Hell’s Kitchen — sometimes called Clinton or Midtown West— is a neighborhood in west Manhattan with a population of 52,518. Known for its gritty urban history, the area is a mix of long-time residents and younger professionals. Starting west of Eighth Avenue and the north side of 43rd Street, city zoning regulations generally limit buildings to six stories, and newer residential towers to the avenues.
It’s unclear how the name Hell’s Kitchen originated, but it is perhaps due to the neighborhood’s “hellish” gangs. The alternative name of “Clinton” refers to George Clinton, who became governor of New York at the turn of the 19th century, and was a descendant of DeWitt Clinton, who has a neighborhood park named after him.
