New York

New York, state in the Middle Atlantic region of the United States; bordered by Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and Canada to the north; Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut to the east; the Atlantic Ocean, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to the south; and Pennsylvania, Lake Erie, and Canada to the west.

Land and climate

New York has 7 main land regions. The St. Lawrence Upland, in northernmost New York, has level to rolling land. The Adirondack Upland, a region of hills and mountains, includes the state's highest and most rugged land. The Appalachian Plateau, New York's largest land region, consists of broad uplands and deep valleys. To the south and east of Lakes Erie and Ontario is the Erie-Ontario Lowland, a low, swampy plain. Along the southern half of New York's eastern border lies the Hudson-Mohawk Lowland, including the valleys of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers; the hills and low mountains of the New England Upland; and the Atlantic Coastal Plain. New York is the only state to border both the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. That fact, plus its great rivers—including the Hudson, Mohawk, Genesee, and Susquehanna—and many lakes, make it a major shipping area. The world's most famous waterfall, Niagara Falls, is shared by New York and Canada. New York's climate varies widely. Generally, the north has long, cold winters and short summers, while the south has relatively milder winters and hot, humid summers. Principal cities are New York City, Buffalo, and Rochester.

Economy

New York's broad-based economy is led by service industries, followed by manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and mining. Chief service industries are finance (including the world's largest stock exchange and international banks), insurance, and real estate. Chief manufacturing products are printed materials, scientific instruments, machinery, chemicals, apparel, food products, transportation equipment, fabricated metal products, and lumber and paper products. Chief livestock products are milk and dairy goods, beef cattle, eggs and poultry, hogs, and sheep. Chief crops are hay, corn, fruits and vegetables, greenhouse and nursery products, sorghum, oats, and wheat. Chief mineral products are stone, salt, natural gas, and sand and gravel.

Government

New York's present constitution was adopted in 1894. The governor serves a 4-year term. The state legislature consists of 61 senators and 150 assembly members; all serve 2-year terms. In the U.S. Congress, New York is represented by 2 senators and 31 representatives.

History

Many Native American tribes, including the great Iroquois Nations, lived in the New York area before the first Europeans—with Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazano—arrived in 1524. In 1609, Samuel de Champlain of France explored northern New York, while Henry Hudson, an Englishman working for a Dutch company, explored southern New York and the river that now bears his name. Dutch and English settlers shared southern New York until the English took it over—as one of the original 13 colonies—in 1664. France claimed the northern area, which England won in 1763 after the French and Indian Wars. During the American Revolution, New York was a major battle site. New York City was the nation's first capital (1785–90). During the Civil War, New York supported the Union. After the war, industry boomed until the crash and hardships of the Great Depression (1930s), but World War II brought recovery. Today, New York is working to provide jobs and social services for its huge population, overcome problems of crime and drug abuse, improve its environment, and repair its aging cities and highway systems.