The State of New York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east. The state has a maritime border with Rhode Island east of Long Island, as well as an international border with the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario to the north. New York is often referred to as New York State to distinguish it from New York City.
New York City, is geographically the largest city in the state and most populous in the United States.
New York City is the most populous city in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the world's most populous urban areas. It is a leading global city, exerting a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment. The city is also an important center for international affairs, hosting the United Nations headquarters.
Located on the Atlantic coast of the Northeastern United States, the city consists of five boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. It is the most densely populated major city in the United States, with an estimated 8,274,527 people occupying just under 305 square miles (790 km2). The New York metropolitan area's population is also the nation's highest, estimated at 18,815,988 people over 6,720 square miles (17,400 km2).
New York is notable among American cities for its high use and 24-hour availability of mass transit, and for the overall density and diversity of its population. In 2005, nearly 170 languages were spoken in the city and 36% of its population was born outside the United States. The city is sometimes referred to as "The City that Never Sleeps", while other nicknames include Gotham the Big Apple.
New York was founded as a commercial trading post by the Dutch in 1624. The settlement was called New Amsterdam until 1664 when the colony came under British control. New York served as the capital of the United States from 1785 until 1790, and has been the nation's largest city since 1790.
Today, the city has many landmarks and neighborhoods that are world famous. The Statue of Liberty greeted millions of immigrants as they came to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Wall Street, in Lower Manhattan, has been a dominant global financial center since World War II and is home to the New York Stock Exchange. The city has been home to several of the tallest buildings in the world, including the Empire State Building and the twin towers of the former World Trade Center.
New York is the birthplace of many cultural movements, including the Harlem Renaissance in literature and visual art, abstract expressionism (also known as the New York School) in painting, and hip hop, punk, salsa, disco and Tin Pan Alley in music. It is the home of Broadway theater.
Nickname(s): The Big Apple, Gotham, The City That Never Sleeps, The Capital of The World (Caput Mundi), The Empire City, The City So Nice They Named It Twice.
Location in the state of New York
Coordinates: 40°43′N 74°00′W / 40.717°N 74°W / 40.717
Country
United States
State
New York
Boroughs
The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island
Settled
1624
Government
- Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Area
- City
468.9 sq mi (1,214.4 km2)
- Land
304.8 sq mi (789.4 km2)
- Water
165.6 sq mi (428.8 km2)
- Urban
3,352.6 sq mi (8,683.2 km2)
- Metro
6,720 sq mi (17,405 km2)
Elevation
33 ft (10 m)
Population (July 1, 2007)
- City
8,274,527
- Density
27,147/sq mi (10,482/km2)
- Urban
18,223,567
- Metro
18,815,988
- Demonym
New Yorker
Area code(s)
212, 718, 917, 347, 646
Website
http://www.nyc.gov/
