America's Most Visited Place: Times Square - NYC, NY (Est. 1904)

Times Square in NYC, New York is the most visited place in America. In fact, Times Square is the most visited place in the world. Annual visitors are recorded at an estimated 50 million. Approximately 330,000 people pass through Times Square daily, many of them tourists, while an estimated 450,000 pedestrians walk through Times Square on its busiest days. 

Marriott International, Inc. recognizes Times Square as the world’s most visited tourist attraction. NY Habitat Real Estate agency defines Times Square as the world’s most visited tourist attraction. 123RF also describes it as the world's most visited tourist attraction.

Times Square is arguably New York’s most famous landmark and is the liveliest area in the city. Initially known as Long Acre (also spelled Longacre) Square, it had an unsavory reputation as the center of illicit activity in the 1890s. Though earlier in the 19th century it had been both a commercial and a residential area. It was renamed in 1904 for The New York Times, which opened its new offices in the Times Tower on the square (though it would outgrow them by 1913).

Times Square Tours And Tickets

During the Great Depression, Times Square fell on hard times. Many businesses closed, and the area became known as a seedy and dangerous place. However, in the 1940s and 1950s, Times Square began to make a comeback. The New York City government invested in the area, and new businesses and attractions opened.

In the 1990s.

Times Square underwent a major renovation. The streets were cleaned up, new businesses opened, and the area became a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Today, Times Square is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It is a vibrant and exciting place to visit, and it is a must-see for anyone visiting New York City.

At the turn of the 20th century, a number of impressive theatres were established on 42nd Street, and by the second decade of the century the Times Square and Broadway area had become arguably the most famous entertainment district in the country, partly because of the square’s central location and because situated beneath it was a large station for the newly constructed subway. During this period it earned the nickname “Crossroads of the World.”

Times Square Tours And Tickets

Since the late 20th century the tenants in Times Square buildings have been required by law to display eye-catching signs, and, as a result, the area remains a flashing, nonstop feast for the eyes. Times Square is the center of the Theatre District, which is bounded roughly by Sixth and Eighth avenues to the east and west, respectively, and by 40th and 53rd streets to the south and north, respectively.  

Throughout the years sophisticated technology was used for the square’s ball drop as the tradition came to include live television broadcasts that shared the experience with tens of millions of people across the United States. The spot attracts nearly a million visitors every year to watch the famous New Year’s Eve ball drop. Today it is still the most visited place in the world.