Often referred to as “The Big Apple” or “The City That Never Sleeps,” New York City was once named New Amsterdam. With a population of almost 9 million residents, it is considered the most populated city in the nation, which means that approximately one in every 38 people in the United States lives in New York City. As if that weren’t enough, about 800 different languages are spoken in the city, which makes it the most linguistically diverse place on Earth.
Because of this diversity, history, and culture, New York City is filled with places that garner the interest of curious tourists. One of these locations is Pearl Street, which is paved with actual oyster shells. This was possible thanks to the city’s insatiable preference for oysters during the 19th century. New York City is a place where attractions, events, and notable landmarks can be found at the turn of every corner, which makes it one of the most interesting places to visit in the world.
New York City Facts:
- New York City is the 12th oldest European settlement in the United States.
- The first non-native to live in the area was a merchant from Santo Domingo named Juan Rodriguez.
- In 1664, New York received its current name in honor of the Duke of York.
- The world’s largest storage of gold can be found in New York City’s Federal Reserve Bank.
- New York City’s Public Library owns approximately 50 million books.
- In 1789, New York became one of the first capital cities of the United States.
New York City Attractions:
- The Statue of Liberty – Gifted to the United States in 1886 by the French government, the Statue of Liberty was shipped to New York in 214 crates.
- Times Square – Originally known as Longacre Square, this New York City landmark received its current name when the Times opened its headquarters there in 1904.
My daughter lives there. Her husband is FDNY…joined right after all the bombings. He’s a great tourist guide. Daughter is still learning her way around.