Contents
- 1 Is New York part of New England?
- 2 The State of New York
- 3 The Region of New England
- 4 Is upstate New York part of New England?
- 5 Why is New York not a part of New England?
- 6 A Brief History of New Amsterdam
- 7 What region is New York?
- 8 What are the 6 New England states?
- 9 What is New York state famous for?
- 10 Is New York Part of New England: Wrap-Up
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When looking at a map of the northeast region of the United States, you’ll notice a set of six that are often grouped together as New England. And just over to the west of the New England border, you can see the state of New York.
But is New York part of New England?
Although it seems like one New should be part of the other, these are two distinct parts of the United States.
Whether you learned this in high school history class and simply need a refresh, or trying to figure it out for the first time, here’s what you need to know about the differences between New York and New England.
But first thing’s first………
Is New York part of New England?
Although the state of New York borders New England, it is not considered part of the region.
The State of New York
New York state is located on the east coast of the United States. It borders Canada to the north, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut to the east, Pennsylvania to the south, and Lake Ontario to the west.
The capital city of Albany is home to just under 100,000 residents.
The Region of New England
New England is not a state itself–it’s a region comprised of six states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
These states share similar geography, with mountains, rivers, lakes, and forests. They also have a lot in common regarding culture and history.
Is upstate New York part of New England?
Unfortunately, upstate New York is not part of New England. Although they share some similarities with their weather, agriculture, and beautiful fall foliage, upstate New York is not included in the New England area.
Why is New York not a part of New England?
New York state is not part of the United States region of New England because it was first settled by the Dutch. It then remained a Dutch colony until the British seized control of various New Netherlands settlements.
At the same time, the area known as New England was first settled by the British, starting with the Plymouth colony in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Due to this decades-long gap before the British overtook New Netherlands, New York is not considered part of New England.
A Brief History of New Amsterdam
Of the Dutch New Netherlands settlements, New Amsterdam is what we now know as New York City.
In the 1620s, Dutch colonists arrived on the tip of Manhattan island and founded the colony of New Amsterdam.
Although most colonial immigrants came to the New World to pursue religious freedoms, the Dutch came to trade fur. Manhattan was filled with wildlife at the time, and they were particularly interested in beaver fur.
Unfortunately, it was kind of a mess. People were getting sick, the government was poorly managed, and they didn’t have the tools or skills to successfully cultivate the land for crops.
In 1647, the Dutch sent a new governor to the New Amsterdam colony to whip it into shape–Peter Stuyvesant. Stuyvesant was known for his wooden leg and his strictness.
Although he managed to create some change in the colony–the creation of the wall that would one day become the Financial District’s famous Wall Street–New Amsterdam was invaded by the British in 1669, who claimed it for themselves.
What region is New York?
The state of New York is part of the Mid-Atlantic region, which generally includes the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and West Virginia.
New York state is also considered part of the general Northeast region of the United States.
What are the 6 New England states?
The six states of New England are Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. These six states were territories initially colonized by the British, starting in the early 1600s.
What is New York state famous for?
The state of New York is famous in its own right for many things–its topography, sports teams, cities, and world-renowned universities are all celebrated attributes of the Empire State.
Some of the most famous natural landmarks in the United States call New York home.
The Adirondacks and the Catskills mountain ranges are located within the borders of New York state, as well as Niagara Falls, a group of three waterfalls in North America.
The Finger Lakes are a series of eleven long, narrow lakes that look like fingers over in the western Finger Lakes region of the state.
By its Canadian border, New York also shares Lake Champlain with its neighboring state, Vermont. The Hudson River Valley is another popular destination for tourists looking to see the beauty of nature.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, was born just outside Poughkeepsie, and you can find his Presidential Library and Museum there.
New York state has two Ivy League institutes, on par with Harvard and Yale University, and several other highly-ranked colleges.
Cornell University is found in Ithaca, New York, while Columbia University’s main campus is on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Other exceptional universities in the state include New York University, The Juilliard School, Fordham University, The Cooper Union, The Fashion Institute of Technology, The Culinary Institute of America, Vassar College, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
The state has several professional sports franchises–the New York Yankees and the New York Mets for professional baseball.
The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets basketball teams, New York Rangers and Islanders hockey teams, and the New York Giants, Jets, and Buffalo Bills football teams.
And, of course, New York state is the home of New York City, one of the most incredible cities in the world.
If you’re interested in learning more about NYC’s history, landmarks, and things to do there, check out my Exploring New York page, where you can find all of my guides to the Big Apple.
Is New York Part of New England: Wrap-Up
Although New York is not part of New England, they share the Northeast region of the United States and some similar characteristics. If you have the chance, make sure you explore both of these dynamic areas of the country!