The European settlement of New York was led by the Dutch, settling along the Hudson River in 1624. They established the colony of New Amsterdam on the island of Manhattan. When the British took control of the area in 1664, they renamed it New York, and it became one of the original 13 colonies. New York achieved statehood in 1788, with the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, and New York City served as the new nation’s first capital. George Washington was sworn in as president there, at Federal Hall on Wall Street, in 1789.
From the late 1800s to the mid-20th century, millions of immigrants arrived at New York Harbor, where Ellis Island became their gateway to U.S. citizenship. The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, was erected on what became Liberty Island in 1886. It's estimated that as many as four in 10 Americans can trace at least one ancestor to this migration, 14 million arriving there through 1924.
With 47,000 square miles statewide, New York state offers vast regions of wilderness. Most notable are the Adirondack Mountains, home to hiking at the state's highest peaks, and a family-oriented ski resort at Gore Mountain. The Adirondack Park encompasses 6 million acres, with 30,000 rivers and streams, 3,000 lakes and ponds. Mount Marcy, at 5,343 feet, is the state’s tallest. The 1980 Winter Olympics were staged at Lake Placid, where the ski jump areas and ice skating rink continue to draw tourists.
Cost of Living
| 2021 Third Quarter 2021 Cost of Living (US Average 100) |
| Rank |
Index |
Grocery |
Housing |
Utilities |
Transportation |
Health |
Misc. |
| 48 |
143.7 |
117.9 |
227.5 |
101 |
105.8 |
103.2 |
113.9 |