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Can you name the three non-numerical avenues of New York City between 3rd and 5th avenue? LEXINGTON, PARK, MADISON from east to west

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LEXINGTON, PARK, MADISON   from east to west - geography illustration
LEXINGTON, PARK, MADISON from east to west — geography

Manhattan's iconic grid system, established by the Commissioners' Plan of 1811, primarily features numbered avenues running north-south, with the numbers generally increasing as you move westward from the East River. Fifth Avenue serves as the central dividing line for east-west streets. However, between 3rd and 5th Avenues on the East Side, the pattern shifts to include three distinct named avenues: Lexington, Park, and Madison, ordered from east to west. These avenues offer a fascinating glimpse into the city's organic development beyond the initial rigid plan.

Lexington Avenue, the easternmost of these three, was not part of the original 1811 grid. It was conceived and partially constructed between 1832 and 1836 by real estate developer Samuel Ruggles, who sought to enhance access to his Gramercy Park development. The avenue was named in honor of the Battle of Lexington, a pivotal event in the American Revolutionary War. Moving westward, Park Avenue holds a unique history, having originally been known as Fourth Avenue. In the mid-19th century, this thoroughfare carried the tracks of the New York and Harlem Railroad. Over time, the railroad tracks were sunken and covered, transforming the avenue into a prestigious residential and business district with landscaped "park-like" medians, hence its current name.

Finally, Madison Avenue, situated between Park and Fifth Avenues, was also an addition to Manhattan's initial grid plan, carved out in 1836. Its creation was largely influenced by Samuel B. Ruggles, the same developer behind Lexington Avenue. Madison Avenue takes its name from Madison Square, which itself is named after James Madison, the fourth President of the United States. By the 1920s, Madison Avenue had become synonymous with the American advertising industry, a connection that endures in popular culture to this day.