History

In the 16th century the area was occupied by Algonquin tribes.Italian Giovanni da Verzanno was the first European who enter the New York Bay(1524).L0ater the bridge between Brooklyn and Staten Island was named after him.But the first man who sailed up the river was Englishman Henry Hudson(1609).The river is named after him.New Amsterdam was founded by the Dutch(1624) and the island was bought from Indians for goods worth 24 dollars(1626).New Amsterdam´s prosperity was based on sale of skins and tobacco farming.In 1664 New Amsterdam became English colony.Charles II, the king of England, gave this territory to his brother, the Duke of York and this is why the town was renaimed New York.The city expanded and trade diversified.Flour became main colony´s export.After war, in 1789 New York became capital of the United States for two years.In 1797 Albany became the capital of the New York State.As the New York city grew there was realized street plan over the island of Manhattan.At the turn of 20th century the first skyscrapers began to appear.