New York

Flag of New York
New York is astatelocated in the Mid-Atlantic region of the northeastern United States. In addition to sharing a border with five other states, New York also borders Canada, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the Atlantic Ocean. One of the original13 colonies,New York has become one of the most populous U.S. states, as well as a cultural, economic, and financial center.
TimelineofNew YorkHistory:
Pre-European: Native American tribes inhabit the area, including Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Algonquian groups
1524: Giovanni da Verrazzano explores the Atlantic coast, includingNew YorkHarbor
1609: Henry Hudson explores the Hudson River; Samuel de Champlain explores Lake Champlain
1625: TheDutchestablish FortAmsterdam, which later becomesNew Amsterdam and thenNew YorkCity
1664: TheBritishcapture the area from theDutchandnameitNew York
1776: Americans suffer a major loss to theBritishat theBattle of Long Island (Battle of Brooklyn) during theAmerican Revolution
1777:New York adopts its first constitution; theBattles of Saratoga mark a turning point in theRevolutionary War
1788:New York becomes the 11th U.S.state
1797: Albany becomes thestatecapital
1825: TheErie Canalopens
1827: Slavery ends inNew York
1848: Alandmarkwomen’s rights convention is held atSeneca Falls
1863:Riots occur inNew YorkCityin protest of theCivil War draft
1892: Theimmigrationstation atEllis Island opens
1904: The firstsubwayline opens inNew YorkCity
1920s: TheHarlemRenaissance blossoms inNew YorkCity
1929: TheNew YorkStock Exchange crashes, marking the start of theGreat Depression
1969: TheWoodstock music festival takesplacein Bethel
2001: Terroristsattack the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center inNew YorkCity
2012:Hurricane Sandycauses extensive damage alongNew York’s coast
Quickfacts:
Capital: Albany
Dateof statehood: July 26, 1788 (11thstate)
Size (area): 54,555 sq mi (141,300 sq km)
Nickname: The EmpireState
Learn more about New York through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.