Fun Facts About New York City

1. The term “The Big Apple” originally referred to horse racing. The city got its famous nick name from a local newspaper’s horse racing column in the 1920’s. Prior to the city’s adoption of the nickname, the phrase “Big Apple” was used to describe a big money prize at important horse races held around the city.
2. The oldest building in New York City dates back to around 1642. Called the Wyckoff Farm, the house was built by a former indentured servant. It was inhabited by the Wyckoff family until 1901 and was named an official city landmark.
3. Birdwatchers have spied 275 species of birds in Central Park
4. New York City taxis were originally red and green. Now the yellow cab is a recognizable symbol of the city. New York adopted the yellow color for taxis in 1912.
5. New Yorkers speak approximately 800 languages and dialects. Over 37 per cent of New Yorkers were born in another country.
6. The first American pizza place opened in 1905.Italian immigrants introduced the delicious, cheesy snack in 1905 and New Yorkers never looked back. Today there are approximately 1,600 pizza restaurants in the city.
7. Cowboys used to patrol 10th avenue in Manhattan. Most of us associate cowboys with the Wild West – not the West side of Manhattan. But from 1850 – 1941, New York had its own special team of cowboys. Responsible for wrangling people rather than cows, the West Side Cowboys would ride on horseback ahead of freight trains that ran down the middle of the street, warning people to get out of the way.
8. Its population density is the highest of any American city with over 27,000 people per square mile, it also accounts for more than 40% of New York State’s entire population.
9. It would take approximately 24 hours to navigate the entire subway system. And that’s if you’re in a rush. With 34 lines and 469 stops, the New York City subway system is one of the largest urban mass transportation systems in the world. Traveling to every single stop (without leaving the transit system) will take you at least 21 hours and 49 minutes – traverse the whole system in less time than that, and you’ll have broken the current world record.
10. The Statue of Liberty was delivered in 350 pieces. Housed in 214 crates, it arrived in New York City in 1885. The statue’s iconic arm, meanwhile, actually arrived in the states a decade earlier, in 1876, where it was put on display at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia to raise money for the construction project.
11. Until the 1920’s everyone moved apartments on the same day. From colonial times through the beginning of the 20th century, May 1st was Moving Day in NYC – and nearly everyone who needed to move apartments did so on that day. The custom caused chaos and traffic jams as the streets became clogged with horse-drawn moving vans and furniture. Fortunately, this odd practice began to die down in the 1920’s, and of course, modern New Yorkers can move whenever they want.
12. The mall in Central Park was designed to let the wealthy show off. Formally called the Promenade, the Mall is a quarter-mile path that cuts through Manhattan’s Central Park. It’s the only intentional straight path inside the park, and it was originally built to let wealthy New Yorkers stroll, socialize, and show off their Sunday best.

I found these fun facts on the Mental Floss site. And have quoted from parts of it.

My husband and so many of our friends were born and raised in the New York area. I bet very few, if any of them, knew these facts.

Until my next inspiration…ciao