Changes

== History ==

== History ==

New York City was formerly named [[New Amsterdam]], in recognition of the original Dutch settlement of the area.  It was not the largest city in the colonies ([[Boston]], then [[Philadelphia]], held those honors).  But after the completion of the [[Erie Canal]], New York City became a trading center connecting the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the [[Great Lakes]] and [[Midwest]].

New York City was formerly named [[New Amsterdam]], in recognition of the original Dutch settlement of the area.  It was not the largest city in the colonies ([[Boston]], then [[Philadelphia]], held those honors).  But after the completion of the [[Erie Canal]] in 1820, New York City became a trading center connecting Europe to the [[Great Lakes]] and [[Midwest]].

The use of [[Ellis Island]] as the checkpoint for millions of European immigrants in the late 1800s caused New York City's population to swell, as many settled in nearby areas.

The use of [[Ellis Island]] as the checkpoint for millions of European immigrants in the late 1800s caused New York City's population to swell, as many settled in nearby areas.

[[Image:800px-Times Square Panorama1.jpg|thumb|800px|center|A panoramic view of New York's Time Square.]]

[[Image:800px-Times Square Panorama1.jpg|thumb|800px|center|Times Square.]]

== Politics ==

== Politics ==