New York City (officially The City of New York) is the most populous city in the United States, with its metropolitan area ranking among the largest urban areas in the world. Founded as a commercial trading post by the Dutch in 1625, it has been the largest city in the United States since 1790, and was the first capital under the Constitution. Located on one of the world's finest natural harbors, New York is one of the world's major centers of commerce and finance. New York also exerts global influence in media, politics, education, entertainment, arts, fashion and advertising. The city is also a major center for international affairs, hosting the headquarters of the United Nations.

The Bronx is New York City's northernmost borough, coterminous with Bronx County. The Bronx is located northeast of Manhattan. It is the only one of the city's five boroughs situated primarily on the United States mainland (the others are on islands). As of 2006, the United States Census Bureau estimated that the borough's population was 1,361,473,[1] which ranks fourth of the five boroughs. Recently, its population, which had been declining since it peaked in 1950,[2] showed a small increase.

Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. An independent city until its consolidation into New York in 1898, Brooklyn is New York City's most populous borough, with more than 2.5 million residents.[1] If the borough were still an independent city, it would be the fourth-largest city in the United States (and the remaining four boroughs of New York would still be the largest). Brooklyn is coterminous with Kings County, which is the most populous county in New York State, and the second most densely populated county in the United States (after New York County, which is the borough of Manhattan).[2]

Though a part of New York City, Brooklyn maintains its own personality. It is characterized by cultural diversity, an independent art scene, distinct neighborhoods, and a unique architectural heritage.

Manhattan (coterminous with New York County) is an island borough within New York City, with a 2007 population of 1,620,867[1] living in a land area of 22.96 square miles (59.47  km²), it is the most densely populated county in the United States at 70,595 residents per square mile (27,267/km²). It is also the wealthiest county in the United States, with a 2005 personal per capita income above $100,000.00.[2] The borough consists of Manhattan Island, Roosevelt Island, Randalls Island, almost one-tenth of Ellis Island,[3] the above-water portion of Liberty Island, several much smaller islands, and a small section on the mainland of New York State adjacent to the Bronx.

Manhattan is a major commercial, financial, and cultural center of the United States, and to some extent, the world.[4][5][6] Most major radio, television, and telecommunications companies in the United States are based here, as well as many news, magazine, book, and other media publishers. Manhattan has many famous landmarks, tourist attractions, museums, and universities. It is also home to the headquarters of the United Nations. Manhattan has the largest central business district in the United States, is the site of both the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, and is the home to the largest number of corporate headquarters in the nation. It is indisputably the center of New York City and the New York metropolitan region, holding the seat of city government, and the largest fraction of employment, business, and recreational activities.

The name Manhattan derives from the word Manna-hata, as written in the 1609 logbook of Robert Juet, an officer on Henry Hudson's yacht Halve Maen (Half Moon).[7] A 1610 map depicts the name Manahata twice, on both the west and east sides of the Mauritius River (later named the Hudson River). The word "Manhattan" has been translated as "island of many hills" from the Lenape language.[8] The Encyclopedia of New York City offers other derivations, including from the Munsee dialect of Lenape: manahachtanienk ("place of general inebriation"), manahatouh ("place where timber is procured for bows and arrows"), or menatay ("island").[9]