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Did you know that about 2,500 NYC streets, parks and other locations all across the five boroughs are actually named after notable folks?
The Department of Records and Information Services just upgraded its pretty awesome interactive map, allowing you to look through all the co-named streets, read the biographies of the folks that they are named after and learn details about the year that the renaming was enacted.
“The map is designed for all users—historians, researchers, students and anyone interested in the city’s history and the individuals who have contributed to its development,” reads an official description of the tool. “The map is both an informative tool and a historical record.”
The tool is pretty easy to use. Head to the website right here (it’s accessible via mobile and desktop), enter the name of the honoree or, perhaps, search by zip code to find all co-named streets in the area. You can use keywords as well, think “firefighter” or “police officer.”
Among the 2,496 entries, you'll find over 400 streets honoring first responders who passed away on 9/11, for example.
The map comes courtesy of City Councilmember Gale Brewer of Manhattan, who introduced a bill that led to its creation earlier this year.
“Our city’s history is long and deep, and we need tools to remember those who came before us—whether their name is on a building or on a street sign—and why they’re being honored,” the politician said in an official statement. “Think of this as Wikipedia for street names.”