the
museum is the San Francisco Museum 55,740-square-meter (600,000-square-
of Modern Art, located in a striking foot) Moscone Center, undergoing an
modern building designed by Swiss expansion slated for completion in
architect Mario Botta (b. 1943), oppo- 2000.
site the Yerba Buena Gardens, after In 1995 San Francisco attracted
moving from its longtime site in the two-and-a-half million foreign visitors,
Civic Center. The museum, which the fourth-highest number of any city
houses more than 17,000 pieces of art, in the United States.
is known locally as “Sf-MOMA.” Other
major art collections are found at the
M. H. de Young Memorial Museum,
20 Holidays and
which features European paintings; it is Festivals
located in Golden Gate Park, where it JANUARY
shares a building with the Asian Art Chinese New Year celebration
Museum. San Francisco is also home to Sports & Boat Show
an eclectic array of specialty museums, FEBRUARY
including the American Carousel Arts of the Pacific Asian Show
Museum, the National Maritime Pacific Orchid Exposition

San Francisco
MARCH San Francisco Fringe Theater Festival

Bouquets to Art San Francisco Blues Festival
Contemporary Crafts Market
International Asian Film Festival OCTOBER
Tulipmania Fleet Week
St. Patrick’s Day Parade Great Halloween and Pumpkin Festival
San Francisco Garden Show Viva Mexico
MARCH-APRIL LATE OCTOBER-EARLY NOVEMBER

Easter Parade and Hat Promenade San Francisco Jazz Festival
APRIL NOVEMBER
Cherry Blossom Festival Polka Festival Weekend (Thanksgiving Weekend)
Macy’s Flower Show and Polka Hall of Fame Induction
LATE APRIL-EARLY MAY
San Francisco International Film Festival 21 Famous Citizens
MAY
Carnaval Ansel Adams (1902–84), photographer.
Cinco de Mayo Celebrations
Traditional Music and Dance Festival The “Beat” writers who were based in
Spring Festival Arts & Crafts Fair San Francisco in the 1950s, includ-
San Francisco Examiner Bay to Breakers Race ing Lawrence Ferlinghetti (b. 1920),
Norway Day Festival Jack Kerouac (1922–69), and Allen
JUNE Ginsberg (b. 1926).
Ethnic Dance Festival
Union Street Festival Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914), satirist.
Street Performers Festival
North Beach Festival Herb Caen (1916–97), columnist.
MID-JUNE TO MID-AUGUST Philo Taylor Farnsworth (1906–71), in-
Stern Grove Midsummer Music Festival
ventor of the first all-electronic
LATE JUNE-JULY television.
San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film
Festival U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (b. 1933).
JULY
Fillmore Street Festival Jerry Garcia (1942–95), leader of the
Fourth of July Waterfront Festival rock group the Grateful Dead.
Jazz and All That Art
Jazz and Wine at Embarcadero Center Bill Graham (b. 1931), rock and roll
San Francisco Marathon promoter.
JULY-EARLY OCTOBER Bret Harte (1836–1902), local-color au-
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival
thor.
AUGUST
A la Carte A la Park William Randoph Hearst (1863–1951),
Nihonmachi Street Fair founder of a newspaper empire.
SEPTEMBER
Festival of the Culinary Arts Jack London (1876–1916), adventure
Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival writer.

San Francisco
John Muir (1838–1914), naturalist and Publications

founder of the Sierra Club. Golden State
R.H.L./Golden State Inc.
Frank Norris (1870–1902), naturalist. 555 Nineteenth St.
San Francisco, CA 94107
Randy Shilts (1951–1994), journalist,
author, and AIDS activist. San Francisco Business Times Magazine
275 Battery St., Suite 940
Leland Stanford (1824–93), business- San Francisco, CA 94111
man and philanthropist.
San Francisco Chronicle
Amy Tan (b. 1952), author. 901 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94103-2988
22 For Further Study San Francisco Examiner

110 Fifth St.
Websites
Cityguide Online. [Online] Available http://
www.ctguide.com/. (accessed October 14, Books
1999). Barrett, Liz. Frommer's Irreverent Guide to San
Convention and Visitors Bureau. [Online] Avail- Francisco. 2nd ed. New York: Macmillan
able http://www.sfvisitor.org. (accessed Travel, 1998.
October 14, 1999). Benton, Lisa M. The Presidio: From Army Post to
San Francisco Guide. [Online] Available http:// National Park. Boston: Northeastern Univer-
www.sfguide.com/. (accessed October 14, sity Press, 1998.
1999). Caen, Herb. Baghdad by the Bay. Garden City, NY:
San Francisco home page. [Online] Available Doubleday, 1949.
http://www.wco.com/chldress/sfhome/ Chester, Carole. San Francisco. New York: Long-
(accessed October 14, 1999). meadow Press, 1994.
Doss, Margot Patterson. The New San Francisco at
Government Offices Your Feet: Best Walks in a Walker's City. 3rd
City Hall ed. New York: Grove Weidenfeld, 1991.
401 Van Ness Avenue Fong-Torres, Shirley. San Francisco Chinatown: A
San Francisco, CA 94102 Walking Tour. San Francisco: China Books &
(415) 554-4000 Periodicals, 1991.
Gold, Herbert. Bohemia: Where Art, Angst, Love,
Mayor’s Office
and Strong Coffee Meet. New York: Simon &
401 Van Ness Avenue, Rm. 336
Schuster, 1993.
O’Reilly, James, Larry Habegger, and Sean
(415) 554-6141
O'Reilly. Travelers' Tales San Francisco. 1st ed.
San Francisco Planning Commission San Francisco: Travelers' Tales, Inc., 1996.
1660 Mission St. 5th Floor Twain, Mark. Mark Twain’s San Francisco. New
San Francisco, CA 94103 York: McGraw-Hill, 1963.
(415) 558-6414
Videorecordings
Tourist and Convention Bureaus Jaffe Productions in association with Hearst
San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau Entertainment Television. Golden Gate
Convention Plaza Bridge. [videorecording]. New York, NY: A&E
201 Third Street, Suite 900 Home Video, 1995. 50-min videocassette.
San Francisco, CA 94103 Going Places. San Francisco. James Avery, host.
(415) 974-6900 MPI Home Video, 1998.

Seattle
Seattle, Washington, United States of America, North America

Location: Washington State, on the eastern shore of Puget Sound
Motto: Alki (“By and by,” state motto)
Flower: Western rhododendron (state flower)
Ethnic Composition: White, 75.3%; Black, 10.1%; Native American, 1.4%; Asian
11.2%
Elevation: sea level to 137 m (450 ft)
Climate: Mild winters and cool summers, with a pronounced rainy season
Annual Mean Temperature: 10.7ºC (51.3ºF); January 3.9ºC (39.1ºF); August
33.6ºC (65.6ºF)
(36.2 in)
Postal Codes: 98060; 98101–09; 98111–99
1 Introduction tions, combined with a picturesque set-

ting and mild climate, have created a
Located on the eastern shore of population boom and made Seattle the
Puget Sound, Seattle is the largest city commercial and cultural hub of the
in the state of Washington. Formerly a Pacific Northwest, as well as one of the
staid, conservative town built on the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in
lumber, shipping, and aircraft indus- the United States.
tries and little known outside its imme-
diate region, today Seattle has become 2 Getting There
one of the hottest locations in the
country, a mecca for the computer soft- Seattle is a city surrounded by both
ware industry and a cultural trendsetter water and mountains. It is situated on a
that originated the grunge rock of the narrow but hilly isthmus between Puget
early 1990s and the coffee craze that Sound and Lake Washington. To the
has swept across the United States. Its west lie the Olympic Mountains;
newfound business and cultural attrac- Mount Rainier rises in the south; and
101
Seattle
Route 520 also reaches Seattle from the

Seattle east.
Population Profile
City Proper
Amtrak provides passenger service
Population: 536,000
Area: 217 sq km (84 sq mi) between Seattle and major destinations
Ethnic composition: 75.3% white; 10.1% black; in the United States, and a variety of
1.4% Native American; 11.2% Asian buslines connect Seattle with major cit-
Nicknames: The Emerald City
ies in the United States and Canada.
Metropolitan Area
Population: 2,084,000 Airport
Description: Seattle-Bellevue-Everett
Area: 11,461 sq km (4,425 sq mi) Seattle-Tacoma International Air-
World population rank1: 150 port, located 21 kilometers (13 miles)
from downtown Seattle’s business cen-
Ethnic composition: 85.7% white; 4.6% black; ter, is the closest airport to Asia in the
8.5% Asian/Pacific Islander continental United States. In 1997, 24.7
——— million passengers passed through Seat-
1. The Seattle metropolitan area’s rank among the tle-Tacoma (also known as Sea-Tac),
which is served by 41 airlines.
population living in the Seattle metropolitan
area. Shipping
Seattle boasts the fifth-largest con-
tainer port in the United States. Encom-
passing over 182 hectares (450 acres) of
the Cascade mountain range is found to handling space, it is served by 27 steam-
the east. In addition to the water that ship lines and annually serves as a con-
surrounds it, Lake Union and the Lake duit for goods worth $37 billion.
Washington Ship Canal run through Fishmen’s Terminal is the home port for
the city. the U.S. North Pacific fishing fleet.
Transcontinental rail service is pro-
vided by the Union Pacific and Burling-
Highways ton Northern railroads, which operate
three inter-modal shipyards in Seattle.
I-5, leading north to Portland and
south toward Mexico, is the major
north-south route that passes through 3 Getting Around
Seattle; I-405 also runs north-south, but The streets of the downtown area—
passes just east of Seattle, through Belle- which extends roughly north-south
vue. From the east, I-90 is the major from Denny Way to Yesler Way, and
route offering access to the city. State east-west from Broadway to Elliott

Seattle
Bay—are arranged in a grid pattern. Bus and Commuter Rail Service

Running parallel to the shoreline
(beyond the first two streets, Alaskan A county-wide bus system serves
Way and Western Avenue) are num- the Seattle area, providing free service
bered avenues; named streets run per- downtown. A transit plan, when imple-
pendicular to the avenues. mented, will integrate public transpor-

Seattle
tation in the metropolitan area using runs roughly north-south from Pike
light rail and commuter rail service. Place Market to Pioneer Square and
east-west from Seventh to First avenues.
Sightseeing It combines historic buildings with
steep skyscrapers and boasts a sophisti-
Bus tours of Seattle are offered by
cated array of retail establishments. At
Gray Line tours. A variety of boat tours
the southern edge of the downtown
are available, including an all-day cruise
area is Pioneer Square, the historic heart
of Puget Sound, as well as walking tours
of the city, where restored nineteenth-
and a rail tour.
century buildings house a colorful array
of shops, galleries, and restaurants.
4 People Immediately to the southeast, the Inter-
In 1990, the population of Seattle national District is home to the major-
was 516,259, of which 75.3 percent ity of the city’s substantial Asian
were white, 11.2 percent Asian, 10.1 population.
percent black, and 1.4 percent Native In addition to a market brimming
American. Hispanics (both white and with fresh local produce and fish, the
black) accounted for 3.6 percent of the Pike Place Market area northwest of the
population. The population estimate main business district is also home to a
for 1997 was 536,600, and the estimate variety of arts and crafts stores and res-
for 2010 was 580,591. taurants, and a favorite haunt of street
The population of the Seattle Pri- performers. Further north is Belltown, a
mary Metropolitan Statistical Area was “gentrified” former warehouse neigh-
reported as 2,033,128 in 1990 and esti- borhood whose lively assortment of res-
mated at 2,268,126 for 1997. The taurants and clubs makes it one of the
region’s racial composition was listed prime centers of nightlife in the city.
by the U.S. Census Bureau in 1996 as Still further from downtown, and
85.7 percent white; 8.5 percent Asian/ just north of the Seattle Center, is the
Pacific Islander; and 4.6 percent black. prestigious Queen Anne neighbor-
The percentage of residents of Hispanic hood. Yet further north, beyond the
origin (an ethnic rather than a racial Lake Washington Ship Canal, lie Fre-
designation) was 3.7 percent. mont, an interesting district known for
Seattle has the second-highest per- its artists’ studios, ethnic restaurants,
centage of baby boomers of any major and offbeat shops, and Ballard, a former
U.S. city—31.5 percent (surpassed only Scandinavian enclave that today is a
by Denver, which has 32.8 percent). popular entertainment venue. East of
Fremont, the University District sur-
rounding the University of Washington
5 Neighborhoods (or the U District, as it is known to
Seattle’s main downtown retail locals) has the typical features of a col-
area, situated atop a series of steep hills, lege neighborhood. Nearby is Walling-

Seattle

Seattle Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
The Seattle Akhbar El Yom/
Times Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
ford, an increasingly fashionable area graces cities in both Washington state

known for its shops and restaurants. and British Columbia). However, the
first permanent European settlers didn’t
The Capitol Hill district northeast arrive until 1851, when a party of farm-
of downtown is a bastion of the area’s ers from Illinois formed a community
youth culture and also the center of its at the present-day site of Alki Point,
gay community. west of the city. By the following year,
they moved to the current site of down-
The upscale Madison Park neigh-
town Seattle, east of Elliott Bay and
borhood, located on the western shore
gave it its present name in honor of
of Lake Washington, is home to the
Chief Sealth of the Suquamish Indians
University of Washington Arboretum.
who were indigenous to the region.
6 History Although the first settlers were

farmers, it soon became apparent that
Exploration of the Seattle region the region’s primary natural resource
began in 1792, with the British captain was lumber. Sawmills were built, and
George Vancouver (whose name today the city’s fledging timber industry

Seattle
Mount Rainier provides a backdrop for the skyline of Seattle. (Nick Gunderson; Seattle-King County News Bureau)
found a ready market for its logs in San were built on higher land. One of Seat-
Francisco, which was enjoying a build- tle’s original seven hills—Denny Hill—
ing boom following the 1849 gold rush. was leveled altogether; today its name
Seattle was incorporated in 1869. By graces the neighborhood where it once
1889, it had a population of over stood.
25,000 and was one of the major cities
An important chapter in Seattle’s
of the northwestern United States.
history opened with the discovery of
However, that year disaster struck when gold in Alaska’s Yukon Valley (1898).
the city’s entire business district—a The resulting Klondike gold rush
total of 25 city blocks—burned down in brought new prosperity to Seattle, as
a fire. The rebuilding of the city proved prospectors stopped in the city to stock
to be not only a reconstruction effort up on their way north and returned to
but also a major improvement, as a spend much of their newfound wealth
large-scale regrading of the city’s hills on their way back home. Seattle’s popu-
was done to resolve drainage and waste lation grew to 80,600 by 1900 and tri-
disposal problems, and the new streets pled within the next decade. Seattle’s

Seattle
aerospace industry, which dominated

the city’s economy for much of the cen-
tury, had its beginnings in 1916, with
the launch of the first airplane pro-
duced by William Boeing, an event that
laid the foundation for the eventual
establishment of the Boeing Company,
which is still Seattle’s single-largest
employer.
The world wars brought new bursts

of economic activity to Seattle. The
city’s lumber resources were in demand
during World War I (1914–18); during
World War II (1939–45) Boeing won
defense contracts for the B-17 and B-29
bombers and other weapons. Seattle’s
population grew rapidly as new resi-
dents arrived from other parts of the
country, attracted by jobs in the aero-
space and shipbuilding industries. By
the end of World War II the city’s popu-
lation had reached almost half a mil-
lion. In the post-war years, the growth
A futuristic icon that gave Seattle a taste of the big
of commercial aviation—Boeing once
league in the World’s Fair of 1962, the Space
again at the forefront with the 707— Needle has become a city symbol.
provided an additional boost to Seat- (Nick Gunderson; Seattle-King County News Bureau)
tle’s economy. A landmark in Seattle’s
twentieth-century history was the 1962
World’s Fair, which drew almost ten and a booming Asian market for aircraft
million visitors and left the city with its triggered a rebound in the 1980s. By
dominant landmark, the Space Needle then a new high-tech field—comput-
(as well as the Monorail). ers—had also entered the picture. In the
last decades of the twentieth century,
The drawbacks of heavy depen- Microsoft, located in nearby Redmond,
dence on a single economic sector were and a multitude of other software and
brought home in the 1970s, when computer-related firms that sprang up
reduced defense spending resulted in in the area added a major new feature
employment cutbacks at Boeing, leav- to Seattle’s image and economy. As a
ing some 60,000 Seattle workers jobless new century dawned, Seattle found
and depressing the local economy for itself in the midst of a period of pros-
years. An increase in defense contracts perity, growth, and development, as

Seattle
new technology helped it fulfill the

futuristic promise plotted out years ear-
lier.
7 Government
Seattle is governed by a mayor and
a nine-member city council, all elected
for four-year terms in nonpartisan elec-
tions held every odd-numbered year.
Both the city’s revenues and its appro-
priations for fiscal year 1998 totaled
$1.9 billion.
8 Public Safety
The Seattle Police Department is
divided into north, south, east, and
west precincts. The rapid population
growth of the 1990s has brought with it
High technology companies have sprung up all
a rising crime rate. In 1995, Seattle’s
around Seattle’s scenic Puget Sound.
incidence of reported violent crimes per (Nick Gunderson; Seattle-King County News Bureau)
100,000 population was 926, including
eight murders, 49 rapes, and 418 rob-
beries. The incidence of property crimes by 2000 and 597,836 by 2010. Seattle
was 9,556 and included 1,452 burglar- has a strong service-sector economy.
ies, 6,793 cases of larceny/theft, and Services account for 29 percent of Seat-
1,311 motor vehicle thefts. tle’s jobs, wholesale and retail trade for
24 percent, and government for 16 per-
9 Economy cent, the same percentage as manufac-
turing. Top industrial fields are wood
The Greater Seattle area is a leader products, transportation equipment,
in high-technology fields including food products, fish processing, and
computer software, electronics, envi- apparel design.
ronmental engineering, and biotech-
nology. Among its advantages as a Seattle is home to Microsoft, the
business center are a well-educated and world’s largest personal computer soft-
skilled work force, high-quality trans- ware company, and the region is also
portation and infrastructure resources, home to over 2,000 other software
and strong manufacturing capabilities. development companies. Also head-
The 469,802 full-time equivalent posi- quartered in Seattle is Boeing, the
tions recorded for Seattle in the 1990 world’s biggest aircraft manufacturer.
census are expected to grow to 521,878 Other major companies located in Seat-

Seattle
tle include Costco, Weyerhaeuser, Pac- More than 90 percent of Seattle’s

car, Safeco, Nordstrom, Airborne residents participate in the city’s model
Freight, and Starbucks. Seattle’s biotech- curbside recycling program, which has
nology enterprises generate revenue of reduced the volume of household-gen-
over $2 billion a year, a figure that is erated landfill waste by 40 percent.
expected to more than double by 2005.
The median family income for met- 11 Shopping

ropolitan Seattle in 1998 was $59,000.
With its mix of major department
stores and smaller retailers, Seattle pro-
10 Environment vides abundant shopping opportuni-
ties. Seattle’s premier shopping
Environmental issues have a strong attraction is the Pike Place Market,
impact on Seattle, which was built on which features dozens of stalls selling
resource-based industries such as lum- every kind of locally available produce
ber and fishing. Even with the current and food item, as well as a wing
dominance of the aerospace and high- devoted mostly to crafts by local arti-
tech fields, these older industries con- sans and a lower-level area featuring an
tinue to play an important role in the eclectic variety of small specialty shops.
region’s economy. In recent years, log- The market neighborhood is also a cen-
ging practices—most notably clear-cut- ter for household furnishings and furni-
ting—have come under fire from ture retailers.
environmentalists, who have also raised
the ire of those involved in the timber Seattle is the home of the nation-
industry with their campaign to protect wide Nordstrom chain, and Nord-
the forest habitat of the spotted owl. To strom’s flagship store at Pine Street and
save the old-growth forestland that Fifth Avenue is one of two department
serves as the birds’ habitat, logging on stores that anchor the downtown shop-
federal lands in the region has been ping area—the other is Bon Marche.
restricted since the late 1980s. There is also a Nordstrom outlet for
close-outs and returned merchandise
Salmon fishing has also raised envi- called Nordstrom Rack. Also found in
ronmental issues, including the debate the downtown area is the main store of
over what to do about sea lions that another Seattle-based retailer that has
feed on fish slowly making their way gone national—Eddie Bauer.
through the fish ladders built to facili-
tate their progress through the locks of Pioneer Square is home to a variety
area canals. When conservative efforts of small art galleries and independent
to discourage the sea lions failed, shops, including antique stores, Orien-
heated controversy arose over plans to tal rug dealers, and the region’s premier
have them killed. bookstore, Elliott Bay Book Company.

Seattle
As of fall 1997, Seattle had a total

enrollment of 47,457 in its public
schools, with a racial and ethnic com-
position that was 40.6 percent white,
24.8 percent Asian/Pacific Islander, 23
percent black, 8.5 percent Hispanic, and
3.1 percent Native American. The pub-
lic school district operated 116 schools
and employed 2,450 classroom teachers
and 4,636 support staff. There are over
300 private and parochial schools in
the city.
Seattle’s major universities (with
their fall 1997 enrollments) are the Uni-
versity of Washington (34,368), Seattle
University (5,091), and Seattle Pacific
University (3,293). Community college
enrollment on the three Seattle cam-
puses totaled 25,545.
Major research centers in the Seat-
tle area include the Battelle Memorial
Institute and the Washington Technol-
ogy Center.
Shopping opportunities are abundant in Seattle.
Unique gift shops and art galleries can be found at
Pioneer Square.
13 Health Care
(Nick Gunderson; Seattle-King County News Bureau)
With 26 acute-care hospitals and
four specialized facilities, the Seattle
metropolitan area is the leading health
12 Education care center for the Pacific Northwest
region. Altogether, the city has 4,500
According to the U.S. Census
hospital beds and some 3,000 physi-
Bureau, Seattle ranks well above the cians in clinical practice. The premier
national average in terms of the educa- teaching hospital is the University of
tional level of its population. Of per- Washington Hospital. In 1997 the hos-
sons age 25 or over, 86.4 percent have pital, with 348 staffed beds, admitted
graduated from high school, and 37.9 15,117 patients and logged 314,580
percent have a bachelor’s degree or outpatient visits. Other well-known
higher (compared with national aver- health care institutions are Children’s
ages of 82 percent and 23 percent, Hospital and the Fred Hutchinson Can-
respectively). cer Research Center. Seattle is also the

Seattle
home to a large number of free clinics moved to the new Safeco Field. The
and the Bailey-Boushay House, which Kingdome, which was imploded on
has pioneered an inexpensive treat- March 26, 2000, was also the home of
ment setting for patients with AIDS. the National Football League’s Seattle
Seahawks. A new stadium for footbal
14 Media and soccer is scheduled to open in
2002. The Seattle Super Sonics of the
Seattle’s major daily newspapers National Basketball Association com-
(with 1998 circulation figures) are the pete in the Seattle Center Auditorium.
Seattle Times (weekdays, 227,715; Sun- Seattle also has a women’s basketball
day, 504,259) and the Seattle Post-Intelli- team, the Reign. The Seattle Thunder-
gencer (weekdays, 196,2271; Sunday, birds Hockey Club also plays at the
504,259). The Seattle Daily Journal of Seattle Center.
Commerce, published Monday through
Saturday covers the business commu- Also popular with Seattle sports
nity (1998 circulation 5,047). The Seat- fans are the University of Washington
tle Weekly and The Stranger are both Huskies football team, which plays at
alternative weekly newspapers with Husky Stadium, and the university’s
entertainment listing and local features. women’s basketball team.
Papers serving Seattle’s ethnic commu-
nities include La Voz (15,000), the Korea
Times (10,000), the Seattle Chinese Post
16 Parks and
(10,000), the Northwest Asian Weekly Recreation
(10,000), and the Korea Central Daily Seattle’s public park system extends
(7,000). over more than 2,024 hectares (5,000
All major television networks have acres). Landscape architects John
affiliates in Seattle, which has a total of Charles Olmsted and Frederick Olmsted
eight commercial television stations, as Jr. (sons of famed planner Frederick Law
well as cable channels offered by Via- Olmsted, 1822–1903) designed many of
com and TCI. Broadcasts by about 40 the city’s parks, which today number
AM and FM radio stations provide around 400. Among the most popular
news, music, and local features to the parks are Waterfall Gardens (which
Seattle area. KUOW radio broadcasts boasts a seven-meter/22-foot waterfall
programming by National Public Radio in the heart of downtown); Volunteer
(NPR) and the BBC World Service. Park (a graceful park that includes lily
ponds and a conservatory); Green Lake
(whose paved five-kilometer/3.2-mile
15 Sports path is popular with joggers and in-line
Seattle fields teams in all major- skaters); Discovery Park (a 208-hectare/
league sports. The American League’s 513-acre wilderness park that encom-
Seattle Mariners played in the King- passes broad meadows, dense forests,
dome from 1990 to 1998, when they and steep sea cliffs); and Gas Works

Seattle
Park (created on the former property of is known for its lavish, high-quality
a gas-processing plant). Alki Beach on productions. Alternative theater groups
the shore of Puget Sound is a popular include the Empty Space Theatre,
summertime site for swimming, pick- Printer’s Devil Theatre, and A Theatre
nicking, and volleyball. Under the Influence. Seattle is also
known for its annual three-week Seattle
Seattle also abounds in outstanding Fringe Theatre Festival. Improvisation
garden centers, including Bloedel can be seen regularly at Theatre-Sports,
Reserve, the Herbfarm, Kubota Gardens, and the Comedy Underground is the
Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection, Rhodo- city’s major comedy club.
dendron Species Botanical Garden, the
University of Washington Medicinal The Seattle Symphony, which per-
Herb Garden, Woodland Park Rose Gar- forms at Benaroya Concert Hall, has
den, and the Carl S. English Jr. Botani- distinguished itself under the direction
cal Gardens. The Seattle Tilth of Gerard Schwartz, who has been its
Demonstration Gardens offer instruc- musical director since 1984. Seattle also
tion to gardeners at all levels. supports the only chamber orchestra in
the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle
Popular outdoor pursuits in the Orchestra, which performs works for
Seattle area include bicycling, golf (with small ensembles written between the
more than a dozen public courses), and seventeenth and twentieth centuries.
hiking in the surrounding region, The Seattle Opera stages full-scale pro-
which includes three national parks. ductions of five operas every year,
The city’s maritime location makes an including a summertime performance
excellent location for such water sports of the Ring cycle by Richard Wagner.
as fishing, kayaking and canoeing, sail- The Pacific Northwest Ballet, which per-
boarding, and sailing. forms at Seattle’s Opera House, is the
region’s premier ballet troupe. Seattle is
17 Performing Arts also home to the Allegro Dance Festival,
a dance ensemble that focuses on eth-
Seattle has a lively theater scene,
nic dance and new works by area chore-
with flourishing mainstream and exper- ographers.
imental troupes. The city’s best-known
theater company is the Intiman The- The home of the “grunge rock” of
atre, which staged the area premiere of the early 1990s, Seattle has a lively pop-
Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning ular music scene that encompasses jazz,
drama Angels in America. A Contempo- rock, and “world beat” as well as Latin,
rary Theatre, housed in Queen Anne Celtic, and other types of ethnic music,
Hall, an elegant historic facility with reflecting the growing diversity and cul-
three contrasting performance spaces, tural sophistication of its population.
displays the talents of local actors and, Popular music is performed at numer-
occasionally, big-name guest stars. Seat- ous venues throughout Seattle, includ-
tle Repertory Theatre, the city’s oldest, ing the area’s many cafes and pubs.

Seattle
Seattle’s prime location on the waterfront offers residents and guests alike a variety of outdoor recreational
activities such as sailing, fishing and kayaking. Visitors can tour the waterways in a more relaxed fashion on
many of Seattle’s guided tour cruises. (Nick Gunderson; Seattle-King County News Bureau)
In addition to the standard com- With a total of 865,732 book titles and
plement of modern multiplex movie 1,776,672 volumes, the library serves a
theaters, Seattle has a good selection of population of more than half a million
art houses that show foreign films and and employs a staff of 421. Its special
revivals, and the Seattle International collections cover subject areas includ-
Film Festival entertains movie buffs ing aviation history, genealogy, and
annually for three weeks in late May Seattle history. Annual circulation totals
and June. nearly five million items.
18 Libraries and Located in the center of down-

Museums town, the Seattle Art Museum is housed
in a striking building designed by archi-
Founded in 1891, the Seattle Public tect Robert Venturi (b. 1925) and com-
Library operates a central library down- pleted in 1991. The museum is known
town and 23 neighborhood branches. especially for its Asian, African, and

Seattle
modern art collections. The facility 19 To u r i s m

includes a large gallery for locally
mounted special exhibitions and travel- Seattle’s relatively recent transfor-
ing exhibits, a 300-seat auditorium, and mation into a trend-setting, high-pro-
a Japanese gallery with an authentic file city has brought an increase in
teahouse. (Currently, the museum’s tourism and tourist facilities. In addi-
outstanding Asian collection is actually tion to the city’s mild climate and pic-
housed in its original building, which turesque location amid water,
has been renamed the Seattle Asian Art forestland, and mountains, visitors are
Museum.) drawn by its bustling cultural and com-
mercial life, the recreational opportuni-
The Charles and Emma Frye Art ties that are available, and Seattle’s
Museum, remodeled and expanded in growing reputation as a mecca for con-
1997, houses the nineteenth-century temporary youth culture. Today the
painting collection of its founders, as metropolitan area boasts 17,500 hotel
well as a variety of other nineteenth- and motel rooms. The Seattle Center,
and twentieth-century paintings and the city’s main conference and conven-
presents an eclectic schedule of musical tion facility, offers 3,995 square meters
performances, poetry readings, and (43,000 square feet) of exhibition space,
other activities, as well as temporary eight large conference rooms, and ban-
exhibits. The Bellevue Art Museum spe- quet seating for 1,500 people.
cializes in works by regional artists, and
Seattle is also the site of the Wash-
the newly expanded Henry Art Gallery
ington State Convention and Trade
at the University of Washington fea-
Center, conveniently located on I-5, the
tures an excellent permanent photogra- major artery that passes through the
phy collection, as well as exhibits city. The Battelle Conference Center on
highlighting a variety of new media, the University of Washington campus is
including video. often used to host meetings, and the
Kingdome sports stadium is a popular
The Museum of Flight (often venue for trade shows.
referred to as the Boeing Museum of
Flight) honors Seattle’s history as a capi-
tal of aviation. The museum’s exhibits 20 Holidays and
retell the history of flight and include Festivals
replicas of the early glider flown by the
JANUARY
Wright brothers, the Apollo and Mer- Seattle International Boat Show
cury space capsules, and Air Force One.
The Seattle Center is home to the FEBRUARY
Pacific Science Center and the Chil- Festival Sundiata
dren’s Museum, both of which feature Northwest Flower & Garden Show
hands-on exhibits for children and MARCH
adults. Seattle Fringe Festival

Seattle
APRIL Founder of Boeing Aircraft, William

Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival Boeing (1881–1956).
Imagination Celebration
MAY Singer/songwriter Judy Collins (b.
Cinco de Mayo Celebration 1939).
Northwest Folklife Festival
University District Street Fair Guitarist Jimi Hendrix (1942–70).
MAY-JUNE Novelist and satirist Tom Robbins (b.
Seattle International Film Festival 1936).
JUNE-AUGUST
AT&T Summer Nights at the Pier Entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee (1914–70).
JULY-AUGUST
Seafair Summer Festival 22 For Further Study
JULY
Bite of Seattle Websites
Family Fourth at Lake Union Greater Seattle InfoGuide [Online] Available
http: //www.seattleinfoguide.com/ (accessed
Indian Pow Wow December 8, 1999).
Fourth of Jul-Ivars at the Waterfront Seattle City Net. [Online] Available http: //
Pioneer Square Fire Festival city.net/countries/united_states/
washington/seattle/ (accessed December 8,
AUGUST 1999).
Bubble Festival
Seattle Home Page. [Online] Available http: //
Eatonville Arts Festival www.seattle.net/SeattleHome.html (accessed
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER December 8, 1999).
Bumbershoot Festival
Government Offices
SEPTEMBER Seattle City Hall
Fiesta Patrias
600 4th Ave.
OCTOBER Seattle, WA 98104
Salmon Days Festival (206) 386-1234
NOVEMBER Mayor’s Office
Hmong New Year’s Celebration 600 4th Ave., 12th Fl.
Seattle Marathon Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 684-4000
DECEMBER
Holiday Parade of Boats Cruise King County
Winterfest 516 3rd Ave., Rm. 400
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 296-4040
21 Famous Citizens
Novelist and essayist Mary McCarthy Tourist and Convention Bureaus
(1912–89). Seattle-King County Convention &
Visitors Bureau
Rock star Kurt Cobain (1967–94). 520 Pike St., Suite 1300
Seattle, WA 98101
Microsoft founder Bill Gates (b. 1955). (206) 461-5840

Seattle
Washington State Convention & Trade Center Morgan, Murray. Skid Road. New York: Viking
800 Convention P. Press, 1960.
Seattle, WA 98101 Ochsner, Jeffrey Karl, ed. Shaping Seattle Architec-
(206) 447-5000 ture: A Historical Guide to the Architects. Seat-
tle, Washington: University of Washington
Publications Press, 1994.
Puget Sound Business Journal Reed, Wilson Edward. The Politics of Community
720 3rd Ave. Suite 800 Policing: The Case of Seattle. New York: Gar-
Seattle, WA 98104 land, 1999.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Roe, Jo Ann. Seattle Uncovered. Plano, Texas: Sea-
101 Elliott Ave. W side Press, 1995.
Seattle, WA 98119 Smith, Giselle. Seattle Best Places. Seattle, Wash-
ington: Sasquatch Books, 1999.
Seattle Times Taylor, Quintard. The Forging of a Black Commu-
P.O. Box 70 nity. Seattle: University of Washington Press,
Seattle, WA 98111 1994.
Tisdale, Sallie. Stepping Westward: The Long Search
Books for Home in the Pacific Northwest. New York:
Beebe, Morton. Cascadia: A Tale of Two Cities, Henry Holt, 1991.
Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Photographs by
Morton Beebe; essays by J. Kingston Pierce.
New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1996. Videorecordings
Crowley, Walt. Rites of Passage: A Memoir of the Alki, Birthplace of Seattle. Produced, directed and
Sixties in Seattle. Seattle, Washington: Uni- written by B.J. Bullert; a presentation of the
versity of Washington Press, 1995. Southwest Seattle Historical Society and
Egan, Timothy. The Good Rain: Across Time and KCTS Television. Seattle, Washington: Dis-
Terrain in the Pacific Northwest. New York: tributed by Wehman Video, 1997. 1 video-
Knopf, 1990. cassette (28 min.): sd., col.; 1/2 in.

Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Location: Southeastern Australia
Flower: Banksia Ericifolia
Time Zone: 10 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) = noon Greenwich Mean
Time (GMT)
Elevation: 42 m (138 ft) above sea level
Latitude and Longitude: 33º55'S, 151º10'E
Climate: Temperate with mild winters and warm to hot summers
Average Annual Precipitation (total rainfall): 1,140 mm (45 in)
Government: Local councils
Monetary Units: Australian dollars
Telephone Area Codes: 2 (Sydney area code); 61 (country code for Australia)
1 Introduction In the second half of the twentieth

century, Sydney grew from a primarily
In the space of two centuries, Syd- Anglo-Saxon enclave to a multiethnic
ney has transformed itself from a Brit- city whose cultural sophistication is
ish penal colony to a thriving symbolized by the unique outlines of its
cosmopolitan metropolis, a financial famous harbor-front opera house. The
capital of the Asia-Pacific region, and twenty-first century was ushered in dra-
an international tourist center with a matically with the 2000 Olympic
Games, which spurred the city to rein-
population of close to four million.
vent itself yet again for a new millen-
Located near the southern end of Aus-
nium.
tralia’s eastern coast, it is the largest city
on the Australian continent, the capital
of New South Wales, and one of the 2 Getting There
world’s largest metropolitan areas. The Centered around the Port Jackson
city’s dominant feature has always been harbor on Australia’s east coast, Sydney
its stunning physical location on one of is 870 kilometers (540 miles) north of
the world’s most beautiful harbors. Melbourne and nearly 1,000 kilometers
117
Sydney
throughout Australia. The smaller

Sydney McCafferty’s and Kirkland’s lines also
Population Profile service Sydney but do not run nation-
wide. Both interstate and regional train
Population: 3,665,000 service is available.
World population rank1: 71 The State Rail Authority of New
South Wales provides passenger rail ser-
Nicknames: CBD (central city), Sidneysiders vices throughout Greater Sydney and
(residents), Oz (Australia) other population centers in the state. Its
——— Countrylink service provides long-dis-
1. The Sydney metropolitan area’s rank among the tance service throughout New South
Wales, and also interstate service to
2. The percent of Australia’s total population living
in the Sydney metropolitan area. Canberra, Melbourne, and Brisbane on
an updated fleet of high-speed XPT and
Explorer trains, transporting more than
2.6 million people annually.
(621 miles) south of Brisbane. The
greater metropolitan area encompasses Airports
Botany Bay to the south, reaches to the
The Kingsford Smith Airport,
foothills of the Blue Mountains in the
located about ten kilometers (6.2 miles)
west, and extends into an area of
south of Sydney’s central business dis-
national parks to the north.
trict, is Australia’s busiest airport. It is
served by some 45 international passen-
Highways ger and cargo carriers.
Four main highways provide access
to Sydney: the Pacific Highway/Sydney Shipping
Newcastle Freeway (Route 1 north of Sydney is served by Port Jackson,
the city) leads northward to Newcastle one of Australia’s busiest ports, as well
and Brisbane; the Western Motorway as a newer port in Botany Bay devoted
(Route 44) leads westward to Strathfield exclusively to petroleum products.
and the Great Western Highway;
Princes Highway (Route 1 south of the 3 Getting Around
city) leads to Wollongong and the
south coast; and the Hume Highway Sydney is built around a vast har-
leads southwest out of the city to Mit- bor with many coves, bays, and inlets.
tagong and eventually Melbourne. The harbor runs through the city, divid-
ing it into northern and southern sec-
Bus and Railroad Service tions, which are connected by the
Harbour Tunnel and the Sydney Har-
Greyhound Pioneer provides ser- bour Bridge. The central business dis-
vice between Sydney and points trict and heart of the city is contained

Sydney

Sydney
within the 13 square kilometers (five Newmans, Murrays, Great Sights, and
square miles) of a narrow peninsula in Clipper Gray Line tours. Tours are
the southern half. offered to a variety of sites outside the
city. These include tours focusing on
Bus and Commuter Rail Service Aboriginal culture and Australian wild-
life. In addition, Sydney’s ferries afford
Sydney Buses operates buses
a unique sightseeing experience. Harbor
throughout the city. Bus service is
cruises take visitors to the area’s parks,
divided into seven zones, with the main
beaches, coves, suburbs, and other sites.
terminals located at Circular Quay,
Cruises with commentary are offered
Wynyard, Town Hall, and Central Sta-
regularly on the city-operated ferries on
tion. Buses serve some areas, including
both weekdays and weekends. Harbor
the suburbs of Watsons, Rose Bay, and
cruises are also offered by commercial
Vaucluse, which are not on rail lines.
lines.
CityRail, operated by the State Rail
Authority, provides suburban and inter- 4 People
city rail service over a 3,218-kilometer
(2,000-mile) network throughout New With its population of 3,738,500,
South Wales. With 301 stations and Sydney is at the center of the largest
over 2,000 trips per day, CityRail carried concentration of population in the
266.5 million passengers in 1997–98. sparsely populated country of Australia.
Sydney also has a light rail line provid- It is home to more than two-thirds of
ing tram service from Central Station to the population of New South Wales,
stops in the central city and a monorail and about a quarter of the country’s
that loops through the central business total inhabitants live within 150 kilo-
district. meters (93 miles) of the city.
Ferries Since World War II (1939–45), the

city, formerly inhabited mostly by
Sydney’s popular ferry service,
descendants of white settlers from the
operated by the Sydney Transportation
British Isles, has become increasingly
Authority, provides a picturesque and
diverse ethnically and racially. Follow-
inexpensive mode of local transporta-
ing the war, there was an influx of
tion. Ferries cross Sydney’s harbor
immigrants from eastern and southern
between Circular Quay and the north
Europe, especially Italy and Greece, as
bank, also traveling to points eastward
well as Turkey and Yugoslavia. The
and westward.
period since the 1960s has seen a rise in
Asian immigration from countries
Sightseeing
including Vietnam, Thailand, Cambo-
A variety of organized tours of Syd- dia, and the Philippines. Today, about
ney are offered. Popular tour lines 30 percent of the population is foreign-
include Australian Pacific, AAT King’s, born. Sydney’s inner-city district of

Sydney
The City Rail is an easy way to get around the city. (Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp)
Redfern is an Aboriginal enclave, popu- immigrant populations from Europe

lated by a group known as Koories. and Asia. Today, however, many are
returning to the historic districts first
established by their forebears, sparking
5 Neighborhoods a wave of urban renovation and gentri-
fication.
Thanks to the spread of new sub-
urbs along the estuaries of the Georges Sydney’s major urban center is the
and Parramatta rivers during the twen- Central Business District, located on the
tieth century, the greater Sydney area south bank of the Parramatta River at
encompasses some 600 suburbs Port Jackson. In addition to govern-
between the Pacific Ocean, the Blue ment buildings, office towers, and
Mountains, and the national parks that shops, it is also the site of the city’s
border it on the north and south, cover- major tourist attractions, including its
ing a total area of nearly 1,813 square opera house and major museums, and
kilometers (700 square miles). This the Royal Botanic Gardens. Urban
makes it one of the world’s largest neighborhoods close to this central core
urban areas, surpassed only by Los include King’s Cross, a district of hotels,
Angeles and a few others. Traditionally, restaurants, and hostels that has histori-
well-to-do Australians moved outward cally had a reputation as the city’s “vice
to the suburbs, leaving the inner core to capital”; the historic Woolloomooloo

Sydney
district, restored since the 1970s; trendy aboard the fleet’s ships, most were Brit-
Darlinghurst, home to numerous side- ish convicts transported to the new
walk cafes and Sydney’s “Little Italy”; land to relieve prison overcrowding
the multicultural, gentrified Surry Hills now that the British colonies in North
area; and the residential suburb of Pad- America had won their independence
dington. Further south is the working- and could no longer be used for this
class suburb of Redfern, which has a purpose. The first free settlers arrived in
large and sometimes vocal Aboriginal 1793.
community.
Under the leadership of Governor
To the east are a series of upscale Lachlan Macquarie (1761–1824; gover-
suburbs including Darling Point, Edgec- nor, 1810–1821), the new settlement
liff, Double Bay, and Vaucluse, the most prospered. Many convicts, pardoned
exclusive one. The innermost suburbs and given parcels of land, became use-
to the west include the fashionable Bal- ful members of society. Free settlers
main district, formerly a working-class continued to pour in, lured by promises
and bohemian neighborhood; the tradi- of free land and convict labor and by
tionally Italian and now diverse neigh- Sydney’s growing reputation as a thriv-
borhood of Leichhardt; Glebe, located ing port city. Between 1831 and 1850,
near the University of Sydney; and the some 200,000 immigrants arrived from
hip university district of Newtown. Britain, fleeing the social ills of the
Across the Parramatta River, the Lower Industrial Revolution. Exploration of
North Shore, north of the Harbour the interior led to the discovery of a
Bridge, encompasses a business district route over the Blue Mountains, provid-
and harbor-front suburbs, including ing access to the rich pastureland
Kirribilli, Milson’s Point, and McMa- beyond. Sydney was incorporated in
hons Point. 1842. The discovery of gold west of Syd-
ney, at Bathurst, in 1851 spurred a
decade-long gold rush that helped
6 History bring the city’s population to 300,000.
Rail service from Sydney to Parramatta
Sydney’s first European settlers was launched in 1855.
arrived in 1788, when English naviga-
tor Captain Arthur Phillip’s First Fleet As Sydney became a bustling com-
arrived in Botany Bay to the south. mercial center, its original central dis-
Finding the bay too exposed, Phillips trict acquired some of the same
and his men traveled northward to Port problems that settlers had fled Britain
Jackson, proclaiming the colony of New to escape—overcrowding, poverty,
South Wales and establishing a settle- crime, and unsanitary conditions. In
ment on a cove they named for Britain’s the second half of the century, over-
Home Secretary, Lord Thomas Townsh- crowding spurred the growth of densely
end, First Viscount Sydney (1733– populated suburbs around the city, cre-
1800). Of the more than 1,000 people ating the greatest population explosion

Sydney
Sydney skyline. (G. Clifford; Woodfin Camp)
to date—from 60,000 to 400,000. During this period, Sydney, along with

Shortly after the end of World War I the rest of Australia, grew increasingly
(1914–18), Sydney, now part of the cosmopolitan, becoming a financial
Commonwealth of Australia, recorded a center for the Asia/Pacific region. Syd-
population of one million. ney’s most famous landmark, the har-
bor-front Sydney Opera House, was
The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Elec- completed in 1973.
tric Project, begun after World War II
(1939–45), brought important changes In 1988 the city staged a spectacu-
to Sydney. Most notably, the resulting lar celebration of Australia’s bicenten-
demand for manpower sparked immi- nial. Landmark events of the 1990s
gration policy changes that led to included the 1993 announcement that
growth in immigration from southern the city would be the site of the 2000
Europe, permanently changing the eth- Olympic Games and the opening of the
nic makeup of the city. Further changes Sydney Harbour Tunnel in 1994. Prepa-
came with the rise in immigration from rations for the Games spurred further
Southeast Asia in the 1970s and 1980s. municipal development and civic pride

Sydney

Sydney Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Australia) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
Sunday Akhbar El Yom/
Telegraph Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
throughout the decade as Sydney pre- includes the Central Business District
pared for the most extensive display of and some inner suburbs.
pageantry and celebration in its history.
The Sydney Statistical Division,
established in 1976 and covering
7 Government 12,407 square kilometers (4,790 square
As capital of New South Wales, Syd- miles), corresponds to territory that was
ney is the seat of its government and expected to undergo urban develop-
parliament. More than 40 city councils ment over the next two decades. It was
throughout Sydney handle local mat- created from a combination of devel-
ters although the state government oped and rural land.
retains authority in some areas, includ-
ing transportation and public safety. In 8 Public Safety
addition, some of Sydney’s land is
under control of Australia’s federal gov- For a major city, Sydney has a low
ernment. The City Council of Sydney crime rate. Few people own firearms,
has jurisdiction over a 13-square-kilo- which are strictly regulated, and it is
meter (five-square-mile) core area that even illegal to carry a knife in a public

Sydney
place without a special reason. Occa- 10 Environment

sional muggings have occurred in the
Central Business District, and drug Water pollution from refuse and
activity has been reported in the Kings industrial effluents has been a problem
Cross and Cabramatta areas. in Sydney’s harbor, especially from the
overflow caused by heavy rain. The city
Sydney is served by the New South has installed pollution traps and litter
Wales Police Service, Australia’s oldest booms to deal with the problem.
law-enforcement organization. With
more than 13,300 sworn police officers Residents who live near the Kings-
and 500 police stations, it is also one of ford Smith Airport have been affected
the largest in the English-speaking
by aircraft noise, a problem that author-
world. In addition to its regular duties,
ities have attempted to respond to by
the New South Wales Police force was
rearranging aircraft flight paths.
assigned the task of coordinating secu-
rity for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and
Awareness of air pollution is pro-
Paralympic Games.
moted by the publication of pollution
The City of Sydney has adopted the levels daily in the newspaper as part of
Safe City Strategy to improve security the weather report. Increased use of
even further through urban design: public transportation has helped reduce
improved lighting, closed circuit televi- emission levels.
sion cameras, emergency video phones,
a city safety task force, and community In 1995 the City of Sydney
safety education. announced its goal of reducing waste
60 percent by 2000 through the Waste
Minimization and Management Act.
9 Economy The government encourages citizens to
Sydney is Australia’s financial, avoid waste wherever possible, reuse
commercial, shipping, and industrial items, and recycle. Commercial waste
capital. About 75 percent of the manu- services provided to the city’s busi-
facturing jobs in New South Wales are nesses include seven-day-a-week collec-
in Sydney although manufacturing tion, glass and paper recycling, bulk
accounts for between one-third and waste removal, and varied container
one-half of the city’s total employment. sizes.
Sydney primarily has a service econ-
omy, fueled by government, commerce, Preparation for the 2000 Olympic
retailing, transport, entertainment, Games included several environmental
finance, and tourism. Oil refining is measures, including a cleanup of the
another major industry in the region. city’s beaches and waterways. In addi-
About half of Sydney’s work force is tion, all power to the Olympic Village
employed in manufacturing. was provided by solar energy.

Sydney
11 Shopping ern suburbs of Paddington, Woollahra,

and Surry Hills. The most famous and
The major shopping area in the eclectic is the Paddington Bazaar, which
central city is located between Park and actually operates at two locations. The
King streets, on George, Castlereagh, Balmain Market also provides great
and Pitt streets. The heart of this district variety, together with the local color of
is the Pitt Street Mall between Market this historic district.
and King streets, a pedestrian mall with
chain stores and several arcades. The Aboriginal art, although largely
historic and beautiful Queen Victoria produced in other parts of Australia, is
Building on George Street offers four available in several of Sydney’s shops
levels of shops, including designer out- and galleries.
lets, duty-free shops, and craft and sou-
venir stores, as well as cafes and 12 Education
restaurants. Shopping in an elegant his-
toric venue is also available at the Public education in Sydney, as else-
Strand Arcade, a lovingly restored 1892 where in Australia, is managed and
structure with shops on three levels. mostly funded at the state level, with
Also located in this district are the the federal government also providing
Royal, Imperial, and Centrepoint some funding. Primary and secondary
arcades. Located on Castlereagh Street education is compulsory, with students
are the Skygarden, which features both required to attend school between the
stores and art galleries on seven levels; ages of six and 15. Students may attend
the upscale Chifley Plaza; Piccadilly; either public or private (mostly Roman
the exclusive MLC Centre; and Sydney’s Catholic) schools.
premier department store, David Jones’.
The Sydney metropolitan area is
The two other main shopping areas home to three universities: the Univer-
in central area are the Rocks, a historic sity of Sydney (founded in 1850), Aus-
harbor-front district to the north, tralia’s oldest university and an
where the largest retail complex is the internationally respected teaching and
Argyle Centre, and at the western end research institution; the University of
of the city, the Darling Harbour Area New South Wales, which enrolls over
where the Harbourside complex offers 32,000 students in its 75 schools; and
some 200 shops. Also located in this Macquarie University.
area is Chinatown, whose retailers stock
clothing, housewares, and ethnic foods. 13 Health Care
In North Sydney the largest shopping
complex is Greenwood Plaza. Like other parts of Australia, Syd-
ney has excellent medical care and
Additional shopping is available at facilities, and universal health care for
Sydney’s colorful markets. Some of the all its residents. Sydney’s public hospi-
best flea markets are located in the east- tals are New Children’s Hospital, Prince

Sydney
Henry Hospital, Royal Prince Alfred Sydney has five television chan-
Hospital, Royal North Shore Hospital, nels, two of which are noncommercial
St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney Hospital and government funded. Among Syd-
& Sydney Eye Hospital, and Sydney ney’s more than 20 radio stations are
Children’s Hospital. There are also six regular and youth-oriented public
teaching hospitals connected with the broadcasting stations, a classical music
medical program at the University of station, an Aboriginal station, and a
New South Wales. multilingual station.
14 Media 15 Sports
Sydney’s oldest and most respected The most popular spectator sport
newspaper is the Sydney Morning Herald, in Sydney is one of the four types of
which is regarded as one the top news- rugby: rugby league. Major matches,
papers in the country. Established in including the Optus Cup championship
1831, it is published six times a week; in games, are held at the Sydney Football
1998 the Herald had a circulation of Stadium. Also played in Sydney is the
266,000 on weekdays and 400,000 on unique football game known as Austra-
Saturday. The Herald publishes detailed lian (“Aussie”) Rules, for which the city
entertainment guides every Friday and fields the Sydney Swans, the only team
in New South Wales. Another favorite is
Saturday. Sydney’s other daily newspa-
the summertime sport of cricket, played
per is the Daily Telegraph Mirror, a tab-
at the Sydney Cricket Ground at Moore
loid publication also published six days
Park. Other spectator sports include
a week, with 1998 circulation figures of
tennis, for which the major tourna-
442,980 weekdays and 331,666 Satur-
ment is the New South Wales Open,
days. The Australian Financial Review
professional golf, horse racing, grey-
(circulation 78,000), published daily hound racing, and boat races in the
five days a week, is a national newspa- harbor.
per and Australia’s most authoritative
source for business news. Also pub- In 1999, Sydney prepared to host
lished in Sydney is the national conser- the biggest sporting and cultural event
vative daily, the Australian. Sydney also in its history—the XXVII Olympiad.
has another business newspaper, the The Olympic Games placed Sydney in
Daily Commercial News. A number of the spotlight before some 3.5 billion
weekly newspapers serve Sydney’s var- television viewers worldwide, plus as
ied ethnic communities, and the free many as half a million guests from else-
weekly On the Street offers popular where in Australia and around the
music listings. The national news maga- world. The Olympiad was followed on
zine the Bulletin is also published in October 18 by the Paralympic Games
Sydney. for athletes with disabilities.

Sydney
16 Parks and entertainment complex, which gives

Recreation visitors a behind-the-scenes look at
movie and television production,
The steel and concrete of Sydney’s including movie props and other mem-
urban landscape are relieved by a num- orabilia, special effects, and animation.
ber of city parks. Three contiguous
parks are located in the eastern part of Sydney Olympic Park was in the
the Central Business District: the Royal suburb of Homebush Bay, located 14
Botanic Gardens, established in 1816 kilometers (8.7 miles) west of the cen-
and covering 30 hectares (74 acres), tral city, built for the 2000 Olympic
mark the site of Sydney’s first farm. Games. The park encompassed Sydney
They include a rose garden, a lake, trop- International Athletic Centre, Sydney
ical greenhouses with an extensive col- International Aquatic Centre, as well as
lection of plants from the South Pacific, the Leisure Garden featuring a variety
a bat colony, and a cactus garden. To of natural habitats. In addition to its
the south lies a large park known as the own urban and suburban parks, Sydney
Domain, which serves as a popular set- is ringed by national parks. The Ku-
ting for picnics, lunch breaks, public Ring-Gai Chase National Park is located
speakers of all kinds, and a variety of to the north, and the Royal National
free events. Further south, and bisected Park is situated to the south. To the
by Park Street, is Hyde Park, which
west is the Blue Mountain National
includes formal gardens, fountains, and
Park, and even more parks ring the
walkways, and is also a popular lunch-
region further away.
time spot for urban workers. Smaller
parks in the central city include Wyn-
Sydney’s waterfront location makes
yard Park, Lang Park, First Fleet Park,
it a paradise for water sports. Residents
and Observatory Park.
and visitors can enjoy canoeing, kayak-
South and east of the Central Busi- ing, windsurfing, sailing, scuba diving,
ness District, Centennial Park in Pad- surfing, and swimming at any of more
dington is Sydney’s largest park, at 220 than 30 beaches. Other popular out-
hectares (544 acres). In addition to pic- door activities include bicycling, golf,
nicking and swimming in its lake, visi- horseback riding, walking and jogging,
tors can take advantage of both rock climbing, squash, and tennis. A
bicycling and bridle paths or rent inline unique recreational sport launched in
skates. Adjacent Moore Park, bordering 1998 is climbing the 503-meter-long
Surry Hills, has walking and bicycling (1,650-foot-long) arch of the Harbour
trails, a golf course, and playing fields. Bridge. Climbers sign a release form and
It is also the location of the Sydney undergo an orientation session before
Cricket Ground and Sydney Football beginning the two-hour trek. The sum-
Stadium. The most recent addition to mit of the bridge affords a panoramic
Moore Park is Fox Studios’ Bent Street view of the harbor.

Sydney
17 Performing Arts
The Sydney Opera House, an archi-
tectural landmark completed in 1973
after 14 years of construction, is the
city’s performing arts headquarters,
encompassing an opera theater, concert
hall, and playhouse. The complex con-
sists of three interconnected sections
that cover 1.8 hectares (4.4 acres) and
can seat more than 5,100 people alto-
gether. It provides a performance venue
for the Australian Opera, the Australian
Ballet, the Sydney Opera House Drama
Theatre, the Sydney Philharmonia
Choir, Musica Viva Australia, and the
Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra

gives more than 140 concerts a year
(many at Town Hall on George Street).
In addition to concerts by the Sym-
phony Orchestra, Musica Viva, and the
Philharmonia Choir, classical music can
also be heard regularly at the Conserva- The concrete setting is broken up by the multitude
torium of Music and at Sydney’s univer- of parks that are scattered throughout Sydney.
sities. Luna Park offers fun for everyone.
The Australian Ballet, which has an
international reputation, presents four
concerts a year at the Sydney Opera Theatre Royal MLC Centre, and Wharf
House and tours throughout Australia. Theatre Pier 4. Smaller theaters around
The Sydney Dance Company (SDC) is town offer experimental theater.
Australia’s premier modern dance Aboriginal dance is performed by Ban-
troupe, performing at both Pier Four garra Dance Company, the Aboriginal
and the Opera House. Dance Theatre, the Aboriginal Islander
Dance Theatre, Gavala, and other
The Sydney Theatre Company per- groups.
forms both plays from the standard rep-
ertory and works by Australian authors. Sydney also has a thriving jazz
Beside the Opera House, Sydney’s other scene, based at clubs such as Kinselas,
major theater venues are Her Majesty’s the Basement, and the Harbourside
Theatre, the Seymour Theatre Centre, Brasserie.

Sydney
The Sydney Opera House is an architectural landmark housing the Australian Opera, the Australian Ballet,
the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre, the Sydney Philharmonia Choir, Musica Viva Australia, and the
Sydney Symphony Orchestra. (Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp)
18 Libraries and by collecting and preserving documents

Museums relating to the lives and experience of
women from all ethnic and racial back-
The City of Sydney Library, grounds, highlighting their contribu-
founded in 1826, has three branches: tion to Australian history, and
the newly renovated Town Hall branch, providing information on current
Haymarket, and Ultimo. A total of over resources for women.
250,000 items are found in the library’s
catalogue. The three branches are used The Australian Museum houses the
by an average of 3,000 people a day, country’s largest natural history collec-
and between 50,000 and 60,000 items tion. It includes a gallery devoted to
are borrowed every month. The Jessie Aboriginal history. The Art Gallery of
Street National Women’s Library New South Wales, at the edge of the
focuses on promoting awareness of the Domain park in the central city, has
cultural heritage of Australian women permanent European, Japanese, and

Sydney
Australian collections and temporary JUNE

exhibits. The Museum of Contempo- Sydney Film Festival
rary Art, fronting the Circular Quay, is Sydney Biennale
noted for its collection of modern art, JULY
and the Museum of Sydney, near Mac- Yulefest
quarie Place, focuses on all aspects of
AUGUST
the city’s early history. Sydney’s other City to Surf Run
museums and galleries include the Jus-
tice & Police Museum, Artspace, the SEPTEMBER
Royal Botanic Gardens Spring Festival
Australian Centre for Photography,
Festival of the Winds
Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-opera-
Taylor Square Art Festival
tive, The Cartoon Gallery, and Coo-ee
Rugby League Grand Final
Aboriginal Art Gallery.
OCTOBER
Manly Jazz Festival
19 To u r i s m
NOVEMBER
As the principal arrival point for Kings Cross Carnival
visitors to Australia, Sydney has become
DECEMBER
a major tourist center, with numerous Christmas Party
hotels, motels, and restaurants. During Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
the Australian bicentennial in 1988, an New Years Eve Fireworks
estimated one million visitors joined
the city’s harbor-front festivities.
21 Famous Citizens
20 Holidays and Lachlan Macquarie (1762–1824), gover-
Festivals nor.
JANUARY Convict-turned-designer Francis Green-
Sydney Festival & Carnivale away (1777–1837), Sydney’s first ar-
Great Ferry Boat Race chitect.
Survival Festival
JANUARY-FEBRUARY Authors Thomas Keneally (b. 1935), Pe-
Chinese New Year ter Carey (b. 1943), and Patrick
White (1912–90).
FEBRUARY-MARCH
Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras
Playwright David Williamson (b. 1942).
Hunter Vintage Walkabout
MARCH Artists Sidney Nolan (b. 1917), Arthur
Golden Slipper Boyd (b. 1920), and Brett Whiteley
MARCH-APRIL
(1939–92).
Royal Easter Show
Film director Peter Weir (b. 1944).
APRIL
Sydney Cup Novelist Colleen McCullough (b. 1937).

Sydney
22 For Further Study The Sydney Morning Herald

Level 19 Darling Park
Websites 201 Sussex S, 2001
City of Sydney. [Online] Available http://
www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au (accessed
December 27, 1999). Books
Excite Travel. [Online] Available http:// Clark, Manning. A Short History of Australia. New
www.excite.com.../australia/ York: NAL Penguin, 1987.
new_south_wales/sydney/ (accessed Decem-
ber 27, 1999). Drew, Philip. Sydney Opera House: Jorn Utzon.
London: Phaidon Press, 1995.
Official Site of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
[Online] Available http://www.olym.../ Hughes, Robert. The Fatal Shore. New York:
sydney/virtual_sydney/sydney.html Knopf, 1986.
Kirkpatrick, Peter. The Sea Coast of Bohemia: Liter-
ary Life in Sydney's Roaring Twenties. St. Lucia,
Government Offices Queensland: University of Queensland,
Governor, New South Wales 1992.
Level 3, Chief Secretary’s Building Lindsay, Jack. The Roaring Twenties: Literary Life
121 Macquarie Street in Sydney, New South Wales in the Years 1921–
Sydney, NSW 2000 6. London: Bodley Head, 1960.
Matthews, Anne. Sydney and New South Wales.
Tourist and Convention Bureaus Passport Books. Lincolnwood, IL: NTC Pub-
lishing Group, 1993.
Australian Tourist Commission
Level 4, 80 William St. McHugh, Evan. Sydney. The National Geographic
Woolloomooloo, Sydney Traveler. Washington, DC: National Geo-
graphic Society, 1999.
NSW 2011
Morris, Jan. Sydney. New York: Random House,
NSW Travel Centre 1995.
19 Castlereagh Street Polin, Zena L., and Stephen G. Gatward. The
Sydney, Australia Other Side of Sydney: An Independent Traveler's
Guide to Wonderful Australia's Largest City.
Sydney Visitors Information Centre Saint Paul, MN: Marlor Press, 1996.
106 George St.
Spindler, Graham. Uncovering Sydney: Walks into
Sydney, Australia Sydney's Unexpected and Endangered Places.
Kenthurst, Australia: Kangaroo Press, 1991.
Publications
The Australian Videorecordings
Level 19 Darling Park
Sydney [videorecording]. Hosted by Al Roker.
201 Sussex S, 2001 Thirteen/WNET production by Engel Broth-
ers Media Inc. MPI Home Video, 1997.
Daily Telegraph Mirror
Copyright held by Educational Broadcasting
2 Holt St. Corporation. 1 videocassette (ca. 58 min.):
Surry Hills, 2010 sd., col.; 1/2 in.

To k y o
Tokyo, Japan, Asia
Founded: c. 1150
Location: Eastern central Honshu, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
Motto: Changes with each governor; currently, “My Town Tokyo.”
Flag: White symbol on purple field.
Flower: Somei-Yoshino (a kind of cherry blossom)
Time Zone: 9 PM = noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT); Daylight Saving Time is not
observed.
Ethnic Composition: 98% Japanese; 2% Other (including American, Brazilian,
British, Chinese, Korean, Peruvian, and Southeast Asian)
Latitude and Longitude: 35°40Ń, 139°45É
Climate: Temperate; winter is dry and mild, while summer is warm and humid. A
rainy season occurs from mid-June to about mid-July, and September through
November is the typhoon season.
Average Temperatures: Winter 29–52ºF (–2 to 11ºC); Summer 70–83ºF (21–28ºC).
Seasonal Average Snowfall: Snowfall is very rare—a single snowfall per year with
virtually no accumulation.
Average Annual Precipitation: 1334mm (1996 est.)
Government: Tokyo Metropolis is comprised of 23 wards, 26 cities, seven towns, and
eight villages. Incorporated cities all have mayors. Legislative authority in the
metropolis belongs to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, numbering 127
members elected for terms of four years. The prefectural governor is the
principal elected official, presiding over several administrative commissions and
their commissioners. Each ward elects a council and a ward head who deal with
certain local matters.
Monetary Units: The yen of 100 sen is issued in coins of 1,5,10,50,100, and 500 yen,
and notes of 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen.
Telephone Area Codes: 03–23 special ward area (ku-bu); 0426, 0425, 0422, 0428,
0423, 0424, 0427, 0428 city area (Shi-bu); 04992, 04996, 04998 island area
(Tou-bu)
1 Introduction tion hub and a world economic and

industrial center. The city boasts a large
Greater Tokyo is the world’s most number of world-class institutions of
populous metropolitan area and is the higher education, the highest concen-
center of Japanese culture, finance, and tration of universities in Japan. Tokyo
government. A bustling cosmopolitan was known as Edo until 1868, when the
city, Tokyo is also a major transporta- Japanese imperial family was moved
133
Tokyo
of the four main islands comprising

Tokyo Japan.
Population Profile
Airports
City Proper
Population: 11,781,000 Since Japan is an island nation, the
Area: 2,820 sq km (1,090 sq mi) most efficient means of access is by air.
Ethnic composition: 98% Japanese; Others<1%
(Korean; Chinese; Southeast Asian; British;
Flights originating from abroad almost
American; Brazilian; Peruvian) always land at New Tokyo International
Nicknames: Airport at Narita. From Narita, it is still
a considerable distance to central
Metropolitan Area
Tokyo, and the traveler has the choice
Description: comprised of the four prefectures of of two trains. The Keisei Skyliner
the Kanto region: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, reaches Nippori Station and Keisei
and Chiba
Ueno stations in about an hour; from
Percentage of national population2: 22.2% both of these points transfers can easily
Average yearly growth rate: 0.8% be made to other destinations in Tokyo.
——— Japan Rail (JR) runs a Narita Express
1. The Tokyo metropolitan area’s rank among the that arrives at Tokyo Station in under
an hour and Shinjuku and Ikebukuro
2. The percent of Japan’s total population living in
the Tokyo metropolitan area. Stations in about an hour-and-a-half.
All these stations are major transfer
points to both trains and subways.
There is also a limousine bus service to
there from Kyoto. Metropolitan Tokyo Shinjuku and Tokyo Stations and to
is generally defined as the four prefec- Haneda Airport.
tures of Tokyo, Saitaima, Kanagawa, Domestic flights, as well as China
and Chiba, while the city of Tokyo Airlines international flights, serve the
proper usually refers to the 23 wards in much more conveniently located
Tokyo prefecture itself. The metropoli- Haneda Airport. Haneda is a half hour’s
tan area includes the major cities of drive from central Tokyo. Easiest access
Yokohama (the second largest city in to the city is by the monorail that con-
Japan), Kawasaki, and Chiba, as well as nects Haneda Airport with JR’s Yaman-
rural mountain regions west of the city, ote line at Hamamatsucho Station. The
the Izu Islands outside Tokyo Bay, and Yamanote line is a circular line that
the Bonin Islands to the southeast in connects with many major transfer
the Pacific Ocean. points around Tokyo.
2 Getting There Bus and Railroad Service

Tokyo is located on the Pacific on While the subway system is contin-
the eastern coast of Honshu, the largest ually being extended out into the grow-

Tokyo

Tokyo
Public transportation in Tokyo is clean, inexpensive, and the most reliable way to get around the city.
ing suburbs of Tokyo, its reach is 3 Getting Around

limited. The best way to access the city
from other parts of Japan is by rail. The An ancient city that has grown
various Japan Rail companies, of which organically rather than according to an
there are seven, have lines that reach imposed plan, Tokyo exhibits a layout
Tokyo from every part of the country, that differs radically from the grid-like
save the small islands. By far the most patterns of cities like Washington, D.C.,
efficient means of rail travel to Tokyo is or Chicago. The streets follow no dis-
the Shinkansen, the high-speed express cernible pattern, though they might
trains run by Japan Rail. The Shin- approximate a spiderweb, with concen-
kansen also offers access to Tokyo from tric circles like Meiji-dori intersected by
the north and west, though it is an radiating streets like Shinjuku-dori and
express, and local connections may be Yamate-dori. The geographical center is
necessary before reaching a Shinkansen arguably Chiyoda-ku, where the Impe-
line. rial Palace is located, though Chiyoda-

Tokyo
ku, with its abundant public park space, 4 People

hardly qualifies as Tokyo’s “down-
town.” No other area qualifies as down- In striking contrast to the ethnic
town either; instead, the city has and racial diversity that characterize
several concentrated “centers,” such as large American cities, Tokyo, like the
Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro. rest of Japan, is overwhelmingly mono-
Other hubs include Setagaya, the racial. The largest non-Japanese minori-
ties that live in Tokyo as Japanese citi-
Ginza, and Ueno.
zens are Korean and Chinese nationals,
who are never considered Japanese
Bus and Commuter Rail Service even though some of these families
have lived in Japan for centuries. Tokyo
The fact that each of these areas, has always attracted Japanese from
with their distinctive characteristics, areas beyond its borders, mostly people
shares its name with a major train or from the rural areas to the north and
subway station points to the primary east who come in hopes of benefiting
means of travel in Tokyo. The govern- from Tokyo’s economic prosperity,
ment-operated Japan Railways operates which is often in stark contrast to the
several lines within Tokyo, the central depressed economies of much of rural
line being the Yamanote line, which Japan. Many of these newcomers, and
runs in a large circle around the city many native Tokyoites, are young peo-
and intersects with most of the other ple, who throng the streets at all hours
train and subway lines en route. There of the day and night, infusing the city
are also several private train lines oper- with an atmosphere of youthful vitality.
ating in Tokyo. Besides the trains,
which run above ground, there are two 5 Neighborhoods
subway companies, the Toei and the
Teito. The subway lines are constantly Lacking a defined center and
being extended out to the suburbs, encompassing a number of areas with a
where they often emerge to run above distinctive flavor, Tokyo has often been
described as a city of cities. At Tokyo’s
ground like the trains. An extensive bus
heart is old Edo, with the Imperial Pal-
system fills in the areas not covered by
ace grounds and public parks and gar-
the different rail systems. Rather inex-
dens. Asakusa is another area that gives
plicably in a city as large and as lively as a glimpse of a Tokyo that is fast disap-
Tokyo, public transportation stops run- pearing; there one finds cobbled streets
ning sometime between midnight and and small shops selling traditional
1:00 AM and resumes again at 5:00 AM. wares, all centered on the beautiful Sen-
All public transportation in Tokyo, as in soji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest. At the
the rest of Japan, is relatively inexpen- opposite pole of extreme modernity is
sive, clean, and famous for being reli- Akihabara, which is renowned for its
able and on schedule. plethora of supposedly discounted elec-

Tokyo
Tokyo, a cosmopolitan city, is the center of Japanese finance, government, and culture.
tronic goods and which becomes includes Kabukicho, a sometimes seedy

flooded with people at the release of the entertainment district. Shibuya is
latest software. Shinjuku is the site of another area with a huge train station,
the Tokyo Metropolitan Government department stores, eateries, and bars,
Office, housed in a 48-story building though Shibuya is a bit cleaner than
with twin towers that is just one of Shinjuku and considerably trendier,
many such structures in Shinjuku that with hordes of young people crowding
makes the area the part of Tokyo that its streets. But Shibuya cannot compete
most resembles a modern American with the opulence of the Ginza, Tokyo’s
preeminent shopping district and the
metropolis. There one also finds Shin-
site of many upscale restaurants, galler-
juku Station, Japan’s (and perhaps the
ies, and bars.
world’s) busiest train station with well
over a million passengers catching
trains there each day. In contrast to its
6 History
skyscrapers’ clean lines and the open Although the site of Tokyo has
spaces surrounding them, Shinjuku also been inhabited since prehistoric times,

Tokyo
the first recorded mention of a settle-

ment is a twelfth-century reference to
an obscure village called Edo, meaning
“Gate of the Inlet,” situated where the
Sumida River empties into Tokyo Bay.
The temple at Asakusa, east of Ueno sta-
tion and near the Sumida, dates from
perhaps the late seventh century,
though the present-day structures have
been built since World War II. A provin-
cial general erected a fortified castle at
Edo around 1457, but the village
remained insignificant until Tokugawa
Ieyasu (1542–1616) took it over in
1590. Edo was made the capital of the
shogunate in 1603 and remained so
until 1868, though for the time being
the court aristocracy remained in
Kyoto, which retained its cultural pre-
eminence throughout the early
The Imperial Palace. (Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp)
Tokugawa period.
Edo grew rapidly through the sev- ing the political unrest of the times, but
enteenth and eighteenth centuries and it recovered and surpassed two million
appears to have become the largest city by the end of Meiji period. In 1872, a
on the planet by the end of the 1700s. devastating fire ravaged the city and
Edo also overtook Kyoto to become the inflicted heavy damage on the Ginza
center of national culture, as theater (in and Maronouchi districts, which were
particular, kabuki) reached a high level subsequently rebuilt with Western-style
of sophistication during this time. The brick structures. The rebuilding pro-
growth of the city was also accompa- gram reflected a larger trend in the
nied by difficulties, such as the fire of nation, an effort to catch up with other
1657, in which two-thirds of the city nations in the world, in the process of
was destroyed, and more than 100,000 which Japan and its capital were
people died. increasingly receptive to Western influ-
ences. By the end of the Emperor Meiji’s
In 1868, the beginning of the Meiji reign, Japan was allied with England
Restoration, the name of Edo was and had been victorious in war against
changed to Tokyo, meaning “Eastern China and Russia.
capital,” when the imperial court was
moved there following the fall of the Tokyo has not only been prone to
shogunate. Tokyo’s population fell dur- fires, the city’s most common disaster

Tokyo

Tokyo Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator
(Japan) (Egypt) (Italy) (China)

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
historically, but has also suffered from Japan’s surrender, U.S. troops occupied
earthquakes. The great 1923 earth- Tokyo until April 1952. The decade fol-
quake, which destroyed most of the lowing 1954 was a time of rapid expan-
city, was the worst disaster in modern sion and renovation, culminating in
Japanese history. Reconstruction took Tokyo’s hosting of the summer Olym-
seven years and included more than pics in 1964. Tokyo observed its 500th
200,000 new buildings, seven rein- anniversary in 1957. Since then Tokyo’s
forced concrete bridges on the Sumida growth has continued unabated, keep-
River, and a number of parks, in one of ing pace with its increasing stature as
which the Hall of the Nameless Dead one of the most important cities in the
was constructed as a memorial to the world.
estimated 30,000 casualties in Tokyo
alone. 7 Government
Tokyo also incurred heavy damage In 1932, the city limits of Tokyo
from Allied bombings in World War II, were broadened to coincide with the
when U.S. Air Force raids reduced large prefectural boundaries, except in the
sections of the city to rubble. After west, where a county system persisted.

Tokyo
The rest of the prefecture is divided into One of the primary concerns for
wards. In 1943 Tokyo was made a met- public safety in Tokyo is the expecta-
ropolitan prefecture, constituting a spe- tion of the next big earthquake, which
cial administrative unit, known as is overdue considering large quakes
Tokyo Metropolis, comprising 23 wards, occur every 70 years on average and the
26 cities, seven towns, and eight vil- last was in 1923. Earthquake drills are
lages. Hence, the city of Tokyo is a tech- held on the anniversary of the 1923
nical misnomer, since city and earthquake, when people are reminded
prefecture were combined in the cre- to turn off open flames and take proper
ation of the metropolitan prefecture. shelter. Open spaces in the form of
The county section now consists largely parks are maintained throughout the
of incorporated cities, all of which have city to accommodate expected popula-
mayors. Legislative authority in the tions rendered homeless by a quake.
metropolis belongs to the Tokyo Metro-
politan Assembly, numbering 127 9 Economy
members elected for terms of four years.
The prefectural governor is the princi- The Tokyo region is Japan’s leading
pal elected official and presides over industrial center, with a highly diversi-
several administrative commissions and fied manufacturing base. Heavy indus-
their commissioners, including the fire tries are concentrated in Chiba,
department and public works depart- Kawasaki, and Yokohama, while Tokyo
proper is strongly inclined toward light
ments. Each ward elects a council and a
industry, including book printing and
ward head who deal with certain local
the production of electronic equip-
matters.
ment.
More significantly, perhaps, Tokyo
8 Public Safety is Japan’s management and finance
center. Corporations with headquarters
The huge metropolis of Tokyo
or branches or production sites in other
enjoys a low incidence of crime that
parts of the country often have large
would be the envy of a city a fraction of
offices in Tokyo, Marunouchi being the
Tokyo’s size. While crime does occur,
location of many of these. The close
the streets are generally quite safe at all
relationship between government and
hours of the day and night. Police are
business in Japan makes a Tokyo loca-
stationed at booths called koban at
tion advantageous if not necessary.
many street corners throughout the
city, though they spend most of their To the north of Marunouchi is Ote-
time providing information to people machi, where Japan’s leading financial
looking for homes and businesses, a institutions and insurance companies
necessary service in Tokyo, which does are located. Otemachi is also home to
not have a systematic layout or street NTT, the communications giant. Of
address system. course, Tokyo is also the site of the

Tokyo
Tokyo Stock Exchange, located in Kabu- notable places on the west side are the
tocho. nightclub district of Roppongi and the
high-fashion districts of Aoyama and
Tokyo was particularly affected by Harajuku.
an economic boom in Japan in the
1980s when the country emerged as a Tokyo is intersected by the Sumida
global financial center rivaling Europe River and has an extensive network of
and the United States. The economic canals. There is a large man-made port
upswing led to speculation, and espe- at the mouth of the Sumida, the devel-
cially to real estate speculation. Land opment of which has enabled Tokyo to
prices soared at the time, as did the compete with Yokohama, the area’s
value of the yen. The economy leveled foremost port. Land reclamation
out by the early 1990s, but Tokyo real projects have added to Tokyo’s available
estate remained the most expensive in surface area by filling in the bay and
Japan and held a similar rank on a glo- providing room for waste disposal,
bal scale. additional port facilities, and new resi-
dential areas.
In the latter half of the 1990s,
Tokyo was again affected by the Pollution of the environment is
national economy—only this time it regarded as a matter of public offense.
was not an economic boom. In 1999 While the national government is often
Japan began a tentative recovery from slow to address environmental issues,
its longest and most severe recession growing public pressure has led to legis-
since the end of World War II. lation requiring industrial polluters to
rectify any environmental damage for
10 Environment which they are responsible. In spite of
widespread use of bicycles and public
Situated on the Kanto Plain, Tokyo transportation, automobile exhaust is a
is one of three large cities, the other two problem in Tokyo. The imposition of
being Yokohama and Kawasaki, located emission standards has lately elimi-
along the northwestern shore of Tokyo nated some of the smog that has
Bay, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean on plagued the city.
east-central Honshu, the largest of the
islands of Japan. The central part of the 11 Shopping
city was once marsh and lagoons that
were filled in when Ieyasu took over. Tokyo stores bring the goods of the
This area is called shitamachi, or “low world home to the domestic market. At
city,” site of the original Edo. The ter- the fashionable shops of the Ginza,
rain becomes increasingly hilly to the Harajuku, Aoyama, and Shibuya, dis-
west of the city’s center until it becomes cerning Tokyoites can procure the
the Musashino Plateau, where Yoyogi clothing and merchandise of designers
Park, the Meiji Shrine, Roppongi, and from London, Paris, New York, and of
fashionable Harajuku are located. Other course Tokyo. Large, well-supplied

Tokyo
department stores can be found elementary and secondary schools

throughout the city, like Tokyu, Seibu, exist, virtually all Japanese are educated
and Parco in Shibuya, and Keio, Mitsu- in public schools.
koshi, and Isetan in Shinjuku. Ike-
bukuro is the location of the Tobu The central aim of primary and sec-
department store, which promotes itself ondary education in Japan is to win
as the world’s largest. entry into the country’s most exclusive
universities. Entrance examinations are
Certain areas of Tokyo specialize in
tough, and about two million prospec-
particular lines of merchandise. Akiha-
tive students sit for the exams each year
bara, for example, is an electronics mar-
in Tokyo between January and March.
ket and is the first place to sell the latest
offerings from Japan’s unsurpassable
Tokyo boasts the world’s highest
electronics industry. Nearby Kanda, in
concentration of institutions of higher
the vicinity of Meiji University, has
learning with over 100 universities and
some 100 shops specializing in second-
colleges, about a quarter of Japan’s
hand books. Kanda also has a concen-
total. One-third of Japan’s university
trated area of sporting goods stores.
students are enrolled in Tokyo schools.
Wherever one shops, and whatever Tokyo University, founded in 1877, is
one shops for, one thing is universal the nation’s most prestigious, but it is
throughout Tokyo and all of Japan: joined by other top-ranking schools
high-quality, attentive service from Jap- such as Keio-Gijuku University (estab-
anese merchants. In this regard, the lished in 1867), Rikkyo University
invariably helpful and polite proprietor (1883), Waseda University (1882), and
of the smallest shop is in no way out- Tokyo Women's College (1900). The
done by even the most expensive bou- high concentration of such schools in
tique in the Ginza or the larger Tokyo does present some difficulties, as
department stores of Shibuya and Shin- Tokyo’s Metropolitan Board of Educa-
juku, with their “greeters” at the doors tion has restricted the schools’ expan-
and their abundant sales personnel. sion to curb overcrowding in the city
and encouraged them instead to locate
12 Education additional facilities in outlying areas.
Tokyoites have been subject to the

same national education system as the 13 Health Care
rest of Japan since the Meiji period,
when elementary schooling was made Health standards in Tokyo are com-
compulsory for children beginning at parable to those found in other highly
the age of eight. Further reformed after industrialized countries. Restaurants are
World War II, the system has produced most often impeccably clean, and the
one of the world’s most literate and food is safe to eat and the water safe to
educated populations. While private drink everywhere.

Tokyo
Noise and smog are persistent The most famous television net-
problems in the city. Electronic bill- work is Japan Broadcasting Corpora-
boards report sound levels and air pol- tion, or Nippon Hoso Kyokai, known as
lution indices. Air quality has improved NHK. The government-sponsored net-
in recent years and continues to work produces and broadcasts a wide
improve. variety of high-quality programs from
their studios near Harujuku.
Medical insurance in Japan is of
two types. Private insurance is usually Tokyo is also home to several news-
held through one’s employer or labor papers, notably Asahi Shinbun, the
union. Public health insurance is avail- Mainichi Daily News, the Japan Times,
able to everyone through the govern- and Yomiuri Shimbun, which boasts the
ment’s National Health Insurance. world’s largest circulation.
Policy holders of the latter pay 30 per-
cent of costs, and while most doctors
and medical and dental establishments 15 Sports
subscribe to the program, not all do.
Certain expensive materials (like gold Japan’s traditional national sport is
fillings) are not covered, though the sumo, where huge wrestlers compete
plan does provide for expensive proce- against each other in a five-meter ring.
dures. Six tournaments are held annually,
about every other month, and are
Health care is provided on a level broadcast on national television. The
comparable to that in any other highly center of sumo in Tokyo is the Ryokugo
industrialized nation. There are many Kokugikan.
hospitals in Tokyo, several of which are
associated with the universities there, In terms of popularity, sumo is out-
while others are private or run by reli- stripped by baseball, which has been
gious groups. Some of the more promi- played in Japan since the 1870s and has
nent are Kosei General, University of been known as yakyu (“field ball”) since
Tokyo, Showa University, Tokyo Adven- World War II. Six teams are based in the
tist, and St. Luke’s International Hospi- Tokyo area, most with sponsorship
tals. from large corporations. Two of these
teams, the Tokyo Giants and the Nip-
14 Media pon Ham Fighters, play in the Tokyo
Dome, Japan’s first indoor stadium,
As Japan’s nerve center, Tokyo is with a capacity of 56,000, at Korakuen.
also a national media center. Television
and radio stations and programs Golf is also a major athletic preoc-
abound in Japanese and many other cupation for Tokyoites, though golfers
languages, with English predominating. who can afford membership in a club
Televisions are engineered for bilingual have to travel two hours outside the
broadcast when available. city.

Tokyo
Skateboarding is enjoyed by teens worldwide. (Catherine Karnow; Woodfin Camp)
16 Parks and branches in the spring. Ueno Park,

Recreation along with the Sumida embankment,
has remained the most popular spot for
For such a crowded and heavily hanami since the days of old Edo. Ueno
built-up city, Tokyo boasts a surprising also contains a renowned peony gar-
number of parks, many of them quite den, a zoo, and Shinobazu Pond, where
beautiful. There are over 6,000 different visitors can boat among abundant
parks and gardens covering more than water fowl and lotus blossoms. Inokash-
1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) in the city. ira Park is another large green space
The most impressive green spaces in with a beautiful pond.
Tokyo tend to be in the northern and
eastern areas of the city. These are the Many parks are associated with
places to which modern Tokyoites shrines and temples. The Meiji Shrine is
repair for such traditional seasonal situated in a deep wood with very large
activities as cherry-blossom viewing trees. The shrine also has a famous iris
(hanami), when people gather to drink garden. Other gardens can be found at
sake and picnic beneath flower-laden Nezu Shrine (azaleas), Nishiarai Daishi

Tokyo
Temple (peonies), and Kameido Shrine 18 Libraries and

(wisteria). Museums
A large number of Tokyo’s presti-
17 Performing Arts
gious museums are located in the vicin-
Modern Tokyo is host to the latest ity of Ueno Park. Among these are the
trends of global popular culture, and Tokyo National Museum (which is
Tokyo Dome is the usual venue for per- Japan’s largest art museum), the
formances by the likes of the Rolling National Museum of Science, the
Stones and Mariah Carey. National Museum of Western Art (in a
building designed by Le Corbusier and
Of course, Japan has evolved many housing nineteenth- and twentieth-
types of performance that are uniquely century Western painters, with a focus
Japanese, and Tokyo is one of the best on Monet), and the Tokyo Metropolitan
places to experience these. Noh drama, Art Museum (with exhibitions based on
slow-paced and minimalist and rooted its own extensive collections and exhib-
in Zen Buddhism, can be seen at the its of contemporary Japanese art). Near
new National Noh Theater in Senda- the Imperial Palace are the National
gaya. Noh is also performed at night by Museum of Modern Art and the Nezu
torchlight at places like Meiji Shrine. Art Museum.
But the National Theater, across the
moat from the Imperial Palace, is the Tokyo’s metropolitan region also
major venue for traditional perfor- abounds in smaller galleries and muse-
mance art in Tokyo. There one can ums, with perhaps the largest concen-
experience traditional court music tration around the Ginza. Many small
called gagaku, which dates back many museums are specialized: Zen calligra-
centuries to the Heian period. The phy in the Idemitsu Art Gallery in
National Theater also holds perfor- Marunouchi, a large print collection in
mances of bunraku, dramas in which the Ukiyoe Ota Memorial Museum of
the “actors” are three-quarter-life-size Art in Harujuku, and tea ceremony
puppets manipulated by men covered utensils at the Nezu Institute of Fine
with black cloth. And performances of Arts in Minami-Aoyama.
kabuiki, the marvelously stylized opera-
like dramas as elaborate as any from the While each of the major universi-
heart of Italy, are part of the program at ties of Tokyo has a notable library col-
the National Theater, though one can lection, two other libraries are of note.
also see these at the Kabukiza in the These are the National Diet Library and
Ginza and the Simbashi Embujo The- the National Archives, both near the
ater. Imperial Palace.

Tokyo
19 To u r i s m
Entry into Japan is subject to the
complex policies of the Immigration
Bureau of the Ministry of Justice. Visi-
tors from the United States who will be
staying in Japan for a period of less
than 90 days need to have a valid pass-
port and obtain a short-term visa.
Longer stays require an extension or a
commercial or student visa.
Standard electrical voltage in Tokyo

as in the rest of Japan is 100 volts AC,
50 cycles. Appliances designed to oper-
ate on 110–120 volts AC will work on
Tokyo’s 100 volts but will not run as
well and eventually will burn out,
though this occurs only with long-term
use and not during a short stay. Major
hotels in Tokyo have 110- to 120-volt
and 220-volt outlets as well and can
usually supply adapters if appliance
plugs will not fit the outlets provided.
The Asakusa Shrine Festival is one of the many
Travel in Tokyo is safe, easy, and holidays and festivals that Japan celebrates.
efficient, and getting around is rela-
tively inexpensive. The subway and
train system is extensive, though trans-
ferring between the two different sub- among them the Japan National Tourist
way systems is more costly than Organization.
traveling on only one. Transfers are
sometimes a bit more complicated 20 Holidays and
between JR lines and private railways. Festivals
English-language signs abound, and
English-language subway and train Japan has many national and local
maps are available at major stations. holidays and festivals (matsuri). The
Tickets are dispensed from vending Sanjamatsuri at Asakusa Shrine in May,
machines, though there is always an the Kandamatsuri at the Kanda Shrine
attendant on hand (who usually speaks in the same month, and the Sanno-sai
little if any English). There are many at Hie Shrine in June are the three
services to aid the foreign traveler, major Tokyo festivals.

Tokyo
JANUARY 21 Famous Citizens

New Year’s Day (Shogatsu)
Coming of Age Day (Seijin no Hi) Yukio Mishima (1925–78), born Hirao-
FEBRUARY ka Kimitake, one of Japan’s out-
Setsubun standing twentieth-century
National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinen no novelists.
Hi)
Ernest F. Fenollosa (1853–1908), Ameri-
MARCH can Orientalist and lecturer at To-
Girls’ Day (Hinamatsuri)
kyo University, one of the founders
Spring Equinox Day (Shumbun no Hi)
of the Tokyo Fine Arts School in
APRIL 1887.
Cherry Blossom Viewing (Hanami)
Birthday of the Buddha (Hanamatsuri) Junichiro Tanizaki (1886–1965), leading
Flower and Greenery Day (Hana to Midori no figure in twentieth-century Japa-
Hi)—beginning of Golden Week, a national holi- nese letters.
day of several days’ duration
MAY Soseki Natsume (1867–1916), born Kin-
Constitution Day (Kempo Kinembi) nosuke Natsume, the preeminent
Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi) novelist of the Meiji era.
Sanja Festival (Sanjamatsuri)
Kanda Festival (Kandamatsuri) Edwin O. Reischauer (1910–90), Ameri-
can historian and Orientalist, born
JUNE in Tokyo, served in military intelli-
Sanno-sai
Tanabata-matsuri
gence during World War II, and au-
thored several important books
JULY aimed at increasing understanding
Sumida River fireworks display
of Japan in the United States.
AUGUST
Festival of the Dead (Obon) Shigeru Yoshida (1878–1967), prime
minister of Japan during the coun-
SEPTEMBER
Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro no Hi) try’s post-Occupation transition to
Autumnal Equinox Day (Shubun no Hi) democratic self-rule.
OCTOBER Shinichiro Tomonaga (1906–79), physi-
Sports Day (Taiiku no Hi) cist at what is now the Tokyo Uni-
Chrysanthemum Viewing (at various temples versity of Education, won the
and shrines)
Nobel prize for physics for research
NOVEMBER in quantum electrodynamics.
Culture Day (Bunka no Hi)
Three-Five-Seven Day (for children) (Shichi-Go- Akio Morita (1921–99), world-re-
San) nowned innovator in the electron-
Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinro Kansha no Hi) ics industry who founded the Sony
DECEMBER Corporation and designed the
Gishi-sai hugely successful Walkman.

Tokyo
Akira Kurosawa (1910–98), one of the U.S. Embassy

world’s greatest film directors. 1–10–5 Akasaka
Minato-ku, Tokyo
Sadaharu Oh (b. 1940), one of Japan’s Tel. (03) 224–5000
most outstanding baseball players,
played for the Tokyo Giants. Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO)
2–10–1, Yurakucho
Issey Miyake (b. 1938), leading figure in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Japanese and international fashion Tel. (03) 3502–1461
design, studied at Tama Art Univer- Japan National Tourist Organization
sity in Tokyo and set up his studio One Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1250
there in 1971. New York, NY 10020
(212)757–5640
22 For Further Study Japan National Tourist Organization

401 North Michigan Ave., Suite 770
Chicago, IL 60611
Websites (312) 222–0874
Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO)
Website. [Online] Available http:// Japan National Tourist Organization
www.jnto.go.jp (accessed November 29, 515 South Figueroa St., Suite 1470
1999). Los Angeles, CA 90071
Planet Tokyo. [Online] Available http:// (213) 623–1952
www.pandemic.com/tokyo (accessed
November 29, 1999). Tourist Information Center
Tokyo Meltdown. [Online] Available http:// Tokyo International Forum, Building No. 1
www.bento.com/tleisure.html (accessed 3–5–1, Marunouchi
November 29, 1999). Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Tokyo Metropolitan Government New York Rep- Tel.(03)3201–3331
resentative Office. [Online] Available http://
www.tokyo-gov.org (accessed November 29, Publications
1999). The Japan Times Ltd.
Tokyo Travel Guide. [Online] Available http:// 5–4, Shibaura 4–chome
www.asahi-net.or.jp/~by3s-fet/english.htm Minato-ku, Tokyo 108
(accessed November 29, 1999).
Kodansha International Ltd.
17–14, Otowa 1–chome
Government Offices Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Offices Information Charles E. Tuttle Co. Inc.
2–8–1 Nishi Shinjuku 2–6 Suido 1–chome
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Bunkyo–ku, Tokyo 112
Tel. (03) 5321–1111
Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau Books
Otemachi Office Complex, Building No. 1 Bower, Faubion. Japanese Theater. Greenwood
1–3–1 Otemachi Press, 1976.
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Christopher, Robert C. The Japanese Mind: The
Tel. (03) 3213–8111 Goliath Explained. New York: Linden Press/
Simon & Schuster, 1983.
Foreign Nationals’ Affairs Division Conner, Judith and Mayumi Yoshida. Tokyo City
2–2–1 Kasumigaseki Guide. Tokyo: Kodansha, 1985.
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo The Japan Travel Bureau. A Look into Tokyo. (6th
Tel. (03) 3503–7045, ext. 6 ed.) 1991.

Tokyo
Kennedy, Rick. Home, Sweet Tokyo: Life in a Weird Seidensticker, Edward G. Low City, High City:
and Wonderful City. Tokyo: Kodansha, 1988. Tokyo from Edo to the Earthquake, 1867–1923.
Reischauer, Edwin O. Japan: The Story of a Nation. New York: Knopf, 1983.
New York: Knopf, 1991. Seidensticker, Edward G. Tokyo Rising. New York:
Reischauer, Edwin O. The Japanese Today. Tokyo: Knopf, 1990.
Tuttle, 1993. Vardaman, James M. and Michiko Sasaki Varda-
Sadler, Arthur. The Maker of Modern Japan: The man. Japanese Etiquette Today: A Guide to
Life of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Tokyo: Tut- Business and Social Customs. Tokyo: Tuttle,
tle: 1987. 1994.
Schiffer, Robert L. The Exploding City. New York: Waley, Paul. Tokyo, Now and Then: An Explorer's
St. Martin’s Press: 1989. Guide. Weatherhill: 1984.

To r o n t o
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, North America

Location: Northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, Ontario, Canada, North America
Flag: Blue field with white “T” design and red maple leaf.
Ethnic Composition: more than 80 ethnic groups from Africa, Asia, and Europe
Climate: Continental climate moderated by Lake Ontario, with cold, damp winters,
sunny springs, warm summers with some very hot days, and crisp autumns
Annual Mean Temperature: January -4ºC (24ºF); July 21.7ºC (71ºF).
Seasonal Average Snowfall: 141 cm (55.5 in)
Average Annual Rainfall: 64 cm (25 in)
Monetary Units: Canadian dollars (Can$)
Telephone Area Codes: 416, 905 (647 to be added in March 2001)
Postal Codes: Range of postal codes beginning with M5
1 Introduction tinued to grow into a major financial

and cultural center.
Located on the northwestern shore
of Lake Ontario, Toronto is a city that 2 Getting There
has undergone a major transformation
in the second half of the twentieth cen- Toronto, the capital of the province
tury, evolving from a staid, conserva- of Ontario, is located on the northwest-
tive, largely Anglo-Saxon enclave to a ern short of Lake Ontario. Although it
dynamic, multiethnic metropolis that is is a Canadian city, it is located further
one of North America’s major cities. south than many points in the United
Throughout, it has retained an enviable States, including much of New England
degree of livability, boasting safe streets and the northern Midwest, and is
highly accessible by both Canadians
and a clean, efficient subway system
and Americans.
amid restored Victorian houses and a
renovated waterfront. Toronto’s leaders
Highways
have worked successfully to protect the
city’s heritage and its residents’ quality Toronto is accessible by several
of life from the effects of unrestrained major highways running parallel to the
development, even as Toronto has con- Lake Ontario shore: Highways 401 and
151
Toronto
between Ontario and points through-

Toronto out Canada. Service to the United States
Population Profile is provided through connections with
Amtrak in Niagara Falls (on the U.S.
City Proper side).
Population: 653,734
Airports
Ethnic composition: More than 80 ethnic groups
from Africa, Asia, and Europe
Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson Interna-
Nicknames: Toronto the Good
tional Airport, located in the northwest
Metropolitan Area part of Greater Toronto, serves major
Population: 4,657,000 domestic and international airlines,
Description: Toronto, Etobicoke, York, North York, including Air Canada, Canadian Air-
Scarborough, and East York
Area: 634 sq km (245 sq mi) lines, American Airlines, United Air-
World population rank1: 49 lines, USAir, British Airways, Air France,
Percentage of national population2: 15.2% KLM, Alitalia, Lufthansa, Korean Air-
Ethnic composition: More than 80 ethnic groups
lines, and others. In 1997, the airport
from Africa, Asia, and Europe handled 26.1 million passengers, of
Nicknames: Metro Toronto which nearly half were from Canada
——— and almost one-third from the United
1. The Toronto metropolitan area’s rank among States. Toronto can be reached within a
90-minute flight by about 60 percent of
2. The percent of Canada’s total population living
in the Toronto metropolitan area. the U.S. population.
The Toronto City Centre Airport,
located on an island in Toronto Har-
bour, handles scheduled, private, and
corporate flights.
402 enter Toronto from both the east
and west, and the Queen Elizabeth Way
Shipping
enters the city from the west. Highway
400 enters the city from the north and Toronto is one of the major port
connects with Highway 401. cities of the Great Lakes region. About
1.8 million metric tons (two million
Bus and Railroad Service tons) of cargo move through its port
annually.
Toronto is on a number of major
bus routes covered by both regional and
national bus lines. Its bus terminal,
3 Getting Around
located at 610 Bay Street, is the site of The major streets of Greater Tor-
arrivals and departures to and from onto are arranged in a north-south and
points in Ontario, elsewhere in Canada, east-west grid pattern. At approximately
and the United States. Canada’s nation- 1,800 kilometers (1,200 miles), Yonge
wide VIA Rail System provides service Street, the city’s main north-south thor-

Toronto

Toronto
oughfare, is the world’s longest street. about 100 different languages are spo-
The main east-west street is Bloor Street. ken in the city. In the course of its his-
Toronto also has an extensive network tory, Toronto has absorbed 350,000
of underground walkways connecting Chinese immigrants, 400,000 Italians,
its major public buildings and shopping 127,000 Greeks, and significant num-
facilities. bers of West Indians, Latin Americans,
Indians, Sri Lankans, and Koreans.
Bus and Commuter Rail Service Nearly two-thirds of those who reside
in Greater Toronto were born and raised
The Toronto Transit Commission elsewhere. The metropolitan area popu-
operates bus, subway, rapid transit, and lation includes the most extensive Por-
streetcar lines covering a total of almost tuguese population in North America,
4,000 kilometers (2,486 miles). The the largest Chinese population in east-
main lines of Toronto’s clean, efficient, ern Canada, a half million Italians, and
U-shaped subway system are Bloor- many other groups.
Danforth and Yonge-University-Spa-
dina.
5 Neighborhoods
Sightseeing
Toronto’s financial district, home
Double-decker bus tours of Tor- to the city’s major banks and insurance
onto’s major sites are available between companies, is bordered by Front Street,
the spring and autumn months. Also Queen Street, Yonge Street, and York
offered are one-hour boat tours of the Street. The King Street West theater dis-
city’s port and its islands in Lake trict between Front and Queen streets
Ontario, as well as cruises on the 29- contains a heavy concentration of cul-
meter (96-foot) schooner The Chal- tural facilities, including the Royal
lenge. Walking and bicycling tours of Alexander Theatre, Roy Thomson Hall,
various Toronto neighborhoods are also the Canadian Broadcasting Company
available, as are helicopter tours featur- building, the city’s convention center,
ing an aerial view of the city. and the Princess of Wales Theatre.
Chinatown is bounded by Dundas

4 People
Street, University Avenue, Spadina Ave-
Having recently expanded to nue, and College Street. Toronto’s Little
include the municipalities of North Italy, with its colorful coffee bars and
York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, York, and trattorias, is located along College Street
East York, Metropolitan Toronto now between Euclid and Shaw. The area
has a population of some 4.2 million from College Park to Bloor Street,
people, while the central city has over between Spadina Avenue and Yonge
half a million. Known for its ethnic Street is home to many of the Univer-
diversity, Toronto’s population includes sity of Toronto Buildings and the
more than 80 different ethnic groups; Ontario Legislature.

Toronto

Toronto Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
Akhbar El Yom/
Largest newspaper The Toronto Star La Repubblica Renmin Ribao
Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
To the east of Parliament Street and Residential neighborhoods include

between Bloor and Gerrard streets is an the Annex, between Bloor and Bernard
area traditionally known as Cabbage- streets; the exclusive Rosedale area; For-
town because of the cabbages planted est Hill; the Beaches, formerly a sum-
on the lawns of the nineteenth-century mer resort; East End/Danforth, a
Irish immigrants who were its original heavily Greek enclave; and the popular
settlers. Having undergone gentrifica- redeveloped North York neighborhood.
tion, today it is an upscale urban
enclave. 6 History
The first known European to set
The Yorkville area northwest of the foot in the area of present-day Toronto
intersection of Bloor and Yonge streets was a Frenchman, Étienne Brulé (c.
became a haven for the counterculture 1592–1633), in 1615. The plain
beginning in the 1960s; today it is a between the Don and Humber rivers
high-rent district boasting an array of had been traversed for hundreds of
fashionable galleries, boutiques, restau- years by hunters and warriors of native
rants, and cafes. groups including the Hurons, Iroquois,

Toronto
Toronto skyline. (Bernard Boutrit; Woodfin Camp)
Ottawas, and Mississaugas. The French ated by attacking the fledging U.S.
established a trading post at the site in capital, Washington, D.C., and burning
1720 and a settlement, Fort Rouille, in the president’s residence, which
1751. Twelve years later, French rule of received its present name—the White
Canada was ended by the Treaty of House—after being whitewashed to
Paris, and the entire territory came hide its charred exterior.) But the town
under British control. In 1793 the Brit- rebuilt and continued to grow, aided by
ish built the settlement that was to growing immigration and the exten-
become Toronto. Called York, it became sion of the Erie Canal to Lake Ontario.
the capital of the British province of In 1834 it was officially incorporated as
Upper Canada. Present-day Toronto’s the city of Toronto. The following
main street, Yonge Street, was laid out decades saw a dramatic improvement in
in 1796. the city’s infrastructure—including
water works, gas lines, and, by 1884,
During the War of 1812, the British electricity, as well as the coming of the
captured the town and burned its par- railroad. Toronto became a major trade
liament buildings. (The British retali- center for lumber and grain, and its first

Toronto
financial institutions were established. enclaves multiplied in a city whose

With Canadian independence from population had been primarily Anglo-
Britain in 1867, the city became the Saxon. Restrictions were eased on
capital of the new province of Ontario. immigration from China, Eastern
Europe, and Italy and additional immi-
In the latter part of the nineteenth grants arrived from Latin America, the
century, Toronto’s population grew rap-
Caribbean, India, Pakistan, and South-
idly, reaching 181,000 by 1891. The city
east Asia. By 1961, 42 percent of Tor-
became a major business center, with onto’s population was foreign-born.
large fortunes amassed by a number of
self-made entrepreneurs, including Urban renewal was sparked in the
Timothy Eaton (1834–1907) and Robert 1960s as area residents began moving
Simpson, who laid the groundwork for from the suburbs back to the city, and
retail empires that were to flourish in the Yorkville area temporarily became a
the twentieth century as well. With counterculture mecca. By the 1970s
new wealth came the establishment of Toronto surpassed Montreal as Canada’s
cultural institutions such as the Tor- top financial center. It boasted the larg-
onto Philharmonic Society and others. est number of corporate headquarters
As the new century opened, the city in the country, as well as its major stock
flourished economically, attracting a exchange and the capital of its publish-
new wave of immigrants from Russia, ing industry. A growing number of sky-
Italy, and Eastern Europe and also expe- scrapers changed city’s skyline, and
riencing some of the social problems waterfront commercial development
that came with increased industrializa- was begun with the development of
tion. Harbourfront. Some of the city’s top
attractions, including the zoo, the
Thousands of Canadians fought in
Ontario Science Centre, and Ontario
both world wars, and the domestic
Place, were also built during this period.
economy expanded to meet wartime
production needs. After World War II Since then Toronto has continued
(1939–45), suburban expansion became to grow into a major business and cul-
a major social and economic phenome- tural center, becoming home to one of
non, much as it did in the cities in the North America’s leading theater dis-
United States. The Metro Council, tricts as well as the world’s first sports
established in 1953, allowed representa- stadium with a fully retractable roof,
tives of both the city and its suburbs to the Skydome, completed in 1989. The
unite in working for the development 1990s have seen the expansion of the
of the metropolitan area; expanded Metro Toronto Convention Center, the
highways and the creation of a subway construction of a new National Trade
system were important factors in this Center and sports arena, and a major
development. The post-war years also renovation of the Royal Ontario
changed Toronto’s ethnic and racial Museum. In 1998 a major government
makeup dramatically, and ethnic reorganization took place, uniting six

Toronto
municipalities into an expanded City of firms. With over 8,000 industrial plants,
Toronto. Toronto is Canada’s manufacturing cap-
ital. It is also Canada’s major center for
7 Government banking and finance. Five of the coun-
try’s ten chartered banks are headquar-
In January 1998 the City of Tor- tered in the city, and more than 40
onto was enlarged to include four foreign banks have offices there. In
neighboring cities (Etobicoke, North addition, many of the nation’s top
York, York, and Scarborough) and the insurance and investment firms also
borough of East York. The new city has
have offices in Toronto. Like New
a mayor-council form of government,
York—its economic counterpart in the
with both the mayor and council mem-
United States—Toronto is also the
bers elected to three-year terms, repre-
major media and communications cen-
senting 28 wards.
ter of its country, as well as its major
metropolitan retail market. Major com-
8 Public Safety panies with offices in Toronto include
Toronto is known as one of the saf- American Express Canada, the Bank of
est major cities in North America. Its Montreal, Bell Canada, Eaton’s, Famous
subways are clean and safe and even Players, Hewlett-Packard Canada, IBM
have special camera-monitored safety Canada, Labatt Breweries, Molson
areas. Criminal law in Toronto is deter- Breweries, Sears Canada, Sprint Canada,
mined by Canada’s federal government and Toronto Dominion Bank.
and is the same throughout the coun-
try, as opposed to civil law, which varies
from one province to another. The
10 Environment
Metro area is protected by a police force
The forests of southern Ontario,
of approximately 5,000, supplemented
within easy access of Toronto, are rich
by a unit of the Royal Canadian
in flora and home to abundant wildlife,
Mounted Police, which enforces federal
including many bird species and large
laws, such as those involving drug
mammals, such as moose, deer, and
smuggling and tax evasion. The
Ontario Provincial Police patrol the bear. Gulls, ducks, and Canada geese
highways that ring the city. Uniformed inhabit the shores of Lake Ontario, and
police officers wear guns although gun the abundant marshes and pools of
use by the police is extremely rare. southern Ontario are home to many
wetland species, including herons,
woodcock, teal, wood duck, kingfishers,
9 Economy and ospreys, plus a variety of amphibi-
Toronto is the economic heart of ans and such mammals as the muskrat.
Canada. It is home to over 80,000 busi-
nesses, including more than one-third The Ontario Environmental Net-
of the country’s top 500 industrial work serves as a referral service for some

Toronto
Old City Hall at Nathan Hawkins Plaza. (Bernard Boutrit; Woodfin Camp)
500 environmental groups of all kinds and several malls. The Eaton Centre on
in the province of Ontario. Yonge Street in downtown Toronto is a
mammoth, four-level mall complex
11 Shopping with a glass-domed galleria and more
than 360 shops and restaurants. Other
Downtown Toronto is the third- downtown malls include the smaller
largest retail center in North America, College Park Shops, the upscale Hazel-
surpassed only by New York and Chi- ton Lanes, Royal Bank Plaza, and
cago—it has 929,000 square meters (ten Queen’s Quay Terminal, located in a
million square feet) of retail space and converted waterfront warehouse. Large
some 4,500 stores. Its major depart- shopping centers in the metropolitan
ment stores are Eaton’s and the Hud- area include the Yorkdale Shopping
son’s Bay Company (formerly Center, Scarborough Town Centre, and
Simpson’s). The major downtown shop- Dufferin Mall.
ping venues are the trendy Bloor/
Yorkville area, Queen Street West for Toronto is known particularly for
bookstores, antiques, and boutiques, its retail selection of Canadian arts and

Toronto
crafts. The city has two major outdoor Toronto. The network consists of three
produce markets: Kensington Market separate hospitals (Toronto General
and the St. Lawrence Market. Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital,
and Princess Margaret Hospital) and
12 Education Toronto Medical Laboratories.
Toronto’s public school system In fiscal year 1998–99, University

operates more than 500 elementary and Health Network logged 38,853 admis-
secondary schools, which have an sions (of adult patients), 559,269 ambu-
enrollment of approximately 280,000 latory visits, 66,730 emergency visits,
students. About one-third as many stu- and 16,587 surgeries.
dents attend parochial and private
Mount Sinai Hospital, also affili-
schools.
ated with the University of Toronto
With an enrollment of over 50,000, Medical School, is another Toronto hos-
the University of Toronto is the largest pital that is highly regarded throughout
university in Canada. Ranked Canada’s Canada. The 388-bed hospital is recog-
top research university by Maclean’s nized in particular for the quality of its
magazine, the University of Toronto is nursing care. In 1997–98 Mount Sinai
also known for the quality of the liberal admitted 18,174 patients and recorded
arts education it provides to its gradu- 3,925 births, 28,224 emergency visits,
ates. With nine colleges, the university and 518,897 ambulatory care visits.
offers 300 undergraduate, 148 master’s, During the same period, the hospital
and 95 doctoral programs. Other col- employed a full-time staff of 1,299.
leges and universities include the
National Ballet School, Ryerson Poly- Another prestigious Toronto medi-
cal facility is the Hospital for Sick Chil-
technical Institute, Ontario College of
dren, which has an international
Art, and the Royal Conservatory of
Music. reputation for clinical care and
research. The hospital has been the site
of many pioneering discoveries and
13 Health Care procedures in recent decades, includ-
With more than 50 hospitals, and ing the first bone marrow transplant
some 130,000 people employed in the program and major research in the area
health care industry, Toronto is Can- of hereditary diseases. Other hospitals
ada’s major health care center. in Greater Toronto include Centenary
Hospital, Central Hospital, The Doctors’
With a total of approximately Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital,
1,000 beds, the University Health Net- Queensway General Hospital, St.
work (formerly The Toronto Hospital) is Michael’s Hospital, Toronto East Gen-
one of Canada’s largest acute-care eral and Orthopaedic Hospital, Toronto
teaching organizations and the primary General Hospital, Toronto Rehabilita-
teaching hospital for the University of tion Centre, and West Park Hospital.

Toronto
Eaton Centre is one of the largest mall complexes in Toronto offering more than 360 shops and
restaurants. (Mike Yamashita; Woodfin Camp)
Toronto is also the home of Toronto also houses the corporate headquarters
Rehabilitation Institute, Baycrest Cen- of Thomson Publishing, one of the
tre for Geriatric Care, and the Eye Bank. world’s largest book publishers. Major
magazine publishers Maclean Hunter
and Southam Business Communica-
14 Media tions are also located in the city.
In addition to the Globe and Mail, Toronto has seven television sta-
Canada’s national newspaper, two other tions and 24 AM and FM radio stations.
major dailies are published in Tor-
onto—the Toronto Star (weekday circula- 15 Sports
tion 460,654; Sundays 469,811) and the
Toronto Sun (weekdays 240,164; Sun- Toronto residents are avid sports
days 403,316). Also published in the fans, and professional sporting events
city are The Financial Post, a business are usually sold out months in advance.
newspaper, and hundreds of other busi- Hockey is played by the Maple Leafs at
ness publications of all kinds. Toronto the new Air Canada Centre, which is

Toronto
Thoroughbred racing takes place at

Woodbine Racetrack. Toronto also hosts
several annual spectator sports events:
the Molson Indy auto race, a canoeing
and rowing regatta on Long Pond, both
in July, and the Player’s International
Canadian Open tennis championship
tournament every summer.
16 Parks and
Recreation
Toronto’s extensive park system
offers tennis courts, swimming pools,
playing fields, and ice-skating rinks.
The 178-hectare (440-acre) High Park in
the city’s West End includes Grenadier
Pond (actually a large lake), a swim-
ming pool, a modest-sized zoo, playing
fields, tennis courts, bowling greens,
and extensive open areas for picnick-
ing, baseball, and other activities. Tor-
onto is also home to two public
gardens: the Allan Gardens between
The sculpture garden at St. James’ Cathedral. Jarvis, Sherbourne, Dundas, and Ger-
(Bernard Boutrit; Woodfin Camp) rard streets and the Edwards Garden
(Lawrence Avenue at Leslie Street), a
formal garden with a creek running
also home to the Raptors of the through it. Almost directly across Lake
National Basketball Association. The Ontario is Niagara Falls, one of North
Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum is America’s most spectacular natural
located in downtown Toronto. The Tor- wonders (and major tourist sites), and
onto Blue Jays baseball team, which some 322 kilometers (200 miles) north
of the city lie the 7,700 square kilome-
won the 1992 and 1993 World Series,
ters (3,000 square miles) of wilderness
plays home games in the Skydome, an
lands that make up Algonquin Provin-
outdoor stadium with a retractable roof.
cial Park.
The Argonauts of the Canadian Football
League also play in the Skydome; in Toronto has an exceptional zoo—
1996 the Argonauts won the sport’s the Metropolitan Zoo (or Metro Tor-
prestigious Grey Cup national champi- onto Zoo), located in Scarborough.
onship. Uncaged animals roam over 287 hect-

Toronto
ares (710 acres) that have been trans- Royal Alexandra Theatre, and the Prin-
formed into settings resembling their cess of Wales Theatre.
natural habitats, including African
savannah, Malaysian rainforests, and The city’s theater companies
Western prairies. A monorail and Zoo- include the Canadian Stage Company,
mobile, as well as some ten kilometers which performs at the St. Lawrence
(six miles) of walkways, help visitors Centre and gives free outdoor Shakes-
traverse the zoo’s vast expanse, which peare performances in the summer; the
also includes a large botanical collec- Factory Theatre and Tarragon Theatre,
tion. known for their productions of works
by Canadian playwrights; Young Peo-
Toronto provides many opportuni- ple’s Theatre, which is dedicated to pre-
ties for outdoor recreation, including senting theatrical works for children;
water sports on Lake Ontario. There are Theatre Passe Muraille, a leading alter-
bicycle trails in park areas, and bicyclers native theater; Buddies in Bad Times, a
can also be seen—together with walk- gay theater whose plays deal with issues
ers, runners, and in-line skaters—on the of gender and identity; and the Native
city streets and at the lakefront during Earth Performing Arts Theatre, whose
the warm-weather seasons. Toboggan- productions address issues of impor-
ing and cross-country skiing are popu- tance to Native Canadians. Toronto is
lar during the winter months; Nathan also famous as a center for live comedy;
Phillips Square and Harbourfront are many major comedic talents—both
popular ice-skating venues. The Kor- Canadian and American—who went on
tright Centre for Conservation offers to success in the United States honed
naturalist-guided hiking and other their skills at Second City Toronto and
activities. in comedy clubs such as Yuk Yuk’s.
17 Performing Arts The Toronto Symphony performs

in Roy Thomson Hall, with the Men-
Toronto is widely known for the delssohn Choir participating in pro-
abundance and variety of its perform- grams that include choral works. In the
ing arts scene. In particular, it is one of summer, the orchestra performs out-
the English-speaking world’s major the- doors at Ontario Place at the lakeshore.
ater venues, surpassed only by New The Canadian Opera performs at the
York and London. Its major performing Hummingbird Centre for the Perform-
arts centers include the Elgin and Win- ing Arts. Toronto’s other musical groups
ter Garden Theatres, venues for all include the Orford String Quartet, Tafel-
types of theatrical and music perfor- musik, and the Elmer Isler Singers.
mances and extensively renovated in Many types of popular music are heard
the 1980s. Broadway musicals are seen in clubs and concerts, many held at the
at the restored Pantages Theatre, the Molson Amphitheatre.

Toronto
Toronto is the home of Canada’s of the museum are the textile collec-
premier dance troupe, the National Bal- tion, the display of early Canadian dec-
let of Canada, founded nearly 50 years orative arts, the Roman Gallery, and
ago. The company performs both ballet exhibits featuring the cultures of Native
classics and modern works at the Canadians. Children enjoy the
O’Keefe Theatre in Toronto and also museum’s Bat Cave and Dinosaur Gal-
tours throughout Canada and the lery. The Art Gallery of Toronto exhibits
United States. Toronto’s leading con- all types of artworks from the Middle
temporary dance ensemble is the Tor- Ages through the twentieth century.
onto Dance Theatre, which performs at The George R. Gardiner Museum of
the Premiere Dance Theatre. Ceramic Art is the only museum in
North America devoted exclusively to
ceramics and includes both European
18 Libraries and and pre-Columbian collections. The
Museums McMichael Collection, located north of
Founded in 1883, the Toronto Pub- the city in Kleinburg, displays works by
lic Library System serves a population a group of famous Canadian landscape
of 2,300,000. The library’s book hold- painters in a picturesque woodland set-
ings total 9,132,159 volumes. The ting. The Ontario Science Centre con-
library system has an annual circulation tains a large and varied selection of
of more than 28,376,411 items. Special exhibits, many of them interactive.
collections include Canadiana, the
In addition to its art and science
Arthur Conan Doyle Room, Native Peo-
museums, Toronto is also home to the
ple Collection, Puppetry, and Urban
Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum and
Affairs. The University of Toronto
collections featuring history and
Library System holds more than eight-
design, as well as such unusual catego-
and-a-half million volumes and sub-
ries as telephones, sugar, and shoes.
scribes to more than 40,000 electronic
journals. Subject of its special collec-
tions include English Literature, Austra- 19 To u r i s m
liana, History of Science and Medicine,
and Canadian and Provincial Docu- According to Tourism Toronto, visi-
ments. tors made an estimated 20.2 million
trips to Toronto in 1997—44 percent
With art, archaeology, and science from elsewhere in Ontario, 14 percent
collections containing more than six from Canada’s other provinces, 27 per-
million items, the Royal Ontario cent from the United States, and the
Museum, known locally as ROM, is rest from overseas. Of these visitors, 37
Canada’s largest museum. It is particu- percent came for pleasure trips, 32 per-
larly renowned for its extensive Chi- cent were visiting friends or family, 23
nese collection, which includes over percent came on business trips, includ-
1,000 artifacts. Other notable features ing conventions, and the remainder

Toronto
were unclassified. Total direct visitor

expenditures in 1997 totaled Can$4.96
billion. The city’s 32,250 hotel rooms
had a 72 percent occupancy rate.
Toronto’s major convention and
exhibit facilities include the National
Trade Centre (101 square meters/1,086
square feet of marketing and exhibit
space), Toronto Congress Centre (46
square meters/500 square feet), Interna-
tional Centre (43 square meters/468
square feet), and Metro Toronto Con-
vention Centre (43 square meters/460
square feet). In 1997, 911 meetings,
conventions, and trade shows were
held in the city, with an economic
impact of Can$1.086 billion. Toronto greets over 20 million visitors a year.
(Timothy Eagan; Woodfin Camp)
20 Holidays and JUNE-JULY

Festivals Benson & Hedges Symphony of Fire Fireworks
JANUARY-MARCH Competition
Stages Celebration JUNE-SEPTEMBER
FEBRUARY International Marketplace
Winter Carnival
JUNE-OCTOBER
MARCH Wednesday’s Soundsational Concert Series
International Home & Garden Show
Milk International Children’s Festival of the Arts JULY
Toronto St. Patrick’s Parade Beaches International Jazz Festival
Fringe of Toronto Festival
APRIL CHIN (Canadian Heritage Information Network)
Images Festival of Independent Film and Video
Picnic International & Shopping Bazaar
APRIL-MAY Outdoor Art Exhibition
Music Hall at Snug Harbor Scream in High Park—a Carnival of the Spoken
MAY Word
Big City Hoedown 8 Toronto Harbour Parade of Lights
Toronto Jewish Film Festival Toronto Molson Indy
JUNE JULY-AUGUST
Gay Pride Week Caribana Festival
International Dragon Boat Race Festival
Medieval Renaissance Festival AUGUST
Metro International Caravan Great Canadian Volkswagen Bug Show
North by Northeast Music Festival Hot & Spicy Food Festival
Toronto Lion Dance Festival Taste of the Danforth

Toronto
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER Robertson Davies (b. 1913), one of Can-

Canadian National Exhibition ada’s most popular and acclaimed
SEPTEMBER novelists.
Bell Canadian Open
Canadian International Air Show Glenn Gould (1932–82), pianist.
Country Harvest Festival
Hunting & Outdoors Show Paul Kane (1810–71), nineteenth-centu-
Italian Celebration ry artist and explorer.
Ontario Place Offshore Challenge
Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival
William Lyon Mackenzie (1795–1861),
Toronto Fall Gift Show Toronto’s first mayor.
Toronto International Film Festival
Marshall McLuhan (1911–80), culture
Vegetarian Food Fair
critic and media theorist.
OCTOBER
Canadian International Marathon Charles G. D. Roberts (1860–1943), poet
Creative Sewing & Needlework Festival and author of animal stories.
Fall Classic Collector Car Auction & Swap Meet
HarvestFest Goldwin Smith (1823–1910), author.
International Creators Art & Craft Show
International Festival of Authors
International Home Show
Toronto Fall Home Show
Websites
NOVEMBER Toronto City Guide. [Online] Available http://
Mennonite Christmas Festival www.math.toronto.edu/toronto/. (accessed
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair October 14, 1999).
Santa Claus Parade Toronto City Net. [Online] Available http://
www.city.net/countries/canada/ontario/tor-
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER onto. (accessed October 14, 1999).
Christmas in the Village Toronto Info Guide. [Online] Available http://
Country Christmas at Gibson House Museum www.theinfoguide.com/guideme.htm.
One of a Kind Christmas Canadian Craft Show & (accessed October 14, 1999).
Sale
Government Offices
NOVEMBER-JANUARY
Mayor’s Office
Cavalcade of Lights
55 John St. Metro Hall, 7th Fl.
Trees Around the World Toronto, ON M5V3C6
DECEMBER (416) 395-6464
First Night Toronto
Toronto City Hall
International Christmas Fair & Marketplace 100 Queen St. W
Toronto Christmas Story Toronto, ON M5H2N1
DECEMBER-JANUARY (416) 392-7341
Victorian Christmas Flower Show
Metropolitan Toronto Convention &
21 Famous Citizens Visitors Association
207 Queen’s Quay W
Margaret Atwood (b. 1939), novelist Toronto, ON M5J1A7
and poet. (416) 203-6753

Toronto
Metro Toronto Convention Centre Filey, Mike. Discover & Explore Toronto's Water-
255 Front St. W front: A Walker's, Jogger's, Cyclist's, Boater's
Toronto, ON M5V2W6 Guide to Toronto's Lakeside Sites and History.
(416) 585-8000 Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1998.
Fulford, Robert. Accidental City: The Transforma-
Publications tion of Toronto. Boston: Houghton Mifflin,
Financial Post 1996.
333 King St. E Fulford, Robert, and Megan Oldfield. Toronto
Toronto, ON M5A4N2 Tapestry. Sponsored by the Board of Trade of
Metropolitan Toronto. Memphis, TN: Tow-
The Globe and Mail ery Pub., 1997.
444 Front St. W
Toronto, ON M5V2S9 Holloway, Anne. Toronto with Kids: The Complete
Family Travel Guide to Attractions, Sites, and
Toronto Star Events in Toronto. Macfarlane Walter & Ross,
1 Yonge St. 1995.
Toronto, ON M5E1E6 Kilbourn, William. Toronto Remembered: A Cele-
Toronto Sun bration of the City. Toronto: Stoddart, 1984.
333 King St. E Kluckner, Michael. Toronto the Way It Was. Tor-
Toronto, ON M5A3X5 onto: Whitecap Books, 1988.
Martyn, Lucy Booth. Toronto, 100 Years of Gran-
Books deur: The Inside Stories of Toronto's Great
Arthur, Eric Ross. Toronto, No Mean City. 3rd ed. Homes and the People Who Lived There. Tor-
Rev. by Stephen A. Otto. Toronto: University onto: Pagurian Press, 1978.
of Toronto Press, 1986. Mitchell, Scott. Secret Toronto: The Unique Guide-
Dendy, William. Lost Toronto: Images of the City's book to Toronto’s Hidden Sites, Sounds, &
Past. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1993. Tastes. Toronto: ECW Press, 1998.

Va n c o u v e r
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, North America
Founded: 1867; Incorporated: April 6, 1886

Location: Southwestern British Columbia on the Pacific Coast of Canada
Flag: Green triangle (left) with yellow emblem; white field with blue waves.
Motto: “By Sea, Land and Air We Prosper.”
Flower: Rose in all its forms (floribunda, hybrid tea, grandiflora and climbers) and of
no specific color
Time Zone: 4 am Pacific Standard Time (PST) = noon Greenwich Mean Time
Ethnic Composition: 21% Chinese; 11% English; 4% East Indian; 72% of single
origins; 28% of multiple origins (1991 est.)
Coastline: Bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Fraser River, and the Burrard Inlet
Climate: Winters are generally wet and mild while summers are warm and dry. The
city’s climate is influenced by the Pacific Ocean, which moderates the
temperature and is responsible for precipitation.
Annual Mean Temperature: 11.0ºC (51.8ºF)
Seasonal Average Snowfall: 8.0 cm (3.1in)
Average Annual Precipitation (rainfall and melted snow): 94 cm (37 in)
Government: Mayor and ten-member council
Monetary Units: Canadian dollar (Can$)
1 Introduction Vancouver (1757–98), who first sailed

round Vancouver, exploring and chart-
Vancouver is located on the Pacific ing Burrard Inlet and adjacent waters.
Coast in southwestern British Colum-
bia. Covering 114 square kilometers (44 Vancouver is known as one of the
square miles), it is the second-smallest most beautiful cities in the world. Bor-
area of eight major Canadian cities. The dered by the Pacific Ocean, the Fraser
metropolitan area of 2,787 square kilo- River, the Burrard Inlet, and the Coast
meters (1,076 square miles) is the third- Mountains to the east, the city is sur-
largest metropolitan area in Canada. In rounded by shimmering waters and
March 1995, the city of Vancouver won towering trees.
a silver medal as the second-best city in
the world. With 44 percent of its population
comprised of visible minorities, Van-
Vancouver was incorporated in couver is truly a multicultural city. It is
1886 and named after Captain George home to Canada’s largest Chinatown,
169
Vancouver
1997, the city cemented its place in

Vancouver Pacific Rim trade.
Population Profile
2 Getting There
City Proper
Population: 514,000 Vancouver is bordered by the
Area: 114 sq km (44 sq mi) Pacific Ocean to the west, the Fraser
Ethnic composition: 21% Chinese; 11% English;
4% East Indian; 72% of single origins; 28% of
River to the south, and the Burrard Inlet
multiple origins to the north. It borders the city of Burn-
Nicknames: Lotus Land; Hollywood North aby to the east, aptly separated by
Boundary Road. It is accessible by land,
Metropolitan Area
sky, and water.
Description: Vancouver and surrounding
communities Highways
Area: 1,076 sq mi
World population rank1: 166 Two major highways lead to Van-
Percentage of national population2: 6.5% couver: the Trans-Canada Highway,
Highway 1, funnels drivers into the city
——— from the east; Highway 99, which
1. The Vancouver metropolitan area’s rank among
the world’s urban areas. becomes I-5 at the United States-Can-
2. The percent of Canada’s total population living ada border, brings in traffic from the
in the Vancouver metropolitan area. south. Vancouver is a 12-hour drive
from Calgary, Alberta’s capital city, and
a five-day drive from Montreal. Vancou-
ver is only three hours north of Seattle,
its largest gay community, and boasts in Washington State.
numerous ethnic neighborhoods, such
as Little India and Little Italy. However, Bus and Railroad Service
all Vancouver residents are called Van-
Pacific Central Station, the termi-
couverites.
nus for transcontinental passenger rail
and bus service, is located at Main
In 1986, the city played host to the
Street and Terminal Avenue in down-
World Expo. Since then, tourism has
town Vancouver. VIA Rail, BC Rail, the
grown considerably and now draws
Rocky Mountaineer, and Amtrak offer
more than five million visitors to the
regularly scheduled passenger rail ser-
region each year.
vice to Vancouver. VIA Rail has trans-
continental services from Toronto three
The Port of Vancouver, a world-
times a week.
class port situated on Burrard Inlet, is
one of the busiest in North America. Greyhound Lines serves Vancou-
The port situates Vancouver as Canada’s ver from numerous cities in the United
gateway to Asia. By hosting the Asia- States and Canada. Also serving the
Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) in market are International Stage Lines,

Vancouver

Vancouver
Pacific Coach Lines, and Gray Line of ferry (Sea Bus) and monorail (Sky
Vancouver. Train).
Numerous bridges span the numer-
Airports
ous waterways that surround Vancou-
Vancouver International Airport ver. The Burrard Inlet, which separates
serves both international and domestic North and West Vancouver—both part
airlines. Currently, 19 major carriers, 11 of Greater Vancouver—from the city is
regional and local airlines, and several spanned by the resplendent Lions Gate
charter companies fly into Vancouver Bridge. Further east is the Second Nar-
International Airport. Americans have a rows Bridge, connecting the eastern
choice of 70 non-stop flights daily from part of the city with North Vancouver.
21 cities in the United States. Direct The Cambie Street Bridge, Burrard
flights from the United Kingdom, West- Street Bridge, and Granville Street
ern Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Bridge all span False Creek. Crossing the
and the Asia Pacific region (Japan, Fraser River to the south are the Arthur
Hong Kong, Taiwan) are offered. Laing Bridge, the Oak Street Bridge, the
Knight Street Bridge, the Alex Fraser
Shipping Bridge, the Puttallo Bridge, and the Port
Mann Bridge.
Vancouver is accessible by water
from Seattle, Victoria, the Gulf Islands, Bus, Commuter Rail, and Ferry Ser-
and parts of coastal British Columbia. vice
Cruise ship facilities at Canada Place
serve as a departure point for journeys TransLink operates the public tran-
to Alaska by major cruise lines. There sit system in Greater Vancouver. Its net-
are more than 250 cruises each year work of buses, combined with the Sky
from May to early October. Train and Sea Bus fleet, covers more
than 1,800 square kilometers (695
square miles).
3 Getting Around
Greater Vancouver is divided into
Vancouver is a city that is easy to three fare zones, one of which is formed
navigate. It is laid out on a grid system by the city of Vancouver. Major bus
of avenues running east-west and routes run from 5:00 AM to 2:00 AM.
streets running north-south. Main
Street is the dividing line between the Most major bus routes in Vancou-
east and west parts of the city. Avenues, ver run through the downtown core
starting at False Creek, are numbered along Granville Street. Sky Train is a
while both streets and avenues in monorail system that moves passen-
downtown Vancouver are named. Both gers along a single line which runs back
the city of Vancouver and Greater Van- and forth from Surrey, a city just out-
couver are served by public transporta- side of Vancouver across the Fraser
tion. Some routes are also served by River, to the terminal located at the foot

Vancouver

Vancouver Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
The Vancouver Akhbar El Yom/
Sun Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
of Granville Street. From here, the Sea Chinatown is the largest of its kind in
Bus, part of the TransLink network, Canada and the third largest in North
moves passengers to and from North America. It is a vibrant and vital neigh-
Vancouver across the Burrard Inlet from borhood, home to Asians of many dif-
the terminal. Physically-challenged resi- ferent ethnic groups. With architecture
dents who have special transportation dating back to the early 1900s, it is one
needs are served by the van-sized of the oldest sections of Vancouver.
HandyDART buses. Aquabus, a smaller Stanley Park, a 405-hectare (1,000-acre)
fleet of privately operated small walk- park and forest that juts out into the
on ferries, transports shoppers from Burrard Inlet, was once home to Van-
famous Granville Island to the down-
couver’s original inhabitants, the Coast
town core.
Salish. Granville Island, which is a
human-made island, was transformed
Sightseeing
from an industrial section of Vancouver
Vancouver’s four most popular into a fresh-food market and artisans’
attractions are Chinatown, Stanley community by the federal government
Park, Granville Island, and Gastown. in the 1970s. Gastown, a historic site,

Vancouver
later became the town of Granville, the other major groups of ethnic ances-
which then became the city of Vancou- try.
ver.
Most religions and denominations
are represented and practiced in Van-
4 People couver. Christian, Animist, and Pagan
The City of Vancouver was home worshippers live a harmonious exist-
to 514,000 residents in 1998, with ence beside those who practice Asian or
Greater Vancouver supporting a popu- middle-eastern religions like Islam and
lation of 1.9 million. During the early Hindu.
1990s, Greater Vancouver experienced a
14 percent growth in population. It is 5 Neighborhoods
the third-largest city in Canada behind
Vancouver is one of Canada’s most
Toronto and Montreal. Some predict
expensive cities in which to live. At the
visible minorities will form the majority
turn of the twenty-first century, modest
of the city’s population during the first
single-family houses on the less expen-
decade of the twenty-first century.
sive east side of the city hovered around
Truly a multicultural city, Vancou- the $300,000 mark. On the west side of
ver residents find their origins in more Vancouver, the median price for a sin-
than 40 different ethnic and cultural gle-family home was around $500,000.
groups. More than 100 different lan- Consequently, condominiums and loft
guages are spoken. Almost half of the developments with moderate mort-
city’s population, 44 percent, is of a vis- gages sprung up throughout the city
ible minority. during the 1990s. In 1997 there were
close to 4,000 condos sold on Vancou-
In 1991, it was estimated that there ver’s west side. In 1998, near the end of
were more citizens of Chinese ancestry the condo boom, this figure decreased
living in the city than any other single to 2,500. In 1998, Vancouver’s apart-
cultural or ethnic group. Residents of ment vacancy rate hovered just below
Chinese descent first came to Vancou- three percent.
ver during the gold rush in 1858. Later,
immigrants from China’s southern There are a number of neighbor-
Guangdong province arrived as laborers hoods in the city whose names are
to help build Canada’s transcontinental often associated with the cultural or
railway. Today, the majority of Chinese ethnic identity of their residents. Main
immigrants are from Hong Kong. Street between Forty-ninth Avenue and
Fifty-first Avenue is the center of Indo-
Residents of English descent form Pakistani Punjabi culture. In “Little
the second largest ancestry group, and India” one can find many shops,
those of East Indian descent form the bazaars, and restaurants catering to East
third largest group. Scottish, German, Indian residents. “Little Italy” on Com-
Filipino, Italian, and Irish account for mercial Drive is home to many of Van-

Vancouver
Vancouver skyline. (George Hall; Woodfin Camp)
couver’s Italian Canadians. Chinatown 6 History

is home the third-largest Chinatown in
North America. The Coast Salish, a First Nations
people, lived in what is now known as
Kitsilano, a middle-class neighbor- Greater Vancouver for more than 5,000
hood in the early 1900s, is bordered by years. In the latter part of the 1700s,
Alma Street to the west and Arbutus their main settlements were in Stanley
Street to the east. At its most northern
Park, along the shores of the Burrard
point lies one of Vancouver’s most
Inlet, along the Fraser River to the
famous beaches, Kits Beach, where
sports enthusiasts and sun-worshippers south, and at Larcarno Beach. In 1820,
gather during the summer months. The there were 25,000 Salish living on the
West End, which borders Stanley Park banks of the Fraser River. The Salish had
and English Bay, is home to Vancou- a highly developed culture and were
ver’s gay community, the largest of its known for their carpentry skill and
type in Canada. canoe-making ability.

Vancouver
The first European to arrive in the saloon near Hastings Mill. The commu-
area was José Maria Narváez, who sailed nity that grew around the saloon
into the Burrard Inlet in 1791. How- became known as Gastown. It was
ever, in 1792 Capt. George Vancouver, incorporated as the town of Granville
in search of a northwest passage to Asia, in 1869, named after the British Duke
stepped ashore and claimed the land for of Granville, and today is one of Van-
Britain. Although he only spent one couver’s oldest neighborhoods.
day on the site, the city was later
named after Capt. Vancouver. In 1886, the town of Granville
became the city of Vancouver. The
A fur trader named Simon Fraser name was suggested by William Van
(1776–1862) was the first explorer to Horne, vice president of the Canadian
make it to Vancouver by an inland Pacific Railway (CPR), in honor of the
route. In 1808, Fraser navigated the English explorer Capt. George Vancou-
treacherous Fraser River, which spills
ver, who charted Burrard Inlet and adja-
into the Pacific Ocean at Vancouver.
cent waters in 1792. That Van Horne
The first settlement in the area was was able to name the new city illus-
48 kilometers (30 miles) east of Vancou- trates the power the railway enjoyed
ver. Fort Langley, as it is still known during Vancouver’s formative years.
today, was an outpost for the Hudson’s The Vancouver Incorporation Act made
Bay Company, a fur trading company Vancouver unique among British
whose original charter from the English Columbia’s cities as it was granted its
Crown stated they were to control all own charter rather than being governed
land whose rivers and streams drained by the Municipal Act.
into Hudson’s Bay.
The second momentous occasion
The next wave of settlers arrived for the new city occurred in 1886 when
with the gold rush of 1858 when gold a forest fire swept through the city and
deposits were found in the sandy banks burned it to the ground. It was during
of the Fraser River east of Vancouver. this year that the city leased 405 hect-
Dreams of riches brought 300,000 pros- ares (1,000 acres) of land from the fed-
pectors to the area in search of wealth. eral government for Stanley Park,
In 1862 the first sawmill in the area Vancouver’s most famous landmark.
was established at a site then called
Moodyville. Three years later, the Hast- One year later, the Canadian
ings Mill was built in Chinatown to Pacific Railway made its way to the city,
process the abundant fir, spruce, and making Vancouver the last stop on
cedar trees that filled the surrounding Canada’s transcontinental railway. Its
landscape. arrival was to have a dramatic affect.
Still a small town with a modest 12,000
John Deighton, nicknamed “Gassy residents in 1886, Vancouver’s popula-
Jack” for his talkative nature, built a tion boomed to over 120,000 by 1911.

Vancouver
At the turn of the twentieth cen- There are nine trustees elected to
tury, the city’s focus began to shift from the Vancouver School Board, which is
Gastown to the rail yards at the foot of responsible for setting policy for the
Granville Street. Stone banks and city's primary and secondary schools
department stores soon sprang up in and adult education programs. The
the area to serve residents, many of Board of Parks and Recreation members
whom still relied on forestry and fish- oversee 169 parks and public recreation
ing for their livelihood. programs in Vancouver. Mayor, council-
ors, trustees, and board members are
The 1930s were a difficult period elected and serve three-year terms.
for Vancouver. Between 1932 and 1933,
15 percent of the population was living
on relief or unemployment benefits. 8 Public Safety
Cargo shipped from the port had been The Vancouver Police Department
reduced by 30 percent from levels expe- is responsible for most law enforcement
rienced in the roaring twenties. Just two issues in the city. The Royal Canadian
years later, the city was on the verge of Mounted Police also serve a role in law
bankruptcy. Fortunately, the worst of enforcement. There are 1,149 police
the depression was over, and Vancouver members, 273 civilian members, 18 cus-
soon experienced an upturn in its econ- todial guards, and eight police nurses
omy. on the force.
Vancouver’s population grew rap- The police are governed by the
idly after the end of World War II Vancouver Police Board under the
(1939–45). By 1951, the city was home authority of the British Columbia Police
to 345,000 residents. Cargo shipments Act. The Police Board, which meets
from the port finally surpassed the monthly, consists of the mayor and six
highs experienced in the 1920s, and other representative citizens of the city.
Vancouver began a period of rapid eco-
nomic growth. The majority of policing carried
out by the force is related to property
7 Government theft, accounting for 87.2 percent of all
crimes. Violent crime only accounted
Vancouver has a mayor and ten for eight-and-a-half percent.
council members elected at-large. The
municipal government is ruled by the 9 Economy
powers and responsibilities set out by
provincial legislation in the form of the Forestry, fishing, mines, and miner-
Vancouver Charter. Including the police als have been Vancouver’s dominant
and parks staff, Vancouver has more resource-based industries for decades.
than 5,100 full-time and 3,000 part- Today, the city’s world-class port and
time staff with an annual municipal proximity to Asia situates Vancouver as
budget of over $500 million. Canada’s gateway for goods imported

Vancouver
from Asia. Vancouver has been the 10 Environment

leader in British Columbia’s focus on
trade with Pacific Rim nations. Its lead Greater Vancouver was once lush
role was set in stone when the city with flora, fauna, and minerals. The
hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Con- North West Company, founded in Mon-
ference (APEC) in 1997. treal in 1784, was the first to exploit the
area’s animal life through its lucrative
The port is one of North America’s fur trade. The company was taken over
busiest in terms of volume of foreign by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1827.
cargo. It exports more than 64 million An outpost was established by the com-
pany in Fort Langley, some 48 kilome-
metric tons (70 million tons) and
ters (30 miles) from the city of
imports more than nine million metric
Vancouver.
tons (10 million tons) each year. The
harbor is also the leading dry-cargo port When gold was discovered in the
on the Pacific Coast shipping grain, bed of the Fraser River just outside
coal, potash, sulfur, asbestos, metals, Greater Vancouver in 1858, the area
and other Western Canadian materials, experienced its first real growth. In
such as wood and wood by-products. 1865, Hastings Mill was built in China-
town to process the harvest of abun-
Tourism, the world’s fastest grow- dant fir and cedar logs that forested the
ing industry, has become a major force mountains around the city. For the past
in the economy since Vancouver hosted 150 years, Vancouver has benefited
the World Expo in 1986. Now, millions from and relied on the forests of British
of visitors from all over the world flock Columbia to drive its economy.
to the city each year to enjoy its vibrant
culture and natural beauty. Vancouver’s natural harbor and the
arrival of the railway by 1890 proved
Most head offices for province- beneficial to the city in its role not only
wide business activity, and financial as a processing center but as a hub of
export for British Columbia’s natural
institutions are located in Vancouver.
resources.
Vancouver is also home to a thriving
motion picture business, which has The abundance of the Pacific
earned the nickname of Hollywood Ocean fishery was a resource that bene-
North. fited the Coast Salish in Vancouver long
before the Europeans arrived and pro-
Vancouver’s high technology sector vided stable employment harvesting
is strong but lags behind that of other shellfish, salmon, halibut, red snapper,
major Canadian cities. Greater Vancou- and other sea foods. Today the thriving
ver is the largest manufacturing center fishery has all but vanished from the
in British Columbia. city.

Vancouver
Industry in Vancouver has been Granville Island, in the False Creek

tied to the natural resources of its sur- neighborhood, is home to artisan stu-
rounding environment since it was first dios and a famous market often featur-
settled. Industry prospered by harvesting free live entertainment that reflects
ing the rich forests and the plentiful the multicultural tastes of Vancouveri-
food fishery in the Pacific Ocean. tes. Potters, glass blowers, sculptors,
print makers, and a variety of other arti-
The city’s ability to transport goods sans work in their studios on the island,
to markets around the world has led to and many of their wares are available
the development of the region’s indus- for sale.
trial base, the largest in British Colum-
bia. 12 Education
Since the forestry industry is an The Vancouver School Board, over-
export-based economy, Vancouver con- seeing the largest school district in Brit-
tinues to play a pivotal role. The Port of ish Columbia, is responsible for the
Vancouver provides the western prov- operation and administration of the
inces with access to major markets in city's primary and secondary schools, as
the United States and Pacific Rim coun- well as its adult education programs.
tries. Children over the age of seven and
under the age of 15 are required to
attend school. The school year begins
11 Shopping the day after Labour Day for primary,
The heart of Vancouver’s shopping junior, and senior high schools. A
school day usually runs from 9:00 AM to
district is its downtown core. The
3:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Pacific Centre and the Vancouver Cen-
tre are two conjoined underground Vancouver’s first public school,
malls with more than 300 hundred Granville School, opened on the shores
stores, including the Bay, Canada’s of the Burrard Inlet in 1872. Today,
major department store. Above ground there are more than 56,000 students
is Robson Street, a major retail strip that enrolled in Vancouver’s 73 elementary
is home to many upscale shops bustling schools, 18 primary annexes, and 18
with shoppers from morning to night. secondary schools.
Historic Gastown caters to tourists The board has a yearly operating

in the market for Vancouver souvenirs budget of over $350 million and
and First Nations art and crafts. employs more than 3,200 teachers.
Reflecting the multicultural make-up of
Along Commercial Drive in East the city, Vancouver schools have the
Vancouver, shoppers will find a mix of highest percentage of English as a Sec-
cultures and funky stores aimed at more ond Language (ESL) students in the
adventurous tourists. province, who represent more than 100

Vancouver
different language groups. Continuing two facilities providing services that

education programs administered by cater to the specialized needs their
the board are attended by more than patients.
80,000 adults each year.
Research facilities at the University
The University of British Columbia, of British Columbia and the B.C. Can-
only 30 minutes from downtown Van- cer Research Centre continue to secure
couver, is home to the Museum of British Columbia’s role as a leader in
Anthropology, the Chan Centre for the health care research in Canada.
Arts, and the UBC Botanical Garden.
The university opened its doors in 1915 14 Media
with three faculties: Arts and Science,
Applied Science, and Agriculture. Vancouver is home to a thriving
Enrollment has grown from a meager publishing industry. Two major news-
379 students in 1915 to 51,227 in 1998. papers—The Province, a tabloid format,
Simon Fraser University serves 17,000 and The Vancouver Sun—are published
students with more than 100 programs. daily. A free, weekly entertainment
The main campus is located on top of guide, The Georgia Straight, is distributed
Burnaby Mountain, only 13 kilometers every Thursday. In 1997, there were 42
(eight miles) from Vancouver, with a publications serving Vancouver’s ethnic
satellite campus at Harbour Centre in communities. There are 15 major radio
downtown Vancouver. In addition, stations in the Greater Vancouver mar-
there are numerous private schools, col- ket. While Vancouver has access to as
leges, and universities in the Greater many as 70 television stations, only
Vancouver region. eight originate in Greater Vancouver;
three of the eight have their offices in
13 Health Care the city of Vancouver.
Like all Canadian citizens, Vancou- 15 Sports

ver residents enjoy a government subsi-
dized health care program. In Vancouver’s most famous sporting
Vancouver, health care services are event took place on August 7, 1954,
administered by the Vancouver-Rich- when runners Roger Bannister and
mond Health Board, a number of hospi- John Landy competed during the Brit-
tal boards, health centers, other health ish Empire Games (an inter-Empire
service groups, and community health sports meet now known as the British
groups. Vancouver is also where many Commonwealth Games). This was the
medical associations, such as the British first time two men had broken the four-
Columbia (B.C.) College of Physicians minute mile in the same race.
and Surgeons, locate their head offices.
Vancouver, a sporting town, is
British Columbia’s Children’s Hos- home to a number of professional
pital and B.C. Women’s Hospital are sports teams. The Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver
have played in the National Hockey

League since 1968. The team draws
crowds of up to 18,000 fans. The team
came close to winning the Stanley Cup
in 1994 when the series against the
New York Rangers went to seven games.
The B.C. Lions have won three

Grey Cups since joining the Canadian
Football League in 1954. The Vancouver
86ers, the city’s soccer team, compete in
the American Professional Soccer
League. The team has won the North
American title once.
Annually during the last weekend

in August, Pacific Boulevard in down-
town Vancouver is turned into a For-
mula One racetrack while the city plays
host to the Molson Indy Vancouver.
Cars reach speeds upwards of 306 kilo-
meters (190 miles) per hour during the
two-hour, 290-kilometer (180-mile)
race.
Water activities such as sailing can be enjoyed in
Vancouver’s natural harbor. (George Hall; Woodfin Camp)
The Vancouver Grizzlies joined the
ranks of the National Basketball Associ-
ation (NBA) in the 1995–96 season as 16 Parks and
part of the league’s expansion into Can- Recreation
ada. Vancouver and Toronto became
the first non-U.S. cities to join the Stanley Park is the most famous
league since 1946–47, when the Tor- park in Vancouver. Its 405 hectares
onto Huskies were one-year members of (1,000 acres) of parkland were leased
from the federal government in 1886.
the NBA’s forerunner, the Basketball
Named after Lord Stanley, Governor
Association of America. After being offi- General of Canada when the park
cially accepted into the fold by the opened in 1888, it plays host to an esti-
NBA’s Board of Governors on April 27, mated eight million people each year.
1994, Vancouver became the league’s Tourists enjoy the park’s lush forest,
twenty-ninth franchise. pitch and putt golf course, many

Vancouver
beaches, heated ocean-side swimming The Orpheum, built in 1927, is

pool, 8.85-kilometer (5.5-mile) seawall home of the Vancouver Symphony
walk that circles the perimeter of the Orchestra and several choirs. Perfor-
park, and the Vancouver Aquarium. mances entertain 400,000 patrons, 200
Lost Lagoon, another popular area in nights every year.
the park, is a freshwater pond, home to
The Ford Centre for Performing
many resident and migratory birds
Arts, which opened in 1995, features
throughout the year.
large touring productions, such as the
The 53-hectare (130-acre) Queen Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime, and
Elizabeth Park is one of the most beauti- Riverdance.
fully maintained public parks in the The Queen Elizabeth Theatre and
world. It receives nearly six million visi- Playhouse is where smaller touring
tors a year. It is known for its lush gar- Broadway musicals, opera, and dance
dens and view of the city. There are 169 performances are staged. It also is home
parks and public recreation programs in to the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre
Vancouver. Company.

Museums
Vancouver is renowned for its rich
cultural fabric. The performing arts are The Vancouver Public Library,
an integral part of the quality of life located downtown at 350 West Georgia
enjoyed by Vancouver residents and has more than eight million volumes in
tourists alike. its collection. This translates to almost
16 volumes per resident. It is the sec-
In Greater Vancouver there are 670 ond-largest collection in Canada, with
non-profit cultural organizations, 120 20 library branches scattered through-
theatres, 110 motion picture produc- out the city.
tion and studio companies, 91 dance Vancouver’s favorite museum, the
schools, 90 music schools, 24 theatre Museum of Anthropology, located on
schools, 21 municipally-owned cul- the University of British Columbia
tural centers/art studios, 15 television grounds, houses artifacts from all over
production companies, and eight televi- the world with a focus on the art of
sion stations. First Nations peoples.
Studies indicate that as many as 80 The city’s nautical past is explored
percent of the region’s adult residents in the Vancouver Maritime Museum.
attend cultural events each year. Many The museum’s highlight is a completely
travel from within the region to Van- restored two-masted schooner, the 1928
couver where major events are held in St. Roch, the first ship to sail the diffi-
the city’s numerous venues. cult and deadly Northwest Passage. The

Vancouver
voyage took the crew two years to com- and two world-class resorts just hours
plete. The museum also houses original away, Vancouver also enjoys a brisk
maps from Capt. George Vancouver’s winter tourist season.
journeys.
The bulk of tourist activity, how-
The Vancouver Museum, another ever, is during the spring, summer, and
major museum, celebrates the cultural fall months when precipitation is mini-
heritage and natural history of the mal, and temperatures are comfortable.
Lower Mainland. A walking tour of Gastown, Chinatown,
and the smaller Japantown highlights
The Pacific Space Centre is where the early history of Vancouver. On
Vancouver reaches to the stars and route in Gastown is a statue of John
explores the solar system and space Deighton, nicknamed “Gassy Jack” for
flight. his talkative nature and for whom the
neighborhood of Gastown is named.
19 To u r i s m
Also of interest is Gallery Row,
Tourism is becoming the backbone between Sixth Avenue and Fifteenth
of Vancouver’s economy. Tourists added Avenue on Granville Street where a
$2.5 billion in spending to the city’s number of private galleries show inter-
economy in 1998. nationally celebrated local artists.
Since the world discovered Vancou- The Vancouver Art Gallery in the
ver during the 1986 World Expo, the heart of downtown Vancouver houses a
number of tourists coming to the city permanent collection that celebrates
each year hovers around the six million the art of famous British Columbia art-
mark. In fact, in the year prior to host- ists such as Emily Carr (1871–1945), a
ing the World Expo, Greater Vancouver contemporary of Canada’s famous
played host to about 3.8 million tour- Group of Seven (a group of artists that
ists. During 1986 and since, the number believed Canadian art must be truly
of visitors has not fallen below 5.7 mil- inspired by Canada itself). The build-
lion. ing, once Vancouver’s courthouse, was
built in 1911 and transformed into an
The city has also capitalized on its art gallery in 1983.
proximity to America to the south and
the low Canadian dollar (U.S.$0.65 =
Can$1 in 1999), drawing American
tourists with bargain prices. 20 Holidays and
The city is well situated to funnel Festivals
tourists heading to popular destina- JANUARY
tions, like the Gulf Islands and Vancou- Polar Bear Swim
ver Island to the west. With two ski Chinese New Year
mountains just minutes from the city Women in View Festival

Vancouver
FEBRUARY 21 Famous Citizens

Spring Home Show
Groundhog Day Brian Adams (b. 1959), rock star.
MARCH Kim Campbell (b. 1947), Canada’s first
B.C. Great Outdoors Show
female Prime Minister.
Vancouver Storytelling Festival
St. Patrick’s Day Glen Clark (premier 1996–99), former
APRIL Premier of British Columbia.
The Vancouver Sun Fun Run
The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Bill Reid (1920–98), world-renowned
Festival native artist.
MAY
Victoria Day, third Monday in May 22 For Further Study
Vancouver International Children’s Festival
Vancouver International Marathon Websites
City of Vancouver. [Online] Available http://
JUNE www.city.vancouver.bc.ca. (accessed Decem-
International Dragon Boat Festival
ber 13, 1999).
Vancouver International Jazz Festival DiscoverVancouver. [Online] Available http://
Bard on the Beach www.discovervancouver.com (accessed
December 13, 1999).
JULY Greater Vancouver Regional District. [Online]
Canada Day
Available http://www.gvrd.bc.ca (accessed
Symphony of Fire December 13, 1999).
Vancouver Chamber Music Festival TourismVancouver. [Online] Available http://
Vancouver Early Music Festival www.tourism-vancouver.org (accessed
Theatre Under the Stars December 13, 1999).
Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre.
AUGUST [Online] Available http://www.vtcc.com
British Columbia Day (accessed December 13, 1999).
Vancouver Folk Music Festival
Vancouver International Comedy Festival Government Offices
Greater Vancouver Open City of Vancouver
453 W. 12th Ave.
SEPTEMBER Vancouver, British Columbia V5Y 1V4
Labour Day 604 873–7011
Molson Indy Vancouver
Terry Fox Run Economic Development Commission
608 West Cordova
OCTOBER Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 5A7
Thanksgiving 604 632–9668
Vancouver International Film Festival fax: 604 632–9788
Vancouver Writers and Readers Festival Greater Vancouver Regional District
NOVEMBER 4330 Kingsway
Annual Antique Show Burnaby, British Columbia V5H 4G8
604 432–6200
All Saints Day
DECEMBER Tourist and Convention Bureaus
Christmas Carol Ship Parade Tourism Vancouver
VanDusen Garden’s Festival of Lights The Greater Vancouver Convention and

Vancouver
Visitors Bureau Books

200 Burrard Street, Suite 210 The Arts in Vancouver: A Multi-million-dollar Indus-
Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3L6 try. Vancouver: Community Arts Council of
Tel: 604.682.2222 Vancouver, 1976.
Fax: 604.682.1717 Baker, Carol. Essential Vancouver and British
Columbia. Basingstoke, Hampshire: AA Pub-
Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre
lishing, 1996.
999 Canada Place, Suite 200
Garber, Anne, John T. D. Keyes, Lorraine Gan-
Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3C1
non. Exploring Ethnic Vancouver. Burnaby:
Tel: (604) 689-8232,
Serious Publishing, 1995.
Fax: (604) 647-7232
Hacking, Norman R. History of the Port of Vancou-
Vancouver Tourist Info Centre ver. Vancouver: Port of Vancouver, 1977.
200 Burrard Street, Plaza Level Hull, Raymond, Gordon Soules, Christine
Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3L6 Soules. Vancouver’s Past. Seattle: University
Tel: 604.683.2000 of Washington Press, 1974.
Fax: 604.682.6839 Kloppenborg, Anne, Alice Niwinski, Eve
Johnson. Vancouver’s First Century. Vancou-
ver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1985.
Publications Lees, Judi, Terri Wershler. Vancouver, The Ultimate
The Province Guide. Vancouver: Greystone Books, 1999.
200 Granville Street Longus, Pierre, Paul-Eric Dumontier, François
Vancouver, B.C. V6C 3N3 Rémillard. Vancouver. Ulysses Travel Publica-
604 605–2222 tions, 1998.
Vancouver (magazine) McDonald, Robert A. J., Jean Barman. Vancouver
555 W12th Ave Past, Essays in Social History. Vancouver: UBC
Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 4L4 Press, 1986.
604 877–7732 Paterson, T. W. Disaster: Tales of Heroes and Hard-
ship in the Face of Catastrophe. Burnaby: Soli-
The Vancouver Sun taire Publications, 1973.
200 Granville Street Robson, Reginald A. H. Ethnic Conflict in Vancou-
Vancouver, B.C. V6C 3N3 ver. Vancouver: B.C. Civil Liberties Assoc.,
604 605–2111 1985.

W a s h i n g t o n, D.C.
Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, North America

Location: Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, United States, North America
Motto: Justitia omnibus (“Justice for all”)
Flower: American Beauty rose
Ethnic Composition: White, 32.2%; Black, 65.8%; Asian/Pacific Islander, 1.8%
Climate: Mild winters; hot, muggy summers with high humidity; pleasant fall and
spring weather
(78.7ºF)
Average Annual Precipitation (total rainfall and melted snow): 99 cm (39 in)
Postal Codes: 20001–99; 20101–04; 20201–99; 20301–34; 20336; 20501–99
1 Introduction such sites as the Smithsonian museums,

the Library of Congress, and the
Washington, D.C., the nation’s Kennedy Center for the Performing
capital, is located on the bank of the Arts, as well as to its historic monu-
Potomac River, between the Blue Ridge ments and government buildings.
Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay.
Although it has been the seat of the 2 Getting There
United States government since 1800, it
took over a century until the dream of Washington, D.C., is situated along
the city’s late-eighteenth-century plan- the Potomac River, on the Atlantic
ners—a sophisticated capital with gra- coastal plain between the Chesapeake
Bay and the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is
cious avenues and classic architecture—
bordered by Maryland on three sides
was realized. In the twentieth century,
and by Virginia on the fourth.
Washington became a major nexus of
national power and influence. At the
Highways
dawn of the twenty-first century, it is
also a cosmopolitan cultural center that Major interstate routes that access
draws millions of visitors annually to Washington, D.C., include Routes 540
187
Washington, D.C.
vice to Washington from almost any

Washington D.C. point in the nation. Amtrak trains
Population Profile arrive in Washington daily from New
York, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles
City Proper (via Chicago). The capital’s train depot,
Population: 567,000 the historic and stately Union Station
on Massachusetts Avenue, underwent
1.8% Asian/Pacific Islander an elaborate restoration in the 1980s
Nicknames: The Capital; The Beltway; The City of and is the site of a three-level mall fea-
Trees
turing a variety of shops and restau-
Metropolitan Area rants.
Description: The District of Columbia and Airports
surrounding communities
Area: 16,861 sq km (6,510 sq mi) Three airports serve the Washing-
ton area—Washington Dulles Interna-
Average yearly growth rate: 1.3% tional Airport, Washington National
Ethnic composition: 68.1% white; 25.4% black; Airport, and Baltimore-Washington
International Airport. Washington
——— National and Baltimore-Washington
1. The Washington D.C. metropolitan area’s rank
among the world’s urban areas. have recently been renovated, and
2. The percent of the United States’ total Dulles airport is in the midst of a major
population living in the Washington D.C. long-term expansion project that will
metropolitan area.
add an underground “people mover”
system to transport passengers to and
from terminals. All of the major domes-
tic carriers and international carriers,
and 50/301 from the east; Routes 7, 50, including Air Canada, Air France, Brit-
I-66, and 29/211 from the west; I-270 ish Airways, KLM, Lufthanse, Swissair,
and I-295 from the north; and Routes and Virgin Atlantic, serve the Washing-
301 and 1 from the south. All other ton, D.C., airports. Both Delta Airlines
highways reach the city through the and US Airways operate shuttle flights
Beltway (I-459 and I-95). This heavily between Washington and New York
traveled and often congested 106-kilo- City. Frequent weekday service is also
meter (66-mile) highway encircling available to Boston and Chicago.
Washington has led to the popular
practice of describing events or trends Shipping
in the capital as “inside the Beltway.”
All three of Washington’s airports
Bus and Railroad Service handle air freight, and the city has a
shipping port on the Anacostia and
With its terminal at First Street N.E. Potomac rivers. Most of its shipping is
and L Street, Greyhound offers bus ser- done, however, through ports in the

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.
neighboring states of Maryland and Vir- Sightseeing

ginia, in the cities of Baltimore, Nor-
folk, and Alexandria. Organized sightseeing tours of
Washington are available on every con-
ceivable mode of transportation—
3 Getting Around including bus, trolley, helicopter, boat,
and even “duck” tours on amphibious
Laid out by engineer Pierre
vehicles—and including a variety of
L’Enfant (1754–1825), Washington,
specific theme tours, such as historic
D.C., was planned as a network of east-
houses and even a popular “Scandal
west and north-south streets intersected
Tour.” Some tours include sights some-
diagonally by wide avenues named for
what further afield, such as Mount Ver-
the states. The east-west streets are des-
non, Alexandria, and Arlington
ignated by letters of the alphabet;
National Cemetery. A number of boat
north-south streets by numbers. The
companies offer cruises of the Potomac
Capitol Building is the central point
River that include narrated tours of the
from which the city is divided into
famous sights visible on shore. In addi-
quadrants (Northeast, Northwest,
tion, many of the capital’s historic
Southeast, and Southwest). The 1.6-
sights can be toured on foot.
kilometer- (one-mile-) long National
Mall runs westward from the Capitol,
bounded by Constitution Avenue on 4 People
the north and Independence Avenue on
the south. Traffic circles, graced by In 1990, the population of Wash-
monuments, fountains, and statues, are ington, D.C., was 697,000, with the fol-
located at various intersections, with lowing racial composition: 65.8 percent
streets radiating outward diagonally black, 32.2 percent white, and 1.8 per-
from each one. cent Asian/Pacific Islander, with other
groups accounting for percentages of
Bus and Commuter Rail Service less than one percent. Hispanics (an
ethnic rather than a racial designation)
Regional rail and bus service in the accounted for 5.4 percent of the popu-
Washington area is operated by the lation. The 1994 population estimate
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit was 567,000. The population of the
Authority (WMATA), created in 1967. Washington, D.C., Primary Metropoli-
Ridership in 1998–99 averaged 383,000 tan Statistical Area was estimated at
rail, 214,000 bus, and 156,000 com- 4,603,030 as of 1997. The region’s racial
bined rail-bus trips. The Metrorail com- composition was listed by the U.S. Cen-
muter rail service operates on 149 sus Bureau in 1996 as 68.1 percent
kilometers (92.4) miles of rail line and white, 25.4 percent black, and 6.2 per-
has 78 stations. The bus system oper- cent Asian/Pacific Islander. Hispanics
ates a fleet 1,314 buses, with 12,000 bus accounted for 6.8 percent of the metro-
stops and 1,000 bus shelters. politan area population.

Washington, D.C.

Washington D.C. Cairo Rome Beijing
Indicator

Major Newspapers3
The Washington Akhbar El Yom/
Post Al Akhbar
1 United
2 The
3
5 Neighborhoods Shakespeare Library, Union Station, and

the Supreme Court Building. Surround-
The Adams-Morgan neighboring these buildings is a quiet residential
hood, clustered around Eighteenth neighborhood of Federal and Civil War-
Street and Columbia Road N.W., is a period homes, as well as many art gal-
colorful multi-ethnic community, one leries, shops, cafes, and restaurants, as
of the first in the country to integrate well as a farmer’s market. Washington’s
its public schools. With its distinctly “downtown” is its business district. In
Latin atmosphere, it is known for its addition to the White House and Lafay-
ethnic grocery stores, street vendors, ette Park, it includes government office
galleries, shops, and boutiques, and its buildings, shops, restaurants, theaters,
restaurants feature a wide variety of eth- hotels, and Washington’s Chinatown.
nic cuisine.
DuPont Circle, located at the inter-
Capitol Hill, or “the Hill,” includes section of Massachusetts, Connecticut,
not just the Capitol itself but also the and New Hampshire avenues, is a popu-
Library of Congress, the Senate and lar cultural hot spot that is home to
House Office Buildings, the Folger museums, galleries, bookstores (includ-

Washington, D.C.
The Washington Monument (tall obelisk, left) and the Jefferson Memorial (round monument, center) are
two well-known Washington landmarks. (Dick Durrancell; Woodfin Camp)
ing some open 24 hours a day), and site of the State Department, the
movie theaters, in an atmosphere of Kennedy Center for the Performing
aristocratic rowhouses. Historic George- Arts, and George Washington Univer-
town—settled c. 1665, during the Colo- sity.
nial era, before the city of Washington
The historic Brookland and Shaw
itself—has long been one of the Capi-
communities have been home to many
tal’s most upscale neighborhoods and
prominent African Americans, includ-
the residence of many leading govern-
ing jazz musician Edward “Duke”
ment figures and other prominent
Ellington (1899–1974), singer Pearl
Washingtonians.
Bailey (1918–1990), and Nobel Peace
Prize winner Ralph Bunche (1904–
The Foggy Bottom area, between
1971).
the White House and Georgetown, gets
its name from the marshlands that were Embassy Row, on Massachusetts
formerly located there. Today it is the Avenue, is home to most of the capital’s

Washington, D.C.
150 foreign embassies, many housed in The city was incorporated in 1802,
palatial mansions that are former and a local government—whose struc-
homes of the Washington social elite. ture and operations were to change
many times over the years—was
formed. However, it took many years
6 History until the muddy swampland on the
In the early years of the Republic, shores of the Potomac conformed to
Congress met in more than half a the dreams of the city’s founders. The
dozen cities before arrangements were city received a major setback soon after
made for a permanent capital. The its founding when many of its build-
nation’s lawmakers eventually proposed ings—including the Capitol building
the construction of an entirely new city, and the executive mansion—were
to be built expressly for the purpose of burned down by the British in the War
serving as capital of the fledgling coun- of 1812. Citizens were determined to
try. The choice of a location necessi- rebuild, however, and the charred walls
tated compromises between the of the executive residence were painted
different regions of the new country. white, giving the building its present
The Potomac River was settled on as the name, the White House.
general region, and George Washington Development of the region
was appointed to select the exact site, remained slow in the first half of the
to be no larger than 26 square kilome- nineteenth century, and foreign diplo-
ters (ten square miles) in area. mats and other visitors regularly chided
the Americans for the provincial nature
French military engineer Pierre
of their capital city. During the Civil
Charles L’Enfant was hired to design War (1861–65), the capital became an
the city, and in 1791 he laid out the
important supply center for the Union
capital’s pattern of broad avenues radi-
army, as well as a medical base and a
ating outward from central circles and refuge for former slaves. Wartime traffic
squares graced by monuments and
doubled the city’s population, from
fountains. Unfortunately, L’Enfant
60,000 to 120,000. At the war’s end,
proved difficult to work with; the Washington was also the scene of one
Frenchman was fired after one year, and
of our great national tragedies, as Presi-
his plans were completed by surveyor
dent Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865;
Andrew Ellicott, with the aid of Ben- president 1860–65) was assassinated
jamin Banneker, an African-American
while attending a performance at Ford’s
mathematician and astronomer. By
Theatre in April 1865.
1800 one wing of the Capitol building
had been completed. Abandoning the Washington underwent significant
previous capital site in Philadelphia, improvement in the late nineteenth
the Congress moved into its new quar- and early twentieth centuries, thanks
ters, and President John Adams moved largely to the efforts of two men. Alex-
into the Executive Mansion. ander “Boss” Shepherd, an influential

Washington, D.C.
lier by the city’s original planners. The

McMillan Commission (which included
noted landscape architect Frederick Law
Olmsted [1822–1903] and architect
Charles McKim [1847–1909], among
others—was responsible for numerous
improvements. The city’s park system
was expanded; the Lincoln Memorial
and other buildings were designed; the
Mall was improved; and Union Station
was designed and built. In 1910 Presi-
dent William Howard Taft (1857–1930;
president 1909–13) appointed a Com-
mission of Fine Arts to design the mon-
uments and fountains called for in the
initial plans drawn up by L’Enfant. The
construction of public buildings in the
capital received a further boost from
the creation of the Works Progress
Administration during the 1930s.
World War II (1939–45) brought
further expansion to the capital, and as
the postwar decades unfolded, Wash-
ington, now a major urban center,
The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. is the home
began to experience some of the same
of the U.S. Congress, the law-making branch of
the national government. problems as its counterparts—crime,
(Catherine Karnow; Woodfin Camp) budget problems, and flight to the sur-
rounding suburbs. The capital also
became a focal point for major public
political figure during the presidency of
controversies. Thousands marched on
Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885; president
Washington to protest racial inequality
1868–77), and governor of the District
in 1963 when the Reverend Martin
of Columbia from 1873, was the driving
Luther King Jr. (1929–68) delivered his
force behind major infrastructure
“I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln
improvements, including street paving
Memorial; race riots erupted after the
and lighting, sewer construction, and
assassination of King in 1968; and the
the creation of city parks. In the early
city became the scene of massive public
1900s, Michigan Senator James
demonstrations against the Vietnam
McMillan was instrumental in estab-
War (1954–1975).
lishing a commission charged with
completing the great monuments and Washington’s local government
public spaces envisioned a century ear- has been attended by scandal and con-

Washington, D.C.
troversy with the mayoral terms of Mar- vated assaults. Property crimes totaled
ion Barry, Jr., who was returned to office 9,505 and included 1,838 burglaries,
in 1994 after serving time in prison for 5,827 cases of larceny/theft, and 1,840
drug possession. The city’s financial motor vehicle thefts.
woes, which have brought it to the
brink of bankruptcy, have resulted in The District of Columbia Fire
federal control of its finances since Department is composed of 32 engine
1995. However, in spite of its problems, companies, 16 truck companies, and
Washington remains a vital and much- three heavy-duty rescue squads. The
visited city. It added the U.S. Holocaust department also operates a hazardous
Memorial Museum and the Korean War materials unit, an air unit, and two fire-
Veterans Memorial to its roster of major boats. Its six battalions protect an area
public commemorative sites in the of 179 square kilometers (69 square
1990s. miles) and a daytime population of
more than one million.
7 Government
The District of Columbia is unique 9 Economy
in that it is governed as a city, county,
and state all at the same time. Since In recent decades the private sector
1790 the government of the district has has played a growing role in Washing-
alternated between federal and local ton’s economy. In the 1990s less than
control. Under the terms of a 1973 20 percent of the capital’s work force
charter, the capital is currently gov- was employed by the federal govern-
erned by a mayor and a 13-member ment. Important contributors to the
council, both popularly elected. Eight District’s economy include the service
council members are elected from spe- sector (which employs one out of every
cific wards and the rest at large. How- three workers), high-technology com-
ever, Congress must still approve all panies (for whom the federal govern-
laws passed by the local government, as ment provides the world’s largest
well as its budget. Residents of Wash- market), financial institutions, printing
ington, D.C., won the right to vote in and publishing, and telecommunica-
presidential elections in 1961 and the tions. The largest non-government
right to a single non-voting Congres- employers are George Washington Uni-
sional delegate in 1970. versity, the Potomac Electric Power
Company, Georgetown University,
Howard University, The Washington
8 Public Safety
Post, Bell Atlantic Washington, and the
In 1995, violent crimes reported to Federal National Mortgage Association.
police (per 100,000 population) totaled In addition, a substantial segment of
2,662 and included 65 murders, 53 the capital’s business is conducted by
rapes, 1,239 robberies, and 1,305 aggra- the 1,000-plus special-interest groups

Washington, D.C.
and national associations who main- Chevy Chase on the Maryland side),
tain headquarters there. which features upscale stores including
Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor,
Neiman-Marcus, Tiffany’s, and Gianni
10 Environment
Versace.
The Chesapeake Bay, which domi-
nates the ecology of the Washington, 12 Education
D.C., area, is an estuary (a meeting
place for freshwater and saltwater). It Washington, D.C., has a well-edu-
occupies a delta composed of some 48 cated population—more than 25 per-
navigable rivers and numerous streams cent of the population 25-years-old and
known collectively as the Tidewater. over have at least an undergraduate col-
Pollution of the bay has long posed a lege education. In the fall of 1996 the
threat to the regional environment. District of Columbia Public School Sys-
Historically, the major contaminant tem enrolled 78,648 students in grades
was raw sewage; today agricultural run- K through 12; 3.9 percent were white,
off and industrial pollutants are causes and 96.1 percent belonged to minori-
for concern. Since the 1970s environ- ties. The school system operated 184
mental groups, notably Save the Bay schools with 5,288 teachers; pupil-
and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, teacher ratio stood at 14.9 to one, and
have led the fight to preserve the qual- staff totaled 9,318.
ity of the Bay’s water and the ecological
Washington, D.C., is home to a
balance of the region.
number of well-known colleges and
universities, including Georgetown
11 Shopping University, the country’s oldest Roman
Catholic university, renowned for its
The Washington area has a wide school of international affairs and other
variety of stores. The city’s major shop- departments; Howard University, which
ping venue is the refurbished Union has a distinguished tradition as an edu-
Station, whose three-level arcade cational institution for African Ameri-
abounds in stores of all kinds, as well as cans; Gallaudet, the world’s only liberal
numerous restaurants. During the week, arts college for the deaf and hearing
Connecticut Avenue N.W. is also a bus- impaired; and Johns Hopkins Univer-
tling retail center featuring many major sity, known for academic excellence in
chain stores, from Brooks Brothers and medicine and other fields.
Talbot’s to Filene’s Basement. Other
areas popular with shoppers are Adams- Other well-known colleges and
Morgan, with its multicultural atmo- universities in the Washington, D.C.,
sphere, fashionable Georgetown, and area include American University,
the shopping district on Upper Wiscon- George Washington University, Catho-
sin Avenue N.W., in the residential dis- lic University, Mount Vernon and Trin-
trict known as Friendship Heights (and ity colleges, and the University of the

Washington, D.C.
District of Columbia. The capital is also the U.S. army’s largest health-care facil-
home to a number of licensed technical ity.
and trade schools. Nearby Maryland is
home to the U.S. Naval Academy and In 1995, the Washington, D.C.,
the unique St. John’s College, the metropolitan statistical area was served
“Great Books School,” which offers a by 9,627 office-based physicians and 42
rigorous and unorthodox curriculum of community hospitals, with a total of
Greek and Latin classics studied in their 9,836 beds.
original languages, as well as great
works from later eras. 14 Media
The capital’s major newspaper is
13 Health Care the nationally influential Pulitzer Prize-
winning Washington Post, which com-
The major health-care institution bines local articles with coverage of fed-
in the Washington, D.C., area is Geor- eral government activities and national
getown University Medical Center, issues. In 1998 it had a circulation of
which encompasses a hospital, a physi- 709,578 daily and 1,080,082 on Sunday.
cian practice, research facilities, a nurs- Also published daily is the smaller and
ing school, a cancer center, and an more conservative Washington Times.
institute for neuroscience research. In The national daily newspaper USA
its centenary year, the university hospi- Today is published in nearby Arlington,
tal, founded in 1898, had 335 staffed Virginia. Hundreds of specialized peri-
beds and recorded 14,603 admissions odicals are published in the Washing-
and 175,322 outpatient visits. More ton, D.C., area. The major regional-
than 2,000 persons were employed at interest monthly publication is Wash-
the facility. Altogether, the healthcare ingtonian Magazine.
system affiliated with the university
offers services by 1,500 providers at 18 The capital has six television sta-
facilities in the District of Columbia, tions and more than a dozen AM and
Maryland, and Virginia. FM stations. Washington is also the site
of National Public Radio’s headquarters,
Children’s National Medical Cen- from which major news programs, such
ter, an integrated health-care system as Morning Edition and All Things Con-
dedicated solely to treating children, is sidered, are broadcast.
recognized internationally as a leader in
pediatric care. Its medical staff of more 15 Sports
than 200 consists of faculty members at
the George Washington University The popular Washington Redskins
School of Medicine. of the National Football League played
at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium until
Washington, D.C., is also home to 1997 when they moved to the newly
the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, completed 78,600-seat Jack Kent Cooke

Washington, D.C.
Stadium in suburban Maryland. Wash- The 708-hectare (1,750-acre) Rock

ington, D.C., has not had its own major Creek Park, also located within the Dis-
league baseball team since the Senators trict of Columbia, stretches from the
left for Texas two decades ago, so the Potomac River to the Maryland border.
area’s baseball fans have transferred The park offers hiking trails, a variety of
their allegiance to the Baltimore Orioles sports facilities, playgrounds, an amphi-
of the American League, who play at theater, and a nature center. Another
the historic Camden Yards ball park. In outdoor venue popular with Washing-
basketball, the Washington Wizards ton’s residents and visitors is Theodore
(formerly the Washington Bullets) play Roosevelt Island, a wilderness preserve
at the modern MCI Center in down- covering 36 hectares (88 acres). The
town Washington, which is also home C&O Canal features a 296-kilometer
to the Washington Capitals hockey (184-mile) towpath and is used by walk-
team of the NHL. ers, joggers, cyclists, picnickers, and
boaters.
Georgetown University’s basket-
ball team, the Hoyas, has a loyal follow- In addition to its parks, Washing-
ing among Washingtonians. ton’s scenic attractions include several
Washington also has a major league exceptional gardens that are open to
soccer team, DC United, which won the the public. The Enid A. Haupt Garden
first U.S. national soccer championship has two underground museums and
in 1996. features elaborate plantings of trees and
flowers. The historic United States
Botanic Garden, planned by George
16 Parks and Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and
Recreation James Madison and opened in 1820,
offers greenhouses, a conservatory, and
The Washington, D.C., area has other buildings. The 180-hectare (444-
thousands of acres of parkland. East acre) United States National Arboretum,
and West Potomac Parks, located on geared primarily toward education and
either side of the Tidal Basin, are research, includes the National Bonsai
famous for their cherry trees, which and Penjing Museum featuring minia-
bloom in early spring every year. Alto- ture trees from Japan; the nation’s larg-
gether, the two parks have more than est planting of azaleas; a Japanese
3,000 of these trees. The parks also offer garden; and an herbarium and herb gar-
facilities for hiking, bicycling, tennis, den.
golf, swimming, and picnicking.
Located in West Potomac Park are the 17 Performing Arts
Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin Delano
Roosevelt, Korean, and Vietnam memo- The Washington Symphony
rials, a reflecting pool, and a small Orchestra, declared the official sym-
island inhabited by ducks. phony orchestra of Washington, D.C.,

Washington, D.C.
in 1993, has a history dating back to

1934, when the ensemble was formed
under the name Washington Civic
Symphony. In the past decade, under
music director Martin Piecuch, the
orchestra has attracted increasing audi-
ences and performed with a number of
internationally known soloists, includ-
ing Robert Merrill and Victor Borge. The
group has also continued to evolve its
mission of community outreach, with
both philanthropic and audience sup-
port. The orchestra performs in the con-
cert hall of the John F. Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts. The Kennedy
Center’s opera house is the home of the
Washington Opera, which stages its
smaller-scale productions in the center’s
Eisenhower Theater.
The capital has a lively and varied Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his “I Have a
theater scene, which includes previews Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln
Memorial on June 23, 1963.
of many Broadway productions, as well (Catherine Karnow; Woodfin Camp)
as performances by local repertory com-
panies. The Arena State, the area’s old-
est theater ensemble, gives eight theater are the Studio Theatre and the
subscription performances a year on Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.
two stages. In addition to performing
classic dramas, the troupe is committed After being closed for more than a
to the advancement of multicultural century, Ford’s Theatre—where Presi-
and contemporary theater. The Shakes- dent Abraham Lincoln was assassi-
peare Theatre, which formerly per- nated in 1865—was reopened in 1868,
formed at the Folger Shakespeare refurbished in a style intended to dupli-
Library, performs Shakespeare and
cate its original nineteenth-century fur-
modern theater classics and offers free
nishings, down to the presidential box
summer productions at the Carter Bar-
ron Amphitheatre in Rock Creek Park. in which the president was shot. Origi-
The Source Theatre Company performs nal productions are presented most of
both standard and new plays, with a the year, and there is a performance of
special focus on new plays. Two more A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens at
groups that specialize in contemporary Christmas time.

Washington, D.C.
Visitors relax outside the National Gallery of Art’s distinctive East Wing, designed by I.M. Pei with financial
support from Paul Mellon. The East Wing opened in 1978. (Catherine Karnow; Woodfin Camp)
18 Libraries and The Library of Congress, which cel-

Museums ebrated the bicentennial of its founding
in 2000, is the world’s largest library,
Founded in 1896, the District of with approximately 17 million books,
Columbia Public Library System serves 12 million photographs, two million
543,000 people, with an annual circula- recordings, and a multitude of other
items housed on some 853 kilometers
tion of 1,476,935. Its book holdings
(530 miles) of shelves. Early in its his-
total approximately 2,863,296 volumes.
tory, the museum purchased the con-
The library system also operates 25
tents of Thomas Jefferson’s personal
neighborhood branches. The areas in library; much of this great treasure was
which it holds special collections lost, however, in 1851, when two-thirds
include Illustrators of Early English and of the collection was destroyed by fire
American Children’s Books, Local His- (the museum’s second major fire; most
tory and Local Authors, and the Wash- of its original holdings had been incin-
ington Star Newspaper Collection. erated in an 1814 conflagration). Today

Washington, D.C.
the library owns books and periodicals Among the museums located off the
published in some 460 different lan- Mall are the National Portrait Gallery,
guages. Included within its collections which features portraits of persons who
are the world’s largest law library; the have made significant contributions to
largest rare book collection in North the country; the Renwick Gallery,
America; the papers of 23 presidents; which displays American crafts; the
the largest comic book collection in Anacostia Neighborhood Museum; and
existence; the world’s largest collection the United States Holocaust Memorial
of American music; and the world’s Museum, a memorial to the millions of
most extensive collection of films and Jews and non-Jews killed by the Nazis
television broadcasts produced both in during World War II, and an interna-
the United States and abroad. tional center for study and documenta-
tion of the Holocaust.
The Folger Shakespeare Library, a
privately funded institution estab- The privately operated Corcoran
lished in 1932, is home to the world’s Gallery of Art, Washington’s oldest art
largest collection of the printed works museum, features American paintings
of English playwright-poet William but also includes European artworks
Shakespeare (1564–1616). Its 280,000 dating as far back as the Middle Ages.
books and manuscripts also include Other private museums in the capital
thousands of other Renaissance books include the National Museum of
and manuscripts, and the library func- Women in the Arts, the National Build-
tions as a major academic research cen- ing Museum, and the Textile Museum.
ter for scholars and graduate students
throughout the world. Every year the 19 To u r i s m
museum is opened to the public in
April when Shakespeare’s birthday is Washington, D.C., is one of the
commemorated. The Folger also serves nation’s most popular tourist destina-
as a performing arts venue, with con- tions, attracting nearly 20 million visi-
certs and plays presented in its Great tors annually. The busiest tourist season
Hall and Elizabethan Theatre. runs from April (when the cherry blos-
soms bloom) to September, and April is
The Smithsonian Institution, estab- the single most popular month to visit
lished by the federal government in the capital.
1846, operates 14 museums in the
nation’s capital, nine of them located In 1995 approximately 1,589,000
on the Mall, including the National Air foreign travelers visited the city, rank-
and Space Museum; the Joseph H. Hir- ing it eighth nationally in this category.
shhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden,
which is dedicated to modern and con- 20 Holidays and
temporary art; the Arthur M. Sackler Festivals
Gallery, a museum of Asian art; and the JANUARY
National Museum of African Art. Martin Luther King, Jr., birthday observance

Washington, D.C.
The White House, home to every U.S. president since the second president John Adams, hosts public tours
and events throughout the year. (Timothy Eagan, Woodfin Camp)
FEBRUARY APRIL
Chinese New Year Parade Dulles International Antiques Show & Sale
FEBRUARY-MARCH National Cherry Blossom Parade
Washington Boat Show Smithsonian’s Craft Show
Washington International Flower & Garden White House Easter Egg Roll
Show White House Spring Garden Tours
MARCH APRIL-MAY
D.C. Spring Antiques Fair
Washington International Filmfest
Harambee Carnival
Patuxent Wildlife Art Show & Sale MAY
Smithsonian Kite Festival Candlelight Vigil
St. Patrick’s Day Parade Goodwill Embassy Tour
Washington Flower & Garden Show International Gem & Jewelry Show
MARCH-APRIL Memorial Day Ceremonies at Arlington National
National Cherry Blossom Festival Cemetery
Spring Flower Show Washington National Cathedral Flower Mart

Washington, D.C.
JUNE-JULY First Lady Dolley Madison (1769–1849).

Festival of American Folklife
Socialite Perle Mesta (1891–1975).
JUNE-AUGUST
Jazz Art Festival
Englishman James Smithson (1765–
JULY 1829), who donated the funds for
Founder’s Day Water Lily Festival
the founding of the Smithsonian
Independence Day Parade
Institution.
JULY-AUGUST
Washington Theatre Festival Composer John Philip Sousa (1854–
SEPTEMBER 1932).
Adams-Morgan Day
Poet Walt Whitman (1819–1892).
OCTOBER
Marine Corps Marathon
Taste of D.C. 22 For Further Study
DECEMBER
D.C. Winter Antiques Fair Websites
National Christmas Tree Lighting/Pageant of District of Columbia. [Online] Available http://
www.dc.thelinks.com/ (accessed October 14,
Peace
1999).
Washington Craft Show Washington DC City Pages. [Online] Available
White House Christmas Tours http://www.dcpages.com/ (accessed Octo-
DECEMBER-JANUARY ber 14, 1999).
Capital Area Auto Show Washington DC Home Page. [Online] Available
http://www.ci.washington.dc.us (accessed
Christmas on “S” Street
October 14, 1999).
Victorian Holiday Festival in Historic George-
Washington Web. [Online] Available http://
town wwwwashweb.net/(accessed October 14,
1999).
21 Famous Citizens
Government Offices
Humor columnist Art Buchwald (b. Mayor’s Office
1925). 441 4th St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Escaped slave and abolitionist Freder- (202) 727-2980
ick Douglass (1818–1895). Washington City Council
441 4th St. NW
Jazz legend Edward “Duke” Ellington Washington, D.C. 20001
(1899–1974). (202) 724-8000
Newspaper publisher Katharine Gra- Washington Economic Development Dept.

441 4th St. NW, Rm. 1140 N
ham (b. 1917). Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 727-6365
Actress Helen Hayes (1900–93).
French-born architect Pierre Charles Tourist and Convention Bureaus
L’Enfant (1754–1825), who de- Washington Convention Center
900 9th St. NW
signed the plan for the nation’s Washington, D.C. 20001
capital. (202) 789-1600

Washington, D.C.
Washington D.C. Convention & Twentieth Century City Life. Arlington, VA:
Visitors Association Vandamere Press, 1997.
1212 New York Ave. NW, Suite 600 Caroli, Betty Boyd. Inside the White House: Amer-
Washington, D.C. 20005 ica’s Most Famous Home. Pleasantville, NY:
(202) 789-7000 Reader’s Digest Association, Inc., 1999.
Cary, Francine Curro, ed. Urban Odyssey: A Multi-
Publications cultural History of Washington, DC. Washing-
Washington Post ton: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996.
1150 15th St. NW Cutler, David. Literary Washington: A Complete
Washington, D.C. 20071 Guide to the Literary Life in the Nation’s Capi-
tal. Lanham, MD: Madison Books, 1992.
Washington Times Evelyn, Douglas E., and Paul A. Dickson. On This
3600 New York Ave. NE Spot:Pinpointing the Past in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. 20002 Washington, DC: Farragut Pub. Co, 1992.
Fitzpatrick, Sandra, and Maria R. Goodwin. The
Books Guide to Black Washington: Places and Events
Abbott, Carl. Political Terrain: Washington, D.C., of Historical and Cultural Significance in the
from Tidewater Town to Global Metropolis. Nation’s Capital. New York: Hippocrene
Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Books, 1999.
Press, 1999. Graham, Katharine. Personal History. New York:
Alsop, Stewart. The Center: People and Power in Knopf, 1997.
Political Washington. New York: Harper & Lewis, Roger K. Shaping the City. Washington,
Row, 1968. DC: AIA Press, 1987.
Bernstein, Carl, and Bob Woodward. All the Presi- Seidenberg, Robert. Discover the Sidewalks of
dent’s Men. New York: Simon and Schuster, Washington, D.C. Photography by Kevin
1974. Vandiver and Joe Viesti. New York: Gallery
Brinkley, David. Washington Goes to War. New Books, 1989.
York: A.A. Knopf, 1988. Styron, William. The Confessions of Nat Turner.
Butler, J. George. Simpler Times: Stories of Early New York: Random House, 1967.

Glossary
illegal. U.S.S.R.
205
GLOSSARY
counted.

Index
This index contains terms from all four volumes of Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities. The
number of the volume is enclosed in brackets. The volume number is followed by the page number. For
example, the reference [3]80 means that the indexed term can be found in volume three on page 80.
A Algonquin Indians [3]89

Aaron, Henry Louis “Hank” [1]14 Allen, Augustus C. [2]64
Aberdeen Harbor, Hong Kong (photo) [2]26 Allen, John K. [2]64
Aborigines (Sydney, Australia) [4]121 Allen, Tim [1]205
Accursius, Francisco Accorso [4]83 Allen, Woody [3]192
Adams, Ansel [4]99 Allenby, Edmund [2]113
Adams, Brian [4]184 Allman, Greg [3]152
Adams, John [4]193 al-Mansuriyah see Cairo
Adamson, Joy [3]132 Alouettes, Montreal [3]95
Addams, Jane [1]148, [1]159 al-Qahirah see Cairo
Adebola, Alhaji H. P. [2]154 Al-Quds University [2]116
Adelphia Coliseum [3]148 Ambassador Bridge [2]4, [2]8
Adriano, Numeriano [3]15 American Civil War see Civil War, U.S.
Adulyadej, Bhumibol [1]31 Amichai, Yehuda [2]121
Aelia Capitolina [2]112 Amr ibn al-’As [1]118
Aemilius Lepidus [4]71 Anaheim Angels [2]199
Aeroparque Jorge Newbery [1]100 Anders, William Alison [2]36
Africa Anderson, Marian [4]16
Cairo, Egypt [1]115–[1]130 Andes Mountains [1]136 (photo), [1]138
Johannesburg, South Africa [2]123–[2]138 Anglo-Boer War [2]128
Lagos, Nigeria [2]139–[2]154 Anikulapo-Kuti, Felá [2]154
Monrovia, Liberia [3]69–[3]82 Antoine Joseph Sax [1]95
Nairobi, Kenya [3]115–[3]135 Appelfeld, Aharon [2]121
African Heritage Center [3]127 Aquino, Benigno [3]8
Africana Museum (Monrovia, Liberia) [3]80 Arabian Sea [3]99
Africa’s Manhattan see Johannesburg, South Africa Araneta Coliseum (Manila, Philippines) [3]12
Agnon, S. Y. [2]121 Arc de Triomphe (Paris, France) [3]200
Al-Ahram Weekly [1]125 Argentina, Buenos Aires [1]97–[1]114
al-Aqqad, Abbas [1]129 Arizona Diamondbacks [4]28
Ala Wai Canal [2]43 Arizona Doll and Toy Museum [4]31
Al-Azhar University (photo) [1]124 Arizona Hall of Fame [4]31
Albert II [1]95 Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum [4]31
Alcott, Louisa May [1]71 Arizona, Phoenix [4]19–[4]34
Alexandria, Egypt [1]115, [1]116 Armstrong, Louis [3]170
Alfonso VI of Castile and León [2]211 Arnold Arboretum [1]75, [1]77
Alfred of Wessex, King [2]176 Arsenal of Democracy see Detroit, Michigan
al-Fustat see Cairo, Egypt Art Institute of Chicago [1]155, [1]157
207
Index
Asakusa Shrine Festival (photo) [4]147 Autry Museum of Western Heritage [2]200
Ashmun, Jehudi [3]73, [3]81 Ayasofya (Saint Sophia) Museum [2]97, [2]104
Asia Ayutthaya see Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand [1]17–[1]32 Ayyubid dynasty [1]119
Beijing, People’s Republic of China [1]33–[1]48 Azikwe, Nnamdi [2]154
Hong Kong, China [2]21–[2]38 Aztec Empire (photo) [3]26
Istanbul, Turkey [2]93–[2]106
Jerusalem, Israel [2]107–[2]122 B
Manila, Philippines [3]1–[3]17 Babelsberg Palace [1]60
Mumbai, India [3]99–[3]114 Babylonians [2]112
Sydney, Australia [4]117–[4]132 Bacchhan, Amitabh [3]113
Tokyo, Japan [4]133–[4]150 Back Bay [1]65, [1]66, [1]71, [1]74, [1]75, [1]77, [1]78
Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) [4]170 Bacon, Francis [2]186
Assassinations Bahadur Shah [3]105
Aquino, Benigno [3]8 Balanchine, George [3]189
Dallas, Texas [1]188 Baltic Sea [1]49
Kennedy, John F. [1]183 Baltimore Orioles [4]198
Kennedy, Robert F. [2]195 Baltimore-Washington International Airport [4]188
Lincoln, Abraham [4]193, [4]199 BAND—Black Arts National Diaspora, Inc. [3]169
Mboya, Tom [3]134 Bangkok, Thailand [1]17–[1]32
Astrodome (photo) [2]72 Bannister, Roger [4]180
Atahualpa [2]161 Bardot, Brigitte [3]211
Ataturk International Airport [2]95 Barenboim, Daniel [1]60
Athens of the South see Nashville, Tennessee Bargash, Seyyid [3]121
Atlanta, Georgia [1]1–[1]16 Barney, Lem [2]16
Atlanta Braves [1]8, [1]11 Barrow, Clyde [1]190
Atlanta Falcons [1]11 Barrow, Joseph Louis see Louis, Joe
Atlanta Hawks [1]11 Barry, Dave [3]51
Atlanta Thrashers [1]11 Barry, Marion Jr. [4]195
Atlantic Ocean [1]49, [1]65, [1]97, [3]173 Baryshnikov, Mikhail [3]189
Atwater-Kent Museum [4]14 Basa, Jose Maria [3]15
Audubon Living Science Museum [3]169 Baseball [2]182
Audubon Park and Zoo [3]157 Anaheim Angels [2]199
Auguste, Philippe [3]209 Arizona Diamondbacks [4]28
Augustus Caesar [4]83 Atlanta Braves [1]8, [1]11
Aungier, Gerald [3]105 Baltimore Orioles [4]198
Australia, Sydney [4]117–[4]132 Caracas [1]141
Austria [1]55 Cobb, Ty [2]8
Automotive industry (Detroit, Michigan) [2]12 Colorado Rockies [1]200
Auto racing Denver, Colorado [1]197
Atlanta, Georgia [1]11 Detroit Tigers [2]8
Johannesburg, South Africa [2]134 Florida Marlins [3]47
Miami, Florida [3]48 Houston Astros [2]60
Paris, France [3]206 Indianapolis Indians [2]86
Phoenix, Arizona [4]28 Indians [1]171
Rome, Italy [4]79 Los Angeles Dodgers [2]199
San Francisco, California [4]96 Minnesota Twins [3]63
Santa Fe Speedway (Chicago, Illinois) [1]155 Montreal Expose [3]95
Vancouver, British Columbia [4]181 Nashville Sounds [3]148

Index
New Orleans Zephyrs [3]167 Bellow, Saul [1]159

New York Mets [3]187 Benes, Eduard [4]47
New York Yankees [3]187 Ben-Gurion, David [2]121
Nippon Ham Fighters [4]144 Ben Gurion International Airport [2]108
Oakland Athletics (“Oakland A’s”) [4]96 Benin Empire [2]145
Philadelphia Phillies [4]12 Benito Juárez International Airport [3]20
San Francisco Giants [4]96 Benjamin Franklin National Memorial [4]16
Seattle Mariners [4]111 Benny, Jack [1]159
Texas Rangers [1]185, [1]187 Bensusan Museum of Photography [2]136
Tokyo Giants [4]144 Berkeley, Busby [2]203
Tokyo, Japan [4]144 Berlanga, Rosario Robles [3]28
Basketball [2]16, [2]182 Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport [1]50
Atlanta Hawks [1]11 Berlin, Germany, Europe [1]49–[1]63
Chicago Bulls [1]155 Berlin Wall [1]49, [1]53, [1]63 (photo)
Cleveland Cavaliers [1]171 Bernini, Gian Lorenzo [4]79
Cleveland Rockers [1]171 Beverly Hills, California [2]193
Dallas Mavericks [1]187 Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design [2]116
Denver Nuggets [1]201 Bhabha, H. J. [3]112
Detroit Pistons [2]16 Bhumibol (King) [1]24
Detroit Shock [2]16 Bible Lands Museum [2]119
Golden State Warriors [4]96 Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park [3]140, [3]148
Houston Rockets [2]71 Bicycling, Tour de France [3]206
Indiana Pacers [2]86 Bierce, Ambrose [4]99
Jerusalem [2]118 Big Tex (photo) [1]189
Los Angeles Clippers [2]199 Bilac, Olavo [4]61
Los Angeles Lakers [2]199 Bing, Dave [2]16
Manila Metrostars [3]12 Biosphere (Montréal, Québec) [3]95, [3]96
Miami Heat [3]47 Bird, Larry [1]80
Minneapolis Timberwolves [3]64 Bishop Museum and Planetarium [2]52
New York Jets [3]187 Bizet, Georges [3]211
New York Knicks [3]187 Black, Charles H. [2]83
Philadelphia 76ers [4]12 Black American West Museum
Philippine Basketball Association [3]12 and Heritage Center [1]203
Phoenix Suns [4]28 Black Heritage Trail [1]79
Seattle Super Sonics [4]111 Blackmun, Harry [3]67
Vancouver Grizzlies [4]181 Black Sea [2]93, [2]98
Bastille, Place de la [3]207 Blaisdell, Neal S. Center [2]52
Bay Area see San Francisco, California Blake, William [2]186
Bayou City see Houston, Texas Blixen, Karen [3]132, [3]134
Bayside Exposition Center [1]79 Blixen-Finecke, Baroness Karen see Blixen, Karen
Beacon Hill [1]66, [1]70 Blue Ridge Mountains [4]187
Bear Creek Lake State Park (Denver, Colorado) [1]202 Blues Capital of the World see Chicago, Illinois
Becket, Thomas à [2]186 Bly, Robert [3]67
Beecher, Henry Ward [3]192 Boeing, William [4]107, [4]115
Beijing, People’s Republic of China [1]33–[1]48 Boer republic [2]128
Belgian Comic Strip Centre [1]94 Boer War [2]136
Belgium, Brussels [1]83–[1]96 Bohai Sea [1]33
Belle Isle [2]16 Bolívar, Simón [1]131, [1]137, [1]143, [1]144, [2]162
Bellezza, Dario [4]83 Bolivia [1]100

Index
Bombay Harbor [3]104, [3]111 Browning, Robert [2]186

Bombay, India see Mumbai, India Brubeck, Dave [4]97
Bonaparte, Joseph [2]211 Brugge, Belgium [1]84
Bonaparte, Napoleon [1]105, [1]120, [2]162, [2]211, Brunelleschi, Filippo [4]83
[3]199, [3]202, [3]210, [4]55, [4]72 Brush, Charles [1]175
Bond, Dr. Thomas [4]11 Brussels, Belgium [1]83–[1]96
Bond, Ward [1]205 Bruxelles see Brussels, Belgium
Bong Mining Company [3]79 Bryan, John Neely [1]177, [1]181
Bonifacio, Andres [3]7, [3]8, [3]16 Bryant, William Cullen [3]192
Bonn, Germany [1]56 Buchanon, Edna [3]51
Bonnie and Clyde see Barrow, Clyde and Parker, Bonnie Buchwald, Art [4]203
Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative [4]131 Buckingham Palace [2]175, [2]182
Borges, Jorge Luis [1]113 Buddhism [1]21
Borivoj, Prince [4]39 Buddhist Mauryan Empire [3]104
Boroughs see New York, New York Buenos Aires, Argentina [1]97–[1]114
Bosporus [2]93, [2]99 (photo) Buffalo Bill’s Grave and Museum [1]203
Boston Marathon [1]77 Bulfinch, Charles [1]80
Boston, Massachusetts [1]65–[1]82 Bullfighting [2]211, [2]215
Boswell, James [2]186 Bunche, Ralph J. [2]19
Botanical Gardens (Rio de Janeiro) [4]61 Bundestag [1]61, [1]62
Botany Bay (Sydney, Australia) [4]118 Bunker Hill Monument [1]79
Botta, Mario [4]98 Buonarroti, Michelangelo [4]72, [4]81, [4]83,
Bourassa, Henri [3]98 Burger, Warren [3]67
Boxer Rebellion [1]39 Burggraf of Nuremberg [1]54
Boxing [2]5, [2]8, [2]16 Burr, Aaron [3]192
Boyd, Arthur [4]131 Byzantine Empire [2]93, [2]94, [2]98
Brandeis, Louis D. [1]80 Byzantium see Instanbul
Brandenburg Gate [1]49, [1]50, [1]52, [1]57 (photo),
[1]61 C
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro [4]49–[4]62 Cable, George Washington [3]170
Brazos Bend State Park, Houston [2]64 Cabral, Pedro Alvarez [4]54
Breach Candy Club (Mumbai, India) [3]110 Cadillac, Antoine de la Mothe [2]1
Brecht, Bertolt [1]55 Caen, Herb [4]99
Brickell, William [3]42 Caesar, Augustus [4]83
British Columbia Lions [4]181 Caesar, Julius [3]201, [4]71, [4]83
British Columbia, Vanouver [4]169–[4]185 Caesar, Octavian [4]71
British East Africa Company [3]121 Cairo, Egypt [1]115–[1]130
British East India Company [3]105 Cajuns, New Orleans, Louisiana [3]159, [3]162
Bronx Zoo [3]188 Calderón de la Barca y Henao, Pedro [2]217
Brooklyn see New York City California
Brooklyn Botanic Garden [3]188 Los Angeles [2]189–[2]204
Brooklyn Bridge [3]181 San Francisco [4]85–[4]100
Brooklyn Historical Society [3]190 California Gold Rush [4]90
Brooklyn Museum [3]190 Campbell, Kim [4]184
Brown, Captain William [2]45 Camus, Albert [3]211
Brown, Molly House and Museum [1]203 Canada
Brown, Paul [1]175 Montréal, Québec [3]83–[3]98
Brown Bomber see Louis, Joe Toronto, Ontario [4]151–[4]167
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett [2]186 Vancouver, British Columbia [4]169–[4]185

Index
Canadian Football League (CFL) [3]95, [4]181 Charles River [1]66, [1]70 (photo), [1]74,
Canadian National Railway [3]89 [1]75, [1]78
Candlestick Park see 3Com Park Charlestown [1]66, [1]70, [1]71
Cao Zhan [1]47 Charoenpura, Mai [1]31
Capek, Karel [4]47 Chattahoochee River [1]12
“Capital of Europe” see Brussels Chatuchak Park [1]26
Capital Hospital [1]43 Chaucer, Geoffrey [2]186
“Capital of Latin America” see Miami, Florida Cheekwood Museum of Art [3]150
Capitol Hill [4]191 Chene Park [2]16
Capitoline Museum [4]80 Cherokee Indians [1]5, [3]142
Capone, Al [1]151 Chesapeake Bay [4]187, [4]196
Capote, Truman [3]170 Chevalier, Maurice [3]211
Caracas, Venezuela, South America [1]131–[1]144 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International
Cárdenas, Cuauhtémoc [3]28, [3]29 Airport [3]100
Cardoso, Fernando Henrique [4]57 Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus [3]100
Carey, Peter [4]131 Chiang Kaishek [1]39
Cariocas (citizens of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) [4]50 Chicago, Illinois [1]145–[1]160
Carnegie, Andrew [3]192 Chicago Academy of Sciences [1]158
Carnegie Hall [3]177 Chicago Blues Festival [1]157
Carr, Emily [4]183 Chicago Board of Trade [1]152
Cartier, Jacques [3]83, [3]89 Chicago Children’s Museum [1]158
Caruso, Enrico [4]83 Chicago Historical Society [1]158
Casa Manila Museum [3]14 Chicago Mercantile Exchange [1]152
Casa Rosada [1]103 Chicago Opera Theater [1]157
Cascade Mountains [4]102 Chicago Public Library [1]157
Casino gambling [2]12, [3]95 Chicago River [1]147, [1]152
Cassatt, Mary [4]16 Chicago White Sox [1]156
Castro, Fidel [3]37 Chickasaw Indians [3]142
Cathedral of Mexico [3]22 Chile [1]100
Catherine of Branganza [3]105 China, People’s Republic of
Cavanaugh, Jerome P. [2]5, [2]6, [2]8 Beijing [1]33–[1]48
Central Ballet of China [1]46 Hong Kong [2]21–[2]38
Central Highlands, Africa [3]115 Ching-shan Park [1]44
Central Park (New York) [3]184, [3]187 (photo) Chor Bazaar (Mumbai, India) [3]108
Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de [2]217 Chowpatty Beach (Mumbai, India) [3]110, [3]112
Chalmette Plantation [3]162 Christ the Redeemer statue [4]52, [4]61
Chamberlain, Wilt [4]17 Chung-shan Park [1]44
Champollion, Jean-François [3]211 Churchill, Winston [2]187
Channing, William Ellery [1]80 Church of the Sepulchre [2]110
Chao Phraya River [1]17, [1]18, [1] 22 (photo), [1]23, Cidade Maravilhosa see Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
[1]29 Cinquantenaire Museum of Classical Art and History
Chaplin, Charlie [2]187 [1]93
Chapultepec Castle and Park [3]33, [3]34 Citadel Museum of the History of Jerusalem [2]119
Charlemagne [3]201 City of Big Shoulders see Chicago, Illinois
Charles II [3]105, [4]6 City of Gold see Johannesburg, South Africa
Charles III, King [2]211 City of a Hundred Spires see Prague, Czech Republic
Charles IV [4]40 City of Lakes see Minneapolis, Minnesota
Charles V [1]88 City Museum (Istanbul, Turkey) [2]105
Charles of France [1]87 City Park (Denver, Colorado) [1]202

Index
City Stadium (Nairobi, Kenya) [3]129 Comnena, Anna [2]105

City in the Sun see Nairobi, Kenya Confederacy
Civic Center Park (Denver, Colorado) [1]195 Atlanta, Georgia [1]6
Civil rights movement Nashville, Tennessee [3]143
Atlanta, Georgia [1]7 New Orleans, Louisiana [3]163
Cleveland, Ohio [1]168 Confederate Museum [3]169
Civil war, Liberia [3]76, [3]80 Confucius [2]35
Civil War Library and Museum [4]14 Connally, John [1]183
Civil War, U.S. [1]69, [1]71 Connecticut [1]66
Atlanta, Georgia [1]6 Connick, Jr., Harry [3]170
Dallas, Texas [1]177, [1]180, [1]181 Constantine [4]71
Denver, Colorado [1]197 Constantine I [2]98, [2]102
Indianapolis, Indiana [2]82 Constantine the Great [2]94, [2]104, [2]105
Miami, Florida [3]42 Constantinople see also Instanbul
Nashville, Tennessee [3]143, [3]151 Continental Divide [1]191
New Orleans, Louisiana [3]162, [3]163 Coogan, Jackie [2]203
New York, New York [3]181 Cook, Captain James [2]45
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [4]8 Cook, William D. [1]181
Washington, D.C. [4]193 Cooney, Joan Ganz [4]33
Clark, John Pepper [2]153 Cooper, Jackie [2]203
Cleaveland, Moses [1]166 Coors Field [1]195, [1]197, [1]200
Cleveland, Grover [2]46 Copacabana Beach [4]50
Cleveland, Ohio [1]161–[1]176 Copley, John Singleton [1]80
Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art [1]174 Coppola, Francis Ford [2]19
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo [1]172 Cortés, Hernán [3]26
Cleveland Museum of Art [1]174 Cotton Bowl [1]187
Cleveland Museum of Natural History [1]174 Country Music Hall of Fame [3]141, [3]145, [3]150
Clinton, Hillary Rodham [1]159 “Cradle of the American Revolution” see Boston,
Cobain, Kurt [4]115 Massachusetts
Cobb, Ty [2]8 Crane, Hart [1]175
Cobo, Albert [2]6 Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum (Cleveland, Ohio)
Cockfighting [3]12 [1]174
Codman Square [1]70 Crawford Market (Mumbai, India) [3]102, [3]108
Coen, Ethan [3]67 Creek Indians [1]5
Coen, Joel [3]67 Creek War [3]143
Cohan, George M. [3]192 Creoles (New Orleans, Louisiana) [3]159, [3]162, [3]166
Cold War [1]49 Crescent City see New Orleans, Louisiana
Collins, Judy [4]115 Cricket [2]182, [3]130
Cologne [1]84 Johannesburg, South Africa [2]134
Colonia [1]100 Miami, Florida [3]48
Colón Theater Opera House (photo) [1]112 Mumbai, India [3]110
Colorado Avalanche [1]201 Sydney, Australia [4]127
Colorado Ballet [1]202 Crime
Colorado, Denver [1]191–[1]206 Atlanta, Georgia [1]8
Colorado History Museum [1]203 Los Angeles, California [2]196
Colorado Rockies [1]195 Mexico City [3]29
Comenius, John Amos [4]47 Montréal, Québec [3]91
Comerica Park [2]16 Nairobi, Kenya [3]125
Comiskey Park (Chicago, Illinois) [1]156 Nashville, Tennessee [3]144

Index
New Orleans, Louisiana [3]163 Declaration of Independence [4]1, [4]7

New York, New York [3]182 de Cuellar, Javier Pérez [2]167
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [4]9 de Garay, Juan [1]105
San Francisco, California [4]92 de Gaulle, Charles [3]203, [3]211
Seattle, Washington [4]108 Deighton, John [4]176, [4]183
Vancouver, British Columbia [4]177 de la Rúa, Fernando [1]107
Cromwell, Oliver [2]186 de León, Juan Francisco [1]136
Cruise Capital of the World [3]40 de Lima Barreto, Afonso Henriques [4]62
Crusades [2]99 de Losada, Diego [1]131, [1]135
Cuauhtémoc [3]26 de Mello, Fernando Affonso Collor [4]61
Cuffe Parade [3]104, [3]108 de Mendoza, Pedro [1]105
Cumberland River [3]137, [3]138, [3]145 DeMille, Cecil B. [2]195, [2]204
Cumberland Science Museum [3]151 de Miranda, Francisco [1]136
Cunningham, Merce [3]189 De Morgen [1]92
Cuomo, Mario [3]192 Deng Xiaoping [1]47
Cuyahoga River [1]161, [1]162, [1]164, [1]170 Denver, Colorado [1]191–[1]206
Czech Republic, Prague [1]55, [4]35–[4]48 Denver Art Museum [1]203
Czechoslovakia see Czech Republic Denver Botanic Gardens [1]202 (photo)
Denver Broncos [1]201
D Denver Free University [1]199
Dadu [1]38 Denver International Airport [1]192, [1]197
Daley, Richard J. [1]151, [1]159 Denver Museum of Natural History [1]204
Daley, Richard M. [1]151 Denver Nuggets [1]201
Dallas, George Mifflin [1]181 Denver Symphony Orchestra [1]202
Dallas-Fort Worth Airport [1]178, [1]183 Denver Theater Company [1]202
Dallas, Texas [1]177–[1]190 Denver Zoo and Natural History Museum [1]202
Dallas Aquarium [1]188 Denver, James [1]197
Dallas Area Rapid Transit System (DART) [1]180 de Pimentel, Juan [1]135
Dallas Burn (soccer) [1]187 de Porres, Saint Martin [2]167
Dallas Historical Society [1]188 de Sá, Estácio [4]49, [4]55
Dallas Museum of Art [1]188 de San Martín, Jóse [2]162
Dallas Symphony Orchestra [1]188 Descartes, René [3]210
Dallas Zoo [1]188 Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix, Arizona) [4]30
Damascus Gate [2]108 de Sintra, Pedro [3]72
Damonen Saduak (photo) [1]27 de Sorbon, Robert [3]210
Dana Farber Cancer Institute [1]76 de Soto, Hernando [3]161
Dante [4]83 De Standaard [1]92
Dante B. Fascell Port [3]38 Detroit, Michigan [2]1–[2]20
David, King [2]112 Detroit Historical Museum [2]18
David Sassoon Library (Mumbai, India) [3]111 Detroit Institute of Arts [2]8, [2]18
Davies, Robertson [4]166 Detroit Lions [2]8
Dead Sea [2]115 Detroit Pistons [2]16
de Almagro, Diego [2]161 Detroit Public Library [2]17
de Almeida, Francisco [3]105 Detroit Red Wings [2]8, [2]10, [2]15 (photo)
Dealy, G. B. Library [1]188 Detroit River [2]1, [2]6, [2]7, [2]12
de Assis, Joaquim Maria Machado [4]62 Detroit Science Center [2]18
de Beauvoir, Simone [3]211 Detroit Shock [2]16
de Bienville, Jean Baptiste le Moyne [3]161 Detroit Tigers [2]8
de Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel [2]218 Detroit Vipers [2]16

Index
Detroit-Windsor Tunnel [2]4 Echegaray y Eizaguirre, Jose [2]217

de Vega, Lope [2]217 ECOMOG see Economic Community of West African
De Wildt Cheetah Research Centre [2]134 States Monitoring Group
DFW Metroplex see Dallas, Texas Economic Community of West African States
Diamond Head [2]52 Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) [3]75
d’Iberville, Pierre le Moyne [3]161 Eddy, Mary Baker [1]69, [1]80
Dickens, Charles [2]186 Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site [4]15
Die Welt [1]59 Edo see Tokyo
Dillinger, John [1]151 Edward the Confessor, King [2]176
DiMaggio, Joe [3]187 eGoli see Johannesburg, South Africa
Dinesen, Isak see Blixen, Karen Egypt, Cairo [1]115–[1]130
Ding Ling [1]47 Egyptian Revolution [1]121
Dinkins, David [3]182, [3]192 Eiffel, Alexandre Gustave [3]211
Disney, Walter Elias (Walt) [1]159 Eiffel Tower [1]93, [3]200, [3]203, [3]209, [3]211
Disney amusement parks [2]24, [2]35, [2]201, [3]207 Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art
District of Columbia [4]187–[4]204 [2]87, [2]89
Dittrick Museum of Medical History [1]174 Èkó see Lagos, Nigeria
Dix, Dorothea [1]80 El Al Airlines [2]108
Dix, Otto [1]61 El Desierto de los Leones [3]34
Dixit, Madhuri [3]113 Elephanta Island [3]102, [3]104, [3]111
Doe, Samuel K. [3]75, [3]76, [3]81 Eliot, T. S. [2]187
Dome of the Rock [2]110, [2]118 (photo) Elizabeth I [2]169, [2]177, [2]186
Donelson, John [3]142 Elizabeth II [2]187
Dorval Airport (Montréal, Québec) [3]84, [3]86 Ellicott, Andrew [4]193
Douglass, Frederick [4]203 Ellington, Edward “Duke” [4]203
Drago, Luis Maria [1]113 Ellis Island [3]181
Drapeau, Jean [3]88, [3]98 El Museo del Barrio [3]190
Dreyfus, Alfred [3]211 El Niño [1]58
Dryden, John [2]186 El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic District [2]193
du Bois, W. E. B. [1]6 El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles
du Sable, Jean Baptiste Point [1]150 [2]194
Du Sable Museum of African American History [1]158 Emma, Queen [2]54
Dutch East India Company [3]180 Emerson, Ralph Waldo [1]71, [1]80
Dvorak, Antonin [4]47 Empire State Building [3]182
England, London [2]169–[2]188
E English Channel [1]84
Eagle Creek Park [2]87 Enrico Fermi Institute [1]154
Eakins, Thomas [4]17 Enron Field, Houston [2]60
Earhart, Amelia [3]67 Enver, Pasha [2]106
Earthquakes Erie Canal [2]7, [3]181
Lima, Peru [2]159 Ernest Tubb’s Record Shop [3]150
Los Angeles, California [2]196 Estadio Azteca (stadium) [3]33
Mexico City, Mexico [3]28 EuroDisneyland [3]207
San Francisco, California [4]91, [4]94 Europe
Tokyo, Japan [4]141 Berlin, Germany [1]49–[1]63
East Africa (Nairobi, Kenya) [3]115–[3]135 Brussels, Belgium [1]83–[1]96
East Germany see Germany Instanbul, Turkey [2]93–[2]106
East River [3]176 London, England [2]169–[2]188
Ecevit, Bulent [2]106 Madrid, Spain [2]205–[2]217

Index
Paris, France [3]195–[3]212 B.C. Lions [4]181

Prague, Czech Republic [4]35–[4]48 Dallas Cowboys [1]187
Rome, Italy [4]63–[4]84 Denver Broncos [1]201
European Union [1]57, [1]83, [1]86, [1]88, [1]89 Detroit Lions [2]8
Ewan, J.W. [3]42 Indianapolis Colts [2]86
Expos, Montreal [3]95 Los Angeles Rams [2]199
Ezeiza International Airport [1]100 Miami Dolphins [3]47
Minnesota Vikings [3]64
F Montreal Alouettes [3]95
Fairbanks, Sr., Douglas [1]205, [2]204 New Orleans Saints [3]167
Fairmount Waterworks [4]12 New York Giants [3]187
Fair Park (Dallas, Texas) [1]187 Oakland Raiders [4]96
Fajardo, Francisco [1]135 Philadelphia Eagles [4]12
Faneuil Hall Marketplace [1]72, [1]75, [1]79
San Francisco 49ers [4]96
Farnsworth, Philo Taylor [4]99
Seattle Seahawks [4]111
Faruk, King [1]129
Sugar Bowl [3]167
Feinstein, Dianne [4]91, [4]99
Sydney Swans [4]127
Fellini, Federico [4]83
Fenollosa, Ernest F. [4]148 Tennessee Titans [3]148
Fenway Park [1]74, [1]77 (photo) Washington Redskins [4]197
Ferdinand of Hapsburg [4]40 Forbidden City [1]34, [1]37, [1]44
Ferlinghetti, Lawrence [4]99 Ford II, Henry [2]10
Fermi, Enrico [1]151 Foster, Jodie [2]203
Fiedler, Arthur [1]80 442nd Regimental Combat Team [2]49
Field hockey [3]130 Fragrant Harbor see Hong Kong
Field Museum of Natural History [1]155, [1]157 France, Paris [3]195–[3]212
Film City see Mumbai, India Francisco, Miranda [1]144
Fires Francisco, Narváez [1]143
Atlanta, Georgia [1]6 Franco, Francisco [2]206, [2]212
Detroit, Michigan [2]7 Franken, Al [3]67
San Francisco, California [4]91 Franklin, Benjamin [4]11, [4]17
First City in India see Mumbai, India Franklin Field [4]12
First Colony, Houston, Texas [2]64 Franklin Institute Science Museum [4]4, [4]16
Fisherman’s Wharf [4]92, [4]94 Franklin Park [1]75, [1]78
Fitzgerald, F. Scott [3]67 Fraser River [4]169, [4]170
Fiumicino (airport) [4]66
Fratianne, Linda [2]203
Flagler, Henry [3]42
Frederick the Great [1]55
Flanders Province [1]88
Freed, Alan [1]175
Fleet Center [1]77
Freedom Trail [1]68, [1]79
Flora Fountain (Mumbai, India) [3]104
Florida, Miami [3]37–[3]52 Free University of Brussels [1]91
Florida Marlins [3]47 Freie Universität Berlin [1]59
Florida Philharmonic Orchestra [3]49 French Canadians [3]87
Flying Doctors [3]128 French and Indian War [2]7, [3]89
Fogg Art Museum [1]78 French Quarter (New Orleans, Louisiana) [3]165, [3]169
Folger Shakespeare Library [4]201 Fu-hsing Gate [1]43
Folies Bergères [3]201 Fujimori, Alberto [2]163, [2]168
Football see also Soccer Fuldheim, Dorothy [1]175
Atlanta Falcons [1]11 Fung Ping Shan Museum [2]35

Index
G Golden State Warriors [4]96

Galeão Airport [4]50 Gold mining
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert [1]91 Denver, Colorado [1]197, [1]204
Galileo [4]72 Johannesburg, South Africa [2]128
Gallier House Museum [3]169 San Francisco, California [4]90
Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand [3]106 Vancouver, B.C. [4]178
Garcia, Jerry [4]99 Gold Museum of Peru [2]167
García Lorca, Federico [2]218 Goldwater, Barry [4]33
Gardel, Carlos [1]97, [1]113 Golf
Garfield Park [2]87 Hong Kong [2]33
Garrison, William Lloyd [1]71, [1]80 Nashville, Tennessee [3]148
Garvey, Marcus [3]192 Phoenix, Arizona [4]28
Gastown (Vancouver, British Columbia) [4]173, [4]179 Rome, Italy [4]78
Gates, Bill [4]115 Tokyo, Japan [4]144
Gateway of India [3]102, [3]111 Gomes, Mariano [3]15
Gathering Place see Honolulu Gongren Ribao [1]43
Gatwick Airport [2]170 Goodman, Benny [1]159
Gauls [3]201 Gordimer, Nadine [2]137
Gauteng Province [2]124 Gordy, Berry [2]8, [2]18
Gavaskar, S. M. [3]113 Gore, Al [3]152
Gazirah [1]125 Gospel Music Hall of Fame [2]18
Genghis Khan [1]38 Gottschalk, Louis Moreau [3]170
Genocide [3]125 Gould, Glenn [4]166
Gentlemen of St. Suplice [3]89 Grady, Henry W. [1]14
George V, King [3]111 Graham, Bill [4]99
George Bush Intercontinental Airport [2]58, [2]63 Graham, Katharine [4]203
George Observatory (Houston, Texas) [2]64 Graham, Robert [2]4
Georges River Grain Coast see Monrovia, Liberia
Georgia, Atlanta [1]1–[1]16 Grand Canyon (Phoenix, Arizona) [4]28
Georgia Dome [1]11 Grand Central Railroad Terminal [3]174
German Women’s Teacher’s Association [1]62 Grand Ole Opry [3]137, [3]144, [3]145 (photo)
Germany, Berlin [1]49–[1]63 Grand Ole Opry House [3]150
Getty, J. Paul [3]67 Grand Ole Opry Museum [3]151
Gettysburg, Battle of [4]8 Grand Palace (Bangkok, Thailand) [1]29
Ghent [1]84 Grand Place [1]83, [1]86, [1]88 (photo), [1]91, [1]94
Gilbert, William [2]187 Grand Sablon Square [1]86
Ginastera, Alberto Evaristo [1]113 Grand Trunk Railways see Canadian National Railway
Ginsberg, Allen [3]192, [4]99 Grant, Ulysses S. [4]194
Giuliani, Rudolph [3]182 Grant Park (Chicago, Illinois) [1]155
Giza pyramid [1]117 Granville Island [4]173, [4]179
Glienicke Palace [1]60 Grateful Dead [4]97
Globe Theatre [2]183 Graystone Jazz Museum [2]18
Goa, India [3]100 Great Britain see United Kingdom
Gobelins’ Tapestry Factory [3]209 Great Depression [1]55, [1]56, [1]71, [1]73
Goldberg Sports Hall [2]118 Chicago, Illinois [1]151
Gold Coast Railroad Museum [3]49 Cleveland, Ohio [1]167
Golden Gate Bridge and Park [4]85 [4]96 Detroit, Michigan [2]8
Golden Horn [2]93, [2]96, [2]99 (photo) New York, New York [3]182
Golden Prague see Prague, Czech Republic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [4]8

Index
Great Lakes [3]83, [1]161, [3]181 Harold Washington Library Center [1]157
Great Lakes Science Center (Cleveland, Ohio) [1]173 Harris, Jeremy [2]40
Great Wall [1]36, [1]47 (photo) Harris, Joel Chandler [1]14
Greece [1]92 Harris, John Richardson [2]64
Greeley, Horace [3]192 Harrisburg, Texas [2]64
Greenaway, Francis [4]131 Harrison, Benjamin [2]90
Greenfield Village [2]18 Harrison, George [2]128
Greenwich Village (New York) [3]179 Harry, Debby [3]52
Grévin Museum [3]209 Harte, Bret [4]99
Greyhound racing [3]48, [4]28 Hart, William [2]10
Griffith Observatory and Planetarium [2]200 Hart Plaza (Detroit, Michigan) [2]4
Grooms, Red [3]152 Hartsfield International Airport [1]7
Gross, Terry [4]12 Hartsfield, William [1]6
Grossman, David [2]121 Hartzler-Towner Multicultural Museum [3]151
Grosz, George [1]61 Harvard University [1]65, [1]66, [1]71, [1]75, [1]76,
Grunewald [1]50 (photo), [1]79
Grunge rock [4]101, [4]112 Hatch Shell [1]78
Guanabara Bay [4]49 Haussmann, Baron Georges-Eugène [3]203, [3]211
Guanyuan Market [1]42 Havel, Vaclav [4]42, [4]47, [1]53, [1]59
Guggenheim Museum [3]190 Hawaii, Honolulu [2]39–[2]55
Guiare River [1]138 Hawaii Maritime Center [2]52
Gujarat (Mumbai, India) [3]105 Hawaiian Airlines [2]40
Gulf of Mexico [2]57 Hawaiian Islands [2]44
Gulf of Thailand [1]17, [1]18 Hayes, Helen [4]203
Gurley, Ralph Randolph [3]81 Heard Museum (Phoenix, Arizona) [4]31
Guthrie Theatre [3]65 Hearns, Thomas [2]16
Hearst, William Randolph [2]8, [4]99
H Heathrow Airport [2]170
Haas Sherover Promenade [2]118 Hebei Province, Beijing [1]33–[1]48
Haffkine, W. M. [3]113 Hebrew Union College [2]116
Haghia Sophia [2]99 Heliopolis [1]118, [1]125
Hahn, Otto [1]62 Hellman, Lillian [3]171
Haji Ali's Mosque [3]102, [3]111 Hemingway, Ernest [2]218
Hall of Members Cemetery [2]120 Hendrix, Jimi [4]115
Hall of the Nameless Dead [4]140 Hennepin, Father Louis [3]58
Hamid, Sultan Abd al- [2]101 Henri IV, king of France [3]207
Hamill, Pete [3]192 Henry VIII, King [2]186
Hamilton, Alexander [3]192 Henry Ford Museum (photo) [2]9
Hamilton, Edward N. [2]16 Herald Square (New York) [3]177
Hancock, John [1]80 Hermann-Grima Historic House [3]169
Haneda Airport [4]134 Herriman, George [3]171
Hanff, Helene [2]180 Herzl, Theodore [2]111
Hanging Gardens (Mumbai, India) [3]103, [3]110 Heyrovsky, Jaroslav [4]47
Hannibal [4]71 Higgins, Marguerite [2]36
Hapoel Jerusalem [2]118 High Museum of Art [1]13
Harbour Tunnel (Sydney, Australia) [4]118 Hines, Harry [1]190
Hare, Augustus William [4]83 Hippodrome (Istanbul, Turkey) [2]103
Haring, Keith [3]192 Hitchcock, Alfred [2]187
Harlem Renaissance [3]181 Hitler, Adolph [1]49, [1]55, [2]212

Index
Hitsville USA/Motown Historical Museum [2]18 Horse racing [2]33

HKSAR see Hong Kong Chicago, Illinois [1]155
Hobby, William P. Airport [2]58 Los Angeles, California [2]199
Hockey Manila, Philippines [3]12
Anaheim Mighty Ducks [2]199 Miami, Florida [3]48
Atlanta Thrashers [1]11 Mumbai, India [3]110
Dallas Stars [1]187 Nairobi, Kenya [3]131
Denver, Colorado [1]201 New Orleans [3]167
Detroit Red Wings [2]8, [2]10, [2]15 (photo) New York, New York [3]187
Detroit Vipers [2]16 Paris, France [3]207
Indianapolis Ice [2]86 Phoenix, Arizona [4]28
Los Angeles Kings [2]199 Rome, Italy [4]78
Montreal Canadiens [3]95 Hôtel de Cluny Museum [3]209
Nashville Night Hawks [3]148 Hotel de Ville [1]86
New Orleans Brass [3]167 Houde, Camillien [3]90, [3]91
New York Islanders [3]187 Houston, Sam [2]65 (photo)
New York Rangers [3]187 Houston, Texas [2]57–[2]76
Houston Astros [2]60, [2]71
Philadelphia Flyers [4]12
Houston Museum of Natural Science [2]60
Phoenix Coyotes [4]28
Houston Oilers see Tennessee Titans
Phoenix Roadrunners [4]28
Houston Rockets [2]74
San Jose Sharks [4]96
Houston Zoological Gardens [2]60
Seattle Thunderbirds Hockey Club [4]111
Huáscar [2]161
Vancouver Canucks [4]181
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome [3]63
Hoffman, Dustin [2]203
Hudnut, William H. [2]83
Hogarth, William [2]186 Hudson, Henry [3]180
Hog Butcher to the World see Chicago, Illinois Hudson Institute [2]89
Hogg, James [2]61 Hudson River [3]176
Hogg, Mike [2]61 Hughes, Adella Prentiss [1]175
Hogg, Will [2]61 Hugo Chávez [1]138
Hohenzollerns [1]54, [1]59 Hugo, Victor [3]207, [3]210, [3]2111
Holliday, John H. ("Doc") [1]189 Hull House [1]148, [1]159
Hollywood, California [2]193 Humble, P. S. [2]63
Holmes, Oliver Wendell [1]71 Humphrey, Hubert H. [3]67
Holocaust Memorial Museum (Washington, D.C.) [4]195 Hurricanes [3]44
Hong Kong, China [2]21–[2]38 Hus, Jan [4]47
Hong Kong Coliseum [2]25, [2]33 Husayn, Taha [1]129
Hong Kong History Museum [2]35 Hussein, M.F. [3]113
Hong Kong International Airport [2]22 Hyde Park [2]176, [2]182
Hong Kong Marathon [2]33 Hynes, John B. [1]70
Hong Kong Museum of Art [2]35
Hongqiao Market [1]42 I
Honolulu, Hawaii [2]39–[2]55 Iberian Peninsula (Madrid, Spain) [2]206
Honolulu Academy of Arts [2]52 Ibrahim Palace Museum [2]97, [2]105
Honolulu International Airport [2]40 Idris, Yusuf [1]129
Honolulu Symphony Orchestra [2]52 Ieyasu, Tokugawa [4]139
Hoosier Dome see RCA Dome Iglesias, Julio [2]217
Hope, Bob [1]175 Ile de la Cité (Paris, France) [3]202
Horniman Circle (Mumbai, India) [3]104 Illinois, Chicago [1]145–[1]160

Index
Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEA) [3]121 J

Imperial Palace (Beijing, China) [1]39, [1]46 Jabel Park [1]93
Imperial Palace (Tokyo, Japan) [4]139, [4]146 Jack Kent Cooke Stadium [4]197
Imperial Sugar [2]64 Jackson, Andrew [2]7, [3]137, [3]142, [3]152, [3]162
Inca Empire [2]160 Jackson, Jesse [1]159
Independence Hall (Philadelphia, Pennsylania) [4]7 Jackson, Phil [1]155
Independence National Historic Park [4]4, [4]13 Jacobo Borges [1]143
Independence Park (Gan Ha’Atzmaut) [2]118 Jacobs Field (Cleveland, Ohio) [1]168
Independence Seaport Museum [4]14 Jaffa Gate [2]108
India, Mumbai [3]99–[3]114 Jai-alai [3]12, [3]48
Indiana, Indianapolis [2]77–[2]91 Jakande, Alhaji Lateef [2]154
Indiana Pacers [2]86 Jamaica Plain [1]70, [1]75
Indianapolis 500 [2]77, [2]84 (photo), [2]86 James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History [3]66
Indianapolis, Indiana [2]77–[2]91 James L. Knight International Center [3]50
Indianapolis Colts [2]86 Japan, Tokyo [4]133–[4]150
Indianapolis 500 [2]77, [2]84 (photo), [2]86 Jawhar [1]118
Indianapolis Ice [2]86 Jazz [3]168
Indianapolis Indians [2]86 Jeejeebhoy, Sir Jamsetjee [3]113
Indianapolis International Airport [2]78 Jeepneys [3]4, [3]15 (photo)
Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall of Fame Jefferson, Blind Lemon [1]190
Museum [2]77, [2]83, [2]89 Jefferson, Thomas [4]200
Indianapolis Museum of Art [2]89 Jefferson Memorial (photo) [4]192
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra [2]88 Jerusalem, Israel [2]107–[2]122
Indianapolis Zoo [2]87 Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra [2]119
Indiana State Museum [2]89 Jesus Christ [4]71
Indian Ocean [3]115 Jevanjee, A.M. [3]134
Indians see Native Americans Jewish Museum [3]190
Industrial Revolution [1]54, [1]56, [2]169 Jijamata Garden [3]110
Indy 500 see Indianapolis 500 Jinnah, M. A. [3]113
Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) [3]28 João VI [4]56
International Center of Photography [3]190 Jobim, Antonio Carlos [4]62
International Dragon Boat Races [2]33, [2]36 (photo) Joe Louis Arena [2]10, [2]16
International Hockey League [2]16 Johannesburg, South Africa [2]123–[2]138
International Monetary Fund [1]25 Johannesburg Aquarium and Reptile Park [2]134
International Museum of Surgical Sciences [1]158 Johannesburg International Airport [2]124
Iolani Palace [2]42, [2]53 Johannesburg Public Library [2]135
Ireland [1]71 Johannesburg Stock Exchange [2]126
Iron Age [4]70 Johannesburg Zoological Gardens [2]134
Iroquois Memorial Steeplechase [3]148 John B. Hynes Veterans Convention Center [1]79
Irving, Washington [3]192 John the Baptist [2]111
Isabella [1]88 John F. Kennedy International Airport [3]174
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum [1]78 John F. Kennedy Library [1]78
Islamic Art Museum [2]119 John Hancock Building [1]70, [1]79
Ismail, Khedive [1]125 John of Luxembourg [4]40
Israel, Jerusalem [2]107–[2]122 John Paul I [4]83
Israel Museum [2]111, [2]119 John Paul II [2]6, [4]72
Istanbul, Turkey [2]93–[2]106 Johnson, Philip [3]192
Italy [1]92 Johnson, Prince [3]75
Rome, Italy [4]63–[4]84 Johnson, Samuel [2]186

Index
Johnson Space Center [2]63 Khanbaliq [1]38

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport [3]118 King David [2]112
Jones, Robert Tyre “Bobby” [1]14 King Dome [4]111
Jonsson, J. Erik Central Library [1]188 King George V [2]152
Jordan, Michael [1]155, [1]159 King, Dr. Martin Luther Jr. [1]7, [1]14, [2]5, [2]8, [4]194,
Jordan Hall [1]78 [4]199
Jordan River [2]107 King, Rodney [2]196
Jorge Chávez International Airport [2]156 Kings
Joseph II [4]41 Adulyadej, Bhumibol [1]24, [1]31
Judaean Desert [2]108, [2]118 Alfred of Wessex [2]176
Judaean Hills [2]107 Charles III [2]211
Judaica [2]119 David [2]112
Judiciary History Center (Honolulu, Hawaii) [2]52 Edward the Confessor [2]176
Juju Beach (Mumbai, India) [3]110 Faruk [1]129
Justinian [2]99, [2]104 George V [2]152
Henry VIII [2]186
K Kamehameha III [2]39, [2]45, [2]52
Kaaitheater [1]93 Louis XIV [1]88, [3]207, [3]210
Kafka, Franz [4]47 Rama I [1]23, [1]30
Kahlo, Frida [3]34, [3]35 Rama II [1]23
Ka’iulani, Princess [2]54 Rama IX [1]28
Kalakaua, King [2]46 Rama V [1]23
Kaline, Al [2]20 Ramiro II of León [2]211
Kamala Nehru Park [3]110 Solomon [2]112
Kamehameha III [2]39, [2]45, [2]52 Kingsford Smith Airport [4]118, [4]125
Kam Tin Walled Village [2]24, [2]35 King Solomon [2]112
Kane, Paul [4]166 Kipling, Rudyard [3]113
Kanheri Caves [3]110 Klima, Ivan [4]47
Kapoor, Prithviraj [3]110 Knesset [2]111, [2]113. [2]115 (photo)
Kasarani Stadium [3]129 Koch, Ed [3]182, [3]192
Keillor, Garrison [3]67 Kokoschka, Oskar [4]47
Keino, Kipchoge “Kip” [3]129 Kollek, Teddy [2]117, [2]121
Kelly, Grace [4]17 Korean War Veterans Memorial [4]195
Kemal, Mustafa see Atatürk Kress Collection of Italian Renaissance Art [2]52
Keneally, Thomas [4]131 Ku, god of war [2]42
Kennedy, John Fitzgerald [1]68, [1]80, [1]183 Ku’damm see Kurfürstendamm
See also John F. Kennedy Kublai Khan [1]38
Kennedy, Robert F. [2]195 Kundera, Milan [4]47
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park [1]12 K’un-ming Lake [1]44
Kenya, Mombasa [3]116 Kurosawa, Akira [4]149
Kenya, Nairobi [3]115–[3]135 Kushner, Tony [4]112
Kenya National Museum [3]132
Kenya Safari Rally [3]129 L
Kenyatta, Jomo [3]134 La Brea Tar Pits [2]200, [2]202 (photo)
Kerouac, Jack [4]99 Lagos, Nigeria [2]139–[2]154
Kessler, George [1]182 Lagos City Stadium [2]152
Kew Gardens [2]182 LaGuardia, Fiorello [3]182, [3]192
Key Biscayne Bay [3]37, [3]50 (photo) LaGuardia Airport [3]174
Khan al-Khalili Bazaar [1]122, [1]123 (photo) La Horrible see Lima, Peru

Index
Lake Erie [1]161, [1]162, [1]164, [1]170 Lockerbie Square (Indianapolis) [2]80
Lake Michigan [1]147, [1]152, [1]155 Lockfield Gardens [2]83
Lake Pontchartrain [3]153, [3]161 LoDo District (Denver, Colorado) [1]195, [1]201
Lakers, Los Angeles[2]199 Logan International Airport [1]66, [1]73
Lakes Londinium see London
Great Lakes [3]83, [3]181 London, England [1]34, [1]84, [2]169–[2]188
Lake Erie [1]161, [1]162, [1]164, [1]170 London Bridge [2]174
Lake Michigan [1]147, [1]152, [1]155 London Stock Exchange [2]175
Lake Pontchartrain [3]153, [3]161 London Underground [2]172
Lake Washington [4]101 London, Jack [4]99
Lake Washington [4]101 Long’s Peak [1]198
Land of 10,000 Lakes see Minneapolis, Minnesota Longue Vue House and Gardens [3]169
Lang, Fritz [1]55 Lono, god of fertility [2]42
Lange, Helen [1]62 Lopez de Legaspi, Miguel [3]7
Lao She [1]47 Lopez Museum [3]14
la Salle, Robert Cavalier de [3]161 Lorring, Joan [2]36
Lateran Treaty [4]72 Los Angeles, California [1]34, [2]189–[2]204
Lawn bowling [3]206 Los Angeles Clippers [2]199
LAX see Los Angeles International Airport Los Angeles Dodgers [2]199
Lazio soccer team [4]78 Los Angeles International Airport [2]190
Leacock, Stephen [3]98 Los Angeles Kings [2]199
League of Nations [2]113 Los Angeles Lakers [2]199
Leakey, Richard [3]134 Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra [2]201
Lee, Bruce [2]36 Los Angeles Public Library [1]78
Lee, Gypsy Rose [4]115 Los Angeles Zoo [2]200
Lei Cheng Uk Museum [2]35 Lotz House Museum [3]151
le Moyne brothers (New Orleans, Louisiana) [3]161 Louis, Joe [2]5, [2]8, [2]16, [2]19
L’Enfant, Pierre Charles [2]82, [4]190[4]193, [4]203 Louis XIV [1]88, [3]207, [3]210
Leonardo da Vinci Airport [4]66 Louisiana, New Orleans [3]153–[3]172
Leopold I [1]88 Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra [3]169
Lerma, Orencio [3]16 Louisiana Purchase [3]160, [3]161
Le Sueur, Meridel [3]68 Louisiana State Museum [3]169
Letecke Meuseum (Aviation Museum, Prague) [4]38 Louisiana Territory [3]161
Letterman, David [2]90 Louvre (photo) [3]208
Lévesque, René [3]88, [3]90, [3]98 Love Field [1]178
Liberia, Monrovia [3]69–[3]82 Lower East Side Tenement Museum [3]190
Liberty Bell (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) [4]1, [4]7 Lumphini Park [1]28
Liberty Bell Park (Jerusalem, Israel) [2]118 Lutetia see Paris, France
Licinius [2]98 Luxembourg [1]84
Li Dazhou [1]48 Luxor, Egypt [1]115
Lili’uokalani, Queen [2]46, [2]49, [2]54 Lu Xun [1]46, [1]48
Lilly, Eli [2]90 Luzon, Manila, Philippines [3]1–[3]17
Lima, Peru [2]155–[2]168
Limeños (Lima, Peru) [2]166 M
Lincoln, Abraham [1]150, [4]193, [4]199 Macauley, Herbert [2]154
Lincoln Center (New York) [3]177, [3]180 Macauley, T. B. [2]150
Lincoln Memorial [4]194, [4]199 (photo) Macedonia [2]101
Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago, Illinois) [1]156 Machiavelli, Niccolo [4]83
Lindbergh, Charles [2]19 Mackenzie, William Lyon [4]166

Index
Macquarie, Lachlan [4]122, [4]131 Mardi Gras celebration [3]153, [3]170

Madiba see Mandela, Nelson Margaret of Austria [1]88
Madiba Freedom Museum [2]136 Margarita Island [1]135
Madison, Dolley [4]203 Maria I [4]56
Madison Square Garden [3]187 Mariani, Angelo [4]83
Madonna [2]19 Mariette, Auguste [1]129
Madrid, Spain [2]205–[2]217 Mark Antony [4]71
Madrileños [2]206 Market Square Arena [2]86
Magnificent Mile (Chicago, Illinois) [1]149, [1]153 Marlins [3]47
Maharashtra [3]99 Marriner, Sir Neville [3]65
Maharashtra State, Mumbai, India [3]99–[3]114 Marsalis, Branford [3]171
Mahatma Gandhi see Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand Marthasville see Atlanta, Georgia
Mahfouz, Naguib [1]129 Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site [1]14
Mailer, Norman [3]192 Marvelous City see Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Maine [1]66 Marzahn [1]50
Major League Baseball Masaryk, Thomas Garrique [4]41, [4]47
Anaheim Angels [2]199 Masina, Giulietta [4]83
Arizona Diamondbacks [4]28 Massachusetts Bay [1]65, [1]66
Atlanta Braves [1]8, [1]11 Massachusetts Bay Colony [1]71
Baltimore Orioles [4]198 Massachusetts General Hospital [1]71, [1]76
Colorado Rockies [1]195 Massachusetts Institute of Technology [1]65, [1]71,
Detroit Tigers [2]8 [1]75
Los Angeles Dodgers [2]199 Massachusetts Port Authority [1]67
Montreal Expos [3]95 Mastroianni, Marcello [4]83
New York Mets [3]187 Matatus (minibuses) [3]118
New York Yankees [3]187 Mathare United [3]129
Oakland Athletics (“Oakland A’s”) [4]96 Mather, Cotton [1]80
Philadelphia Phillies [4]12 Maura, Carmen [2]217
San Francisco Giants [4]96 Max Müller Bhavan library [3]111
Seattle Mariners [4]111 May Weber Museum of Cultural Arts [1]158
Texas Rangers [1]185, [1]187 Mboya, Tom [3]134
Makeba, Miriam [2]137 McCarthy, Mary [4]115
Malacanang Palace (Manila, Philippines) [3]14 McCord Museum [3]97
Malcolm X [1]80 McCullough, Colleen [4]131
Mall of America (Minneapolis, Minnesota) [3]63 McKim, Charles [4]194
Mamluks [1]119 McMahon, Ed [2]19
Mandela, Nelson [2]136, [2]137 McQueen, Steve [2]90
Manet, Edouard [3]211 Mead, Margaret [4]17
Mangaldas Market [3]108 Meadowlands Sports Complex [3]187
Manhattan [3]177, [3]178 see also New York, New York Medici, Marie de’ [3]207
Manila, Philippines [3]1–[3]17 Mediterranean Sea [2]98, [4]63
Manila Bay [3]9 Mehemet ’Ali [1]120
Manila Metrostars [3]12 Mehmed II [2]100
Manneken Pis [1]93 Mehta, Zubin [3]110, [3]113
Manzanares River [2]210 Meiji Restoration [4]139
Mao Zedong [1]33, [1]39, [1]48 Meiji Shrine [4]142, [4]145
Maracaibo basin [1]137, [1]138 Mei-shan Park see Ching-shan Park
Maracanã stadium [4]59 Mellon, Paul [4]200
Marcos, Ferdinand [3]8 Menem, Carlos [1]102

Index
Mercer Arboretum, Houston, Texas [2]72 Mitre, Bartolomé [1]112

Mérida, Venezuela [1]135 Mitre Museum (Buenos Aires, Argentina) [1]112
Mesquite Symphony Orchestra [1]188 Miyake, Issey [4]149
Mesta, Perle [4]203 Moctezuma [3]26
Mestizos [3]22 Moffat Tunnel [1]197, [1]202
Mesurado River [3]69 Moi, Daniel arap [3]134
Metropoulos, Dmitri [3]65 Molenbeek-St. Jean [1]86
Mets [3]187 Molière [3]210
Meuse River [1]89 Molly Brown see Brown, Molly
Mexican-American War [3]27, [3]33 Mombasa, Kenya [3]116
Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum [1]158 Mondale, Walter F. [3]67
Mexican Revolution (1910–17) [3]27 Monet, Claude [3]207, [3]211
Mexican War [4]90 Monk, Meredith [2]168
Mexico, Mexico City [3]19–[3]36 Monroe, James [3]69, [3]73, [3]74
Mexico City, Mexico [3]19–[3]36 Monroe, Marilyn [2]203
Miami, Florida [3]37–[3]52 Mons [1]84
Miami City Ballet Company [3]41, [3]52 Montefiore, Moses [2]113
Miami Dolphins [3]47 Monteverdi, Claudio [4]84
Miami Freedom [3]48 Montevideo [1]100
Miami Grand Prix [3]48 Montmartre [3]201
Miami Heat [3]47 Montréal, Québec [3]83–[3]98
Miami International Airport [3]38 Montreal Alouettes [3]95
Miami Museum of Science and Space Transit Montreal Canadiens [3]95
Planetarium [3]49 Montreal Expos [3]95
Miami River [3]37 Montreal Forum [3]95
Miami Youth Museum [3]49 Montreal Museum of Fine Arts [3]97
Michelangelo see Buonarroti, Michelangelo Mont Tremblant [3]96
Michigan, Detroit [2]1–[2]20 Moody Gardens, Houston, Texas [2]60
Microsoft [4]107 Moorer, Michael [2]16
Middle East [2]107–[2]122 Moors [2]206, [2]210
Midwest Stock Exchange [1]152 Moraes, Dom [3]113
Mighty Ducks [2]199 More, Thomas [2]186
Mile High Stadium [1]200 Morgan, J. Pierpont [3]192
Milk, Harvey [4]91 Morita, Akio [4]148
Milton, John [2]169, [2]186 Morocco [1]92
Ming dynasty [1]45 Morrison, Toni [1]175
Minneapolis, Minnesota [3]53–[3]68 Morton, Jelly Roll [3]171
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport [3]54 Mosaic Museum [2]97, [2]105
Minnesota History Center [3]66 Moscone, George [4]91
Minnesota Timberwolves [3]64 Moses, Robert [3]192
Minnesota Twins [3]63 Motor City see Detroit, Michigan
Minnesota Vikings [3]64 Motown see Detroit, Michigan
Minnesota, Minneapolis [3]53–[3]68 Motown Music [2]8
Minnesota River [3]53 Mount Corcovado (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) [4]52, [4]61
Mishima, Yukio [4]148 Mount Evans [1]198
Missionaries [2]45 Mount of Olives [2]108, [2]111
Mission Houses Museum [2]52 Mount Rainier [4]101
Mississippi River [3]53, [3]168 Mount Royal [3]88, [3]95
Mitchell, Margaret [1]10, [1]15 Mount Scopus [2]108, [2]111, [2]116, [2]117

Index
Mubarak, Hosni [1]121 NASA see National Aeronautics and Space

Mubarak, Suzanne [1]123 Administration
Muir, John [4]100 NASA Johnson Space Center [2]63
Mumbai, India [3]99–[3]114 Nash, Francis [3]142
Mumbai Devi [3]99 Nashville, Tennessee [3]137–[3]152
Mumbai Central [3]100 Nashville Toy Museum [3]151
Mumbai Harbor [3]102, [3]105 Nashville Zoo [3]141
Mumbai Island [3]99, [3]100, [3]103, [3]105 Nasser, Gamal Abdel [1]118
Mumbai Zoo [3]110 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Murtala Muhammed Airport (Lagos, Nigeria) [2]142 [2]66, [3]162
Musashino Plateau [4]142 National Association for the Advancement of Colored
Museum Island [1]52, [1]60, [1]61 People (NAACP), founding of [1]6
Music National Basketball Association (NBA)
Atlanta, Georgia [1]12 Atlanta Hawks [1]11
Buenos Aires, Argentina [1]110 Chicago Bulls [1]155
Czech Republic [4]46 Cleveland Cavalies [1]171
Liberia [3]80 Dallas Mavericks [1]187
Nairobi, Kenya [3]131 Denver Nuggets [1]201
Nashville, Tennessee [3]149 Detroit Pistons [2]16
New Orleans [3]169 Golden State Warriors [4]96
New York, New York [3]189 Houston Rockets [2]71, [2]74
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [4]12 Indiana Pacers [2]86
Phoenix, Arizona [4]30 Los Angeles Clippers [2]199
Rome, Italy [4]80 Los Angeles Lakers [2]199
San Francisco [4]97 Miami Heat [3]47
Seattle, Washington [4]112 New York Jets [3]187
Sydney, Australia [4]129 New York Knicks [3]187
Vancouver, British Columbia [4]182 Philadelphia 76ers [4]12
Musical Theatre Berlin [1]61 Phoenix Suns [4]28
Mussolini, Benito [2]213, [4]72 Seattle Super Sonics [4]111
Mwangi, Meja [3]134 Vancouver Grizzlies [4]181
Mystic River [1]74 National Football League (NFL)
Atlanta Falcons [1]11
N Chicago Bears [1]155
NAACP see National Association for the Advancement Cleveland Browns [1]162
of Colored People (NAACP) Denver Broncos [1]201
Nairobbery see Nairobi, Kenya Detroit Lions [2]8
Nairobi, Kenya [3]115–[3]135 Houston Oilers [2]72
Nairobi Arboretum [3]130 Indianapolis Colts [2]86
Nairobi National Park [3]130 Miami Dolphins [3]47
Namur [1]84 Minnesota Vikings [3]64
Nanjing [1]39 New Orleans Saints [3]167
Naoroji, Dr. Dhadabhai [3]113 New York Giants [3]187
Napoleon [4]72 Oakland Raiders [4]96
Napoleon III [1]120 Philadelphia Eagles [4]12
Napoleonic Wars San Francisco 49ers [4]96
Madrid, Spain [2]211 Seattle Seahawks [4]111
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [4]55 Tennessee Titans [3]148
Narváez, José Maria [4]176 Washington Redskins [4]197

Index
National Hockey League (NHL) New York, New York [1]34, [1]66, [3]173–[3]193
Atlanta Thrashers [1]11 New York Giants [3]187
Chicago Black Hawks [1]155 New York Islanders [3]187
Colorado Avalanche [1]201 New York Jets [3]187
Dallas Stars [1]187 New York Knicks [3]187
Detroit Red Wings [2]8, [2]10, [2]15 (photo) New York Mets [3]187
Los Angeles Kings [2]199 New York Public Library [1]78
Mighty Ducks [2]199 New York Rangers [3]187
Montreal Canadiens [3]95 New York Shakespeare Festival [3]188
New York Islanders [3]187 New York Transit Museum [3]190
New York Rangers [3]187 New York Yankees [3]187
Philadelphia Flyers [4]12 Nezu Art Museum (Tokyo, Japan) [4]146
Phoenix Coyotes [4]28 Ngong Race Course [3]129
San Jose Sharks [4]96 Nicholas V, Pope [4]72
Vancouver Canucks [4]181 Nicknames
National Jewish Hospital [1]199 Africa’s Manhattan (Johannesburg, South Africa)
National Palace (Mexico City) [3]22 Arsenal of Democracy (Detroit, Michigan)
National Public Radio [4]197 Athens of the South (Nashville, Tennessee)
National Theater of Germany (photo) [1]60 Bay Area (San Francisco, California)
Native Americans Bayou City (Houston, Texas)
Algonquin Indians [3]89 Blues Capital of the World (Chicago, Illinois)
Cherokee Indians [1]5, [3]142 Capital of Europe (Brussels, Belgium)
Chickasaw Indians [3]142 Capital of Latin America (Miami, Florida)
Coast Salish [4]175 City of Big Shoulders (Chicago, Illinois)
Creek [1]5 City of Gold (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Seattle [4]105 City of a Hundred Spires (Prague, Czech Republic)
Sioux [3]58 City of Lakes (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Tupi Indians [4]50 City in the Sun (Nairobi, Kenya)
NATO see North Atlantic Treaty Organization Cradle of the American Revolution (Boston,
Navy Pier (Chicago, Illinois) (photo) [1]158 Massachusetts)
Nayong Pilipino [3]14 Crescent City (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Nehru Centre (Mumbai, India) [3]110 Film City (Mumbai, India)
Nero [4]71 First City in India (Mumbai, India)
Ness, Elliot [1]175 Fragrant Harbor (Hong Kong, China)
Netherlands [1]88 Gathering Place (Honolulu, Hawaii)
New Amsterdam (New York) [3]180 Grain Coast (Monrovia, Liberia)
Newark International Airport [3]174 Hog Butcher to the World (Chicago, Illinois)
Newberry Library (Chicago, Illinois) [1]157 La Horrible (Lima, Peru)
Newbury Street [1]75 Land of 10,000 Lakes (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
New England Conservatory of Music [1]71, [1]75, [1]78 Marvelous City (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
New Hampshire [1]66, [1]68 Motor City (Detroit, Michigan)
New Orleans, Louisiana [3]153–[3]172 Motown (Detroit, Michigan)
New Orleans Brass [3]167 New Rome (Istanbul, Turkey)
New Orleans Museum of Art [3]169 Paris of Latin America (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
New Orleans Saints [3]167 Peachtree (Atlanta, Georgia)
New Orleans Zephyrs [3]167 Pearl of the Orient (Manila, Philippines)
New Rome see Istanbul, Turkey Queen City of the Plains (Denver, Colorado)
New South Wales, Australia [4]124 Rice Bowl of Asia (Bangkok, Thailand)
Sydney, Australia [4]117–[4]132 Twin Cities (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Index
Village of Wild Plums (Bangkok, Thailand) Oakland Raiders [4]96

Wall Street of the Midwest (Chicago, Illinois) Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II [2]154
Windy City (Chicago, Illinois) Oba of Lagos monument [2]143
Nicks, Stevie (Stephanie) [4]33 Oceania, Sydney, Austrialia [4]117–[4]132
Nicollet Mall (Minneapolis) [3]60, [3]62 (photo) Odinga, Jaramogi Oginga [3]134
Nigeria, Lagos [2]139–[2]154 Oh, Sadaharu [4]149
Nile River [1]115, [1]116, [1]120 (photo) O’Hare International Airport (Chicago, Illinois) [1]146
Nobel Prize [2]19, [2]136, [2]153 Ohio River [2]82
Nob Hill (San Francisco, California) [4]86 Old Bangkok [1]23
Noguchi, Isamu [2]203 “Old Ironsides” see USS Constitution
Noh drama [4]146 Old Montreal [3]88, [3]92 (photo)
Nolan, Sidney [4]131 Old North Church [1]79
Norman Conquest [2]176 Old Royal City (Bangkok, Thailand) [1]22
Norris, Frank [4]100 Old South Meeting House [1]79
North America Old Woman's Island [3]105
Atlanta, Georgia [1]1–[1]16 Oliver, Joseph “King” [3]171
Boston, Massachusetts [1]65–[1]82
Olmedo, Dolores Museum [3]34
Chicago, Illinois [1]145–160
Olmsted, Frederick Law [1]74, [1]81, [2]16, [3]95,
Cleveland, Ohio [1]161–[1]176
[3]188, [3]192, [4]194
Dallas, Texas [1]177–[1]190
Olmsted, Frederick Law Jr. [4]111
Denver, Colorado [1]191–[1]206
Olmsted, John Charles [4]111
Detroit, Michigan [2]1–[2]20
Olympic Games [1]55
Houston, Texas [2]57–[2]76
Atlanta, Georgia (1996) [1]1, [1]8
Indianapolis, Indiana [2]77–[2]91
Mexico City, Mexico [3]28
Los Angeles, California [2]189–[2]204
Montréal, Québec [3]95
Mexico City, Mexico [3]19–[3]36
Miami, Florida [3]37–[3]52 Sydney, Australia [4]117, [4]123, [4]125
Minneapolis, Minnesota [3]53–[3]68 Tokyo, Japan [4]140
Montréal, Québec [3]83–[3]98 Olympic Mountains [4]101
Nashville, Tennessee [3]137–[3]152 Olympic Stadium (Montréal, Québec) [3]95
New Orleans, Louisiana [3]153–[3]172 Onassis, Jacqueline Kennedy [3]192
New York, New York [3]173–[3]193 O’Neill, Eugene [3]192
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [4]1–[4]18 Onikan National Museum [2] 152, [2]153
Phoenix, Arizona [4]19–[4]34 Ontario, Toronto [4]151–[4]167
San Francisco, California [4]85–100 Opium War [1]39, [1]40, [2]27
Seattle, Washington [4]101–[4]116 Opryland Theme Park [3]144
Toronto, Ontario [4]151–[4]167 Orly Airport [3]196
Vancouver, British Columbia [4]169–[4]185 Ormandy, Eugene [3]65, [4]13
Washinton, D.C. [4]187–[4]204 Orozco, José Clemente [3]34, [3]36
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) [1]83, Ortega, José [4]90
[1]86, [1]88, [2]102 Osman [2]100
Nostradamus [3]210 Osofisan, Femi [2]153
Notre Dame Cathedral (Paris, France) [3]202 (photo), Oswald, Lee Harvey [1]183
[3]205, [3]209 Otero, Alejandro [1]143
Nyayo Stadium [3]129 Ottawa River [3]83
Ottoman Empire [1]120, [2]93, [2]94, [2]100, [2]101,
O [2]113
Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii [2]39, [2]44 (photo), [2]49 Oval Maidan [3]104
Oakland Athletics (“Oakland A’s”) [4]96 Owens, Jesse [1]175

Index
P Miami, Florida [3]48

Pacific Northwest see Seattle, Washington Montréal, Québec [3]95
Pacific Ocean [2]40, [2]189, [4]85, [4]169 Mumbai, India [3]110
Pacific Space Centre [4]183 Nairobi National Park [3]130
Paganini, Niccolo [4]84 Nashville, Tennessee [3]148
Pakenham, General Sir Edward [3]162 New Orleans, Louisiana [3]167
Palace of Auburn Hills [2]15, [2]16 New York, New York [3]188
Palace of Fine Arts (Mexico City) [3]33, [3]34 Paris, France [3]207
Palace Museum [1]46 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [4]12
Palace of Justice [1]91 Rome, Italy [4]79
Palacio de Gobiernor (photo) [2]163 San Francisco, California [4]96
Palais des Beaux-Arts [1]92 (photo), [1]93 Seattle, Washington [4]111
Palestinian Arab Folklore Centre [2]119 Sydney, Australia [4]128
Palestinian Authority [2]108 Tokyo, Japan [4]145
Palos Verdes Peninsula [2]193 Washington, D.C. [4]198
Panama Canal, designer of [3]211 Parks, Rosa [2]2
Panama-Pacific International Exposition [4]91 Park Street Church [1]79
Pan American Games [2]87 Parramatta River [4]121
Pantheon (Paris, France) [3]210 Parsi Towers of Silence [3]102, [3]111
Pantheon (Rome, Italy) [4]67, [4]81 (photo) Parthenon (Nashville, Tennessee) [3]146, [3]147, [3]148
Papp, Joseph [3]188 Pasha, Ismail [1]120
Paraguay [1]100 Pasteur Institute [1]29
Parc de Tervuren [1]93 Pauley, Jane [2]90
Pardo de Taverna, Trinidad [3]16 Paul Revere Monument (photo) [1]80
Paris, France [3]195–[3]212 Paul VI [4]84
Paris of Latin America see Buenos Aires Payutto, Venerable P. A. [1]31
Parker, Bonnie [1]190 Paz, Octavio [3]35
Parker, Dorothy [3]192 Peachtree see Atlanta, Georgia
Parks Pearl, Minnie [3]152
Atlanta, Georgia [1]11 Pearl Harbor [2]42, [2]47, [2]48 (photo), [2]53
Bangkok, Thailand [1]26 Pearl of the Orient see Manila, Philippines
Buenos Aires, Argentina [1]111 Pedro I [4]56
Cairo, Egypt [1]125 Pedro II [4]56
Chicago, Illinois [1]153 Pei, I.M. [1]78, [3]208, [4]200
Cleveland, Ohio [1]172 Pei Hai Park [1]44, [1]46
Dallas, Texas [1]187 Peking see Beijing, China
Detroit, Michigan [2]16 Pele, goddess of the volcano [2]42
Hong Kong [2]33 Penn, William [4]2, [4]6, [4]17
Honolulu, Hawaii [2]52 Penn Relays [4]12
Houston, Texas [2]60, [2]64 Pennsylvania, Philadelphia [4]1–[4]18
Indianapolis, Indiana [2]87 People Mover (Detroit, Michigan) [2]4, [2]10
Istanbul, Turkey [2]103 People’s Republic of China see China
Jerusalem, Israel [2]118 People’s University of China [1]43
Johannesburg, South Africa [2]134 Pepsi Center (Denver, Colorado) [1]196, [1]201
London, England [2]182 Pera Plateau [2]97
Los Angeles, California [2]200 Perón, Eva [1]104, [1]113
Madrid, Spain [2]215 Perón, Juan Domingo [1]98, [1]113
Manila, Philippines [3]13 Peru, Lima [2]155–[2]168
Mexico City [3]33 Peter’s Colony see Dallas, Texas

Index
Petrochemical industry [1]183, [2]66 Potsdam [1]60

Pewabic Pottery [2]14 Potsdamer Platz [1]52
Pheroze Shah Mehta Gardens [3]110 Potter, Beatrix [4]14
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [4]1–[4]18 Powerboat racing [2]5
Philip II [1]88, [2]205 Prado Museum [2]216
Philip the Bold [1]87 Prague Castle [4]39
Philippe Auguste, King [3]201 Prague, Czech Republic [4]35–[4]48
Phillip, Arthur [4]122 Preacher Saint Gorik [1]87
Phillippe, duc d’Orleans [3]161 Prenzlauer Berg [1]58
Philippine-American War [3]8 Preservation Hall (New Orleans) [3]168
Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) [3]12
Prince [3]68
Philippine Museum of Ethnology [3]14
Prince Rogers Nelson [3]68
Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra [3]13
Prince of Wales Museum (Mumbai, India) [3]111
Philippines, Manila [3]1–[3]17
Prithvi Theater (Mumbai, India) [3]110
Phoenix (symbol of Atlanta, Georgia) [1]6
Pro Football Hall of Fame (Cleveland, Ohio) [1]174
Phoenix, Arizona [4]19–[4]34
Piaf, Edith [3]211 Pro Player Stadium [3]47
Picasso, Pablo [2]216 Providence [1]68, [1]70
Pickford, Mary [2]204 Prudential Center [1]70, [1]72
Pidgin [2]43 Puccini, Giacomo [4]84
Piecuch, Martin [4]199 Puerto Madero (photo) [1]110
Pike’s Peak [1]197, [1]198 Puget Sound [4]101
Pinzón, Vicente Yáñez [4]49 Puig, Manuel [1]113
Pinzón, Yáñez [4]54 Punchbowl Crater [2]42, [2]53
Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum [4]31 Punic Wars [4]71
Pioneer Square (Seattle, Washington) [4]104 Purcell, Henry [2]186
Pitot House Museum [3]169 Pyramids [1]117
Pizarro, Francisco [2]160, [2]161 (photo), [2]168
Planck, Max [1]62
Plata, Teodoro [3]16 Q
Plaza Bolivar (photo) [1]143 Qing Dynasty [1]39, [1]42
Plaza de Mayo [1]98, [1]101, [1]103, [1]104 Qinghua University [1]43
Plaza of Three Cultures (Mexico City) [3]31 Québec, Montréal [3]83–[3]98
Plotkin Judaica Museum (Phoenix, Arizona) [4]31
Québec Liberation Front (FLQ) [3]90
Plymouth Rock [1]71
Québecois [3]87
Poe, Edgar Allan [4]15, [4]17
Queen City of the Plains see Denver, Colorado
Poitier, Sidney [3]52
Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition [1]93
Po Lin Monastery [2]35
Queen Elizabeth Park [4]182
Polka Hall of Fame (Cleveland, Ohio) [1]172
Polo [3]130 Queen Elizabeth Stadium [2]33
Pompidou Center [3]209 Queen Emma Summer Palace [2]42, [2]53
Pontchartrain, Lake [3]153, [3]161 Queens
Pope, Alexander [2]186 Elizabeth I [2]169, [2]177, [2]186
Pope John Paul II [2]6 Elizabeth II [2]187
Port Jackson [4]117, [4]118 Emma [2]54
Portman, John C. [1]15 Lili’uokalani [2]46, [2]49, [2]54
Portugal [1]92 Victoria [2]187
Post Oak Galleria (photo) [2]74 Queens see New York, New York
Potomac River [4]187 Quezon City, Philippines [3]6

Index
R Detroit River [2]1, [2]6, [2]7, [2]12

Rackham, Arthur [4]14 East River [3]176
Radio City Music Hall [3]177, [3]179 Fraser River[4]169, [4]170
Rafael Larco Herrera Museum [2]158, [2]167 Georges River [4]121
Ralston, Alexander [2]82 Guiare River [1]138
Rama I, King [1]23, [1]30 Hudson River [3]176
Rama II [1]24 Jordan River [2]107
Rama II, King [1]23 Manzanares Rive [2]210
Rama III [1]24 Mesurado River [3]69
Rama V, King [1]23 Miami River [3]37
Rama IX, King [1]28 Minnesota River [3]53
Ramiro II of León, King [2]211 Mississippi River [3]53, [3]168
Raphael [4]72, [4]84 Nile River [1]115, [1]116
Rashtrakuta dynasty [3]104 Ohio River [2]82
RCA Dome [2]86, [2]87(photo) Ottawa River [3]83
Reasoner, Harry [3]68 Parramatta River [4]121
Redemption [3]78 Potomac River [4]187
Red Sea [1]116 Riachuelo Rive [1]104, [1]108
Reese, Della [2]19 Río de la Plata [1]97, [1]100, [1]101, [1]103
Reichstag [1]50, [1]52, [1]61 Río Riachuelo [1]105
Reid, Bill [4]184 Saint Lawrence River [3]83, [3]93, [3]95
Reina Sofía [2]216 Saint Paul River [3]77
Reischauer, Edwin O. [4]148 Scheldt River [1]89
Renaissance Center (Detroit, Michigan) [2]10 Schuykill Rivers [4]1
Reno, Janet [3]52 Seine River [3]207, [3]209
Renoir, Pierre Auguste [3]211 Senne River [1]83, [1]87
Rese, Bishop Frederick [2]5 South Platte River [1]191, [1]196
Revere, Paul [1]65, [1]79, [1]81 Spree River [1]49
Reverón, Armando [1]143 Sumida River [4]140
Revolutionary War, U.S. [3]142, [3]180, [4]7 Thames River [2]169, [2]172
Reynolds, Sir Joshua [2]186 Tiber River [4]79
Rhode Island [1]66, [1]68 Trinity River [1]177, [1]182
Riachuelo River [1]104, [1]108 Vltava River [4]39
Rice, Anne [3]171 West Bank (Jordan River) [2]107
Rice Bowl of Asia see Bangkok, Thailand White River [2]77, [2]85
Rift Valley [2]115, [3]125 Zhu Jiang (Pearl River) [2]30
Riis, Jacob [3]192 Rizal, Jose [3]13, [3]14
Riley, James Whitcomb [2]80, [2]88, [2]90 Rizal Memorial Stadium (Manila, Philippines) [3]12
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [4]49–[4]62 Robbins, Jerome [3]189
Río de la Plata [1]100, [1]101, [1]103 Robbins, Tom [4]115
Río Riachuelo [1]105 Robert F. Kennedy Stadium [4]197
Rivera, Diego [2]18, [3]34, [3]35 Roberts, Charles G. D. [4]166
Rivers Roberts, Joseph Jenkins [3]81
Anacostia River [4]187 Robertson, James [3]142
Chao Phraya River [1]17, [1]18, [1]23, [1]29 Robeson, Paula [3]152
Chattahoochee River [1]12 Robinson, William “Smokey” [2]19
Cumberland River [3]137, [3]138, [3]145 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (Cleveland,
Cuyahoga River [1]161 Ohio) [1]161, [1]172, [1]173
Delaware River [4]1 Rockefeller, John D. [1]154, [1]167, [1]175, [3]192

Index
Rockefeller, Nelson [3]192 Saint Augustine [4]83

Rockefeller Center [3]179, [3]182 Saint Benedict [4]83
Rockefeller Museum [2]119 Saint Clare of Assisi [4]83
Rocky Mountains [1]191, [1]196 (photo), [1]197, [1]198 Saint Exupéry, Antoine de [3]211
Rodeo Drive [2]197, [2]198 (photo) Saint Francis of Assisi [4]83
Rodeos [1]187, [4]28, [4]32 Saint-Gilles [1]86
Rodgers, John [2]40 Saint-Gorik [1]87
Rodin, Auguste [2]18, [3]209 Saint James’s Park [2]175, [2]182
Rodríguez Suárez, Juan [1]135 Saint-Josse-Ten-Noode [1]86
Roissey-Charles de Gaulle airport [3]196 Saint Lawrence River [3]83, [3]93, [3]95
Roman Empire [2]94, [4]72 Saint Mark [4]83
Roma soccer team [4]78 Saint Paul, Minnesota [3]53
Rome, Italy [4]63–[4]84 Saint Paul River [3]77
Roosevelt, Franklin D. [2]47 Saint Peter’s Basilica [4]63
Rose, Bella [2]15 Saint Rose of Lima [2]167
Rosetta Stone, discoverer of [3]211 Saint Vitus Cathedral [4]41
Ross, Betsy [4]17 Saints Hall of Fame [3]169
Ross, Diana [2]19 Saladin [1]119
Rossini, Gioacchino [4]84 Salonen, Esa-Pekka [2]201
Royal Albert Hall [2]184 Salsette Island [3]100
Royal Ballet Company of Brussels [1]93 Sam Houston Park [2]60
Royal Botanic Gardens [4]121, [4]128 Samphran Elephant Grounds & Zoo [1]28
Royal Canadian Mounted Police [4]177 San Andreas fault [2]197, [4]94
Royal Flemish Theater [1]93 San Augustin Museum [3]14
Royal Hawaiian Band [2]52 Sandburg, Carl [1]145
Royal Library of Brussels [1]94 San Francisco, California [4]85–[4]100
Royal National Theatre [2]183 San Francisco Bay [4]85, [4]94
Royal Palace [1]88 San Francisco 49ers [4]96
Royal Square [1]86 San Francisco Giants [4]96
Rubin Academy of Music [2]116 San Francisco Marathon [4]96
Ruby, Jack [1]183 San Gabriel Mountains [2]189
Rudolph, Wilma [2]90, [3]152 Sanjay Gandhi National Park [3]110
Rudolph II [4]40 San Jose Sharks [4]96
Rugby [2]33, [2]133, [2]182, [3]130 [4]127 San Martin Square (Lima, Peru) [2]160
Ruiz, Lorenzo [3]15 Santa Anna [2]64, [2]65
Rush, Barbara [1]205 Santa Monica Mountains [2]189
Rushdie, Salman [3]113 Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (Madrid, Spain) [2]215
Russian Hill (San Francisco, California) [4]86 Santiago de León de Caracas [1]135
Ruth, Babe [3]187 Santos Dumont airport [4]50
Ryman Auditorium [3]150 Saqqara pyramid [1]117
Sargent, John Singer [1]78
S Sartre, Jean-Paul [3]211
Sablon Square [1]86, [1]94 Sassoon, Sir David [3]113
Sacré Coeur (basilica) [3]201 Satavahna dynasty [3]104
Sadler’s Wells Theatre [2]184 Sawallisch, Wolfgang [4]13
Safeco Field [4]111 Scheldt River [1]89
Saint Alphonsus Art and Culture Museum [3]169 Schloss Bellevue [1]50
Saint Ambrose [4]83 Schoenheimer, Rudolf [1]62
Saint Anthony of Padua [4]83 Scholem, Gershom [2]121

Index
Schroder, Louise [1]62 Silverdome [2]10

Schulz, Charles [3]68 Silver mining [1]191, [1]197
Schuster, Joe [1]175 Simmons College [1]75
Schuylkill River [4]11 Simon, Neil [3]192
Scollay Square [1]70, [1]72 Simpson, Alan K. [1]205
Scott, George C. [2]19 Simpson, O. J. [2]196
Scott, William Fred [1]12 Sinai Peninsula [1]116
Sea of Galilee [2]108 Sinan, Mimar [2]101, [2]106
Sealife Park (photo) [2]50 Singer, Isaac Bashevis [3]51
Sealth, Chief of the Suquamish Indians [4]105 Sioux Indians [3]58
Sea of Marmara [2]93 Siqueiros, David Alfaro [3]34, [3]36
Seaquarium (Miami, Florida) [3]50 Sirikit, Queen [1]31
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, [4]102 Six Day War [2]107, [2]110, [2]114, [2]119
Seattle, Washington [4]101–[4]116 Six Flags Over Texas [1]188
Seattle Art Museum [4]113 Skotnes, Cecil [2]137
Seattle International Film Festival [4]113 Slatkin, Leonard [2]203
Seattle Mariners [4]111 Slave trade [2]140, [4]55
Seattle Super Sonics [4]111 Smith, Goldwin [4]166
Seattle Thunderbirds Hockey Club [4]111 Smithson, James [4]203
Seger, Bob [2]19 Snake Farm (Nairobi, Kenya) [3]132
Seine River [3]207, [3]209 Snyder, Duke [2]203
Seinfeld, Jerry [3]192 Soares Filho, Oscar Niemeyer [4]62
Selim I [1]120 Soccer [1]187, [2]182
Selleck, Tom [2]19 Detroit, Michigan [2]10
Seminole Indians [3]42 Jerusalem, Israel [2]117
Senne River [1]83, [1]87 Johannesburg, South Africa [2]134
Sensoji Temple [4]137 Mathare United [3]129
Sevareid, Eric [3]68 Mexico City, Mexico [3]33
Seven Years’ War [3]7 Miami, Florida [3]48
Severus, Septimus [2]98 Monrovia, Liberia [3]79
Shaka dynasty [3]104 Nairobi, Kenya [3]129
Shakespeare, William [1]46, [2]169, [2]182, [2]186 Paris, France [3]206
Shanghai [1]34, [1]41 Rome, Italy [4]78
Shawmut Peninsula [1]74 Vancouver 86ers [4]181
Shea Stadium [3]187 Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia
Shepherd, Alexander “Boss” [4]193 (SCNL) [3]77
Sherman, William Tecumseh [1]6 SoHo neighborhood (New York) [3]179
Shijiazhuang [1]34 Soldier Field (Chicago, Illinois) [1]155
Shilts, Randy [4]100 Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument (Indianapolis) [2]78,
Shining Path [2]163 [2]82 (photo)
Shitta-Bey Mosque [2]153 Solomon, King [2]112
Shiva [3]111 Sorbonne (University of Paris) [3]210
Shiv Sena [3]106 Sousa, John Philip [4]203
Shore, Dinah [3]152 South Africa Breweries Museum [2]136
Shouson Theater (photo) [2]34 South Africa, Johannesburg [2]123–[2]138
Shrine of the Book (photo) [2]115 South Africa Museum of Military History [2]136
Siam see Thailand South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) [2]133
Siegel, Jerry [1]175 South African Stock Exchange [2]131
Silva House [4]31 South African Transport Museum [2]136

Index
South America Sumo wrestling [4]144

Buenos Aires, Argentina [1]97–[1]114 Sung Dynasty Wax Museum [2]35
Caracas, Venezuela [1]131–[1]144 Sun Yat-sen [2]35
Lima, Peru [2]155–[2]168 Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall [1]44
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [4]49–[4]62 Super Bowl [1]201, [1]187
South Platte River [1]191, [1]196 Suquamish Indians [4]105
South Station [1]66 Surat (Mumbai, India) [3]105
Southern Methodist University [1]181 Svoboda, Ludwik [4]41
Soviet Union [1]56 Swedish American Museum Center [1]158
Soweto, South Africa [2]127 Sydney, Australia [4]117–[4]132
Soyinka, Wole [2]153 Sydney Football Stadium [4]127
Space Center Houston [2]60, [2]63 Sydney Harbour Bridge [4]118
Space Museum (Hong Kong) [2]35 Sydney Opera House [4]129, [4]130 (photo)
Space Needle [4]107 (photo) Sydney Swans [4]127
Spain, Madrid [2]205–[2]217 Szell, George [1]175
Sphinx [1]117
Spice Bazaar (photo) [2]102 T
Spree River [1]50, [1]52, [1]54, [1]56, [1]57, [1]61 Taft, Seth [1]175
Spriggs-Payne Airfield [3]70, [3]72 Taft, William Howard [1]175, [4]194
Stadio Olimpico [4]78 Taihang mountains [1]33
Stanford, Leland [4]100 Tai Mo Shan [2]30
Stanley Cup [1]187, [1]201, [2]8, [2]10, [2]15 Taj Mahal Hotel [3]104, [3]108
Stanley Park (Vancouver) [4]173, [4]181 Tamayo, Rufino Museum [3]34
Staples Center [2]199 Tambo, Oliver [2]137
Statue of Liberty (photo) [3]181 Tammany Hall [3]181
Steinbrenner, George [3]192 Tan, Amy [4]100
Sterkfontein Caves (Johannesburg, South Africa) [2]134 Tanggu [1]34
Stevens, John L. [2]46 Tanglewood Festival [1]78
Stewart Museum (Montréal, Québec) [3]97 Tangshan [1]34
Stokes, Carl B. [1]175 Tanizaki, Junichiro [4]148
Stokowski, Leopold [4]13 Tarkington, Booth [2]90
Strake, George [2]62 Tata, J. N. [3]113
Stratton, Mary Chase Perry [2]14 Taylor, Charles [3]75, [3]76, [3]81
Strauss, Annette [1]190 Teatro Colón [1]106, [1]111
Strawberry, Darryl [2]203 Teddy Stadium (Jerusalem, Israel) [2]117
Stuart, Gilbert [1]78 Tegel airport [1]50
Suez Canal [1]116, [1]122, [3]105 Tel Aviv, Israel [2]108
Suffolk Downs [1]77 Telegraph Hill (San Francisco, California) [4]86
Sugar Loaf [4]61 Teltow Canal [1]50
Sugar plantations (photo) [2]46 Tendulkar, Sachin [3]113
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve [2]134 Tennessee Centennial Exposition [3]143
Sukhumvit, Thailand [1]22 Tennessee, Nashville [3]137–[3]152
Sulayman, Rajah [3]7 Tennessee State Museum [3]151
Suleyman the Magnificent [2]101, [2]113 Tennessee Titans [3]148
Sullivan, Arthur [2]187 Tennessee Valley Authority [3]143
Sulpicius Galba [4]71 Tennis [2]133
Sultan of Zanzibar [3]121 New York, New York [3]188
Sumida River [4]140 Paris, France [3]206
Summer Palace [1]36, [1]39, [1]40 (photo), [1]44 Rome, Italy [4]78

Index
Terminus see Atlanta, Georgia Thompson, Jim [1]31

Texas Thompson, Lea [3]68
Dallas [1]177–[1]190 Thon Buri, Thailand [1]23
Houston [2]57–[2]76 Thoreau, Henry David [1]71
Texas Instruments [1]184 3Com Park [4]96
Texas Rangers [1]185, [1]187 Thunderbirds Hockey Club [4]111
Texas School Book Depository [1]183, [1]188 Tiananmen Square [1]36, [1]38 (photo), [1]39, [1]42,
Texicans [2]64 [1]44, [1]46
Thackeray, Bal [3]106 Tiberius [4]71
Thackeray, William Makepeace [2]186 Tiber River [4]79
Thailand, Bangkok [1]17–[1]32 Tibet [1]34
Thames River [2]169, [2]172 Tientsin [1]41
Thana Creek Bridge [3]100 Tiergarten [1]50, [1]52, [1]60
Thatcher, Margaret [2]178, [2]187 Tierra del Fuego [1]100
Theaters Tiger Stadium [2]7, [2]16
Atlanta, Georgia [1]5, [1]12 Times Square (New York) [3]177, [3]189 (photo)
Buenos Aires, Argentina [1]106 Tintoretto [4]84
Cairo, Egypt [1]126 Tinubu, Madam Efunroye [2]154
Chicago, Illinois [1]156 Tokyo, Japan [4]133–[4]150
Cleveland, Ohio [1]172 Tokyo Bay [4]134
Dallas, Texas [1]188 Tokyo Dome [4]144, [4]146
Denver, Colorado [1]202, [1]203 Tokyo Giants [4]144
Detroit, Michigan [2]17 Tokyo Metropolis [4]141
Hong Kong, China [2]33 Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum [4]146
Honolulu, Hawaii [2]52 Tokyo National Museum [4]146
Jerusalem, Israel [2]119 Tolbert, William R. [3]75
Johannesburg, South Africa [2]135 Tomonaga, Shinichiro [4]148
Los Angeles, California [2]201 Topkapi Palace (photo) [2]100
Miami, Florida [3]49 Toronto, Ontario, Canada [4]151–[4]167
Minneapolis, Minnesota [3]65 Toscanini, Arturo [4]84
Montréal, Québec [3]96 Tour de France [3]206
Mumbai, India [3]110 Tower of David [2]113
Nairobi, Kenya [3]131 Tower of Pisa [1]93
Nashville, Tennessee [3]149 Towers of Silence [3]103
New Orleans, Louisiana [3]169 Track and field [3]129
New York, New York [3]188 Trafalgar Square [2]183
Phoenix, Arizona [4]30 Trail of Tears [1]5
Prague, Czech Republic [4]46 Transvaal [2]128
Rome, Italy [4]80 Trask, Haunani-Kay [2]47
San Francisco, California [4]98 Travis, William B. [2]64
Seattle, Washington [4]112 Treaty of Lausanne [2]102
Tokyo, Japan [4]146 Treaty of Paris [3]89
Vancouver, British Columbia [4]182 Treaty of Tordesillas (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) [4]54
Washington, D.C. [4]199 Trees Atlanta [1]8
Theodosius [2]98 Tren de la Costa (photo) [1]109
Theodosius II [2]103 Trevi Fountain (Rome, Italy) [4]79
Thiong‘o, Ngugi wa [3]134 Trinity River [1]177, [1]182
Thirty Years War [4]41 Triumphal Arch [1]86
Thomas, Michael Tilson [4]97 Trudeau, Pierre Elliot [3]90, [3]98

Index
Truffaut, François [3]211 New York, New York [3]173–[3]193

Tsang, Daniel C. [2]36 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [4]1–[4]18
Tsavo National Park [3]132 Phoenix, Arizona [4]19–[4]34
Tsing Ma Bridge [2]22 San Francisco, California [4]85–[4]100
Tsui, Kitty [2]37 Seattle, Washington [4]101–[4]116
Tube see London Underground Washington, D.C. [4]187–[4]204
Tufts University [1]75 Universal Studios (Los Angeles, California) [2]193
Tuilerie Gardens (Paris, France) [3]204 Universities
Tuileries [3]207 Atlanta, Georgia [1]10
Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) [2]163 Boston, Massachusetts [1]75
Tupi Indians [4]50 Berlin, Germany [1]59]
Turkey [1]92 Buenos Aires, Argentina [1]109
Istanbul [2]93–[2]106 Cairo, Egypt [1]118, [1]124
Turner, J. M. W. [2]89 Caracas, Venezuela [1]136, [1]140, [1]141, [1]142
Turner, Joseph [2]186 Chicago, Illinois [1]154
Turner, Robert Edward “Ted” [1]15 Cleveland, Ohio [1]170, [1]173
Turner, Ted [1]8 Denver, Colorado [1]199
Turner Field [1]11 Detroit, Michigan [2]11, [2]14
Tuttle, Julia Sturdivant [3]42 Hong Kong, China [2]32, [2]34
Tutu, Desmond [2]137 Honolulu, Hawaii [2]50
TVA see Tennessee Valley Authority Indianapolis, Indiana [2]85
Twin Cities see Minneapolis, Minnesota Istanbul, Turkey [2]103
Jerusalem, Israel [2]116
U Johannesburg, South Africa [2]132
Uhry, Alfred [1]15 Lima, Peru [2]165
Uhuru Park [3]130 London, England [2]181
Ukrainian National Museum (Chicago, Illinois) [1]158 Los Angeles, California [2]198
Underground Atlanta [1]5, [1]9 Madrid, Spain [2]215
Underground Railroad [1]69, [1]79, [2]7 Manila, Philippines [3]11
Union Square (New York) [3]177 Mexico City, Mexico [3]32
United Kingdom, London, England [2]169–[2]188 Miami, Florida [3]46
United Nations [1]90, [3]183 (photo) Minneapolis, Minnesota [3]65
United Provinces of Río de la Plata [1]106 Monrovia, Liberia [3]78
United States of America [1]56, [1]100 Montréal, Québec [3]94
Atlanta, Georgia [1]1–[1]16 Mumbai, India [3]109
Boston, Massachusetts [1]65–[1]82 Nairobi, Kenya [3]128
Chicago, Illinois [1]145–160 Nashville, Tennessee [3]143, [3]146
Cleveland, Ohio [1]161–[1]176 New Orleans, Louisiana [3]166
Dallas, Texas [1]177–[1]190, [1]191–[1]206 New York, New York [3]185
Denver, Colorado [1]191–[1]206 Paris, France [3]205
Detroit, Michigan [2]1–[2]20 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [4]5
Honolulu, Hawaii [2]39–[2]55 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [4]58
Houston, Texas [2]57–[2]76 Rome, Italy [4]77
Indianapolis, Indiana [2]77–[2]91 San Francisco, California [4]95
Los Angeles, California [2]189–[2]204 Seattle, Washington [4]110
Miami, Florida [3]37–[3]52 Tokyo, Japan [4]143
Minneapolis, Minnesota [3]53–[3]68 Vancouver, British Columbia [4]180
Nashville, Tennessee [3]137–[3]152 Washington, D.C. [4]196
New Orleans, Louisiana [3]153–[3]172 Uruguay [1]100

Index
USS Arizona [2]42, [2]47 von Humboldt, Karl Wilhelm [1]62

USS Constitution (photo) [1]72 Vonnegut, Jr., Kurt [2]90
V W
Vaclav II [4]40 Wadi Qelt [2]118
Vancouver, British Columbia [4]169–[4]185 Waikiki Beach [2]42, [2]43, [2]53 (photo)
Vancouver Aquarium [4]182 Walloon Province [1]88
Vancouver Art Gallery [4]183 Wall Street of the Midwest see Chicago, Illinois
Vancouver Canucks [4]181 Wangfujing Market Street [1]42
Vancouver 86ers [4]181 Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai, India) [3]110
Vancouver Grizzlies [4]181 War of 1812 [1]72
Vancouver International Airport [4]172 Detroit, Michigan [2]7
Vancouver Maritime Museum [4]182 Nashville, Tennessee [3]143
Vancouver Museum [4]183 New Orleans, Louisiana [3]161
Vancouver, George [4]105, [4]169, [4]176 Warhol, Andy [3]192
Van Damme, Jean-Claude [1]95 War of Independence (Spain) [2]212
Vanderbilt, Cornelius [3]192 War Memorial Plaza [3]140
Van Sweringen brothers (Cleveland, Ohio) [1]166 War of the Pacific [2]162
Vatican [4]73, [4]81 Warren, Earl [1]183
Vaux, Calvert [3]188 Washington, District of Columbia [4]187–[4]204
Venezuela, Caracas [1]131–[1]144 Washington Dulles International Airport [4]188
Venezuela, National Capital of (photo) [1]137 Washington Monument (photo) [4]192
Venturi, Robert [4]113 Washington National Airport [4]188
Verdi, Giuseppe [4]84 Washington Redskins [4]197
Versace, Gianni [3]43, [4]84 Washington, George [1]78, [2]7, [4]193
Versailles palace [3]207, [3]210 Washington, Harold, Library Center [1]157
Versailles Treaty [1]39 Washington, Seattle [4]101–[4]116
Victor Horta House [1]94 Wat Arun [1]23
Victoria, Queen [2]187 Watermael-Boitsfort [1]86
Victoria and Albert [2]185 Wat Pho [1]23, [1]29, [1]30
Victoria Peak [2]21, [2]24, [2]30 Wat Phra Kaeo [1]23, [1]29, [1]30
Victoria Station (photo) [3]102 Wat Traimitr [1]30
Victoria Terminus [3]103 Wat Yan Nawa [1]23
Victory Field [2]86 Wayne County Metropolitan Airport [2]2
Vietnam War [1]23, [4]91 Weah, George [3]81
Villa, Ernesto “Pancho” [3]28 Webber, Chris [2]16
Village of Wild Plums see Bangkok Weeks Air Museum (Miami, Florida) [3]49
Villa-Lobos, Heitor [4]62 Weir, Peter [4]131
Villanueva, Carlos Raúl [1]142 Wenceslas Square (Prague, Czech Republic) [4]42
Villella, Edward [3]49, [3]52 West Africa (Lagos, Nigeria) [2]139
Ville Marie [3]83, [3]88, [3]89 West Bank (Jordan River) [2]107
Virgil [4]84 Western Ghats [3]108, [3]111
Vittorio Emanuel of Savor [4]72 Western Reserve Historical Society (Cleveland, Ohio)
Vltava River [4]39 [1]174
Voinovich, George [1]168 Western Wall, Jewish Temple [2]110
Volcanoes [2]42, [3]19 West Germany see Germany
Volleyball [4]59 Westminster Abbey [2]175
von Bismarck, Otto [1]54 White, Michael R. [1]168
von Hohenzollern, Fredrich [1]54 White, Patrick [4]131

Index
White House [4]191, [4]202 (photo) Cairo, Egypt [1]121

Whiteley, Brett [4]131 Dallas, Texas [1]184
Whiteman, Paul [1]205 Denver, Colorado [1]197
White River [2]77, [2]85, [2]86 Hong Kong, China [2]27
White Rock Lake (Dallas, Texas) [1]188 Honolulu, Hawaii [2]47
Whitman, Walt [4]203 Indianapolis, Indiana [2]83
Wilhelm I [1]54 Istanbul, Turkey [2]102
Wilkins, Roy [3]68 Jerusalem, Israel [2]111
William, Duke of Normandy [2]176 Johannesburg, South Africa [2]129
William of Orange [1]88 Lima, Peru [2]163
William P. Hobby Airport [2]58 London, England [2]169
William the Conqueror [2]169 Los Angeles, California [2]195
Williams, Robin [2]19 Madrid, Spain [2]208, [2]209, [2]210
Williams, Ted [1]81 Manila, Philippines [3]5
Williamson, David [4]131 Mexico City, Mexico [3]28
Willingdon Sports Club [3]110 Miami, Florida [3]43
Windsor, Ontario [2]6 Minneapolis, Minnesota [3]59
Windsor Tunnel [2]8 Monrovia, Liberia [3]74
Windy City see Chicago, Illinois Montréal, Québec [3]91
Winfrey, Oprah [1]155 Nashville, Tennessee [3]143
Winningham, Mare [4]33 New York, New York [3]182
Wintergarten [1]61 Paris, France [3]198, [3]203
Witwatersrand, South Africa [2]128 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [4]8
Wohl Rose Garden [2]118 Prague, Czech Republic [4]38
Woluwe-St.-Lambert [1]86
Rome, Italy [4]72
Woluwe-St.-Pierre [1]86
San Francisco, California [4]91
Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Seattle, Washington [4]107
Cleveland Rockers [1]171
Sydney, Australia [4]120, [4]123
Detroit Shock [2]16
Tokyo, Japan [4]139, [4]143
Wood, Gar [2]5
Washington, D.C. [4]194
Woodruff, Robert W. [1]15
WPA see Works Progress Administration
Woolf, Virginia [2]187
Wren, Christopher [2]186
Workers’ Museum [2]136
Works Progress Administration (WPA) [3]143
World Series [2]8 X
World Trade Center [1]79, [3]176, [3]108 Xidan [1]36
World War I [1]39, [1]55, [1]88
Buenos Aires, Argentina [1]106
Cairo, Egypt [1]121 Y
Istanbul, Turkey [2]101 Yad Vashem [2]120
Jerusalem, Isael [2]113 Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial [2]110, [2]111
New York, New York [3]181 Yakyu see Baseball
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [4]8 Yamamoto, Isoroku [2]47
Seattle, Washington [4]107 Yangtze Valley [1]41
World War II [1]39, [1]49, [1]55, [1]56, [1]60, [1]65, Yankees, New York[3]187
[1]71, [1]73, [1]88 Yan Kingdom [1]38
Bangkok, Thailand [1]23 Yanshan Mountains [1]33
Buenos Aires, Argentina [1]106 Yehoshua, Avraham B. [2]121

Index
Yemin, Moshe [2]112 Zhangliahou [1]34

Yeni Mosque (photo) [2]99 Zhang Tianyi [1]48
Yoshida, Shigeru [4]148 Zhang Yimou [1]48
Young, Coleman [2]6, [2]10 Zhaveri Bazaar (Mumbai, India) [3]108
Young’s Wax Museum [2]35 Zhou Enlai [1]40, [1]48
Yutang, Lin [2]37 Zhou Zuoren [1]48
Zhu Jiang (Pearl River) [2]30
Z Zion Square [2]111
Zaghlul, Saad [1]129 Zoological and Botanical Gardens (Hong Kong) [2]33
Zapata, Emiliano [3]28 Zoologischer Garten [1]60
Zeman, Milos [4]42 Zwilich, Ellen [3]52

Jill Copolla Susan B Gall Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities 4 Volumes U X L 2000

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VOLUMES

Printed in United States of America

Cover photos (top to bottom):

Olufemi A. Akinola, Ph.D. W.E.B. DuBois Institute, Harvard University

Volume number appears in brackets [] Toronto, Ontario .......................[4]151

x Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

and ethnic neighborhoods, and business 15 SPORTS. Professional and amateur

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities xi

government offices, tourist and conven- Cindy Doll, Librarian, Columbus

Acknowledgments Glenda Willnerd, School Librarian,

xii Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

Founded: 1837; Incorporated: 1847

1 Introduction energy and its courage in overcoming

The Amtrak-operated Crescent, running

City Proper Airports

Bus and Railroad Service 3 Getting Around

2 Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities 3

Atlanta skyline. (Timothy Eagan: Woodfin Camp)

4 Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

Area was estimated at 3,627,184 as of north of downtown Atlanta, home to

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities 5

cal center during the conflict, a fact

6 Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

City Fact Comparison

Population of urban area1 2,689,000 10,772,000 2,688,000 12,033,000

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities 7

8 Public Safety 10 Environment

8 Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

antique stores (for which Bennett Street

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities 9

gram, the HOPE scholarship program, 13 Health Care

10 Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities 11

The Chattahoochee River National company’s educational and outreach

12 Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

The library system also operates 32 MARCH

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities 13

Festival of Trees Joel Chandler Harris (1848–1908), au-

21 Famous Citizens Robert Tyre “Bobby” Jones (1902–71),

Henry W. Grady (1850–89), editor of Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968),

14 Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

Margaret Mitchell (1900–49), onetime Atlanta Planning and Development Dept.

Robert W. Woodruff (1889–1985), Coca- Books

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities 15

York: Macmillan, 1936. [Fiction] Triumph of a People. Atlanta: Capricorn

16 Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

1 Introduction directing traffic are required to wear

must arrange transportation into

18 Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities 19

20 Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

City Fact Comparison

Population of urban area1 7,221,000 10,772,000 2,688,000 12,033,000

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities 21

22 Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities 23

as a rest-and-relaxation destination. Despite modern problems, how-

24 Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities

1985, Bangkok's governor and assem- 9 Economy

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities 25

billion of assistance, the country agreed authentic Asian-style bazaar. Silom

26 Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cities