No one knows the exact origin of Hell's Kitchen's unique name, but the controversial moniker persists despite a long standing attempt to rename the neighborhood. 

Sometimes known as 'Clinton' in the real estate context, Hell's Kitchen's boundaries are just as controversial as its name.  At different points, it was home to countless celebrities before they were famous. Some of these household names include James Dean, Madonna, Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Hope, Sylvester Stallone, and others. 

In the mid-twentieth century, Hell’s Kitchen experienced a large influx of Puerto Ricans. The conflicts between the Irish, Italian, and Puerto Rican immigrants are immortalized in the classic musical, West Side Story.