New York was named in 1664 by the British in honor of the Duke of York. One of the 13 Colonies, New York played an important role in the Revolutionary War, which saw the United States win its freedom from British rule. New York City was the first capital of the newly formed country, before the capital found a home in Philadelphia and, finally, Washington, D.C. New York has become a major world city.
New York became known as the "Empire State," a name possibly coined by George Washington in 1784, before he became president of the new nation. New York City was named the capital of the nation in 1789, following the ratification of the Constitution and the inauguration of President Washington.
Years later, as the U.S. found its place in the world, on July 4, 1884, the Statue of Liberty was presented to the U.S. minister to France. The statue was dedicated in New York Harbor in 1886 by President Grover Cleveland. New York was the place where immigrants arrived seeking freedom in the New World. The Statue of Liberty's inscription welcomes them with the words: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."
New York City has found its place as an international capital, even though it's no longer the country's capital. New York's state's capital lies in Albany. With the United Nations headquarters stationed in New York City, worldwide issues are discussed and solved in New York.
The city is also a major hub for music, art and literature, with many well-known artists and writers calling New York home. In addition to the UN and the entertainment industry, New York is the center of the world's financial markets, with the New York Stock Exchange one of the main trend-setters for economies worldwide.
Upstate New York boasts a variety of agricultural and industrial cities. To the north of New York City, following the Hudson River, lies Poughkeepsie, in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, and Albany, which in the foothills of the Adirondacks. Both mountain chains are part of the Appalachians
In Western New York State, Syracuse and Ithaca are both education hubs, with Syracuse and Cornell universities and Ithaca College. Ithaca and Cornell lie along Cayuga Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, which are known for its wine trails.
On the far western edge of the state on the border with Canada, is the popular tourist destination of Niagara Falls, near Buffalo. The falls have both a U.S. and a Canada side for tourists to enjoy.
