New York

The European settlement of New York was led by the Dutch, settling along the Hudson River in 1624. They established the colony of New Amsterdam on the island of Manhattan. When the British took control of the area in 1664, they renamed it New York, and it became one of the original 13 colonies. New York achieved statehood in 1788, with the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, and New York City served as the new nation’s first capital. George Washington was sworn in as president there, at Federal Hall on Wall Street, in 1789.

[SEE: What New York Is Doing to Combat the Coronavirus]

From the late 1800s to the mid-20th century, millions of immigrants arrived at New York Harbor, where Ellis Island became their gateway to U.S. citizenship. The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, was erected on what became Liberty Island in 1886. It's estimated that as many as four in 10 Americans can trace at least one ancestor to this migration, 14 million arriving there through 1924.

With 47,000 square miles statewide, New York state offers vast regions of wilderness. Most notable are the Adirondack Mountains, home to hiking at the state's highest peaks and a family-oriented ski resort at Gore Mountain. The Adirondack Park encompasses 6 million acres, with 30,000 rivers and streams, 3,000 lakes and ponds. Mount Marcy, at 5,343 feet, is the state’s tallest. The 1980 Winter Olympics were staged at Lake Placid, where the ski jump areas and ice skating rink continue to draw tourists.

In addition to tourism, New York state’s economy is led by financial services, health care, professional services, retail trade, manufacturing and education.

The more enduring industry for which New York City is best known – the financial world of Wall Street – dates to the era of the American Revolution. The New York Stock Exchange, with a market capitalization of more than $20 trillion, is the world's largest stock exchange. It was founded in 1792 when 24 stockbrokers signed an agreement beneath a Buttonwood tree on Wall Street at the south end of Manhattan, near the Battery.