Troy, New York

Looking west down Broadway at downtown Troy.

Troy is a city in New York, USA and is the county seat of Rensselaer County. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 49,170; in 1910, the population was 76,813. The city is named after the legendary city of Troy.

The City of Troy is located on the western edge of the county. Troy is home to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Emma Willard School, and is the hometown of Uncle Sam.[1] The headquarters for both The Record newspaper and MapInfo Corporation are located in the city.

Nicknames: "The Collar City", "Home of Uncle Sam"

History

The site of the city was a part of the Van Rensselaer grant of 1629. Dirck Van der Heyden was one of the first settlers. In 1707, he purchased a farm of 65 acres (26 hectares) which in 1787 was laid out as a village.

The name Troy (after the legendary city of Troy, made famous in Homer's Iliad) was adopted in 1789, and the region was formed into the "Town of Troy" in 1791 from part of the Rensselaerwyck Manor. Troy became a village in 1801 and was chartered as a city in 1816.

Samuel Wilson, a Troy butcher and meatpacker during the time of the War of 1812, is believed by many to have been the inspiration for the personification of the United States known as Uncle Sam.

It has been three times nearly destroyed by fire. In 1892, there were election riots there during which Robert Ross was murdered. One of his slayers, "Bat" Shea, was executed in 1896.

Lansingburgh was a former town and village in Rensselaer County that was annexed by Troy in 1900. Lansingburgh is thus often referred to as "North Troy". To avoid confusion with streets in Troy following Lansingburgh's annexation by the city of Troy, Lansingburgh's numbered streets were renamed. Lansingburgh's 1st Street, 2nd Street, 3rd Street, etc., became North Troy's 101st Street, 102nd Street, 103rd Street, etc. Lansingburgh was home to the Lansingburgh Academy.

Through much of the 19th and into the early 20th century, Troy was not only one of the most prosperous cities in New York State, but also one of the most prosperous cities in the entire country, overshadowing nearby Albany, the state capital. It was one of the centers of the American iron industry, as well as of the "collar and cuff" industry, the latter exemplified by Cluett, Peabody & Company. Cluett's "Arrow shirts" are still worn by men across the country, although Cluett's itself is no more. Bells manufactured by the Meneely Bell Company ring all over the world. People came from far and wide to shop at Frear's Department Store, which was one of the largest in the state.

Some other notable historical events in Troy

• 1823: First known appearance of the world-famous Holiday poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (also known as "The Night Before Christmas" or "Twas the Night Before Christmas") is made in the now-defunct newspaper The Troy Sentinel on December 23. The poem was published anonymously, but its author is now regarded by most as having been Henry Livingston, Jr..
• 1827: Hannah Lord Montague invents the detachable collar in Troy.
• 1864: The nation's first female Labor Union, the Collar Laundry Union, founded in Troy by Kate Mullany.
• 1933: Sanford Cluett invents sanforization, a process which shrinks cotton fabrics thoroughly and permanently, in Troy.
• 1963: The novel Cat's Cradle was written by Kurt Vonnegut in the city, and mentions being in Ilium. (In the ancient Mediterranean, "Ilium" was an alternate name for Troy.)
• 1983: The restaurant chain Bruegger's is founded in downtown Troy.

Geography

Troy is located at 42°44'18" North, 73°40'51" West (42.738278, -73.680809)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.5 km² (11.0 mi²). 27.0 km² (10.4 mi²) of it is land and 1.6 km² (0.6 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 5.44% water.

With a picturesque river waterfront, Troy is located at the head of the navigation on the Hudson River and is the terminus of the New York Barge Canal. It is the distributing center for a large area.

The city is on the southern border of the Adirondack country and is situated in the center of beautiful surrounding countryside. On the east are the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, south is the valley of the Hudson, west the valley of the Mohawk, and on the north the Adirondack Mountains.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 49,170 people, 19,996 households, and 10,737 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,823.7/km² (4,721.8/mi²). There were 23,093 housing units at an average density of 856.5/km² (2,217.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.22% White, 11.41% African American, 0.28% Native American, 3.49% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.20% from other races, and 2.35% from two or more races. 4.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 19,996 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.6% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 17.6% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,844, and the median income for a family was $38,631. Males had a median income of $30,495 versus $25,724 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,796. 19.1% of the population and 14.3% of families were below the poverty line. 25.0% of those under the age of 18 and 9.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Culture

Troy has people of varied culture. It hosts many small shops like cafes, sandwich shops, record stores, and art galleries. As Troy progresses, new buildings and larger stores have started to appear. Clothing stores, an independent film theatre, and other department shops are expected to go into the few large un-occupied buildings that lay on the streets. The unique city is home to many art, literature and music lovers, and hosts an array of free shows during summer on River Street, in the parks and in select cafes and shops. It hosts many who call them-selves geeks, and the indie (culture) is said to be growing in its small regions.

Despite the modern developments described in the paragraph above, Troy is best known as 'a "Victorian City", and is home to countless samples of Victorian architecture and iron work. The city has an impressive number of intact Tiffany stained-glass windows in their original architectural settings. Many of the buildings are in disrepair, but concerned citizens and community groups and investors are taking a hand in restoring them.

Tragically, as in the case of many American cities, the heart of downtown Troy fell victim to so-called "urban renewal" in the 1970s. The gutting of Troy's business district, which destroyed downtown Troy's vitality, has been a major contributing factor to the city's problems in recent years. Part of the revitalization effort in Troy has been the establishment (and some would say success) of its "Antique District," which is located on River Street in downtown Troy.

Notable artists born in Troy are the actress Maureen Stapleton and the authors Alice Fulton and Richard Selzer. Notable residents have included Herman Melville, Emma Willard, Russell Sage, and Jane Fonda. Several books by noted author Kurt Vonnegut are set in the fictional city of "Illium", which is modeled on Troy, N.Y.

With a still-intact architectural heritage that is representative of urban settings of the late 19th century, cinematographers have found fertile ground for location filming in the city of Troy. Ironweed, Age of Innocence, Scent of a Woman, The Bostonians, The Emperor’s Club, and The Time Machine (2002 version) are some movies that were filmed in Troy.

The town hosts the Tri-City Valley Cats, a minor-league Class A affiliate of the Houston Astros. The team is a part of the New York-Penn League.

Troy hosts one of America's largest Flag Day parades held in early June, as well as the Uncle Sam parade, which is held on or close to Sam Wilson's birthday, in mid-September.

Troy also hosts the Troy Victorian Stroll, December 4th 2005 marked the 23rd year. The annual holiday event transforms the historic streets of downtown Troy into a magical stage of song, dance, and family enjoyment, attracting more than 15,000 visitors from throughout the Northeast.

Political Structure

The Executive Branch consists of Mayor Harry Tutunjian (Rep.), who defeated Frank LaPosta for the position in November 2003 and began his term January 2004.

Troy's Legislative Branch consists of a City Council. The Council contains 9 elected members, 3 City Council At-Large Representatives and 6 Council District Representatives, with each Representative serving a two-year term. The City Council At-Large Representative who receives the greatest number of votes in the election is designated the City Council President (currently Marjorie Mahar DerGurahian). The Council meets on the first Thursday of every month at 7:00pm in City Hall, in the Council Chambers on the 2nd floor. All meetings are open to the public, and include a public forum period held before official business where citizens can address the Council on all matters directly pertaining to city government.

Current Troy City Council members for period of January 1st 2006 - December 31st 2007: Henry Bauer (At Large; Council President), Carolin Collier (District #6; President ProTem), Marjorie Mahar DerGurahian (At Large), Clement Campana (At Large), Mark Wojcik (District #1), Mark McGrath (District #2), Peter Ryan (District #3), William Dunne (District #4), and Robert Krogh (District #5).

Landmarks

Some famous and interesting portions of Troy include:

• Oakwood Cemetery - Located in North Troy, or Lansingburgh, it is the final resting place of many famous Americans; among them, Civil War Major General George Henry Thomas, known as "The Rock of Chickamauga", and Samuel Wilson, better known as Uncle Sam.
• Forest Park Cemetery - A famed haunted cemetery out Pinewoods Avenue near the Troy Country Club in the nearby town of Brunswick.
• W.H. Frear Department Store
• Burden Ironworks
• The Payne Mansion (known as "The Castle") at 49 2nd Street
• Russell Sage College - Liberal Arts college for women.
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Oldest technological institute in the English-speaking world.
• Chapel + Cultural Center at Rensselaer - Unique multipurpose performing arts and religious center.
• Hudson Valley Community College - Ranked as one of the Top 100 two-year colleges in the nation by Community College Week in 2004.
• Houston Field House - Hosts various concert events and RPI Hockey.
• Emma Willard School - Oldest secondary school for girls in the United States.
• Frear Park
• Prospect Park
• Troy Savings Bank Music Hall - World renowned for being "an acoustic marvel."
• Washington Street
• Troy Public Library
• St. Peter's Church

External links

• A review of Troy by the New York Times
• City of Troy Website
• Troy Visitor Center
• Rensselaer County Online
• Rensselaer County Travel and Tourism
• Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Rensselaer County Economic Development
• Rensselaer County Historical Society
• Oakwood Cemetery
• Meneely Bell Online
• Early history of Troy, NY
• AOL. [{{{url}}} "Troy, New York"] (Map). Mapquest. AOL. {{cite map}}: Check |url= value (help)