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Welcome to this Brief History of New York State,
brought to you by dencities.com and
The New York Traveler website.
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-State Motto
"Excelsior" (Ever upward)
State Song "I love New York"
Nickname "The Empire State"
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Not intended as a tell all or do all information page, the information provided herein is intended to offer a glimpse into the rich heritage of this largest of the Northeastern States.
Named in honor of the English Duke of York, New York State joined the Union July 26. 1788 as the 11th State of The United States.
New York State is bordered by: The Atlantic Ocean, New Jersey,Vermont, Conneticut, Massachusets, Pennsylvania, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and Canada.
New York Bay, and the mouth of what would become the Hudson River was first discoverd by Giovanni da Verrazano, an Italian born navigator sailing for France in 1524. Henry Hudson, an Englishman employed by the Dutch entered the Bay and sailed up the river in 1609. It wasn't until 1624 however that the Dutch established their first permanent settlement (at Fort Orange, now known as Albany), long after Samuel de Champlain (exploring New York for the French) claimed New York as French Territory in 1609.
In 1625, Peter Minuit reportedly purchased Manhatten Island from the Indians for $24.00 in trinkets and established the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam (now New York City). This site was later surrendered to the English and was for a time the U.S.Capital. It was there, in 1789 that George Washington was sworn in as the first President.
That same year, the World's first effective stock exchange was formed in New York City, today known figuratively as The New York Stock Exchange (Wall Street). This device marked New York State as a leader in Global Economics.
The settlement and exploration of New York State was hindered in part by the resistance of Native American Indians from such tribes as the Algonquin, Mohawk, Seneca, Cayuga and Iroquois Nations.The French and Dutch, though both vying for land in the region, used the same tactics (turning the tribes against each other) to further their own objectives.
Though less recognized, immigrants from Germany, Scotland, Norway and the Danes all contributed to the cultural and economic growth of this new State.It was the Dutch however that are credited with creating the first Municipal Codes, Police Forces, and the first Fire Brigade.
Growth in New York State was hindered in part by The Revolutionary War and many of it's battles were fought on New York soil.Following the War however, there was a great influx of immigrants from around the world, lured by the offers of free land to homesteaders and tradesmen. With this surge in qualified workers, the popular use of slave labor fell into disfavor, and in 1799, legislation was introduced which provided for the gradual emancipation of slaves. In 1827, all slaves were declared free.
Following the War of 1812, there was a great push westward, with the intruduction of The Erie Canal, and the railroads made possible by the large labor supply. The Erie Canal, as part of New York State's 800 miles of inland waterways enabled equipment and supplies to be transported into the interior and western regions of the State.
Along both The Hudson and The Mohawk Rivers, cities sprang up and soon became industrial centers where much of the worlds goods were produced. Cities like Kingston, Hudson, Albany, Schenectady and Troy, Utica and Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo were all connected along the State's waterways.Each of these areas became known for the products they produced.
It was in Schenectady, along the Mohawk River that Thomas Edison formed his Edison Electric Works in a factory complex known today as headquarters of The General Electric Company. A development of General Electric, WRGB became the world's first broadcast television station in 1947.The American Locomotive Company also existed here and it's proximity to General Electric gave rise to Schenectady's being known as the "City that lights and hauls the world".
In Cooperstown New York, a man named Abner Doubleday in 1839 outlined the rules and the diamond shaped field of baseball, known today as America's passtime. Cooperstown today houses The Baseball Hall of Fame and Doubleday Field.
While these facts offer but a glimpse of the rich and colorful heritage of New York State, we hope that they might stimulate your interest enough to investigate the State further. Volumes have been written about New York's History, and we suggest reading modern encyclopedias for up to the minute developments.
To learn more about the tourism opportunities in New York State we invite you to visit The New York Traveler
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