New York in the 1980s Through Fascinating Photos

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Compared to the 1970s, the 1980s were a time of restrained optimism in New York. The boom on Wall Street was fueling the speculative real estate market, and unemployment numbers dropped noticeably.

The illegal drug trade flourished, causing the murder rate to soar, and dividing the city into areas ruled by different drug lords. It became known as the crack epidemic. The New York City Subway fell victim to a crime epidemic that saw more crimes being committed on the subway each year than in any other subway system around the world.

Homelessness became a serious problem during the 1980s. The city outlawed discrimination against gay and lesbian people in such matters as employment and housing in 1986.

These fascinating photos were taken by Meredith Jacobson Marciano that captured street scenes of New York in the 1980s.