By Dwight Malone
New York was the 11th state admitted to the
United States. Although it is only the 27th largest state in land size, it ranks third in population. New York has long been a tourist destination for American and international tourists alike. New York City is full of attractions, including museums, theaters and the iconic Statue of Liberty. Upstate New York is considerably different, with a variety of popular destinations for outdoor lovers.
Cities
By far, the largest city in New York is New York City, the largest city in the United States with more than 8 million residents. Other large cities in New York include Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany, the state capital.
Geography
New York is very geographically diverse. Much of the southern part of the state is on a plateau, while northern New York is home to the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains. Both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are bordered by New York.
Economy
Only Texas and California rank higher than New York in gross state product. New York City is one of the world's banking and media centers, while upstate New York is more agricultural.
Border State
New York is one of 13 states to share a border with Canada, and there are seven U.S. border crossings in New York. One of New York's main tourist attractions, Niagara Falls, is on the Canadian border.
Name Origins
The state was originally named New Netherland and was renamed New York to honor England's Duke of York. New York City was originally called New Amsterdam.
About the Author:
Dwight Malone is a journalist who has worked for various Chicago-area newspapers, including the "Chicago Tribune" and "Naperville Sun." He has been a writer, editor and graphic designer since 2000. Malone studied journalism at Eastern Illinois University.
