JANUARY 2008

NEW YORK FROM A-Z

Escelsior - Ever Upward

Facts about New York for each letter of the alphabet.
Click on highlighted word for more information.

A IS FOR AGRICULTURE, AMISH, APPALACHIAN TRAIL, & ARCHAEOLOGY

• Agriculture is important to New York, and farmland covers about a fourth of the state. Rural New York is dairy country. Milk is the state's leading agricultural produce. The New York State Agricultural Experiment Station supports the fruit and vegetable industry in the state. Beef cattle are also an important part of the economy. The oldest cattle ranch in the country was started on Long Island. Greenhouse and nursery products are part of the agricultural industry. There is a Farmers' Museum near Cooperstown. The Unofficial State Soil is honeoye. New York has 4-H Clubs and chapters of Future Farmers of America. The New York Farm-to-School program promotes the purchase of local products. The National Agriculture Statistics Service and AG in the Classroom provide information about agriculture.

• The Amish way of life largely revolves around working and socializing together as a family and community. Amish Friendship Bread started in New York.

• The APPALACHIAN TRAIL goes through New York. The first section of the trail that was completed is in Harriman-Bear Mountain State Park. The Manhattan skyline can be seen from some spots along the trail. There are a variety of other trails throughout the state including Horse Trails. New York participates in National Trails Day.

• New York has ARCHAEOLOGY programs and events throughout the year. Archaeology for kids is an annual summer program and the American Museum of Natural History has a workshop for kids. Archaeological Sites are located throughout the state. The New York Archaeological Society is composed of people interested in various phases of archaeology in the state.

• New York has many BEACHES. New York City has 14 public beaches that are open from Memorial day to Labor Day. Jones Beach is a State Park and one of the longest man-made beaches in the world. A large variety of shells are found along the beaches, and the bay scallop is the State Shell.

• Over 400 species of resident and migratory BIRDS can be found in New York. There are many game birds including Canada geese and wild turkeys. Falcons and eagles are also found. Birdwatching is popular and there are many Birding Hotspots. The State Bird is the Bluebird

• New York has thousands of BRIDGES including Covered Bridges and Historic Bridges. The city of New York is often called the City of Bridges. New York has had many Suspension Bridges and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world.

• New York has several scenic BYWAYS including the Seaway Trail and Lake to Locks Passage. New York has many Roadside Attractions including The Corning Museum of Glass, the Lucy & Desi Museum, and the Smallest Church in America. The largest kaleidoscope in the world is at Mt. Tremper,

• Albany is the CAPITAL of New York and claims to be the oldest chartered city in the world. The State Capitol Building is one of only 10 United States Capitol buildings without a dome roof. The first capital of the United States was New York City. New York City is the Trade Capital of the world, the largest city in the United States, and one of the largest cities in the world. Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl is known as the Snowmaking Capital of the World.

• New York has all forms of COMMUNICATIONS including newspapers, magazines, radio, television, telephone, and internet. The state has several telephone Area Codes and many Internet Service Providers. The New York Office for Technology strives to guide future technology in the state. Webcams are located throughout the state.

• New York has 62 COUNTIES. The largest county is St. Lawrence County, and New York County is the smallest. Kings County has the largest population and Hamilton County has the smallest. The term county is used in 48 of the 50 states for the level of government below the state government

• New York has many reservoirs and DAMS. Falls and rapids on the Niagara and the Lawrence Rivers are among the largest sources of hydroelectic power in North America. New York has a Dam Safety Program, and a dam removal program is planned which would restore aquatic ecosystems, endangered fish, and recreational opportunities. Nuclear Plants and petroleum-burning plants also supply power. Other sources of energy include Wind Power, and 2 types of Geothermal Energy are being used commercially.

• The fossils of DINOSAURS have been found in New York. The State Fossil is the sea scorpion. The Paleontological Research Institute has one of the largest collections of fossils in the country. An African burial ground from the 1700s has been found in New York City. Fossils are abundant in the Ithica area and the state has an interesting Fossil History.

• A number of EARTHQUAKES have been recorded in New York. The largest was in 1944 in Massena. In April 2002, the strongest earthquake to hit New York in the past 20 years was centered in the Adirondack mountains.

• The New York State Department of EDUCATION oversees education in the state and follows specific Learning Standards. School attendance is mandatory from age 6 through 16 or until graduation. Public schools are free but there are a variety of other schools. The Collegiate School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan is the oldest private school in the country. The Julliard School is perhaps the most famous music, dance and drama school in the world. New York has many universities, colleges, and technical schools. Information about schools in New York is available at SchoolBug and GreatSchools.

  New York has many special EVENTS throughout the year including Fairs and Festivals. New York City is a leader in entertainment.There are several State and County Fairs. The New York State Fair is held at Expo Center a year-round showcase of events, performances, and expositions. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is home to some of the outstanding cultural institutions in the country. Greater New York is host to hundreds of annual events. Many Arts and Craft Shows are held throughout the state during the year. The state observes Fixed Public Holidays and celebrates many other holidays.

• New York has a variety of FISH including freshwater fish and saltwater fish. New York has several species of trout, and the Brook trout is the State Fish. Excellent fishing is found throughout the state including both freshwater and saltwater fishing. New York has several State Fish Hatcheries.

• The State FLAG has a dark blue field with the State Seal. Several places in the state have their own flag including New York City and several counties and boroughs. Several Native American tribes have a flag including The Iroquois League, The Mohawk, The Oneida, and The Seneca.

• New York has FOOD Festivals, Shows, and Events. There are also Food Tastings and Cultural Walking Tours. The state is geographically and culturally diverse and has a variety of interesting foods. New York has several edible state symbols including - State fruit: apple, State beverage: milk, and State muffin: apple muffin. The New York Food Museum is not located at a specific site but holds special events during the year. New York city is famous for bagels, cheesecake, New York-style pizzas, and some 4,000 mobile food vendors. Food Banks are located throughout the state.

• New York has had many FORTS, camps, "castles" fields, and bases. Fort Brown is now a military museum and veterans research center. Fort Niagra near Youngstown was the scene of fighting during the French-Indian War and the War of 1812. Fort Ticonderoga is a restored military fortress and offers tours.

• The GEOLOGY in New York varies and there is a geologic map of the state. The U.S.Geological Survey provides information about New York. Minerals found in the state include stone, sand, gravel, & gypsum, & it is a leader in garnets, talc, and zinc. Barton Mines in the Adirondack Mountains is the largest garnet mine in the world. New York is one of the top producers of salt in the country. Saratoga Springs is noted for its mineral springs. Herkimer Diamond quartz crystals are found in abundance near Herkimer. The State Gem is the garnet.

• New York has several GHOST TOWNS. Doodletown has foundation walls, a garage, and 2 cemeteris still in use. New Boston has 3 occupied houses. Groton City has houses and a church. Love Canal has homes, schools, and businesses. Tahawus has many homes and mine buildings.

• The GLOBAL POSITION of New York is approximately 42 degrees north latitude and 73 degrees west longitude. Madison is the geographic center of New York. Mount Marcy is the highest point and the Atlantic Ocean is the lowest point. NOAA provides information about the Topography of New York. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt using a Global Positioning System and New York has several geocaches.

• New York has many HISTORIC SITES and Interpretive Centers. Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh was the first publicly owned historic site. Saratoga National Historical Park is the site of one of the most important battles of the Revolutionary War. The Erie Canal has many locks and is a recreational and historic resource. The New York Botanical Garden is one of the foremost public guardens in the country and is a National Historic Landmark. The National Trust helps protect historic places in New York.

• The HISTORY of New York dates back thousands of years. Recorded history dates back to the 1500s. The Dutch were the first permanent European settlers. New York has a StateHistory Day.

• New York has a variety of INDUSTRIES including agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing, tourism, and economics. The city of New York is the World Center of tourism. The New York Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in the world.

• New York has many ISLANDS. Ellis Island was the gateway for imigrants between 1892 and 1954 and is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. New York City not only has islands but is an island. Long Island is the largest island in New York.

• New York has a variey of INSECTS including moths, dragonflies, and butterflies. The State Insect is the ladybug. The New York Department of Conservation has information about Bugs.

• JAZZ is very popular in New York. Jazz Tours are available in New York City. The state has several Jazz Events including one at Lincoln Center. Jazz Festivals and other other Music Festivals are held throughout the state during the year. The State Song is I Love New York.

• New York has several KARST areas, carbonate-rock aquifers, caves, and caverns. Howe Caverns has tours and special events. Natural Stone Bridge and Caves has activities, trails, and a shop with rocks, fossils, and petrified wood. Secret Caverns has a waterfall. The Karst Waters Institute provides information about karst water systems, and the National Park Service has a Cave and Karst Program The National Speleological Society has chapters in New York.

• Many aspects of life in New York focus on KIDS. There is an I Love New York State webpage just for kids, and the New York State Assembly has information for kids. The state has a Best Radio for kids and a Health Plan for kids. There are many Camps for Kids and a Learning Adventure in Citizenship for kids. October is New York Harvest for Kids week.

• New York has more than 8,000 LAKES. Lake Oneida and Lake George are the two largest lakes in the state. The coastline of Lake Champlain is shared with the state of Vermont. Lakes Erie and Ontario form part of the international boundary with Canada. The Finger Lakes National Forest has 6 narrow sheets of blue water and is the only National Forest in New York. Lake Placid, one of 2,000 lakes in the Adirondack Mountains, has been the site of Winter Olympics.

• New York has Public LIBRARIES and Academic libraries. The State Library is in Albany. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum has many of Roosevelts books and personal belongings. Two branches of the New York Public Library are located in Lincoln Center.

• The coast and lakes of New York have many LIGHTHOUSES. There are several lighthouses along the Seaway Trail. The Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation promotes preservation of historic Delaware River and Bay lighthouses. The most important aspect of a lighthouse is the light that comes from the tower.

• New York has several MILITARY facilities. The United States Military Academy is at West Point in New York. Horseheads Village is the first and only village in the United States dedicated to the service of the American military horse. Watervliet Arsenal is the oldest continuously active arsenal in the country. The Division of Military and Naval Affairs administers military forces and facilities in the state. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has projects in New York and several National Guard Units.

• New York has nearly 100 MOUNTAINS. The Adirondacks have 46 mountains over 4,000 feet and countless other under that. Algonquin Peak is the highest peak in the Adrondacks. The Catskills have over 35 mountains, and Slide Mountain is the highest.

• Many MUSEUMS are located throughout New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is the largest art museum in the country, and the New York State Museum in Albany is the oldest state museum in the country. There is a Jell-o Museum in Le Roy.

• New York got its NAME from James Duke of York. It was one of the 13 original states The state is nicknamed the Empire State, Excelsior State, and Knickerbocker State. It is often called The Big Apple - a term coined by musicians meaning to play the big time. Residents are called New Yorkers.

  NATIVE AMERICANS lived in the New York region long before European explorers arrived. Two of the largest and most powerful tribes in North American lived there. These tribes were the Algonquian family of Indians and the Iroquois, or Five Nations. The Iroquois were especially interested in political and social organization. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (Akwesasne) is the only reservation that spans the U.S.-Canadian border. New York has 6 Federal and 3 State recognized Tribes.

• Many OBSERVATORIES are located throughout New York. The Dudley Observatory is the oldest independent organization in the country supporting research and education in astronomy. There are many Astronomy Clubs in New York, and Astronomy Day is celebrated.

• New York's coastline stretches 127 miles along the Atlantic OCEAN. Including the shoreline of every bay and inlet on Long Island, the state's coastline is almost 1,850 miles long. New York is the only state that touches both the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. The Minerals Management Service provides information about the ocean. Find out why the Ocean is Salty.

• New York has over 800 PARKS including National Parks and State Parks. Niagara Reservation was the first State Park in country. Watkins Glen State Park is one of the scenic wonders of North America. The Adirondak Forest Preserve is one of the largest parks in the country. New York also has Amusement and Theme Parks.

• Nearly 19 million PEOPLE live in New York including almost every culture and nationality. Many famous people come from New York including several presidents, sports players, authors, and actors. Sam Wilson furnished meat to soldiers during the War of 1812 and marked the products with a U.S. and became known as Uncle Sam. Frank Baum wrote the "Wizard of Oz", and Washington Irving wrote Rip Van Winkle. Halls of fame honoring people include the National Women's Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame for Great Americans.

• New York has about 20 PORTS. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey manage several aspects of transportation. Buffalo is a major port and oceangoing ships reach it through the St. Lawrence Seaway. Other major ports in the state include Albany Hempstead Harbor and Port Jefferson. The state has the most extensive deep water port in the world.

• The United States Mint issued a quarter for each state in the order that it became part of the Union. New York became a State in 1788 and a quarter was issued for it in 2000. The U.S. Mint has a special Kids Page.

• QUILTING is popular in New York and Quilt Guilds are located throughout the state. There are also Weaving and Knitting Guilds in the state.

• Take 1. Map quiz about New York. 2. Take a variety of quizes about New York.

• New York has 11 regions. The Adirondak Region offers many types of recreation. The Finger Lakes Region has a lot of history.

• New York has nearly a hundred species of REPTILES and amphibians including salamanders, turtles, toads, frogs, lizards, and snakes. The state is part of the North American Amphibian Monitoring System. New York has several Herpetological Socities.

  New York has over 70,000 miles of RIVERS and streams. The Hudson and the Mohawk Rivers form one of the country's great trade routes. The Hudson River is an American Heritage Designated River. The Delaware River forms part of the border between New York and the state of Pennsylvania. The East River separates Manhattan and Long Island. The Genesee River is one of the few rivers in the world that flows south to north. The Niagara River is between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Part of the Upper Delaware River is a Wild and Scenic River.

• The coast of New York is home to a variety of SEA LIFE including whales, seals, and turtles. Sperm whales occur regularly in the deep waters off New York especially along edges of submarine canyon and along the continental slope. The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research rehabilitates marine mammals. The Bureau of Marine Resources provides information about sea life along the coast of New York. Four species of sea turtles are found in the Long Island waters. The Coastal Research and Education Society promotes research and education of the coastal ecosystem. The New York Aquarium in Coney Island is the oldest continuously operated aquarium in the country.

• New York has many SPORTS teams including National Leagues and Professional Leagues. Universities, colleges, and high schools also have sports teams. Cooperstown is the home of America's first baseball game and the Baseball Hall of Fame. The state is home to several other Halls of Fame honoring sports including the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the National Soccer Hall of Fame, and the National Speed Skating Museum and Hall of Fame. The state has several large stadiums and arenas. New York has over 700 golf courses, and more ski areas than any other state in the country. The Winter Olympics were held in Lake Placid in 1932 and in 1980.

TARTAN Day is celebrated in New York. Saint Andrew's Society celebrates with special events and a parade. Scottish Games and Festivals are held throughout the state. There is even a Tartan Weekend at Ellis Island.
• New York has all forms of TRANSPORTATION. The State Department of Transportation coordinates and operates transportation facilities, and has an Adopt-a-Highway Program. The Federal Highway Administration provides information about traffic and road closures in the state. New York first issued License Plates in 1909. A variety of Customized plates are available. Syracuse is the only place in the country with a traffic sign that has the green on top. The New York Canal System is one of the largest internal waterways in the country and forms an extensive transportation network. To celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2002, Matchbox issued a vehicle for each state. The vehicle for New York was a Tow Truck.

• New York has nearly 150 species of TREES including 10 prominent species, and forests cover about half the state. The State Tree is the sugar maple. The Catskill Forest Preserve has thousands of acres of forests and other attractions. The New York State Big Tree Register recognizes trees of record size.

• The UNITED NATIONS has its headquarters in New York City. The city is a center for world trade and commerce and many national and international organizations have offices there.

• At least 5 ships have been named USS New York. The 1st was a gondola, the 2nd a frigate, and the 3rd a 74-gun ship of the line. The 4th USS New York CA-2 was am armored cruiser commission in 1893. The 5th USS New York BB-34 was a battleship commissioned in 1911 and active in both World War I and World War II. The Battleship USS New York was in service from 1914 to 1945. The 6th USS New York (LPD-21)is an amphibious transport dock scheduled for construction in 2007.

• New York has a great variety of VEGETATION. The New York Natural Heritage Program keeps track of the status of rare flowering plants, conifers, ferns, and mosses. The state is home to 58 species of wild orchids, and the State Flower is the rose. Many wildflowers bloom throughout the state. New York is part of a Vegetation Mapping Program. The Nature Conservancy helps preserve the land in New York.

• New York has a number of WATERFALLS. The Niagara River is between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and forms Niagrara Falls. The highest waterfall in the state is located in Taughannock State Park.

• The WEATHER in New York varies according to latitude, topography, and proximity to large bodies of water. Nearly all storm and frontal systems moving eastward across the continent pass through or close to New York. Cold winter temperatures prevail over New York whenever Arctic air masses flow southward from central Canada or from Hudson Bay. High-pressure systems often move just off the Atlantic coast and bring the very warm, often humid weather of the summer season and the mild temperatures during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. The New York State Climatologist and NOAA provide information about the weather. The Environmental Protection Agency has information about Global Warming in New York. Webcams showing the Weather are located throughout the state.

• New York has a wide variety of WILDLIFE. Some animals that once were common are now endangered including otters, mountain lion, and wolverine. The states fur-bearing animals include beavers, and raccoons. The New York Natural Heritage Program helps protect rare and endangered species. The state has several National Wildlife Refuges. New York is part of the Wildlife Protection Program. The beaver is the State Animal.

• Xmas is the abbreviation for Christmas which is celebrated in New York much as it is in the rest of the country and world. There are many members of the National Christmas Tree Association.

• YMCA organizations are located throughout New York.

• YOUTH HOSTELS are located throughout New York. There are also many Elderhostels in the state.

• The use of a postal ZIP CODE began in 1963. Zip codes in New York all start with the number 1. The postal code is NY.

• New York is in the Eastern Time ZONE. The state is in the United States department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 3-7.

• New York has many zoos. The Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo in the country. The Buffalo Zoo is the third oldest zoo in the country. There are several petting zoos in the state.