Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Times Square NYC Map Mosaic Mislabeled
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 11, 2010
Modified Dec 11, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 11, 2010
Modified Dec 11, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Have you ever noticed the mosaic map of New York City at the police station in the middle of Times Square? Beehivehairdresser did, and though they thought it was a beautiful mosaic, they observed something peculiar about the map: it was completely mislabeled.
They write: "Staten Island is labeled by its county name: Richmond, as is Queens and the Bronx, with Queens and the Bronx also being their borough names. However, Brooklyn and Manhattan are labeled by their respective borough names — not their county names of Kings (Brooklyn) and New York (Manhattan)." We think we get it: calling it Richmond dissociates the city from the stigma of Staten Island!
They suggest that perhaps the artist had never set foot in NYC before, but we have a different theory: since it's in Times Square, maybe it's meant to reflect a tourists perspective of the city, the kind of tourist who thinks that going to Bubba-Gumps is the quintessential NYC experience.
Tagged
maps
mosaic
Times Square
tourists
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NJ Gov. Sherrill: Election is secure, noncitizens taken off voter rolls
The governor made the comments in the October edition of "Ask Governor Sherrill" on WNYC.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Oct 27, 2026 at 7:42 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 27, 2026 at 11:14 p.m. ET
Ex-NYPD officer again faces murder charge in George Washington Bridge shooting
The charge against him was upgraded following an “extensive investigation,” the DA’s office said.
By
Samantha Max
News
Ex-NYPD officer again faces murder charge in George Washington Bridge shooting
The charge against him was upgraded following an “extensive investigation,” the DA’s office said.
By
Samantha Max
Former NYC buildings boss helped reopen mayor's favored restaurant despite health violations
By
David Brand
1 killed, 4 others injured at Elizabeth, NJ vigil shooting
By
Catalina Gonella
Police arrest man in Queens stabbings that ended with officer shooting woman
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .