Manhattan is one of New York City’s five boroughs, and it packs a punch as being the best known out of all of them. So how big is Manhattan, which is affectionately called the Big Apple. The size of Manhattan covers an area of 22.83 square miles (59.13 km²), which makes it the most densely populated borough in New York City. According to the 2020 census, Manhattan has a population of 1,694,251, with a density of 72,918 residents per square mile (28,154/km²).
Manhattan, an island, is considered one of the most important financial, cultural, and commercial centers in the world. It is located in the southeastern part of New York State and is bordered by the Hudson River to the west, the East River to the east, and the Harlem River to the north. Manhattan is home to some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, including the Empire State Building, Central Park, World Trade Center and Times Square, and Museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Museum of Natural History.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the size of Manhattan, with its towering skyscrapers, bustling streets, and vibrant neighborhoods, making it the City that never sleeps.
Table of Contents
Geography of Manhattan
Boundaries
Manhattan is one of the five boroughs of New York City, which is coextensive with New York County, located in southeastern New York State. The borough is mainly on Manhattan Island, which is bounded by the Hudson River (west), Harlem River and Spuyten Duyvil Creek (northeast), and East River (east). The borough also includes the Marble Hill section on the mainland, which is separated from the rest of Manhattan by the Harlem River and is connected to the Bronx by the Broadway Bridge, as well as Roosevelt Island and Randall’s Island and Ward Island in the East River, and Governors Island and Liberty Island in the New York Harbor.
Land Area
Manhattan Island is approximately 13.4 miles long and 2.3 miles wide at its widest point. It has a land area of 22.83 square miles (59.13 km2), making it the third-smallest borough in terms of land area. Based on the 2020 census, Manhattan is the most densely populated borough in New York City, with a population density of 72,918 residents per square mile (28,154/km2).
Length and Width of Manhattan
Manhattan Island is approximately 13.4 miles long and 2.3 miles wide at its widest point.
Water Area
Manhattan is surrounded by water on three sides, with the Hudson River to the west, the Harlem River and Spuyten Duyvil Creek to the northeast, and the East River to the east. The borough has a total water area of 34.81 square miles (90.17 km2), including the islets in the East River.
Bridges and Tunnels into Manhattan
Given Manhattan is an island, it is connected to other parts of New York City and New Jersey through 21 bridges and 4 tunnels.
Manhattan Map
Size of Manhattan FAQ
How many blocks are there in Manhattan?
This is a surprisingly difficult question to answer as there are no easy to find published figures on the total number of blocks in Manhattan! I am guessing it is because even though there is a grid system of streets and avenues, the city block sizes vary throughout the island, though the standard block size is approximately 264 feet (80 meters) long by 900 feet (274 meters) wide. Taking the standard block size, and assuming that there are no irregular-shaped blocks or partial blocks, Manhattan has approximately 11,875 blocks.
As a point of comparison, New York City, which has 5 boroughs, is about 120,000 blocks.
What is the length and width of Manhattan island?
Manhattan Island is approximately 13.4 miles long and 2.3 miles wide at its widest point.
How many acres is Manhattan?
Manhattan is approximately 14,600 acres in size.
How large is Manhattan?
Manhattan has a land area of 22.83 square miles (59.1 km²).
How many buildings are there in Manhattan?
It is estimated that there are approximately 60,000 buildings in Manhattan.
How long is Manhattan?
Manhattan is approximately 13.4 miles long.
What is the width of Manhattan?
Manhattan is approximately 2.3 miles wide at its widest point.
What is the area of Manhattan in square miles?
Manhattan has a land area of 22.83 square miles (59.1 km²).
What are the rivers around Manhattan?
Manhattan is bounded by the Hudson River to the west, the East River to the east, and Harlem River to the north.
What is the size of a Manhattan block?
A typical Manhattan block is approximately 264 feet long and 900 feet wide.
What county is Manhattan located in?
Manhattan is coextensive with New York County.
What is the population of Manhattan?
The population of Manhattan was approximately 1.6 million people as of 2020.
How many people live in Manhattan?
As of 2020, approximately 1.6 million people live in Manhattan.
How big is Manhattan?
Manhattan covers an area of 22.83 square miles, which is 59.13 km².
