16 Fun Facts About New York

We collected 16 fun facts about New York City, exploring its linguistic diversity, large millionaire population and its history of banning pinball.

I’m a London girl, but I have long dreamed of visiting New York City. I want to take a photo with the bull and the fearless girl on Wall Street.

I imagine walking the streets of the Big Apple, visiting a hot dog stand, strolling along Park Avenue with an ice cream cone, taking selfies with world leaders outside the United Nations headquarters, and exploring Central Park with my friends. This would be the ideal way to spend a day, living out my tourist fantasies.

But that’s not the only reason to visit NYC. New York City has numerous cultural institutions, from the New York Public Library to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

New York City has 1,400 galleries in the city. With that many options, you could go to a new gallery each day for almost four years!

I haven’t made it to NYC yet, but I researched the city. Get ready for some New York City facts.

1. New York City is the most populous city in the U.S.

New York City is the most populous city in the U.S., with 8,097,282 residents as of September 2024, according to World Population Review. The New York borough of Brooklyn alone has such a large population that if it were to become its own city, it would be the fourth-largest city in the United States.

NYC is also the most diverse city in the world according to the total number of residents born abroad. The top ten is as follows:

Between 1886 and 1924, around 14 million immigrants entered the United States through New York Harbor and Ellis Island is the location of the National Immigration Museum. Today, New York is a true melting pot, and thanks to this…

2. New York is the most linguistically diverse city in the world

New York is the most linguistically diverse city in the world, with over 800 languages in use and almost half of the population speaking a language other than English at home.

According to a study featured in the The New York Times, there are several endangered languages spoken in New York City, such as Seke language of Nepal.

“…Of the 700 or so speakers of Seke, most of whom can be found in a cluster of villages in Nepal, more than 150 have lived in or around two apartment buildings in Brooklyn,” the Times reports.

Other endangered languages spoken in New York include:

• Tlapanec (Mexico)
• Juhuri (Israel and the U.S.)
• Garifuna (northwestern Central America)
• Cuicatec (Latin America)
• Kota (Gabon and the Republic of Congo)
• Gottscheerish (Slovenia)

3. 21 elephants, 17 camels and a rooster crossed the Brooklyn Bridge in its first 2 years

Twenty-one elephants, 17 camels and a rooster crossed Brooklyn Bridge in its first two years.

The bridge was completed in 1883, thanks in part to engineer Emily Warren Roebling. She crossed it with a rooster in her lap a week before the bridge opened to the public. People debate whether the rooster was a good luck charm or a symbol of victory, but it made a statement.

The next year, 21 elephants and 17 camels crossed the bridge to prove its safety.

21 elephants and 17 camels were marched across Brooklyn Bridge to prove it was safe for people to cross.

Extra Brooklyn Bridge fun fact: At the time of its construction, Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Extra extra Brooklyn Bridge fun fact: Brooklyn Bridge is older than London’s Tower Bridge. Construction on Tower Bridge began in 1886, three years after Brooklyn Bridge was completed.

4. New York City has the most millionaires of any city in the world

New York City has the most millionaires of any city in the world, with 340,000 such wealthy individuals calling the city home. This means approximately one in every 24 New Yorkers is a millionaire.

The top 5 cities by millionaire population are:

1. New York City, United States: 340,000
2. Tokyo, Japan: 290,300
3. The Bay Area, United States: 285,000
4. London, United Kingdom: 258,000
5. Singapore: 240,100

Speaking of money…

5. There is more than one literal gold digger in New York

There is more than one literal gold digger in New York. These people scour the streets and find gold and gems in cracks in the sidewalks. One such individual, a video creator called Klesh, documents his process on YouTube.

6. You are more likely to be bitten by a New Yorker than a shark

You’re more likely to be bitten by a New Yorker than a shark, according to (admittedly quite old) data from the 1980s. It was found that an average of 1,585 bite injuries from humans in New York were reported annually between 1984 and 1987 compared to an average of just 11 shark bite injuries reported each year in the U.S. during the same period.

The New York subway system is among the most extensive in the world.

7. The New York subway system is one of the most extensive in the world

The New York subway system one of the most extensive in the world, boasting 472 stations, encompassing 665 miles of track and carrying an average of 5.5million passengers on weekdays.

The subway system may help you get from A to B but it also has a strong creative scene, with buskers offering entertainment to weary commuters and enthusiastic tourists alike. But not just anyone can perform in the most coveted spots. These go to applicants who pass a competitive screening and audition process.

Take a subway ride and enjoy a show while you wait!

Extra fun subway fact: The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel has a secret train platform that has allegedly been used by esteemed guests such as Franklin D. Roosevelt.

8. Central Park is the most filmed location in the world

Central Park is the most filmed location in the world, appearing in hundreds of movies and TV series over the course of more than 100 years. One of the first films recorded in the park was the 1908 short film Romeo & Juliet.

But that’s not the only thing that makes the park special. Central Park is larger than the country of Monaco and it also attracts a variety of birds — as many as 275 North American bird species have been spotted in Central Park.

Central Park is the most filmed location in the world.

Extra Central Park fun fact: The Central Park Mall is the park’s only straight path, and is framed by elm trees, making it a popular photo spot.

9. Pinball was once banned in New York City

Pinball was once illegal in New York City. In 1942, the arcade machine was associated with gambling. Then mayor Fiorella LaGuardia banned pinball. The pinball ban was removed in 1976.

Times Square was named for the New York Times.

10. Times Square was named for The New York Times

Times Square was named for The New York Times after the newspaper moved its office there in 1904. Prior to this, the area was called Longacre Square.

Times Square’s popular New Year’s Eve celebration — the ball drop — was started in 1907 by The New York Times. It is now so popular that some attendees wear adult diapers to avoid going to the bathroom.

11. There’s a lot of money to be made in Times Square

Times Square supports almost 10% of New York City’s jobs and makes up 15% of its economic output. The Naked Cowboy in Times Square makes an estimated $150,000 per year entertaining the public. And there are a lot of people to entertain — around 330,000 people pass through Times Square on a daily basis.

12. The Statue of Liberty wasn’t always green

The Statue of Liberty wasn’t always green. The statue appeared bronze as the exterior of Lady Liberty is made of copper. Over the years, the copper oxidized, creating the bright green color we all recognize today.

The statue’s assembly was difficult, as the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York City from France in 350 pieces. The construction was a success and now Lady Liberty still stands and welcomes an average of around 3.43 million visitors each year.

13. New York City boasts 520 miles of coastline

New York City has 520 miles of coastline, longer than the combined coastlines of Miami, San Francisco, Boston, and Los Angeles.

We don’t normally think of Staten Island when we think of beachfront property, but maybe we should.

14. The original name of New York City was New Amsterdam

The Dutch West India Company set up a trading post at the southern tip of Manhattan in 1626. Before the city was named New York, it was called New Amsterdam. In 1664, the British took control and renamed it New York in honor of the Duke of York.

The Empire State Building has its own zip code.

15. The Empire State Building has its own zip code

The Empire State Building is a key landmark in New York City. It is so large that it has its own zip code: 10118. This building symbolizes the city’s engineering and architectural achievements and serves as a busy hub of activity.

Extra Empire State Building fact: Lightning strikes the Empire State Building’s antenna 25 times per year on average. Yikes!

16. Pizza is a huge deal in New York City

The New York-style pizza slice is a staple in the city. This style features a thin crust, foldable slices, and tasty toppings. Since the 1960s, the price of a pizza slice has tracked subway fares, leading to the idea known as the “Pizza Principle.”