SoHo, NYC: Counting Hipsters, History Buffs, and Those Really Expensive Poodles - But No One Can Agree on a Number
Ah, SoHo. The land of cobblestone streets, cast-iron architecture, and enough art galleries to make your head spin faster than a ballerina on espresso. But how many people actually live amongst the boutiques and the brunch spots? That, my friends, is a question that has baffled mathematicians, sociologists, and even those guys who try to count pigeons in Times Square.
The Census Says One Thing, Reality Says Another
The official word, according to the 2010 census, lumps SoHo in with a whole bunch of other neighborhoods under the grand title of "SoHo-TriBeCa-Civic Center-Little Italy." Now, that's a mouthful and a half, and frankly, not very helpful if you're just trying to track down how many people can share a single overpriced macaron. Estimates for SoHo itself range from a cozy 11,000 to a bustling 19,000.
Why the Discrepancy? Let's blame it on:
- SoHo Chic: Maybe all those trendy SoHo residents are too busy looking fabulous to fill out census forms. Can you blame them? Who wants to interrupt their vintage Levis shopping spree for some government questionnaire?
- Living Large (or Small): SoHo boasts some seriously swanky lofts, but also plenty of teeny-tiny apartments. Are we counting folks who share a shoebox with three roommates, or just the trust-fund kid with a personal yoga studio in his basement?
- The Great Dog Walk Shuffle: SoHo is a haven for adorable (and often very expensive) pups. But come evening, their humans all seem to congregate in the same postage-stamp-sized park. Are we counting Fido and Fluffy as residents too?
So, How Many People Live in SoHo?
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind (or perhaps swirling around a particularly enthusiastic group on a SoulCycle tour). It's a mystery shrouded in enigma, a question that may forever vex us. But hey, that's the beauty of SoHo, a place that's as full of surprises as it is charming boutiques. Here's to the vibrant community, however big or small it may be!
