New York County, New York

Introduction

New York County is one of the counties in New York State, coterminous with the borough of Manhattan in New York City.

Geography

As a part of New York City, New York County contains no other political subdivisions. It occupies the whole of Manhattan Island (surrounded by the East River, the Harlem River, and the Hudson River) and some smaller islands, including Roosevelt Island (formerly Welfare Island, and even earlier Blackwell's Island), and a small portion of the North American mainland contiguous with The Bronx.

Demography

New York County is the most densely populated county in the United States.

Law/Government

Like the other counties which are contained within New York City, there is no county government, but county courts and some others such as the district attorney (public prosecutor) do exist.

History

New York County was an original county of New York State, one of twelve created in 1683. At the time of creation of New York County, it was coextensive with the then New York City and occupied all of Manhattan Island, the same area which it occupies today. In 1873, the western portion of the present Bronx County was transferred to New York County, and in 1895 the remainder of the present Bronx County was transferred to New York County. In 1914, those parts of the then New York County which had been annexed from Westchester County were constituted the new Bronx County, and New York County was reduced again to its present boundaries.