Origin of New York City

New York began as New Amsterdam, a Dutch West India Company settlement founded 1624 on southern Manhattan Island.

Timeline

• 1609: Henry Hudson (Dutch East India Co.) explores river later named for him.
• 1624: 30 Walloon families settle Nutten Island (Governors Island), then Manhattan.
• 1626: Peter Minuit "purchases" Manhattan from Lenape (60 guilders trade goods).
• 1647: Peter Stuyvesant becomes Director-General; expands settlement.
• 1664: English fleet under Richard Nicolls captures New Amsterdam; renamed New York for James, Duke of York (later James II).
• 1673–74: Brief Dutch recapture (New Orange); returned to England by Treaty of Westminster.
• 1686: Dongan Charter establishes municipal government.

Growth Drivers

• Superb natural harbor → trade hub
• Gateway for immigration (Ellis Island 1892–1954)
• Erie Canal (1825) linked to Great Lakes
• Financial center (Wall St., NYSE)

From 270 people (1628) to 8.3M (2023)—400 years of relentless reinvention.