7 Biggest Cities in New York: How Well Do You Know The Empire State?

New York State is the third most populated state in the United States, nearly tied for fourth place with Florida. While the New York City metro area is by far the largest and most densely populated part of the state, there are 12 other cities with over 50,000 residents.

Each of New York's cities have fascinating histories dating back to the times of the early European settlers and the original Iroquois inhabitants.

Take a look at the seven biggest cities in New York with over 70,000 residents in the 2013 census estimate:

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1. New York City – The "Big Apple" is the most populous city in the United States with about 8,405,000 people living there. Once named New Amsterdam by the Dutch, if New York City was its own state, it would rank 12th in the U.S. by population, between New Jersey and Virginia.

2. Buffalo – This city on the Canadian border is near the American side of Niagara Falls has a population of about 259,000. National Geographic magazine recently named it the third best food city in the world thanks to its chicken wings.

3. Rochester – Abolitionist Frederick Douglas and early women's rights leader Susan B. Anthony called Rochester home. George Eastman of Eastman Kodak lived here, and his Colonial Revival mansion in the city is now the International Museum of Photography and Film.

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4. Yonkers – This New York City suburb adjacent to the Bronx is home to America's first golf course. John Reid and Robert Lockhart set it up by placing the first hole in an apple orchard in 1888. Famous industrialist Andrew Carnegie was one of the club's first members, according to the BBC.

5. Syracuse – Home of the university with the same name, Syracuse was a major crossroads between the Erie Canal and major rail networks. Salt mines were the main industry in the area until the Civil War. Syracuse was known for its manufacturing base in the post-WWII era, including General Electric's television factory.

6. Albany – The state capital at the north end of the Hudson River was the original eastern end of the Erie Canal. Albany is the oldest continuously chartered city in North America.

7. New Rochelle – The city was named after La Rochelle, France by the Huguenot (French Protestant) immigrants who settled it in the 17th century seeking religious freedom. The early refugees of religious persecution in France purchased 6,000 acres from John Pell in 1688 and some 230 people (with their slaves) established a community.

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