New York (pron-ennu? ?j?rken-us-New York.ogg) is a state (U.S. state) in the Mid-Atlantic (Mid-Atlantic States) and Northeastern (Northeastern United States) regions of the United States and is the nations third most populous (List of U.S. states by population). The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east. The state has a maritime border with Rhode Island east of Long Island, as well as an international border (Canada - United States border) with the Canadian (Canada) provinces of Ontario to the west, and Quebec to the north. New York is often referred to as New York State to distinguish it from New York City.

New York City, which is geographically the largest city in the state and most populous in the United States, is known for its history as a gateway for immigration (Ellis Island) to the United States and its status as a financial, cultural, transportation, and manufacturing center. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, it is also a destination of choice for many foreign visitors. Both state and city were named for the 17th century Duke of York, James Stuart, future James II and VII (James II of England) of England and Scotland.

New York was inhabited by the Algonquin, Iroquois, and Lenape Native American (Native Americans in the United States) groups at the time Dutch (Dutch people) and French (French people) nationals moved into the region in the early 17th century. First claimed by Henry Hudson in 1609, the region came to have Dutch forts at Fort Orange, near the site of the present-day capital (Capital (political)) of Albany (Albany, New York) in 1614, and was colonized by the Dutch in 1624 at both Albany and Manhattan; it later fell to British (Kingdom of Great Britain) annexation in 1664.

The borders of the British colony, the Province of New York, were roughly similar to those of the present-day state. About one third of all of the battles of the Revolutionary War (American Revolutionary War) took place in New York. New York became an independent state on July 9, 1776 and enacted its constitution (New York State Constitutions) in 1777. The state ratified the United States Constitution on July 26, 1788 to become the 11th state.