Facts About New York You Should Read & Understand!
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New York State was one of the original 13 states at the beginning of the USA.
It kept developing over the years, and today it covers about 54,556 sq mi (141299.39 sq km) of the nation's land. The original settlers in this state were first the Dutch, who named it New Amsterdam at first.
Later, in 1664, the British Empire gained control of the region of New Amsterdam. Undisputedly, it is the largest and most influential state in the United States of America.
It is home to the United Nations headquarters, which were established in New York City, which gives it a status for international diplomacy. It is also the wealthiest state in the nation. Read along to find out about New York City dates, the city's Dutch heritage, United Nations headquarters, federal hall, and more New York facts.
Originally, New York was founded in 1624 by Dutch settlers on the Manhattan Islands. It was only later when the British started reigning over it, that they changed its name to New York, in reference to York in England.
The original Dutch founder of this state was called Peter Minuit, who was a Governor of the Dutch West India Company.
He had bought the land for just $24 from the Native Indians who lived there. It all started at the time when the Dutch used to trade goods with the local people.
After reading about the interesting facts about New York, also check out our articles about Bangladesh facts and England facts.
Fun Facts About New York City
New York City is not only huge, but it is also home to nearly 300 million people, making it the fourth most populous city.
It is also the most linguistically diverse city in the world. New Yorkers are also known for many things that are normal for them but will be weird for many non-New Yorkers. Let's dive into some fun facts about New York City:
Underground Park: It seems that New York City will get its first underground park very soon. It will be the first not only in the city but also in the world.
This park is set to be located in Manhattan's west. However, New Yorkers, like the rest of us, will have to wait a little longer until this becomes a reality.
The Big Apple: The term 'Big Apple' was commonly used in the 1920s. The big apple means winning huge awards in horse races. Its meaning is 'big prize', along with musicians, they thought this was a cool term and started using it in their work.
The Pizza Principle: The very first pizzeria in New York City was Lombardi’s Pizza, which is still operating today alongside more than 1,000+ new pizzerias that opened over the years. People in this city love pizza so much, that when the price of a subway ticket goes up, the price of a pizza slice also increases.
This is what they call 'the pizza principle'.
Grand Central Terminal: The Grand Central Terminal is known for its amazing architecture and also for being a whispering gallery. There are only a few in the world, and many people have gone there just to see if it is true.
Yes, it is. If someone stands on one edge of the terminal while another stands at the other edge, they will be able to communicate in whispers.
Interesting Facts About New York
New York City's history dates back to 10,000 B.C. However, when European settlers reached there, it became an important area for trading.
From those days until today, it has undergone intense development to reach the level at which it is today. One thing that New Yorkers can be proud of is the iconic Empire State Building. But let's look into some interesting facts about New York City below:
New York Public Library: New York's public library is now the third largest library in the world. If you are into books, you can go to this place as it is open to the public, and you will have a hard time picking up one of their 50 million + book collection.
Brooklyn Bridge: Many of us have seen this bridge countless times as it has been featured in many movies and other forms of digital media for many years. It is an iconic location. What many people don't know is that it's even older than the London Bridge by 11 years.
Average Rent: Big cities are always more expensive when it comes to finding accommodation, especially a good one. Of course, New York City would not be an exception, with the average rent in Manhattan going up to $3,400 per month.
Yes, you may find a cheaper place if you do thorough research, but this is the average price that you should expect if you are planning to move to this place.
Federal Reserve Bank: The Federal Reserve Bank, which you will find in the world-famous financial district of Wall Street, holds the largest gold storage around the world. It has at least 497,000 shiny gold bars just sitting on its premises.
That is almost 5% of the gold that has ever been mined in the world. And you can book a tour of this place where you will be able to see it.
Times Square: The place we know as Times Square today was known as Longacre Square before that. It was only when the New York Times moved to New York that the area gained its new name.
Cool Facts About New York
New York became globally popular after establishing itself as an economic powerhouse.
But before that, it used to be a route for many people who were traveling from or to the Eerie Canal since it was the fastest way to Europe and the West. It is also known for its tall buildings, like the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center (which no longer exists), and more.
Some cool facts about New York City are:
Five Boroughs: New York is more like a collection of neighborhoods put together. These places, also known as the five boroughs, are: Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and the widely famous, Manhattan. Manhattan is home to some of the city's most attractive locations, such as Times Square, Central Park, and the Empire State Building.
Easy To Navigate: The city's layout has been well designed and divided in such a way that it is easy to go from place to place just by walking. And if you do not want to walk, buses and subways will be available for your commute.
You just have to go to the nearest spot, get yourself a ticket, and hop into one. You can also put your hand in the air and instantly get a taxi driver at your disposal.
Small Villages: Small villages are not only something from developing countries. You'll find some small villages in this city too, which are: West Village, which is located in Manhattan's south, and by the west, Greenwich Village, and East Village.
Interesting Facts About New York City
New York state, also called the 'Empire State' has its capital in the city of Albany, where the Dutch first settled and started their trading affairs. This state is also home to the largest Chinese population in the US. Some interesting facts about New York are:
New York City was declared in 1789 as the first capital city of the US. A statue was gifted to the US by the French in 1886 when they were having their centennial celebration.
It is made of 350 pieces, and it took 214 crates to pack it up and four months to assemble. It was originally bronze in color, but it has oxidized.
New Yorkers loved oysters so much that in the 19th century, their shells were used on the pavement of Pearl Street. Another interesting fact is that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is one of the largest stock exchanges in the U.S. and the world by market capitalization.
More than 8 million people live in New York City alone, so one in every 38 people in the US has the city as their home.
The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed and suspension bridge in New York City, spanning the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Facts About New York For Kids
The city is the hub of the New York metropolitan region. It is located near the southernmost point of the state of New York. The New York metropolis has a considerable effect on entertainment, education, the media, art, fashion, research, banking, technology, and trade. Here are more fun facts about New York City:
You can go and visit Niagara Falls, which is between New York and the Canadian border. Sailing is an activity that is possible over there.
Some other activities include climbing up 300+ steps to the Statue of Liberty’s crown or touring Ellis Island. New York was home to famous U.S. presidents such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy. It is known to be the only state with borders to the Atlantic Ocean and Great Lakes.
The Erie Canal in New York is part of the east to the upper west side, cross-state route of the New York State Canal System, which is compared to the Tower Bridge in London. A train for carrying goods rather than people is called a 'freight train' in the US.
In terms of size and population, the borough of Brookly could be the fourth largest city in the United States. New York harbor is present on the Hudson River where it enters the New York Bay area.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for facts about New York, then why not take a look at facts about Venezuela, or facts about Australia.
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Bachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology
Oluwatosin MichaelBachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology
With a Bachelor's in Microbiology from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Oluwatosin has honed his skills as an SEO content writer, editor, and growth manager. He has written articles, conducted extensive research, and optimized content for search engines. His expertise extends to leading link-building efforts and revising onboarding strategies.
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