State symbols have been a mainstay of U.S. culture since the very beginning. Official symbols are used to represent the cultural heritage and natural history of each state in the most fun way possible.
New York is no different from many other U.S. states and it has an abundance of fantastic symbols that are indicative to the state’s historical roots and geological history. There are also recognizable icons and emblems for each state, such as state seals and flags, nicknames and mottos, and much more which are all included in our New York state symbol list.
State of New York Symbols List
There are an incredible amount of state of New York symbols which creates a whole host of interesting facts, both from the past and present. We have shortlisted the top 6 most significant New York state symbols below and further down the page you will find a comprehensive table with each New York symbol and the date they were officially created.
New York State Animal
The beaver (Castor canadensis) has been the state animal to represent New York since 1975. These awesome, intelligent animals can be found all over the state. Additionally, there is one other state that uses the beaver as their state animal – Oregon.
Beavers are pretty unique animals, they have flat tails and glossy fur, making them incredibly cute animals. They spend most of their day’s building dams in shallow valleys, streams, and rivers, which turns most of the flooded area into wetlands, which in return helps build up miniature ecosystems. Just like Oregon, the beaver is the perfect New York state animal.
New York State Fruit
The apple (genus malus) became the official state fruit for New York back in 1976, this was because, by the 1940s, New York was the largest apple producer in the entire world! Additionally, New York also adopted the apple muffin as a state symbol in 1987, further extending the state’s relationship with the fruit.
Nowadays New York is the second-largest apple-producing state in the U.S., averaging around 25 million bushels of apples annually! There are many different varieties of apples that are all grown in New York, which include McIntosh, Empire, Red Delicious, Cortland, Golden Delicious, Rome, Idared, Crispin, Paula Red, Gala, Jonagold, Jonamac, Fuji, Macoun, Braeburn, and many more!
New York State Bird and Flower
The beautiful and loyal eastern bluebird became the official state bird of New York in 1970. These birds are one of the first to return to the north during the spring. Not only are bluebirds the official bird of New York but they are also the official state bird for Missouri, Idaho, and Nevada!
The glorious and ever-popular rose was designated as the official state flower for New York back in 1955. These roses come in an abundance of beautiful colors, with the most popular being pink or red. The New York state bird and flower perfectly represent the state’s history over the past several decades.
New York State Seal
The official New York state seal features the official state coat of arms, which was adopted in 1778, surrounded by the words, “The Great Seal of the State of New York”. You can also see the state’s famous coat of arms on the official state flag too. In looking at the New York State Seal below, the center shield shows a masted ship and a sloop on the famous Hudson River, which represents inland and foreign commerce, bordered by a grass-covered shore and a mountain range in the background with a beautiful sunrise in the foreground.
Below the shield, you will see a banner displaying New York’s state motto, “Excelsior”, which is Latin for “ever upward”. Liberty and Justice are on either side of the shield supporting it, and an American Eagle sits on a globe above them both. Liberty’s left foot is treading on a crown, which symbolizes freedom from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Justice is blindfolded and is holding a sword in one hand and a scale in the other, showcasing impartiality and fairness.
New York State Insect
There are many different species of ladybug that reside in the state of New York, however, it is the endangered nine-spotted ladybug (coccinella novemnotata) that became the official state insect back in 1989. There are several other states that have adopted the ladybug as their state symbol, and they include Delaware, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Ohio, and North Dakota.
New York State Tree
The sugar maple (Acer saccharum) has been the New York state tree since 1956 when school children from across the state began to express their desire for a New York state tree. Additionally, there are a few other states that also share the same state tree, and they include Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
All New York State Symbols (Table)
Now that we have taken a look at some of the more popular and notable state symbols that are associated with the state of New York, it makes sense to showcase all the New York state symbols that are best used to represent the state’s history and more present achievements and moments. Here is the complete list of symbols:
| Type Of Symbol | State Symbol | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Animal | Beaver (Castor canadensis) | 1975 |
| New York State Beverage | Milk | 1981 |
| New York State Bird | Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | 1970 |
| New York State Bush | Lilac bush (Syringa vulgaris) | 2006 |
| New York State Dog | Service dog | 2015 |
| New York State Fresh-water fish | Brook or Speckled Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) | 1975 |
| New York State Flag | Civil and State Flag | 1901 |
| New York State Flower | Rose | 1955 |
| New York State Fossil | Sea scorpion (Eurypterus remipes) | 1984 |
| New York State Fruit | Apple (Genus Malus) | 1976 |
| New York State Gem | Garnetadobe document | 1969 |
| New York State Insect | Ladybug (Coccinella novemnotata) | 1989 |
| New York State Marine or salt water fish | Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) | 2006 |
| New York State Muffin | Apple muffin | 1987 |
| New York State Reptile | Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) | 2006 |
| New York State Seal | Seal of the State of New York | 1882 |
| New York State Shell | Bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) | 1988 |
| New York State Slogan | "I love New York" | 2009 |
| New York State Snack | Yogurt | 2014 |
| New York State Tree | Sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh) | 1956 |
