Discover 56 Surprising Facts That Make New York State Unique

New York State is a land of endless variety, from the bustling streets of New York City to the serene beauty of the Adirondacks. But beyond its famous landmarks, the Empire State is full of surprises, quirks, and fascinating tidbits that showcase its unique history, natural wonders, and cultural legacy. Continuing our series on curated facts of all 50 states from Alaska to Delaware to Kansas to New Hampshire, dive into the unexpected sides of New York — from curious state symbols and record-breaking natural attractions to incredible achievements and some downright weird trivia. Whether you’re a lifelong New Yorker or just curious about what makes this state tick, these facts will open your eyes to everything that makes New York one of a kind! Forget about it. I am walking here.

What is New York known for?

1. New York City! The Big Apple just might be the greatest city in the history of the world due to its unparalleled cultural, economic, and historical significance since Henry Hudson crashed Manhattan island in 1609. As a global hub for finance, fashion, art, and media, NYC is home to iconic landmarks, diverse neighborhoods, and unmatched energy. The vibrant cultural scene includes Broadway, world-class museums, and a melting pot of cuisines and languages. With its deep influence on politics, innovation, and culture from Wall Street to Times Square to The Apollo, NYC continues to shape the world like no other city in history.

2. The Adirondacks! The Adirondacks are pure magic for all nature lovers. With their serene lakes, towering peaks, and endless trails, it’s a place where you can truly disconnect from the world and immerse yourself in raw, unspoiled beauty. Every visit is practically a literal breath of fresh air — whether you’re hiking through dense forests, canoeing on crystal-clear waters, or just soaking in the zen silence of nature. There’s a sense of peace and timelessness here that makes it the favorite place on Earth for some folks.

3. Niagara Falls! Niagara Falls is where I definitely met my girlfriend that lives in Canada. We were both, you know, standing by the railing, and she just appeared — right out of the mist, totally real and very beautiful. It was a life-changing moment, right there at the falls of Niagara — it was so romantic! We’ve been dating ever since. I’d show you pictures, but she’s super private, you wouldn’t know her anyway. She doesn’t have any social media, either but she’s really real, for real. She has to fly back and forth a lot for, uh, work and she doesn’t go to school around here.

Early history of New York facts

4. People starting arriving in present-day New York state around 10,000 BCE, and the area was inhabited by various Native American tribes like the Algonquins and Iroquois Confederacy. They were the dominant peoples on the land until the 1600s.

5. Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano was working for the French when he arrived at New York Bay on April 17, 1524.

6. In 1609, Henry Hudson explored Manhattan island on behalf of the Dutch East India Company.

7. Fort Nassau was built in 1614 and it was the first Dutch settlement in North America. It would later become Albany.

8. In 1626, Peter Minuit of the Dutch West India Company supposedly purchased the whole island of Manhattan for like $24 worth of bullshit trinkets. The transaction between the Dutch and Lenape Native Americans was almost certainly not as cut-and-dry as that but the myth endures nonetheless. Regardless, this was a significant and pivotal event in the history of the world, as it led to the founding of New Amsterdam.

9. New Amsterdam was seized by the British in 1664 and then they renamed it New York after the Duke of York.

10. The United States Constitution was very much influenced by the adoption of New York’s constitution in 1777.

11. New York state was admitted to the Union as the 11th state on July 26, 1788.

12. Albany became the permanent state capital in 1797, despite New York City previously serving as the capital of the country at different points.

13. In 1866, the Statute of Liberty opened, becoming an iconic symbol of not just New York and New York City, but of the whole United States. It remains a landmark that represents the American Dream to a lot of people.

14. The Stonewall riots of 1969 — where members of the gay community protested a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, NYC — is arguably the most pivotal event that led to the modern LGBTQ+ movement. The Stonewall National Monument was designated as a U.S. National Monument in 2016.

What are the state symbols of New York?

15. Like Missouri before them in 1927, the state of New York designated the eastern bluebird as their official state bird in 1970.

16. “I Love New York” is the official slogan of New York state, and has been since 1977. The logo — designed by the legendary graphic designer Milton Glaser in 1976 — that accompanies this slogan is downright iconic and famous worldwide. In fact, you can see the original drawing at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in Manhattan.

17. Vermont, Washington state, and New York state all have the good ol’ apple as their state fruit, while a few other states have a specific kind of apple as a state symbol. Any Brooklyn hipster will tell you that going upstate from NYC to go apple-picking is as trendy a pastime as any, so it’s no wonder the apple has been the state fruit since 1976. As if that weren’t enough, New York designated the apple muffin as the official muffin in 1987.

18. New Jersey has the seeing-eye dog as the official state dog, and in 2015, New York honored the working dog as its state dog, all the good boys and girls who work as therapy dogs or guide dogs and any other kinds of dog that provide support and/or services.

19. In 2017, New Jersey named the striped bass as the official salt water game fish to go with the brook trout, the official freshwater fish that was named in 1991.

20. New York is one of four states that have the sugar maple as their official tree, along with West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Vermont. These are the trees where you can get your delicious maple syrup from.

21. In May 2014, after much back-and-forth debating and consideration of pretzels, carrot cookies, and even soy yogurt, the New York Senate decided that yogurt would be the official state snack.

22. Whether they are red, pink, yellow, white, roses are fucking pretty and they smell nice, too. It’s an iconic symbol of beauty and love all throughout the history of the world, so much so that it’s basically a cliché at this point. It’s been the New York state flower since 1955.

23. In 1981, the state of New York made milk the official state beverage. This is not an unusual choice, as Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin all also have milk as their beverage.

24. Beavers are goddam legends! They are goddam engineers, damming their damn dams that reshape their entire goddam ecosystems that benefit all its residents. They’re so goddam awesome that these damn dam-builders were named the official goddam mammal of the goddam state of New York.

What famous people are from New York?

25. Mickey Rourke is perhaps the greatest scenery-chewer of his generation, an actor known for his intense performances and rugged charisma, particularly in cult classics like The Pope of Greenwich Village. He was born Philip Andre Rourke Jr. in Schenectady, New York on September 16, 1952.

26. Eleanor Roosevelt was born on October 11, 1884, in New York City, and she was a transformative First Lady, diplomat, and tireless advocate for human rights and social justice. Known for her work as a United Nations delegate and as a driving force behind the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Eleanor redefined the role of First Lady by using her influence to champion civil rights, women’s rights, and humanitarian causes worldwide.

27. Mariah Carey was born on March 27, 1969, in Huntington, New York, and she is a global music icon celebrated for her extraordinary five-octave vocal range and the ability to sing in the “whistle register.” Known for her shitload of #1 singles like “Someday,” “Fantasy,” and the holiday classic “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Miss Mimi has earned her rightful place as one of the best-selling music artists in history, shaping pop and R&B for generations.

28. Born November 12, 1815 in Johnstown, New York, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a foundational figure in the American women’s rights movement that demanded equal rights and ignited the fight for women’s suffrage, advocating tirelessly for social reform throughout her life. Unfortunately, though, legacies can be complicated. According to Angela Davis’s book Women, Race & Class (1983), Stanton was openly racist enough to once get called out by Frederick Douglass.

29. Paul Reubens is probably much more famous as Pee-wee Herman, which he brought to life in the beloved classic Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. That character became nothing short of a cultural phenomenon, shaping and influencing the next generations of comedy with his truly unique brand of eccentric style. He was born on August 27, 1952 in Peekskill, New York.

30. Shirley Chisholm was born on November 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York, and she was a groundbreaking politician who became the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 1968. Known for her excellent campaign slogan “Unbought and Unbossed,” she made history again in 1972 as the first Black candidate to seek a major party’s nomination for President of the United States, championing justice, education, and equality throughout her career.

31. Born on September 14, 1879 in Corning, New York, Margaret Sanger was a pioneering birth control activist who founded what would become Planned Parenthood, significantly advancing reproductive rights for women. Through her work as a nurse and activist, Sanger advocated for women’s access to contraception and she faced considerable legal opposition — that is still being felt today — while ultimately shaping modern family planning and women’s health rights. However, she was a racist that believed in eugenics so Planned Parenthood basically disowned her in 2020.

32. Born on November 17, 1942, in Flushing, Queens, New York, Martin Scorsese is a legendary filmmaker celebrated for his intense, character-driven storytelling, as seen in films like Gangs of New York and Bringing Out the Dead. With a career spanning over five decades, Scorsese has become an iconic figure in American cinema, known for his unique style, explorations of morality, and powerful depictions of urban life.

33. Isabella Baumfree was born into slavery around 1797 in Swartekill, New York and escaped to freedom with her infant daughter in 1826. From there, she became an abolitionist and advocate for women’s rights, eventually giving herself the name of Sojourner Truth in 1843. In 1851, she delivered the famous “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention.

Topography & geography of New York

34. Contrary to popular belief, the capital of New York state is not New York City but Albany.

35. The state of New York is the 27th-biggest, covering 54,555 square miles.

36. Driving all the way north from all the way south would be 330 miles, while driving from east to west 285 miles.

37. The lowest elevation point in New York state is zero feet above sea level: the Atlantic Ocean.

38. At 5,343 feet about sea level, Mount Marcy is the tallest of the Adirondack High Peaks and it is also the highest point in New York state.

39. About 13.6% of the total area of New York state is water, including Oneida Lake, the largest body of water at 51,243 square miles.

40. In addition to New York City and Albany, other major cities in New York state include Hempstead, Buffalo, Rochester, Poughkeepsie, Utica, and Syracuse.

41. The climate of New York City is something of an abnormality; it’s actually considered as a humid subtropical climate per the Köppen climate classification, which means NYC is basically Alabama, climate-wise.

42. New York state has 62 counties! You should visit all of them and let us know which one was your favorite.

Where should I visit in New York?

43. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York opened in 1939 and has been a bucket list destination for sports fans ever since.

44. The Storm King Art Center was established in 1960 in the Hudson Valley as a large-scale sculpture park covering 500 acres that seamlessly blend in with the natural landscape of the picturesque scenery, adding an exhilarating surrealness to the works of art when the seasons change. You’ll find works from brilliant greats like Maya Lin, Alexander Calder, Mark di Suvero, and Roy Lichtenstein.

45. The largest kaleidoscope in the world is located at the Emerson Resort & Spa in Mount Tremper, New York and it was designed by the psychedelics-influenced artist Isaac Abrams. The big-ass so-called Kaatskill Kaleidoscope is basically made out of a 60-foot grain silo with tapered mirrors, and provides a trippy experience for all visitors.

46. The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is a dream come true for anyone who’s endlessly fascinated by the natural world. From towering dinosaur skeletons to dazzling gems and meteorites, it holds millions of specimens that span the history of our planet and beyond. The museum’s immersive dioramas and exhibits on everything from ancient cultures to cosmic discoveries make each visit a new adventure, offering a deep dive into the mysteries and wonders of nature that are truly mind-blowing. It just might be the greatest place in the whole world.

47. The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York, is an absolute paradise for anyone obsessed with glass art! It houses the world’s largest collection of glass pieces, covering 3,500 years of glassmaking history, from ancient artifacts to jaw-dropping contemporary sculptures. Watching live glassblowing demonstrations and getting a chance to try your hand at creating glass is pure magic, and every exhibit reveals how glass is both art and science at its most beautiful. Visit, and you may walk away with a new hobby you’re passionate about.

48. The National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester, New York, is hands-down one of the most electrifying, nostalgia-packed, holy-shit-is-this-for-real places on the planet for anyone who’s ever been a kid — or still acts like one! This isn’t just a museum, it’s a goddam temple of imagination. You don’t just look at these toys, it’s a shrine to every legendary toy you’ve ever loved, from Barbies to LEGOs, Monopoly to the mf Atari. They even induct new toys every year.

49. At 103 Orchard Street in New York City is the Tenement Museum, an absolute treasure for anyone fascinated by the everyday lives of immigrants and working-class families. Located in historic tenement buildings on the Lower East Side, it brings the past to life by immersing visitors in the recreated homes of real families who lived there from the 19th to early 20th centuries. Each room tells a powerful story of resilience, culture, and adaptation, making it one of the most intimate and moving ways to experience the rich history of American immigration.

50. Located in an 1860s schoolhouse in Le Roy, New York is the fucking Jell-O Museum that is operated by the local historical society. The museum houses hundreds of pieces of memorabilia relating to Jell-O, like recipe books, advertising, and packaging. Why Le Roy? It’s where the popular desert was invented in 1897 and after the inventor sold the patent in 1899, the foodstuff gained exponential popularity over the coming decades.

Fun, cool, interesting & weird New York facts

51. There are over 200 colleges in New York state, including a shitload of schools under the City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY) systems of colleges. In addition to two Ivy League schools (Columbia and Cornell), there’s also the Juilliard School, Hofstra University, Vassar College, Sarah Lawrence, New York University, the Pratt Institute, and tons and tons of other prestigious diploma-givers that you are likely too poor to attend without a shitload of student loans.

52. Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th president of the United States and passed away July 1885. His final resting place in the Morningside Heights neighborhood on Riverside Drive and West 122nd Street in Manhattan happens to be the largest mausoleum in North America. The next time someone asks you who is buried in Grant’s Tomb, keep in mind that no one is buried there because Grant is not underground.

53. One day in 1894 after Sunday church services in Ithaca, New York, this dude named Chester Platt supposedly served the very first ice cream sundae. While the actual origin and invention of the ice cream sundae is in dispute with towns like Evanston, Illinois and Two Rivers, Wisconsin claiming credit, Platt took out a newspaper ad promoting “Sundays” in 1892, and that’s the oldest known documentation we have of the tasty snack.

54. On the corner of Mott and Spring in New York City is Lombardi’s, which is often considered the oldest pizzeria in the United States, if you don’t count the ten years the original location was closed starting in 1984. While this hiatus forced them to lose the title to Papa’s Tomato Pies in Trenton, New Jersey as the country’s longest continually operating pizzeria, Lombardi’s is still a destination for foodies and culinary historians.

55. New York City is often called the Big Apple, and that’s because the apple was such a popular symbol of desirability in the 19th century, particularly when the country was still learning the different varieties of fruits and getting excited about them. A “big apple” was also a horse-racing betting term referring to a sure thing, and that led to the racetrack scene in NYC being referred as the Big Apple — and that eventually led to NYC as a whole being referred to as the Big Apple.

56. A dairyperson named William Lawrence invented cream cheese in Chester, New York around 1873 and after a period of growth distributing this richer kind of cheese, the Philadelphia Cream Cheese brand (which oddly enough, doesn’t have anything to do with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was launched and they haven’t looked back since.

Cover Image Credit: Image by Pexels from Pixabay

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