32 Weird New York Facts Even New Yorkers Probably Don’t Know

Published December 19, 2017
Updated December 12, 2023

These thirty-two interesting facts about New York highlight the hidden gems and weird trivia behind the biggest city in the United States.

New York City is one of the most unique cities in the world.

This vibrant metropolis has birthed and housed some of the greatest artists, statesmen, inventors, criminals, and entrepreneurs in human history.

But while the city might be known to all for its towering stature, there are still fascinating facts about New York City that remain unknown to most observers.

With its long, strange history, New York City has more bizarre facts about it and its inhabitants than just about anywhere in the world. Boasting a population of eight million, its giant size also means that so many things have happened in this bustling metropolis.

Built out of a collection of cities, each with their own unique past, and as a repository of immigrants from across the world, New York has enough strange secrets to baffle any common tourist. These New York facts elucidate many of these unusual aspects of this city.


Enjoy these interesting facts about New York City? Next, check out these bizarre vintage photos from the annals of New York City history. Then, learn these amazing facts that will make you the most interesting person in the room and fun little factoids that'll dazzle your friends and family.

author
Gabe Paoletti
author
Gabe Paoletti is a New York City-based writer and a former Editorial Intern at All That's Interesting. He holds a Bachelor's in English from Fordham University.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
Based in Brooklyn, New York, John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of expertise include modern American history and the ancient Near East. In an editing career spanning 17 years, he previously served as managing editor of Elmore Magazine in New York City for seven years.
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Cite This Article
Paoletti, Gabe. "32 Weird New York Facts Even New Yorkers Probably Don’t Know." AllThatsInteresting.com, December 19, 2017, https://allthatsinteresting.com/interesting-new-york-facts. Accessed August 22, 2025.