Founded in 1831, New York University is one of the largest private universities in the United States. The University, which includes 14 schools and colleges, occupies six major centers in Manhattan.The center of NYU is its Washington Square campus in the heart of Greenwich Village. One of the city's most creative and energetic communities, the Village is a historic neighborhood that has attracted generations of writers, musicians, artists, and intellectuals. Beyond the Village, New York City becomes an extension of the University's campus.