Facts About New York Learning About States in Special Ed

Welcome to New York

New York is located in the northeastern part of the United States. It borders Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Canada, and the Atlantic Ocean. Albany is the capital.

It is the fourth most populous state, with 20 million people living there.

Let’s learn a little more about this great state.

And be sure to scroll to the end to get a free fact sheet on New York.

A brief history of New York

New York became a state in 1788. It was the 11th state to join the United States.

New York was named by the English in honor of the Duke of York in 1664 after the English took control of the area from the Dutch.

New York officially became a state in 1788. Then, when George Washington became president the following year, he kept the capital of the United States in New York City until 1790.

The geography of New York

New York covers almost 55,000 square miles and has some interesting and varied geography.

The highest point in New York is Mount Marcy found in the Adirondack Mountains in the northeast part of the state.

Thousand Islands are a group of islands found in the St. Lawrence River that separates Canada from New York.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is found in the northwest tip of New York between the state and Canada. This impressive site gets millions of visitors each year.

This famous landmark is actually made up of 3 separate waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. Horseshoe Falls is the largest and is on the Canadian side of the border.

The falls got their name from the Iroquois people and means “thunder of waters.” If you have ever visited Niagara Falls, then you know the loud roaring sound the water makes as it crashes downward.

Millions of people visit Niagara Falls each year. It is the oldest state park in the United States.

New York's resources and industries

New York has a lot of natural resources as well as industries that it contributes to the United States.

New York is the largest producer of cabbage in the US.

New York is also the third largest producer of grapes. Many of the apples, dairy products, and maple syrup also come from the state.

New York City is also the home of some very important industries that come from this state. The Financial District is home to Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange. The New York Stock Exchange is the largest of its kind in the world.

Finally, fashion, art, and theater are found all throughout New York City and is the home for setting many of the trends seen throughout the country and the world.

Fun places to visit in New York

Because of its history, size, and diverse landscape there is a lot to see in New York.

Many of the most famous landmarks are found in one place, New York City. One of the most famous is the Statue of Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France. It took 21 years for the statue to be completed and was shipped over in pieces and reassembled here in the United States.

If you want to visit the Statue of Liberty, you will have to take a ferry over to the island. Once there, you can climb the 354 stairs (that’s 22 stories) to the very top of her crown. At the top, there are 25 windows you can look out of.

Another famous landmark in New York City is the Empire State Building. If you have seen the movie King Kong, or maybe even Elf, then the Empire State Building may look familiar to you. It is one of the most famous landmarks in the United States.

The Empire State Building is a total of 102 stories high or 1250 feet tall. It has not only been recognized as one of America’s landmarks, but also as one of the most environmentally friendly skyscrapers in the world.

Finally, you can even visit a park when in New York City. Central Park is the most visited park in the United States. It is located in the center of the city and is a 2 ½ mile stretch of protected land where you can hike, bike, and even picnic.

Fun facts about New York

Here are a few fun facts you might not know about New York. The rose is the state flower, and the Bluebird is the state bird.

New York is known as the Empire State. Although it is not definitively certain, it is believed George Washington gave this state its nickname, the Empire State. In 1785, he wrote a letter admiring New York for its strength during the Revolutionary War, calling it the “seat of the empire.”

New York City is home to the largest subway system in the world. Millions of people take the subway every day in this city.

Finally, the first pizzeria ever opened in the US was opened in New York City in 1895. Pizza is still one of the most recognized foods coming out of this state.

New York is a big state with lots of people. Next time you go on a trip, think about visiting this state and see what you can find.