Top 10 Facts about New York state

Top 10 Facts about New York state

New York State is famous for New York City, Manhattan, Times Square and is one of the most populous states in America.

New York attained statehood on July 26, 1788, becoming the 11th state to join the union.

The Manhattan Skyline is said to be one of the most beautiful and most photographed. It has been featured in several movies.

Another attraction in this state is the Brooklyn Bridge where one can take a stroll.   

New York is the 3^rd most populous state in the United States after California and Texas. The entire population of the state is 19 million, with about 8 million of them living in New York City alone.

Several historic events have happened in this state, such as granting women the right to vote. There is so much more to learn about the Empire State.

Read them in the top 10 facts about New York State below. 

1. New York State was known as New Amsterdam

Back when New York was a British colony, it was known as New Amsterdam. The name change happened after the city was gifted to the Duke of York in 1898 as a birthday present.

The Duke renamed the city in his honour and that is how this state got its name. On the upper West Side is Amsterdam Avenue which has charming buildings.

These buildings feature irresistible triangular roofs that give you a glimpse of the city’s old-world European charm.

2. New York’s State Nickname the Big Apple has a story behind it

While the city was named after the Duke of York, New York’s nickname also has a little history.

One of its popular nicknames is Big Apple which referred to prizes awarded at horse racing events in the 1920s. The term meant the best prize for the winner.

This term was coined by John J. Fitz Gerald, a journalist for the New York Morning Telegraph.

Soon enough, musicians and journalists referred to the State by that nickname. Additionally, the name was used to attract tourists to the State by New York’s tourism board.

Other nicknames are Empire City, City of Dreams, and The City That Never Sleeps.

3. Albany is the capital city of New York State

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Some people may not know this; Albany is the capital city of New York State. Albany is also the largest county in the State. This city is on the west bank of the Hudson River.

The architecture in Albany dates back to when the region was occupied by the English people. The culture, business and learning institutions are among the best in the State.  

New York State has 62 cities with the largest being New York City. New York City has 5 counties and is the most populated.

A little history about the city is that it was originally inhabited by the Mohicans. They called the place PempotowwathutMuhhcanneuw.

Later, when the Dutch arrived and settled, they named it after the Duke of Albany in 1664.

4. New York City in New York State is the global financial centre

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New York State has one of the largest economies in the United States.

If it were an independent territory, it would have been the 11^th largest economy in the world. In 2019, the state ranked 1^st place nationally.

The main economic driver in this state is Wall Street which is located in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, New York City.

This has been the most powerful city and the leading financial centre of the world.

Lower Manhattan is home to the New York Stock Exchange, on Wall Street, and the NASDAQ, at 165 Broadway.

5. New York State was the first to grant women the right to vote

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It was in this state where 5 women: Jane Hunt, Lucretia Mott, Martha Wright, Mary Ann M’Clintock, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton sat and discussed women and politics.

They then organized a larger meeting where 200 women together with 42 men gathered at Seneca Falls in New York. This was the birth of the women’s rights movement.

The fruits of this meeting were witnessed 65 years later when New York State became one of the first states to grant women the right to vote.

Then in 1920, three years after women got their rights to vote, the 19^th amendment was passed which allowed citizens of either gender to vote.

6. New York State has the largest library

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The New York Public Library was established in 1895 its mission is to educate and inspire millions of people for free. Today, the Library has 92 branches with four research divisions.

The New York City Library has more than 50 million books; making it the 2^nd largest in the United States behind the Library of Congress.

Furthermore, it is the 3^rd largest library in the world. The main library is referred to as the New York Public Library.

This library is easily recognized by the lion statues that sit on either side of the entrance.

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

7. There are more Irish people in New York State than in Ireland

The Irish people moved to New York after they struggled with the potato famine and political issues in Ireland.

Their migration was one of the biggest mass migrations in the 19^th century. Approximately 2 million Irish people arrived in New York in the 1950s

In the 1850s, more native-born Irish people were living in New York City, than in Dublin, Ireland. Therefore, Irish Americans make up approximately 5.3% of New York City’s population.

This led to the city hosting several organizations that promoted Irish nationalism through culture and politics. St. Patrick’s Day Parade is celebrated annually.

8. The largest park in the United States is found in New York State

Adirondack Park is located northeast of New York City. The park sits on more than 6 million acres, making it the largest national park in the United States.

This park is larger than Yellowstone, Glacier, Everglades, and Grand Canyon National Parks combined. Moreover, it is the largest protected area in the United States.

To put it into perspective, the Adirondacks Park is one-fifth of the size of the State of New York. The Park was established in 1892 by the state of New York.

There are 46 High Peaks at the Adirondack popularly known as 46ers. They are the most challenging and attracts millions of tourists annually.   

9. New York is the most diverse state in America

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About 37% of New Yorkers are foreigners, this, therefore, makes the city culturally diverse. The city’s population is about 8.5 million.

It is estimated that there are more than 800 languages spoken in New York City alone. You will hear the most popular to the least and lesser-known languages.

About every household in the State speaks a language other than English.

10. New York City is a bird-watching paradise

There are more than just pigeons in the city of New York. Experts believe that there are about 275 species of birds in the five boroughs.

Most of the bird watching happens at Central Park and at the Adirondack mountains too.

Different bird species can be spotted at different times of the year. One can spot Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Eastern Screech Owls, and plenty of herons.

Spring is one of the best seasons for bird watching since it is the migrating season.

Check out more articles about New York here. Enjoy your read.