Statehood The 11th state July 26, 1788 Captial Albany State Motto Higher Origin of State Name The state was named in the 1660s for the duke of York, later King James II of England. State Nickname The Empire State The nickname, attributed to George Washington, refers to the state's wealth and variety of resources. Interesting Facts The first women's rights convention met at Seneca Falls in 1848. New York has the most extensive public library facilities in the United States, including the New York Public Library, one of the nation's largest. In 1971 the bloodiest prison rebellion in U.S. history resulted in the deaths of 43 people at the Attica State Correctional Facility.