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122 years of the NY Subway
A Century Beneath the City
The subway is an iconic part of New York. If you’ve ever been to New York, likely you’ve experienced at least one ride on the subway. I found it to be a lot cleaner than the Washington, DC one, actually.
The subway has:
~4–4.6 million riders daily
~23–28 million riders per week
~1.3 billion rides (2025)
The Rise, Transformation, and Legacy of the New York City Subway
On October 27, 1904, New York City took a bold step underground: the first line of what would become the New York City Subway—operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT)—opened for service. The route spanned 9.1 miles and 28 stations, running from City Hall to 145th Street via 42nd Street and Broadway.
Let’s look at how it was built, how it changed, what it meant to the city, and how it continues to influence urban life.
1. Building the Underground: Origins
The turn of the 20th century was a time of rapid change for New York City. The crowded streets, horse-drawn carriages (hard to imagine today?), trolleys, and elevated trains made clear the need for a faster and more efficient way to move large numbers of people. Enter the subway.
