TROY, city, is the shire town of the county of Rensselaer, in the state of New-York. It is situate on the east side of the Hudson river, at the termi nation of its tide and navigable waters, one hundred and sixty miles north of the city of New York, and six miles north of the city of Albany. Its chartered limits are bounded north by the village of Lansing burgh, on the east and south by the townships of Brunswick and Greenbush, and on the west by the middle of the Hudson river, which, opposite to the city, varies from 700 to 1400 feet in breadth. These limits extend from south to north about three and a half miles, and from the bank of the river easterly one mile, to which a small additional territory has been added on the south-east.
That part of the city limits which is most popu lous, and now nearly covered with buildings, is si tuate on a nearly level plane, which rises abruptly from the river to the height of about 25 feet, extend ing about one and a half miles in length along the river and about half a mile back. Dock and River streets meander with the river; the other seven north and south streets are straight, and 60 feet broad, with a like number of narrow streets called alleys passing through the middle of each block. These are crossed with other streets at right an gles, extending from the river easterly.
River street is the great street of business. The large stores or warehouses, built on its west side, are mostly of brick or stone, and, being built on the bank or rise from the river, are from four and a half to six and a half stories high on the side adjoining the wharves, and two and a half to three and a half stories on the cast or River street side. On the east side of River street, as also in first, se cond, third, and fourth streets, the houses and stores are mostly handsome modern brick buildings. Among the public buildings entitled to particular notice are St. Paul's church and the city hall or county court house; the latter built in imitation of the ancient temple of Theseus in Greece, and, like its prototype, entirely of marble, excepting the co vering of the roof which is of copper, and excepting also that this has pillars only in front. It is 103 feet long and 60 broad, with side walls 50 feet in height, and for elegance, simplicity, and durability, is strikingly appropriate.
St. Paul's church is built in gothic style, of bush hammered, dark coloured, secondary lime-stone, 113 feet long, 70 broad, with side walls 42 feet high, presenting the appearance of great strength, dura bility, and fine finish.
Troy was divided into six wards, and incorpo rated as a city in 1816. It is governed by a common council, consisting of a mayor, recorder, six alder men and four assistant aldermen, who have power to enact laws for regulating the concerns of the city, to raise moneys by tax, and appoint subordi nate officers. The aldermen and assistants are elected annually by persons qualified to vote; the mayor is elected by the common council, and the re corder is appointed by the governor of the state, with the consent of the senate.
The religious establishments are two Episcopa lian churches; two Presbyterian; one Baptist; one Universalist; one Friends' meeting house; one Me thodist; and one Roman Catholic chapel.
Literature. The literary institutions are, first, a Lancasterian school for the education of children of all denominations and descriptions of persons. Se cond, a high school, for the higher branches of Eng lish education, intended to afford to young men the means of cheap and efficient preparation for col lege, or such as to enable them to dispense with a collegiate education. Thirdly, an infant school for
children under the age of six years. Fourthly, a female seminary, intended exclusively for young ladies in all the higher branches of education. Mrs. Emma Willard, a lady possessing pre-eminent characteristics and qualifications for the station, is the principal preceptress of this school, to whose lahours the city is much indebted for its introduc tion and high standing; for the three years last past the number of pupils have exceeded two hundred. The buildings for the accommodation of these schools are large and comfortable. They were erect ed at the expense of the city, and their general su pervision confided to boards of trustees annually appointed for each respectively by the common coun cil, except the infant school, which is under the con trol of a society of ladies, who, in addition to ap propriations by the city, contribute liberally to its support. Fifthly, the Rensselaer school. This school was established and endowed by the Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer, for the instruction of young men in all the modern arts and sciences, and more especially chemistry and geology, as bearing upon the arts and agriculture. These several schools arc in addition to the common schools es tablished under the general school law of the state, of which there are many, and altogether giving to the rising generation the most ample means of ac quiring useful knowledge.
Manufactories. There are two manufactories of cottons and one of woollens on a large scale; seven merchant mills for flowering; and several rolling, slitting, and nail and spike manufactories, which are also carried on extensively. These, with a pa per mill, oil mill, and several minor concerns, are driven by the waters of the Poestien and Wynants Kills, which fall into the Hudson within the city— which, with several extensive tanneries, three large brewing and malting establishments, two extensive coach and carriage manufactories, coopering shops, hat manufactories, and air furnaces, constitute, se verally, large branches of business, giving employ ment to many hands and much capital.
Commerce. The commerce of Troy, in the ag gregate, has always been on the advance, but more especially so, since the opening of the canals. It has now many importing wholesale merchants, and numerous retail stores. Its commercial connexions extending not only to the countries intermediate, but to the furthermost lakes west and north; from these it rereives wheat and grain of all kinds, flour, pot and pearl ashes, furs, beef, pork, butter, lard, cheese, wool, salt, manufactures of cotton and woollens, flaxseed. whisky, and large quantities of lumber, hoards, planks, timber, shingles, Sc. Sze., and sends them in exchange the manufactures and commodities of this and foreign countries. The transportation of these commodities to and from the port of New York, where most of this trade centers, and to other parts and places, gives em ployment to more than 80 river sloops, averaging about ninety tons each, besides 12 boats of 150 tons each towed by steam. There are also three public banks with extensive capitals in good credit, and one savings bank; two lire insurance companies, and three semi-weekly newspapers.
Population by U.S. census of 1810, 3985 do. by U.S. census of 1820, 5266 do. by State census of 1825, 7859 do. by U.S. census of 1830, 11,587