Show new york empire states state new york appropriated the title empire state when it surpassed all other states in population commerce and wealth new york N Y is 1 sometimes so known as the empire city on december 2 1784 in reply to an address of the common council of new york general washington wrote as follows to mayor james duane 1 I pray that beav en bestow its choicest blessings on your city that a well regulated and beneficial commerce may enrich your citizens and that your state at present the seat of empire may inny set such examples of wisdom and liberality as shall have a tendency to strengthen and give a permanent per manen cy to the union at home and credit and respectability abroad |