New York City is a densely populated metropolis with over 8 million residents from many different cultures and over 800 spoken languages. It has a highly diverse economy centered around finance, media, real estate, and technology. The city began as New Amsterdam under Dutch rule in the 1600s and was later renamed New York under British control, growing to become a major port and center of commerce. The document discusses the city's history, demographics, economy, famous places, transportation systems, and local government.