Why is Broadway on a angle?

Answer 1

Broadway is on an angle due to its historical alignment with the original pathway of the Lenape Native American trails, which were later adapted by Dutch settlers. As the city expanded, the grid system imposed by the Commissioners' Plan of 1811 did not conform to Broadway's diagonal path. This unique angle creates a distinctive diagonal thoroughfare that intersects with the grid streets, contributing to its character and the layout of Manhattan.