New York contains New York City.
Columbia University ( Columbia ; officially Columbia University in the City of New York ) is a private Ivy League research university in Upper Manhattan , New York City . Grand Central Terminal ( GCT ; also referred to as Grand Central Station or simply as Grand Central ) is a commuter , rapid transit ( and former intercity ) railroad terminal at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City , United States . New York . The state of New York , with an estimated 19.8 million residents in 2015 , is also referred to as New York State to distinguish it from New York City , the state 's most populous city and its economic hub .