| New York City, officially named the City of New York, | | | | Europe grew steeply, and New York became the first |
| is the most populous city in the United States, and the | | | | stop for millions seeking a new and better life in the |
| most densely populated major city in North America. | | | | United States, a role acknowledged by the dedication |
| The city is at the center of international finance, politics, | | | | of the Statue of Liberty in 1886 |
| entertainment, and culture, and is one of the world's | | | | ¢ In two separate actions in 1874 and 1895, New |
| major global cities (along with London, Tokyo and | | | | York City (and New York County) annexed sections |
| Paris) with a virtually unrivaled collection of museums, | | | | of southern Westchester County known as the Bronx |
| galleries, performance venues, media outlets, | | | | ¢ In 1898, New York City took the political form in |
| international corporations, and stock exchanges. The | | | | which it exists to this day. |
| city is also home to the United Nations, along with all of | | | | ¢ 9/11 changed the political map of the world |
| the international missions associated with it. | | | | Place of interest |
| History | | | | Tourism is a major local industry, with hundreds of |
| Long before the arrival of European settlers, the New | | | | attractions and 39 million tourists visiting the city each |
| York City area was inhabited by the Lenape people, | | | | year on average. Many visitors make it a point to visit |
| including such tribes as the Manahattoes, Canarsies | | | | Ground Zero, the Empire State Building, Times Square, |
| and Raritan. | | | | Radio City Music Hall, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, |
| Major events in New York history include | | | | Wall Street, United Nations Headquarters, the |
| ¢ In 1524 the first European explorer enters New | | | | American Museum of Natural History, St. Patrick's |
| York Harbor | | | | Cathedral, Fifth Avenue, and the Brooklyn Bridge, |
| ¢ European settlement begins with the following | | | | among other attractions. There are over 28,000 acres |
| the 1609 voyage of Henry Hudson | | | | (113 km²) of parkland found throughout New York |
| ¢ Founding of the Dutch fur trading settlement in | | | | City, comprising over 1,700 separate parks and |
| Lower Manhattan in 1613 later called New Amsterdam | | | | playgrounds. The best known of these is Central Park, |
| ¢ English ships captured the city without struggle | | | | which is one of the finest examples of landscape |
| in 1664 | | | | architecture in the world, as well as a major source of |
| ¢ The Dutch formally ceded New York to the | | | | recreation for New Yorkers and tourists alike. Other |
| English in the Treaty of Breda at the conclusion of the | | | | major parks in the city include Riverside Park, Battery |
| Second Anglo-Dutch War in 1667 | | | | Park, Bryant Park, Prospect Park, Flushing |
| ¢ The city was renamed New York, after James, | | | | Meadow-Corona Park, Washington Square Park, and |
| Duke of York, and became a royal colony in 1685 | | | | Forest Park. |
| ¢ After the Civil War, the rate of immigration from | | | | |