New York
NY · Data from 2022–2023 government sources
New York, the Empire State, is home to the most iconic city on Earth and one of the most geographically diverse states in the nation. While New York City dominates the global imagination, Upstate New York encompasses the Adirondack Mountains, the Finger Lakes wine country, Niagara Falls, and vast stretches of rural farmland. New York is a global center of finance, media, culture, and fashion.
Think you know New York? Test your geography skills.
Play GeoProwlHistory
New York was home to the powerful Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy — one of the oldest participatory democracies in the world. The Dutch established New Amsterdam in 1626, which the English renamed New York in 1664. New York ratified the Constitution as the 11th state in 1788. The state was the site of more Revolutionary War battles than any other. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic, making New York City the nation's commercial capital. Ellis Island processed over 12 million immigrants between 1892 and 1954.
Economy
New York has the third-largest state economy (after California and Texas), with a GDP exceeding $2 trillion. Wall Street in Lower Manhattan is the financial capital of the world, home to the New York Stock Exchange and major banks. The state is a leader in media (all major broadcast networks, publishing houses, and news organizations), fashion, technology (Silicon Alley), tourism (65+ million visitors to NYC annually), and agriculture (New York is a top-five producer of dairy, apples, and wine grapes).
Geography & Landmarks
New York covers 54,555 square miles. The Adirondack Park in the north is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous U.S. at 6 million acres — larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, Grand Canyon, and Great Smoky Mountains combined. The Catskill Mountains offer hiking and skiing south of the Adirondacks. The Finger Lakes are 11 long, narrow lakes carved by glaciers. Long Island extends 118 miles east of Manhattan. Niagara Falls, on the Canadian border, is one of the world's most famous waterfalls. The Finger Lakes can reach depths of over 600 feet, and the surrounding area has become one of the premier wine-producing regions in the eastern United States. The Adirondack Park at 6.1 million acres is larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, Grand Canyon, and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks combined.
African Burial Ground National Monument — NPS Photo
Source: NPS API
Culture & Traditions
New York's cultural influence is virtually limitless. Broadway, with 41 theaters in Midtown Manhattan, is the pinnacle of American theater, generating over $1.8 billion in annual revenue and premiering works from West Side Story to Hamilton. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses over two million works spanning 5,000 years, while MoMA, the Guggenheim, and the Whitney define modern and contemporary art. New York City is the birthplace of hip-hop (born in the South Bronx in 1973), punk rock (CBGB, the Ramones), and the American musical theater tradition. The state's culinary landscape ranges from Michelin-starred fine dining to the dollar pizza slice, with New York-style pizza, bagels, and cheesecake generating fierce loyalty and endless debate. The Yankees (27 World Series titles) and Knicks at Madison Square Garden are pillars of American sports culture.
Notable Cities
Albany
CapitalThe state capital since 1797, located on the Hudson River. Home to the ornate New York State Capitol building and the Empire State Plaza complex.
99,692
Population
$54,736
Median income
$213,400
Home value
$1,130
Median rent
32.0
Median age
8.0%
Unemployment
36.7%
Homeownership
13,837
Bachelor's+
New York City
The most populous city in the U.S. (8.3 million) and one of the most influential cities in the world. Five boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island — make up the cultural, financial, and media capital of America.
Buffalo
A resurgent city on Lake Erie near Niagara Falls, known for its Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, passionate sports fans, and (of course) Buffalo wings.
Syracuse
A central New York city that receives more snow than almost any other large U.S. city. Home to Syracuse University and the historic Erie Canal Museum.
Ithaca
A stunning Finger Lakes college town built around dramatic gorges. Home to Cornell University and known for its progressive culture and natural beauty.
Capital city data: Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022)
Intel File · Fun Facts
The Adirondack Park is larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier, and Great Smoky Mountains national parks combined.
New York City's subway system has 472 stations — more than any other subway system in the world.
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France, dedicated in 1886. Over 4 million people visit it annually.
New York was the first state to require license plates on automobiles (1901).
Over 800 languages are spoken in New York City, making it the most linguistically diverse city in the world.
Data & Statistics
Demographics
- Population
- 19,994,379
- Median income
- $81,386
- Median age
- 39.3
- Median home value
- $384,100
- Below poverty line
- 2,655,662
- Bachelor's degree+
- 3,033,763
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022)
Agriculture
- Total farms
- 30,650
- Cropland
- 4,076,225 acres
- Market value
- $8,037M
Source: USDA NASS, Census of Agriculture (2022)
Public Health
- Obesity rate
- 28.0%
- Diabetes rate
- 10.6%
- Smoking rate
- 9.3%
- High blood pressure
- 32.1%
- Uninsured
- 5.5%
Source: CDC BRFSS Prevalence Data (2023, 2022 fallback)
National Parks & Sites
- National parks
- 0
- Total NPS sites
- 32
- Sites
- African Burial Ground National Monument, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Castle Clinton National Monument, Chesapeake Bay, Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, Ellis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument, Federal Hall National Memorial, Fire Island National Seashore, Fort Stanwix National Monument, Gateway National Recreation Area, General Grant National Memorial, Governors Island National Monument, Hamilton Grange National Memorial, Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Home Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site, Lower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site, Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, National Parks of New York Harbor, North Country National Scenic Trail, Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site, Saratoga National Historical Park, Statue Of Liberty National Monument, Stonewall National Monument, Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site, Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River, Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, Women's Rights National Historical Park
Source: National Park Service API
Climate
- Avg temperature
- 46.5°F
- Avg high
- 57.2°F
- Avg low
- 36.4°F
- Annual precipitation
- 42.6 in
- Annual snowfall
- 68.8 in
Source: NOAA Climate Normals (2010)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capital of New York?▾
Albany is the capital of New York — not New York City. Albany has been the state capital since 1797 and is located about 150 miles north of NYC on the Hudson River.
How many people live in New York City?▾
New York City has a population of about 8.3 million people, making it by far the most populous city in the United States. The greater metropolitan area has over 20 million residents.
What are the Finger Lakes?▾
The Finger Lakes are 11 long, narrow lakes in central New York, carved by glaciers during the last ice age. The region is known for its wineries (over 100), gorges and waterfalls, and outdoor recreation. Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake are the two largest.
What is the Adirondack Park?▾
The Adirondack Park in northern New York is a 6-million-acre patchwork of public and private land — the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous U.S. It contains 46 peaks over 4,000 feet, over 3,000 lakes, and 30,000 miles of rivers and streams.
Data sources
U.S. Census Bureau · USDA NASS · CDC BRFSS · National Park Service · NOAA CDO
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. This product uses the NASS API but is not endorsed or certified by NASS.
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