Manhattan, New York City, New York Directory: 1839-1840

The Longworth's American Almanac, New York Register and City directory for 1839 lists those people residing or working in that year on the island of Manhattan who were interviewed. In addition to the names of heads of household, the directory mentions related occupations, home, and secondary addresses (sometimes including addresses in suburbs, such as Brooklyn and New Jersey). The population of Manhattan Island in 1840 was approximately 313,000. This directory, published annually in the 1800s, is an excellent source of genealogical and social data on early New York City and can be used to supplement the 1840 U.S. Census, which does not provide full names, addresses, or occupations. Additionally, one can analyze neighborhoods and determine who was living and working near an ancestor by viewing the data by individual streets.