new residential area; newly developed land
Often refers to areas reclaimed or developed during the Edo period; can also mean a newly opened region in general.
Euphemistic or historical term for a pleasure quarter; often used in place names like 新地町.
newly acquired territory
Historical or political term for land newly brought under control; less common in everyday speech.
Many townspeople lived in the new residential areas reclaimed during the Edo period.
This area was originally sea, but now houses stand as a newly developed land.
In the past, brothels lined this red-light district.
After the war, the newly acquired territory was ceded to the neighboring country.
Compound of 新 (new) and 地 (land/area). The reading しんち is the standard on'yomi combination. The red-light district sense likely developed as a euphemism for newly opened entertainment quarters.