New York became the 11th State of the Union on July 26th, 1788. European settlers began inhabiting the area at the start of the 17th century, when in 1609 Henry Hudson took the helm of the Halve Maen (Half Moon) and sailed across the Atlantic. During the colonial period of the early to mid 1600s, the region adopted the name New Netherland, and its largest city was known as New Amsterdam. In 1664 the Duke of York, James, gained control of the territory and its name changed to New York in honor of the duke, and New York City replaced the name New Amsterdam. Although these names have endured the test of time, the struggles for sovereignty shifted over the next century. The American Revolutionary War of 1776 consisted of many hard-fought battles, and the Battle of Brooklyn proved to be one of the political game changers. In 1789 George Washington's inauguration took place in front of The Federal Hall, which signified the birth of a nation, The United States of America.
New York's state capital is the City of Albany, and its largest is New York City. New York's Area is 54,475 square miles, and its citizens are referred to as New Yorkers. Its major industries include finance, communications, international trade, publishing, fashion, fruit and dairy farming, and tourism. As of 2010, the population totaled 8,175,133 people. Martin Van Buren, the 8th US President, was born in Kinderhook on December 5, 1782, and he served from 1838 to 1841. Millard Fillmore, the 13th US President, was born in Summerhill on January 7, 1800, and he served from 1850 to 1853. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th US President, was born in New York City on October 27, 1858, and he served from 1901 to 1909. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32th US President, was born in Hyde Park on January 30, 1882, and he served from 1933 to 1945.
New York's three main rivers are the Hudson River, the Mohawk River, and the Genesee River. Its highest mountain is Mt. Marcy, measuring at a vertical 5344 feet.New York has 62 Counties and 29 state representatives. Its bordering States are Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Its bordering Country is Canada, and New York's bordering bodies of water include Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Champlain, and the Atlantic Ocean. The State of New York has over 50 accredited universities, including Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University, and St John's University.
Written by Lyndsey Morgan
