Introduction
New York, city (2020 pop. 8,336,817),
land area 304.8 sq mi (789.4 sq km), SE N.Y., largest city in the United
States and one of the largest in the world, on New York Bay at the mouth of
the Hudson River. It comprises five boroughs, each coextensive with a
county: Manhattan (New
York co.), the heart of the city, an island; the Bronx (Bronx co.), on the mainland, NE of
Manhattan and separated from it by the Harlem River; Queens (Queens co.), on Long Island, E of
Manhattan across the East River; Brooklyn (Kings co.), also on Long
Island, on the East River adjoining Queens and on New York Bay; and
Staten Island
(Richmond co.), on Staten Island, SW of Manhattan and separated from it by
the Upper Bay. The metropolitan area encompasses parts of SE New York state,
NE New Jersey, and SW Connecticut. The port of New York (which is now
centered on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River) remains one of the
world's leading ports, with significant container, cruise, and other
terminals.
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