The People

In 2000 New York had a population of 18,976,457— 986,002, or 5.5 per cent, greater than in 1990. It dropped to third in rank among the states. The population density was 401.8 persons per square mile (155.2 per km2), a little over five times that of the United States as a whole.

Whites made up 67.9 per cent of the population; blacks, 15.9 per cent; Asians, 5.5 per cent. Many of the Asians were of Chinese and Asian Indian origin. Nearly three-fourths of the nonwhite population lived in New York City. People of Hispanic origin, in large part Puerto Rican and Mexican, accounted for 15.1 per cent of the population.

Annual events in New York
January-March
Bobsled and luge competitions in Lake Placid (every weekend, January through mid-March); Ski jumping competitions in Lake Placid (early January and mid-March); Winterfest in Syracuse (mid-February); Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City (February); Winter Carnival in Saranac Lake (February); St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City (March).
April-June
Schoharie County Maple Festival in Jefferson (May); Hudson River White Water Derby in North Creek (May); National Lake Trout Derby on Seneca Lake near Geneva (May); Festival of Lilacs in Rochester (May); Empire State Regatta in Albany (June); A Festival of Gold in the Niagara region (mid-April-mid-May); Dressage at Saratoga in Saratoga (Memorial Day Weekend); Belmont Stakes Horse Race on Long Island (early June).
July-September
Jazz Festival New York in New York City, Saratoga Springs, and Canandaigua (July); Annual Summer Ski Jump in Lake Placid (July); German Alps Festival in Hunter, near Tannersville (July); Friendship Festival in Buffalo (July); Mormon Religious Pageant at Hill Cumorah near Palmyra (mid-July); National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown (late July or early August); The Great New York State Fair in Syracuse (August); Central New York Scottish Games in Liverpool (August); United States Tennis Association Championships in Flushing Meadow, Long Island (late August and early September); Pulaski Salmon Festival (September); Adirondack Hot Air Balloon Festival in Glens Falls (September).
October-December
Oyster Festival in Oyster Bay, Long Island (October); Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City (November); Snowbird Soaring Regatta at Elmira (late November); Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls (Thanksgiving to early January); Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony in New York City (December).

Annual events in New York