What was New York City's Times Square called before it received its present name in 1904?

Before it was renamed Times Square in 1904, the area was called Longacre Square.

The name changed after The New York Times moved its headquarters to a new skyscraper at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue. The newspaper successfully lobbied New York City authorities to rename the district after it.

The new name quickly became associated with public celebrations. The Times held a New Year's Eve celebration there in 1904, and the first ball drop followed in 1907. These events helped turn the newly named square into a global gathering place.

Longacre Square is also an important historical clue because the area was once associated with horse-carriage manufacturing and trade. It was named after Long Acre in London, an area historically linked with carriage building.