George Washington described New York as a seat of empire and hence the state is now called "the Empire State". The second most populated state in the country, New York is a state of diversity. From the sky scrapers of Manhattan Island, to the mountains of the Adorondaks, New York is a seat of manufacturing, finance, communications, tourism, transportation and services. New York was the eleventh of the thirteen original colonies to ratify the Constitution on July 26, 1788. Henry Hudson discovered the river that bears his name in 1609. The Dutch built trading posts at Albany in 1614 and by 1626 they settled Manhattan Island. In 1664 the British seized what was then called New Amsterdam. Over one-third of all battles fought during the American Revolution were fought in New York State, including the battle of Saratoga, a turning point in the war. Many famous New Yorkers have contributed to America, including: Susan B. Anthony, Millard Fillmore, Henry and William James, Herman Melville, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, Alfred E. Smith, Martin Van Buren and Walt Whitman. @
