|
New York is the
most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York
metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A
leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide
commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment. As host of the United
Nations headquarters, it is also an important center for international affairs.
The city is often referred to as New York City to differentiate it from the
state of New York, of which it is a part.
Located on a large natural harbor
on the Atlantic coast of the Northeastern United States, the city consists of
five boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. The
city's 2007 estimated population exceeds 8.3 million people, and with a land
area of 305 square miles (790 km2), New York City is the most densely populated
major city in the United States. The New York metropolitan area's population is
also the nation's largest, estimated at 18.8 million people over 6,720 square
miles (17,400 km2).
New York was founded as a commercial trading post by
the Dutch in 1624. The settlement was called New Amsterdam until 1664 when the
colony came under English control. New York served as the capital of the United
States from 1785 until 1790. It has been the country's largest city since 1790.
Many neighborhoods and landmarks in the city have become world-famous. The
Statue of Liberty greeted millions of immigrants as they came to America in the
late 19th and early 20th centuries. Wall Street, in Lower Manhattan, has been a
dominant global financial center since World War II and is home to the New York
Stock Exchange. The city has been home to several of the tallest buildings in
the world, including the Empire State Building and the twin towers of the former
World Trade Center.
The City is the birthplace of many cultural movements,
including the Harlem Renaissance in literature and visual art, abstract
expressionism (also known as the New York School) in painting, and hip hop,
punk, salsa, disco and Tin Pan Alley in music. It is the home of Broadway
theater.
New York is notable among American cities for its high use of mass
transit, most of which runs 24 hours per day, and for the overall density and
diversity of its population. In 2005, nearly 170 languages were spoken in the
city and 36% of its population was born outside the United States. The city is
sometimes referred to as "The City that Never Sleeps", while other nicknames
include Gorham and the Big Apple
|
