Wow!
New York! Diversity and contrast, that's New York. The thunderous and
spectacular Niagara Falls, the rugged mountains of the Adirondacks, the
enchanting Catskills, all the lakes great and small, the Hudson River, and
Fire Island -- the variety and range of natural amenities is awesome! And
born of this state... the one and only Michael Jordan!
And
then, there's the city, the Big Apple...
New
York City, the one and only. Shop on Fifth Avenue, feel the excitement of
Times Square, the world of Wall Street, the vitality of Carnegie Hall. See
the city from atop the Empire
State Building, and feel the emotion of history and the hope of the
future at the Statue of Liberty. Magnificent New York!
The
month of May marks the anniversary of the opening of the Empire
State Building on May 1, 1931 at 11:15am. It was the tallest building
in the world for 40 years.
| THE NAME:
New York was named by the British to honor the Duke of York and Albany, the brother of England's King Charles
II, when New Amsterdam was taken from the Dutch in 1664. New York became the name of the state and the city.
Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S.
State
Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994 |
| THE NICKNAMES:
The Empire State: New York is called "The Empire State" because of its wealth and variety of resources.
This nickname appeared on New York license plates from 1951 through the mid-1960s. In 2001, "The Empire
State" legend returned to New York license plates.
The Excelsior State: This nickname comes from the motto of New York; "Excelsior." New York's motto means
"ever upward."
The Knickerbocker State: This nickname comes from the pants worn by early Dutch settlers in New York.
"Knickerbocker" is a German term made up of two words. "Knicker" means box and "bock" is a male goat. This
term was promoted in Washington Irving's character, Diedrich Knickerbocker in "Knickerbocker History of New York."
Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State
Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994
Shankle, George Earlie, Phd State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers and
Other Symbols H. H. Wilson Company, New York - 1938 (Reprint) |
THE CITIZENS:
People who live in New York or who come from New York are called New Yorkers. |
THE QUARTER:
The first state quarter of 2001 belongs to New York, the eleventh state to enter the union in 1788. The eleven
states of the time are represented by eleven stars.
The Statue of Liberty, superimposed over an outlining of New York state, is shown as the "Gateway To
Freedom" celebrating the Empire State as a point of entry for millions of immigrants seeking the political
freedom and democracy that American citizenship provides. Lines tracing the Hudson River and Erie Canal are etched
into the state’s outline. These two important waterways were not included in the original design. They were added
at Governor Pataki’s request to pay tribute to their importance in the state’s development.
For more on the state commemorative quarters, visit this page.
This 50 State Quarter Map is a great way to collect and display all 50 State Quarters. |
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