Five unknown and interesting facts about New York City
What's the story
Needless to say, the New York City is one of the world's favorite tourist spots. But if Hollywood and pop culture references have limited your definition of the thriving American city to just the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building- you are in for some surprise. Here are five lesser-known yet interesting facts about New York City or the Big Apple.
#1
The city got its nickname from race horses
We all adorably call the bustling city as the 'Big Apple', but have you ever wondered why? As it turns out, the New York City got its most popular nickname from a local newspaper's horse racing column in the 1920s. The phrase 'Big Apple' was used to describe a big money prize at important horse races held around the city, back then.
#2
The New Yorkers speak as many as 800 languages
Since over 37% of New Yorkers were born in another country, it is unsurprising that the city's residents speak a wide range of languages. But when we tell you that the count is as high as 800, you are bound to get sweetly surprised. In fact, some of these languages like Quechua or Garifuna are extremely rare today, even in their country of origin.
#3
NYC is the most densely populated city in America
Sure, the New York City isn't known for its shoulder room - there are just too many people in every corner. But how populated is the city really? With over 27,000 people per square mile, the New York City is not only the most densely populated American city - it also accounts for more than 40 percent of New York State's entire population.
#4
The Statue of Liberty was delivered in 350 pieces
One of the most iconic sights of the NYC is the Statue of Liberty. But did you know that the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York City in 1885, not in one, but in as many as 350 pieces. What's more? The statue's iconic arm actually arrived in the States a decade earlier, in 1876, for raising money for the construction project.
#5
The oldest building in NYC dates back to the 1640s
Did you know that the oldest NYC building dates back to 1642? Known as the Wyckoff Farm, the Brooklyn house was originally built in as early as 1640s by a former indentured servant. The house that was inhabited by the Wyckoff family until 1901, was named an official city landmark in 1965. Today, it functions as a museum dedicated to the city's Dutch heritage.