A view of iconic Times Square, which intersects Midtown Manhattan at 7th Avenue and Broadway. From the 1800s to 1904, this important crossroad was known as Longacre Square. The square was renamed to Times Square after the New York Times skyscraper opened here on April 8, 1904. Over the next century, Times Square has been associated with celebrities, depression and danger, illegal activities, and commercial growth. Today, Times Square is a world famous location for tourists, Broadway theater shows, hotels, restaurants, and electric advertisements. On New Years Eve, approximately 1 million people crowd Times Square to celebrate the new year and the dropping of the Times Square Ball.