New York – Empire State

Facts over New York

State: New York
Abbreviation: NY
Capital: Albany
State Since: July 26, 1788
Area Codes: 212, 315, 347, 516, 518, 607, 631, 646, 716, 718, 845, 914, 917
Bird: Bluebird
Flower: Rose
Largest city: New York City
Motto: Excelsior
Nickname: Empire State
Population: 18,976,457
Song: I love New York
Tree: Sugar Maple
Time zone: -5

Adjacent States:

  • Vermont
  • Massachusetts
  • Connecticut
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania

New York Travel Information

New York is one of the states of the United States. The standard abbreviation for the “Empire State”, as it is nicknamed, is NY. The capital is Albany, but the largest city is New York City. With 8.6 million inhabitants, this is the largest city in the United States. Learn more about this state and read all the travel information about New York below. In New York State there are several places where you can go such as the corning museum of glass and Hudson Valley.

History

The area now called New York State was first colonized by the Dutch, who founded Fort Nassau and later Fort Oranje at what is now Albany. They also founded New Amsterdam on the island of Manhattan. In the 1660s the English took power, after which they renamed New Amsterdam New York in honor of the Duke of York. The state was one of thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the 18th century. On July 26, 1788, New York formally became the 11th state of the United States.

Geography

The state covers 141,205 km², of which 122,409 km² is land. The highest point is the top of Mount Marcy (1629 m). The Niagara Falls are famous. New York is bordered to the north and west by Canada and Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. It borders the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont to the east. New York is rich in lakes and rivers. The large Lake Champlain forms part of the border with Vermont. The main river is the Hudson, which rises in the state and flows into the Atlantic Ocean near New York City. The main islands are Manhattan, Long Island and Staten Island.

Demographics

In 2000, the state had a population of 18,976,457 (134 per km2), third after California and Texas. The state’s gross product was $755 billion in 1999, second only to California. Agriculture and industry are not unimportant, but New York – especially the city of New York – is still best known as the financial center of the world. The main cities are New York, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and the capital Albany. See how many cities are in New York. The state is in the Eastern time zone. In the southern town of West Point is a well-known military academy. New York is a slow-growing city, with a high emigrant content. 15.8% are Hispanic, 14.4% are Italian, 14.2% are Ibero-American, 12.9% are Irish and 11.1% are from England.

BROADWAY

New York

Facts over Broadway

Category: Culture
Characteristic: The Great White Way
Location: Manhattan, New York
Known since: 1642

Broadway Travel Information

Broadway is one of the major streets in Manhattan, New York. At the time of the first colonization of Manhattan, this street was a path that the Manhattan Indians used to get from their village to the hunting grounds. After Peter Minuit bought the land from the Indians on behalf of the Netherlands, it was given the name “Breede Weg”. This name literally translated into Broadway after the city passed into British hands.

The section of the street near Times Square is home to many theaters that offer an ever-changing array of commercial, large-scale plays. These are mainly musicals.

Broadwaymusical

Also known as The Great White Way, this well-known stretch of Broadway is a famous draw for millions of tourists from around the world. Participating in a successful Broadway musical is seen by the singers and actors as the ultimate success. The annual Tony Awards give awards to the most successful new shows and revivals.

In 2004, the first Dutch musical actress was on Broadway. Pia Douwes starred as Velma Kelly in the musical Chicago.

Although the glitter attracts a wide audience, there are also people who want to see a more experimental and smaller performance. This is possible in the smaller theaters elsewhere in Manhattan. These shows are called off-Broadway and off-off Broadway.

STATUE OF LIBERTY

New York

Facts about the Statue of Liberty

Characteristic: Symbol of freedom
Details: Statue Cruises
Location: Liberty Island, New York
Placed: 1886
Designer: Gustave Eiffel
Visitors per year: 3 million

Travel information about the Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty (English: Statue of Liberty) is a statue in New York Harbor. It symbolizes welcoming everyone: returning Americans, guests and immigrants. The 46 meter high statue (93 meters if the base is included) weighing 225 tons was a gift from France, in honor of the centenary of the Declaration of Independence and as a sign of friendship. The plaque in her left hand reads “JULY IV MDCCLXXVI” the date (July 4, 1776) of the Declaration of Independence.

The statue (which was originally intended for the opening of the Suez Canal, but was not completed in time) was placed in June 1886. The statue, which consists entirely of copper plates, is attached to a frame designed by Gustave Eiffel. The design was carried out by the French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi, born in Colmar, whose mother Marie Bartholdi is said to have served as a model. The plinth was made of Euville limestone to a design by the American architect Richard Morris Hunt. The crown consists of seven points, symbolizing the seven continents and seas.

On October 15, 1924, the statue was designated a National Monument along with Fort Wood. The Statue of Liberty became the Statue of Liberty National Monument. In 1935, all of Bedlou’s Island was added and renamed Liberty Island. On May 11, 1965, Ellis Island was also added to this National Monument. The statue was restored from 1984-1986, replacing the current torch with the 24-carat gold leaf flame. The Statue of Liberty has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1984. After September 11, 2001, the statue was closed to the public. At present, the platform on the pedestal can be visited on a limited basis on request.

In 2003, the then 118-year-old monument was restored, so that the safety of visitors and the preservation of the statue can be guaranteed. The Statue of Liberty was reopened in the summer of 2004. There is a ferry service from Battery Park on the southern tip of Manhattan to Liberty Island, the island on which the Statue of Liberty is located, and to Ellis Island, where the arrivals halls for the immigrants can be visited.

Statue Cruises

Statue Cruises ferries depart from Battery Park in New York and Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Battery Park is located in the far south of Manhattan. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (62+), and $5 for children ages 4 to 12. Children under 4 years old can join for free (information 2008). You can book an audio tour for $6 per person. You will then receive extensive information about the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The tour is available in six different languages ​​(not Dutch). The ferry departing from Battery Park stops first at Liberty Island, then at Ellis Island. You can stay as long as you want until closing time. Admission to both islands is included in the ticket price.

Safety precautions

Visitors must pass a metal detector before boarding the boat, as well as before entering the Statue of Liberty. It is forbidden to bring large bags. There are no lockers to store luggage.

Monument Pass

At the bottom of the statue’s pedestal is a lobby that can be visited by a limited number of visitors – accompanied by a Ranger. You can view an exhibition in the lobby, including the original torch. You can also view the interior of the statue. Then you can go outside to the boardwalk, where you can see the Statue of Liberty up close, and from where you have a good view of the Manhattan skyline. To participate in this tour, you need a Monument Pass. You can order this pass in advance, together with the ticket for the ferry. A limited number of access passes are also available for those who have not pre-booked.

CHINATOWN

New York

Facts over Chinatown

Category: Culture
Characteristic: Chinese cuisine
Special features: Popular tourist attraction in New York
Location: New York
Inhabitants: 300,000

New York Chinatown Travel Information

New York ‘s Chinatown is a neighborhood on Manhattan Island in New York City. It is an ethnic enclave of 300,000 inhabitants, most of whom are of Chinese descent. At the end of the 19th century, the district consisted of only a few hundred Chinese, after which that number grew sharply. In the 1980’s, its population surpassed that of San Francisco’s well-known Chinese quarter and became the largest Chinatown in the Western Hemisphere. Today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in New York.

After Chinese emigrants on the west coast of the US faced increasing discrimination and laws that hindered participation in many professions, some of them moved to the cities along the east coast in search of work. Early trading activities consisted in hand laundries and eateries. Chinatown originated on Mott Street, Park, Pell and Doyer Street, east of the infamous Five Points district. By 1870, the Chinese population was 200 people. By 1882, when the Chinese Exclusion Act came into effect, the population had grown to 2000 inhabitants. By 1900 there were 7,000 Chinese, but fewer than 200 Chinese women.

The early days of Chinatown were dominated by Tong, who was a mix of clandestine clan, sailors’ association, political alliance (Kwomintang against the Communist Party of China), and (more secretive) crime syndicates. The association started by providing protection against bullying by anti-Chinese racism. Each of these associations was associated with a street gang. The associations provided help to new immigrants – they gave loans, helped start a business, etc.

The associations formed a governing body, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (中華公所). Although this organization was intended to look after relations between the Tongs, open wars regularly flared up between the On Leong (安良) and Hip Sing (協勝) tongs. Many of these wars took place on Doyers Street. Gangs like the Ghost Shadows (鬼影) and Flying Dragons (飛龍) ruled until the 1980s. The only park in Chinatown, Columbus Park was created at the center of New York’s infamous Five Points neighborhood. During the 19th century, this was the most dangerous slum of New York immigrants (of which Martin Scorsese’s film Gangs of New York captures a good picture).

Many of the activities in Chinatown are unofficial, they work below minimum wage and transactions are cash and black. The black money economy employs large numbers of new immigrants who lack the language skills to find better work. This system lured the clothing industry to Chinatown with large-scale workshops where the working conditions were very poor. In addition, tourism and restaurants are also important sources of income.

Chinese grocers and fishmongers are clustered around Mulberry Street, Canal Street (near Baxter Street), and all the way along East Broadway (especially near Catherine Street). The Chinese jewelry district is on Canal Street between Mott and Bowery. Due to the high savings rate among the Chinese, there are many Asian and American banks nearby. Canal Street, west of Broadway (especially along the north side), is filled with hawkers selling imitations of perfumes, watches and handbags. This part of Canal Street used to be the home of shops selling surplus electronics and hardware.

Until the 1970s, Chinatown’s traditional boundaries were:

  • Canal Street to the north (adjacent to Little Italy)
  • The Bowery to the east (adjacent to Lower East Side)
  • Worth Street in the South
  • Baxter Street to the west

Within this area, most tourists only see the old center of Chinatown, the intersections of Canal Street with Mott and Mulberry Street; the intersection of Pell with Doyers Streets.

When the United States reformed immigration laws in 1965, many more Asian immigrants were allowed to enter the country, causing the population of Chinatown to explode. Geographically, Chinatown expanded mainly to the north, at the expense of Little Italy. This ethnic neighborhood was swallowed up during the 1970s. Mulberry Street, north of Canal Street, is the only real remnant of this Italian enclave. The section known as NoLIta (of North Little Italy) is also starting to fill with Chinese residents, completely enclosing Little Italy.

A massive federally subsidized housing project called “Confucius Plaza” was completed in 1976 on the corner of Bowery and Division Street. This 44-storey building provided much-needed housing for thousands of residents. The building also contains a new public school. As new housing is normally non-existent in Chinatown, many apartments came into the possession of wealthy individuals through private agreements, despite the project being built to provide affordable housing.

In the 1990s, the Chinese began to settle in some parts of the western Lower East Side, which was inhabited by Eastern European Jews 50 years earlier and the domain of Hispanics 20 years earlier. Some remnants of Jewish heritage remain in the Lower East Side today, such as the well-known Katz’s Deli, a traditional Jewish deli, and a number of synagogues and other old religious establishments.

The current boundaries of Chinatown are approximate:

  • Delancey Street to the north (adjacent to East Village and SoHo sections of New York City)
  • East Broadway to the east (ending at Williamsburg Bridge)
  • Broadway to the west (intruding on the TriBeCa section of New York City)
  • Chambers Street to the south (advancing into the City Hall area)

It encompasses an area approximately 1 mile north south and 2 miles east west in diameter on Manhattan Island.

Manhattan’s Chinatown is both a residential and commercial area. In addition to more than 200 Chinese restaurants in the area, there are still some factories that provide employment. Its proximity to the fashion industry lends Chinatown some clothing industry, although the majority of this industry has moved to China. The local garment industry is now concentrating on high-speed production in small volumes and piecework (paid per garment) which is generally done in the workers’ homes.

Homes in Chinatown are still mostly narrow apartment buildings, some of which are over 100 years old. It is still common in these buildings to have a bathroom in the corridors shared by several apartment residents.

For most of Chinatown’s history, there were only a few unique architectural features that announced visitors’ arrival in Chinatown (excluding the language and signage). In 1962, the Kam Lau memorial archway was erected in Chatham Square to commemorate the Chinese Americans who died during World War II. This commemorative sign bears the calligraphy of the great Yu Youren 于右任 (1879—1964) is mostly ignored by local residents due to its poor location along a busy highway with little pedestrian traffic. A statue of Lin Zexu, who fought the opium trade, stands in the square; it faces uptown along East Broadway, in the Fuzhou neighborhood known locally as Fuzhou Street (Fúzhóu jiē 福州街). In the 1970’s the New York Telephone started, then a local telephone company, covering the street phones with pagoda-like decorations. In 1976, the statue of Confucius was erected in front of the Confucius Plaza. This became a well-known meeting place. During the 1980s, banks that opened a new office and other offices that renovated started adding traditional Chinese style elements to their facades.

Chinatown was severely affected by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. As its physical proximity to Ground Zero, tourism and commerce only slowly returned to the area. One of the reasons is the shutdown of Park Row – one of the two main roads connecting the Financial Center to Chinatown.

Currently, an estimated 300,000 people live in Chinatown, Manhattan. Some estimates go up to more than 350,000 inhabitants. It is difficult to obtain exact data due to the language barrier and massive illegal immigration. Most of the population growth is due to immigration. There is a tendency for earlier generations of migrants who have learned to speak English and are well-educated to leave Chinatown for the suburbs and satellite towns of New York City. Following the better work and better housing out there.

Until about 1960, the majority of the population came from Taishan and spoke a Cantonese dialect (Taishanhua), from a small part of Canton Province and Hong Kong, with a small minority of Hakka also. Mandarin was very rarely spoken until the 1980s. Recently, most new immigrants speak Pǔtōnghuà or standard Mandarin. From mainland China come large numbers of Chinese from Fuzhou and Wenzhou who speak Fuzhouhua and Wenzhouhua.

WALL STREET

New York

Facts over Wall Street

Category: Culture
Characteristic: Burgwal
Location: Manhattan, New York
Known since: 1624

Wall Street Travel Information

Wall Street is a street in “Lower Manhattan”, the southernmost part of Manhattan Island, which is the heart of New York City. Wall Street was originally called “De Waal Street”. There are several explanations for the name.

According to the first explanation, “De Waal Straat” refers to the Walloons, the mainly French-speaking region that is now part of Belgium. Among the first settlers who embarked on the ship “Nieu Nederlandt” on March 29, 1624, were indeed 30 Walloon families.

According to the second statement, “De Waal Street” refers to the river “De Waal”. The Hudson River would have reminded the first settlers on the river “De Waal” in the Netherlands.

The third explanation is based on the rampart built by the Dutch to keep not only the Indians, but also the English and French, outside the Dutch stronghold. As can be seen on the map, “De Waal Street” was originally the northernmost street of the settlement. The same street was called “Het Cingel” at the time of Peter Stuyvesant, who had the wall considerably improved. The rampart soon became redundant, which became all the more apparent when Peter Stuyvesant himself became the first villager to live outside. The threat also diminished as the Dutch bought slaves from the Portuguese. As a result, the country was built up quickly, the Dutch needed more space and the Indians were driven inland. This burgwal eventually lost its defensive function;

In any case, after the transfer of New Amsterdam to the English, the name “De Waal Straat” went on to live on as “Wall Street”.

A room at 40 Wall Street was, in 1817, the first permanent headquarters of the New York Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange. Today, Wall Street is roughly the center of New York’s financial district. The term Wall Street is therefore sometimes used for the American financial world as a whole. In the approximately 800 m long Wall Street and surrounding streets, the sun can barely penetrate the tall buildings, which is why these streets are called the “Canyons of New York”.

There are 3 metro stations on Wall Street:

  • Wall Street (Broadway-Seventh Avenue Line)
  • Wall Street (Lexington Avenue Line)
  • Broad Street (Nassau Street Line)

NEW AMSTERDAM

New York

Facts over New Amsterdam

Category: History
Details: Early settlement in 1609-1624
Location: New York, Delaware Connecticut, New Jersey
Discovered in: 1609
Discovered by: Henry Hudson

The settlement of New Amsterdam

Nieuw-Amsterdam was the name of the seventeenth-century fortified settlement in the province of New Netherland that would later develop into what is now New York City. This Dutch province lay between 38 degrees on Cape Hinlopen just south of the South River (today’s Delaware River) and 42 degrees, including New Holland or Cape Cod, east of the “Versche River” (today’s Connecticut River), with in the middle the Mauritius River, North River or Great River (the Hudson). The area is located in present-day states of New York, Delaware, Connecticut, and New Jersey. From there, many communities in the area were founded.

The province of New Netherland and the citadel in which Fort Amsterdam was located were founded in 1624 and 1625 respectively under the authority of the States General under the delegated administration of the West India Company. Fort Amsterdam was located on the strategic southern tip of Manhattan Island. New Amsterdam was to serve as the headquarters of the Dutch settlers who there were to develop the fur trade (especially beaver skins) for the company, especially in the Hudson Valley, and for the economic and social promotion of the area. New Amsterdam grew, especially after the granting of city rights in 1653, to the largest Dutch colonial settlement in North America and remained in Dutch hands until November 1674, when it was finally ceded to the English in the Peace of Westminster.

Before that, the area came under English rule for a short period of time when four English frigates entered the harbor of New Amsterdam on August 27, 1664, without declaring war, and claimed the province of New Netherland for the English king. This is how the Second Anglo-Dutch War came about, which was concluded with the Treaty of Breda in 1667, in which the Netherlands renounced its claim to its overseas province without however renouncing it. During the war with England, the Netherlands asserted its right of claim and recaptured New Netherland with a fleet of 22 ships on August 23, 1673. The city, still called New Amsterdam by the population, was renamed New Orange. The English occupiers called the city New York. Since the 1970s, the year 1625 has been noted on the official seal of the city of New York as the official year of birth, instead of 1664. In 1664 the English took the area without firing a shot, because the city was not prepared for defense in peacetime. used to be. But the province of New Netherland was founded in 1624 on Noten Eylant, which has been called Governors Island since 1784.

NEW YORK