Manhattan address algorithm

The Manhattan address algorithm is a series of formulas used to estimate the closest east–west cross street for building numbers on north–south avenues in the New York City borough of Manhattan.[1][2]

Algorithm

To find the approximate number of the closest cross street, divide the building number by a divisor (generally 20) and add (or subtract) the "tricky number" from the table below:

Street/Avenue Building No.  Divisor Tricky No.  (unrounded result)
Avenue A All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 3 {\displaystyle +3}
Avenue B All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 3 {\displaystyle +3}
Avenue C All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 3 {\displaystyle +3}
Avenue D All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 3 {\displaystyle +3}
1st Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 3 {\displaystyle +3}
2nd Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 3 {\displaystyle +3}
3rd Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 10 {\displaystyle +10}
4th Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 8 {\displaystyle +8}
5th Avenue 63–108 ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 11 {\displaystyle +11} 14.15–16.4
5th Avenue 109–199 ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 13 {\displaystyle +13} 18.45–23
5th Avenue 200–399 ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 16 {\displaystyle +16} 26.05–36
5th Avenue 400–599 ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 18 {\displaystyle +18} 38.05–48
5th Avenue 600–774 ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 20 {\displaystyle +20} 50.05–58.75
5th Avenue 775–1286 ÷ 10 {\displaystyle \div 10} 18 {\displaystyle -18} 59.6–110.6
5th Avenue 1287–1499 ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 45 {\displaystyle +45} 110–120
5th Avenue Above 1500 ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 24 {\displaystyle +24} 124+
6th Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} 12 {\displaystyle -12}
7th Avenue 1–1800 ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 12 {\displaystyle +12} 12.05–102
7th Avenue Above 1800 ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 20 {\displaystyle +20} 110+
8th Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 9 {\displaystyle +9}
9th Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 13 {\displaystyle +13}
10th Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 14 {\displaystyle +14}
11th Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 15 {\displaystyle +15}
Amsterdam Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 59 {\displaystyle +59}
Audubon Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 165 {\displaystyle +165}
Avenue of the Americas All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} 12 {\displaystyle -12}
Columbus Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 60 {\displaystyle +60} [3]
Broadway 1–754 (few numbered streets south of 8th)
Broadway 756–846 ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} 29 {\displaystyle -29} 8.8–13.3
Broadway 847–953 ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} 25 {\displaystyle -25} 17.35–22.65
Broadway Above 953 ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} 31 {\displaystyle -31} 16.65+
Central Park West All ÷ 10 {\displaystyle \div 10} + 60 {\displaystyle +60}
Convent Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 127 {\displaystyle +127}
East End Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 79 {\displaystyle +79}
Edgecombe Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 134 {\displaystyle +134}
Ft. Washington Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 158 {\displaystyle +158}
Lenox Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 110 {\displaystyle +110}
Lexington Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 22 {\displaystyle +22}
Madison Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 27 {\displaystyle +27}
Manhattan Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 100 {\displaystyle +100}
Park Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 34 {\displaystyle +34}
Park Avenue South All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 8 {\displaystyle +8}
Pleasant Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 101 {\displaystyle +101}
Riverside Drive 1–567 ÷ 10 {\displaystyle \div 10} + 72 {\displaystyle +72} 72.1–128.7
Riverside Drive Above 567 ÷ 10 {\displaystyle \div 10} + 78 {\displaystyle +78} 134.7+
St. Nicholas Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 110 {\displaystyle +110}
Vanderbilt Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 42 {\displaystyle +42}
Wadsworth Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 173 {\displaystyle +173}
West End Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 59 {\displaystyle +59}
York Avenue All ÷ 20 {\displaystyle \div 20} + 4 {\displaystyle +4}

Examples

For example, if you are at 62 Avenue B, 62 ÷ 20 3 {\displaystyle 62\div 20\approx 3} , then add the "tricky number" 3 {\displaystyle 3} to give 6 {\displaystyle 6} . The nearest cross street to 62 Avenue B is East 6th Street.

If you are at 78 Riverside Drive, 78 ÷ 10 8 {\displaystyle 78\div 10\approx 8} , then add the "tricky number" 72 {\displaystyle 72} to give 80 {\displaystyle 80} . The nearest cross street to 78 Riverside Drive is West 80th Street.

If you are at 501 5th Avenue, 501 ÷ 20 25 {\displaystyle 501\div 20\approx 25} , then add the "tricky number" 18 {\displaystyle 18} to give 43 {\displaystyle 43} . The nearest cross street to 501 5th Avenue is actually 42nd Street, not 43rd Street, as the Manhattan address algorithm only gives approximate answers.

See also

References

  1. ^ Manhattan Address Locator
  2. ^ Frommer's New York City 2010
  3. ^ "Address Finder; Arithmetic of the Avenues". The New York Times. September 27, 1998. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
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  • See also: Manhattan address algorithm