New York

Basic Information

New York, one of the original thirteen colonies, is known for its global city New York City, diverse geography from mountains to beaches, and its influential role in commerce, culture, and politics.

Capital

• Albany

Largest City

• New York City

Area

• 54,555 sq mi

Population

• 20.2 million (2020)

Demographics

New York is one of the most diverse states in the nation, with a population that represents cultures from around the world, especially concentrated in New York City.

Ethnic Composition

• White:55.6%
• Hispanic:19.3%
• African American:14.4%
• Asian:9.0%
• Other:1.7%

Languages

• English:68.6%
• Spanish:14.4%
• Chinese:3.1%
• Russian:1.5%
• Other languages:12.4%

Age Distribution

• Under 18:20.7%
• 18-64:61.9%
• 65+:17.4%

Population Growth

• Annual Rate:0.4%
• Natural Increase:Positive
• Migration:Mixed (international gains, domestic losses)

Economy

New York has one of the largest and most diverse economies in the United States, centered on New York City's global financial hub but extending to various sectors statewide.

GDP

• $1.85 trillion (2022)

Major Industries

• Financial Services
• Healthcare
• Professional & Technical Services
• Retail Trade
• Manufacturing
• Tourism

Employment Rate

• Employed:96.0%
• Unemployment:4.0%

Major Companies

• JPMorgan Chase
• IBM
• Pfizer
• Goldman Sachs
• Verizon
• Citigroup

Climate

New York experiences a diverse climate with four distinct seasons, varying from the coastal influences of Long Island to the continental climate of upstate regions.

New York City & Long Island

• Avg. Summer:82°F
• Avg. Winter:34°F
• Rainfall:45-50 inches/year
• Coastal influences moderate temperatures

Hudson Valley & Capital Region

• Avg. Summer:80°F
• Avg. Winter:25°F
• Rainfall:40-45 inches/year
• Four distinct seasons

Adirondacks & North Country

• Avg. Summer:75°F
• Avg. Winter:15°F
• Snowfall:100+ inches/year
• Coldest region in the state

Western & Finger Lakes

• Avg. Summer:78°F
• Avg. Winter:20°F
• Snowfall:75-150 inches/year (lake effect)
• Buffalo known for heavy lake effect snow

Visiting New York

New York offers visitors world-class urban experiences, pristine natural areas, historic sites, and cultural attractions throughout the state.

Best Time to Visit

• Spring:April-June (pleasant weather, flowering parks)
• Fall:September-November (foliage season, moderate temperatures)
• Summer:June-August (festivals, outdoor activities, warmest weather)
• Winter:December-February (holiday season in NYC, skiing in upstate)

Transportation

• Major Airports:JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Buffalo, Albany, Syracuse, Rochester
• Train:Amtrak, Metro-North, Long Island Railroad
• Subway:New York City Subway (largest in US)
• Bus Systems:MTA, regional services
• Ferries:Staten Island Ferry, NYC Ferry, others

Accommodation

• Hotels:2,000+ (700+ in NYC alone)
• Bed & Breakfasts:Common in upstate, wine regions
• Vacation Rentals:Throughout state
• Camping:120+ state campgrounds
• Resort Areas:Catskills, Adirondacks, Finger Lakes

Tourist Information

• Visitor Centers:Major cities and attractions
• Tourism Website:I LOVE NY
• NYC & Company (NYC tourism organization)
• Regional Tourism Offices

Popular Attractions

New York offers an incredible range of attractions from world-famous NYC landmarks to natural wonders and historic sites.

New York City Landmarks

• Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
• Empire State Building
• Times Square
• Central Park
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Broadway Theater District

Natural Attractions

• Niagara Falls
• Adirondack Mountains
• Finger Lakes
• Letchworth State Park ("Grand Canyon of the East")
• Thousand Islands
• Fire Island National Seashore

Historical Sites

• Fort Ticonderoga
• Saratoga National Historical Park
• Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library
• Seneca Falls (Women's Rights National Historical Park)
• U.S. Military Academy at West Point

Cultural Destinations

• The High Line (NYC)
• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
• Corning Museum of Glass
• National Baseball Hall of Fame (Cooperstown)
• Chautauqua Institution
• Storm King Art Center

History

New York's rich history spans from Native American settlements through Dutch and British colonization, Revolutionary War importance, and its emergence as a commercial and cultural powerhouse.

Early History

• Native Peoples:Iroquois Confederacy, Algonquian tribes
• European Contact:Henry Hudson, 1609
• Dutch Colony:New Amsterdam, 1625
• British Control:1664, renamed New York

Revolutionary Era

• Major Revolutionary War Battles
• First capital of the United States (1789)
• Adoption of State Constitution:1777
• Admission to Union:11th state, July 26, 1788

19th Century

• Erie Canal Completion:1825
• Immigration Waves:Ellis Island opened 1892
• Industrial Growth & Labor Movement
• Seneca Falls Convention:1848
• Civil War Contribution:400,000+ soldiers

Modern Era

• Rise of NYC as Global Financial Center
• Great Depression & New Deal
• September 11, 2001 Attacks
• Hurricane Sandy:2012
• COVID-19 Pandemic Impact:2020

State Symbols

New York has designated various official state symbols representing its natural heritage and cultural identity.

State Animals

• State Animal:

  Beaver
• State Bird:

  Eastern Bluebird
• State Fish:

  Brook Trout
• State Insect:

  Ladybug
• State Marine Mammal:

  Right Whale

State Plants

• State Flower:

  Rose
• State Tree:

  Sugar Maple
• State Bush:

  Lilac
• State Fruit:

  Apple
• State Vegetable:

  Sweet Corn

Cultural Symbols

• State Flag:

  Coat of arms on blue background
• State Song:

  "I Love New York"
• State Motto:

  "Excelsior" (Ever Upward)
• State Beverage:

  Milk
• State Muffin:

  Apple Muffin

Other Symbols

• State Gem:

  Garnet
• State Fossil:

  Eurypterus
• State Shell:

  Bay Scallop
• State Snack:

  Yogurt
• State Drink:

  Milk

State Facts

New York holds numerous distinct records and facts that highlight its unique character and contributions to American life.

Geographic Facts

• Highest Point:

  Mount Marcy (5,344 ft)
• Lowest Point:

  Atlantic Ocean (sea level)
• Largest Lake:

  Lake Champlain (shared with Vermont)
• Longest River:

  Hudson River (315 miles)
• Border:

  Canada (Quebec, Ontario), Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

Records & Rankings

• 4th Most Populous State
• 27th Largest State by Area
• Largest City in US (New York City)
• Most Extensive Public Transit System in US
• 3rd Largest Economy (if ranked as a country)

Notable Firsts

• First U.S. Presidential Inauguration (NYC, 1789)
• First Commercial Airline Flight (1914)
• First Pizzeria in America (Lombardi's, 1905)
• First American Chess Tournament (NYC, 1843)
• First Women's Rights Convention (Seneca Falls, 1848)

Unique Features

• Home to over 70,000 miles of rivers and streams
• More than 7,600 freshwater lakes
• 18.9 million acres of forest
• Over 200 state parks
• More than 180 colleges and universities

Government & Politics

New York operates under a state constitution with three branches of government and has historically been influential in national politics.

Governor

• Kathy Hochul (as of 2023)

Legislature

• Bicameral:State Senate (63 members) and State Assembly (150 members)

Political Trends

• Democratic-leaning overall with Republican strength in rural upstate regions

Key Political Figures

• Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand
• Former Governors including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Nelson Rockefeller
• Political families:Kennedy, Roosevelt, Cuomo
• NYC Mayors (historically influential position)

Time Zones

New York is entirely within the Eastern Time Zone, with daylight saving time observed.

Standard Time

• Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC -5)

Daylight Saving

• Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC -4)

Notable Facts

• Wall Street trading hours influence global markets
• Financial industry schedules based on "New York time"
• NYC "New Year's Ball Drop" marks time for much of nation

Education

New York has one of the most comprehensive educational systems in the United States, with prestigious institutions at all levels.

Major Public Systems

• State University of New York (SUNY) - 64 campuses
• City University of New York (CUNY) - 25 campuses
• New York City Department of Education (largest school district in US)
• Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)

Notable Private Institutions

• Ivy League:Columbia University, Cornell University
• Other prestigious:New York University, Syracuse University
• Liberal Arts:Vassar, Colgate, Hamilton, Skidmore
• Specialized:Juilliard School, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

K-12 System

• 700+ school districts
• Over 4,500 public schools
• Nearly 2,000 private schools
• Specialized high schools in NYC (Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, etc.)

Key Educational Initiatives

• Universal Pre-K Programs
• Excelsior Scholarship (free tuition program)
• Smart Schools Bond Act
• Higher Education Opportunity Programs
• Technology-focused education initiatives

Culture & Festivals

New York's cultural scene is among the world's most vibrant, from NYC's arts institutions to regional traditions and celebrations.

Major Festivals

• New York State Fair (Syracuse)
• Tribeca Film Festival
• NYC Pride
• Buffalo Wing Festival
• Saratoga Race Course Season
• New York Fashion Week

Cultural Events

• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
• New Year's Eve in Times Square
• St. Patrick's Day Parade
• NYC Restaurant Week
• Shakespeare in the Park
• Feast of San Gennaro (Little Italy)

Regional Traditions

• Finger Lakes Wine Festivals
• Adirondack Folk Music Festivals
• Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
• Lilac Festival (Rochester)
• Lewiston Art Festival
• Maple Sugaring Events (Spring)

Sports & Teams

New York has a rich sports tradition with more major league sports franchises than any other state.

NFL Teams

• Buffalo Bills
• New York Giants
• New York Jets

MLB Teams

• New York Yankees
• New York Mets
• Minor League:Buffalo Bisons, Syracuse Mets, etc.

NBA Teams

• New York Knicks
• Brooklyn Nets

NHL Teams

• New York Rangers
• New York Islanders
• Buffalo Sabres

Other Professional Teams

• New York City FC (MLS)
• New York Red Bulls (MLS)
• New York Liberty (WNBA)
• New York Racing Association Tracks

College Athletics

• Syracuse Orange
• St. John's Red Storm
• Buffalo Bulls
• Army Black Knights
• Cornell Big Red

Cuisine & Local Specialties

New York's food scene reflects its multicultural population, with iconic dishes from NYC street food to regional specialties.

NYC Specialties

• New York-style Pizza
• Bagels and Lox
• Pastrami on Rye
• Black and White Cookies
• Cheesecake
• Street Vendor Hot Dogs

Regional Dishes

• Buffalo Wings
• Beef on Weck (Buffalo)
• Spiedies (Binghamton)
• Garbage Plate (Rochester)
• Salt Potatoes (Syracuse)
• Utica Greens and Chicken Riggies

Agricultural Products

• Apples (2nd largest producer in US)
• Maple Syrup
• Dairy Products (4th in US milk production)
• Wine (Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley, Long Island AVAs)
• Cabbage and Onions
• Craft Beer and Spirits

Culinary Institutions

• Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park)
• James Beard House (NYC)
• Historic Food Markets (Chelsea, Essex)
• Farm-to-Table Movement
• Ethnic Enclaves (Little Italy, Chinatown, etc.)

Infrastructure

New York has one of the nation's oldest and most extensive infrastructure systems, especially in transportation and public works.

Transportation

• NYC Subway:Largest in US (472 stations)
• Highways:113,000+ miles statewide
• Bridges & Tunnels:18,000+ bridges, including iconic structures
• Rail:Amtrak, Metro-North, LIRR, freight lines
• Ports:Port of NY/NJ (largest on East Coast)

Water Systems

• New York City Water Supply System
• Erie Canal and NY Canal System
• Reservoirs:2,000+ statewide
• Wastewater Treatment:600+ facilities
• Great Lakes Water Management

Energy Infrastructure

• Electrical Grid:11,000+ miles of transmission lines
• Niagara Falls Power Project
• Indian Point Energy Center (decommissioning)
• Natural Gas Distribution Networks
• Renewable Energy Growth (wind, solar)

Communications

• Broadband Initiative
• Major Media Centers
• Telecommunications Hubs
• Internet Exchange Points
• Satellite Facilities

Notable Historical Figures

New York has been home to influential individuals who shaped state, national, and global history across many fields.

Political Leaders

• Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd President)
• Theodore Roosevelt (26th President)
• Alexander Hamilton (Founding Father)
• Hillary Clinton (First Lady, Senator, Secretary of State)
• Robert F. Kennedy (Senator, Presidential Candidate)

Cultural Figures

• Walt Whitman (poet)
• Herman Melville (author)
• Edith Wharton (author)
• Leonard Bernstein (composer)
• Jackson Pollock (artist)

Business Leaders

• John D. Rockefeller (Standard Oil)
• J.P. Morgan (finance)
• Cornelius Vanderbilt (shipping, railroads)
• George Eastman (Kodak)
• Estée Lauder (cosmetics)

Social Reformers

• Frederick Douglass (abolitionist)
• Susan B. Anthony (women's suffrage)
• Elizabeth Cady Stanton (women's rights)
• Harriet Tubman (Underground Railroad)
• Emma Goldman (labor activist)

State Government Services

New York State provides a wide range of services to residents through various departments and agencies.

Health & Human Services

• Department of Health
• Office of Mental Health
• Office for the Aging
• Office of Children and Family Services
• Department of Labor

Transportation & Infrastructure

• Department of Transportation
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
• Thruway Authority
• Bridge Authority
• Port Authority of NY & NJ

Public Safety

• State Police
• Division of Homeland Security
• Department of Corrections
• Office of Fire Prevention and Control
• Division of Criminal Justice Services

Environmental Protection

• Department of Environmental Conservation
• Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
• Adirondack Park Agency
• Environmental Facilities Corporation
• Hudson River Valley Greenway

Key Historical Documents & Landmarks

New York's rich history is preserved through significant documents and historic sites throughout the state.

State Constitution

• First State Constitution (1777)
• Current State Constitution (1894, with amendments)
• Historic Constitutional Conventions

Historical Landmarks

• Federal Hall (site of first presidential inauguration)
• Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
• Fort Ticonderoga
• U.S. Military Academy at West Point
• Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site (Buffalo)

Archival Repositories

• New York State Archives
• New York Public Library
• New York Historical Society
• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
• Presidential Libraries (FDR in Hyde Park)

Historic Sites

• Women's Rights National Historical Park (Seneca Falls)
• Harriet Tubman National Historical Park (Auburn)
• African Burial Ground National Monument (NYC)
• Washington's Headquarters (Newburgh)
• Erie Canal Historic Sites

Environmental Initiatives

New York has established itself as a leader in environmental protection and climate action with numerous progressive initiatives.

Climate Action

• Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act
• Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
• Climate Smart Communities Program
• Clean Energy Standard
• NY Green Bank

Conservation Programs

• Adirondack Park (6 million acres, largest state-level protected area)
• Environmental Protection Fund
• Open Space Conservation Plan
• Forever Wild Constitutional Protection
• Hudson River Estuary Program

Water Protection

• NYC Watershed Protection
• Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
• Water Quality Improvement Projects
• Ocean and Great Lakes Program
• Waterfront Revitalization Programs

Sustainability Initiatives

• NY-Sun Solar Initiative
• Clean Transportation Programs
• Renewable Heat NY
• Green Building Tax Credit
• Sustainable Development & Collaborative Governance

Major Events & Conferences

New York hosts many of the world's most important conferences, trade shows, and cultural events, particularly in New York City.

Business Conferences

• United Nations General Assembly
• New York International Auto Show
• National Retail Federation Big Show
• Bloomberg Global Business Forum
• Advertising Week New York

Technology Events

• TechCrunch Disrupt
• New York Digital Summit
• FinTech Week
• NY Tech Day
• NY Games Conference

Arts & Media Events

• New York Fashion Week
• Tribeca Film Festival
• Book Expo America
• Art Fairs (Armory Show, Frieze New York)
• New York Comic Con

Academic & Scientific

• American Museum of Natural History Conferences
• Columbia Future of Journalism Conference
• New York Academy of Sciences Events
• Cornell Tech Conferences
• Medical Research Symposiums