The most populated city in the United States, New York City is a center of culture, fast-paced business, and urban style. Its international reputation as being always alive and active has earned it the nickname “the city that never sleeps.” New York City sits at the southernmost tip of New York State where New York Bay and the Hudson and East rivers join. It covers an area of 309 square miles (800 square kilometers). New York City is a collection of five districts called boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. Each borough is distinct, but many people think of Manhattan's skyline when they think of New York City. Places of interest - The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Bay.
New York City has many notable sites. A symbol of New York City, the famous Statue of Liberty stands in New York Bay. Rockefeller Center in Manhattan is a maze of office buildings and shops, and in winter it has an outdoor ice-skating rink. Rockefeller Center also contains one of the largest theaters in the United States, Radio City Music Hall, which seats almost 6,000. The Empire State Building, once the world's tallest skyscraper, and the headquarters of the United Nations are also in the city. Although New York usually calls images of tall buildings and concrete to mind, the city has more than 1,700 parks and recreation areas. Central Park, which covers 843 acres (341 hectares), was begun in the 19th century. The park's layout of glades, lakes, woods, and wandering paths took 20 years to complete. The Wildlife Conservation Society operates several zoos and an aquarium. The Bronx Zoo is one of the most popular in the United States. The city also has botanical gardens and popular beaches such as Coney Island. PeopleNew York City has one of the most diverse populations in the United States. Hispanics, African Americans, and people of European ancestry form large parts of the population. Ellis Island, not far from the Statue of Liberty, was once the main entry point for immigrants to the United States. It is estimated that about 17 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island during its peak years of operation, from 1892 to 1924. Early immigrants included the English, Scots, Germans, and Scandinavians. They were followed by the Irish, Eastern Europeans, Italians, and Chinese. The number of Puerto Ricans and other Hispanic immigrants began increasing in the mid-20th century. By the end of the 20th century Asians made up the fastest-growing part of the city's population. New York City also has the largest Jewish community in the world. CultureMany people consider New York City to be the center of culture in the United States. It is often said to have the best selection of films, concerts, plays, art exhibits, and sports events in the country. The city's museums are among the greatest in the world. The Metropolitan Museum of Art contains more than 200 galleries, more than 2,000 European paintings, more than 4,000 American paintings, sculptures, and drawings, and the entire ancient Egyptian Temple of Dendur. The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exhibits art from medieval Europe. Other famous museums in the city include the Guggenheim and the Museum of Modern Art. Music is also a major part of the city's cultural life. The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is home to the Metropolitan Opera Association. The New York Philharmonic performs in Avery Fisher Hall, which is part of Lincoln Center. The New York City Ballet is the most famous ballet company in the country, and classical music concerts are conducted in Carnegie Hall. New York City is especially popular among theatergoers. In the Times Square area, on and around Broadway, is one of the world's greatest collection of theaters. This group of about 40 theaters offers drama, musicals, and comedy. Off-Broadway theaters, which are smaller and located outside of Times Square, offer shows that appeal to a narrower audience. New York City is also a literary and educational center. More than 90 colleges and universities are located in New York City, including Columbia University, New York University, and Fordham University. The New York Public Library is one of the best research libraries in the world. EconomyThe city's economy covers an enormous range of activity. Thousands of U.S. corporations are found there. It is a center of law, banking, accounting, finance, advertising, and insurance. The city is a leader in publishing, television, and fashion. It also is home to many computer-related industries. Tourism is a major part of New York City's economy. HistoryColonial eraThe first Europeans to see the area were explorers who were drawn to the region by New York's vast harbor. The Italian Giovanni da Verrazano visited the harbor in 1524. In 1609 the English explorer Henry Hudson sailed up the river that now bears his name. In 1626 the Dutch established a trading post at the southern tip of Manhattan. Called New Amsterdam, it was part of the Dutch colony of New Netherland. That same year the Dutch bought Manhattan from the Algonquian Indians who lived there. It is said that Manhattan was purchased with goods worth about 24 dollars. The Dutch settlers tried to lure Dutch immigrants to the area but were not always successful. Therefore they encouraged people from other parts of Europe to come to their settlement. This led to a great variety of immigrants in the area. The British took over the colony of New Netherland in 1664. The city became part of the British colony of New York, which was named after the duke of York. At the time of the American Revolution (1775–81), New York was an established commercial center. The city was almost destroyed during the war. Growth of the cityThe colonists' victory over the British brought about a golden era for New York City. In 1789 the city saw George Washington sworn in as the first United States president. New York City served as the state capital until 1797 and as the capital of the country in 1789–90. By 1790 it was the largest city in the United States, with about 33,000 inhabitants. The Erie Canal, which connects New York City to the Great Lakes and the West, was opened in 1825. After that date the city became a major seaport. Beginning in the 1840s waves of European immigrants came to the city. These immigrants, who usually worked for very little, helped fuel the rapid growth of the economy. New York City's five boroughs were merged in 1898. A second wave of immigrants from Europe in the early part of the 20th century helped develop the city's economy further. They helped build the city's bridges, tunnels, and subway systems. They also created the city's famous garment and printing industries. Recent decadesThe city experienced serious financial problems in the 1970s, but its economy soon recovered. It thrived in the last decades of the 20th century. Because of New York City's prominence and its central role in world commerce, however, the city was a target for acts of terrorism. The most serious attack came in September 2001, when hijackers flew airliners into the twin towers of the city's World Trade Center. The towers and several nearby buildings were destroyed and thousands of people were killed. Population (2000 census), city, 8,008,278; metropolitan area, 21,199,865. |