USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 2 > Part 9
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Athens is in the same county, on the west bank of the Hudson, one hundred and thirty miles north of the city of [New-York; it contains about two hundred houses, and one thousand inhabitants. The river is nearly a mile broad here, and is navigable for ships of six hundred tons burthen. Athens was formerly called Lunenburg, and was founded before. Hudson. For some time it was a small village.
Opposite to the village of Athens, on the east side of the river, is situated the city of Hudson, containing four thousand inhabitants. It was founded in the year 1784 by Messrs. Seth and Thomas Jen- kins. Its latitude is forty-two degrees fourteen minutes north. The river has five or six fathoms of water quite up to the wharves. It
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has about seven hundred houses, five churches, a court-house, and jail. Its situation is beautiful. Mount Merino, lying south of the city, and Prospect Hill to the southeast, enhance its beauty, and add a kind of picturesqueness. From the latter the lofty Kaats- kill mountains, enveloped in blue, and soaring towards the sky, are · scen to great advantage. Hudson is one hundred and thirty miles north of New-York.
Coxsakie, in the county of Green, has about one hundred houses and one church. It is a little back from the river, and twenty-four miles southerly from the city of Albany, near the south end of a long narrow sandy plain.
Albany,* the second city in the state in population, commerce, and wealth, is situated on the west side of the Hudson, about one hundred and forty-five miles northwardly of the city of New-York, in north latitude forty-two degrees and thirty-nine minutes. It is built partly on a flat, and partly on the side of a hill. The streets are generally crooked and narrow. The hill rises with a pretty steep aclivity, and has an elevation of about one hundred and fifty feet at the distance of half a mile from the river, and two hundred and ten at the distance of one mile ; here the plain, spreading west- wardly, begins. From the border of this plain there is an exten- sive view eastwardly, and south-eastwardly.t
Albany in 1825 contained about sixteen thousand inhabitants, and three thousand dwelling houses and stores, twelve houses for public worship, a state-house, three banks, the capitol, a court- house and jail, an academy, theatre, museum, and an arsenal. Its population at present is about twenty thousand.
.The spot where this city now stands was at first called by the Dutch Aura- nia ; then Beverwyck, till 1625 ; then Fort; Orange, till 1647, and Williamstadt, till 1664. All this time it had also the name of the Fuyck. Fort Orange was built in 1623, and Williamstadt in 1047. At first a hamlet, then a village, and afterwards a town, and lastly a city. For a long time after its foundation it was enclosed with pickets (palisadoes. )
IBy a late survey the distance between New-York and Albany, by the road on the west side of the river, has been found only 145 miles. According to the lati- tudes the distance is still less, being only one hundred and thirty-five miles and a half, and eight rods. The received distances of all the intermediate towns and villages on and near the river from these two cities are incorrect. Hudson, for instance, is about one hundred and eight miles by its latitude from the city of New-York. By the river the distance does not exceed one hundred and six- teen miles. The latitudinal distance from Hudson to Albany is about twenty- five miles.
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The Academy is constructed of red sandstone. It is ninety fect square, and three stories high, apart from its basement. The Al- bany Lyceum is kept in it. It is the handsomest edifice in the city.
The Capitol, or State-House, stands at the head of State-street; its base is about one hundred and thirty feet above the Hudson ; the structure is brick faced with red sandstone. It is one hundred and fifteen feet long, ninety broad, and fifty high, exclusive of the basement story and the roof. The legislature of the state, the su- preme and county courts sit in it. In the structure of this edifice the rules of architecture, whether Egyptian, Hindoo, Chinese, Gre. cian, Roman, Saracenic, Gothic, or composite, have been violated-
The Erie and Champlain canals terminate at the city in a spa- cious basin. Sloops carrying from ninety to one hundred and fifty tous come up to the city. The bars below are serious impediments to the navigation of the river; these might be obviated by a canal ten or twelve miles long, and then vessels of two or three hundred tons might make their way up.
Albany was incorporated in the year 1686, by Colonel Dongan governor of the colony. In 1750 it contained three hundred and fifty houses. From its foundation till the close of the revolution it was palisadoed and fortified. Here all the treaties with the Ago- neaseah, and other Indians, were concluded. It used to be a great mart for fur.
The exact time when Albany was founded is not known. In 1614 the Dutch erected a small fort and a trading house, on an island half a mile below the site of the present city. In 1623 they built fort Orange on the west side of the river within the bounds of the present city. Some have alleged that they made the latter fort in 1614. If this be true, Albany is the oldest town in the United States, but if the preceding, then New-York, Esopus, and Sche- nectady take precedence. Notwithstanding the allegation, we have no doubt but New-York is the oldest of the two. A village sprung up near the fort, which was afterwards enlarged and became a city.
Mr. Stuyvesant the governor of the New Netherlands ; in a letter to Col. Nicolls, September 2nd, 1661, says, that the Dutch came up the North River, in the years 1614, 1615, and 1616. near fort Orange. Where to hinder the invasions and massacres com-
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monly committed by the savages, they built a small fort. A little before in the same letter he says, we have enjoyed fort Orange about forty-eight of fifty years, and the Manhattans about forty-one or forty-two years. See Smith's Hist. p. 28. Albany was called Schau-naugh-ta-da, by the Agoneaseah. The definition of which is, orer the pine plains, or across the pine plains, on the Cahoha- tatea, (Hudson's River.) The Dutch in after times applied it to the place where Schenectady now stands, as being over the plains from Albany. Hence the radical of Schenectady.
Greenbush is on the east side of the Hudson, over against the lower part of the city of Albany. It is built on the river bottom, and has about one hundred houses. The present village was founded in 1812.
Troy is also situated on the east side of the Hudson, at the head of Sloop Navigation. It is six miles north of Albany, and one hundred and fifty-one north of New-York. The Erie and Champlain canals are joined to the Hudson by side cuts, and locks, so as to benefit this place. Troy is built on a handsome plain, of several miles extent, lying between the river and hill ; and contains about eleven thousand inhabitants. There are here two banks, aad six or seven houses for public worship; also a court house and jail. After Albany, Troy is the most wealthy, commercial, and populous city on the Hudson. It was founded between 1787, and 1790; incorporated as a village in 1801, and as a city in 1816. In point of location, it nearly equals Albany. It is the shire town of the county of Rensselaer. The tide ascends to this place.
Gibbonsville in the county of Albany, west of Troy, contains about eighty houses. There are two large basins here appended to the Erie canal. The one is connected with the Hudson by a side cut, and two locks. There is an arsenal at this place.
Lansingburg in the county of Rensselaer, is situated three miles northwardly of Troy, and one mile southeasterly of Waterford, and on the same plain that Troy stands on. It- contains three hundred and fifty dwelling houses, five places for public worship, a bank and aca-demy, and about 2500 inhabitants. Sloops now come up to it. Lansingbrgh was founded very soon after the revo- lution. Troy and Lansingburg, will at some future day be united.
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Waterford is in the county of Saratoga, one mile northwesterly of Lansingburg. It stands at the union of the Hudson and Mo- hawk rivers; the Champlain canal passes by it : since the construc- tion of the dam across the river at Troy, sloops have come up to it. Waterford contains about two hundred houses, two churches, an academy, and one thousand inhabitants. It is 155 miles north o. the city of New-York. The point of land on which this village is built, was called Nachtenack by the Agoneaseah.
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Stillwater and Schuylerville, are on the Champlain canal, and severally contain forty houses. Bemis's heights are about three miles north-northwesterly of the former place. The latter is notec as being the place where Burgoyne's army capitulated, in 1777.
Sandyhill is on the west bank of the Hudson, in the county o. Washington, fifty two miles northwardly from Albany, It is the half-shire of the county, and contains about one hundred houses and one church. The feeder taken out of the Hudson, above Glensfalls, passes by it.
Glensfalls village on the left bank of the Hudson, three miles higher up, is about as large. It is in Warren county .- A feede: for the Champlain canal, taken out of the Hudson, runs by it; boats ascend it.
White-Hall in Washington county, is at the head of sloop navi gation, on Lake Champlain: and at the termination of the Northern canal. It contains about seventy houses. It is 72 miles north north-easterwardly from Albany, and 150 southwardly fron St. Johns, in Lower Canada : at the foot of Sloop navigation.
Plattsburg, in the town of the same name, in the county of Clir- ton ; is situated on a plain along Saranack river, a little back fron Lake Champlain. It is 170 miles northiwardly from Albany, ard 63 southwardly of Montreal in Lower Canada. It contains three hundred houses, and about one thousand five hundred inhabitans. Its latitude is forty-four degrees, forty-two minutes. It is tie county town.
Saratoga Springs, is in the county of Saratoga, and contains nearly one hundred houses. It stands on a sandy and gravelly plain, and is nearly, or quite, environed by woods.
The celebrated mineral springs, are chiefly in a small valley,
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lying east of the village. The ground where they are is marshy. Albany is distant thirty-two miles. In the summer months, great numbers of persons resort to these springs, either for health or pleasure. The village has been built since 1800.
Ballston Spa, in the same county, is twenty-six miles north north- westerly from Albany.' The village is partly enclosed by hills, be- ng situated at the mouth of a small valley. The scenery although hot beautiful, is diversified. The village contains about one hun- dred houses, two churches, an academy, court house, and jail. It has been wholly built since 1790. The Ballston springs at this place, have considerable celebrity.
The two latter villages owe their origin to the mineral springs.
The city of Schenectady stands on a flat, on the south side of he Mohawk river, fifteen miles north west of Albany. It contains about five hundred houses, three churches, a court house and jail. The Erie canal passes through it. The city is tolerably well laid out, and before the late destructive fire, made a respectable appear- ince. Schenectady was founded between the years 1616, and :620. At first, about twenty Hollanders established a trading louse there-afterwards a village, and then a city arose. In 1690, i: contained sixty-three houses. In the month of February of the ame year: it was surprised, taken, and burnt by a party of French and Indians from Canada.
It is alledged by some, that in 1614, there were eight hundred warriors at Schenectady, and that three hundred of these lived upon the lands which have since been included in one farm. By ahers it is said, that the place had been abandoned some ages be- fire, for. causes unknown, and that no great number resided there. This seeins to be the more reasonable and probable. Icanderago at the mouth of Schoharie creek, was the capitol of the canton, in 1614, and for a long time after. Ohnowalagantle at this time was a secondary town. Con-nugh-harie-gugh-harie, had before been the capitol. It was superseded by Ohno-wal-a-gantle, as this latter has been by Schenectady.
Che college is on the heights in the vicinity of the city, and con- siste of two brick buildings, each of which is two hundred feet in length and four stories high. They are two hundred yards distant,
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and'command a view of the city flats, champaigns, and hills, which at times is very pleasing to the eye.
On the 17th of January, 1690, Count De Frontinac, governor of Canada, detached two hundred men, and some Caughnawagas, under the command of D. Aillebout de Mantel and Le Moyne against New York. They marched through the woods on snow shoes, and arrived at Schenectady on the eighth of February. The town was in perfect security, and under no apprehension. The enemy entered about eleven o'clock at night at the gates which were open; and, that every house might be invested at the same time, divided themselves into small parties of six or seven, and then began the assault. Every house was carried in an instant. Sixty persons were put to death, and twenty-seven were carried into cap- tivity ; the rest fled towards Albany nearly naked, through a deep show which fell that night in a terrible storm, and twenty-five of them lost their limbs by the frost. The town was set on fire and every thing destroyed.
Schenectady, from its foundation to the end of the revolutionary war, was enclosed with pickets, and had block-houses for defences. As the town increased the defences were extended eastwardly and south-eastwardly ; the Mohawk and its waters washed it on two .
sides. At the time it was burnt its population exceeded three hun- dred. See Smith's Hist. p. 81.
Johnstown, the seat of justice of the county of Montgomery, is forty-one miles northwest of Albany, and four north of the Mohawk. It contains about one hundred and fifty houses, three churches, an academy, court-house, and jail. It was founded in 1771 by Sir William Johnson. The surrounding country is beautiful.
Little Falls Village is in the county of Herkimer, at the Little Falls on the Mohawk. It is seventy-two miles west-northwest- wardly from Albany, and contains about one hundred houses and one church. The aqueduct over the river is a noble structure ; the scenery is romantic.
The village of Herkimer is seven miles west of Little Falls. It contains about seventy houses, one church, and a jail, and court- house. The situation is beautiful; extensive flats and gentle emi- uences surmounted by hills nearly environ it.
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Fairfield, in the same county, contains about seventy dwelling houses, an academy, college, and church. Its situation is hand- some; on the east the land rises. The college of physicians and surgeons stands on a green. There are two stone buildings which can accommodate two hundred students. The faculty consists of a president and vice-president, who is professor of obstetrics, a pro- fessor of chemistry and materia medica, a professor of the theory and practice of pbysic and medical jurisprudence, a professor of ana- tomy and physiology, and a professor of surgery. The number of students in 1827 was one hundred and forty-four, in 1828 nearly two hundred.
Utica stands on the south side of the Mohawk, ninety-four miles west-north-west from the city of Albany. It contains about twelve hundred dwelling houses and stores, seven churches, an academy, and two banks, and about eight thousand inhabitants. Many of the buildings are of brick, and are elegant. The ground on which the town is built rises from the river with a gentle aclivity ; the Erie canal meanders through it. The adjacent country is beautiful.
Utica was founded in 1794. It is near the centre of the state, and may at no distant period aspire to be the seat of government. Its latitude is forty-three degrees and six minutes.
The vale is wo miles wide. Utica appears to the best advan- tage from Hassencleaver on the north; here the spectator sees the town, its environs, the vale, and the surrounding country, spread out before him like a map.
Whitesborough is also on the south side of the Mohawk, in the county of Oneida. It is the oldest place west of the county of Her- kimer. The late Mr. Hugh White founded it in 1785; he was the first person who transcended the Dutch settlements on the Mohawk. At that time the whole country west of Germanflats was one vast forest without a single family. Whitesborough contains about one hundred houses, and stands on the banks of the Erie canal. Jis environs are delightsome. The Oneida and Seneca vale is two and a half miles broad at this place.
Rome, in the same vicinity, stands on the summit level between the Mohawk river and Wood creek, and is the half shire town of Oneida county. Its distance from the Erie canal is about six hun-
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dred yards; it contains about one hundred houses, a church, and an arsenal belonging to the United States. The ruins of fort Stan- wix are within it; the feeder taken out of the Mohawk above the village is navigable for boats to the Erie canal. This place has been rendered memorable by the investment and siege of the fort in the autumn of 1777, by St. Ledger, with two thousand men, and the gallant defence by Colonels Gansevoort and Willet.
Canestota is situated on the Erie canal, one hundred and twenty- two miles westwardly from Albany, and at present contains about fifty houses. It has sprung up since 1817, and since the construc- tion of the middle section of the Erie canal. It is in Madison county. .
Canasaraga and Chitteningo are two very small villages in the same county. The latter is between hills at the commencement of a feeder of the Erie canal, a mile and an half long.
Syracuse is in the town of Salina, in the county of Onondaga, one hundred and forty-three miles west of Albany. At present it contains upwards of one hundred houses. It has been built since the middle section of the Erie canal was made. Considerable quantities of salt are fabricated here by spontaneous evaporation. The water is brought from Salina, distant a mile and an half.
Salina, another village in the town of the same name, is one mile and a half northwardly of Syracuse, and near the head of Onon- daga' lake. It is built on a moderate rise of ground, and contains about one hundred and fifty houses. Between the village and lake a marsh which contains the saline springs intervenes. Its situation is unpleasant at this day, owing to the uncultivated state of the marshes, swamps, and adjoining parts. Upwards of seven hundred thousand bushels of salt have been manufactured here in a single year. The Oswego canal now constructing passes through it. Salina was founded in 1791.
Liverpool, in the same town, about three miles north northwest- wardly from Salina, is on the east side of Onondaga lake; the num- ber of houses are about fifty. Salt is manufactured at this place.
Geddysburg, another small village in the same town, is at the head of the lake on the Erie canal, one mile westwardly of Salina. It has risen since the construction of the canal, and has about fifty houses. Salt is made at it.
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Weed's Basin, in the town of Brutus, Cayuga county, lies on the banks of the Erie canal, about one hundred and sixty-seven miles westwardly from the city of Albany. It is seven miles north of Au- burn, and twenty-three west of Syracuse It has risen since 1817, and contains about seventy houses and two churches. It is the depot for Auburn. In a few years it will become a large village. . The surrounding country is fertile.
Bucksville, in the same county, four miles west of Weed's Basin, has also risen since 1817. In extent and population it now equals the latter place. The outlet of Owvasco offers superior water privi- leges.
Montezuma, a quarter of a mile north of the Erie canal, is in the same county, three miles west of Bucksville. Salt is made here but not in large quantities. It is as yet only a hamlet.
Ithaca is situated on Cayuga lake, forty-three miles south of the Erie canal, and contains about three hundred houses. It is the shire town of Tompkins county. There is a direct water commu- nication with the canal from this place by the inlet, Cayuga lake, and outlet for boats of forty or fifty tons. Ithaca is a considerable mart for flour, salt, and gypsum. It is one hundred and eighty miles west south-westwardly from the city of Albany, and thirty north-westwardly from Owego, on the Susquehanna. Population two thousand. Ithaca has been built since the year 1800.
Seneca Falls is on the north side of Seneca outlet, in Seneca county, and contains about fifty houses. It is one hundred and eighty-three miles westwardly of Albany. Wheat is floured here.
Waterloo, in the same county, is on Seneca outlet, four miles west of Seneca Falls village, and seven east of Geneva. It has about one hundred houses, a court-house, jail, and meeting-house, and several mills, and five hundred inhabitants. The banks of Se- neca outlet are low. On all sides of the village are extended levels. No hills, no rises intervene. The village was founded in 1816. The Seneca canal, a branch of the Erie, passes by it.
Geneva, in the town of Seneca, in the county of Ontario, is built on the side, and on the summit of an eminence at the north- western corner of Seneca lake. . It is one hundred and ninety-four miles west of Albany, one hundred and eight east of Buffalo, fifteen
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south of the Erie canal, and fifty-eight north of Elmyra, on Tioga river. Its situation is eligible, pretty commanding, and extremely beautiful. Seneca lake is upwards of two miles broad, and spreads south-eastwardly and southwardly. Its delightsome waters with their green hue never freeze. The country around the village is either flat or gently rolling ; nothing can surpass the beauty of the conti- guous parts. The village contains four hundred houses, three churches, a bank, college, &c. with two thousand inhabitants. Ge- neva has a water communication with all the country around Seneca lake, and with the Erie canal, by a branch canal which will be completed this year. It was founded in 1792.
Lyons is on the Erie canal just below the confluence of Canan- daigua river and? Mud creek, fifteen miles northwardly of Geneva, and sixteen westwardly of the hamlet of Montezuma, and contains about one hundred houses. It is the capitol of Wayne county.
Palmyra, in the same county, is on the ' Erie canal, fifteen miles west of Lyons, and is nearly as large. It is thirteen miles north- wardly of the village of Canandaigua.
The village of Canandaigua, in the county of Ontario, is delight- somely situated near the mouth of the lake of the same name, or a moderate ascent. The houses are built mostly on one street, which extends north-westwardly upwards of a mile. The village com- mands a fine view of the lake and the neighboring parts ; the num- ber of dwelling houses exceeds three hundred and fifty. It con- tains three churches, an academy, a bank and branch bank, court- house and jail, and about two thousand inhabitants.
Canandaigua is two hundred and eight miles westwardly from Al- bany, fourteen from Geneva, thirteen southwardly of the Erie canal, twenty-eight southeastwardly of Rochester, and eighty-eight east- wardly of Buffalo. Few villages in the United States can vie with Ca- nandaigua and Geneva in elegance and beauty. It was founded in the year 1790. Its latitude is forty-two degrees forty-eight minutes. 'The water communication between it and the Erie canal is inter- rupted by rapids and small falls.
Pittsford, in the eastern part of the county of Monroe, is eight miles east of Rochester, and contains about one hundred houses, and one church. It is on the canal, and has been built since 1819.
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The adjacent parts are varied with small rises. The canal runs through it with beautiful sweeps.
Sodus, in Wayne county, on Sodus bay, an inlet of lake Ontario, stands on an elevated point of land projecting into the bay ; it is about as large as Lyons; vessels drawing eight feet of water come up to it. It is two hundred and eight miles northwestwardly of Al- bany, and twelve northwardly of Lyons.
The village of Penfield, in Monroe county, contains about one hundred and thirty houses ; it is on the bay of Teoronto or Ironde- quot bay ; distant from Rochester seven miles east-northeast.
Rochester, in the county of Monroe, is situated on the banks of Genesee river, seven miles south of lake Ontario, two hundred and thirty-six west-northwest of Albany, sixty-one east of Lockport, and seventy-seven east of Lewistown, on the Niagara. It contains fifteen or sixteen hundred houses, and eleven thousand inha- bitants. There are in it seven or eight churches, a bank, court- house, market-house, and jail. The Erie canal passes through it. The aqueduct over the river is seven hundred and fifty fect in length, and rests upon eleven arches, nine of which have spans of fifty feet each ; it is constructed of sandstone, surmounted with lime- stone ; the parapet on the left has an iron railing, and constitutes a beautiful walk. . The falls at this place are ninety-seven feet. The environs of Rochester are flat, and exhibit a monotony.
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