New York

Flag of New York

New York is a state located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the northeastern United States. In addition to sharing a border with five other states, New York also borders Canada, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the Atlantic Ocean. One of the original 13 colonies, New York has become one of the most populous U.S. states, as well as a cultural, economic, and financial center. 

Timeline of New York History:

Pre-European: Native American tribes inhabit the area, including Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Algonquian groups 

1524: Giovanni da Verrazzano explores the Atlantic coast, including New York Harbor

1609: Henry Hudson explores the Hudson River; Samuel de Champlain explores Lake Champlain

1625: The Dutch establish Fort Amsterdam, which later becomes New Amsterdam and then New York City

1664: The British capture the area from the Dutch and name it New York

1776: Americans suffer a major loss to the British at the Battle of Long Island (Battle of Brooklyn) during the American Revolution

1777: New York adopts its first constitution; the Battles of Saratoga mark a turning point in the Revolutionary War

1788: New York becomes the 11th U.S. state

1797: Albany becomes the state capital

1825: The Erie Canal opens

1827: Slavery ends in New York

1848: A landmark women’s rights convention is held at Seneca Falls 

1863: Riots occur in New York City in protest of the Civil War draft 

1892: The immigration station at Ellis Island opens

1904: The first subway line opens in New York City

1920s: The Harlem Renaissance blossoms in New York City

1929: The New York Stock Exchange crashes, marking the start of the Great Depression

1969: The Woodstock music festival takes place in Bethel

2001: Terrorists attack the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City

2012: Hurricane Sandy causes extensive damage along New York’s coast

Quick facts:

Capital: Albany

Date of statehood: July 26, 1788 (11th state)

Size (area): 54,555 sq mi (141,300 sq km)

Nickname: The Empire State

Learn more about New York through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about New York

Argument that British need to befriend Native Americans in New York area during French & Indian War Fri, Jul 19, 1754 – 1 · The Derby Mercury (Derby, Derbyshire, England) · Newspapers.comDescription and history of New York published in a British newspaper in 1755 Fri, Sep 26, 1755 – 1 · The Derby Mercury (Derby, Derbyshire, England) · Newspapers.comNew York merchants react to the passing of the Stamp Act Fri, Dec 20, 1765 – 1 · The Derby Mercury (Derby, Derbyshire, England) · Newspapers.comExcerpt from letters with firsthand account of the Battle of Long Island (Battle of Brooklyn) Tue, Sep 3, 1776 – Page 4 · The Pennsylvania Packet (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comExcerpt from letter discusses situation of Loyalists in New York at end of American Revolution Sat, Jul 12, 1783 – 2 · The Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland) · Newspapers.comNewspaper prints New York's proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution Tue, Aug 12, 1788 – Page 1 · Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, New York) · Newspapers.comNewspaper prints speech given by Buffalo lawyer Sheldon Smith about opening of the Erie Canal Sat, Oct 29, 1825 – 2 · Buffalo Emporium and General Advertiser (Buffalo, New York) · Newspapers.comNewspaper publishes summary of ongoing Anti-Rent (Helderberg) War in 1844 Fri, Jul 26, 1844 – Page 2 · The Evening Post (New York, New York) · Newspapers.comNewspaper publishes "Declaration of Sentiments" from the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 Sun, Jul 30, 1848 – 3 · New York Daily Herald (New York, New York) · Newspapers.com3 "fugitive slaves" in New York are believed to have escaped via the Underground Railroad Fri, May 14, 1852 – Page 1 · The New York Times (New York, New York) · Newspapers.comFront page newspaper articles about the 1863 New York City draft riots during the Civil War Tue, Jul 14, 1863 – 1 · New York Daily Herald (New York, New York) · Newspapers.comObituary for William M. ("Boss") Tweed, who ran the Tammany Hall political machine in New York Fri, Apr 12, 1878 – 4 · The Brooklyn Union (Brooklyn, New York) · Newspapers.comNewspaper coverage of the opening of the immigration station at Ellis Island in 1892 Fri, Jan 1, 1892 – Page 4 · The Evening World (New York, New York) · Newspapers.comNewspaper summary of the 1900 annual report of the "United States agent for the New York Indians" Sat, May 26, 1900 – Page 3 · The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) · Newspapers.comNewspaper article about the opening day of the New York City subway in 1904 Thu, Oct 27, 1904 – Page 1 · The Evening World (New York, New York) · Newspapers.comNew York newspaper front page with early details and photos of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire Sun, Mar 26, 1911 – Page 1 · The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) · Newspapers.comEditorial opposing "unwise segregation" in New York during Harlem Renaissance Sat, Feb 21, 1920 – Page 4 · The New York Age (New York, New York) · Newspapers.comNew York news and reactions to Black Tuesday stock market crash at start of Great Depression Tue, Oct 29, 1929 – Page 2 · The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) · Newspapers.comExcerpt from an article about the role of Brooklyn Navy Yard during World War II Sun, Dec 9, 1945 – Page 52 · The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) · Newspapers.comFeature article describes impressions of New York City's Chinatown in 1954 Thu, Apr 15, 1954 – 12 · Daily News (New York, New York) · Newspapers.comNewspaper articles about 1969 Woodstock published as the festival comes to a close Mon, Aug 18, 1969 – Page 1 · Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, New York) · Newspapers.comExcerpt from 1982 article spotlighting the Puerto Rican community in Rochester, New York Sun, Aug 8, 1982 – Page 10 · Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York) · Newspapers.comFront page news coverage of the September 11th (9/11) terrorist attacks Tue, Sep 11, 2001 – 1 · The Ithaca Journal (Ithaca, New York) · Newspapers.comNewspaper front page with coverage and photo from 2012's Hurricane Sandy Tue, Oct 30, 2012 – Page A1 · Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, New York) · Newspapers.com