Troy, New York, USA
1854 - Troy / West Troy

Troy, a city, and capital of Rensselaer county, New York, is situated on both sides of the Hudson river, at the mouth of the Poestenkill creek, at the head of steamboat navigation, 6 miles above Albany, and 151 miles N. from New York. Lat. 42° 44' N., Lon. 73° 40' W. The principal portion of the city is on the eastern bank of the river, over which communication is kept up by a bridge and ferry-boats. The site is an alluvial plain, terminated on the eastern side by an eminence named Mount Ida, which rises directly in the rear of the southern part, and commands a beautiful and extensive view of the city and the Hudson river, and of the neighboring towns. Mount Olympus, in the N. part of the town, is a bare mass of rock about 200 feet high. The limits of the city extend about 8 miles along the river, and 1 mile from E. to W. It is laid out with much regularity, and is handsomely built. The streets are 60 feet wide, and cross each other at right angles, excepting River street, which follows the curve of the river, and is the principal thoroughfare of business. A number of those streets which extend parallel with the general direction of the river, terminate at their northern extremity in River street - a circumstance which imparts variety to the perspective, and increases the facilities of intercourse between that street and other parts of the city. The streets are generally well paved, lighted with gas, and bordered with shade-trees. River street is lined with large warehouses and hotels. Congress and Ferry streets are also appropriated to business
purposes. The finest residences are situated on First, Second, and Third streets, and around Seminary and Washington Parks. The latter park was recently laid out in the southern part of the city. Among the public buildings, the court house, the Episcopal Church of St. Paul, and one of the Presbyterian churches, deserve particular mention. The court house is a fine marble edifice in the Doric style. St. Paul's church is a costly Gothic building of stone. Among the principal hotels are the American, the Mansion House, the Troy House, the Northern Hotel, the National Temperance, and Washington Hall. There are 2 substantial brick market houses. The Rensselaer Institute of this place affords a scientific and practical education to young men; and the Troy Female Institute is among the most celebrated in the country: it was established here by Mrs. Willard in 1821. The city contains a Lyceum with a valuable collection of natural history. The various denominations have over 20 churches. One or two daily, and four weekly newspapers are issued. The city has 11 banks, aggregate capital, above $2,000,000. It is supplied with good water from the river.

Troy is favorably situated for commerce. Many of the boats which arrive by the Erie and Champlain canals here discharge their cargoes on board of large barges, to be towed down the river, and receive in exchange car goes of merchandise passing northward or westward. This transhipment constitutes the principal commercial business of the place. Four railroads meet at this point, viz. the Hudson River, the Troy and Boston, the Schenectady nnd Troy, and the Rensselaer and Saratoga railroads, which, with their several extensions, connect it with New York, Boston, Montreal, Buffalo, &c. Among the recent improvements is the Union railroad, connecting the four lines above named, and passing through the back part of the city, with a large passenger station, common to the four, on Sixth street. A dam across the river renders it navigable for sloops to Lansingburg. Steamboats of the first class ply daily between this place and New York. The Hudson river and the Poestenkill and Wynantskill furnish an ample supply of water-power, which is used in manufactories of various kinds. The city contains numerous flouring mills, paper mills, cotton factories, woollen factories, tanneries, breweries, iron foundries, machine shops, rolling mills, and forges. Nails, stoves, railway cars, brushes, leather, stoneware, and other articles are produced in considerable quantities. West Troy, on the W. bank of the river, is situated in Albany county, on the Albany Northern railroad. It contains a bank and a large arsenal of the United States. Population in 1850, 7564; in 1853, about 9000. Troy was incorporated as a village in 1801 ; as a city in 1816, Population in 1820, 5264; in 1830, 11,405; in 1840, 19,334; and in 1850, 28,785; or including the western suburb, 36,349.


A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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