New York Facts for Kids – Learn All About New York State

New York is a state among the 50 states of the United States of America, which is situated on the northeastern side. It is well known for the famous Niagara Falls, New York City. the Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, and Statue of Liberty. We have gathered a complete set of New York Facts for Kids that will help you in learning all about New York state. You are going to learn about its location, cities, size, history, religion, economy, geography, famous people, food, population, symbols, culture, holidays, landmarks, and many more interesting things about the New York State.

New York Facts for Kids

1. Is New York a Country or State

• New York is a state of the United States of America.
• It was one of the thirteen original colonies that formed the USA.
• It is the 4th most populous state in the USA.
• The number of cities in the state of New York is 62, in which New York City (NYC) is the most populous one all around the USA.

2. Is New York a State or City

• New York is the name of a state as well as of a city within that state.
• For differentiation, the state is often called New York State while the city is called New York City (NYC), the City of New York, or just New York.

3. New York State Nickname

• The nickname of the New York state is The Empire State.

4. In which Country New York Is Situated – Where Is New York State

• New York is situated on the northeastern side of the United States of America.
• It shares its borders with New Jersey and Pennsylvania at its south, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont at its east, and Ontario at its northwest
• It also has a maritime border with Rhode Island and an international border with Canada at its north.
• On its southern side, it has the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

5. What Is The Capital Of New York State – New York State Capital

• Albany city is the capital of New York state.
• It is situated about 240 km away from New York City on the west bank of the Hudson River.
• Albany is well-known for its commerce, architecture, higher education institutions, history, and culture.

6. Largest Cities In New York State

• The ten largest cities in New York state based on the population are:

1. New York City
2. Buffalo
3. Rochester
4. Yonkers
5. Syracuse
6. Albany
7. New Rochelle
8. Mount Vernon
9. Schenectady
10. Utica

7. New York State Cities

• There are 62 cities in New York state. They are;

8. How Big Is New York State – New York State Size

• New York state is the 27th largest state in the USA based on area.
• While based on population, it is the 4th largest state in the USA.

9. New York State Area – New York State Square Miles

• The area of New York state is 54,555 square miles, which is 141,300 square kilometers.

10. When Was New York Colony Founded – When Was New York Established

• New York colony was founded in 1624 when the Dutch permanently settled along the Hudson River.
• They named it New Amsterdam.
• In 1664, the English overthrew the Dutch and renamed the colony “New York”.

11. Who Founded New York – Founder Of New York

• Peter Minuit founded New York in 1626.

12. New York State History

• New York State’s history begins with the arrival of the first people in the region about 10,000 BC.
• At around 1100 AD, there were two dominant cultures in the region; the Algonquian and the Iroquoian.
• Europeans discovered New York in 1524 when an Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano was sailing for France.
• In 1609, the Dutch claimed the land for the first time.
• In 1624, the Dutch established the first permanent settlement in the region.
• The Dutch then bought the island of Manhattan from Native Americans in 1626 and founded the colony named New Amsterdam.
• In 1664, the English displaced the Dutch and renamed the colony, New York, after the Duke of York (who later became King James II of England).
• From 1756-to 1763, the French and Indian War was fought between the British and French for gaining control of the region. In that war, the British, its colonists, and their American Indian allies were on one side and the French, its colonists, and their American Indian allies were on the other side.
• This war played an important role in setting the pathway to the American Revolution.
• In 1765, the First Congress of the American Colonies (also called the Stamp Act Congress) brought together spokesmen from all thirteen colonies to challenge the British policies.
• In 1775, the American Revolutionary War began that was fought between the thirteen original British colonies and Great Britain.
• On July 9, 1776, the independence of New York was declared.
• On April 20, 1777, the New York State’s Convention of Representatives formally adopted the first constitution of New York.
• On October 17, 1777, the British were defeated by the Americans at the Battle of Saratoga, and the American victory led to their alliance with the French and then to an ultimate victory.
• On November 25, 1783, the last British armed troops moved out of the New York and the American General George Washington entered the city as triumphant.
• In 1785, New York was declared the first capital of the US and remained the capital till 1790.
• In 1792, the New York Stock Exchange was established.
• In January 1797, Albay was declared as the permanent capital of the New York state.
• In 1802, the US Military Academy was established.
• In 1825, the Erie Canal was opened that connected the Hudson River, the Great Lacks, and the Atlantic Ocean.
• In 1827, slavery was banned and became illegal in New York.
• In 1886, the Statue of Liberty was opened, which was a French gift that became a symbol of hope.
• From 1892 to 1954, millions of immigrants from southern and eastern Europe came through Ellis Island.
• In 1929, the New York Stock Exchange crashed (also known as the Wall Street Crash of 1929) signaled the start of the Great Depression and influenced the entire industrialized western countries.  
• In 1952, the United Nations’ headquarters were permanently established in New York City.
• In 1973, the construction of the World Trade Center was completed and New York became home to the world’s tallest successive buildings till 1974.
• On September 11, 2011, The World Trade Center was attacked and destroyed by terrorists in which 3,000 people were killed.

13. New York Colony Map

14. New York Colony Religion

• There were many faiths in colonial New York, as at its one side the Catholic colony of Maryland was located and at the other side was Puritan colonies of New England.
• There were also numerous minorities.
• The followers of different faiths had significant religious freedom.
• It is said that prominent religion in colonial New York was “Protestantism”, as both English and Dutch were protestants, so their colonies also mainly had the Protestant faith.

15. New York Colony Economy

• New York was a rich colony and had a great and strong economy.
• The trade of fur, lumber, and slaves was the primary source of income in colonial New York.
• Despite the trade, farming was the second strongest pillar of the economy.
• Wheat and corn were the most popular crops they grew.
• The other crops that grew in colonial New York included tobacco, flax, rice, and other grains.
• They also mined iron and exported it to England for manufacturing certain goods.  

16. When Did New York Became A State – When Was New York State Founded

• On July 26, 1788, New York became the state of the United States and ratified its constitution.

17. What States Border New York

• New York state is located in the northeast part of the USA.
• The states bordering the southern side of the New York state are the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont are located to its east.
• Through the sea, it is bordered by Rhode Island which is to the east side of Long Island.
• From the north and northwest sides, the state is connected with the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario respectively, through the international borders.
• The state’s southern part, which includes New York City, Long Island, and several related smaller islands, and the lower parts of Hudson River Valley, is in the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

18. Map of New York State

19. How Many People Live In New York State – New York Population

• According to a 2017 estimation by the United States Census Bureau, New York’s population was 19,849,399.
• 92% of the state’s population lives in urban areas, mainly in the New York City metropolitan area.
• Of the total population:
  • 6.5% -under the age of five
  • 24.7% – under the age of 18
  • 12.9% – 65 years of age or more.
• Females made up 51.8% of the total population.

20. New York Population Map

21. New York State Cities By Population

• The major and largest cities of New York state by population are:

22. People Of The State Of New York

Some of the prominent people who belong to the New York state are:

• Donald Trump – the current and 45th president of the USA
• Franklin D. Roosevelt – former president of the USA
• Grover Cleveland – former president of the USA
• Theodore Roosevelt – former president of the USA
• Hillary Clinton – former First Lady and U.S Secretary of State
• Tom Cruise -, an actor and producer
• Mel Gibson – an actor and filmmaker
• Whoopi Goldberg – an actress, comedian, and author
• Jennifer Lopez – a singer, actress, and producer
• Lady Gaga – a singer and actress
• Steven Tyler – a singer, musician, and actor
• Anderson Cooper – a journalist, author, and television personality
• Sue Bird – a professional basketball player
• Mike Tyson – former professional boxer
• Soren Thompson – a fencer
• Jim Brown – a former football player
• Mark Zuckerberg – a technology entrepreneur, Chief Executive, and co-founder of Facebook

23. New York Geography

• The geography of the New York state is very diverse.
• Farms, forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes are dominant.
• The Adirondack Park of the New York state is larger than any other U.S. National Park in the conterminous United States (the adjoining 48 states of the US and Washington, D.C.).
• The Niagara Falls, which flow from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario is a well-known attraction in the New York state.
• Also, there is the Hudson River that originates in the Adirondack Mountains, flows from north to south and then at the site of New York Harbor, it finally drains in the Atlantic Ocean.
• The Lake George of New York state is situated at the southeast base of the Adirondack Mountains, while the Lake Champlain is located across the border of the U.S and Canada (in the US states of New York and Vermont, and the Quebec province of Canada).
• Out of five boroughs of New York City, four are on the three islands, Staten Island, Manhattan Island, and Queens and Brooklyn on the Long Island.
• The Catskill Mountains, The Adirondack Mountains, the Capital District, the Champlain, Oneida and Otsego Lakes, and the rivers such as Mohawk, Delaware, Susquehanna, and Genesee, all are commonly known as the “Upstate” or the Upstate New York.
• The Mount Marcy of the Adirondack Mountains is the highest elevation point in New York.

24. New York Food Facts

The most popular foods and dishes in New York are:

• Pastrami on Rye
• Cronut
• Cool Oven Pizza
• Bagels and Lox
• Chicken Riggies
• Garbage Plate
• Cheesecake
• Manhattan Clam Chowder
• Black and White Cookie
• Buffalo Wings
• Eggs Benedict
• Lobster Salad Roll
• Lobster Newberg
• Hot Dogs
• Egg Cream
• General Tso’s Chicken
• Oyster
• Ramen
• Riesling
• Beef on Weck
• White Hots
• Knishes
• Grape Pie
• Tomato Pie
• Spiedie’s

25. New York State Symbols

26. New York State Coat Of Arms

• The New York State coat of arms has three major things that are a shield, a banner below the shield, and two supporters holding the shield.
• On the shield, a sloop and a masted ship on the Hudson River are shown that depicts the foreign and inland commerce.
• A grassy shore and a range of mountain borders the river, while behind the mountains there is a rising sun in the background.
• A crest, composed of an eagle sitting on a world globe, is surmounting the shield.
• Below the shield is a banner displaying the motto ‘Excelsior’.
• The supporter of the shield on the right side is “Justice”, who is holding scales and swords of justice while wearing a blindfold. All this represents fairness and impartiality.
• The supporter on the left is “Liberty”, who is wearing a Liberty cap and treading a crown with her left foot that reveals freedom from the British monarchy.

27. New York Flag

• The New York State flag has a simple solid blue color with the coat of arms in the middle.

28. What Is The State Motto Of New York – New York State Motto

• The state motto of New York is Excelsior, which is a Latin word and means “lordly”, “higher” and “superior”.
• The common translation of this word in New York is “Ever Upward”.

29. New York Holidays

• In New York state, the following are the holidays for the state’s government and public sectors:

• Other holidays include:
  • Lunar New Year (New Year of Chinese or Spring Festival)
  • Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
  • Yom Kippur (Jewish Holiest Day)
  • Eid ul-Fitr (religious holiday of Muslims)
  • Eid ul-Adha (Islamic holiday)

30. New York Culture Facts

• The culture of New York is widely diverse due to the presence of many ethnic groups in the population.
• Many cultural movements in America first emerged in New York City, such as the Harlem Renaissance, from which the African-American renaissance was established in the USA.
• The large-scale immigration of Italians and Jews to New York in the 20th century significantly dominated the state’s culture.
• New York City is a major center of film, theater, music, dance, and visual art.
• Expressionism, Beat Generation, Punk Rock, Hip Hop, Jazz, and the American Modern Dance developed in New York.
• Besides art, New York is also an important center of sports.
• The headquarters of the Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer and the National Hockey League are in New York.

31. Major Industries In New York State

• Major industries in the New York State that drive the economy of not only the state but also of the nation at the national as well as at the global scale are:
  • Finance and Insurance
  • Trade
  • Health Care
  • Real Estate
  • Mass Media
  • Journalism and Publishing
  • Manufacturing
  • Information Technology

32. What Is New York State Known For

• New York state is known for the New York City.
• New York City is a global power city, which has been described as a financial, cultural, and media capital of the world.
• The city is also the main center for international diplomacy and home to the United Nations headquarters.

33. What Number State Is New York

• Based on population, New York is the 4th largest state in the USA.
• Based on the area, New York is ranked as the 27th largest state in the USA.

34. New York Tourism – New York Attractions – New York Travel

• In 2017, up to 62.8 million tourists visited New York.
• The major sites of tourists’ attraction in New York include:
  • The Empire State Building
  • The Ellis Island
  • The Statue of Liberty
  • The Broadway Theater
  • The Times Square
  • The Central Park
  • The Coney Island
  • Museums
  • The Financial District
  • The sport stadiums
  • The Fifth and Madison Avenue

35. Things To Do In New York

• For tourists there are a lot of things to do in New York, some of which may be:
  • Visiting famous New York attractions
  • Eating iconic foods of New York
  • Attending sport events
  • Taking a ride on the Free Staten Island Ferry
  • Attending a TV show taping

36. New York Public Library Facts

• The New York Public Library (NYPL) is the 2nd largest public library in the USA, while the 3rd largest in the world.
• The number of items in NYPL is almost 53 million.
• It was built from 1899-to 1911, and 530,000 cubic feet of marble were used in its construction.
• In 1911, 50,000 people visited the library on its opening day.
• In 1965, the main branch of the New York Public Library was declared as a National Historic Landmark.

37. New York Landmarks Facts

• The Empire State Building

  • The Empire State Building is a skyscraper in New York City.
  • It is a 102 story building built in 1931 and designed by the Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon architectural firm.
  • As of 2017, it is the 28th tallest skyscraper in the world, while 5th tallest in the USA.

• The Times Square

  • Times Square is the main commercial point, center of entertainment, and tourists destination in New York.
  • Characterized by electrical billboards and advertisements, Times Square is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world. The number of people that daily pass through Times Square is approximately 330,000.

• Brooklyn Bridge

  • An icon of New York, the Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid type of bridge with both suspension and cable-stayed architectural styles.
  • The bridge was constructed for 14 years and completed in 1883.
  • It connects Brooklyn with Manhattan and was declared in 1964 as a National Historic Landmark.

• Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty

  • Ellis Island was the gateway through which millions of immigrants came to the USA from 1892 to 1954. In 1962, Ellis Island became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.

• The Central Park

  • Central Park is a 4 km (2.5 miles) large park in New York.
  • The park is the most visited city park in the USA with approximately 35,000,000 visitors every year.
  • There is the Central Park Zoo, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, lakes, and a castle in Central Park.

38. New York State Interesting Facts – New York State Fun Facts

• The New Amsterdam city (former name of New York) was a birthday gift to the Duke of York (James II King of England) from his father. The city name was altered to New York in his honor.
• New York became the first capital of the USA in 1789, however, remained only for one year.
• In 1848, the United States’ first convention of women’s rights was held in New York. in 1917, women won the right to vote in New York.
• In 1901, New York was the first state in the USA that made having license plates compulsory for all automobiles.
• In 1803, Alexander Hamilton established a newspaper in New York with the name of “New York Evening Post” now known as the “New York Post”, which is the oldest currently circulating newspaper.
• In 2015, the number of Nobel Prize winners born in New York state was 64, out of which 45 were from New York City.