Source:  Historical and Statistical Gazetteer of New York State, by J. H. French, Published by R. Pearsall Smith, Syracuse, N.Y., 1860, pp. 488-489

     SYRACUSE - was incorporated as a village in the town of Salina, April 13, 1825, and as a city, Dec 14, 1847. A portion was annexed to De Witt in 1858. It lies in a basin extending south of the head of Onondaga Lake, and upon the ridges immediately east. A low portion, partly marshy, containing more than a square mile, lies upon the lake and is bordered by an abrupt declivity 10 to 30 ft. high. From the summit of this declivity the surface spreads out into an almost perfect flat, on which is built the greater part of the more thickly settled portions of the city. A ridge 100 to 200 ft. high extends through the eastern part. Upon the highlands that surround the city are some of the most beautiful sites for country residences to be found in the State. The city is located in the midst of a rich agricultural region, and near the center of the State. The several canals and railroads that terminate at or pass through this city give to it important commercial advantages. Its local trade is very large. It is largely engaged in manufactures, the principal of which are salt, machinery, beer and barrels. A large trade is carried on with the surrounding country to supply the salt works with wood and barrels, and with Penn. to furnish them with coal. The city is supplied with water by the Syracuse Water Company, from springs and brooks which have their sources in the hills southwest of the city.

     The City Hall is a commodious edifice, on the south side of the canal, fronting Washington St., and containing rooms for the officers of the city government.

     The Public Schools, 13 in number, are under the charge of a Board of Education, consisting of 8 members, of whom 4 are elected annually. In 1858, 61 teachers were employed, -- 7males and 54 females. The whole number of children, between the ages of 4 and 21, was 9,418, of whom 5,258, or 55 percent, attended school during some portion of the year. The total expenses were $34,057.69. The number of volumes in the district libraries was 5,131. The schools are graded, and have a classical department or High School. Few places have bestowed more attention upon common school education; and the schools now rank among the best in the State and country.

     The Onondaga County Orphan Asylum, a city and county institution for the care of orphan and destitute children, is situated upon Fayette St., in the eastern part of the city. It was incorporated, April 10, 1845, and is supported by public appropriation and private donations. The children are well treated, and are amply provided with all the necessaries of life. A school is taught throughout the year. At a proper age, the children are bound out in respectable families.

     The Syracuse Home Association, incorporated in 1853, is an association of ladies for the purpose of systematically visiting the poor, and furnishing a home for indigent and friendless females. It occupies a fine building upon East Fayette St.,, and is in a flourishing condition.

     The New York State Asylum for Idiots is located upon a beautiful site in Geddes, southwest of the city, just outside of the city corporation. Its grounds contain 18 acres, lying upon an eminence overlooking the whole city. The building is a beautiful brick structure, in the Italian style of architecture, and is one of the best arranged and most convenient building of the kind ever constructed. It is under the superintendence of Dr. Hervey B. Wilbur. The average number of inmates is more than 100.

     The Franklin Institute, a literary association, was incorporated under the general law, Dec. 1849. It has a fine library and reading room in Wieting Block, S. Salina St., and it supports an annual course of lectures during the winter. The number of volumes in the library is about 3,000.

     Syracuse Post Office is situated near the center of the old village of Syracuse, south of the Erie Canal. Salina Post Office is situated in the old village of Salina, near the Oswego Canal.

     The Library of the Court of Appeals was formed by act of Legislature, April 9, 1849. It occupies rooms in the courthouse, and contains 4,500 volumes.

      The Office of the Superintendent of the Salt Springs, on N. Salina St., is a fine building of cut stone.

      The State Amory is a fine building, in Regimental Park, near Onondaga Creek. It was built in 1858, from a design by H. N. White.

     The city also contains a Commercial College, 2 private seminaries, a classical school, a boarding school for boys, a large number of Masonic, Odd Fellows, and Sons of Malta lodges, a City Tract Society, a Bible Society, a Fugitive Aid Society, a Musical Institute, a German Tunverein, 11 banks of issue, 2 savings banks, 28 churches, and a large number of beautiful and costly private residences. Its hotels and public halls rank among the best in the State.

     The first settlement in the city and county was made by Ephraim Webster, an Indian trader, who located near the mouth of Onondaga Creek in 1787. In 1788 or 1789, John Danforth, who came into the county soon after his brother Asa, located at “Salt “Point” and commenced the manufacture of salt. The settlement at this place increased with great rapidity, in consequence of the prospective value of the salt springs. It took the name of  “Salina” and speedily became the most important place in the county, --  a superiority which it maintained for many years. The first settlers within the limits of the old village of Syracuse, after Webster, the Indian trader, were ----  Hopkins, in 1797, and ---- Butler, in 1799. Calvin Jackson settled in 1800, and several others before 1805. The ground being low and marshy, the settlement did not progress rapidly for many years. The first great impulse to its growth was given by the location of the canal in 1817 and its completion in 1825. In 1829, when the courthouse was removed from Onondaga Hill, Salina and Syracuse were nearly equal in population, and the courthouse was placed about midway between the two villages. Since that time, however, the growth of Syracuse has been rapid and nearly uniform. In 1847, it completely absorbed its old rival, Salina, the two villages and Lodi at that time being incorporated and forming the city of Syracuse. The prosperity of the place has been based principally upon the salt interests and its commercial advantages. The most notable incidents of the later history of the city are the great gunpowder explosion of Aug. 20, 1841, and the rescue of the slave Jerry from the custody of the U. S. Marshall, Oct. 1, 1851.

1 July 1998