The State of New York, often called just New York, or New York State to distinguish it from the city of New York, is a state of the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies, which were the first thirteen states to make up the US. New York is in the northeastern United States, bordered by Lake Ontario and Canada on the north, Lake Erie and Canada on the west, Pennsylvania on the west and south, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut on the east, and New Jersey on the south.

Quick Facts Country, Before statehood ...
New York
State of New York
Nickname: 
Motto(s): 
Excelsior (in Latin)[1]
Ever upward
Anthem: "I Love New York"
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Map of the United States with New York highlighted
CountryUnited States
Before statehoodProvince of New York
Admitted to the UnionJuly 26, 1788 (11th)
CapitalAlbany
Largest cityNew York
Largest metro and urban areasGreater New York
Government
  GovernorKathy Hochul (D)
  Lieutenant GovernorAntonio Delgado (D)
LegislatureState Legislature
  Upper houseState Senate
  Lower houseState Assembly
JudiciaryNew York Court of Appeals
U.S. senators
U.S. House delegation
  • 19 Democrats
  • 8 Republicans
(list)
Area
  Total54,556 sq mi (141,300 km2)
  Rank27th
Dimensions
  Length330 mi (530 km)
  Width285 mi (455 km)
Elevation
1,000 ft (300 m)
Highest elevation
(Mount Marcy[2][3][4])
5,344 ft (1,629 m)
Lowest elevation0 ft (0 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total20,215,751[5]
  Rank4th
  Density416.42/sq mi (159/km2)
   Rank7th
  Median household income
$64,894[6]
  Income rank
15th
DemonymNew Yorker
Language
  Official languageNone
  Spoken language
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (EDT)
USPS abbreviation
NY
ISO 3166 codeUS-NY
Traditional abbreviationN.Y.
Latitude40° 30′ N to 45° 1′ N
Longitude71° 51′ W to 79° 46′ W
Websitewww.ny.gov
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Quick Facts Living insignia, Bird ...
New York state symbols
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Living insignia
BirdEastern bluebird
FishBrook trout (fresh water), Striped bass (salt water)
FlowerRose
InsectNine-spotted ladybug
MammalNorth American beaver
ReptileCommon snapping turtle
TreeSugar maple
Inanimate insignia
BeverageMilk
Food
FossilEurypterus remipes
GemstoneGarnet
ShellBay scallop
SloganI Love New York
OtherBush: Lilac bush
State route marker
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State quarter
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Released in 2001
Lists of United States state symbols
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New York was originally New Netherland, started by the Dutch Empire in the early 17th century. Late in the century, it surrendered to an English fleet during the Anglo-Dutch Wars and became part of the British Empire. About half the Dutch colony was given to neighboring English colonies. The Battle of Long Island, Battle of Saratoga, and other important battles of the American Revolution were fought in New York and it joined the new United States. The slave trade brought many black people into the state, where they were forced to work for white colonists.

The United States Census Bureau says that, as of 2020, New York had the 4th largest state population in the United States, after California,Texas, and Florida. New York's estimated population is 20,000,000.[8]

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Midtown Manhattan skyline at twilight hour

Cities

The largest city in New York is also called New York, located in the southeastern part of the state and built on the Hudson River; it is by far the most populous city in the United States. Part of New York City is on Long Island, a large island in the Atlantic Ocean, and another part of it is on Staten Island, which is to the southwest of Manhattan, the central business district. Most people living in New York state live in the New York metropolitan area, one of the world's largest metropolitan areas, which also includes part of northern New Jersey.

The larger part of New York, north and northwest of the metropolitan area, is called Upstate New York. Cities in this part of New York include Buffalo, the state's second largest city, Rochester, Syracuse, and the state capital of Albany. These places became cities because of the Erie Canal. Between 1788 and 1797, the Legislature moved the state capital around between Albany, Kingston, Poughkeepsie, and New York City. Albany became the permanent capital in 1797.[9]

References

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