Final answer:
Advantages in transportation, such as a port, navigable river, and the Erie Canal, played a major role in the development and growth of New York City.
Step-by-step explanation:
New York City developed several advantages in transportation that helped it grow immensely. One key factor was its additional transportation options, including a port on the Atlantic Ocean and a navigable river, the Hudson. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 created a massive advantage for New York City, allowing agricultural products from the Midwest to be transported to the city and then off-loaded onto ocean-going ships for trade with Europe. These transportation advantages played a major role in the development and growth of New York City.