• Date of statehood: July 26, 1778Date of statehood: July 26, 1778

• State capital: AlbanyState capital: Albany

• Largest City: New York CityLargest City: New York City

• Nickname: The Empire StateNickname: The Empire State

• Population: 17,700,000 peoplePopulation: 17,700,000 people

New York StateFast Facts

• New York City (7,322,564 people)New York City (7,322,564 people)

• BuffaloBuffalo (328,123 people) (328,123 people)

• RochesterRochester (231,636 people) (231,636 people)

• YonkersYonkers (188,082 people) (188,082 people)

• SyracuseSyracuse (163,860 people) (163,860 people)

New York’s 5 Largest Cities

NEW YORK STATECounties & Cities

Niagara County

Sanborn

Erie County

* Buffalo

KEY

* = City

* Albany

* New York City

* Rochester

The Seal and Flag of New York

State SealState Seal– Adopted Adopted

in 1778in 1778– GoldGold

State FlagState Flag– Adopted Adopted

in 1909in 1909– Navy blueNavy blue

State seal and flag State seal and flag have the same emblemhave the same emblem

• Center shield shows ocean scene

• Shield is held by two women: Liberty and Justice

• American eagle sitting on world globe

• State motto, Excelsior, written on scroll below shield

Explanation of New York StateSeal and Flag

Liberty on left

Justice on right

The State Bird: Eastern Bluebird

• Female has paler blue head and tailFemale has paler blue head and tail

• Male is bright blueMale is bright blue

• White bellyWhite belly

• Chestnut-brown feathersChestnut-brown feathers

• Found in orchards, gardens, farmyardsFound in orchards, gardens, farmyards

The State Tree: Sugar Maple

• Grows to a height of 135 feetGrows to a height of 135 feet

• Gray bark and dark green leavesGray bark and dark green leaves

• Leaves turn bright red, orange, Leaves turn bright red, orange, yellow in the autumnyellow in the autumn

• Wood of maple sugar used for Wood of maple sugar used for furniture, floors, musical instrumentsfurniture, floors, musical instruments

• Boil sap of tree for syrupBoil sap of tree for syrup

The State Flower: Rose

School children voted for symbol in 1891School children voted for symbol in 1891 Officially became the state flower in 1955Officially became the state flower in 1955 Fragrant flowers with thorny stems Fragrant flowers with thorny stems Roses are red, yellow, and whiteRoses are red, yellow, and white Grow in bushes and gardensGrow in bushes and gardens

More New York State Symbols

• Animal: Beaver• Beverage: Milk• Fish: Brook • Fossil: Sea Scorpion

• Fruit: Apple• Insect: Ladybug• Muffin: Apple Muffin• Slogan: I Love New York

Governor of New York: George Pataki

Responsibilities of the Governor:Responsibilities of the Governor:• preparation of the state's executive budget

• execution and enforcement of state laws

• Commander-in-Chief of New York's military and naval forces

http://www.state.ny.us/governor/

Governor George E. Pataki is our State's 53rd chief executive and was elected to office in 1994.

Famous New Yorkers

• Mariah Carey• Christopher Reeve• Kareem Abdul-Jabar• Tom Cruise• Colin Powell• Jay Leno• Connie Chung• Denzel Washington

• Maurice Sendak• Barbara Streisand• Tommy Hilfiger• E.B. White• Eleanor Roosevelt• George Clinton• Lou Gehrig• Rosie Perez

Tourism inNew York State

Statue of Liberty Broadway

The Empire State Building

Niagara Falls

Lockport Locks

Future New York State Topics

The Erie Canal

Underground

Railroad

Native Americans