The term "Wall Street" is used to denote the American hub of finance and stock trading. It's used more as an idea than as a place, but it is also a real street in Manhattan. You recognize it by the big bronze bull, which is actually on Broadway, but still in the financial district. But how did that financial district come about? The story goes back almost 400 years in the history of New York, at least to explain where the name came from. It took a lot longer for Wall Street to cement its reputation for trade and finance. These days, the actual neighborhood in New York doesn't have all that many banks and investment companies left. But when you hear the term Wall Street, you know what someone is talking about. If you're interested in the subject, you can read a timeline of Wall Street's history here. -via Laughing Squid