State Street (Manhattan)

State Street is a street in New York City's Financial District at the southernmost tip of Manhattan. It runs from along the border of Battery Park, and extends from Whitehall Street (where it marks the southern terminus of Water Street) to Battery Place (where it marks the southern terminus of Broadway). It is used to approximate the original shorefront line of the island.

According to the Castello Plan of 1660, the original fort built by Dutch settlers for New Amsterdam was somewhere in the immediate area where this street is now. It was paved at some point between 1790-1795, during British rule, and appears to have been called State Street for as long as it has existed which is quite rare for streets in this neighborhood. The James Watson House was built in 1793 at 7 State Street (6 State Street at the time). It was once among a row of stately mansions that lined the battery. The apparent reason for choosing this location was to have unobstructed views of New York Harbor.

From 1902 to 1907 the extravagantly designed Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House was constructed at the northern end of the street adjacent to Bowling Green.

During the latter half of the 20th century, the street became the location of a series of tall office buildings. The most recent of which is 17 State Street, which was completed 1988.

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