New York City was founded in 1624 and was originally named New Amsterdam. The name changed in 1664 when the city fell under English control with the city serving as the capital of the United States between 1785 and 1790.
The city is frequently referred to as New York, New York or by the acronym NYC. More affectionate nicknames of the city include:
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- The Big Apple
- City of Dreams
- City of Lights
- Concrete Jungle
- City that Never Sleeps
It is a city that greatly influences culture, technology, commerce, finance, media, arts, fashion, sports, education, entertainment and research.
New York City Characteristics
It is the country’s largest city and has been since 1790. Current population estimates have the city approaching 20 million, and the city is also the densest population wise. The city is comprised of five boroughs that include: Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island.
New York City extends across 469 square miles (1,214 sq km) with a large portion of it accounted for by water. The highest elevation occurs at Todt Hill reaching almost 410 feet (125 m).
New York City Iconic Landmarks
New York City is home to an abundance of iconic landmarks that are arguable candidates for the Seven Wonders of the United States in their own merit. Many of the names of bridges, buildings and areas of the city are known around the world.
Some of the leading iconic landmarks include:
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- Brooklyn Bridge
- Statue of Liberty
- Empire State Building
- New York City Library
- Central Park
- Rockefeller Center
- Ellis Island
Collectively the cityscape, the iconic landmarks, and the array of lights and city scenes make New York City the “Most Photographed City” in the world.
Culturally
Approximately 37% of the city’s population is foreign born with approximately 800 different languages spoken in the metropolis area. The most recent census report reveals that around 36% of the population is Caucasian, 23% Black, 13% Asian and 28% Hispanic all collectively working together to provide evidence of the nickname, “America’s Melting Pot.”
Collectively including the entire NYC metropolis area further testifies to the diversity of the city. New York is home to the largest Jewish, Indian, Korean, Russian and African populations throughout the United States. Additionally, it is home to the largest Dominican and Puerto Rican populations as well.
Times Square is one of the world’s busiest intersections and is often referred to as, “The Crossroads of the World.”
Financially
The financial district is grounded with the iconic Wall Street and the world’s largest stock exchange, New York Stock Exchange making New York City the world’s most significant financial epicenter. The city is home to 45 of the Fortune 500 businesses and ranked #1 in the world for attracting businesses and commerce.
The real estate market reveals that Manhattan is one of the most expensive markets in the world.
The New York Subway is one of the greatest transportation networks in the world featuring 468 different stations.
Educationally
Columbia University, Rockefeller University, and New York University are three of the highly ranked universities in the country making NYC also an educational epicenter.
The New York City Library has the largest collection of materials in the country. It features a number of famous purpose focused institutions such as the Julliard School for performing arts.
Arts
New York City is home to over 2,000 arts and cultural organizations and features around 500 art galleries. A Broadway Musical is the epitome of “live performances” and the Broadway area showcases 40 different theatres.
Sports
The National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Soccer (MLS) headquarters are all based in New York City.
New York is a “two team sports city.” Football features the Giants and Jets, baseball has the Yankees and Mets, basketball features the Nets and Knicks and hockey has the Rangers and Islanders. Soccer currently has singular representation with the Red Bulls, however in 2015 the city will add a second soccer team with NYC FC.
Media
New York City is the second largest producer of film and television and is recognized as the world leader in independent film productions. All four major television companies (FOX, ABC, NBC and CBS) are based in the city.
There are over 200 newspapers and 350 different magazine companies based in NYC. Seven of the world’s largest advertising agencies are located in the city. Two of the largest three record labels are also based in NYC.