What Was New York City First Called?

New York City, one of the most famous urban areas in the world, was officially founded in 1624. While the area had been settled many years earlier, with a history stretching back to the Native Americans, it was not until 1624 that it was declared a city with the name of New Amsterdam. The Dutch people who settled it used it as a commercial trading post, which was natural considering its huge natural harbor and proximity to the Atlantic coast.

• In 1664, the colony in which New Amsterdam was located fell to the English and was renamed to New York.
• It remained under English control until the Revolutionary War.
• The end of the war saw America declaring its freedom from Great Britain, and the city of New York actually became the new nation’s capital for a short while beginning in 1785. As of 1790 (the year that the capital was moved to Philadelphia), New York City became the largest city in the nation; it has remained so ever since.

New York City Today

Today, New York City shows echoes of its past as a commercial trading post. The harbor location has made it into a bustling, populated area full of people from around the world; the Statue of Liberty has been greeting newcomers to America since the 19th century.