Location of Our Colony
Our colony is one of the Middle Colonies. Lake Champlain and Canada lie to the north, with Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the south. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire make up our Eastern border. Farther west, you can find Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and the Saint Lawrence River. Our climate consists of bitterly cold winters (especially in the north) and humid summers (mainly near the coastline).
The map to the left displays all 13 colonies, with New York highlighted in green. ♥ |
Physical Features and Natural Resources
Our colony has abundant natural resources that we trade with England and other colonies. We have extensive wheat fields for grain exports, as well as crops like corn, sugar, and tobacco. We grow these in great quantities because of our mineral-rich, fertile soil. We also never throw away crops--coarser produce is used to feed the livestock, which includes cattle and sheep (mainly for beef and wool respectively). Our skilled fur trappers are in partnership with the Iroquois along the Lake Ontario border, and together, they catch hundreds of beaver for a fair-sized export of furs.
Most of our forests are closer to the mountains. They cover thousands of acres of New York, giving us the potential to be able to expand our lumber trade. The Appalachian Mountains span New York from the northeast to the southwest, with multitudes of ranges branching off, one of the more prominent being the Catskills. Our coastline and island provide many opportunities for fishing and whaling. Inter-continental trading posts can also be set up along our natural ports. The Hudson River, one of New York's arterial rivers, is also a good source of seafood, such as clams and oysters. For these reasons, we are known as one of the major Bread Basket Colonies. ♥
Most of our forests are closer to the mountains. They cover thousands of acres of New York, giving us the potential to be able to expand our lumber trade. The Appalachian Mountains span New York from the northeast to the southwest, with multitudes of ranges branching off, one of the more prominent being the Catskills. Our coastline and island provide many opportunities for fishing and whaling. Inter-continental trading posts can also be set up along our natural ports. The Hudson River, one of New York's arterial rivers, is also a good source of seafood, such as clams and oysters. For these reasons, we are known as one of the major Bread Basket Colonies. ♥
Demographics
Our colony houses many representatives of different religions form different countries. While half of the population can trace their family to Dutch origin, we have many French, German, English and Swedish settlers wishing to begin a new life. As far as religion goes, even though the Dutch Reformed Church is prominent in society, New York is known for practicing freedom of religion, hosting religions such as Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant. A small part of the population is made up of African slaves, though not as many live here as in the Southern Colonies--less than 10% of our population is made up of slaves (about 600).
There is also a diverse range of languages spoken in the colony, the most prominent being English, Dutch, French, and Swedish.
Our population in 1664 was approximately 9,000 people and is still growing at a fast rate, thanks to the Duke of York. People are settling down to enjoy the economic growth and quality of life. We also get a steady stream of immigrants from Europe, as well as a slaves from Africa, making up less than 10% of our population. Some of these slaves are traded to our fellow colonies, while others are used by the gentry and some of the more wealthier of the middle class to clear land. We have almost equal proportions of males and females, including children. The men are shipbuilders, cobblers, tradesmen/merchants, shipbuilders, apothecaries, miners, blacksmiths, and farmers. The women mostly stay at home to cook, clean, and make everyday necessities such as clothes.
Reading is extremely important in our colony. Everyone, boy and girl, man and woman, knows to read (except for our slaves). Children, mostly the boys, go to school five days a week, six hours a day, giving them time to learn--and to do their chores. Hard work is valued in our communities, where slacking off is not tolerated. Boys will learn their father's trade in school, while the mothers and older women taught the younger girls about the basics of keeping house.
Everyone holds money, though in different levels. Predictably, most of the money is held by the upper-class and gentry, who came after the conquest of New York by the Duke. When they came, they didn't find a stark land fraught with hardships. The Dutch have already developed as caste system, where merchants were at the top and sailors were at the bottom. Even the farmers who grow our crops are simply renters to the merchants! However, life in New York was still a fair life--not poor, but not too rich. When the gentry came in, they introduced a whole new level of wealth and lifestyle. They own huge plots of land, and are extremely rich. Because of their financial connections and experience in advanced England, they bring advanced ideas to the colony. The gentry population does not compare to places such as Virginia, but New York is still a wealthy place where you can make a new life, and where businesses prosper. Recently, there has been some distinction in social class, which has mainly come because of the gentry.
Click below to see more pictures of our colony and contact us! ♥
There is also a diverse range of languages spoken in the colony, the most prominent being English, Dutch, French, and Swedish.
Our population in 1664 was approximately 9,000 people and is still growing at a fast rate, thanks to the Duke of York. People are settling down to enjoy the economic growth and quality of life. We also get a steady stream of immigrants from Europe, as well as a slaves from Africa, making up less than 10% of our population. Some of these slaves are traded to our fellow colonies, while others are used by the gentry and some of the more wealthier of the middle class to clear land. We have almost equal proportions of males and females, including children. The men are shipbuilders, cobblers, tradesmen/merchants, shipbuilders, apothecaries, miners, blacksmiths, and farmers. The women mostly stay at home to cook, clean, and make everyday necessities such as clothes.
Reading is extremely important in our colony. Everyone, boy and girl, man and woman, knows to read (except for our slaves). Children, mostly the boys, go to school five days a week, six hours a day, giving them time to learn--and to do their chores. Hard work is valued in our communities, where slacking off is not tolerated. Boys will learn their father's trade in school, while the mothers and older women taught the younger girls about the basics of keeping house.
Everyone holds money, though in different levels. Predictably, most of the money is held by the upper-class and gentry, who came after the conquest of New York by the Duke. When they came, they didn't find a stark land fraught with hardships. The Dutch have already developed as caste system, where merchants were at the top and sailors were at the bottom. Even the farmers who grow our crops are simply renters to the merchants! However, life in New York was still a fair life--not poor, but not too rich. When the gentry came in, they introduced a whole new level of wealth and lifestyle. They own huge plots of land, and are extremely rich. Because of their financial connections and experience in advanced England, they bring advanced ideas to the colony. The gentry population does not compare to places such as Virginia, but New York is still a wealthy place where you can make a new life, and where businesses prosper. Recently, there has been some distinction in social class, which has mainly come because of the gentry.
Click below to see more pictures of our colony and contact us! ♥