Look at http://www.iloveny.state.ny.us/emblems.html for one explanation.

Philip Lord, Jr.
Acting Chief, Historical Survey
New York State Museum
Albany, NY 12230
[log in to unmask]

>>> Nancy Robertson <[log in to unmask]> 04/19 6:13 PM >>>
I realize this is one of those questions that should be
too easy to have to ask, but does any one know the
origins of New York State's nickname as "the Empire
State."  If there is a precise orignator and date, that
would be great, but mostly I am curious as to what
somebody meant by the term.  The explanations I
have come across are more in the lines of "New
York lives up to its nickname of..." but I am wondering
why anyone started calling it that.  Thanks.

Nancy Robertson
LaGuardia and Wagner Archives
[log in to unmask]