Map of New York State and Flag | Outline, Counties, Cities and Road Map

Interesting Facts about New York State and Best places to visit

Tourist Map of New York State
Tourist Map of New York State

Map of New York State and Flag | Outline, Counties, Cities and Road Map

BOOK HOTEL IN ANY PART OF NEW YORK AT GREAT PRICES

Let’s face it, we have all heard about New York and we all are aware of how expensive it can be to live in New York but when it comes to experiencing a great city life, you cannot get it better anywhere than New York. 

Be it food, clubbing or even just a stroll in the city, New York is your go-to place to live the best nightlife that the United States has to offer. If you are looking for a lively vacation then you have come to the right place. Learn more about New York and what it has to offer!

Is New York a city or a state?

The locals might find this question alarming but foreigners get confused quite often between New York and New York City and if there is a city why does it have the same name as the state? 

Now, here’s the thing, New York is a state and New York City is obviously a city and with the same name you would expect NYC to be the state capital but the capital is Albany. All very confusing, we know.

How did New York get its name?

In old times, places were often named after already existing places with an addition of simple ‘new’ to the name or these were named after then leaders of the state or region. 

However, in 1609, Robert Juet, an English author was on a journey with the explorer Henry Hudson called this island Manna-hata which was derived from then inhabitant American Indians, munsees. 

Later the Dutch East India Company named the place New Amsterdam after their capital. When the English sent their battleships to New Amsterdam in 1664 the Dutch general peacefully surrendered the land and King Charles II gave the territory to his brother, the Duke of York and thus the land was named after the English city.

New York Flag Facts

New York is one of the 13 founding states of the U.S. also has one of the oldest coat of arms which was adopted in 1778. 

The seal has gone under slight modification and refinement over the years but nothing that has had an impact on its meaning. The flag itself was adopted in 1896 and it is ranked 53rd out of the 72 flags of the US and Canada.

Colors and Meaning of New York Flag

The field of the flag is dark blue. The seal contains a shield that has a ship and a sloop on the Hudson river representing the overall commerce of the region. 

Around it is a grassy shore and the mountain range referring to the scenic beauty of the Hudson River. 

The two supporters of the shield; on the left is Liberty with his foot on a crown that symbolizes their independence from the British monarchy whereas on the right is Justice wearing a blindfold and holding scales to symbolize impartiality and fairness.

Population of New York

New York is filled with people from all over the world. As expensive as it is to live in this state; people just absolutely adore the fast city life and the opportunities that the state offers. 

The state has a whopping 19.45 million population with New York City being the most populated. When it comes to diversity; you will find all kinds of people here. 

From Latinos, Mexicans, African Americans, Irish, Italian, German, English, Chinese etc. New York has the crown for having the largest African American community and the second-largest Asian American community.

Why is New York City called ‘the Big Apple’?

This nickname obtained its spotlight in 1920 when a journalist John J. Fitz Gerald titled it’s article ‘Around the Big Apple’ referring to New York City. 

The article was related to horse racing. The phrase was often used in that industry as a reference to the prizes in these racing courses. 

The city adopted the nickname in 1971 officially due to an ad campaign in order to increase tourism and it worked like a charm.

Languages spoken in New York

Considering how diverse New York is and the friendly nature of the citizens with a high percentage of tourism, you always find people speaking languages other than English. Here are some of the commonly spoken languages found in New York:

  • Spanish
  • Chinese
  • Russian
  • Italian
  • French Creole
  • Yiddish
  • Korean
  • Polish
  • Bengali
  • Hindi

Interesting Facts About New York

  • The world-famous Statue of Liberty was a gift to the US from France.
  • Back in 1886, the Statue of Liberty was the tallest structure made out of Iron and the seven spikes on the crown represent the seven continents and oceans of the world.
  • Do you ever wonder why is Albany the state capital? Well, it was the first-ever site of European settlement in New York which led to it becoming the state capital in 1797.
  • World’s two largest stock exchanges, NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange are both based in New York adding up to the importance of the state.
  • The Mohawk ironworkers are the reason for almost every other skyscraper that you see in New York due to their tribal teachings and talents to withstand pressure.

Best Places to Visit in New York

New York is not just limited to NYC but it is incredibly clever how the name itself serves as a brand now. 

We have all seen NY and NYC tees and the state is filled with amazing food places that will leave you awed in all price points. 

However, there are even more tourist spots to visit and following are some of our favorites that your journey to this state cannot be completed without visiting

  • Niagara Falls – Some people consider it absurd to visit the state and not witness the beauty of Niagara Falls. We know it seems very mainstream but it is all for a good reason. However, your trip to the place won’t be wasted by just one spot. There are several other attractions in the area like the state park, botanical gardens and even casinos.
  • Adirondacks – Home to tribal communities, lakes and valleys. You can kayak or canoe in the waters and experience the scenic view that cannot be penned down in words.
  • Fire Island – Go to the Ocean beach and enjoy the restaurants and eateries with a view! 

BOOK HOTEL IN ANY PART OF NEW YORK AT GREAT PRICES

See Also

US STATES MAPS AND FLAGS

5 Interesting Facts about New York State

Hi and welcome to my travel blog! Based in London, I work in investment banking in a quantitative field and although I am not part of the travel industry, I have a ton of passion for travel. My blog is a reference guide for my fellow travelers with the same passion as me. Hopefully the blog is easy to navigate and my aim is to bring the most relevant and interesting information before you begin your journey!