THE GUIDE

Chelsea

Chelsea's history began in 1750 when retired British major Thomas Clarke bought 94 acres of land and built a Georgian-style residence called Chelsea. In the 19th century the area began to develop in the area as a residential area for the lower middle classes. Towards 1869 a strong impulse pushed it to develop also from a commercial point of view thanks to the construction of a railway line for freight trains. Also towards the end of the century, Chelsea was the place where the entertainment industry concentrated, initially with the opening of theatres and concert halls along 23rd Street and then with the attempt of the film industry to found its headquarters here. The attempt failed and the film industry later chose Hollywood in Los Angeles. In 1907 the Chelsea Pier was built and used by the transatlantic liners until 1935. In 1934 a road and elevated railway line were built.
Today it is a lively district characterized, among other things, by countless art galleries.

References

Kenneth T. Jackson, Lisa Keller, Nancy Flood. The Encyclopedia of New York City: Second Edition. Yale University Press, 2010. pp. 234-235

Useful links

Chelsea, Manhattan (Wikipedia)
Chelsea (NYC & Company)
The History of Chelsea