USA New York - The People : USA  

USA New York - The People - Travel guide

USA

USA New York - The People

The People

In 1990 nearly 16 percent of the state's total population had been born abroad, and many of them resided in New York City. Whites constituted 67.9 percent of the population in 2000, blacks 15.9 percent, Asians 5.5 percent, and Native Americans 0.4 percent. Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders numbered 8,818. Those of mixed heritage or not reporting ethnicity were 10.2 percent. Hispanics, who may be of any race, were 15.1 percent of the people.

By the late 1990s, more than 120 languages were spoken in New York city's schools, and there were dozens of ethnic churches, political organizations, cultural festivals, and parades, as well as scores of foreign-language newspapers, magazines, and television and radio stations. Although rivalries among the various groups could be intense, the very diversity of the city permitted immigrants to mingle more easily than in most other parts of the nation.

The 1998 census put New York's population at 18,175,000. The State Capital is Albany, other major cities or towns include New York, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, Syracuse, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Schenectady and Utica.