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The construction of the Erie Canal began in '''''1817''''' and in 1819 the first 15-mile (24 km) section, Rome to Utica opened. As more Irish laborers arrived the pace of construction picked up and overcame significant barriers. For example, during summer construction in a marsh, 1,000 workers died of swamp fever, so survivors were moved to another part of the canal until winter when it was safer to work in the frozen marsh. Sections of the canal opened as follows: | The construction of the Erie Canal began in '''''1817''''' and in 1819 the first 15-mile (24 km) section, Rome to Utica opened. As more Irish laborers arrived the pace of construction picked up and overcame significant barriers. For example, during summer construction in a marsh, 1,000 workers died of swamp fever, so survivors were moved to another part of the canal until winter when it was safer to work in the frozen marsh. Sections of the canal opened as follows: | ||
* 1819 Rome to Utica | *1819 Rome to Utica | ||
* 1820 Utica to Syracuse | *1820 Utica to Syracuse | ||
* 1823 Brockport to Albany ([[Champlain_Canal]] connecting the Hudson River to Lake Champlain was completed at the same time) | *1823 Brockport to Albany ([[Champlain_Canal]] connecting the Hudson River to Lake Champlain was completed at the same time) | ||
* 1824 Lockport locks | *1824 Lockport locks | ||
* 1825 Onondago Ridge finishing the entire canal. | *1825 Onondago Ridge finishing the entire canal. | ||
The Erie Canal contributed to the wealth and importance of New York City, Buffalo, and New York State. It increased trade throughout the nation by opening eastern and overseas markets to Midwestern farm products and enabling migration to the West. New ethnic Irish communities formed in towns along the canal, as Irish immigrants were a large portion of labor force involved in its construction.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal Erie Canal] in Wikipedia: ''The Free Encyclopedia'' (accessed 15 April 2011).</ref> | The Erie Canal contributed to the wealth and importance of New York City, Buffalo, and New York State. It increased trade throughout the nation by opening eastern and overseas markets to Midwestern farm products and enabling migration to the West. New ethnic Irish communities formed in towns along the canal, as Irish immigrants were a large portion of labor force involved in its construction.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal Erie Canal] in Wikipedia: ''The Free Encyclopedia'' (accessed 15 April 2011).</ref> | ||
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==Settlers and Records== | ==Settlers and Records== | ||
Because so many immigrants traveled on the canal, many genealogists would like to find copies of canal passenger lists. Unfortunately, apart from the years 1827-1829, canal boat operators were not required to record or report passenger names to the New York State government. Those 1827-1829 passenger lists survive today in the New York State Archives.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal Erie Canal] in ''Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia'' (accessed 15 April 2011).</ref> | Because so many immigrants traveled on the canal, many genealogists would like to find copies of canal passenger lists. Unfortunately, apart from the years 1827-1829, canal boat operators were not required to record or report passenger names to the New York State government. Those 1827-1829 passenger lists survive today in the New York State Archives.<ref name=":0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal Erie Canal] in ''Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia'' (accessed 15 April 2011).</ref> | ||
Prior to the building of the Erie Canal the settlers in upstate [[New York Genealogy|New York]] were often from New England, especially [[Vermont Genealogy|Vermont]]. Once the Canal was finished, setters along the canal and farther west into [[Ohio Genealogy|Ohio]] would have reached the Erie Canal from [[New York City, New York|New York City]], or from along the Hudson River in New York, or from Vermont via the [[Champlain Canal|Champlain Canal]]. Most of the men who labored to build the Erie Canal were from [[Ireland Genealogy|Ireland]] and many of them settled near it. | Prior to the building of the Erie Canal the settlers in upstate [[New York Genealogy|New York]] were often from New England, especially [[Vermont Genealogy|Vermont]]. Once the Canal was finished, setters along the canal and farther west into [[Ohio Genealogy|Ohio]] would have reached the Erie Canal from [[New York City, New York|New York City]], or from along the Hudson River in New York, or from Vermont via the [[Champlain Canal|Champlain Canal]]. Most of the men who labored to build the Erie Canal were from [[Ireland Genealogy|Ireland]] and many of them settled near it. | ||
==Internet Links== | ==Internet Links<ref name=":0" />== | ||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal Erie Canal] in Wikipedia | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal Erie Canal] in Wikipedia | ||