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.

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.

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.

If planning a trip, please see New York City Vacation, New York City Hotels, New York City Restaurants, and New York City Tours.

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