About New York City

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City Identity Card:

1. LOCATION:
New York City is located in the southeastern state of New York, situated on the northeastern coast of the United States. It occupies a strategic position at the mouth of the Hudson River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

2. GEOGRAPHIC BORDERS:
The city is bordered by water, with the Hudson River to the west and the East River to the south. Manhattan Island, where much of the city's core is located, is surrounded by these rivers, providing both natural beauty and strategic importance for trade and transportation. here below are the land and water borders of NYC:
Land Borders:

• The Bronx: Shares a land border with Westchester County to the north.
• Queens: Shares a land border with Nassau County to the east.​
  
• New Jersey (West): Manhattan is separated from New Jersey by the Hudson River, but shares land borders at specific points via bridges and tunnels such as the George Washington Bridge (connecting to Fort Lee, NJ) and the Holland Tunnel (connecting to Jersey City, NJ).
• Staten Island: Shares a land border with New Jersey via the Outerbridge Crossing and the Goethals Bridge, connecting to Perth Amboy and Elizabeth, NJ respectively.

Water Borders

1. Hudson River (West) Separates Manhattan from New Jersey.
   
2. East River (East) Separates Manhattan and the Bronx from Queens and Brooklyn.
3. Harlem River (North) Separates Manhattan from the Bronx.
   
4. Upper New York Bay (South) Separates Manhattan and Brooklyn from Staten Island.
   
5. Lower New York Bay (South) Forms part of the southern water boundary for Staten Island and Brooklyn.
6. Long Island Sound (Northeast) Separates the Bronx and Queens from parts of Long Island and Connecticut. 
   
7. The Atlantic Ocean (South) The southern boundary for Brooklyn and Queens, featuring beaches like Coney Island and the Rockaways.
8. Arthur Kill (West) Separates Staten Island from New Jersey.​
   
9. Kill Van Kull (Northwest) Separates Staten Island from Bayonne, New Jersey.

3. SIGNIFICANCE IN HISTORY:
New York City is one of the oldest major cities in the United States, dating back to its founding as a Dutch trading post called New Amsterdam in 1624. It has since grown into a global center for finance, commerce, culture, and media, often referred to as the "Capital of the World."
European Exploration

• Giovanni da Verrazzano (1524): The first recorded European to explore the New York Harbor was the Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, sailing under the French flag.
• Henry Hudson (1609): In 1609, English explorer Henry Hudson, working for the Dutch East India Company, sailed up the river that would later bear his name. His exploration paved the way for Dutch settlement.
  

Dutch Settlement

• New Amsterdam (1624): The Dutch established a trading post at the southern tip of Manhattan in 1624. This settlement was initially called New Amsterdam and served as the capital of the Dutch colony of New Netherland.
• Peter Minuit and the Purchase of Manhattan (1626): In a famous transaction, Peter Minuit, the Dutch colonial governor, reportedly purchased Manhattan Island from the Native Americans for goods worth 60 guilders (often said to be about $24 at the time, though this is a simplification). This purchase laid the foundation for the future city.

English Control

• English Conquest (1664): In 1664, the English seized New Amsterdam from the Dutch without much resistance and renamed it New York in honor of the Duke of York, who later became King James II of England.
• Second Dutch Occupation and Return to English Rule (1673-1674): The Dutch briefly regained control of the city in 1673, renaming it New Orange, but returned it to the English under the Treaty of Westminster in 1674.
• Consolidation (1898): The modern City of New York was created in 1898 through the consolidation of the five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island.
  

4. AREA:
making it the most densely populated major city in the United States, New York City covers a total area of about 468.9 square miles (1,214 square kilometers).

• • Land Area: Approximately 302.6 square miles (783.8 square kilometers).
  • Water Area: Around 165.8 square miles (429.5 square kilometers).

5. POPULATION AND DENSITY:
As of 2022, New York City is home to over 8.5 million residents, making it the largest city in the United States in terms of population. Its population density is among the highest in the world, with millions more commuting into the city for work and leisure.

6. LANGUAGE:
English.

7. LANDMARKS:
1. Statue of Liberty
2. Empire State Building
3. Times Square
4. Central Park
5. Brooklyn Bridge

8. ECONOMY:
New York City has a diverse economy driven by sectors such as finance, media, technology, and tourism. It is a global leader in finance, housing the New York Stock Exchange and numerous multinational corporations.

9. GASTRONOMY:
New York City offers a vast array of cuisines reflecting its multicultural population. Iconic dishes include New York-style pizza, bagels with lox and cream cheese, pastrami sandwiches, and cheesecake.

What you can definitely try on the streets:
1. New York-style Pizza Slices
2. Hot Dogs & Pretzels from street vendors
3. Halal Cart Chicken and Rice
4. Pastrami on Rye
5. Bagels and Lox

Drinks:
1. New York Sour (A classic cocktail made with whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and a float of red wine.)
2. Manhattan (Rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters, and a cherry garnish.)
3. Brooklyn (Rye whiskey, dry vermouth, Maraschino liqueur, and Amer Picon.)
4. Cosmopolitan (Vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and freshly squeezed lime juice.)
5. The Penicillin (Blended Scotch, single malt Scotch, fresh lemon juice, honey-ginger syrup.)

Desserts:
1. New York Cheesecake
2. Cannoli from Little Italy
3. Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery
4. Aba'ib (don't know what it's called in English)
5. Sugar coated Chickpeas.

10. FLAG AND LOGO
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The city flag features a vertical tricolor of blue, white, and orange, with the seal of New York City centered on the white bar. This design draws inspiration from the flag of the Dutch Monarchy, known as the Prince's Flag, which was historically used in New Amsterdam starting in 1625 when the city became the capital of New Netherland.

The seal of New York City depicts two figures symbolizing the friendship between Native Americans and colonists: on the right, a sailor colonist while on the left, a Lenape native. The shield features four windmill sails, recalling New Amsterdam's Dutch heritage, and symbols of early trade—beavers and flour barrels—representing the city's economic origins. These elements signify the prosperity derived from the Bolting Act of 1674, which granted New York City exclusive rights to mill and export flour. The shield and supporters are positioned atop a horizontal laurel branch.

Atop the shield is an American eagle, added in 1784 after the American Revolution, replacing an imperial crown that symbolized British colonial authority. The eagle rests upon a hemisphere.

Below the shield is the date 1625, marking New Amsterdam's designation as the capital of New Netherland, though historical debate surrounds this date, as evidence suggests European settlement began in 1624. New Amsterdam was formally incorporated in 1653. Various founding dates have been used on the seal over time. Below the date is a ribbon inscribed with "SIGILLUM CIVITATIS NOVI EBORACI," Latin for "Seal of the City of New York," with "Eboracum" being the Latin name for York, honoring James II as Duke of York, after whom New York City is named.

A laurel wreath, symbolizing victory in ancient Greek tradition, encircles the entire seal. (from Wikipedia.)

Images from Wikipedia (​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_New_York_City)