New York

New York
Name	New York
Settlement type	State
Nickname	The Empire State
Motto	Excelsior
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Established title	Before statehood
Established date	Province of New York
Established title1	Admitted to the Union
Established date1	July 26, 1788 (11th)
Seat type	Capital
Seat	Albany
Largest city	New York City
Leader title	Governor
Leader name	Kathy Hochul (D)
Leader title1	Legislature
Leader name1	State Senate, State Assembly
Area total sq mi	54,555
Area land sq mi	47,126
Area water sq mi	7,429
Population total	19,571,216
Population as of	2023 estimate
Population rank	4th
Population density sq mi	415.3
Population density rank	7th
Elevation max ft	5344
Elevation max point	Mount Marcy
Elevation min point	Atlantic Ocean
Postal code type	USPS abbreviation
Postal code	NY
Iso code	US-NY
Website	www.ny.gov

New York. The Empire State is a major political, financial, and cultural hub of the United States. Admitted to the Union as the 11th state on July 26, 1788, its history is deeply intertwined with the nation's founding, from early Dutch settlement to pivotal battles in the American Revolutionary War. Its most populous city, New York City, is a global metropolis, while the state's diverse geography ranges from the Adirondack Mountains to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes.

History

The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes such as the Iroquois Confederacy and the Algonquian peoples. European exploration began with Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524, followed by Henry Hudson's 1609 voyage for the Dutch East India Company, leading to the establishment of New Netherland and its principal settlement, New Amsterdam. The English seized control in 1664, renaming the colony after the Duke of York. It was a central theater during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, hosting key events like the Battle of Saratoga and the New York and New Jersey campaign. The 19th century saw massive growth fueled by the Erie Canal, which transformed New York City into a premier port and fueled westward expansion, while the state was a hotbed for social movements like abolitionism and women's suffrage.

Geography

Encompassing 54,555 square miles, the state features varied terrain divided into several distinct regions. The Adirondack Mountains and the Catskill Mountains dominate the north, with the state's highest point at Mount Marcy. The Great Appalachian Valley includes the Hudson River valley and extends to the Lake Champlain basin. The Atlantic coastal plain stretches across Long Island and Staten Island, while the Great Lakes region includes shores on Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Major waterways include the Hudson River, the Mohawk River, and the Niagara River, which feeds the famed Niagara Falls. The state borders New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont, as well as the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

Demographics

With an estimated 2023 population of over 19.5 million, it is the fourth-most populous state. The population is highly concentrated, with over 40% residing in New York City alone, which includes the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. Other major population centers include Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, and the capital, Albany. The state is exceptionally diverse, with large communities of Italian Americans, Irish Americans, African Americans, Puerto Ricans, Dominican Americans, Chinese Americans, and Jewish Americans. This diversity is reflected in numerous ethnic enclaves such as Chinatown and Little Italy.

Economy

It possesses one of the largest and most dynamic economies globally, with a gross state product exceeding $2 trillion. Wall Street in Lower Manhattan is the world's preeminent financial center, home to the New York Stock Exchange and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Key industries include finance, media, publishing, and advertising centered in New York City, alongside significant sectors like higher education, healthcare, and technology research in regions like the Capital District and the Tech Valley. Upstate economies have historically been driven by manufacturing and agriculture, with the Finger Lakes region known for viticulture. Major corporations headquartered in the state include JPMorgan Chase, Verizon Communications, and Pfizer.

Culture

The state is a global cultural capital, profoundly influencing art, theater, music, and cuisine. Broadway is the pinnacle of American theater, while institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the American Museum of Natural History are world-class. The Harlem Renaissance was a landmark African American cultural movement. It is the birthplace of numerous musical genres, from the Tin Pan Alley songwriting tradition to hip hop in The Bronx. The Culinary Institute of America is based in Hyde Park, and the state's food culture ranges from New York-style pizza and bagels to the wines of the Hudson Valley. Major media outlets like The New York Times, ABC News, and CBS are headquartered here.

Government and politics

Its government is structured under the New York Constitution, with an executive branch led by the Governor, currently Kathy Hochul. The bicameral New York State Legislature consists of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly. The state's judiciary is headed by the New York Court of Appeals. It is a consistently Democratic stronghold in presidential elections, though upstate regions often lean Republican. The state has been the home of influential political figures including Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Nelson Rockefeller. It hosts the headquarters of the United Nations in Manhattan, cementing its role in international diplomacy.

Category:New York (state) Category:States of the United States Category:1788 establishments in the United States