History of New York City in Timeline
New York City (NYC), the most populous city in the U.S., is situated on New York Harbor and comprises five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. As the core of the Northeast megalopolis and the New York metropolitan area, it holds significant global influence. NYC is a global hub for finance, commerce, culture, technology, entertainment, media, academics, science, arts, fashion, and international diplomacy, hosting the United Nations headquarters.
3 hours ago : NYC World Cup Lottery frenzy: 50,000 entries in 3 minutes, tension arises.
New York City residents quickly maxed out the World Cup ticket lottery, reaching 50,000 entries within three minutes. Issues regarding MetLife Stadium signage have surfaced amidst the New York/New Jersey partnership regarding the tournament.
July 2, 1903: Record Warm Daily Minimum
On July 2, 1903, the record warm daily minimum temperature was 87 °F (31 °C) in New York City.
1903: Brooklyn Bridge
In 1903, the Brooklyn Bridge ceased to be the world's longest suspension bridge, having held the title since 1883.
1904: New York City Subway Opens
In 1904, the New York City Subway opened, helping to bind the newly consolidated city together.
1904: General Slocum Steamship Fire
In 1904, the steamship General Slocum caught fire in the East River, resulting in the deaths of 1,021 people.
1909: Queensboro and Manhattan Bridges Open
In 1909, the Queensboro Bridge was the longest cantilever span in North America, and the Manhattan Bridge opened and was considered the forerunner of modern suspension bridges.
1911: Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
In 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, the city's worst industrial disaster, killed 146 garment workers and led to major improvements in building safety standards.
1916: African Diaspora in New York City
By 1916, New York City had the largest urban African diaspora in North America, due to the Great Migration from the American South.
December 30, 1917: Record Cold Daily Maximum
On December 30, 1917, the record cold daily maximum temperature was 2 °F (−17 °C) in New York City.
1917: Queensboro Bridge
The Queensboro Bridge held the title of the longest cantilever span in North America until 1917.
1919: New York Daily News Founded
In 1919, the New York Daily News was founded by Joseph Medill Patterson.
1924: Last Republican Presidential Candidate Victory
In 1924, New York City was last carried by a Republican presidential candidate.
1925: World's Largest Urban Area
In 1925, the New York metropolitan area became the world's largest urban area, surpassing London.
1927: Opening of the Holland Tunnel
In 1927, the Holland Tunnel, which connects Lower Manhattan to Jersey City, New Jersey, opened as the first mechanically ventilated vehicular tunnel.
1930: Building Expansion
From 1870 to 1930, the character of New York's large residential districts was defined by the elegant brownstone rowhouses and townhouses and shabby tenements that were built during a period of rapid expansion.
February 9, 1934: Record Low Temperature
On February 9, 1934, New York City recorded its lowest temperature ever at −15 °F (−26 °C).
July 9, 1936: Record High Temperature
On July 9, 1936, New York City recorded its highest temperature ever at 106 °F (41 °C).
1938: First National Invitation Tournament
In 1938, New York City hosted the inaugural National Invitation Tournament, the first national college-level basketball championship, which remains in the city.
1940: Completion of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel
In 1940, the Queens-Midtown Tunnel was completed. At the time, it was the largest non-federal project built to relieve congestion on the bridges connecting Manhattan with Queens and Brooklyn.
1950: Apparel Industry Peak
In 1950, the city's apparel and garment industry peaked with more than 323,000 workers employed in the industry in New York.
1950: Opening of Port Authority Bus Terminal
The Port Authority Bus Terminal opened in 1950, designed to accommodate 60,000 daily passengers.
1951: Lowest Murder Rate Since 1951
The number of murders and the rate of 3.3 per 100,000 residents in 2017 was the lowest since 1951.
1952: United Nations Headquarters Completed
In 1952, the United Nations headquarters was completed, solidifying New York's global geopolitical influence.
1955: Greater Tokyo Area
In 1955, the Greater Tokyo Area surpassed New York as the world's largest urban area.
1958: Dodgers and Giants Move to California
In 1958, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants, both former World Series champions, relocated to California. The Brooklyn Dodgers became the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the New York Giants became the San Francisco Giants.
1968: Vacancy Rate Low
In 1968, the apartment vacancy rate was 1.4%, which was the lowest level since then.
June 1969: Stonewall Riots
Until the June 1969 Stonewall riots, the transgender community had felt marginalized and neglected by the gay community in New York City.
June 28, 1969: Stonewall Riots
On June 28, 1969, the Stonewall riots, a series of protests by members of the gay community against a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, took place, marking a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
1969: Establishment of NYC Health + Hospitals
In 1969, NYC Health + Hospitals (HHC) was established as a public-benefit corporation to operate the city's public hospitals and outpatient clinics.
1971: Manhattan Neighborhood Network Founded
In 1971, the Manhattan Neighborhood Network, the oldest public-access television channel in the United States, was founded.
1975: Fiscal Crisis and Federal Aid Denial
In 1975, New York City's growing fiscal deficits led to an appeal for federal financial aid, which President Gerald Ford famously denied.
1976: Roosevelt Island Tramway Begins Operation
In 1976, the Roosevelt Island Tramway began operation, transporting 2 million passengers per year between Roosevelt Island and Manhattan Island.
1977: I Love New York Campaign
Since 1977, the "I Love New York" logo and song have been used as the basis of an advertising campaign to promote tourism in New York City and New York State.
1980: New York v. Onofre
Since 1980's New York v. Onofre case, same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults has been legal in New York, which invalidated the state's sodomy law.
1984: Staten Island Greenbelt Designation
In 1984, the Staten Island Greenbelt was designated to protect the island's natural lands, comprising seven city parks.
1984: Summer Paralympics
New York City hosted the 1984 Summer Paralympics.
1990: Record High Murders
In 1990, New York City reached a record high of 2,245 murders.
1991: Average Winter Snowfall Start
The average winter snowfall between 1991 and 2020 was 29.8 inches (76 cm).
1993: Violent Crime Decrease
From 1993 to 2005, violent crime in New York City decreased more than 75%.
1994: New York City Hosts 1994 FIFA World Cup Matches
In 1994, New York City served as a host city for the FIFA World Cup, with matches played at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
1995: Smoking Banned in Most Restaurant Areas
In 1995, New York City implemented a ban on smoking in most areas of restaurants.
1997: WNYC Ownership Change
Until 1997, WNYC, a public radio station, was owned by the city.
2000: Population Milestone
New York City's population surpassed 8 million for the first time in the 2000 census.
2003: Smoking Prohibited in Bars and Public Places
In 2003, New York City prohibited smoking in bars, restaurants, and places of public employment.
2004: Nobel Laureates
As of 2004, there were 127 Nobel laureates with roots in local institutions in New York City.
2005: Violent Crime Decreased
From 1993 to 2005, violent crime in New York City decreased more than 75%.
2005: Mass Transit Usage
In 2005, 54.6% of New Yorkers commuted to work using mass transit, contrasting with the rest of the country where 91% used automobiles.
2006: Restructuring of Sister City Program
In 2006, the sister city program was restructured and renamed as New York City Global Partners.
2009: State Fiscal Year
In the 2009-2010 fiscal year, city residents and businesses sent an additional $4.1 billion to the state than the city received in return.
2010: Population Growth
Between 2010 and 2020, New York City's population grew by 629,000 residents.
2010: State Fiscal Year
In the 2009-2010 fiscal year, city residents and businesses sent an additional $4.1 billion to the state than the city received in return.
2010: Brooklyn's Tech and Art Hub Evolution
Since 2010, Brooklyn has evolved into a thriving hub of entrepreneurship and high technology startup firms, and of postmodern art and design.
2010: Growing Tech Sector
Since 2010, the technology sector has claimed a greater share of New York City's economy.
2010: Outmigration since 2010 census
Since the 2010 census, New York City had more immigration into the city than outmigration.
June 24, 2011: Same-Sex Marriage Legalized
Same-sex marriage in New York was legalized on June 24, 2011.
July 23, 2011: Same-Sex Marriages Authorized
Same-sex marriages in New York were authorized to take place on July 23, 2011.
September 17, 2011: Occupy Wall Street Protests Begin
On September 17, 2011, the Occupy Wall Street protests began in Zuccotti Park, gaining global attention and popularizing the Occupy movement against social and economic inequality worldwide.
December 19, 2011: Cornell Tech Project Announced
On December 19, 2011, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced the selection of Cornell University and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology to build Cornell Tech, a $2 billion graduate school of applied sciences on Roosevelt Island.
2011: Walk Score
In 2011, Walk Score named New York City the most walkable large city in the United States.
July 18, 2012: High Temperatures
July 18, 2012, marks the last time that temperatures in New York City exceeded 100 °F (38 °C).
October 2012: Hurricane Sandy's Impact
In October 2012, New York City was heavily impacted by Hurricane Sandy, resulting in at least 43 deaths and an estimated $19 billion in economic losses.
October 29, 2012: Hurricane Sandy
On the evening of October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy brought a destructive storm surge to New York City, causing widespread flooding and power outages.
2012: European Population
In 2012, New York City had the largest European and non-Hispanic white population of any American city, numbering 2.7 million.
2012: Licensed Physicians
In 2012, there were 43,523 licensed physicians practicing in New York City.
2013: Stop-and-Frisk Program Declared Unconstitutional
In 2013, the NYPD's stop-and-frisk program was declared unconstitutional due to indirect racial profiling of Black and Mixed residents.
2013: NY SAFE Act of 2013
The NY SAFE Act of 2013 banned assault weapons in New York City, contributing to stricter gun laws.
2014: Super Bowl XLVIII
In 2014, MetLife Stadium in nearby East Rutherford, New Jersey, hosted Super Bowl XLVIII.
2014: Cycling Indicator
In 2014, New York City's numerical "in-season cycling indicator" of bicycling in the city had hit an all-time high of 437.
2014: Biden on LaGuardia Airport
In 2014, then–Vice President Joe Biden described LaGuardia Airport as the kind of airport travelers would see in "some third world country", leading to an $8 billion renovation project.
July 2015: Staten Island Ferry Ridership
From July 2015 through June 2016, the Staten Island Ferry carried more than 23 million passengers.
2015: Islanders move to Barclays Center
In 2015, The New York Islanders, traditionally representing Long Island, moved to Barclays Center in Brooklyn where they played until 2020.
2015: Walk Score
In 2015, Walk Score again named New York City the most walkable large city in the United States.
2015: Apparel Industry Employment
In 2015, fewer than 23,000 New York City residents were employed in the city's apparel and garment industry.
June 2016: Staten Island Ferry Ridership
From July 2015 through June 2016, the Staten Island Ferry carried more than 23 million passengers.
2016: Air Pollution Database
According to the 2016 World Health Organization Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database, the annual average concentration in New York City's air of particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or less (PM2.5) was 7.0 micrograms per cubic meter.
2016: Tech:NYC Founded
In 2016, Tech:NYC, a non-profit organization representing New York City's technology industry, was founded to augment the city's tech talent base and advocate for policies nurturing tech companies.
2017: Restaurants in NYC
As of 2017, there were 24,865 restaurants in New York City.
2017: NYC Public School System
As of 2017-2018, the New York City Public Schools system served about 1.1 million students in approximately 1,800 separate primary and secondary schools.
2017: NYC Property Value Assessed
For the 2017 fiscal year, the total value of all New York City property was assessed at US$1.479 trillion, an increase of 6.1% from the previous year.
2017: Launch of NYC Ferry
In 2017, NYC Ferry, a NYCEDC initiative, was launched with routes planned to travel to all five boroughs.
2017: Near-70-Year Record Low for Murders
In 2017, New York City reached a near-70-year record low for murders, with a rate of 3.3 per 100,000 residents.
2018: NYC Public School System
As of 2017-2018, the New York City Public Schools system served about 1.1 million students in approximately 1,800 separate primary and secondary schools.
2018: Jewish Residents in Brooklyn
As of 2018, an estimated one in four residents of Brooklyn was Jewish.
2018: Manhattan Purchase Value
In 1626, Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan from the Canarsie for "the value of 60 guilders," which equated to about $900 in 2018.
2018: Murders Reach Near-70-Year Low
In 2018, New York City reached a near-70-year record low of 289 murders.
2018: Stacker Ranking
In 2018, Stacker ranked New York City as the most walkable American city.
2018: Broadway Theatre Season Records
The 2018-19 Broadway theatre season set records with total attendance of 14.8 million and gross revenue of $1.83 billion.
2019: High-Rise Buildings
As of 2019, New York City had 6,455 high-rise buildings, the third most in the world.
2019: Film and Television Production
As of 2019, New York City was the second-largest center for filmmaking and television production in the United States, producing about 200 feature films annually.
2019: Restaurants in NYC
As of 2019, there were 27,043 restaurants in New York City.
2019: Record Number of Tourists
In 2019, a record 66.6 million tourists visited New York City, generating $47.4 billion in tourism revenue.
2019: Job Applications Comparison
In 2019, a significantly smaller number of young professionals applied for jobs in New York City compared to 2023.
2019: Subway Passenger Rides
In 2019, the New York City Subway recorded 1.70 billion passenger rides, making it the busiest metropolitan rail transit system in the Western Hemisphere.
2019: Life Sciences Articles
In 2019, the New York metropolitan area ranked first by share of published articles in life sciences.
2019: Stonewall 50 - WorldPride NYC
Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019 was the largest international Pride celebration in history, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, with 150,000 participants and five million spectators attending in Manhattan alone.
March 2020: First COVID-19 Case Confirmed
In March 2020, the first case of COVID-19 in New York City was confirmed, rapidly turning the city into the global epicenter of the pandemic.
2020: Population Count
As of the 2020 census, New York City had a population of 8,804,190 residents, which was its highest decennial count ever.
2020: NYC Population Statistics
Based on the 2020 census, New York City comprised about 43.6% of the state's population of 20,202,320.
2020: Census Records
Further population records for New York City were set in the 2010 and 2020 censuses.
2020: Visitor Numbers Drop Due to Pandemic
In 2020, New York City's visitor numbers dropped by two-thirds due to the pandemic.
2020: Fifth-Lowest Gun Death Rate
In 2020, New York State had the fifth-lowest gun death rate among the states.
2020: Islanders end play at Barclays Center
In 2020, The New York Islanders ended their play at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
2020: Redistricting Following Census
In redistricting following the 2020 census, 14 of New York's 26 congressional districts include portions of New York City.
2020: Average Winter Snowfall End
The average winter snowfall between 1991 and 2020 was 29.8 inches (76 cm).
2021: HHC is the Largest Municipal Healthcare System
As of 2021, NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest American municipal healthcare system, with $10.9 billion in annual revenues.
2021: Port Authority Expansion Plan
In 2021, the Port Authority announced a $10 billion plan to expand capacity and modernize the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
2021: Most Resilient City
New York was voted the world's most resilient city in 2021, per Time Out's global poll of urban residents.
June 2022: MetroPlus Health Plan Enrollment
As of June 2022, MetroPlus Health Plan, part of NYC Health + Hospitals, enrolled 670,000 city residents in government-sponsored health insurance.
2022: Gini Coefficient
2022: Cycling Trips
As of 2022, New York City recorded more than 610,000 daily cycling trips.
2022: Airport Passenger Traffic
In 2022, 127.9 million travelers used John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport.
2022: Gross Metropolitan Product
In 2022, Greater New York had the world's largest metropolitan economy, with a gross metropolitan product estimated at US$2.16 trillion.
2022: NYC Bus System Ridership
In 2022, MTA New York City Transit's buses served 483.5 million trips, while MTA Regional Bus Operations handled 100.3 million trips.
2022: Population Density in Manhattan
In 2022, Manhattan had a population density of 70,450.8 inhabitants per square mile (27,201.2/km), the highest of any county in the United States.
2022: AI Venture Capital Investment
In 2022, New York City's AI sector raised US$483.6 million in venture capital investment.
2022: Metropolitan Museum of Art Visitors
In 2022, the Metropolitan Museum of Art welcomed 3.2 million visitors, ranking it the third-most visited museum in the country.
2022: Staten Island FerryHawks Begin Play
In 2022, the Staten Island FerryHawks, an independent Atlantic League baseball club, began playing in New York City.
2022: Broadway Revenues Rebound
In 2022-23, Broadway revenues rebounded to $1.58 billion with total attendance of 12.3 million, recovering from COVID-19 pandemic closures.
2022: Broadway Ticket Sales
In the 2022-2023 Broadway season, ticket sales reached US$1.54 billion.
2022: Most Resilient City
New York was voted the world's most resilient city in 2022, per Time Out's global poll of urban residents.
2022: Federal Funding for Resiliency
Through 2022, New York City received $15 billion in federal funding towards infrastructural projects designed to counter climate change and rising seas, following the damage from Hurricane Sandy.
March 2023: COVID-19 Deaths
Through March 2023, New York City recorded more than 80,000 deaths from COVID-19-related complications.
October 2023: Vehicle-for-hire Trips
By October 2023, the 78,000 vehicles-for-hire in New York City combined for 20.3 million trips, while 3.5 million trips were in yellow taxis.
November 2023: Voter Registration Statistics
As of November 2023, 67% of active registered voters in New York City are Democrats, and 10.2% are Republicans.
November 2023: Employment
In November 2023, New York City had total employment of over 4.75 million.
2023: Religious Affiliation
As of 2023, 24% of Greater New Yorkers identified with no organized religious affiliation, and 4% were self-identified atheists.
2023: Largest Foreign-Born Population
As of 2023, the New York City metropolitan region is home to the world's largest foreign-born population of any metropolitan region, enumerating 5.9 million.
2023: Homeless Population Sleeping Nightly
As of 2023, there were 92,824 homeless people sleeping nightly in the New York City shelter system.
2023: Central Park Visitation
In 2023, Central Park was recorded to have 42 million visitors, making it the most visited urban park in New York City and one of the most visited locations worldwide.
2023: Highest Retail Rents on Fifth Avenue
In 2023, Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan commanded the highest retail rents in the world, at $2,000 per square foot.
2023: Tourism Rebounds
In 2023, New York City's tourism rebounded to 63.3 million visitors. Also in 2023, shows on Broadway sold approximately US$1.54 billion worth of tickets.
2023: AI Regulation Initiative
In 2023, New York unveiled the first comprehensive initiative to create a framework of rules and a chatbot to regulate the use of AI within city government.
2023: Job Applications
In 2023, nearly seven times as many young professionals applied for jobs in New York City as compared to 2019, making New York the most popular destination for recent college graduates.
2024: Metropolitan Economy
As of 2024, the New York metropolitan area had the largest metropolitan economy in the world, with a gross metropolitan product of over US$2.44 trillion.
2024: Brooklyn FC Women's Team Joins USL Super League
In 2024, Brooklyn FC is set to field a women's team in the first division USL Super League.
2024: Percentage of Unsheltered Homeless
In 2024, only 5% of New York City's homeless population was unsheltered, significantly lower than in other cities, due to the city's right-to-shelter law.
2024: Plans for New Port Authority Terminal
In 2024, the Port Authority announced plans for a new terminal featuring a glass atrium at a new main entrance on 41st Street.
2024: Broadway Attendance
In the 2023-2024 Broadway season, theater attendance was approximately 12.3 million.
July 2025: Population Estimate
In July 2025, New York City's estimated population was 8,584,629, making it the most densely populated major city in the United States.
2025: Cost of Living
As of 2025, New York City was the most expensive city in the world for expatriates and had the highest residential rents of any American city.
2025: Brooklyn FC Men's Team Joins USL Championship
In 2025, Brooklyn FC is set to field a men's team in the second division USL Championship.
2025: Zohran Mamdani Elected Mayor
In 2025, Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, was elected as the mayor of New York City.
January 1, 2026: Zohran Mamdani Takes Office
On January 1, 2026, Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, took office as the mayor of New York City in a private ceremony shortly after midnight.
2026: New York City to Host 2026 FIFA World Cup
In 2026, New York City will be one of the host cities for the FIFA World Cup, with the final game scheduled to be played at MetLife Stadium.
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