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Copyright 2001. The Lazy 'C' - All rights reserved.
history
The device of arms of the State flag was adopted in 1778 and the present flag is a modern version of a Revolutionary War flag. It is dark blue with the State Coat of Arms in the centre. The Coat of Arms shows Liberty and Justice standing either side of a shield upon which is emblazoned the sun rising behind a range of mountains. A three-masted, square rigged ship and a Hudson River sloop signify commerce. Beneath the shield is the State motto. The original is at The Albany Institute of History and Art.
Nickname: The Empire State.
Capital: Albany.
Constitution: The 11th State.
Statehood: July 26th 1788.
Motto: Excelsior (Ever Upward)
History:
Two of the largest and most powerful Indian groups in North America lived in the New York region before white settlers arrived. One group consisted of tribes of the Algonquian family of Indians. The other was the Iroquois, or Five Nations group.
In 1609, Henry Hudson, an Englishman employed by the Dutch, sailed up the river that now bears his name. His voyage gave the Netherlands a claim to the territory covering much of New York and other eastern states. The territory was later named New Netherland.
The Dutch established trading posts and settlements in the Hudson River Valley soon after Hudson's visit. In 1624, Dutch settlers founded Fort Orange (now Albany), the first permanent white settlement in the colony. The Dutch bought Manhattan from the Indians in 1625 and began to build the city of New Amsterdam, now New York City.
Many English colonists settled on Long Island. They gradually began to oppose the Dutch. In 1664, the English seized New Netherland. They renamed the territory New York, after the Duke of York.
Soon after the English won control of southern New York, the French began to take great interest in the northern part. Meanwhile, in 1689, war had broken out in Europe between England and France. New York soon became a battleground between the two countries. From 1689 until 1763, the region suffered severely through four wars, known as the French and Indian wars. The wars cost France almost all its North American possessions.
New York was the scene of many battles during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). In 1777, American patriots in New York won two important battles.
In 1779, a military expedition crushed the mighty Iroquois, leaving the Indians' territory open to white settlement. New York became a state of the U.S. in 1788.
War broke out between the United States and Britain in 1812, and fighting took place near the U.S.-Canadian border. After the war, pioneers began to settle in the northern and western sections of the state.
In 1825, the Erie Canal was completed, linking the Hudson River and the Great Lakes and greatly expanding trade with the West. The development of railways soon followed. By 1850, New York led the nation in population, in manufacturing, and in commerce.
After the American Civil War (1861-1865) ended, new manufacturing centres grew up in various parts of New York. New York City, already the nation's industrial and financial capital, also became a cultural centre. Employment opportunities brought new waves of immigrants.
In 1901, an assassin killed President William McKinley in Buffalo. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt, a former governor of New York, became President.
New York became a centre of the U.S. defence industry in the mid-1900's. The St. Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959, allowing ocean-going ships to sail to ports on the Great Lakes.
During the early 1970's, many manufacturing plants in New York closed. But after the mid-1970's, the economy experienced a healthy recovery, mainly because of tremendous growth in service industries and electronics manufacturing. In 1986, New York voters approved a bond act to finance environmental projects, especially the cleaning up of hazardous waste sites.
Bird:
Bluebird - The once-prolific, red-breasted bluebird has been making a comeback from low numbers in the 1950's. Many people provide special nesting boxes along fence rows for bluebirds. They winter throughout the State.
Economy:
Agriculture: Dairy products, cattle and other livestock, vegetables, nursery stock, apples.
Industry: Printing and publishing, scientific instruments, electric equipment, machinery, chemical products, tourism.
Flower:
The rose, wild or cultivated, in all its variety and color, was made the State flower in 1955. Ever popular, it was at the top of a school children's poll of favorite flowers in 1891.
Motto:
Excelsior (Ever Upward). In 1784, during a tour of the State's harbors, waterways and fertile interior, George Washington referred to New York as the "Seat of Empire." Since then, New Yorkers have worked ambitiously to live up to the State's motto and to make "The Empire State" the national leader it is today.
Origin of state's name:
Named after England's Duke of York.
Tree:
The sugar maple yields a sweet sap for syrup and sugar in the spring; its heavy crown of leaves turns to brilliant colours in autumn. The wood makes fine furniture and burns well in woodstoves and fireplaces.
Other Information:
"Uncle Sam" was a meatpacker from Troy, New York. During the War of 1812, Sam Wilson stamped "U.S. Beef" on his products and soldiers interpreted that as Uncle Sam. His caricature later came to personify the United States. His gravesite is located in Oakwood Cemetery in Troy.
The term "The Big Apple" was coined by touring jazz musicians of the 1930s who used the slang expression "apple" for any town or city. Therefore, to play New York City is to play the big time - THE BIG APPLE.
Two of the largest and most powerful Indian groups in North America lived in the New York region before white settlers arrived. One group consisted of tribes of the Algonquian family of Indians. The other was the Iroquois, or Five Nations group.
In 1609, Henry Hudson, an Englishman employed by the Dutch, sailed up the river that now bears his name. His voyage gave the Netherlands a claim to the territory covering much of New York and other eastern states. The territory was later named New Netherland.
The Dutch established trading posts and settlements in the Hudson River Valley soon after Hudson's visit. In 1624, Dutch settlers founded Fort Orange (now Albany), the first permanent white settlement in the colony. The Dutch bought Manhattan from the Indians in 1625 and began to build the city of New Amsterdam, now New York City.
Many English colonists settled on Long Island. They gradually began to oppose the Dutch. In 1664, the English seized New Netherland. They renamed the territory New York, after the Duke of York.
Soon after the English won control of southern New York, the French began to take great interest in the northern part. Meanwhile, in 1689, war had broken out in Europe between England and France. New York soon became a battleground between the two countries. From 1689 until 1763, the region suffered severely through four wars, known as the French and Indian wars. The wars cost France almost all its North American possessions.
New York was the scene of many battles during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). In 1777, American patriots in New York won two important battles.
In 1779, a military expedition crushed the mighty Iroquois, leaving the Indians' territory open to white settlement. New York became a state of the U.S. in 1788.
War broke out between the United States and Britain in 1812, and fighting took place near the U.S.-Canadian border. After the war, pioneers began to settle in the northern and western sections of the state.
In 1825, the Erie Canal was completed, linking the Hudson River and the Great Lakes and greatly expanding trade with the West. The development of railways soon followed. By 1850, New York led the nation in population, in manufacturing, and in commerce.
After the American Civil War (1861-1865) ended, new manufacturing centres grew up in various parts of New York. New York City, already the nation's industrial and financial capital, also became a cultural centre. Employment opportunities brought new waves of immigrants.
In 1901, an assassin killed President William McKinley in Buffalo. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt, a former governor of New York, became President.
New York became a centre of the U.S. defence industry in the mid-1900's. The St. Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959, allowing ocean-going ships to sail to ports on the Great Lakes.
During the early 1970's, many manufacturing plants in New York closed. But after the mid-1970's, the economy experienced a healthy recovery, mainly because of tremendous growth in service industries and electronics manufacturing. In 1986, New York voters approved a bond act to finance environmental projects, especially the cleaning up of hazardous waste sites.
Bird:
Bluebird - The once-prolific, red-breasted bluebird has been making a comeback from low numbers in the 1950's. Many people provide special nesting boxes along fence rows for bluebirds. They winter throughout the State.
Economy:
Agriculture: Dairy products, cattle and other livestock, vegetables, nursery stock, apples.
Industry: Printing and publishing, scientific instruments, electric equipment, machinery, chemical products, tourism.
Flower:
The rose, wild or cultivated, in all its variety and color, was made the State flower in 1955. Ever popular, it was at the top of a school children's poll of favorite flowers in 1891.
Motto:
Excelsior (Ever Upward). In 1784, during a tour of the State's harbors, waterways and fertile interior, George Washington referred to New York as the "Seat of Empire." Since then, New Yorkers have worked ambitiously to live up to the State's motto and to make "The Empire State" the national leader it is today.
Origin of state's name:
Named after England's Duke of York.
Tree:
The sugar maple yields a sweet sap for syrup and sugar in the spring; its heavy crown of leaves turns to brilliant colours in autumn. The wood makes fine furniture and burns well in woodstoves and fireplaces.
Other Information:
"Uncle Sam" was a meatpacker from Troy, New York. During the War of 1812, Sam Wilson stamped "U.S. Beef" on his products and soldiers interpreted that as Uncle Sam. His caricature later came to personify the United States. His gravesite is located in Oakwood Cemetery in Troy.
The term "The Big Apple" was coined by touring jazz musicians of the 1930s who used the slang expression "apple" for any town or city. Therefore, to play New York City is to play the big time - THE BIG APPLE.