New York

North America, United States
United States

People from New York are called:

Male/General:

New Yorker

Pronunciation:

/njuː ˈjɔːrkər/

Quick Facts

Population:
19,500,000 (2024 est.)
Country:
United States
Region:
North America

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Etymology & Origin

The name New York was given in 1664 when the English seized the Dutch colony of New Netherland. It was named in honor of James, Duke of York (later King James II of England), who was granted the territory by his brother, King Charles II.

The city and state were previously known as New Amsterdam and New Netherland under Dutch rule. The name "York" itself comes from the historic city of York in northern England, which has Roman and Viking roots.

New York became the 11th state on July 26, 1788. The demonym New Yorker is formed by adding the English agentive suffix -er to the state name.

Notable People Associated with New York

This place has been connected to many influential figures throughout history.

Politics & Leadership

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Hyde Park, NY

32nd U.S. President who led the nation through the Great Depression and WWII.

New Deal and longest-serving president
Eleanor Roosevelt

New York City, NY

First Lady, diplomat, and activist who redefined the role of the First Lady.

Human rights advocacy

Business & Innovation

John D. Rockefeller

Richford, NY

Industrialist and philanthropist, founder of the Standard Oil Company.

Wealthiest American of all time
Mark Zuckerberg

White Plains, NY

Co-founder of Facebook (Meta) and a pioneer of social media.

Social media revolution

Music & Entertainment

Al Pacino

New York City, NY

Academy Award-winning actor known for 'The Godfather' and 'Scent of a Woman'.

Intense and iconic acting style
Alicia Keys

New York City, NY

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and pianist known for 'Empire State of Mind'.

R&B and soul music

Sports Legends

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

New York City, NY

NBA legend and all-time leading scorer for 39 years.

Skyhook and six NBA championships
Lou Gehrig

New York City, NY

MLB legend known as 'The Iron Horse' for his durability and skill.

2130 consecutive games played

About New York

  • Capital city: Albany.
  • Home to New York City, a global finance and media hub.
  • Contains Adirondack Mountains and Finger Lakes regions.
  • Admitted as the 11th state in 1788.

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