New York City is the most populous city in the United States and Earth’s most densely populated city. It has an estimated population of 8,097,000 people within its five boroughs, making it the largest metropolitan area in both people and land area in the U.S. The city lies at the geographic center of the Northeastern part of North America, bordered by Canada to the north and west, Connecticut to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. In this article, we will look at some Things I Didn’t Know About New York:
1. Pinball was banned in NYC until 1978
This is a fun fact about New York that you probably didn’t know. In 1978, pinball machines were banned from being sold or played in any location where alcohol could be served. This ban was lifted in 1979 after pinball machines became popular again. Pinball machines are still illegal to sell or play in bars and restaurants in New York State.
2. The Statue of Liberty is made out of copper
The Statue of Liberty is made out of copper. Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi took over 100 years to complete his masterpiece. He began working on the statue in 1874 but died before completing it. His son completed the rest of the project. You will be surprised that the Statue of Liberty weighs more than 10 tons! The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. The federal government owns the island, and it is open to visitors 24 hours a day. You can walk around the base of the statue for free.
You don’t have to travel to New York City for a good view of Lady Liberty. You can even glimpse her in Central Park if you look hard enough. But, if you want to see her up close, head to Battery Park. From there, you can take a ferry to Ellis Island. Once you arrive, you can walk around the park or visit the museum.
3. The first public school in NYC was built in 1657
Public schools have existed since 1657, when the Dutch settlers established their first school in New Amsterdam. They used the church as a classroom because there wasn’t enough space in homes for all students. The oldest continuously operating school building in the U.S. is Central School No. 1 in Manhattan. It opened in September 1657. This school is now known as P.S. 9. The building dates back to 1842.
4. There are more than 300 bridges in NYC
There are over 300 bridges in NYC. Some are famous, like the Brooklyn Bridge, which connects Manhattan with Brooklyn, and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which connects Staten Island with Brooklyn. Others are less well known, like the pedestrian bridge connecting Chinatown and Little Italy. The George Washington Bridge is the world’s busiest toll bridge. It carries traffic across the Hudson River between New Jersey and New York. It also holds the record for the longest suspension bridge in the world.
5. The Empire State Building is the tallest in N.Y.
The Empire State Building is the second tallest building in New York. It stands 441 feet tall. However, the Chrysler Building is taller at 541 feet. The Empire State Building was designed by William Van Alen and was completed in 1931. It cost $24 million to build. The observation deck opens up to the public every day at 11 AM. The Empire State has been surpassed by One World Trade Center in lower Manhattan.
6. Wall Street is named after a wall
Wall Street got its name because of a 17th-century barrier along the street. The dam was constructed to keep Native Americans away from settlements. Wall Street is home to many financial institutions, including JP Morgan Chase Bank. However, the street couldn’t always boast this title. For a time, Wall Street was called “Broadway.” That’s right. The famed Broadway musicals were filmed here until 1929. Also, this street played host to some of history’s most infamous events. 1637 the Battle of Pell St. broke out on this very spot. And in 1776, soldiers marched down this street during the battle for independence.
7. Times Square gets its name from the clock
Today, Times Square gets its name from the original clock near the theater district. The watch was placed there in 1904. Since then, the clock has moved several times and was recently replaced by a new clock that looks similar to the old one. Times Square isn’t the only place named after a watch. Philadelphia, Seattle, and San Francisco are just a few other cities that share this distinction.
8. Eggs Benedict was invented in NYC
Yes, you can credit an Egg Benedict for inventing the egg sandwich. 1924 Harry Craddock ordered an egg sandwich while dining at Manhattan’s Ritz Carlton Hotel. He asked for his eggs benedict to be covered in hollandaise sauce. He liked them so much when they arrived that he made it part of the menu. Something interesting about the story: There’s no evidence of whether or not Harry even ate the sandwich. People often claim to have discovered things before they were officially created. But others say that Harry invented the Egg Benedict.
9. A child is born every 4.4 minutes in NYC
New York City is one of the best places to be born if your parents want you to experience life in a city. According to data collected by the CDC, more than 1,100 children are born in NYC daily. Of course, this varies widely based on race. White babies make up 84% of all births in NYC. Black babies account for 6%. Hispanic babies make up 7%, and Asian babies make up 2% of all newborns in NYC.
10. You don’t need health insurance in NYC
City residents the government doesn’t employ can visit any emergency room without fear of being charged later. Emergency rooms in NYC are free. This is something that doesn’t apply to people living outside of NYC. You can still get treated if you live in N.Y. but haven’t paid taxes yet. However, non-NYC residents will likely pay higher care prices. Emergency Rooms in NYC
11. NYC has the highest concentration of billionaires per capita
You would be correct if you think that the number of billionaires is increasing. In 2015 alone, the number of billionaires increased by three compared to 2014. While the rest of the world struggled with economic hardship, NYC thrived. The city currently has 277 billionaires. That means that 11% of all NYC households are made up of billionaires.
Bottom line
In case you need another reason to love NYC, we’ve given you 11 reasons why you should fall head over heels for our fantastic city! Now that you know these facts, what are you waiting for? Book your flight with Cathay Pacific now and start planning your trip to NYC!
