Troy, New York | |||||
| County | Zip Code | Elevation | Population 1990/2000 | Year of Visit | Major Highways |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rensselaer | 12180 | 37 ft. | 54,269/49,170 | 2001 | US 4 & SR 7 |
The Western entrance to Troy NY on State Route 7 after crossing the Hudson River from Albany. The 'Welcome' sign indicates that Troy is the home of Samuel Wilson who was the original 'Uncle Sam'. We did not enjoy our visit to Troy NY which explains the few pictures. We had difficulty finding the motel which was not as pleasant as advertised. After not sleeping well, we awoke to a rainy morning (not good for picture taking) so we tried to leave town but a traffic accident tied up Route 7 and we had to make our own detour. We were glad to be out of there.A citizen of Troy NY wrote an e-mail to me after reading my comments about her town. Here is what she wrote.
"I am sorry you had such a bad experience in Troy. I grant you Rt. 7 is a mess, but no matter how we the citizens of Troy try to convince the Troy planning and Council this is NOT what we want...it is ignored. Troy really has a lot to see as do the adjoining towns."
Another citizen of Troy NY has less pleasant
things to say about the town.
A rather noninformative view of downtown Troy taken from a negelected monument on the west side of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. RPI has a nice web page devoted to Troy - What is Troy All About.
Another web site about Troy NY is TroyNet.City (1990 pop. 54,269), seat of Rensselaer co., E N.Y., on the east bank of the Hudson River; inc. 1816. It was known especially for its manufacture of collars and shirts. Important products are motor vehicle parts, garden tillers, instruments, and railroad supplies. Henry Hudson explored (1609) the area near Troy, and the site was included in the patroonship given to Kiliaen Van Rensselaer by the Dutch West India Company. The town was laid out in 1786. From 1812 to 1920 it was industrially prosperous and many inventions were made there. During the last 50 years, Troy has suffered from the urban blight of many river towns and has lost a large number of its industries. It is the seat of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Russell Sage College, and the Emma Willard School. Samuel Wilson of Troy, who was concerned with army beef supply in the War of 1812, is said to have been the original Uncle Sam. Many buildings of architectural and historic interest are preserved. Note: Troy was named by a vote of the citizens on January 5, 1789, after the majestic city of the Greek past.
Another claim to fame for Troy NY is that the famous Christmas poem, "A Visit From Saint Nicholas" was first published in the Troy Sentinel on December 23, 1823. There is some controversy about the poem since it was first published anonymously but later was attributed to Clement C. Moore. Some claim that Henry Livingston was the original author but he had died by the time that Moore was given the credit.
