New York City for Visitors

A 1923 New York Times Magazine article, back when New York City had a little less than 6 million residents, speculated the city could one day grow to 20 or 30 million. Today, it's "only" about 7.8 million.

Sociologists are already warning New York that it would be mere megalomania to become a metropolis of twenty or thirty millions.

As a population is concentrated, so in geometrical progression do the risks multiply. With every million of passengers during the rush hour, a breakdown of even five minutes becomes an added danger and inconvenience. With every million of homes and children, a stoppage of transport — whether of food, milk, or coal — causes added suffering. If New York continues to grow indefinitely, the avenues will fail to accommodate the automobiles daily seeking the centre [sic] of the city.

Today, there are indeed nine cities with populations of 20M+: Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, Dhaka, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Cairo, Beijing, and Mumbai. Globally, NYC ranks #48.

New York City for Visitors

Published: Sunday, July 29, 1923