Times Square

Electric theater advertising, street lighting and the first IRT rapid-transit system helped turn late-19th-century Longacre Square into a safer and busier public space.

As of 2026-07-15 Source: Times Square Alliance — History of Times Square →

The first Times Square ball drop welcomed 1908; the ritual paused in 1942 and 1943 under wartime dimout rules but the crowd still gathered for chimes and silence.

As of 2026-07-15 Source: Times Square Alliance — New Year's Eve History →

Times Square was originally Long Acre or Longacre Square, named after London's carriage district, and was home to William H. Vanderbilt's American Horse Exchange.

As of 2026-07-15 Source: Times Square Alliance — History of Times Square →

By World War I, most of New York's major legitimate theaters had moved toward Times Square, cementing the district's Broadway identity.

As of 2026-07-15 Source: Times Square Alliance — History of Times Square →

A World War II dimout shut off Times Square's exterior lighting and its electric news ticker in 1942 to reduce coastal silhouettes visible from enemy submarines.

As of 2026-07-15 Source: Times Square Alliance — History of Times Square →

Times Square was Longacre Square until 1904, when The New York Times moved into the tower that now anchors the New Year's Eve celebration.

Source: Times Square Alliance — History of Times Square →

A 2016 economic study found that Times Square occupied about 0.1% of New York City's land area while supporting nearly 10% of city jobs and 15% of economic output; treat those proportions as a dated benchmark, not a 2026 count.

Source: Times Square Alliance — Market Research & Data →

The Times Square Alliance tracks pedestrian flow with 27 cameras on seven buildings covering 33 distinct locations in the Bowtie.

As of 2026-07-15 Source: Times Square Alliance — Market Research & Data →

Times Square Arts uses the district's electronic billboards and pedestrian plazas as a contemporary public-art platform, including nightly three-minute screen works.

As of 2026-07-15 Source: Times Square Alliance — Times Square →

The intersection became Times Square in 1904 after The New York Times selected the site for its headquarters; the Times Tower was then the city's second-tallest building.

As of 2026-07-15 Source: Times Square Alliance — History of Times Square →

The IRT Times Square station handled almost five million passengers in its first full year of operation in 1905.

As of 2026-07-15 Source: Times Square Alliance — History of Times Square →

United States

As of 2012-11-11 Source: Kevin Striegle World Race Journal — My Inspiration (2012-12-25) →