How much do you really know about NYC? Even if you’ve lived here for years, there are still so many little known secrets about the Big Apple that even the most seasoned New Yorker may not know. If you are new to New York City, these facts could make you feel like you’ve lived here for years. Platinum Properties has compiled a list of our top 20 lesser known, random, fun facts about New York City. Some will shock you!

1. Madison Square Park, Washington Square Park, Union Square Park, and Bryant Park used to be cemeteries. There are 20,000 bodies buried in Washington Square Park alone.

2. New York City has more people than 39 of the 50 states in the U.S.

3. There is a birth in New York City every 4.4 minutes. There is a death in New York City every 9.1 minutes.

4. New York City has the largest Chinese population of any city outside of Asia.

5. New York City subway musicians actually go through a rigorous selection process. Many of the musicians have even performed at famous venues, such as Carnegie Hall, before moving to the subways.

6. The Jewish population in NYC is the largest in the world outside of Israel.

7. There are tiny shrimp called copepods in NYC’s drinking water. They are harmless and some say that’s why NYC water tastes so great!

8. On a clear day, the Empire State Building offers 80 miles of visibility, spanning parts of New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

9. New Yorkers drink almost 7 times more coffee than other cities in the US. Hey, there is a Starbucks on almost every corner.

10. NYC homeowners can request that a tree be planted outside their homes for free.

11. All the departure boards at NYC’s Grand Central are exactly one minute wrong. You actually have an extra minute to catch that train.

12. Eating a New York bagel is equivalent to eating one-quarter to one-half of a loaf of bread.

13. The city of New York will pay for a one-way plane ticket for any homeless person if they have a guaranteed place to stay.

14. The borough of Brooklyn would be the fourth largest city in the United States.

15. “The Big Apple” was coined by musicians. It means to play the big time.

16. New York City has a 520-mile coastline, which is longer than those of Miami, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco combined.

17. The Empire State building has its own zip code.

18. In 2010, 38% of all 911 calls in NYC were accidental butt dials.

19. It takes 75,000 trees to print the New York Times Sunday Edition.

20. It can cost more than $289,000 for a one-year permit for a hot dog stand in Central Park.

Now that you are up to speed on fun facts about New York City, are you interested in renting or buying a property here? Let the NYC real estate agents at Platinum Properties help you get started!