Why Is Ny The "big Apple?"

[JolyB]

It's mildly ironic that a city now called the Big Apple was briefly named "New Orange."

No chance of growing citrus; it happened like this: The Dutch had originally settled New Amsterdam, but were ousted by the English in 1664, who then named the city after the King's brother, the Duke of York (later James II). However, during the third Anglo-Dutch war in 1673, the Dutch briefly re-occupied the city and renamed it New Orange after William of Orange. It was then relinquished to England by treaty one year later in exchange for Suriname.

[Hey, it's been quiet lately, the Yankees are out of the playoffs and the BC pre-entries aren't yet out]