Yes, and it eas indeed the geography a major factor that contribute to make NYC the principal city of the US. A good harbor conected inland by the Hudson River. And when the build the Erie Canal, (The Hudson river being the only one where they could do that channel, since in other places the Appalachian Mountains block the pass of such canal) connecting the city with all the great lakes region, and then with the great plains, was when NYC really took off, leaving far behind Philadelphia, back then the major city in the US.