NEW YORK STATE - A place of immense historical significance and cultural diversity, has an administrative framework that dates back to its earliest days under British rule. In 1683, long before the American Revolution, the Province of New York established its first system of counties, laying the groundwork for the state's modern political geography.
New York's Cornerstones: The Oldest Counties Established in 1683
While the initial act created twelve counties, ten of these remain within the current borders of New York, holding the shared distinction of being the state's oldest counties.
The Province of New York Act of 1683
Following the English takeover of New Netherland from the Dutch in 1664, the British colonial government sought to organize its new territory. _On November 1, 1683, the colonial legislature of the Province of New York passed an act establishing twelve original counties (Source: New York State Archives, Colonial Laws of New York)._ This act was crucial in creating administrative districts for governance, justice, and taxation within the expansive colony.
The Original Twelve (and the Remaining Ten)
The twelve counties initially established in 1683 were:
- Albany
- Cornwall
- Dukes
- Dutchess
- Kings (present-day Brooklyn)
- New York (present-day Manhattan)
- Orange
- Queens
- Richmond (present-day Staten Island)
- Suffolk
- Ulster
- Westchester
However, jurisdictional boundaries shifted. After 1691, Cornwall County (primarily in present-day Maine) and Dukes County (present-day Dukes County, Massachusetts, including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket) were determined to be part of Massachusetts, leaving ten of the original twelve within the Province of New York (Source: New York Historical Society, histories of colonial boundaries).
New York's Ten Oldest Counties
The ten counties established on November 1, 1683, that remain part of New York State today are:
- Albany County: Originally the largest of the twelve, its vast territory included much of present-day northern and western New York and parts of modern Vermont.
- Dutchess County: An area historically significant for the indigenous Wappinger people before extensive Anglo-Dutch settlement began.
- Kings County: Coextensive with the modern borough of Brooklyn.
- New York County: Coextensive with the modern borough of Manhattan.
- Orange County: Located north of New York City.
- Queens County: Coextensive with the modern borough of Queens.
- Richmond County: Coextensive with the modern borough of Staten Island.
- Suffolk County: Encompassing the eastern part of Long Island.
- Ulster County: Located west of the Hudson River.
- Westchester County: Situated just north of New York City.
Legacy and Significance
These ten original counties formed the administrative backbone of colonial New York. They provided the framework for local government, courts, and representation, shaping the region's political development (Source: Studies of colonial New York governance). Over time, their boundaries were altered, and numerous new counties were created from their territories as the population grew and spread. However, they remain the foundational counties of New York State, representing a direct link to its colonial origins under British rule.
Albany, Dutchess, Kings, New York, Orange, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk, Ulster, and Westchester are the oldest counties in New York State, all established on November 1, 1683. Their creation marked a pivotal moment in the organization of the Province of New York and laid the foundation for the state's modern administrative map. Exploring the history of these countries offers a journey back to the earliest days of English rule in New York and the beginnings of the governmental structures that define the Empire State today.
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Sources:
- New York State Archives
- Colonial Laws of New York
- New York Historical Society
- Histories of Colonial Boundaries
- Studies of colonial New York governance
- Respective County Historical Societies
