Manhattan's street grid is a distinctive feature. The grid, which was established in 1811 to cover the island when New York was a small settlement at the southern point, was the city's first significant civic effort and a vision of audacious ambition. Over the next two decades, the city would extend its streets westward toward the Hudson River, forming a grid that was nearly identical to the one now used by motorists. The original grid was designed by Pierre L'Enfant, the French-American architect who also planned Washington, D.C. For reasons that are not clear, his design was not followed exactly, so some deviations exist. However, even with these deviations, the overall effect is one of geometric order that serves as the foundation for much of Manhattan's development since then. There are several theories on why L'Enfant chose to include diagonal streets in his plan. Some believe it was because it provided better access to farmland owned by prominent citizens of the day. Others think it was because he wanted to provide more room for public markets and sidewalks. Still others argue that it was due to cost savings: Diagonal streets do not have to be straightened after they have been laid out, which made them attractive for early cities without much infrastructure funding.