New York City hosts the New Year's Eve celebration centered on the ball at One Times Square.
One Times Square is the building historically associated with The New York Times and the annual descent of the Times Square Ball. The surrounding district in Midtown Manhattan fills with spectators for a televised countdown to midnight.
The first ball drop took place in 1907, after the newspaper moved into its new headquarters. The event became a recurring New York tradition and eventually one of the world's most recognizable New Year's celebrations. The ball is lowered from a flagpole on the building during the final minute of the year.
The ball itself has changed substantially. Early versions were relatively small and made from iron and wood, while later versions used aluminum, crystal, and advanced lighting. The city name matters because similar ball-drop events now take place elsewhere, but the original and most famous tradition belongs to New York City's Times Square.