These eerily empty street photos show how different New York City was in the crime-ridden 1970s

Langdon Clay

Riddled with crime, and on the brink of bankruptcy, New York City was a very different place 40 years ago. Unlike most New Yorkers, photographer Langdon Clay spent much of the 1970s walking around Manhattan alone in the middle of the night.

It certainly wasn't the safest way to spend his time, but "being young and foolish can have its advantages," Clay told Business Insider.

While roaming the streets, Clay documented the city's cars, peacefully parked and left for the night, reflecting the neon signs and street lights. Though the photographic focus is on the cars, it's hard to ignore the fact that there are very rarely any other people in the shot. Clay's book, "Cars — New York City 1974-1976," is a collection of photos of a New York City that will probably never be that eerily quiet again.  

Clay moved to New York City in 1971. 1,691 murders were reported in the city the following year.

Langdon Clay

Source: The Village Voice

By 1975, the city had to agree to deep budget cuts to avoid bankruptcy.

Langdon Clay

In those days, the city was "mostly broke," Clay said. He referenced a New York Daily News headline that read "(President) Ford to City: Drop Dead!" after city officials had gone to Washington "hat in hand." "But I didn't notice much of that," Clay said.

Langdon Clay


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