New York – Five Boroughs

New York is a diverse blend of commerce, finance, business, entertainment, publishers, landmarks, and tourist attractions. It is a melting pot of ethnic cultures, and includes five uniquely different boroughs established in 1898.

Manhattan is home to the Statue of Liberty, the headquarters of the United Nations, the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and the Empire State Building. Activities are limitless – theater, shopping, museums, art galleries, parks, and restaurants abound.

The Bronx is comprised of many cultures, including people of Irish and German descent. There are Jewish and Italian neighborhoods. African Americans and Hispanic Americans also inhabit the Bronx. Latin music emerged in this borough with the arrival of immigrants from the Caribbean. The New York Botanical Gardens reside here.

Queens boasts of having the tallest and oldest tree in New York’s metro area. The tree is named the “Queens Giant,” It is said to be 450 years old, 132 feet tall (latest statistics 2005) and the New York’s oldest existing thing.

Staten Island is the third largest borough, and the least populated. The character of this borough is suburban. Staten Island has a very large Roman Catholic population and Jewish community. The Staten Island Ferry provides the only form of transportation between Staten Island and Manhattan. The ride is about 30 minutes and is free.

Brooklyn, in total area, is the second largest of the five boroughs and the most densely populated. The Dutch first settled Brooklyn. Of course, Brooklyn is famous for the Brooklyn Bridge (completed in 1883) and the Williamsburg Bridge.