New York City traces its origins to a Dutch trading post established on Manhattan Island around 1624–1625, originally named New Amsterdam and later renamed New York after English takeover in 1664. The modern city as a consolidated entity formed in 1898 when the five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island) joined to create the unified City of New York. Key points
- Early foundation: A Dutch fort and trading post on Governors Island in 1624; the settlement on Manhattan—New Amsterdam—began around 1625. This is commonly cited as the founding period for what would become New York City.
- Name changes: New Amsterdam (1626 charter) grew under Dutch rule until 1664, when English control renamed it New York; the name became permanent in 1674 after adjustments.
- Consolidation: The five boroughs were merged into a single city in 1898, standardizing governance and expanding the urban footprint significantly.
If you’d like, I can summarize the major milestones with approximate dates or provide a short timeline that highlights the transition from Dutch settlement to a modern global city.
