25 Fascinating Facts About New York City And Why It Is Called The Big Apple

It's September 11. A day that has gone down in history as one of the most tragic days for New York City and even America. Many people have suffered thanks to the selfish acts of a few. But today, were not going to focus on the negative aspect of that event. Rather we're going to show you how fascinating New York city can be. It's not hard to find fascinating facts about New York city. Think about it. New York city currently houses 8.4 million people distributed over a land area of 305 square miles. That's insane! The city has five boroughs; Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Some even say that these boroughs have enough personality and attractions to be their own cities! And then there's New York's history, which is full of defining moments, some tragic like Sept. 11, others revolutionary like the creation of New York's Subway. And then there's the nick name: "The Big Apple", an mystery that has captured the imagination of most. Where does this nickname come from? Well you're about to find out. That's right, if you stick with us until #1 we'll explain why it's called the Big Apple even though everybody you ever asked told you it was a mystery. So from cool quirky facts like New York's obsession with coffee, to the origins of New York's nickname we bring you 25 fascinating facts about New York City and why it is called the Big Apple.

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Check out these cool facts about New York City:

15,152 forms of life have been found in the New York Subway system (these include insects and bacteria)

Except for emergencies, honking your car horn is actually illegal in New York City. And yes, we know, everybody does it anyway.

In 1789 it became the first capital of the United States. This only lasted for one year though.

In 2018 NYC will open the world's first underground park

There is a skyscraper with no windows

Manhattan was purchased from the native people in 1626 for the modern equivalent of US $1000

New Yorkers bite 10 times more people per year than sharks do

New York sets train tracks on fire to keep them free of ice in the winter

More people in New York die of suicide than murder

It can cost nearly $300,000 to operate a hot dog stand around Central Park

Manhattan comes from a Lenape word meaning "island of many hills" (mostly flattened by now to provide room for urban development)

New York City is the city with the largest Polish population after Warsaw

Roughly half of the population speaks a language other than English at home

New York City doesn't have any Walmarts

More Chinese people live in New York City than any other city outside of Asia. And more Jewish people live there than any other city outside of Israel.

1 in every 38 Americans live in NYC

New Yorkers drink 7 times more coffee than people in the rest of America

25% of the world's gold bullion is stored in vaults under Wall Street (the federal reserve bank)

1 out of every 21 New Yorkers is a millionaire

Invisible, harmless shrimp called copepods live in New York City's water supply

The city gets about 15 times more snow than the South Pole every year (this shouldn't be too surprising though because Antarctica is a desert and therefore receives very little precipitation)

Einstein's eyes are locked in a safe deposit box somewhere in the city

The Empire State Building has its own zip code

With over 800 languages spoken by a significant portion of the population, New York City is the most linguistically diverse city in the world.

Although for a long time many people considered the origin of the term Big Apple to be a mystery, researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology managed to determine the probably etymology. "Apple" referred to many of the big horse racing courses around NYC (possibly due to the fact that horses liked apples). Smaller tracks were often called "bull rings". The term was popularized for the first time by John J. Fitz Gerald in The New York Morning Telegraph when he mentioned going to the "Big Apple" as in going to the "big time"

[EvanderSmart]

I was born and raised in new York, and lived there for over 30 years. It was an honor to grow up there, and I can't think of a better place to grow up in the modern industrialized world.

[KewhoMin]

When you think of New York City, you get an amazing sense of wonder. It's a fantastic place to live. And to visit.

[debragardner]

I would live the rest of my life, half way over, in this wonderful city, I fell in love the moment my feet touched the pavement. I Love NY .

[Scteam]

"New Yorkers bite ten times more people than sharks do."

Um, thanks for this knowledge. I will now avoid both sharks and New Yorkers.

[extremeking]

NYC should be capital of the United States AGAIN!!!

[YouTubeRocks]

Look at what my student has told me about this video!

“I think the people who live in NYC are stressed with the fact that city has lot of competition, and this is why they bite more than sharks; drink a lot of coffee to work harder and have too much money.”

[Bovenification]

What about the fact that New York used to be New Amsterdam ?

[markjones]

Lot of good facts I didn't know about New York.

[nicesneaksatxy]

26 - New York City is the rat capitol of the world

[TheMaxundmoritz]

Most cities straightened out their system of assigning addresses late in the 1800s. Manhattan did not. That is why the addresses do not reflect cross streets and it is harder to find places. The addresses are based on lot numbers starting at the south end of the streets. Traffic congestion is enhanced by not allowing traffic to make turns so it can use parallel streets. The Mayor makes speeches about how traffic needs to be more regulated while his drivers are allowed to drive like they are going on an emergency run.

[weponlowers]

whats the diffrance betwen a cow and 9/11? you can't milka cow for 15 years

[cannotfindavoice]

Thank you for that explanation of the reason that New York is called the Big Apple, I have been trying to find out the reason for this for many years now but the best I had found before this is that New York was the only port that the export of all the apples grown in that part of the Country were sent out to the other places.  The main reason for this is that New York state is the biggest producer of Apples in the whole of the USA & so New York Port was were they were all sent to be exported.

[ekirasche]

"Heimi town, dont let me down."

[EDMSection]

In 2018 will lowline park open?? Cuz on the site it says 2020

[nunesvini]

OH my gosh. Some facts that were said on video could never enter my head, such as the building without window! It’s crazy!! You bite people daily? Why? I am reconsidering traveling to New York (LOL!). U$300.000, 00 for one hot dog cart? Jesus!! My money wasn’t born in grass. But I need to be sincere... New York is beautiful, and it has many interesting stories. Congratulations for having such a wonderful city. Vinicius, of São Paulo - Brazil.

[stevenbaldwin]

I'm a New Yorker, and I KNEW ALL OF THIS

[BrickForSheep]

A video on New York published on 9/11? Coincidence? I think not!

[MJRSoap]

You forgot to mention that New York was actually a 99 year lease when it was sold.

[yusei]

Is the video not playing for anyone else? Every video I've tried to look at instantly paused and won't play, no matter what video I look at

[migueljuarez]

Now I know why NYC is called the"Big Apple."