New York City Car Rental: Weird and Interesting Facts About the Big Apple

A New York City car rental is the best way to get around Manhattan and in between the various boroughs, communities, and neighborhoods. With a New York City car rental, you do not have to worry about getting to places on time, missing the bus or subway, or trying to flag down a taxi cab, because your car rental runs on our time and takes you anywhere you desire in New York City!

When you are cruising through the town in your New York City car rental, you will notice various landmarks along the way and interesting historical buildings. You will most likely also pass through different neighborhoods that are home to international communities and many different ethnic cultures. But how well do you actually know New York City? Do you have an understanding of the City's history or background? Take a look at the various weird and interesting facts we've compiled about New York City, and then make sure to stop by areas of interest in your New York City car rental!

FACTS

Population

• 8,008,278 (2000 census - city area)
• 21,199,865 (2000 census - metropolitan area) --- (www.ny.com/histfacts/)

Geography

Located on the Eastern Atlantic coast of the United States of America, New York City sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and enjoys four distinct seasons throughout the year. Did You Know?

• New York City was admitted to statehood on July 26, 1788
• New York City was briefly the capital of the United States (1789-90) and until 1797 was the capital of the state.
• By 1790, New York City was the largest city in America.
• Brooklyn is the borough with the greatest population, with 2,267,942 residents in 1998
• Staten Island is the smallest populated borough with only 407,123 residents.
• New York City produces 26,400,000 pounds of garbage each day!
• Manhattan was bought from Native Americans by the Dutch for only $24!
• The official name of Broadway is Highway 9
• The area of Central Park is larger than the city of Monaco!

Truth or Fiction? You decide!

It is rumored that New York City earned the nickname of the "Big Apple" during the era of the depression. The story goes that a significant amount of former wealthy financers would travel in to New York from their suburban houses in order to sell apples on the street and make ends meet. This became known as the "Big Apple" scam of New York and the government eventually began to promote the name because apples had long been associated with the New York economy.

New York City Excitement

Your New York City car rental is the perfect host for your city-wide tour. You will pass through many famous neighborhoods and hangouts, which have also hosted the likes of many famous New Yorkers. New York City is no stranger to familiar faces, as many celebrities and some of America's most famous people have either grown up here or have homes somewhere in the city limits.

Famous New Yorkers

Just like regular people, celebrities that call New York City home go out and enjoy what the City has to offer. Whether in Central Park or in Greenwich Village, keep your eye out for familiar faces as you cruise around in your New York City car rental. Some of New York's most famous faces include Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, Sean Puffy Combs, Tom Cruise, Claire Danes, George Gershwin, Billy Joel, Vince Lombardi, Rosie O'Donnell, Barbara Streisand, Christopher Reeve, John D. Rockefeller, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, Tupac Shakur, and Mae West among many others!