New York
Empire State · Capital: Albany · Northeast (Mid Atlantic)
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Bordering states: Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
About New York
New York stretches from the Atlantic coast and Long Island to Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the Canadian border. Its northern Adirondacks are a dome of rock about a billion years old, tied to the Canadian Shield rather than to the Appalachians, and rise to 5,343 feet at Mount Marcy, inside the six million acres of Adirondack Park. The Hudson River begins on Marcy and is tidal for 153 miles, up to Troy. Glaciers built Long Island from moraine and outwash sand and deepened the valleys of the Finger Lakes, where Seneca Lake is 618 feet deep.
The Haudenosaunee confederacy held the interior and Lenape communities the lower Hudson when Henry Hudson sailed upriver for the Dutch in 1609. New Netherland, with New Amsterdam on Manhattan, fell to English warships in September 1664 and was renamed for James, Duke of York. Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga in October 1777 persuaded France to enter the Revolution. New York ratified the Constitution on 26 July 1788 as the eleventh state, by 30 votes to 27. The Erie Canal, opened in 1825, ran 363 miles to Lake Erie and cut freight costs from Buffalo to New York City from about $100 a ton to under $10. The Seneca Falls convention of 1848 demanded the vote for women.
The 2020 census counted 20,201,249 people, up 4.2% from 2010, at 428.7 residents per square mile, yet the state lost a House seat and now holds 26. New York City is the largest city, but Albany has been the capital since 1797. Upstate remains farm country, second in the nation in both apples and maple syrup. Five presidents were born in the state, among them Martin Van Buren, both Roosevelts and Donald Trump. Hip hop is dated to a party DJ Kool Herc threw at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx on 11 August 1973.
4 fun facts about New York
- New York City has its own distinct accent recognizable worldwide ("cawfee", "tawk", etc.).
- The New York City Subway has 472 stations, one of the most of any metro system in the world.
- Hip-hop was born in the Bronx in 1973 at a back-to-school party hosted by DJ Kool Herc.
- Despite the name, the State Capitol is in Albany, not NYC.
More about New York
New York geography and climate
Frequently asked questions about New York
Is New York a US state?
Yes, New York is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1788, making it the 11th state. Its capital is Albany and its largest city is New York City.
What is the capital of New York?
The capital of New York is Albany. Note that the largest city in New York is New York City, not the capital, a common point of confusion.
When did New York become a state?
New York became a US state in 1788. It is the 11th state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for New York?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for New York is NY.
How big is New York?
New York ranks #27 of 50 US states by area. With 428.7 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the 7th most densely populated state.
What is the population of New York?
New York had 20,201,249 residents at the 2020 census, the 4th largest population of the 50 states, up 4.2% since 2010. That count gives it 26 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is New York in?
New York is in the Northeast region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is New York in?
New York observes Eastern Time.
Learn more
How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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