Why is New York called he big apple?

New York is a state in the northeastern United States. It is sometimes called New York State when there is need to distinguish it from New York City. Because a significant majority of the population is concentrated in the southern portion around New York City, the state is often regionalized into Upstate and Downstate. New York is also the home of Ellis Island, where many immigrants to the United States in the early 20th century first arrived.