Important Facts About New York City

New York City is many different things to many people. The city that never sleeps, the Big Apple and "if you can make it there you can make it anywhere" are just a few labels and slogans often applied to it. Whether you're a tourist planning a trip or looking to become a resident, here are some important basic facts about this metropolis.

History

New York was previously called New Amsterdam, having been settled by the Dutch before the British renamed it after one of their cities.

Identification

Five boroughs make up New York City: Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. Each borough is part of a separate county in the state of New York but within city limits.

Airports

Three major airports serve New York City: JFK and LaGuardia, both located in Queens, and the Newark, NJ international airport, which is actually closer to Manhattan than JFK.

Public transportation

New York City is served by the MTA, which operates public buses, commuter railroads and subways in all five boroughs, and PATH trains, which run between New Jersey and Manhattan.

Coastal City

New York City is surrounded by bodies of water and major waterways, from the Hudson and East rivers, to New York harbor and Long Island Sound, as well as Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic ocean.

Fun Fact

If you board the Staten Island ferry on the Manhattan side and stay on the ferry for the return trip back across the harbor, you will get a free boat ride past the Statue of Liberty and a picturesque view of the city skyline.

Resources

• MTA website
• PATH website