New York Almanac: State Facts and Figures

Browse the state's symbols; state animal, state bird, state flower, state flag, state fossil, state insect, state motto, state seal, state tree, color, dance, fish, mammal, music, nut, reptile seal, and miscellaneous designations, emblems, and mascot of each state with pictures. Find origin of the state name. View the state almanacs, state timelines and peruse state facts and stats such as the capitol, location, and date admitted to the union.

New York Almanac

Official Name

New York

Capital

Albany

Nick Name

Empire State

Motto

Exelsior (Ever upward)

Location & Region

42.66575 N, 073.79901 W

Northeast

Constitution Ratified

1777

Statehood

July 26, 1788

11th state

Population

18,976,457

401.84 sq mi.

3rd

Largest City
(by population)

New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, Syracuse, Albany

Bordering States

Connecticut - Massachusetts - New Jersey - Pennsylvania - Vermont Coastline: 127 mi.

Number of Counties

58 Counties in New York

Largest County
(by population)

New York City

8,008,278

309 sq mi.

Time Zone

Eastern Standard Time

New York Climate and Weather

The summer are pleasantly warm-to-hot temperatures in the Catskill, Adirondack or Finger Lakes areas. Temperatures in the upper 70s F/25 C to mid 80s F/29 C are common in all but the higher elevations. Nights are cool in the interior Upstate: Lows can dip to 40 F/4 C, so take along something warm.

Fall has New York City loosing its high temperatures and stifling humidity. Comfortable temperatures of 60-72 F/15-22 C predominate.

Winter snowfall can be very heavy in the snow belt along Lakes Erie and Ontario (one Location & Region reports an annual average of 225 in/572 cm). The Adirondacks receive less, but there's always plenty of snow for skiing and snowmobiling. The state as a whole averages more than 40 in/102 cm per year. Temperatures can be bitter in winter, but are generally in the low teens to mid 20s F/-12 to -4 C.

Spring near Lake Ontario and Lake Erie can be cool and cloudy, but average state temperatures are in the 30s-60s F/1-20 C in April and May.

Highest Temperature

108 degrees
July 22, 1926 - Troy

Lowest Temperature

-52 degrees
February 18, 1979 - Old Forge

Avg Temp: High - Low

85.3 degrees

11.9 degrees

New York Highest, Lowest, and Mean Elevations (Feet)

Mean Elevation

1,000

Highest Point

Mt. Marcy

5,344

Lowest Point

Atlantic Ocean

Sea level

New York Land Area (Square Miles)

Geographic Center

Total Area

54,556.00

27th

Land Area¹

47,213.79

86.55%

Water Area²

7,342.22

13.45%

Forested Land Area³

61.5%

Dimensions
(Length - Width)

330 miles

283 miles

Source: (U.S. Census, April 1, 2000)
1. Dry land and land temporarily or partially covered by water, such as marshland, swamps, etc.; streams and canals under one-eighth statute mile wide; and lakes, reservoirs, and ponds under 40 acres.
2. Permanent inland water surface, such as lakes, reservoirs, and ponds having an area of 40 acres or more; streams, sloughs, estuaries, and canals one-eighth statute mile or more in width; deeply indented embayments and sounds, and other coastal waters behind or sheltered by headlands or islands separated by less than 1 nautical mile of water, and islands under 40 acres in area. Excludes areas of oceans, bays, sounds, etc. lying within U.S. jurisdiction but not defined as inland water.
3. 1997

Almanac Provided by SHG Resources