USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 2 > Part 2
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STATE OF NEW-YORK.
mountain descends towards the Hudson. The soil is moderately fertile. ... Westchester is well watered. Hudson and Harlem rivers wash it on the west; East river on the south ; and the Sound, with its bays inlets and coves, on the south-east. The little rivers, Bronx and Byram, falling into East river and the Sound, water the southerly parts. Croton river and Peekskill run across the north- westerly part of the county, and fall into the Hudson. Rye pond gives origin to the Bronx.
The villages are, West Farms, White Plains, New Rochelle, Peekskill, '&c. White Plains is noted on account of a battle fought there on the 28th of October, 1776, between the American and British armies. Both armies sustained considerable losses.
PUTNAM is north of Westchester, and south of Dutchess: Con- becticut is on the east, and the river Hudson on the west. Its surface is broken by the Highlands, which in part traverse it from north-east to south-west. The Taconic runs through the easterly part, and enters Westchester on the north. Putnam is watered by Croton river and Peekskill, and their branches, which spread over the greater part of the county. We have observed that the Hud- soon was on the west. Mahopack, Shaw's, and White's ponds are in this county. 'The soils, in some instances, are good, and in others middling or poor. Putnam is twenty-one miles in length, from east to west, and twelve in breadth, from north to south. Its area may be estimated at two hundred and fifty square miles, equal to one hundred and sixty thousand acres of land. The cultivated land amounts to seventy-nine thousand nine hundred and twenty- one acres, and the population to eleven thousand eight hundred and eighty-six. Each square mile, on an average, contains about forty-seven inhabitants. . The lands under cultivation are about one half of the whole.
Putnam is subdivided into five towns, and was erected into a county, from the southern part of Dutchess, the 12th of June, 1812. 'This county was named in honour of General Putnam, who rendered signal services to this country, in the war for the conquest of Canada, and in that of our revolution.
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DUTCHESS is bounded eastwardly by Connecticut, southerly by Putnam, westerly by the Hudson, and northerly by Columbia. Its extent along the Hudson is forty-five miles, and along the borders of Connecticut thirty-three : its breadth is from twenry-two to twenty-four miles; and its area about eight hundred and fifty square miles, or five hundred and for y-four thousand acres of land. . The improved lands comprise three hundred and sixty-eight thousand four hundred and seventy-one acres, a little over two-thirds of the whole. The average population, to the square mile, is fifty-five, within a fraction; the whole number being forty-six thousand six hundred and ninety-eight.
-. Dutchess is subdivided into sixteen towns. It contains the villa- . ges of Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Rhinebeck, Redhook, &c. ,The · eastern and southern parts are somewhat broken by the Taconic and Highlands ; the residue is pleasingly diversified with hills val- leys and plains, which decline towards the Hudson. The soil is in general productive.
Dutchess is watered by Fishkill, Croton river, Wappinger's and Ancram creeks and Green river. All are considerable streams, and fall into the Hudson, except Green river, which makes its way into the. Housatonick. Besides these the Hudson washes it on the west for a distance of forty-five miles. : Dutchess was erected into a county November 1st, 1683.
COLUMBIA has Massachusetts on the east, Dutchess on the south, the Hudson on the west, and Rensselaer on the north. Its length on the Hudson is about twenty-five miles, and on the Massachusetts border about thirty-one ; and its breadth from nineteen to twenty- two miles. Its area contains about five hundred and eighty square miles, equal to three hundred and seventy-one thousand two hundred: acres of land. The number of acres improved is two hundred and. sixty-four thousand one hundred and sixty-four, which is about thir- teen-eighteenths of the whole. The population of the county, in 1825, was thirty-seven thousand nine hundred and seventy, which would give an average to every square mile of rather over sixty-five inhabitants.
Columbia is subdivided into fourteen towns. It contains the city
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of Hudson, and the villages of Cleverack, Kinderhook, Ancram, New-Lebanon, &c. It was erected into a county April 4th, 1786.
Columbia is variegated with mountains, hills, plains, vales and valleys. The Taconic and Peterborough mountains run through this county. The former is on the boundary. Between these mountains, there is a vale that stretches through the county. The towns of Lebanon, Canaan, Austerlitz, 'Hillsdale, Taghkanick and Ancram are in it. Between the Hudson and Peterborough moun- tains, the country exhibits either a flat, rolling, or hilly surface. The soils of Columbia, although generally good, present every variety, from the rich river alluvion, to the barren plain and mountain rock.
Besides the Hudson, which laves Columbia on the west, it is wa- tered by Kinderhook and Ancram creeks, with their branches, and Green river. The two former are streams of considerable magni- tude.
RENSSELAER is bounded on the east by Vermont and Massachu- setts, on the south by Columbia, on the west by the Hudson, and on the north by Washington. Its average length is about twenty- eight and a half miles from north to south, and its average breadth in an opposite direction, about twenty-one. Its extreme length on the Hudson, is rather over thirty miles. Its area, we have from the several datas, estimated at six hundred square miles, or three hun- dred and cighty-four thousand acres of land.
The Williamstown, or Taconic mountain, is on the eastern bonder, being partly in this county, and partly in New-England. A few miles westwardly is the Peterborough or Bald mountain. It extends through the county. Between these mountains there is the valley of Little Hoosack, and part of the vale of Lebanon. West- wardly of the latter mountain, the country is diversified with hills, plains and valleys. The lands of Rensselaer are usually good.
This county is watered by Poester kill, Hoosack river, and Kin- derhook creeks. The Hoosack is a river of some. magnitude. It is bordered by rich alluvions. Little Hoosack, Tomhanick, &c. fall into it. The Hudson washes all the westerly side of the coun- ty. It is occasionally bordered by flats.
. The improved land in Rensselaer amounts to two hundred and
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thirty-four thousand four hundred and sixty-nine acres ; being not quite two-thirds of the whole. The population in 1825, was forty- four thousand and sixty-five; rather over seventy-three to every square mile. .
Rensselaer contains the city of Troy, and the villages of Lansing- burgh, Bath, Greenbush, Hoosack Falls, Scaghtikoke, Nassau, Pitts- town, &c. This county was erected February 7th, 1791, and is now subdivided into thirteen towns, exclusive of the city of Troy.
WASHINGTON is bounded eastwardly by Vermont, southwardly by Rensselaer, westwardly by the Hudson and the county of Warren, and northwardly by Essex. On the east, lake Champlain sepa- rates it from Vermont for a distance of sixteen or seventeen miles. Lake George lies between it and Warren, for twenty-four miles. The entire length of the county, from north to south, is sixty-four miles. Its average breadth to South Bay is about seventeen miles ; thence northerly about six. Averaging all these, and deducting the waters of the lakes, its superfices will be found not to vary far from nine hundred and twenty square miles, or six hundred and eighteen thousand eight hundred acres of land. The cultivated lands, or such as are cleared, comprise two hundred and fifty-two thousand, seven hundred and ninety-six acres, being short of five-twelfths. The inhabitants, in 1825, numbered thirty-nine thousand two hun- dred and eighty, giving rather over forty-two to every square mile.
This county was erected March 12th, 1772, by the name of Charlotte, but on the second of April, 1786, its name was changed to that of Washington. It is subdivided into seventeen towns. Its principal villages are Sandy Hill, Saiem, Whitehall, Fort Ann, Fort Edward, Union and Cambridge. Sandy Hill, the largest, contains about one hundred houses.
The greater part of Washington may be called hilly. On the confines of Vermont we occasionally meet with mountains. The . space between lakes Champlain and George, is occupied by the northerly part of the Palmertown mountain. The most level parts are in the vicinity of Forts Edward and Ann. Here levels of con- siderable extent occur. Between Wood creek and South Bay
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there is a tract somewhat broken and very rocky. The lands of this county are commonly good.
Washington is washed for some distance by the Hudson ; lakes George and Champlain lave the sides adjoining them ; Batten Kill crosses the interior of the county westwardly to the Hudson, receiving in its way Little White creek and other streams; Wal- loomscoic and Hoosack water the southeasterly part, and Wood Creek, Pawlet, and Poultney rivers, those parts around the head of lake Champlain.
Forts Edward and Ann, now in ruins, are in this county. The first was erected in 1755 or 1756, the second in 1710.
ROCKLAND is bounded eastwardly by the Hudson, southwest- wardly or nearly so, by New Jersey; and northwestwardly by the county of Orange. Its shape is triangular, one of its sides mea- muting about twenty-three miles, is on the Hudson ; another, mea- Funny nineteen, joins New Jersey, and the third, measuring about siteen, is next to Orange. Its area varies but little from one hundred and eighty square miles, equal to one hundred and fif- teen thousand, two hundred acres of land. The population is eight thousand and sixteen. The improved lands are forty-five thousand one hundred and twenty-seven acres. The number of persons to the square mile is rather above forty-four .. The county is subdivi- ded into four towns. It was erected from the southeasterly part of Orange, February 23d, 1798.
Rockland is traversed by the Nyack hills, and in part by the Wetlands. It contains some plains and valleys. It is watered by the Hudson, Hackensack, and Ramapo.
Forts Stony Point, Clinton, and Montgomery are in this county. The former was taken by the British in the revolution, and reta- ken by the Americans.
ORANGE is bounded eastwardly by the Hudson, south-eastwardly by Rockland, south-westwardly by New Jersey, and Delaware and Mongaup rivers, and northwardly by the counties of Sullivan and Ulster. The shape of this county renders it difficult to give its length, breadth and dimensions with accuracy. We shall endeavour,
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however, to give some of them. Its greatest length from east to west, is thirty-seven miles : on the Hudson it has a breadth of sev- enteen miles : a few miles back a line drawn from Ulster to New Jerscy would be thirty miles. Its breadth then diminishes, as yon go westwardly, till at its west end it is only three miles. It probably contains about six hundred square miles, equal to three hundred and eight-four thousand acres of land, of which two hundred and forty- three thousand six hundred and eleven are improved, being nearly two-thirds. In 1825, the population was forty-one thousand seven hundred and thirty-two, nearly seventy to every square mile. Or- ange was erected the first of November, 1683.
The Highlands traverse the south-easterly part of this county, while the Shawangunk and others, traverse the westerly, or rather north-westerly. Between these mountains are some valleys and wales. The lands of Orange are often fertile.
Besides the Hudson and Delaware, which wash the extremes of this county, it is watered by the Wallkill, Shawangunk, Neversink and their auxiliaries.
West Point and Fort Putnam are in this county, at the northern extremity of the Highlands. West Point plain is one hundred and seventy-six feet above the tide-waters of the Hudson, and Fort Putnam five hundred and seventy-six.
The most considerable villages are, Newburgh, Goshen, Mont- gomery, Blooming Grove, Phillipsburg, Orange, and Chester.
ULSTER has the Hudson on the east, Orange on the south, Sulli- van on the' southwest, Delaware on the northwest, and Greene on the north. Its outlines are very irregular. Its extreme length, from east to west, is forty-nine miles, and its extreme breadth from north to south forty-two. On the Hudson its breadth is thirty-seven miles, while towards its western end it is quite narrow, and at last ends in a point. It contains about one thousand square miles, or six hundred and forty thousand acres of land. Of these only one hun- dred and sixty thousand four hundred and fifty-one acres were under cultivation in 1825, very little over the one quarter. The population in the same year was thirty-two thousand and fifteen, giving an av- erage to every square mile of about thirty-two inhabitants.
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The greater part of this county is broken by mountains and hills. ' The Shawangunk advances into it from Orange ; the blue moun- tains cross it from south to north, between twenty and thirty miles westwardly of the Hudson; while the lofty Kaatskill, on the side of Greene, dip into it making a large sweep.
The Hudson washes Ulster on the east. The Wallkill runs northeasterly across the southeasterly part of the county about twenty-five miles, before it reaches the Hudson. The Shawan- gunk creek has about seven miles of its course in this county, before it enters the Wallkill. The Rundout, which unites with the Wall- kill, about six miles from the Hudson, has most of its course in the . interior parts. The Esopus waters the northerly and northeasterly . parts, most of its course, which exceeds fifty miles by its windings, being in this county. The Neversink, that descends into the Del- snare ; Beaver creek, that flows into the Papachton, and some amsall branches of the latter river, have their sources in the westerly parts, or those parts adjoining Sullivan and Delaware.
The lands of Ulster exhibit every variety of soil, from the fer- Gle alluvion to the barren rock.
Cister was erected into a county the first of November, 1683. I: is subdivided into thirteen towns. The villages of Kingston, Herley, and Marbletown are the largest. Kingston was settled in 1616 by some Hollanders.
Tue Hudson and ; Delaware canal passes through this county, from south-west to north-east, dividing it into nearly two equal parts. Its course is upwards of thirty miles. It runs by Kingston, leaving it to the north-west.
GREENE is bounded on the east by the Hudson, on the south by Ulster, on the west by Delaware, and on the north by Schoharie and Albany. Its greatest length is forty-two miles ; and this is on the Schoharie and Albany borders ; and its greatest breadth twenty- two, it being along the Hudson. It contains about six hundred square miles, equal to three hundred and eighty-four thousand acres of land. The population, in 1825, was twenty-six thousand two hundred and twenty-nine. At the same time, the lands under cultivation amoun-
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ted to one hundred and forty-two thousand and seven acres. The average population to the square mile is rather over forty-three.
Greene was erected into a county March 25, 1800. It is subdi- vided into twelve towns. Its chief villages are Catskill, Athens, and Coxsakie. The middle and western parts of this county are covered with the lofty Kaatskill, and their branches. The eastern part is commodiously diversified with hills, plains and valleys.
The Hudson forms the boundary of this county, on the east, for twenty-two miles. Catskill creek, which rises in the south-eastern part of Schoharie, runs south-easterly through the county, and dis- charges itself into the Hudson, just below the village of Catskill. The Schoharie creek heads in the interior, among the Kaatskill moun- tains, and pursuing a northwesterly course, for about twenty-four miles, enters Schoharie. Some streams falling into the Esopus creek, and the Papachton branch of Delaware, have their origin in this county.
The land in the hilly and champaign parts of Greene are, in gen- eral good. Those in the mountainous parts are usually indifferent and poor.
ALBANY was settled in the year 1614, by some Hollanders, and very soon after New-York, but it was not erected into a county till the first of November, 1683. It is bounded eastwardly by the Hud- son, southwardly by Greene, westwardly by Schoharie, and north- wardly by Schenectady and Saratoga ; the outlines of this county have enough of uniformity. Its greatest length from cast to west is about twenty-four miles, and its greatest breadth from north to south is twenty-two. After making some small deductions from its length and breadth, as given, it will be found to contain about three hun- dred and nine thousand seven hundred and sixty acres of land, or four hundred and eighty-four square miles. The number of acres un- der improvement, in 1825, was one hundred and ninety thousand five hundred, very nearly two-thirds of the whole. The county, exclusive of the city of Albany, is subdivided into eight towns. Its popula- tion is forty-two thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, which gives rather over eighty-eight to every square mile.
Albany displays almost every variety of aspect and soil. On the
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east are extensive sandy plains, interspersed with tolerably produc- tive spots ; in the middle are champaigns, beautified with gentle swells, while in the west and south-west there are hills, and the precipitous and craggy Helderberg. The lands along the bank of the Hudson are rich. Those of the champaigns and hills are mid- dling, and very improvable. Most of the plains, which were for- merly considered mere barrens, are susceptible of cultivation, and under good husbandry may be made to yield abundant crops. The plains are from five to eleven miles broad, and stretch from north to south nearly through the county. .
Exclusive of the Hudson and Mohawk, which wash the county on the cast and north as far as the county of Schenectady, there are the Norman's kill, Cat's kill, Fox creek, and some other smaller streams. Norman's kill enters from Duanesburgh, and flows south- resterly eighteen miles, and mingles with the waters of the Hudson. Ca's kill crosses the south-westerly corner of the county from Slobarie into Greene. Several branches of this creek rise in the, county of Albany. Fox creek descends westwardly into the Schoharie.
SARATOGA is bounded castwardly by the Hudson, southwardly by the Mohawk and the county of Schenectady, westwardly by Montgomery and Hamilton, and northwardly by Warren and the Hudson. . The Mohawk forms the division line between Saratoga, Albany, and Schenectady, within four miles of the latter city. The Hodson divides Warren from Saratoga on the north, for about foarteen miles, exclusive of its windings. Its greatest length is Sony-seven miles, and its greatest breadth is thirty-one; but owing to the irregularities of its contours, great deductions must be made from these extremes, in order to arrive at its superfices. Taking the average length, which is about thirty-five miles, and the average breadth, which is twenty-two, it will be found to contain about seven hundred and seventy square miles, equal to four hun- dred and ninety-two thousand eight hundred acres of land. The cultivated lands, in 1825, were rather over one-half of the whole, being two hundred and fifty-three thousand nine hundred and fifty-three acres. The number of inhabitants at the same
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time, was thirty-six thousand two hundred and ninety-five, being about forty-seven to every square mile.
. Saratoga is subdivided into nineteen towns. Its principal villa- lages are Waterford, Stillwater, Schuylersville, Saratoga Springs, and Ballston Spa. It was made a county the seventh of February, 1791.
Saratoga is divided into three tracts ; the mountainous, the champaign and level. The first occupies the north-westerly part ; the third, the south-easterly and easterly; while the second occu- pies the residue. The soils differ very much. In the mountains, they are either light, or barren : in the champaigns, they are usu- ally rich ; and in the plains, both good and bad occur.
The Hudson washes the eastern and part of the northern sides of this county for an extent of sixty-six miles, and the Mohawk the south- ern side for sixteen miles. Sacondaga river, in its way to the Hud- son from Montgomery, runs in a north-easterly and easterly diretion across the northwestern part of the county. The Kayaderosserass creek is entirely in the county. It rises in Corinth, and takes a south-westerly course for twelve miles, in a direct line, and then an easterly one, for nine, where it opens into Saratoga lake, passing by the village of Ballston Spa in its way. After issuing out of that lake it pursues its course for nine miles under the name of Fish creek, and then discharges itself into the Hudson, where the British army, under Burgoyne, surrendered. The Aelplas passes into the Mo- hawk, and Anthony's kill into the Hudson. Saratoga, Ballston and Round lakes are in this county : and also the highly noted Ball- ston and Saratoga springs.
WARREN, which is on both sides of the Hudson, is bounded on the east by part of lake George and part of the county of Washing- ton, on the south by the county of Saratoga, on the west by the county of Hamilton, and on the north by the county of Essex. Lake George and the Hudson river respectively divide parts of it from the counties of Washington and Saratoga. Its greatest length is forty-four miles from north to south, and its greatest breath is forty from east to west, being on the Essex border. Its average length is about forty miles, and breadth twenty-five. These give
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one thousand square miles, or six hundred and forty thousand acres. of land, including the waters of lake George, &c.
This county has an elevated and broken surface. The Palmer- town, Kayaderosseras and Clinton mountains pass through it from- . north-east to south-west. The soils are mostly light, sandy loams, and sand ; occasionally clays occur.
The Hudson holds a diagonal course through this county, leav- ing some over two-fifths westwardly of it. Its direction, after en- tering from Essex; is south-easterly about twenty-two miles, and then south-westerly about six. Here it flows southerly fif -- teen miles, and constitutes the boundary between this county and Saratoga. Its, course is then east north-east to the south- eastern corner of the county, fourteen miles in a straight line; but some more by its windings. In the latter distance it also forms the boundary as before. The Schroon issues out of the lake of the. same name, and pursues a southerly course, inclining to the west to its entrance into the Hudson. Stonebridge creek, and the outlet of Brant lake join it. The north-easterly branch of Sacondaga river has its origin in Johnsburg, in the north-western part of the county, and passes off into Hamilton. East Stony creek, which falls into Sacondaga river, originates in the south-westerly part of the county. Above half of lake George is in this county, and nearly half of Schroon lake. Brant lake, French Pond, &c. are also in the same. county.
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Warren, in 1825, contained ten thousand nine hundred and six. ' inhabitants, and was subdivided into nine towns. It contains the villages of Glen's Falls, and Caldwell. The improved land, io 1825, comprised fifty-two thousand three hundred and forty-seven aeres, not quite the one-twelfth of the whole. The average popu -- lation to the square mile is eleven. This county was erected March 12, 1813.
Forts William Henry and George were in this county, at the. head of lake George. Few vestiges of the former remain. The latter is in a very ruinous condition. The first was constructed in 1755, and taken in 1756, by the French, under the Marquis de Montcalm, after a short siege. . . The second was erected in VOL. 11. 3
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1757. The British and colonial troops employed in the reduc- tion of Canada encamped here.
On the east side of the road leading from Glen's Falls to the head of lake George there is a small sheet of water, called the Bloody pond, on account of an action fought on its border, between a de- tachment of the British and colonial troops and the French, in which the former were defeated.
HAMILTON, which is not yet organized for want of a sufficient population, is bounded on the east by Essex and Warren, on the south by Montgomery, on the west by the uninhabited part of Her- kimer, and on the north by St. Lawrence and Franklin. This county is little else than one continued forest. In fact it may be said to be surrounded by woods. The adjacent parts of Herkimer, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Essex, and we might also add, those of Warren and Montgomery, are still in a state of nature ; the few settlements along Sacondaga and Hudson rivers, scarcely forming exceptions. Hamilton embraces that elevated portion of the state from whence the Hudson, Sacondaga, Black and Racket rivers, and the East and West Canada creeks derive their sources. It is traversed by several chains of mountains : besides being sprin- kled with countless and almost nameless lakes, and ponds. The soil, except in some few places, is poor and barren.
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