New York City is the capital city of the state of New York, the third-most populous city in the United States.

 

The city is located in the northeastern corner of the state on the north shore of the state of New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. It is the cultural, economic, and financial center of the region, as well as the seat of New York County and the seat of Westchester County, both of which have county governments, and the home of the headquarters of the United Nations. The five boroughs of New York City—the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island—combined form the most densely populated major metropolitan area in the United States. In 2012, the MSA had a population of 8,491,645, making it the most populous city in the New York metropolitan area, and the fourth-most populous in the United States.

The city is nicknamed the Cultural Capital of the World, the Empire State, the City That Never Sleeps, the Hub, the Big Apple, the Melting Pot, the City of Firsts, the City of Lights, the City of Diversity, the City of Churches, the City of Neighborhoods, the City of Homes, the City of Immigrants, the City of Innovation, the City of Liberty, the City of Dreams, the City of Spires, the City of Statues, the City of Bridges and Tunnels, the City of Books, the City of Burlesque, the City of Giants, the City of the Future, the City of the Sun, the City of Great Abundance, the City of a Million Stories, the City of One Percenters, and the City of Angels.

New York City is one of the world's most famous cities, and has been named the world's premier international tourist destination. Over 50 million people live in the New York City Metropolitan Area, of which almost half are from outside the United States. The city is home to the world's largest community of people who are born abroad, and it is the most diverse city in the United States, with the largest proportion of citizens from any single country.

New York City has emerged as a node of creativity and entrepreneurship, social activism and innovation, economic prosperity and cultural influence. No single institution or individual can claim credit for this renaissance that has transformed the city and the surrounding region. Instead, the "melting pot" that has become New York has come together to create a new culture of creativity and opportunity.

New York City is known for its great diversity. The New York City metro area is home to the highest proportion of immigrants and non-English speaking residents of any major city in the United States, with approximately 41% of residents reporting only English at home, compared to the national average of approximately 25%. As many as one in every seven people in New York City is from somewhere other than the United States, and the number of foreign-born residents in New York City is higher than in any other U.S. city.

New York City is the most populous city in the United States, with an estimated 8,491,645 inhabitants as of 2012, making it also the most populous city proper in the nation. It is the third-largest city by population within the 48 contiguous states, behind Chicago and Los Angeles, and ahead of Houston, Phoenix, and Dallas.

The city is the center of the New York metropolitan area and the county of New York, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world.

New York City has the third-highest gross domestic product (GDP) of any city in the United States and seventh highest in the world. The New York City metropolitan region remains by far the largest metropolitan region in the United States, as measured by both total GDP and population.

The city is home to two of the world's most famous skyscraper landmarks, the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building.