New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous in the world. With a 2010 United States Census population of 8,175,133 distributed over a land area of just 305 sq mi (790 sq km), it is also the most densely populated major city in the United States. Usually referred to as New York City (NYC) or the City of New York, to distinguish it from the state of New York of which it is a part, it exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education and entertainment. The home of the United Nations Headquarters, it is also an important center for international affairs and is widely deemed the cultural capital of the world. Numerous colleges and universities are located in New York, including Columbia University, New York University and Rockefeller University, which are ranked among the top 100 in the world. As many as 800 languages are spoken in New York City, making it the most linguistically diverse city in the world.

Located on a large natural harbor on the Atlantic coast of the Northeastern United States, New York City consists of five boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. At the time of its European discovery in 1524 by Giovanni da Verrazzano, a Florentine explorer in service of the French crown, the region was inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans. European settlement began in 1614 with the founding of a Dutch fur trading settlement, later named "Nieuw Amsterdam" (New Amsterdam), on the southern tip of Manhattan. The city and its surrounds came under English control in 1664 and were renamed New York after King Charles II of England granted the lands to his brother, the Duke of York. New York served as the capital of the United States from 1785 until 1790 and has been the country's largest city since 1790.

New York City hosts many world renowned bridges, skyscrapers and parks. Many districts and landmarks in the city have become well known to outsiders. The Statue of Liberty greeted millions of immigrants as they came to America by ship in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Times Square, iconified as "The Crossroads of the World", is the brightly illuminated hub of the Broadway theater district, one of the world's busiest pedestrian intersections and a major center of the global entertainment industry. New York City's Financial District, anchored by Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, functions as the financial capital of the world and is home to the New York Stock Exchange, the world's largest stock exchange by total market capitalization of its listed companies. Manhattan's real estate market is among the most prized and expensive in the world. Unlike most global rapid transit systems, the New York City Subway is designed to provide 24/7 service.

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