Feeding Gotham : the political economy and geography of food in New York City, 1790-1860

"New York City witnessed unparalleled growth in the first half of the nineteenth century, its population rising from thirty thousand people to nearly a million in a matter of decades. Feeding Gotham looks at how America's first metropolis grappled with the challenge of provisioning its inhabitants. It tells the story of how access to food, once a public good, became a private matter left to free and unregulated markets--and of the profound consequences this had for American living standards and urban development. Taking readers from the early republic to the Civil War, Gergely Baics explores the changing dynamics of urban governance, market forces, and the built environment that defined New Yorkers' experiences of supplying their households. He paints a vibrant portrait of the public debates that propelled New York from a tightly regulated public market to a free-market system of provisioning, and shows how deregulation had its social costs and benefits. Baics uses cutting-edge GIS mapping techniques to reconstruct New York's changing food landscapes over half a century, following residents into neighborhood public markets, meat shops, and groceries across the city's expanding territory. He lays bare how unequal access to adequate and healthy food supplies led to an increasingly differentiated urban environment. A masterful blend of economic, social, and geographic history, Feeding Gotham traces how this highly fragmented geography of food access became a defining and enduring feature of the American city" -- Princeton University Press A Masterful Blend Of Economic, Social, And Geographic History, Feeding Gotham Traces How This Highly Fragmented Geography Of Food Access Became A Defining And Enduring Feature Of The American City.-- Taking Readers From The Early Republic To The Civil War, Gergely Baics Explores The Changing Dynamics Of Urban Governance, Market Forces, And The Built Environment That Defined New Yorkers' Experiences Of Supplying Their Households. He Paints A Vibrant Portrait Of The Public Debates That Propelled New York From A Tightly Regulated Public Market To A Free-market System Of Provisioning, And Shows How Deregulation Had Its Social Costs And Benefits. Baics Uses Cutting-edge Gis Mapping Techniques To Reconstruct New York's Changing Food Landscapes Over Half A Century, Following Residents Into Neighborhood Public Markets, Meat Shops, And Groceries Across The City's Expanding Territory. He Lays Bare How Unequal Access To Adequate And Healthy Food Supplies Led To An Increasingly Differentiated Urban Environment. New York City Witnessed Unparalleled Growth In The First Half Of The Nineteenth Century, Its Population Rising From Thirty Thousand People To Nearly A Million In A Matter Of Decades. Feeding Gotham Looks At How America's First Metropolis Grappled With The Challenge Of Provisioning Its Inhabitants. It Tells The Story Of How Access To Food, Once A Public Good, Became A Private Matter Left To Free And Unregulated Markets--and Of The Profound Consequences This Had For American Living Standards And Urban Development. Part 1: Political Economy Of Urban Provisioning. -- 1. Is Access To Food A Public Good? From Public Market To Free-market System, 1790-1860 -- Part 2: Public Market System Of Provisioning, 1790s-1820s. -- 2. The Landscape Of Municipal Food Access -- 3. Constraints Of Time: Public Market Schedule Provisioning -- 4. Catherine Market And Its Neighborhood -- Part 3: Free-market System Of Provisioning, 1830s-1850s. -- 5. Withdraw The Bungling Hand Of Goverment: Free-market Geography Of Provisioning -- 6. The Price Of Deregulation: Food Access And Living Standards. Gergely Baics. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. New York City witnessed unparalleled growth in the first half of the nineteenth century, its population rising from thirty thousand people to nearly a million in a matter of decades. This book looks at how America's first metropolis grappled with the challenge of provisioning its inhabitants. It tells the story of how access to food, once a public good, became a private matter left to free and unregulated markets—and of the profound consequences this had for American living standards and urban development. Taking readers from the early republic to the Civil War, the book explores the changing dynamics of urban governance, market forces, and the built environment that defined New Yorkers' experiences of supplying their households. It paints a vibrant portrait of the public debates that propelled New York from a tightly regulated public market to a free-market system of provisioning, and shows how deregulation had its social costs and benefits. Using cutting-edge GIS mapping techniques the book reconstructs New York's changing food landscapes over half a century, following residents into neighborhood public markets, meat shops, and groceries across the city's expanding territory. The book lays bare how unequal access to adequate and healthy food supplies led to an increasingly differentiated urban environment. A blend of economic, social, and geographic history, the book traces how this highly fragmented geography of food access became a defining and enduring feature of the American city. Contents List of Illustrations and Tables Acknowledgments Introduction PART I. Political Economy of Urban Provisioning 1. Is Access to Food a Public Good? From Public Market to Free-Market System, 1790–1860 PART II. Public Market System of Provisioning, 1790s–1820s 2. The Landscape of Municipal Food Access 3. Constraints of Time: Public Market Schedule of Provisioning 4. Catharine Market and Its Neighborhood PART III. Free- Market System of Provisioning, 1830s–50s 5. Withdraw the Bungling Hand of Government: Free-Market Geography of Provisioning 6. The Price of Deregulation: Food Access and Living Standards Conclusion Abbreviations Appendix A: Maps Appendix B: Public Market Data Notes Index "New York City witnessed unparalleled growth in the first half of the nineteenth century, its population rising from thirty thousand people to nearly a million in a matter of decades. Feeding Gotham looks at how America's first metropolis grappled with the challenge of provisioning its inhabitants. It tells the story of how access to food, once a public good, became a private matter left to free and unregulated markets--and of the profound consequences this had for American living standards and urban development."--Dust jacket front flap New York City witnessed unparalleled growth in the first half of the 19th century, its population rising from 30,000 people to nearly a million in a matter of decades. 'Feeding Gotham' looks at how America's first metropolis grappled with the challenge of provisioning its inhabitants. It tells the story of how access to food, once a public good, became a private matter left to free and unregulated marketsand of the profound consequences this had for American living standards and urban development