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List of New York state symbols

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The location of the state of New York in the United States of America

This is a list of symbols of the state of New York in the United States. The majority of the state symbols are officially listed in the New York Consolidated Laws in Article 6, Sections 70 through 87.[1] The symbols are recognized by these laws and were signed into law by the governor of New York.

The oldest symbols, the state flag and the state arms, were adopted in 1778. The most recent addition to the list, yogurt, was added in 2014. The origin of the state motto dates back to 1784. During a tour of the state's harbors, waterways, and fertile interior, George Washington referred to New York as the "Seat of Empire". The term "The Big Apple" was coined by jazz musicians of the 1930s who used the slang expression "apple" when referring to any city.

The state insect took nine years to become official. In 1980, fifth grader Kristina Savoca sent a letter – along with a petition bearing 152 signatures – to New York State Assemblyman Robert C. Wertz, urging him to introduce legislation designating the lady beetle as the official state insect. The proposal languished for a number of years, passing in the Assembly but not being considered in the Senate. Approval finally came in 1989, after Cornell University entomologists suggested that Wertz propose the nine-spotted lady beetle (Coccinella novemnotata, sometimes abbreviated to C-9) as the state insect because it was a native lady beetle.

Insignia

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Further information: List of U.S. state, district, and territorial insignia
Type Symbol Year Image
Flag Flag of New York 1778[2] New York flag
Seal Seal of New York 1778[2] New York State Seal
Coat of arms The Coat of arms of New York
Motto Excelsior (Ever upward) 1784[3]
Nickname The Empire State 1784[3]
Slogan "I Love New York" (official) 1977[4] I Love New York

Flora and fauna

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Type Symbol Year Image
Butterfly Red-spotted purple/white admiral
Limenitis arthemis 		2008[5] Red-spotted purple/white admiral
Bird Eastern bluebird
Sialia sialis 		1970[6] The Eastern bluebird
Dog Working dog 2015[7][8] Working dog
Mammal North American beaver
Castor canadensis 		1975[9] Beaver
Reptile Snapping turtle
Chelydra serpentina 		2006[10][11] Snapping turtle
Freshwater fish Brook trout
Salvelinus fontinalis 		1975[12] Brook trout
Salt water fish Striped bass
Morone saxatilis 		2006[12] Striped bass
Insect Nine-spotted ladybug
Coccinella novemnotata 		1989[13]
Tree Sugar maple
Acer saccharum 		1956[14] Sugar maple
Bush Lilac bush
Syringa vulgaris 		2006[10][15] Lilac bush
Flower Rose 1955[16] Rose

Geology

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Type Symbol Year Image
Gemstone Garnet 1969[17] Garnet
Fossil Sea scorpion
Eurypterus remipes 		1984[18] Eurypterus remipes
Shell Scallop
Argopecten irradians 		1988[13] Bay Scallop

Culture

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Type Symbol Year Image
Beverage Milk 1981[13] Milk
Fruit Apple 1976[19] Apples
Muffin Apple muffin 1987[13] Muffins
Snack Yogurt 2014[20][21] Yogurt

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "New York State Information". August 18, 2004. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  2. ^ a b "New York State Flag and Great Seal of the State of New York". New York State Library. March 31, 2008. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  3. ^ a b "New York State Symbols". New York State Department of Economic Development. 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2008.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "I (love) NY". New York State Library. March 21, 2007. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  5. ^ [1] Archived April 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "New York State Bird – Eastern Bluebird". New York State Library. July 1, 2002. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  7. ^ "Section 90. State dog", New York Consolidated Laws, State Law, Article 6, retrieved December 26, 2019
  8. ^ "'Working dog' designated as NY's official state dog", Niagara Gazette, AP, December 24, 2015, retrieved December 29, 2019
  9. ^ "New York State Animal – Beaver". New York State Library. January 29, 2001. Archived from the original on November 9, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  10. ^ a b "More New York State Emblems: State Beverage, Muffin, Shell, Insect". New York State Library. December 22, 2000. Archived from the original on October 8, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  11. ^ "New York State Reptile". State Symbols USA. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  12. ^ a b "State symbols and emblems". Net State. March 29, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  13. ^ a b c d "New York State Symbols". New York State Department of Economic Development. 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  14. ^ "New York State Tree – Sugar Maple". New York State Library. June 16, 1997. Archived from the original on September 16, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  15. ^ "New York State Bush". State Symbols USA. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  16. ^ "New York State Flower – Rose". New York State Library. June 16, 1997. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  17. ^ "New York State Gem- Garnet". New York State Library. June 16, 1997. Archived from the original on September 20, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  18. ^ "New York State Fossil – Eurypterus Remipes". New York State Library. June 16, 1997. Archived from the original on October 3, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  19. ^ "New York State Fruit – Apple". New York State Library. June 16, 1997. Archived from the original on March 22, 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  20. ^ "Section 89. State snack", New York Consolidated Laws, State Law, Article 6, retrieved December 30, 2019
  21. ^ Madore, James T. (October 15, 2014), "It's official: Yogurt is New York's state snack", Newsday, retrieved December 30, 2019
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