by Town Historian Al Dumas
Last month, I shared the origins of Monticello’s name. Now, I’m highlighting the history of how counties in New York were named…
When New York State was in its infancy in the 1680s, the governing body back in England decided to create counties that were in the Province of New York. On November 1st, 1683, there were 12 counties formed with very well-known names that reference people, titles, and places back in England. These original counties were called: Albany, Cornwall, Dukes, Dutchess, Kings, New York, Orange, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk, Ulster and Westchester.
Today, 340 years later, there are now 62 counties that make up the State Of New York. As you may have noticed, many of the original counties are still in New York today – at least in name, although many of the borders have changed as I will share…
Cornwall and Dukes County are now part of Massachusetts. A vast portion of Albany County went to the State of Vermont. The other counties remain in the upper Hudson and lower Mohawk Valley.
In the process of future counties being formed from the original ones, Sullivan County was carved out of Ulster County on 27 March, 1809. Sullivan County was named for General John Sullivan, an officer of the Revolutionary War under General George Washington, who helped lead the charge in the battle of Trenton on December 26th, 1776. General Sullivan was Governor of New Hampshire, where he was a native of, born in 1740 and died in 1795.
Another interesting fact as the counties of New York were formed is the fact that Monticello was located in Ulster County before Sullivan County was created in 1809. The Town of Thompson was formed the year before Monticello from the Town of Mamakating, in April of 1803.
If you found this piece of history interesting, please let me know what other history facts you would like me to share!