New York City
New York City is made up of five boroughs, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. The Statue of Liberty at Ellis Island is probably the most recognizable landmark, as she has greeted millions of immigrants as they made their way to New York City. It is also the site of Wall Street, one of the largest business districts in the world and home of the New York Stock Exchange.
Fast Facts
- Country: United States
- State: New York
- City population: 8,274,527 (2007)1
- Founded: 1652
- Currency: U.S. Dollar
- Area code: +212, +718, +917, +347, +646
- Time zone: EST
- Nickname: The Empire State
- Area: 54,555 square miles
- Average climate: 20-30°F (winter), 80-100°F (summer)2
History
The city was inhabited by the Lenape tribe when it was discovered by Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524. In 1626 Dutch colonial Director-General Peter Minuit purchased the island of Manhattan, then after the Second Anglo-Dutch War the Dutch took over and renamed it New York. It quickly came to be known as the largest port in North America.
New York City was the first capital of the United States, proclaimed as such by the first President George Washington in 1789. In 1857 Central Park became the first landscaped park in an American city. The New York City Subway opened in 1904, and helped to unite the growing city's suburbs.
Under attack
The city came under terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 as two hijacked planes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Over 3,000 people lost their lives. The last piece of debris from the fallen towers was removed during a May 30, 2002 ceremony.
Mahalo Suggests
If planning a trip, please see New York City Vacation, New York City Hotels, New York City Restaurants, and New York City Tours.
New Yorkers
Sports
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- James J. Braddock
- Gene Tunney
- Jake LaMotta
- Hank Greenberg
Actors
- Woody Allen
- Melanie Griffith
- Phoebe Cates
- Tony Curtis
- Robert De Niro
Musicians
- Christina Aguilera
- Pat Benatar
- Diddy
- Billy Joel
- Lenny Kravitz
Categories
