Great Genesee Road: Difference between revisions
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''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Migration Internal|Migration]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[US Migration Trails and Roads|Trails and Roads]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[New York|New York]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Great_Genesee_Road|Great Genesee Road]]'' | |||
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The '''Great Genesee Road''', | [[Image:Great Genesee map.png|border|right|300px]]The '''Great Genesee Road''', a fork of the "Mohawk Trail," or "Iroquois Trail" was built by New York State to connect [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Schuyler Fort Schuyler] (now [[Utica, New York]]) on the [[Mohawk Trail]] and Mohawk River with Canawaugus (now Caledonia), [[Livingston County, New York]] on the Genesee River in 1794. In 1798 the legislature authorized a road extension to [[Buffalo, New York]] on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Erie Lake Erie]. Another fork also went to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Niagara Fort Niagara] on the border with [[Canada]].<ref name="Rte5">Wikipedia contributors, "New York State Route 5" in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'' at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Route_5 (accessed 28 June 2011).</ref> Each end of the Great Genesee Road connected to other important migration pathways. The length of the road from Utica to Buffalo was 205 miles (330 km). | ||
=== Historical Background === | === Historical Background === | ||
As westward expansion began after the American Revolution, the only central New York pathways west of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Schuyler Fort Schuyler] ([[Utica, New York]]) were rivers and a footpath | As westward expansion began after the American Revolution, the only central New York pathways west of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Schuyler Fort Schuyler] ([[Utica, New York]]) were rivers and a footpath called the [[Mohawk Trail]] or Iroquois Trail. The land companies which began developing large tracts of land for settlement started clamoring for the state to make better roads for their customers.<ref name="Rte5" /> | ||
In 1794 the state | In 1794 the state legilature authorized a road from Fort Schuyler to Canawaugus to help settlers reach the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Military_Tract New Military Tract]. This area was set aside as 500 acres of bounty land to compensate each New York Revolutionary War veteran for his service. The new road followed the route of the old Mohawk Trail. An extension to Buffalo was authorized four years later.<ref name="Rte5" /> | ||
However, the road construction was spotty and in places incomplete. In 1800 the legislature chartered the Seneca Road Company to charge tolls | However, the road construction was spotty and in places incomplete. In 1800 the legislature chartered the Seneca Road Company to charge tolls for improving the road. The road was [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macadam macadamized] to reduce pot holes. High-quality, privately-controlled, toll roads were called turnpikes. This one was completed in 1808 and was called the Seneca Turnpike, 157 miles (253 km) from Utica to Canandaigua, longest such road in New York. In 1805 the western extension to Buffalo transformed from road to turnpike. This Ontario and Genesee Turnpike was completed in 1813. In 1806 the Seneca Road Company began developing a more northerly alternate route through Syracuse. In time this became the more popular route west.<ref name="Rte5" /> | ||
The | The construction of the [[Erie Canal]] in 1825 reduced traffic on the turnpikes. Later railroads also began to compete for traffic. Reduced revenue on the turnpikes made the road companies unprofitable. In 1852 the Seneca Road Company was dissolved and the turnpikes became public roads again.<ref name="Rte5" /> | ||
=== Route === | === Route === | ||
The counties along | The counties along this migration route (east to west) were as follows:<ref>Compare the more northerly route to Fort Niagara in ''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.'' (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 849, [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50140092 WorldCat entry], {{FHL|1049485|item|disp=FHL Book 973 D27e 2002}} with the more southerly route to Buffalo described in Wikipedia contributors, "New York State Route 5" in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'' at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Route_5 (accessed 28 June 2011).</ref> | ||
:*[[Oneida County, New York | :*[[Oneida County, New York|Oneida County]] | ||
:*[[Madison County, New York | :*[[Madison County, New York|Madison County]] | ||
:*[[Onondaga County, New York | :*[[Onondaga County, New York|Onondaga County]] | ||
:*[[Cayuga County, New York | :*[[Cayuga County, New York|Cayuga County]] | ||
:*[[Seneca County, New York | :*[[Seneca County, New York|Seneca County]] | ||
:*[[Ontario County, New York | :*[[Ontario County, New York|Ontario County]] | ||
:*[[Livingston County, New York | :*[[Livingston County, New York|Livingston County]] | ||
:*[[Genesee County, New York | :*[[Genesee County, New York|Genesee County]] | ||
:*[[Erie County, New York | :*[[Erie County, New York|Erie County]] | ||
=== Settlers and Records === | === Settlers and Records === | ||
a | |||
=== External Links === | === External Links === | ||
* | * | ||
=== | === References === | ||
{{reflist}} | |||
{{New York|New York}} | |||
[[Category:Migration_Routes]] [[Category:US_Migration_Trails_and_Roads]] [[Category:New_York]] [[Category:Oneida_County,_New_York]] [[Category:Madison_County,_New_York]] [[Category:Onondaga_County,_New_York]] [[Category:Cayuga_County,_New_York]] [[Category:Seneca_County,_New_York]] [[Category:Ontario_County,_New_York]] [[Category:Livingston_County,_New_York]] [[Category:Genesee_County,_New_York]] [[Category:Erie_County,_New_York]] | |||
[[Category:Migration_Routes]] [[Category:US_Migration_Trails_and_Roads]] [[Category: | |||
Revision as of 07:44, 29 June 2011
United States 
Migration Trails and Roads New York Great Genesee Road
The Great Genesee Road, a fork of the "Mohawk Trail," or "Iroquois Trail" was built by New York State to connect Fort Schuyler (now Utica, New York) on the Mohawk Trail and Mohawk River with Canawaugus (now Caledonia), Livingston County, New York on the Genesee River in 1794. In 1798 the legislature authorized a road extension to Buffalo, New York on Lake Erie. Another fork also went to Fort Niagara on the border with Canada.[1] Each end of the Great Genesee Road connected to other important migration pathways. The length of the road from Utica to Buffalo was 205 miles (330 km).
Historical Background[edit | edit source]
As westward expansion began after the American Revolution, the only central New York pathways west of Fort Schuyler (Utica, New York) were rivers and a footpath called the Mohawk Trail or Iroquois Trail. The land companies which began developing large tracts of land for settlement started clamoring for the state to make better roads for their customers.[1]
In 1794 the state legilature authorized a road from Fort Schuyler to Canawaugus to help settlers reach the New Military Tract. This area was set aside as 500 acres of bounty land to compensate each New York Revolutionary War veteran for his service. The new road followed the route of the old Mohawk Trail. An extension to Buffalo was authorized four years later.[1]
However, the road construction was spotty and in places incomplete. In 1800 the legislature chartered the Seneca Road Company to charge tolls for improving the road. The road was macadamized to reduce pot holes. High-quality, privately-controlled, toll roads were called turnpikes. This one was completed in 1808 and was called the Seneca Turnpike, 157 miles (253 km) from Utica to Canandaigua, longest such road in New York. In 1805 the western extension to Buffalo transformed from road to turnpike. This Ontario and Genesee Turnpike was completed in 1813. In 1806 the Seneca Road Company began developing a more northerly alternate route through Syracuse. In time this became the more popular route west.[1]
The construction of the Erie Canal in 1825 reduced traffic on the turnpikes. Later railroads also began to compete for traffic. Reduced revenue on the turnpikes made the road companies unprofitable. In 1852 the Seneca Road Company was dissolved and the turnpikes became public roads again.[1]
Route[edit | edit source]
The counties along this migration route (east to west) were as follows:[2]
Settlers and Records[edit | edit source]
a
External Links[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Wikipedia contributors, "New York State Route 5" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Route_5 (accessed 28 June 2011).
- ↑ Compare the more northerly route to Fort Niagara in Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 849, WorldCat entry, FHL Book 973 D27e 2002 with the more southerly route to Buffalo described in Wikipedia contributors, "New York State Route 5" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Route_5 (accessed 28 June 2011).