69-708: The Bennington Battlefield is the Rensselaer County, New York , location where the Battle of Bennington occurred on the 16th of August 1777. It is located on New York State Route 67 in Walloomsac, New York , a historic route between Bennington, Vermont and the Hudson River . Here, New Hampshire , Vermont and Massachusetts militia under General John Stark rebuffed a British attempt led by Colonel Friedrich Baum to capture American stores. It
138-551: A de facto Executive. The Board of Supervisors form of government was terminated as a result of a class action lawsuit brought by Troy attorney Marvin I. Honig on behalf of his wife, Nedda, during March 1968. Mr. Honig brought this lawsuit to declare that the Board of Supervisors, as constituted, violated the "one man, one vote" principal declared by the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Honig's motive in bringing
207-497: A jeweler and diamond merchant. At the time, the gem trade was a prosperous enterprise to join, being a well-developed craft. In those days, the diamond trade was nearly always combined with the trade in pearls , other articles of luxury, and rarities of every description. Dutch jewelers found a ready market for their valuable wares at the Dutch imperial court and the smaller German courts. This realm of work promoted Van Rensselaer to
276-528: A favorable report. They had selected an extensive domain on both sides of the North River in the vicinity of Fort Orange for Van Rensselaer, which extended 24 miles (39 km) in length, 40 miles (64 km) in breadth and covered an area of almost 1,000 square miles (2,600 km ). The location relative to the fort was chosen with care — in case of danger, it would be a sure point of defense or retreat, and its garrison would be very likely to intimidate
345-481: A female householder with no husband present, and 34.80% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.02. In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 29.10% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
414-666: A jewel merchant came about due to trade made possible by the Dutch East India Company . The practical spirit of the Dutch merchant could not fail to recognize that the way to riches was through trade with the West Indies and Africa . During the Twelve Years' Truce , Dutch merchants had sailed unmolested to the West Indies but also received no letters of marque to take prizes from the enemy. Before
483-509: A life of economic success. Much of Van Rensselaer's early life is unknown to today's historians, though in March 1608 it has been recorded that he was taking care of some business of Van Bijler in Prague . It seems Van Bijler gradually retired from his business, leaving it in the control of Van Rensselaer. During his tenure at the helm of his uncle's business, Van Rensselaer proposed a merger with
552-610: A marked effect on the history of the United States. The American Van Rensselaers all descend from Kiliaen's son Jeremias and the subsequent Van Rensselaer family is noted for being a very powerful and wealthy influence in the history of New York and the Northeastern United States , producing multiple State Legislators , Congressmen , and two Lieutenant Governors in New York. Kiliaen van Rensselaer
621-669: A special patent by Queen Anne to confirm the patroon's fiefdom upon British takeover of the area. The end of the manor came with the Anti-Rent War , when many tenants rose against the successors of Stephen Van Rensselaer III (who had died in 1839), having much influence on the Legislature elections of the time, and eventually intimidating the Van Rensselaer family enough to sell off most of its holdings. The family records, many of which were translated and published in
690-482: A surprise attack. Baum's forces were eventually routed, and he was slain. Hessian reinforcements arrived near the end of the first phase of the battle, and were eventually also put to chase, with the battlefield extending as far as a mile further down the river valley. The battle was a serious blow to the campaign of British General John Burgoyne depriving him of a needed supplies and a significant portion of his army as he made his push toward Albany, New York . and set
759-483: A time when Dutch directors opposed the patroons in every way. In 1634 he collaborated with Michael Reyniersz Pauw , the patroon of Pavonia on shipping cattle. With that, Van Rensselaer shipped out 37 immigrants on his ship Rensselaerswijck from Amsterdam on 26 September 1636. The vessel arrived on 7 April 1637. The population rose to more than 100 by 1642 and doubled that in the next ten years. The village of Beverwyck alone had more than 1000 inhabitants by 1660 and
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#1732787834284828-657: A wilderness, its slow success was hardly sufficient to create much excitement among the directors of the West India Company. Within a few years, the Company realized that special measures which would afford a stimulus to colonization were indispensable. It was for these reasons that the Company proposed the Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions , which the States General ratified on 7 June 1629. This document
897-1009: Is Steve McLaughlin (R). Legislative authority is vested in the County Legislature, which consists of 19 members representing 17 different communities, separated into six districts. The current composition of the Legislature is as follows (ten Republicans, six Democrats, two Conservatives who caucus with the Republicans, and one Independent who caucuses with the Republicans): District 1 – City of Troy : District 2 – East Greenbush , North Greenbush , and Poestenkill : District 3 – Brunswick , Pittstown , and Schaghticoke : District 4 – Nassau , Sand Lake , and Schodack : District 5 – Berlin , Grafton , Hoosick , Hoosick Falls , Petersburgh , and Stephentown : District 6 – City of Rensselaer : As of 2021
966-672: Is conspicuously identified with all its measures of policy, including the original settlement of Manhattan Island , New Amsterdam . Kiliaen van Rensselaer (1630–1640s) Various (1640s–1652) Jan Baptist van Rensselaer (1652–1658) Jeremias van Rensselaer (1658–1674) Kiliaen van Rensselaer (1674–1687) Kiliaen van Rensselaer (1687–1719) Jeremias van Rensselaer (1719–1745) Stephen van Rensselaer I (1745–1747) Stephen van Rensselaer II (1747–1769) Abraham Ten Broeck (1769–1784, de facto) Stephen van Rensselaer III (1784–1839) Unfortunately for
1035-501: Is said to have become urban by this point. The good understanding between the patroons of the Amsterdam Chamber left nothing to be desired; Burgh, Godyn, Blommaert, and Van Rensselaer, before signifying to the directors their willingness to start colonies, made an agreement to work the projected colonies on joint account, each under the direction of one of them. Three of them would have a one-fifth share in each colony, while
1104-561: The Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts , reveal the personality of the man who figures prominently in the history of colonization as the founder of the only successful patroonship that ever existed in New Netherland. But beyond the fact that he managed this patroonship and that he was a merchant and director of the West India Company, practically nothing was known until the organization and translation of
1173-577: The Dutch and British colonial era and the American Revolution as a legal entity until the 1840s. Eventually, that came to an end during the Anti-Rent War . Van Rensselaer was the son of Hendrick Wolter van Rensselaer, a soldier from Nijkerk in the States army of the duke of Upper Saxony , and Maria Pafraet, descendant of a well-known printers' dynasty. To keep from risking his life in
1242-521: The Eighty Years' War began, people realized that the West Indies trade might bring great prosperity to the country and that more power might be developed against Spain . Rather than travel to the area singly on an armed ship or in the company of a few other vessels, traders could do business in the manner of the large and prosperous East India Company. A company for carrying on commerce in the West Indies and Africa could be organized, which might, like
1311-797: The New York – Vermont and New York – Massachusetts borders. The terrain runs from level and flat near the Hudson and then rises into the Rensselaer Plateau around Poestenkill and Sand Lake , then to the Taconic Mountains along the Massachusetts state line. The highest point is Berlin Mountain , 2,818 feet (859 m) above sea level, in the town of Berlin. The lowest point is 62 feet (19 m) above sea level at
1380-591: The Vermont or Massachusetts state borders. Below is a table that shows the districts within the county, which BOCES they belong to, and which other counties they may serve. The county is also home to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute , the oldest operating technological college in America. Kiliaen van Rensselaer (Dutch merchant) Kiliaen van Rensselaer ( Dutch pronunciation: [ˈkɪlijaːɱ vɑn ˈrɛnsəlaːr] ; 1586 – buried 7 October 1643)
1449-577: The land in the area . The county is part of the Capital District region of the state. Rensselaer County is part of the Albany - Schenectady -Troy, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area . The area that is now Rensselaer County was inhabited by the Algonquian -speaking Mohican Indian tribe at the time of European encounter. Kiliaen van Rensselaer , a Dutch jeweler and merchant, purchased
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#17327878342841518-468: The poverty line , including 11.90% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over. From 1884 through the 1988 campaign , voters in Rensselaer County chiefly supported the Republican candidate. Donald Trump carried the county in 2016 . Beginning in 1791, Rensselaer County was governed by a Board of Supervisors, which acted as the Legislature , with the chairman of the board serving as
1587-466: The Hudson River's southernmost extent in the county. The Hoosic River , a tributary of the Hudson River , is in the northern part of the county. Depending on precise location within the county, road travel distance to New York City ranges between 132 and 178 miles (212 and 286 km). As of the census of 2010, there were 159,429 people, 62,694 households, and 39,989 families residing in
1656-533: The New York-Vermont border, on the north side of the Walloomsac River . The river valley is flanked by a series of hills with steeply ridged sides. The state historic site encompasses the top of one of these hills as well as some of its surrounding terrain; it is at this site that some of the most concentrated fighting took place. The modern Route 67 no longer exactly follows the alignment of
1725-581: The Rensselaer County Legislature was created, which elected Edward J. "Ned" Quinn as chairman. The chairman served as the equivalent to an executive until the office of County Executive was created in 1972. Since its creation, Democrats have never won the office, although they controlled the Legislature until 1994. One notable candidate for Executive was Edward Pattison who was later elected to Congress, and whose son Mark served two terms as Mayor of Troy . The current county executive
1794-474: The Rensselaer School. It is now a world-renowned technical and engineering school. Notably, at the time of his death, Stephen III was worth about $ 10 million (about $ 88 billion in 2007 dollars) and is noted as being the tenth-richest American in history. Rensselaerswyck continued as a legal entity until the mid-1840s, having survived Dutch and British colonial times, even being given
1863-496: The Revolution, in 1791, when it was created from an area that was originally part of the very large Albany County . In 1807, in a county re-organization, the rural sections of Troy were set off as Towns, and the city was incorporated. The two towns created were Brunswick (named for Duke Friedrich Wilhelm of Braunschweig-Lüneburg ) and Grafton (named for Henry FitzRoy, 5th Duke of Grafton ). A third town, Philipstown,
1932-545: The West India Company in Fort Orange, Sebastiaen Jansen Krol and Dirk Cornelisz Duyster, specially empowered by writing of 12 January 1630, purchased a large tract of land on the west side of the North River (today's Hudson). Gillis Houset, one of the men initially sent to determine a settlement location, increased this territory in August by adding tracts of land on the east bank, located above and below Fort Orange. After
2001-421: The West India Company, the infant colony of New Netherland languished. The Dutch Republic was economically thriving, causing the cautious Dutch people to show very little inclination to emigrate to wild and uncultivated lands in which no substantial inducements were present. While the economic situation of the colony in the late 1620s could be considered a relatively good showing for a colony only newly started in
2070-469: The area in 1630 and incorporated it in his patroonship Rensselaerswyck . (It was part of the Dutch colony New Netherland ). The land passed into English rule in 1664; the Dutch regained control in 1673, but the English took it back in 1674. Until 1776, the year of American independence , the county was under English or British control. The county was not organized as a legal entity until after
2139-518: The army like his father, he apprenticed under his uncle, a successful Amsterdam jeweler. He too became a successful jeweler and was one of the first subscribers to the Dutch West India Company upon its conception. The concept of patroonships may have been Kiliaen van Rensselaer's; he was likely the leading proponent of the Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions , the document that established the patroon system. His patroonship became
Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site - Misplaced Pages Continue
2208-486: The battlefield landscape. Prior to the Battle of Bennington, British troops (mainly Hessians) under the command of Colonel Baum occupied this particular hilltop, with additional detachments guarding the bridge, the ridge on the south side of the river, and a stream crossing north of the river and east of the hill. The American troops led by General Stark were able to reconnoiter these positions and sneak up on them, executing
2277-410: The country with agriculture: that must be our first step," was his urgent advice. The Company was not inclined to involve itself in further expense for colonization, and matters threatened to come to a halt, when someone — very likely Van Rensselaer himself — evolved the plan of granting large estates to men willing to pay the cost of settling and operating them. Van Rensselaer was quick to take part in
2346-402: The county. The population density was 233 inhabitants per square mile (90/km ). There were 69,120 housing units at an average density of 109 units per square mile (42/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 88.73% White , 7.14% Black or African American , 0.23% Native American , 1.71% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 0.89% from other races , and 1.34% from two or more races. 5.01% of
2415-416: The current sheriff is Patrick A. Russo. Notably, Russo was the only sheriff in the state to embrace Immigration and Nationality Act Section 287(g) , which authorizes local and county law enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants. The county is serviced by 16 school districts. Some are completely contained in the county while some cross county lines into other counties. No school districts cross either
2484-499: The family has produced numerous New York State Assemblymen and Senators , two Lieutenant Governors of New York , and five Congressmen from New York between 1789 and 1842. Van Rensselaer is also the source of the names of the town of Rensselaerville , city of Rensselaer , and county of Rensselaer in upstate New York . Additionally, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy was founded in 1824 by Stephen Van Rensselaer III as
2553-460: The firm of Jan van Wely, son of one of Van Bijler's sisters, who had an equally successful jewelry business. The firms combined under the name of Jan van Wely & Co. in February 1614. Van Rensselaer's name was not included in the name of the new company, since he contributed only one eighth of the investment capital , whereas van Wely contributed half (192,000 guilders ). In 1616, van Wely
2622-617: The five Chambers ), the Charter called for a board of directors comprising nineteen members of the five Chambers. Van Rensselaer was chosen a member of this College of XIX, as it was called. It is said that care was exercised in the selection of the directors of each chamber, and only men of wealth and the highest known integrity were eligible for the trust. Van Rensselaer was apparently known as an unusually clear-headed man and an able and practical merchant who did not limit himself to his own branch of trade. These qualities presumably garnered
2691-406: The fourth would receive the remaining two fifths, taking the responsibility for its management and exercising patroon rights. Only Rensselaerswyck was a successful patroonship. Van Rensselaer successively purchased Godyn's share in the patroonship from his heirs, so that van Rensselaer soon became the owner of three-fifths. The two other shares remained partly in the hands of Blommaert and partly in
2760-530: The hands of others: Adam Bessels owning Blommaert's fifth, while Johannes de Laet and Toussaint Muyssaert split Burgh's fifth between them. Letters saved by the Van Rensselaer family show that Kiliaen van Rensselaer never visited his colony in person. Van Rensselaer was married twice, first to his cousin Hillegonda van Bijler, on 23 July 1616. As the sole heir of her father Wolfert van Bijler (or Byllaer), she inherited 12,000 guilders. Hillegonda van Bijler
2829-465: The initial expansion, the territory was later further extended by deeds of purchase in May 1631 and April 1637. The most troublesome aspect of settling the patroonships was enlisting the required number of colonists, resulting in the failure of many that were proposed. The patroons still dealt with the issues of a cautious people not caring to venture to an undeveloped world. As an owner of extensive lands in
Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site - Misplaced Pages Continue
2898-703: The lawsuit was to punish the Rensselaer County Republican Party chairman and certain members of the Board of Supervisors for defaulting on an agreement with him. The NY Supreme Court ruled in Honig's favor, and ordered the creation of a legislative body. Several plans were offered, but a plan proposed by Honig was adopted by the Court, and its decision was affirmed by the Appellate Division and Court of Appeals. The first "Honig Plan"
2967-502: The most successful to exist, making full use of his business tactics and advantages, such as his connection to the Director of New Netherland , his confidantes at the West India Company, and his extended family members who were eager to immigrate to a better place to farm. Van Rensselaer married twice and had at least eleven children. When he died some time after 1642, two succeeded him as patroons of Rensselaerswyck . Van Rensselaer had
3036-414: The natives. In this manner Van Rensselaer employed the troops of the Company more or less as coadjutors to his colonizing plans. Furthermore, the fort would become an easily reached marketplace for the colonists, where they could maintain communication with the outside world. For that reason, Van Rensselaer diligently maintained friendly relations with the commander of the garrison and the authorities within
3105-494: The new endeavor: on 13 January 1629, he sent notification to the Directors of the Company that he, in conjunction with fellow Company members Samuel Godin and Samuel Blommaert , had sent Gillis Houset and Jacob Jansz Cuyper to determine satisfactory locations for settlement. This took place even before the Charter was ratified, but was done in accordance with a draft of the Charter from 28 March 1628. The agents had sent out
3174-496: The patroons were able to own the land and pass it to succeeding generations as a perpetual fiefdom , as well as receive protection and free African slaves from the Company. It is believed that the system of patroonships was originally suggested by Van Rensselaer himself. He was reportedly one of the first of the Company to perceive that the building up of New Netherland could not be carried on without labor, and that labor could not be procured without permanent settlers. "Open up
3243-446: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.3% were of Irish , 14.7% Italian , 12.8% German , 7.5% English , 6.2% French , 5.3% American and 2.3% Puerto Rican ancestry according to Census 2010 . 95.4% spoke English and 2.7% Spanish as their first language. There were 61,094 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.80% were married couples living together, 12.00% had
3312-420: The road in 1777, but a bridge crossing on a nearby secondary street is believed to be located near a key crossing site at the time. Most of the hillside terrain is now wooded, while portions of the river floodplain are in agricultural use (as they were in 1777), and the hilltop of the state historic site has been cleared. A 19th-century railroad right-of-way, also following the river, is a significant intrusion on
3381-596: The salt trade from the charter. This barrier was overcome in a later amendment to the Charter, and the subscription rate increased. With a capital of seven million florins , the West India Company was granted exclusive authority and trade privileges in the Dutch possessions of the two Americas, as well as the coast of Africa from the Tropic of Cancer to the Cape of Good Hope . The objects of its creation were to establish an efficient and aggressive Atlantic maritime power in
3450-561: The sandy Gooi and of family estates in the not much more fruitful Veluwe , where several relatives were landowners and struggled to subsist on meager means, Van Rensselaer had an advantage — his agents needed to employ little persuasion to induce some Gooiers and Veluwers to migrate to more fruitful regions where the farming would be less difficult. In addition, he could depend on the indirect support of his nephew Wouter van Twiller , who had been appointed Director of New Netherland in 1632, and with whom he engaged in friendly correspondence at
3519-616: The sister company, act as the war-waging power in those parts and be supported by the treasury, ships, and troops of the United Netherlands . After long years of preparation, the Charter of the Dutch West India Company was granted by the States General on 3 June 1621, and the subscription list was opened. It is known that subscriptions did not come in very rapidly at first due to the exclusion of
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#17327878342843588-405: The stage for his subsequent surrender at Saratoga . Rensselaer County, New York Rensselaer County / r ɛ n s ə ˈ l ɪər / ren-sə- LEER is a county in the U.S. state of New York . As of the 2020 census , the population was 161,130. Its county seat is Troy . The county is named in honor of the family of Kiliaen van Rensselaer , the original Dutch owner of
3657-488: The struggle with Spain, as well as to colonize, develop, and rule the Dutch American dependencies — particularly New Netherland (the modern states of New York and New Jersey ), discovered by Henry Hudson in 1609. Van Rensselaer was one of the first subscribers to the West India Company. As with the other subscribers, he contributed 6000 guilders to be a member of one of its chambers. Having paid his way, he
3726-507: The trust needed to be elected to the College of XIX. In its role supporting colonization of New Netherland, the West India Company had an executive board of nine members from the College of XIX to manage the concerns of their colony. Van Rensselaer was also a member of this group. In the early career of the Company, he was one of its mainstays, placing several of his vessels at its disposal and twice advancing money to save its credit. His name
3795-516: The walls. His first act was to obtain possession of the land for his colony from the Mohican , the original owners, who had never been willing to sell their territory — not even the ground of Fort Orange. However, after they had been involved in a bloody war with their neighbors, the Mohawks , and were defeated in 1629, they were found ready to dispose of their possessions. In April, two officers of
3864-489: Was baptized on 4 September 1625. Maria, their last child, was buried on 4 January 1627. She died as an infant. Hillegonda van Bijler is presumed to have died in late December 1626, since she was buried on 1 January 1627, three days before her third child Maria. She was around the age of 28 and the couple had been married less than eleven years. Van Rensselaer re-married on 14 December 1627, to Anna van Wely, daughter of Van Rensselaer's former business partner. Van Wely
3933-413: Was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 42,905, and the median income for a family was $ 52,864. Males had a median income of $ 36,666 versus $ 28,153 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 21,095. About 6.70% of families and 9.50% of the population were below
4002-453: Was a Dutch diamond and pearl merchant from Amsterdam who was one of the founders and directors of the Dutch West India Company , being instrumental in the establishment of New Netherland . He was one of the first patroons , but the only one to become successful. He founded the Manor of Rensselaerswyck in what is now mainly New York 's Capital District . His estate remained throughout
4071-533: Was affirmed by the Appellate Division and the Court of Appeals. The Republican candidates won back the County Legislature in the 1971 election, and Honig became the Renssselaer County Attorney, a position he held for well over a decade. A full explanation of the creation of the Rensselaer County Legislature can be found at http://nassau-stories.blogspot.com/2006/04/reapportionment.html . See also: The Troy Record, July 8, 1971, page 1. In 1970,
4140-506: Was born around 1598, making her near the age of 18 at the time of her marriage to Van Rensselaer. The same year, the young husband purchased a couple of lots on the east side of the recently dug Keizersgracht in Amsterdam, between Marten and Wolven streets, where he built a house. Van Rensselaer and Van Bijler had three children. The first was Hendrick, Kiliaen's first son, believed to have died in childhood. Johan , their second son,
4209-455: Was born around 1601, making her about 26 at the time of the marriage. The couple had eight children between 1629 and 1639, four boys and four girls: Van Wely outlived her husband, having died in Amsterdam in 1670. Little is known about Van Rensselaer's death, and sources even disagree on the year. Van Rensselaer was interred in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam. His memorial stone states he
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#17327878342844278-516: Was born in Hasselt , Overijssel , Netherlands in 1586. The exact day of his birth is unknown. He was the son of Hendrick van Rensselaer and Maria Pafraet . His father was a captain in the Dutch army until his death at the siege of Ostend in early June 1602. With his father usually not home (and eventually meeting his death) because of a military career, Van Rensselaer's mother sent him to apprentice with his uncle, Wolfert van Bijler,
4347-410: Was buried in the church on 7 October 1643. Van Rensselaer's son Jeremias was the sole ancestor of the entire Van Rensselaer family in America, and only because of Kiliaen's purchase and development of the land in New Netherland. Included in the subsequent family tree is a very powerful and wealthy group of individuals over the course of American history . Within the paternal (Van Rensselaer) lineage,
4416-621: Was called on by Prince Maurice to meet at The Hague for a sale in jewels. He was murdered while waiting to meet with the Prince. The firm's contract stipulated that at the death of Jan van Wely, the remaining members of the firm should continue the partnership for another six years. Van Wely's murder, therefore, caused no change in the business, but it seems that at the expiration of that time, Van Rensselaer began again on his own account, founding Kiliaen van Rensselaer & Co. with partner Jacques I'Hermite . Some of Van Rensselaer's success as
4485-471: Was created to encourage settlement of New Netherland through the establishment of feudal patroonships purchased and supplied by members of the West India Company. With a total of 31 articles, the document spells out many requirements of these patroons, primarily stating that each patroon was required to purchase the land from the local Indians, and inhabit the land with 50 adults within four years, with at least one quarter arriving within one year. In return,
4554-582: Was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961. A portion of the battlefield is preserved in the Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site . The American Battlefield Trust and its partners have acquired and preserved more than 23 acres of the battlefield not already part of the state historic site. The main portion of the Bennington Battlefield is located about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west of
4623-554: Was drawn to favor the Democratic party, which had not had control of the county government in decades. That plan, which controlled the 1969 election, resulted in the Democrats winning control of the new Rensselaer County Legislature. Thereafter, following a change of leadership in the Republican party, Honig brought a new plan, drawn to favor Republican candidates, to the court, which adopted his revised plan. The second "Honig Plan"
4692-416: Was set off in 1806. In 1808, it was renamed Nassau after the duke of that area . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 665 square miles (1,720 km ), of which 652 square miles (1,690 km ) is land and 13 square miles (34 km ) (1.9%) is water. Rensselaer County is located in the far eastern part of New York State. The eastern boundary of the county runs along
4761-476: Was welcomed to the Chamber of Amsterdam, one of five Chambers of the West India Company, each located in a principal Dutch city. The Chamber of Amsterdam was the largest with twenty members, mainly due to the city's population, and represented four ninths of the management of the West India Company. Due to the practical limitations of meetings with 74 members on a regular basis (the total number of members from
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