New York

New York is at sea level at its lowest point (Atlantic Ocean) and at 5,344’ at its highest (Mount March in the Adirondacks).

Anorthosite

Anorthosite, a mineral common on the moon, is found in only a few places on Earth, including Mount Marcy and Whiteface Mountain in NY.

One of the world's largest garnet mines is in Warren County. 

New York is 13.5% water.  More than half of NY is forest land.

92% of the population lives in an urban area.

The original land grant to the Duke of York by King Charles II was bounded by the Connecticut R. in the east and the Delaware R. in the west, so included all of what’s now New York, New Jersey, Vermont and western Connecticut.

New York was the 11th state to ratify the Constitution, but New Yorkers agreed mainly because 10 other states had already ratified it (only 9 were needed) and NY was afraid it would lose trading privileges with the others.

New York City was the U.S. capital from 1785 to 1790.

In 1827, N.Y. abolished slavery.

By 1831, NYC was the world's busiest port.

During the Civil War, a man could buy his way out of being drafted for $300, leaving the draftees, who couldn't pay but didn't want to fight to free Southern slaves, fearing they might lose their jobs to the draft dodgers.  The result, in July 1863, was a riot that lasted 3 days and was one of the worst in US history.

New York City's boroughs

In 1889, the 5 boroughs of NYC joined into 1 city.  Four of NYC's 5 boroughs are on 3 islands: Manhattan Is., Staten Is., and Long Is. (Brooklyn and Queens). 

N.Y. has the largest black and Italian and Andean populations in the U.S. and the 2^nd largest Asian population.  N.Y. has the 2^nd largest immigrant population overall in the U.S.  21% of New York residents are foreign-born.

Adirondack State Park

Between 2000 and 2005, more people moved from N.Y. to Florida than from any one state to any other state.

Adirondack State Park is the largest in the U.S. – larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier and Olympic National Parks combined.

Buffalo produces the most flour in the world.

John Boyd Thatcher State Park is one of the richest fossil-bearing areas in the world.

N.Y. has an official state muffin (apple muffin).

Queens Museum of Art has a 9,000 square foot model of NYC.

The NY Botanical Gardens in the Bronx includes 50 acres of the original forest that covered NYC.  The Bronx Zoo is the largest urban wildlife park in the US.

Bronx Zoo African wild dogs