This is a complete history and description of every county, city, town, village, and locality in New York. But more than that it is a record of the founders and early settlers of practically every locality in the state--an astonishing achievement and the reason that the book has remained among the top genealogical reference works for New York State. Information given for each locality includes founding (and founders), early settlements (and settlers), historical sketch to the time of writing, leading institutions, schools and churches, prominent and representative citizens, stories of general and local interest, statistics from state censuses, and names of natural and man-made topographical features. Preceding this core part of the Gazetteer is a full 150-page survey of the government, topography, and institutions of the state of New York.