Welcome to New York

The State of New York is in the northeast region of the United States and covers about 55,000 square miles.  It’s the third most populous state in the nation with around 19 million people.  The majority of those people live in and around New York City, so the state is often divided into “upstate” and “downstate” regions.   New York borders the Great Lakes Erie and Ontario to the northwest; Canadian provinces Ontario and Quebec to the north; Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut to the east; the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast; and New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the South.  Despite New York City’s urbanizing presence, the state as a whole is full of woods, mountains, and water.  Niagara Falls is an attraction between Lakes Erie and Ontario, and the Adirondack State Park is bigger than almost any US National Park.   New York was originally inhabited by the Algonquin and Iroquois Native Americans.  It was first explored by Europeans in the 1500s, the Dutch were the first to settle permanently in 1624.  They named the area “New Netherland,” but the English conquered the area 40 years later and renamed it “New York” after the Duke of York.  About a third of the battles of the Revolutionary War were fought on New York soil, and it was one of the original states of the Union.  New York City was the nation’s first capital, and was where George Washington was inaugurated.  Over the next century the state grew and the French-given Statue of Liberty was erected here in the 1880s.  In the 20th century, New York power and influence grew as it became home to the United Nations and the headquarters of the New York Stock Exchange.   New York City is the leading center of banking, finance, and communication in the United States.  It headquarters the New York Stock Exchange, and the state’s total gross product is around $1 billion annually, which would rank it ahead of all but 15 countries.  Agriculture is also a huge economic force here, with nearly a quarter of the land devoted to farming.  There’s also a large manufacturing sector in New York, along with a smaller fishing industry.  Per capita income for New York was $40,507, which is 5th nationally.   New York’s climate is typical of the northeastern United States and is often described as humid continental.  Upstate is significantly colder, as it doesn’t have the moderating effect of the Atlantic Ocean to temper cold Canadian air, and winter is typically long and cold.  The western parts of the state avoid this because of the moderating influence of the Great Lakes.  Summer temperatures over 100 degrees are rare but most areas of the state have recorded at least one day that broke that barrier.   New York levies a 7.35% maximum variable rate income tax, with 8 tax brackets and an 8.625% sales tax.

Fast Facts State Sales Tax Rate: 8.625% Motto: Excelsior! Nickname: The Empire State Entered Union (rank): July 26, 1788 (11) State Seal: The seal features the state's official Coat of Arms encircled by the words "The Great Seal of the State of New York". Atop the Coat of Arms is a Bald Eagle and a globe, sandwiched between Liberty and Justice, with a banner reading "Excelsior”. Population (2000):    18,976,457 Land Area: 54,520 sq mi New York Borders: Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Ontario, Quebec, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, the Atlantic Ocean, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Longest River: Hudson River- 306 miles State Parks: 176 state parks Largest Counties:   Population: Kings County – 2,486,235   Area: St. Lawrence County – 2,685 sq mi Largest New York Cities by Population:   New York – 8,143,197   Buffalo- 279,745   Rochester – 211,091 Climate:   Record high: 108 in 1926 at Troy   Record Low: -52 in 1979 at Old Forge   Average Yearly Precipitation: From around 35 inches annually in the western part of the state to over 60 in certain parts in upstate New York.