New York: The Empire State

New York: The Empire State — page 1
INTRODUCTION Few places in the United States rival New York in terms of population culture and economic importance Only two states California and Texas have more residents New York City with about 8 million people is the nation’s largest city The value of the goods and services produced in the state is higher than that of most countries throughout the world From its sandy beaches and rugged mountains to the hustle and bustle of New York City the state of New York is a place of sharp contrasts New York was one of the original 13 colonies Its nickname the Empire State is thought to have come from George Washington who said in 1784 that he envisioned New York as the seat of empire Since then the people of New York have worked hard to live up to their state’s nickname Today New York is a national leader in manufacturing finance education and the arts There are nearly 600 miles of waterfront in New York City 4 NEW YORK Lake Ontario borders both New York and the Canadian province of Ontario The state of New York covers a total area of 53,013 square miles making it the 28th largest state in the country In terms of area New York City is the largest city in the state of New York It covers some 300 square miles and its metropolitan area covers more than 1,100 square miles New York’s state motto is Excelsior which means ever upward