Major Cities: New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, Syracuse, Albany
Borders: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island (maritime), Canada, Atlantic Ocean
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $1,205,930 million (2012 U.S. Department of Commerce)
Key Industries: Agriculture including apples, grapes, wine, milk, and cheese
Finance, communications, clothing and apparel, fashion, computers, electronics, and tourism
How New York got its name: When the English took over the land from the Dutch they named it New York in honor of the Duke of York and the city of York in England.
Click on map for larger view
New York State Symbols
State Nickname: Empire State
State Slogan: I Love New York; also its state song, The Empire State (on highway welcome signs)
State Motto: Excelsior (Ever upward)
State flower: Rose
State bird: Bluebird
State fish: Brook trout (fresh water), Striped bass (salt water)
State tree: Sugar Maple
State mammal: Beaver
State foods: Apple Muffin, Apple
Becoming a State
Date admitted: Saturday, July 26, 1788
Number admitted: 11
Prior Name: Province of New York, then sovereign state in Confederation
Postal Abbreviation: NY
The Geography of New York
Total Size: 47,214 sq. miles (source: 2003 Census)
Geographical Low Point: Atlantic Ocean at Sea Level (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
Geographical High Point: Mt. Marcy at 5,344 feet, located in the county/subdivision of Essex (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
Central Point: Located in Madison County approx. 12 miles south of Oneida and 26 miles southwest of Utica (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
Counties: 58 (source: National Association of Counties)
Bodies of Water: Atlantic Ocean, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Champlain, Hudson River
