The City of New York, most often called New York City, is the most populous city in the United States, in a metropolitan area that ranks among the world's most-populous urban areas. It is a leading global city, exerting a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, and entertainment.
The city is also an important center for international affairs, hosting the United Nations headquarters.
Located on the Atlantic coast of the Northeastern United States, the city consists of five distinct boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
It is the most densely populated major city in the United States, with an estimated 8,274,527 people] occupying just under 305 square miles (790 km2).
The New York metropolitan area's population is also the nation's highest, estimated at 19,750,000 people over 6,720 square miles (17,400 km2) in three states.
New York is largely unique among American cities for its high use of mass transit, and the overall density and diversity of its population. In 2005, nearly 170 languages were spoken in the city and 36% of its population was born outside the United States.
The city is sometimes referred to as "The City That Never Sleeps" due to its extensive 24-hour subway system and constant bustling of traffic and people, while other nicknames include Gotham and the Big Apple.
Founded as a commercial trading post by the Dutch in 1624, it served as the capital of the United States from 1785 until 1790, and has been the nation's largest city since 1790.
The Statue of Liberty greeted millions of immigrants as they came to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Wall Street, in Lower Manhattan, has been a dominant global financial center since World War II and is home to the New York Stock Exchange. Today, the city has many renowned landmarks and neighborhoods that are world famous.
The city has been home to several of the tallest buildings in the world, including the Empire State Building and the twin towers of the former World Trade Center.
New York is the birthplace of many cultural movements, including the Harlem Renaissance in literature and visual art, abstract expressionism (also known as the New York School) in painting, and hip hop, punk, salsa, disco and Tin Pan Alley in music.
It is also the home of Broadway theater.
New York City has five boroughs with 150 museums, 18,000 restaurants and countless world-famous attractions. New York city has never been more welcoming or more exciting.
Why is New York City called "The Big Apple?"
Morning Telegraph reporter, John J. Fitz Gerald, first made common use of the term during the 1920s in reference to the city's racetracks.
He apparently first heard it used by African American stable hands in New Orleans in 1921. The term was popularized among African American jazz musicians in the 1930s, who regarded New York, and particularly Harlem, as the capital city of jazz. It's modern use derives largely from a publicity campaign developed in 1971 by the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau.
HOTELS:New York hotels classified by price and by geographical location
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Happy Birthday Central Park
Central Park will celebrate its 150th Anniversary with numerous commemorative events. These events will include an International Parks Conference, a film festival, classical music and jazz concerts, nature walks, and various educational and sporting events.
• July 19th, Central Park will host a daylong celebratory event, culminating with a free concert in the evening by singer Andrea Bocelli on the Great Lawn.
• September 15th, Cai Guo-Qiang will stage a spectacular light show extravaganza, featuring fireworks that will illuminate the sky over Central Park, and the Empire State Building will exhibit a green color to commemorate Central Park's 150th Anniversary.
• November 20th, the park will conduct a unique auction of park benches specially created by renowned artists, architects, and celebrities.
Source: Office of the Mayor - NYC
*New York City is the epicenter of business, art, and culture, but it's also home to many luxurious vacation properties. New York City timeshares offer the pinnacle of luxury with suites that rival the most coveted Manhattan apartments and offer the quality of service you'd expect from world-class resorts. Manhattan Club timeshares are among the most popular units in the Big Apple and are surprisingly affordable on a variety of budgets.
