The geography of New York City is characterized by its coastal position at the meeting of the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean in a naturally sheltered harbor. The city's geography, with its scarce availability of land, is a contributing factor in making New York the most densely populated major city in the United States. Environmental issues are chiefly concerned with managing this density, which also explains why New York is among the most energy-efficient and least automobile-dependent cities in the United States. The city's climate is temperate.
New York City is located on the coast of the Northeastern United States at the mouth of the Hudson River in southeastern New York state. It is located in the New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary, the centerpiece of which is the New York Harbor, whose deep waters and sheltered bays helped the city grow in significance as a trading city. Much of New York is built on the three islands of Manhattan, Staten Island, and western Long Island, making land scarce and encouraging a high population density.
Population density and elevation above sea level in Greater NYC, U.S. (2010) New York City is especially vulnerable to sea level rise.
The Hudson River flows from the Hudson Valley into New York Bay, becoming a tidal estuary that separates the Bronx and Manhattan from Northern New Jersey. The Harlem River, another tidal strait between the East and Hudson Rivers, separates Manhattan from the Bronx.
The city's land has been altered considerably by human intervention, with substantial land reclamation along the waterfronts since Dutch colonial times. Reclamation is most notable in Lower Manhattan with modern developments like Battery Park City. Much of the natural variations in topography have been evened out, particularly in Manhattan.[1] The West Side of Manhattan retains some hilliness, especially in Upper Manhattan, while the East Side has been considerably flattened. Duffy's Hill in East Harlem is one notable exception to the East Side's relatively level grade.
The city's land area is estimated to be 321 square miles (830 km2).[2] However, a more recent estimate calculates a total land area of 304.8 square miles (789.4 square kilometres).[3] The highest natural point in the city is Todt Hill on Staten Island, which at 409.8 ft (124.9 m) above sea level is the highest hill on the Eastern Seaboard south of Maine. The summit of the ridge is largely covered in woodlands as part of the Staten Island Greenbelt. Many places have been identified as the geographic center of the city, including a plaque in the center of Queens Boulevard and 58th Street, in Woodside, Queens.[4]
New York City comprises five boroughs, an unusual form of government used to administer the five constituent counties that make up the city. Throughout the boroughs there are hundreds of distinct neighborhoods, many with a definable history and character all their own. If the boroughs were each independent cities, four of the boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx) would be among the ten most populous cities in the United States.
The Bronx (Bronx County, pop. 1,364,566)[5] is New York City's northernmost borough. It is the birthplace of rap and hip hop culture,[6] the site of Yankee Stadium, and home to the largest cooperatively owned housing complex in the United States, Co-op City.[7] Except for a small piece of Manhattan known as Marble Hill, the Bronx is the only section of the city that is part of the North American mainland.
Brooklyn (Kings County, pop. 2,511,408)[5] is the city's most populous borough and was an independent city until 1898. Brooklyn is known for its cultural diversity, an independent art scene, distinct neighborhoods and a unique architectural heritage. The borough also features a long beachfront and Coney Island, famous as one of the earliest amusement grounds in the country.
Manhattan (New York County, pop. 1,606,275)[5] is the most densely populated borough and home to most of the city's skyscrapers. The borough contains the major business centers of the city and many cultural attractions. Manhattan is loosely divided into downtown, midtown, and uptown regions.
Queens (Queens County, pop. 2,256,576)[5] is geographically the largest borough and the most ethnically diverse county in the United States.[8] Historically a collection of small towns and villages founded by the Dutch, the borough today is mainly residential and middle class, with enclaves of above average income and wealth. It is the only large county in the United States where the median income among African-American households, about $52,000 a year, has surpassed that of Caucasian households.[9] Queens is the site of Citi Field and its predecessor Shea Stadium, the home of the New York Mets, and annually hosts the US Tennis Open.
Staten Island (Richmond County, pop. 475,014)[5] is the most suburban in character of the five boroughs. It is connected to Brooklyn by the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and to Manhattan by the free Staten Island Ferry. Until 2001 the borough was home to the Fresh Kills Landfill, formerly the largest landfill in the world, which is now being reconstructed as Freshkills Park, one of the largest urban parks in the United States.
Central Park is nearly twice as big as the world's second-smallest country, Monaco. Historically its reservoirs were important components of the city's water supply.
New York City plays an important role in the green policy agenda because of its size. Environmental groups make large efforts to help shape legislation in New York because they see the strategy as an efficient way to influence national programs. New York City's economy is larger than Switzerland's, a size that means the city has potential to set new de facto standards. Manufacturers are also attuned to the latest trends and needs in the city because the market is simply too big to ignore.
^Roberts, Sam (2008-05-22). "It's Still a Big City, Just Not Quite So Big". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
^"This Spot in Queens Claims to be the Center of NYC. It's Not". www.ny1.com. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
^ abcde. Archived from the original on 2007-01-04. Retrieved 2006-11-02.
^Toop, David (1992). Rap Attack 2: African Rap to Global Hip-Hop. Serpents Tail. ISBN1-85242-243-2.
^Frazier, Ian (2006-06-26). "Utopia, the Bronx". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
^O'Donnell, Michelle (2006-07-04). "In Queens, It's the Glorious 4th, and 6th, and 16th, and 25th..." New York Times. Retrieved 2006-07-19.
^Roberts, Sam (2006-01-10). "Black Incomes Surpass Whites in Queens". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
Further reading
The Vegan Guide to New York City, by Rynn Berry and Chris A. Suzuki
The Big Green Apple: Your Guide to Eco-Friendly Living in New York City, by Mathieu Fontaine
John H. Betts The Minerals of New York City originally published in Rocks & Minerals magazine, Volume 84, No . 3 pages 204-252 (2009).
External links
Green Apple Map - Interactive green map of New York City's environmental resources.
NYC Open Accessible Space Information System - Interactive mapping resource of open space in New York City.
Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC) - Privately funded citizens' organization in the Office of the Mayor of New York City.
NYCityMap - New York City Government interactive map
April 15, 2023
geography, york, city, geography, york, city, characterized, coastal, position, meeting, hudson, river, atlantic, ocean, naturally, sheltered, harbor, city, geography, with, scarce, availability, land, contributing, factor, making, york, most, densely, populat. The geography of New York City is characterized by its coastal position at the meeting of the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean in a naturally sheltered harbor The city s geography with its scarce availability of land is a contributing factor in making New York the most densely populated major city in the United States Environmental issues are chiefly concerned with managing this density which also explains why New York is among the most energy efficient and least automobile dependent cities in the United States The city s climate is temperate Satellite image showing most of the five boroughs portions of eastern New Jersey and the main waterways around New York Harbor Contents 1 Geography 2 Adjacent counties 3 Boroughs 4 Environmental issues 5 Maps and satellite images 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksGeography EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed November 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message The five boroughs of New York CityNew York City is located on the coast of the Northeastern United States at the mouth of the Hudson River in southeastern New York state It is located in the New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary the centerpiece of which is the New York Harbor whose deep waters and sheltered bays helped the city grow in significance as a trading city Much of New York is built on the three islands of Manhattan Staten Island and western Long Island making land scarce and encouraging a high population density Population density and elevation above sea level in Greater NYC U S 2010 New York City is especially vulnerable to sea level rise The Hudson River flows from the Hudson Valley into New York Bay becoming a tidal estuary that separates the Bronx and Manhattan from Northern New Jersey The Harlem River another tidal strait between the East and Hudson Rivers separates Manhattan from the Bronx The boroughs of New York City straddle the border between two geologic provinces of eastern North America Brooklyn and Queens located on Long Island are part of the eastern coastal plain Long Island is a massive moraine which formed at the southern fringe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the last ice age The Bronx and Manhattan lie on the eastern edge of the Newark Basin a block of the Earth s crust which sank downward during the disintegration of the supercontinent Pangaea during the Triassic period The Palisades Sill on the New Jersey shore of the Hudson River exposes ancient once molten rock that filled the basin Tough metamorphic rocks underlie much of Manhattan providing solid support for its many skyscrapers The city s land has been altered considerably by human intervention with substantial land reclamation along the waterfronts since Dutch colonial times Reclamation is most notable in Lower Manhattan with modern developments like Battery Park City Much of the natural variations in topography have been evened out particularly in Manhattan 1 The West Side of Manhattan retains some hilliness especially in Upper Manhattan while the East Side has been considerably flattened Duffy s Hill in East Harlem is one notable exception to the East Side s relatively level grade The city s land area is estimated to be 321 square miles 830 km2 2 However a more recent estimate calculates a total land area of 304 8 square miles 789 4 square kilometres 3 The highest natural point in the city is Todt Hill on Staten Island which at 409 8 ft 124 9 m above sea level is the highest hill on the Eastern Seaboard south of Maine The summit of the ridge is largely covered in woodlands as part of the Staten Island Greenbelt Many places have been identified as the geographic center of the city including a plaque in the center of Queens Boulevard and 58th Street in Woodside Queens 4 Adjacent counties EditNew York Westchester County Nassau CountyNew Jersey Monmouth County Middlesex County Union County Hudson County Bergen CountyBoroughs EditMain articles Boroughs of New York City and Neighborhoods in New York City New York City comprises five boroughs an unusual form of government used to administer the five constituent counties that make up the city Throughout the boroughs there are hundreds of distinct neighborhoods many with a definable history and character all their own If the boroughs were each independent cities four of the boroughs Brooklyn Queens Manhattan and the Bronx would be among the ten most populous cities in the United States The Bronx Bronx County pop 1 364 566 5 is New York City s northernmost borough It is the birthplace of rap and hip hop culture 6 the site of Yankee Stadium and home to the largest cooperatively owned housing complex in the United States Co op City 7 Except for a small piece of Manhattan known as Marble Hill the Bronx is the only section of the city that is part of the North American mainland Brooklyn Kings County pop 2 511 408 5 is the city s most populous borough and was an independent city until 1898 Brooklyn is known for its cultural diversity an independent art scene distinct neighborhoods and a unique architectural heritage The borough also features a long beachfront and Coney Island famous as one of the earliest amusement grounds in the country Manhattan New York County pop 1 606 275 5 is the most densely populated borough and home to most of the city s skyscrapers The borough contains the major business centers of the city and many cultural attractions Manhattan is loosely divided into downtown midtown and uptown regions Queens Queens County pop 2 256 576 5 is geographically the largest borough and the most ethnically diverse county in the United States 8 Historically a collection of small towns and villages founded by the Dutch the borough today is mainly residential and middle class with enclaves of above average income and wealth It is the only large county in the United States where the median income among African American households about 52 000 a year has surpassed that of Caucasian households 9 Queens is the site of Citi Field and its predecessor Shea Stadium the home of the New York Mets and annually hosts the US Tennis Open Staten Island Richmond County pop 475 014 5 is the most suburban in character of the five boroughs It is connected to Brooklyn by the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge and to Manhattan by the free Staten Island Ferry Until 2001 the borough was home to the Fresh Kills Landfill formerly the largest landfill in the world which is now being reconstructed as Freshkills Park one of the largest urban parks in the United States Environmental issues EditMain article Environmental issues in New York City This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed March 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Central Park is nearly twice as big as the world s second smallest country Monaco Historically its reservoirs were important components of the city s water supply New York City plays an important role in the green policy agenda because of its size Environmental groups make large efforts to help shape legislation in New York because they see the strategy as an efficient way to influence national programs New York City s economy is larger than Switzerland s a size that means the city has potential to set new de facto standards Manufacturers are also attuned to the latest trends and needs in the city because the market is simply too big to ignore Although cities like San Francisco or Portland Oregon are most commonly associated with urban environmentalism in the United States New York City s unique urban footprint and extensive transportation systems make it more sustainable than most American cities Maps and satellite images Edit New Amsterdam in 1660 One of the 1770 Ratzer Maps New York City and the city of Brooklyn in 1885 New York City area in 1906 Downtown New York City in 1910 False color satellite image Thermal image blue is warm yellow is hot Vegetation is beige sparse and deep green dense Satellite photograph of southern Manhattan taken in 2002See also EditClimate change in New York City Geography of New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary New York metropolitan area Northeast megalopolis New York City AudubonReferences EditNotes Sources Lopate Phillip 2004 Waterfront A Walk Around Manhattan Anchor Press ISBN 0 385 49714 8 Land Use Facts New York City Department of City Planning Archived from the original on 2007 03 30 Retrieved 2007 03 13 Roberts Sam 2008 05 22 It s Still a Big City Just Not Quite So Big The New York Times Retrieved 2008 05 22 This Spot in Queens Claims to be the Center of NYC It s Not www ny1 com Retrieved 2021 10 04 a b c d e New York State Department of Labor Population Estimates Archived from the original on 2007 01 04 Retrieved 2006 11 02 Toop David 1992 Rap Attack 2 African Rap to Global Hip Hop Serpents Tail ISBN 1 85242 243 2 Frazier Ian 2006 06 26 Utopia the Bronx The New Yorker Retrieved 2007 03 26 O Donnell Michelle 2006 07 04 In Queens It s the Glorious 4th and 6th and 16th and 25th New York Times Retrieved 2006 07 19 Roberts Sam 2006 01 10 Black Incomes Surpass Whites in Queens The New York Times Retrieved 2007 03 28 Further reading The Vegan Guide to New York City by Rynn Berry and Chris A Suzuki The Big Green Apple Your Guide to Eco Friendly Living in New York City by Mathieu Fontaine John H Betts The Minerals of New York City originally published in Rocks amp Minerals magazine Volume 84 No 3 pages 204 252 2009 External links EditGreen Apple Map Interactive green map of New York City s environmental resources NYC Open Accessible Space Information System Interactive mapping resource of open space in New York City Council on the Environment of New York City CENYC Privately funded citizens organization in the Office of the Mayor of New York City NYCityMap New York City Government interactive map Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Geography of New York City amp oldid 1148213734, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
