By Adam Hart
Introduction
Niagara Falls and New York City highlight this northeastern U.S. state. Times Square, Central Park, and the Empire State Building are found on NYC’s island of Manhattan. It is connected to Brooklyn by the Brooklyn Bridge. New York Harbor is home to the Statue of Liberty. Aside from the Montauk Lighthouse and the Hamptons, Long Island has beaches and Fire Island.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT NEW YORK STATE
- Capital City: Albany
- Largest City: New York City
- Nickname: The Empire State
- Statehood: July 26, 1788; 11th state
- Population (as of 2021): 20,215,751
- Abbreviation: N.Y.
- State bird: bluebird
- State flower: rose
- Total Size Of The State: 54,555 sq mi (141,297 km2)
Historical Background
About 5,000 years ago, Native Americans settled in the area now known as New York. The descendants of their ancestors included Native American tribes like the Seneca, Mohawk, Cayuga, and Oneida thousands of years later.
The Dutch established New Amsterdam in 1624 on Manhattan Island. Following the British takeover of the area in 1664, it was renamed New York.
New York became an American colony in 1776 and a state in 1788 after the American Revolution. Washington was sworn in as the nation’s first president in New York City, then the country’s capital, one year later. Next year, in 1790, it would be moved to Washington, D.C.
The hijackers of September 11, 2001, flew planes into New York City’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Why Does It Have That Name?
Duke of York is the name given to New York in honor of the British monarch. The nickname “Empire State” came from George Washington’s description of New York as “the seat of the empire.”
Geographic Features and Landforms
In the north, New York is bordered by Canada and Lake Ontario; in the south, by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Atlantic Ocean; in the west, by Lake Erie; and in the east, by Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont.
It runs along the border between the Adirondack Mountains and Canada. Several small islands lie between New York and Canada in this hilly area, including Lake Champlain and Thousand Islands.
The Adirondack Upland contains New York’s highest peak, Mount Marcy, the Appalachian Mountains, waterfalls, and lakes. From Lake Erie along the border with Pennsylvania, the Allegheny Plateau extends northward, including the 11 Finger Lakes and the forested Catskill Mountains.
Drumlins are oval-shaped mounds scattered across the Erie-Ontario Lowlands. There are two Great Lakes along its shores: Erie and Ontario. The Atlantic Coastal Plain extends toward the ocean. Staten Island and Long Island have sandy beaches and bays.
The Natural World
Weasels, raccoons, and skunks are among the smaller mammals found in New York, as well as black bears, bobcats, and moose. Common birds include golden eagles, peregrine falcons, wild turkeys, bluejays, cardinals, and woodpeckers. Snakes like queens, diamondback terrapins, and snapping turtles are reptiles. Finally, watch out for salamanders such as the eastern hellbender, which measures 30 inches long.
The state tree is the sugar maple. In addition, there are oaks, pines, and pines. Asters, azaleas, and rhododendrons are common flowers.
Natural Resources
New York supplies construction materials like limestone, salt, sand, and gravel. Also, it’s a top state for garnets, though they are used for industrial purposes rather than jewelry. Wollastonite used to make ceramics and paint, is mined only in New York.
Some Fun Facts About New York State
Niagara Falls, which borders New York and Canada, thunders with 750,000 gallons of water falling every second. You can get soaked on a boat tour if you sail too close.
With around 8.5 million residents, New York City is the largest city in the United States. The 86th floor of the Empire State Building offers views of the city, and you can climb 377 steps to the Statue of Liberty’s crown and tour Ellis Island, where over 12 million immigrants entered the country between 1892 and 1924.
Among the famous Americans who have lived in New York are U.S. presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy.
Only New York borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes.
Like Texas and California, New York is home to many sports teams, such as the New York Knicks (NBA), New York Giants (NFL), New York Rangers (NHL) and many more.