<P> The first underground line opened on October 27 , 1904 , almost 35 years after the opening of the first elevated line in New York City , which became the IRT Ninth Avenue Line . By the time the first subway opened , the lines had been consolidated into two privately owned systems , the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company ( BRT , later Brooklyn -- Manhattan Transit Corporation , BMT ) and the Interborough Rapid Transit Company ( IRT ) . Many present lines were built under the Dual Contracts , and after 1913 , all lines built for the IRT and most other lines built or improved for the BRT were built by the city and leased to the companies . The first line of the city - owned and operated Independent Subway System ( IND ) opened in 1932 ; this system was intended to compete with the private systems and allow some of the elevated railways to be torn down . However , it was kept within the core of the city because of the low amount of startup capital provided to the municipal Board of Transportation by the state . This required it to be run `` at cost '' , necessitating fares up to double the five - cent fare popular at the time . </P>
<P> The first underground line opened on October 27 , 1904 , almost 35 years after the opening of the first elevated line in New York City , which became the IRT Ninth Avenue Line . By the time the first subway opened , the lines had been consolidated into two privately owned systems , the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company ( BRT , later Brooklyn -- Manhattan Transit Corporation , BMT ) and the Interborough Rapid Transit Company ( IRT ) . Many present lines were built under the Dual Contracts , and after 1913 , all lines built for the IRT and most other lines built or improved for the BRT were built by the city and leased to the companies . The first line of the city - owned and operated Independent Subway System ( IND ) opened in 1932 ; this system was intended to compete with the private systems and allow some of the elevated railways to be torn down . However , it was kept within the core of the city because of the low amount of startup capital provided to the municipal Board of Transportation by the state . This required it to be run `` at cost '' , necessitating fares up to double the five - cent fare popular at the time . </P>
when was the first subway built in new york city
when was the first subway built in new york city
October 27 , 1904
October 27 , 1904