New York Summary

Two of the largest Native American groups lived in the New York region: the Algonquian and the Iroquois. Historians believe that Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazano entered the Hudson River as early as 1524, followed by Henry Hudson (for the Dutch). The Dutch settled the Hudson River Valley and in 1624 began to settle Manhattan. In 1664, the English claimed the area for England, renaming it New York. The French, settling the north of the state, lost most of their territory in North America in the wars between the English and the French.

George Washington predicted that New York would be the “seat of our Empire,” giving it the nickname, “The Empire State.” He was probably referring to the wealth and diversity of resources that have brought the state into its current position as the third most populous state in the nation (population 18,976,457). It covers 53,989 square miles, including 1,888 square miles of inland water and 976 square miles of coastal water, and has jurisdiction over 3,901 square miles of Great Lakes’ waters.

Beyond the dense pocket of population in the New York metropolitan area, much of the state is rural. Forests cover 54 percent of the land. Dairy farming, along with potatoes and fruit, contribute to the economy. Natural highlights include the Adirondack Mountains, Niagara Falls, the Hudson River Valley, and the Long Island beaches. There are three wine-growing regions—Finger Lakes, Hudson River Valley, and Long Island.

With the ports of New York City, Buffalo, and Albany, the state of New York handles much of the nation’s foreign trade. The New York Stock Exchange is an internationally significant financial center. Albany is the capital but New York City is the largest city in the state—and in the nation—and its commercial, financial, and cultural capital.