Free
George Washington referred to New York as “the Seat of the Empire.” Perhaps that’s how the state got its nickname, “the Empire State.”
Today, about 20 million people call New York State home. Almost half of them live in New York City.
While New York may be one state for the purpose of government, it’s made up of two geographic parts. They’re known as downstate and upstate. The imaginary line between the parts varies, depending on who’s drawing it. Many New Yorkers consider New York City and Long Island downstate and everything else upstate. Others draw the line north of the suburbs to the north of New York City. In either case, downstate and upstate are as different as can be.
▲ New York City, the economic and financial capital of the world, is the heart of downstate New York. It is known as “the city that never sleeps.” Many of the largest companies have their headquarters there. These include credit card companies, phone companies, and banks. The New York Stock Exchange, the largest stock exchange in the world, is there. The Federal Reserve Bank, the central bank of the United States – with a storage room containing about half a million gold bars – is also there. In all, more than 200,000 businesses call New York City home.
What is 118 miles long, includes New York’s largest producer of pumpkins, and includes one of the most populated cities in the U.S. (if it were not actually a borough of New York City)? The answer is Long Island. Brooklyn and Queens occupy the westernmost part of the island. Both are boroughs of New York City. And both are intensely urban. But if Brooklyn were a city on its own, it would be the third-biggest city by population in the country. Traveling east from Brooklyn and Queens are suburban communities. Continuing farther east is farm country. There, you’ll find vineyards and the state’s largest producers of tomatoes, cauliflower, and yes, pumpkins. ▶
▲ For many, baseball is considered America’s pastime. The Yankees, founded in 1903, may be New York’s best-known team. But it is far from the only one. Today, New York sports fans have plenty of choices. In New York City, there’s baseball with the Yankees and Mets and basketball with the Knicks, Nets, and Liberty. New York City is considered home to football’s Giants and Jets even though their games take place in New Jersey. And ice hockey includes the Rangers and Islanders. Football’s Buffalo Bills are from – you guessed it – Buffalo, in upstate New York. The Sabres, another ice hockey team, are also from Buffalo.
Buffalo
Buffalo is located at the westernmost point of the Erie Canal. The city grew as usage of the canal grew. Today, it’s the second-largest city in the state. If you happen to be in Buffalo after a winter storm, be mindful of what you do with the snow. In Buffalo, it’s illegal to throw a snowball at someone’s head on purpose. Buffalo was the childhood home of a famous author. His name is F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby. Have you heard of buffalo wings? They’re those spicy chicken wings that often come with celery and a dipping sauce. They were first created at a restaurant in Buffalo.
Albany
Named after the Scottish Duke of Albany, New York State’s capital was established by British colonists in 1614. This makes it one of the oldest cities established by Europeans. But that’s where “old” ends. Due to the many tech companies in and around Albany, the area’s nickname is “Tech Valley.” Albany is also home to some famous and not-so-famous individuals. It was the childhood home of Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick. It was also home to Seth Wheeler who, in 1871, invented perforated toilet paper on a roll.
Rochester
Rochester was home to the abolitionist movement. It was also home to the second convention for women’s suffrage, in 1848 (after the Seneca Falls Convention). Rochester has had two nicknames. Its current nickname is “the Flower City,” for its long tradition in the cultivation of flowers. During the 19th century, it was known as “the Flour City,” for its many flour mills. Rochester is where you’ll find the National Toy Hall of Fame. It includes classic toys and games like checkers, bingo, and dominoes.
Syracuse
Syracuse is named after the Greek city Siracusa, in Sicily, Italy. In both cities, fresh lake water mingles with saltwater springs. The 24-second shot clock in basketball was invented in Syracuse. (A shot clock is a timer used in basketball and other sports.) The reclining dentist’s chair was created there too. As was the measuring device that shows what shoe size you wear. Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo all compete for the highest yearly snowfall in the country. It ranges from an average of about 128 inches in Syracuse to over 100 inches in Rochester.
Mount Morris
Mount Morris is between Syracuse and Buffalo. It’s a small community of just under 3,000 people, but it’s worthy of note. The Pledge of Allegiance was written by one of its residents. Francis Bellamy graduated from the University of Rochester in 1876 and wrote the pledge while working in Boston. The pledge was first published in 1892. Through the years, a few words have been changed from the original. This is the pledge today:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
REFLECTION
Reflect on the Pledge of Allegiance. What do you think the words mean? How do you feel about reciting the pledge?
▲ There’s no shortage of natural resources in New York State. The rich soil from Lake Erie to the Hudson Valley is an important resource. The 3 million acres of forests in the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains are another. As are the more than 7,600 freshwater lakes and 70,000 miles of streams and rivers. Then, there’s the land itself – gravel, stone, sand, salt, and garnets. All these resources are plentiful in New York. Plus wollastonite, a mineral made up of calcium, oxygen, and silicon. Wollastonite is used to make paints and ceramics. New York is the only state where it is mined.
