NEW YORK COUNTY, NY HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
*None Listed
New York County (Borough of Manhattan), New York: A Genealogical Overview
Coextensive with the Borough of Manhattan, New York County is the historical, cultural, and economic heart of New York City and one of the most influential centers in the world. Its history began as a Dutch trading post and evolved into a global metropolis, serving as the primary gateway for millions of immigrants to America. Genealogical research here is both incredibly rich and immensely complex, reflecting a population that has been in constant motion for 400 years.
I. County Formation and Evolution
New York County is one of the original twelve counties of the Province of New York.
- 1683: County Formed: New York was established on November 1, 1683.
- Parent Entity: It was formed directly from the lands of the Province of New York.
- Subsequent Formations: Its territory was used to form Bronx County in 1914.
- Name Origin: Named in honor of the Duke of York, the future King James II of England, for whom the city and province were also named.
- County Seat History: The county seat is New York. It served as the first capital of the United States from 1785 to 1790.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: The island of Manhattan (Manna-hatta) was inhabited by the Lenape people.
- Dutch and English Colonial Period: In 1624, the Dutch established the settlement of New Amsterdam at the southern tip of the island. The English seized it in 1664 and renamed it New York. It grew into a major colonial port.
- American Revolution: New York was a center of revolutionary fervor but was captured by the British after the Battle of Long Island in 1776 and remained their military headquarters for the duration of the war.
- Key Historical Events:
- Immigration Gateway: From the 19th century onward, New York was the principal port of entry for millions of immigrants. Castle Garden and later Ellis Island processed arrivals from Ireland, Germany, Italy, Eastern Europe, and around the globe, who settled in ethnic enclaves like the Lower East Side.
- Financial Capital: The establishment of the New York Stock Exchange and the city’s role in trade and commerce made it the undisputed financial capital of the nation and eventually the world.
- Tammany Hall: The city’s politics were famously dominated for decades by the Tammany Hall political machine.
- Skyscraper Era: The city’s physical landscape was transformed by the construction of iconic skyscrapers like the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
- County Courthouse: The New York County Clerk’s Office is located in Manhattan, NY.
- Vital Records:
- Birth, Marriage, and Death Records: Held by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and, for older records, the Municipal Archives. Registration began earlier in New York City than in the rest of the state.
- Essential Records and Archives:
- New York City Municipal Archives: The single most important repository for all official city records, including vital records, census, court, and property records.
- New York Public Library, Milstein Division of US History, Local History and Genealogy: One of the premier genealogical research centers in the world.
- National Archives at New York City (NARA): Holds federal records, including census, immigration (passenger lists), and naturalization records.
- Libraries and Societies:
- New York Genealogical and Biographical Society: The definitive resource for New York family history research.
- The New-York Historical Society: Holds extensive manuscript collections, newspapers, and other materials on the city’s history.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Bronx County (northeast)
- Queens County (east, across the East River)
- Kings County (Brooklyn) (south, across the East River)
- Hudson County, New Jersey (west, across the Hudson River)
- Bergen County, New Jersey (west, across the Hudson River)