New York is the 27th-most
extensive, the 3rd-most populous, and the 7th-most densely
populated of the 50 United States. The state of New York is often
referred to as New York State to distinguish it from New York
City. New York City is the most populous city in the United
States. Alone, it makes up over 40 percent of the population of
New York state. It is known for its status as a center for
finance and culture and for its status as the largest gateway for
immigration to the United States. Both the state and city were
named for the 17th century Duke of York, James Stuart, future
James II and VII of England and Scotland. New York was inhabited
by various tribes of Algonquian and Iroquoian speaking Native
Americans at the time Dutch settlers moved into the region in the
early 17th century. In 1609, the region was first claimed by
Henry Hudson for the Dutch. Fort Nassau was built near the site
of the present-day capital of Albany in 1614. The Dutch soon also
settled New Amsterdam and parts of the Hudson River Valley,
establishing the colony of New Netherland. The British took over
the colony by annxation in 1664. The borders of the British
colony, the Province of New York, were roughly similar to those
of the present-day state. About one third of all the battles of
the Revolutionary War took place in New York. The state
constitution was enacted in 1777.
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