Historical Maps of New York State

The United States of America was formed as a sovereign country in the 18th century by 13 British Colonies on the eastern side of North America. The present territory of the State of New York was inhabited by Native American tribes in the 16th century, followed by Dutch colonization in the 17th century. The Dutch colony was called New Netherland and renamed New York after the British takeover in 1664. New York became the 11th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1788. The first state capital was Kingston, later moved to Albany.

Since the early settlements in the 17th century, the New York's territory evolved with territorial changes and internal development. Vermont, originally part of New York, seceded and was recognized as a separate state in 1791. Then its borders remained relatively stable with some boundary adjustments later on. The state's development was further shaped by the construction of the Erie Canal, from 1817 to 1825, which facilitated westward expansion and economic growth, railroads in the 19th century and highways in the 20th century.

Today, the state of New York is bounded to the west and north by Lake Erie, the Canadian province of Ontario, Lake Ontario, and the Canadian province of Quebec; to the east by the New England states of Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut; to the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean and New Jersey; and to the south by Pennsylvania. Major features include the Adirondack Mountains, the Catskill Mountains, part of the Appalachian chain, the Hudson River Valley, and the Great Lakes waterfronts.

More: Historical maps of New York City ►

More: Historical Maps of USA ►