Among the many well-known international metropolises globally, such as Shanghai, London, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore, New York may be the most eye-catching.
Though most people may not have visited the city personally, they are familiar with it.
The reasons are simple; it has accumulated numerous titles and reputations: the largest city in the United States, a world-class international metropolis, the location of the United Nations headquarters, a global financial hub, often the focus of media reports, and frequently featured in various films.
These titles and influences stem both from New York's formidable strength and are integral components of this strength.
The most convincing evidence of New York's strength lies in its data:
1. With a total area of 1,214 square kilometers, of which 425 square kilometers are water bodies, New York's land area is only 789 square kilometers. In comparison, Hong Kong covers 1,106 square kilometers, London 1,577 square kilometers, Tokyo 2,155 square kilometers, and Shanghai 6,300 square kilometers. New York's area is smaller than most international metropolises.
2. Yet, within this small area, New York possesses remarkable strength:
- It has a population of 8.34 million, with a GDP reaching $1.0688 trillion in 2023, ranking first globally, and a per capita GDP of $127,000.
- There are 26,000 factories, making it the third-largest industrial center in the United States after Chicago and Los Angeles, with over 775,000 workers.
- It boasts the world's largest urban rail transit system, with a total length of 1,370 kilometers.
- It has three international airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport. In 2019, the three airports served a total of 139 million passengers.
- Manhattan Island, with an area of only 57.91 square kilometers, concentrates one-third of the headquarters of the Fortune 500 companies in the United States and the headquarters of six major banks, including Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs.
- In 1626, the Dutch bought Manhattan Island for the cost of six glass beads, which is now worth approximately $30 trillion.
- The jurisdictional boundaries have remained unchanged for over a century, maintaining New York's stable territory.
New York occupies only 0.86% of New York State's area but accounts for 42.6% of the state's population and 68.4% of its GDP.
Albany is the capital of New York State, located in the central part of the state, with a population of about 120,000, 225 kilometers from New York and 256 kilometers from Boston.
New York State enjoys a strategic geographic location, situated between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean, with 204 kilometers of coastline and 600 kilometers of lakefront.
New York is a model of an international metropolis:
1. The United Nations headquarters is located in New York.
2. The immigrant population exceeds 3 million, accounting for about 40% of the total population of the city, with over 200 languages spoken.
3. New York is a global financial center, home to numerous multinational corporations and Fortune Global 500 companies.
New York's rise can be attributed to several reasons:
1. It was one of the earliest European settlements in North America, giving it a first-mover advantage.
2. Its strategic geographical location shields it from the continental cold of the Appalachian Mountains, and its proximity to the Atlantic moderates its climate.
3. The construction of the Erie Canal made New York an important port city, connecting inland areas to the Atlantic.
The city's name was once New Amsterdam but was later changed to New York, reflecting the significance of this land.
The history of New York's development showcases the city's unique charm and irreplaceability.
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