New York City facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New York
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Midtown Manhattan with the Empire State Building (center) and Lower Manhattan with One WTC (background)
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| Nicknames:
The Big Apple, The City That Never Sleeps, Gotham, and others
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 New York
Location in New York
New York
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New York |
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| Constituent counties (boroughs) | |||||
| Settled | 1624 | ||||
| Consolidated | 1898 | ||||
| Named for | James, Duke of York | ||||
| Government | |||||
| • Type | Strong mayor–council | ||||
| • Body | New York City Council | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 472.43 sq mi (1,223.59 km2) | ||||
| • Land | 300.46 sq mi (778.18 km2) | ||||
| • Water | 171.97 sq mi (445.41 km2) | ||||
| Highest elevation | 401 ft (122 m) | ||||
| Lowest elevation | 0 ft (0 m) | ||||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,804,190 | ||||
| • Estimate
(July 2023)
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8,258,035 | ||||
| • Rank | 1st in the United States | ||||
| • Density | 29,302.7/sq mi (11,313.8/km2) | ||||
| • Urban | 19,426,449 | ||||
| • Urban density | 5,980.8/sq mi (2,309.2/km2) | ||||
| • Metro | 20,140,470 | ||||
| Demonym(s) | New Yorker | ||||
| GDP | |||||
| • Total | .286 trillion (2023) | ||||
| • Metro | .299 trillion (2023) (1st) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) | ||||
| ZIP Codes |
100xx–104xx, 11004–05, 111xx–114xx, 116xx
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| Area codes | 212/646/332, 718/347/929, 917 | ||||
| FIPS code | 36-51000 | ||||
| GNIS feature ID | 975772 | ||||
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New York City, often called NYC or The Big Apple, is the largest city in the United States by population. It is located in New York State on one of the world's biggest natural harbors. The city is made up of five main areas called boroughs. Each borough is also a county.
New York City is a major global center for many things. It's important for money and business, culture, technology, entertainment, and media. It's also a hub for learning, science, and fashion. The headquarters of the United Nations is here, making it a key place for international talks.
With over 8.2 million people in 2023, New York City is the most crowded major city in the U.S. It has more than twice the population of Los Angeles. New York City is one of the world's largest megacities. Many people from other countries come to live here. About 800 languages are spoken in New York City, making it the most language-diverse city in the world.
New York City started as a Dutch trading post around 1624. It was called New Amsterdam in 1626. The English took control in 1664 and renamed it New York. The city we know today was formed in 1898. This happened when its five boroughs joined together: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
New York City is known as a top financial center. Its economy is bigger than most countries. Even with a subway system that runs all day, New York has a lot of traffic. It is home to the world's two largest stock exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. New York City is also one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in. It has the most billionaires and millionaires of any city.
Contents
What's in a Name?
In 1664, the city was named New York to honor the Duke of York. He later became King James II of England. The Duke's brother, King Charles II, gave him control of the land. This happened after England took it from the Dutch. Before that, the city was called New Amsterdam.
A Look at New York City's Past
Early Days and First Explorers
Long ago, the area of New York City was home to the Lenape people. Their land included what we now call Staten Island, Manhattan, the Bronx, and parts of Long Island.
The first European to visit New York Harbor was Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524. He was an explorer from Italy working for France. He named the area "New Angoulême." In 1609, English explorer Henry Hudson rediscovered the harbor. He was looking for a way to Asia for the Dutch. He sailed up the river now named after him. He claimed the area for the Dutch.
In 1614, the Dutch claimed the land between Cape Cod and Delaware Bay. They called it New Netherland. The first non-Native American to live in what became New York City was Juan (Jan) Rodriguez. He arrived in 1613 and traded furs with the local people.
Dutch Beginnings: New Amsterdam
A lasting European settlement began in 1624. It was a Dutch fur trading post on Governors Island. In 1625, they started building a fort called Nieuw Amsterdam (New Amsterdam) on Manhattan Island.
New Amsterdam was in what is now Lower Manhattan. In 1626, the Dutch leader, Peter Minuit, bought Manhattan Island from the Lenape people. He paid about $900 in today's money. A popular story says he paid with glass beads worth $24, but this isn't true.
The colony grew slowly at first. To get more settlers, the Dutch offered land to rich people who brought colonists. This didn't work very well. In 1639, the Dutch company that controlled trade opened it up. This helped the economy grow with food, timber, and tobacco.
Peter Stuyvesant became the last Dutch leader in 1647. During his time, the population grew from 2,000 to 8,000. He improved law and order but was known for being strict.
English Takeover and Growth
In 1664, the English took over New Amsterdam without a fight. They renamed it "New York" after the Duke of York. The Dutch got it back briefly in 1673, renaming it "New Orange." But they returned it to England in 1674.
New York grew as a trading port in the 1700s. Sadly, it also became a center for slavery. By 1730, 42% of homes had enslaved Africans. Their labor was important for the city's economy. A large burial ground for enslaved and free Africans was found in the 1990s.
In 1735, a trial in Manhattan helped establish freedom of the press in North America. Columbia University was founded in Lower Manhattan in 1754.
The American Revolution in New York
New York was a key place during the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Long Island, the biggest battle of the war, happened in Brooklyn in 1776. The British won and made New York City their main base.
After the war, in 1785, New York City became the first capital of the United States. George Washington became the first president here in 1789. The first Congress and Supreme Court also met here. The United States Bill of Rights was written here.
A Growing City in the 1800s
New York City's population grew from 60,000 to 3.4 million during the 1800s. Slavery was slowly ended in New York State, fully abolished by 1827. Free Black people faced discrimination but continued to fight for equality.
The city's layout changed with a new street grid in 1811. The Erie Canal, completed in 1825, connected New York City to the Great Lakes. This made the city a huge trading center. Many Irish and German immigrants arrived, changing the city's culture.
Famous writers like Herman Melville and Edgar Allan Poe lived in New York. Central Park was created in 1857. It became the first planned park in an American city.
Civil War and Beyond
During the American Civil War, New York City had strong ties to the South. In 1863, anger over new draft laws led to the Draft Riots. These riots involved attacks on wealthy people and Black New Yorkers. Over 120 people were killed.
In 1886, the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, was placed in New York Harbor. It welcomed millions of immigrants coming to the U.S. through Ellis Island. The statue became a symbol of freedom.
In 1898, the five boroughs officially joined to form the City of New York. The New York City Subway, which opened in 1904, helped connect the new city. New York became a world center for business and communication.
Many African Americans moved to New York City from the South. This led to the Harlem Renaissance, a time of great cultural growth. Skyscrapers began to define the city's famous skyline.
By the 1920s, New York City was the most populated urban area in the world. After World War II, New York became the leading city globally. The Headquarters of the United Nations was completed in 1952, making New York a key player in world politics.
Where is New York City?
New York City is in the northeastern United States. It's about halfway between Washington, D.C., and Boston. Its location at the mouth of the Hudson River and a natural harbor helped it become a major trading port. Most of the city is built on three islands: Long Island, Manhattan, and Staten Island.
Long ago, a huge ice sheet covered the area. When it melted, it shaped the land. This left solid bedrock close to the surface, which is perfect for building skyscrapers.
The Hudson River flows into New York Bay. It separates New York City from New Jersey. The East River separates the Bronx and Manhattan from Long Island. The Harlem River separates most of Manhattan from the Bronx. The Bronx River is the only completely freshwater river in the city.
Humans have changed the city's land a lot. They've added land along the waterfronts since Dutch times. The highest point in the city is Todt Hill on Staten Island, which is about 401 feet (122 meters) above sea level.
The Five Boroughs
New York City is made up of five boroughs, each with its own unique feel:
- Manhattan (New York County) is the smallest and most crowded borough. It has Central Park and most of the city's skyscrapers. It's often called The City. Manhattan is the cultural and financial heart of New York City. It has the United Nations headquarters and Wall Street.
- Brooklyn (Kings County) is the most populated borough. It's on the western tip of Long Island. Brooklyn is known for its many cultures and diverse neighborhoods. It has a lively art scene and unique buildings. Coney Island, a famous amusement area, is also in Brooklyn.
- Queens (Queens County) is the largest borough by area. It's on Long Island, north and east of Brooklyn. Queens is the most diverse county in the U.S. It's home to Citi Field, where the New York Mets baseball team plays. Two major airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, are also in Queens.
- The Bronx (Bronx County) is the northernmost borough. It's the only part of the city mostly on the mainland. It's home to Yankee Stadium, where the New York Yankees play. The Bronx Zoo, the world's largest city zoo, is also here. The Bronx is known as the birthplace of hip hop music.
- Staten Island (Richmond County) feels more like a suburb. It's connected to Brooklyn by the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. You can get to Manhattan by taking the free Staten Island Ferry. The Staten Island Greenbelt is a large natural area with walking trails.
New York City's Weather
New York City has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and cold, damp winters. Spring and autumn are usually mild. The city gets a good amount of sunshine each year. Hurricanes and tropical storms are rare in the area.
Parks and Green Spaces
New York City has a huge park system. It includes parks managed by the National Park Service, New York State, and the city itself. In 2018, New York City's park system was ranked among the top ten in the U.S.
Gateway National Recreation Area has over 26,000 acres in New York City. This includes wetlands, islands, and parts of Jamaica Bay. The Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island Immigration Museum are also managed by the National Park Service.
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There are seven state parks in New York City. These include the Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve and Riverbank State Park. The city has over 28,000 acres of parks and 14 miles of public beaches. Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx is the largest city park. Central Park is the most visited urban park in the world.
Who Lives in New York City?
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1698 | 4,937 | — |
| 1712 | 5,840 | +18.3% |
| 1723 | 7,248 | +24.1% |
| 1737 | 10,664 | +47.1% |
| 1746 | 11,717 | +9.9% |
| 1756 | 13,046 | +11.3% |
| 1771 | 21,863 | +67.6% |
| 1790 | 33,131 | +51.5% |
| 1800 | 60,515 | +82.7% |
| 1810 | 96,373 | +59.3% |
| 1820 | 123,706 | +28.4% |
| 1830 | 202,589 | +63.8% |
| 1840 | 312,710 | +54.4% |
| 1850 | 515,547 | +64.9% |
| 1860 | 813,669 | +57.8% |
| 1870 | 942,292 | +15.8% |
| 1880 | 1,206,299 | +28.0% |
| 1890 | 1,515,301 | +25.6% |
| 1900 | 3,437,202 | +126.8% |
| 1910 | 4,766,883 | +38.7% |
| 1920 | 5,620,048 | +17.9% |
| 1930 | 6,930,446 | +23.3% |
| 1940 | 7,454,995 | +7.6% |
| 1950 | 7,891,957 | +5.9% |
| 1960 | 7,781,984 | −1.4% |
| 1970 | 7,894,862 | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 7,071,639 | −10.4% |
| 1990 | 7,322,564 | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 8,008,288 | +9.4% |
| 2010 | 8,175,133 | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 8,804,190 | +7.7% |
| 2023 est. | 8,258,035 | −6.2% |
New York City is the most populated city in the United States. In 2020, it had 8,804,190 residents. This was its highest number ever. More than twice as many people live here than in Los Angeles. The city is very crowded, with many people living in a small area.
New York City's population is very diverse. In 2020, it was about 31% White, 29% Hispanic or Latino, 23% Black, and 14.5% Asian. Many people in New York City were born outside the U.S. About 800 languages are spoken here. This makes it the most linguistically diverse city in the world.
Diverse Cultures and Backgrounds
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New York City has always been a major entry point for immigrants. No single country or region dominates. Queens is known as the most ethnically and linguistically diverse urban area in the world.
The New York area has the largest Asian Indian population in the Western Hemisphere. It also has large Russian American, Italian American, and African American populations. There are many Hispanic communities, including large Dominican and Puerto Rican groups.
New York City has the largest total Asian population of any U.S. city. Manhattan's Chinatown is the biggest concentration of Chinese people outside Asia. Queens is home to the largest Tibetan population outside Asia.
New York City also has the largest European and non-Hispanic white population of any American city. It has the highest Jewish population of any city in the world. Nearly half of the city's Jewish residents live in Brooklyn.
Beliefs and Religions
Christianity is the largest religion in New York City. It has the most churches of any city in the world. Roman Catholicism is the biggest Christian group.
Judaism is the second-largest religion. About 1 million people practice Judaism in New York City. This is the largest Jewish community of any city in the world.
Islam is the third-largest religion. Estimates say between 600,000 and 1,000,000 Muslims live in New York City. This is the largest and most diverse Muslim population in the Western Hemisphere.
Other religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism are also present. Many New Yorkers also identify with no organized religion.
New York City's Economy
New York City is a global center for business and trade. It's sometimes called the "Capital of the World." The New York area has the world's largest economy for a metropolitan area.
New York is a hub for banking and finance, health care, medical technology, and research. It's also important for shopping, world trade, tourism, and real estate. Many large companies have their main offices here. New York City is a top place for attracting money, businesses, and tourists.
The city's fashion industry employs about 180,000 people. Manufacturing has decreased over time but still provides many jobs. New York City is a leader in the advertising industry.
New York City has a high cost of living. Rent for apartments is very high. In 2023, a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan cost about $4,443 per month. The city has a shortage of available housing.
Wall Street: A Financial Powerhouse
New York City's most important economic area is finance, known as Wall Street. Lower Manhattan is home to the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. These are the world's largest and second-largest stock exchanges.
New York City is the biggest global center for trading stocks and bonds. It also leads in managing hedge funds and private investments. Many big banks are based here. Manhattan has the most office space in the world.
Tech and Science Growth
New York is a top global technology hub. The city's tech scene has grown a lot since 2003. It now includes artificial intelligence (AI), internet, new media, financial technology (fintech), and biotechnology. Many new tech companies and jobs are growing here.
The biotechnology sector is also growing. This is thanks to the city's strong scientific research and financial support. In 2011, Cornell University and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology started building Cornell Tech. This graduate school on Roosevelt Island aims to make New York a top technology capital.
Tourism: A Major Industry
Tourism is very important for New York City. The city gets about 66.6 million visitors each year. Many sources call New York the most photographed city in the world. The "I Love New York" logo and song help promote tourism.
Many famous places in New York City are major landmarks. These include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Central Park. Times Square is a brightly lit area with Broadway theaters. It attracts 50 million visitors each year. Broadway shows sell billions of dollars in tickets annually.
Media and Entertainment Hub
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New York City is a global capital for entertainment and digital media. It's a center for advertising, music, newspapers, and publishing. Many of the world's largest media companies are based here. These include Warner Bros. Discovery and The New York Times Company.
More than 200 newspapers and 350 magazines have offices in the city. The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times are two major national newspapers published here. New York City is also a big center for making movies and TV shows. It produces about 200 feature films each year.
New York City's Culture
New York City is often called the cultural capital of the world. It's the setting for many novels, movies, and TV shows. The city has given birth to many cultural movements. These include the Harlem Renaissance in literature and art. It's also where hip-hop, punk, and salsa music began.
New York City is known for its fast pace. This led to the phrase New York minute. New Yorkers are also known for being very strong and bouncing back from challenges.
Broadway Theater Scene
Manhattan is the main center for American theater. It has Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway shows. Many famous actors got their start in New York plays.
Broadway theaters are mostly in Midtown Manhattan's Theatre District. These theaters have at least 500 seats. The Broadway season earns billions of dollars each year. The Tony Awards celebrate the best in Broadway theater.
New York Accent
The New York area has a special way of speaking. It's called the New York dialect, or Brooklynese. It's known for being fast. The classic New York accent is mostly heard among middle- and working-class New Yorkers.
City Architecture
New York has many interesting buildings from different time periods. These range from old Dutch Colonial homes to the modern One World Trade Center. Manhattan's skyline with its many skyscrapers is famous worldwide.
Many residential areas have elegant brownstone rowhouses. These were built when the city grew quickly from 1870 to 1930. Stone and brick became popular after a big fire in 1835. Some neighborhoods also have larger, single-family homes.
Arts and Museums
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is home to many important arts groups. These include the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic. The Juilliard School for performing arts is also there.
New York City has over 2,000 arts and cultural organizations. It also has more than 500 art galleries. The city government gives more money to the arts than the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Museum Mile is a section of Fifth Avenue with nine museums. These include the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met is the largest art museum in the Americas. It has over two million works of art from around the world.
Delicious Food
New York City's food culture is very diverse. It's influenced by the city's immigrant history. Immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe brought New York-style bagels, cheesecake, and hot dogs. Italian immigrants brought New York-style pizza.
You can find Chinese, other Asian, Italian, and many other types of restaurants everywhere. Street food vendors sell Middle Eastern foods like falafel and kebabs. The city has nearly a thousand high-quality restaurants.
Fashion Capital
New York City is a global fashion capital. The fashion industry employs many people here. New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is a big event twice a year. Models show off the latest designs from around the world.
NYFW helps set the trends for the global fashion industry. New York's fashion district is in Midtown Manhattan. It's centered around Seventh Avenue, also called Fashion Avenue.
Exciting Parades
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New York City is famous for its street parades. Most of them happen in Manhattan. The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is the world's largest. It starts near Central Park and goes south. Millions of people watch it in person and on TV.
Other famous parades include the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade in March. There's also the NYC Pride March in June and the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade in October.
Sports in the City
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New York City is home to the main offices of major sports leagues. These include the National Football League, Major League Baseball, and the National Basketball Association.
The city has many professional sports teams. The New York Giants and New York Jets play football. The New York Mets and New York Yankees play baseball. The Yankees have won a record 27 championships.
The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets play basketball. The New York Rangers play hockey. New York City also has two Major League Soccer teams: New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls.
The annual US Open tennis tournament is held in Queens. The New York City Marathon runs through all five boroughs. It's the world's largest running marathon.
Learning and Education
Schools and Libraries
New York City has the largest school system of any city in the U.S. The public school system serves about 1.1 million students. There are also about 900 private and religious schools.
The New York Public Library has the largest collection of any public library system in the U.S. Queens and Brooklyn also have very large public library systems.
Colleges and Universities
More than a million students attend over 120 colleges and universities in New York City. The City University of New York (CUNY) system has 25 schools across all five boroughs.
Notable private universities include Columbia University, New York University, and Fordham University. Many of these are ranked among the top universities in the world.
A lot of scientific research happens in the city, especially in medicine. New York City has many doctors and has produced many Nobel laureates.
Getting Around New York City
Public Transportation
New York City's public transportation runs 24 hours a day. It accounts for one in every three mass transit users in the U.S.
The city's public bus system is the largest in North America. The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the world's busiest bus station.
Subway and Trains
The New York City Subway is the largest subway system in the world by number of stations. It runs 24 hours a day. It's the busiest subway system in the Western Hemisphere.
Most New Yorkers use public transport to get to work. They spend less money on transportation than people in other U.S. cities. New York is the only American city where most households don't own a car.
New York City's commuter train network is the largest in North America. It connects the city to its suburbs. The Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad are part of this network. These trains meet at Grand Central Terminal and New York Penn Station.
The Staten Island Railway serves only Staten Island. The PATH train connects Manhattan with New Jersey. Grand Central Terminal is the world's largest train station by number of platforms.
Airports
New York's airspace is the busiest in the United States. The three main airports are John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport. These airports serve over 127 million travelers each year. JFK is one of the busiest airports for international passengers in North America.
LaGuardia Airport has been updated with new terminals. There are also plans to expand other airports in the area.
Ferries, Taxis, and Trams
The Staten Island Ferry is the world's busiest ferry. It carries over 23 million passengers each year. Other ferry systems connect Manhattan to other parts of the city.
New York City has many yellow taxicabs. They are the only cars allowed to pick up people on the street. Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are also very popular.
The Roosevelt Island Tramway is an aerial tramway. It carries 2 million passengers a year between Roosevelt Island and Manhattan.
Cycling in the City
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Cycling is becoming more popular in New York City. The city has over 1,525 miles of bike lanes. This includes many protected bike lanes. Many people now bike to work or for fun.
Streets and Highways
New York City is known for its busy streets. It has some of the worst traffic in the world. The city has many highways and parkways. These connect the boroughs to each other and to nearby states.
Because so many people commute into Manhattan, traffic jams are common. To help with this, New York City started congestion pricing in 2025. This charges drivers to enter parts of Manhattan. Unlike most of the U.S., you cannot turn right on a red light in New York City unless a sign says you can.
Bridges and Tunnels
Manhattan and Staten Island are islands. Queens and Brooklyn are on Long Island. The Bronx is on the mainland. Many bridges and tunnels connect these areas.
The 14-lane George Washington Bridge is the world's busiest motor vehicle bridge. It connects Manhattan to New Jersey. The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the Americas. It connects Brooklyn and Staten Island.
The Brooklyn Bridge is a city icon. It opened in 1883 and was the first steel-wire suspension bridge. The Manhattan Bridge and Queensboro Bridge are also famous.
The Lincoln Tunnel is the busiest vehicle tunnel in the world. It goes under the Hudson River between New Jersey and Manhattan. The Holland Tunnel was the first mechanically ventilated vehicle tunnel. The Queens–Midtown Tunnel and Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel also connect Manhattan to other boroughs.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Nueva York para niños
