There are eight million stories in the Naked City — or 8,175,133, to be more precise, according to recently released U.S. Census Bureau figures. NYCity News Service reporters hit the streets to put faces to the numbers in a series of story packages that offer snapshots of who we are, how we live — and where. We found the only thing you can count on in the city is change.
Examining demographic shifts on the local level: What changed? And what stayed the same?

Moving In/Moving Out

Growing Gowanus

The canal is due for a cleanup and a Whole Foods is on the way. Census figures show that the boom is being fueled, at least in part, by an influx of young residents.

Smoothing the Path for Bangladeshis

The Bangladeshi population in the southeast Bronx leaped 137 percent in the last decade. Mohammed Mujumder, who arrived in the U.S. 22 years ago, advises recent immigrants on everything from finding a job to applying for government health benefits.

Preserving the Fragile Art of the Egg

For the last 20 years, Sofika Zielyk has been making Ukrainian Easter eggs, known as “pysanky,” in her East Village studio, a craft she learned from her mother.

Dreamers Come Out of the Shadows

A coalition is pushing for passage of the New York Dream Act, which would help undocumented immigrants to get in-state tuition at New York colleges and health care, among other services.

Shopping for Change on Franklin Ave.

Two decades ago, Crown Heights was best known for racial tensions and drugs. But over the past decade, the neighborhood has transformed – particularly along Franklin Avenue.

Island Music Bridges Cultural Barriers

Kalunga, an Afro-Dominican/Haitian music group, draws upon once-forbidden rhythms to bring some New Yorkers closer to their roots.

A Taste of Paris in Carroll Gardens

The Brooklyn neighborhood has long been known for its Italian traditions. But a new wave of French immigrants is transforming this community into Little Paris. Will the newcomers stay?

Finding Hope in Foster Care

The city is required to identify immigrants in foster care eligible to become legal permanent residents. But it can be a race against the clock.

Ugandan Protests Reach New York

Ugandans, in New York and in Africa, are trying to bring attention to the murder of gay activist David Kato.

Sounds of New Life in Red Hook

The Jalopy Theatre and School of Music has helped drive growth in the remote Brooklyn neighborhood.

Asians Move Out of Chinatown

The Chinese immigrant stronghold has seen declines in population and the local economy in the decade since 9/11.

Little Poland Thrives in Ridgewood

The Queens neighborhood is attracting an increasing number of young Polish residents looking for a sense of community.

Celebrating India’s Festival of Colors

Revelers celebrated Holi, India’s festival of colors, by smearing each other with colored powder. The rite is a sign of spring – and of New York’s growing Indian community.

Language Programs Hit By Budget Cuts

The fastest growing student population, English language learners, is falling behind – and funding reductions may derail progress.

Staten Island’s ‘Ghost Town’

Nearly one of 10 homes in St. George is vacant, thanks to a building boom that turned into a bust.

The Bronx Bounces Back

Melrose is one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the city – another sign of the South Bronx’s rise from the ashes.