Utica, New York

This article is about Utica in New York, USA. For other places with this name, see Utica.

History

Utica was incorporated as a city in 1832. In the late 18th century, the name Utica was picked at random from a hat. The name originates from the classical North African city of Utica (in present-day Tunisia). Settled in 1773 on the site of old Fort Schuyler (1758), it was destroyed (1776) in a Native American and Tory attack and resettled after the Revolution.

Related Topics:
City - 1832 - 18th century - Utica - Hat - Tunisia - Fort Schuyler

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Utica's location on the Erie and other canals and railroads stimulated its industrial development. The middle section, from Utica to Salina was the first to open, in 1820, and elaborate celebrations were held in the town.

Related Topics:
Erie - Salina - 1820

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Utica was ruled by Democratic Party machine politics for nearly 50 years following World War II. Although Utica had numerous mayors in the postwar period, the real boss of the city was a man named Rufus Elefante. Elefante never held elected political office, but he and his cronies ran almost every aspect of the city's business from Marino's restaurant. He derived his power from Utica's large Italian-American immigrant population. The Italians received political favors from Elefante, and in exchange they voted in a block according to his wishes. At one time Utica was commonly referred to as "Sin City". Utica Psychiatric Center was the first psychiatric center in New York State.

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A typical upstate New York city, Utica is going through urban decline, but the arrival of Bosnia immigrants over the past several years has invigorated the economy. Utica has one of the largest population of Bosnians outside of the country of Bosnia. Its economy is heavily dependent on commercial growth in its most significant suburb, New Hartford.

Related Topics:
Bosnia - New Hartford

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Like the string of industrial towns and cities from New England through upstate N.Y. and into the Midwest, Utica has experienced a major reduction in mfg. activity in the past several decades, and is in serious financial straits; many public services have been curtailed to save money. Utica has an extensive park system, with winter and summer sports facilities. Suburbs in the region have begun to boom with an influx of suburban sprawl. This is also common in Upstate Cities, which suffer from what the Sierra Club termed, "sprawl without growth."

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