Big city lights

New York can be named among those cities, which form the look, the way of life of the entire world. The fashion, which is born in New York, then spreads out throughout the planet. The city is always ahead the others and these others docilely follow the trends set by New York.

This doesn’t mean, however, that everybody loves New York. In the United States the city has a reputation of strange city, often not understood by the rest of the country. Its citizens are considered to be haughty and their sense of humor is also unusual. There is even an expression – “New York humor”.

Long before the Europeans came to the area now called New York, it was inhabited by the Indian tribes. When, in 1524, French ship landed to Manhattan Island, its destiny changed forever. However not French, but Dutch were the first who began to render habitable the banks of Hudson River and its surroundings in the beginning of XVII century . The city they built here received a name New Amsterdam, but some fifty years later English conquered this Dutch settlement and changed its name to well-known now New York. Like the Dutch, the English haven’t stayed there for long. In the end of XVIII century America obtained its independence and for five years New York was a capital of the newborn country.

Even when the capital moved to Washington, New York remained American intellectual, commercial, financial centre and its heart. New York is still the largest USA city concentrating the most brilliant minds and the most shining talents of the country. Many outstanding people and cities have nicknames that are used wider than its original names. New York is also known as Big Apple. There are several legends connected with the birth of this nick, but no one name the date and the author for sure. One day somebody called the city Big Apple and it settled down.

New York consists of the five boroughs but one of them – Manhattan stands out. It’s the most prestigious district where the most of New York attractions are located. Oasis of nature in huge metropolis, New York Central park attracts millions and millions of visitors. It’s the most popular place for walks and picnics. In winter the park is full of ice-skaters. Although Manhattan has a lot of skyscrapers, one of the oldest structures - Empire State Building still receives more visitors than any other of them. It was constructed in 1930s and till the raising of World Trade Center was the tallest skyscraper in the city. After the destruction of World Trade Center in 2001 by terrorists, Empire State Building retuned the title of the highest structure.

During its history New York was the city attracting a lot of immigrants from all over the Europe. Now it’s the place where a lot of Americans from less prosperous states aspire to live in. Those who is tend to be a movie star are going to Hollywood and those are just trying to be wealthy are moving to NYC.

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