New York (NY) is located in the Northeast of the USA, and the state’s economy is driven by financial services, media and technology. While the capital is Albany, by far the most famous and largest city is New York City. New York State’s major tourist attractions include the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center, and Niagara Falls. New York State was one of the original 13 colonies that declared independence from Great Britain.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name New York Abbreviation NY Capital Albany Largest city New York (Population: 8 258 035) Current time 11:00 Time zone EST (UTC-5), the state observes Daylight Saving Time EDT (UTC-4) Population 20,202,320 (#4 most populous US state) Area 54,555 mi² (#27 largest US state) Admitted to the Union July 26, 1788 (#11 state to join) ⭐ Capital of New York City
The capital of New York State is Albany, located where Dutch colonizers built Fort Nassau in 1614 for fur traders. In 1664, the British took control of the fort and renamed it Albany in honor of the Scottish noble title of Duke of Albany. Albany became the capital of New York State in 1797.
🏙️ Largest City in New York State
The largest city in New York State is New York City, with a population of 8,258,035 in 2023. The second most populous is Buffalo with 274,678 people and the third most populous is Yonkers with a population of 207,657.
🕒 Time in New York City
The current time in New York City is [timezone=”America/New_York” format=”G:i”]. The entire state is governed by Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) and transitions to Daylight Saving Time EDT (UTC-4) between March and November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of New York City
According to 2023 data, New York State had a population of 20,202,320, making it the 4th most populous state in the entire US.
📍 Area of New York City
The total area of New York State is 54,555 mi², of which 47,126 mi² is land and 7,429 mi² is water. New York is the 27th largest US state.
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Fun Facts About New York State
🧩 New York Neighboring States
New York is bordered by five American states. Vermont and Massachusetts and Connecticut to the east, New Jersey to the south and Pennsylvania to the west. In addition, it shares a border with the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec to the north. New York State lies on the shores of two Great Lakes (Lake Erie and Lake Ontario) and near the Atlantic Ocean.
📅 Date of New York Statehood
New York ratified the Constitution on July 26, 1788 as the 11th state in order, its predecessor being the Colony of New York.
📛 Nickname of the State of New York
New York’s nickname “The Empire State” is very well known, with one of the world’s most famous skyscrapers named after it.
It was probably first used in the early 19th century, when New York was one of the most economically powerful states in America. The nickname was intended to portray it as a powerful empire, considered a center of commerce, industry and culture.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in New York State
The highest mountain in New York, with a peak at 5,343 ft above sea level, is Mount Marcy, located in the Adirondack Mountains in the northeastern part of the state.
🏞️ Rivers in New York
The longest river in New York State is the Saint Lawrence River, with a total flow length of 744 mi. It is followed by the Susquehanna River (464 mi), the Allegheny River (325 mi), the Hudson River (315 mi), and the Delaware River (301 mi).
🎓 Universities in New York
The largest university in the state is New York University, which was founded in 1831 and today has around 60,000 people studying on their campuses. The second most attended university is Columbia University with 35 thousand students, it too is based in New York City.
Other major educational institutions include the University at Buffalo with 32 thousand students and the prestigious Cornell University in Ithaca with approximately 26 thousand students enrolled.
✉️ New York City ZIP Codes
New York State has a dedicated ZIP code of 06390, as well as the ranges 005xx and 100xx-149xx. You can find the specific ZIP code for any address on the USPS website, and the principle of operation is explained in the article ZIP codes in the USA.
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Weather in New York
The best time to visit New York State is early autumn, when the temperatures are pleasant and nature plays with all its colors. Autumn is ideal for both outdoor activities and enjoying the city’s attractions.
Spring in New York City starts off relatively cool, with temperatures in March ranging between 36°F and 50°F. In the following weeks, it continually warms up to May’s 55°F to 72°F, with colder temperatures in the mountainous areas in the north of the state, where snow cover may persist into April. Rainfall is very frequent in spring.
Summers in New York are hot and full of tourists, and the high humidity is uncomfortable. The average temperatures in New York City between June and August range from 64°F to 84°F, with frequent thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain.
Autumn in New York brings a drop in temperatures and rainfall, making it an ideal time to visit the city and the countryside. Temperatures gradually drop from September’s 61°F to 75°F to somewhat cooler 41°F to 54°F in November. In bustling New York City, tourist crowds are still to be expected, but fewer than in summer.
Winter in New York City tends to be cold, with temperatures generally between 27°F and 45°F. Snow is common, with heavier snowfall traditionally in areas in upstate and western New York.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in New York
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Things to Do in New York
1️⃣ Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty was donated to the Americans by the French as part of the celebration of the anniversary of American Independence, and was erected on Liberty Island on October 28, 1886. One of the most iconic symbols of the United States is accessible by Statue City Cruises ferry, visitors can look up into the crown and enjoy panoramic views of all of New York City. Tickets sell out far in advance, so book well in advance.
2️⃣ Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is one of the most famous skyscrapers in the world, offering visitors spectacular views of New York City from observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors. The 1,250 ft tall building was completed in 1931 and was the tallest skyscraper in the world until 1971.
It was built in the Art Deco architectural style and is named after the nickname of the state of New York. Tickets for the observation decks tend to sell out early, so I recommend buying them in advance.
3️⃣ New York Helicopter Tours
Getting a bird’s eye view of Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Times Square and other famous New York City landmarks is the experience of a lifetime. Helicopter Tours are offered by several companies, with differences in price, length of experience and route.
The shortest flights last around 12 minutes. The most popular flights are at sunset, when some companies charge extra due to high demand. For the best photos, I recommend flying between 1pm and 3pm.
4️⃣ Central Park
Central Park is a huge green oasis in the middle of Manhattan, which is larger than the Vatican (1.32 mi²) and Monaco (0.78 mi²) combined. The park offers visitors a wide range of activities including walks, picnics and exploring places of historical interest.
Right in the park is the zoo and the famous Bow Bridge from 1862. In the winter months, the park is home to a traditional ice-skating rink, while in the summer it hosts concerts and other cultural events.
5️⃣ Times Square
Times Square is one of the most famous squares in the world, made famous by its huge number of advertising screens and glowing neon signs. Always bustling, the square is filled with street performers and special people who contribute to its atmosphere.
For the best experience, I recommend visiting it both during the day and after dark, when it’s all lit up. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, and theaters that put on world-famous shows in and around Times Square. There’s also the famous New Year’s Eve celebration, when the last seconds of the year are counted down by a giant ball that first descended from the flagpole in 1907.
6️⃣ Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock Observation Deck
Manhattan’sRockefeller Center consists of 19 commercial buildings built between 1930 and 1939. The skyscrapers are known for their modern architecture combined with art deco style.
In the winter months, the famous ice rink with its decorated tree, one of the symbols of Christmas in New York, opens in the space between them. The 30 Rockefeller Plaza building has a platform with a nice view of the city.
7️⃣ Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden is one of the most famous sports arenas in the world, located right in downtown Manhattan above Pennsylvania Station. The New York Rangers play their NHL home games and the New York Knicks play their NBA basketball games in the arena.
You’ll have the best experience if you buy tickets to an NHL or NBA game and go to one of the games. Outside of game days, you can take a behind-the-scenes tour to get a glimpse into the history and operations of the arena.
8️⃣ Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is located on the border of New York State and Canada, 417 mi driving distance from Manhattan. One of the largest and most famous waterfalls in the world, it consists of three main parts: American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls.
The largest and most impressive are Horseshoe Falls, with a total height of 187 ft. One of the biggest attractions is the Maid of the Mist boat ride directly below the falls, which are illuminated with colored lights every day after dark.
9️⃣ One World Observatory
Opened in November 2014, the One World Trade Center skyscraper stands on the site of the former World Trade Center. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum commemorates one of the most tragic days in American history, and the skyscraper’s height of 1,776 feet (541.32 meters), which corresponds to the year the Declaration of Independence was adopted, is symbolic.
On the 100th-102nd floors is the One World Observatory observation deck with 360° views of New York City.
🔟 The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (commonly known as The Met) is located on the famous 5th Avenue on the edge of Central Park. The largest art museum in the USA, its collection spans over 5,000 years of human history. Some of the most famous artists exhibited at The Met include Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Caravaggio, Johannes Vermeer and others. Anyone with even a passing interest in art is bound to visit the Met.
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Largest Cities in New York
The table below shows the ten largest cities in New York State in 2023, the source of the data is the United States Census Bureau, a federal agency whose main job is to count the population.
City County Population 1 New York Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond 8,258,035 Map of New York 2 Buffalo Erie 274,678 Map of Buffalo 3 Yonkers Westchester 207,657 Map of Yonkers 4 Rochester Monroe 207,274 Map of Rochester 5 Syracuse Onondaga 145,560 Map of Syracuse 6 Albany Albany 101,228 Map of Albany 7 New Rochelle Westchester 83,742 Map of New Rochelle 8 Mount Vernon Westchester 71,168 Map of Mount Vernon 9 Schenectady Schenectady 68,544 Map of Schenectady 10 Utica Oneida 63,607 Map of Utica -
Sports Teams in New York State
🏒 Ice Hockey (NHL)
There are three teams from New York State playing in the NHL, all ranked in the Eastern Conference.
The oldest team is the New York Rangers, which was formed in 1926 and belongs to the Metropolitan Division. The club colors are royal blue, red and white, and the club plays its games in the legendary Madison Square Garden.
The second oldest team is the Buffalo Sabres, whose history began in 1970. The club belongs to the Atlantic Division and plays its home games at the KeyBank Center arena in Buffalo. Its club colors are royal blue, gold and white.
The third oldest team is the New York Islanders of the Metropolitan Division, the club was founded in 1972. The Islanders play their home games at the UBS Arena in Elmont, Long Island, and their club colors are blue, orange, and white.
🏈 American football (NFL)
The only New York team in the NFL is the Buffalo Bills, who belong to the Eastern Division in the AFC conference. The club plays its home games at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. It entered the NFL in the 1970 season, and its club colors are royal blue, red, gray, white, and navy blue.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
New York State has a double representation in the basketball league, both teams belong to the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference.
The New York Knicks are one of the founding teams of the NBA, and have participated in the competition continuously since the 1946 season. The team’s home arena is Madison Square Garden, and the club colors are royal blue, orange, silver, black, and white.
The other club in the NBA since the 1976 season is the Brooklyn Nets, whose club colors are black, white and gray. The Nets play their home games at the Barclays Center.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
New York State has two teams in the MLB baseball league.
The New York Yankees entered the league in the 1903 season, and are now part of the Eastern Division in the American League. The team plays its home games at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The club colors are navy blue and white.
The New York Mets have been a part of the National League since the 1962 season, where they were placed in the Eastern Division. The club colors are blue, orange and white. The Mets play their home games at Citi Field in Flushing Meadows.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
New York State is represented in the MLS soccer league by New York City FC, a team from the Eastern Conference that joined in 2015. The club colors are sky blue, obsidian blue, and orange, and the team plays its home games at the primarily baseball Yankee Stadium.
There is still a team in the league called the New York Red Bulls, however, which plays its home games in the city of Harrison in neighboring New Jersey.
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New York State Symbols
This article lists only some of the symbols that are officially recognized by New York State law.
State Flag of New York
The flag has been used in its current design since April 2020, when the previous version’s colors were slightly modified and the official slogan “E Pluribus Unum” was added. The flag’s motif is the symbol of the State of New York on a dark blue field.
Great Seal of New York
New York State adopted its first seal in 1777 during the American War of Independence, although there have been several modifications since then, the design remains the same today. It consists of the figure Liberty on the left, representing freedom, and the figure Justice on the right, symbolizing justice. In the center he holds a shield with a ship on the Hudson River.
State Insect
The insect symbol since 1989 has been the nine-spotted ladybug (Coccinella novemnotata). The campaign to adopt the state symbol was partly led by students, and the ladybird is seen as a friend of gardeners, as it feeds on aphids and other pests.
State Mammal
Since 1975, the official mammal has been the North American beaver (Castor canadensis), which is considered a symbol of agility and industriousness. The average New York beaver weighs around 42 lb, and has had a significant impact on the state’s economy in the past through the fur trade.
State Tree
In 1956, a law went into effect that recognized the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) as the official symbol of New York State. The tree was chosen for its abundance across the state and for its economic importance; maple syrup was one of New York’s major products at the time.
State Flower
The state flower was designated in 1955 as the rose, which is found throughout New York State and is considered a symbol of beauty and love.
State Bird
The official bird symbol since 1970 is the eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis), which is abundant in the state. It was chosen for its colorful appearance to represent the diversity and beauty of New York State nature.
State Gem
Since 1969, the garnet, which is abundant in the Adirondack Mountains near the Canadian border, has been the state’s recognized symbol. Garnets from New York State are considered among the finest in the world.
State Reptile
In 2006, the symbol included the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), a turtle with an overall length of up to 80 cm commonly found in local wetlands and marshes.
State Fruit
The fruit symbol of New York State has been the apple, which has been the region’s main agricultural crop since 1976. Extensive apple orchards have been located primarily in the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes regions.
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