1876 artwork by Henry Mitchell, via Wikipedia Commons
New York State ranks second among states and provinces with markers in this database. New York is a state in the United States of America located in the American Northeast. It is also in the Mid-Atlantic region. New York State is some 55 thousand square miles in size with a population of around 19.5 million people. The state is divided into 62 counties and all of them have entries in this database. In New York State we have discovered historical markers in 1,434 cities and towns lying in 1,325 different ZIP Codes.
There are at least 12,677 historical markers in New York State, by our count. We have cataloged 12,590 historical markers and 1,868 war memorials—each individually presented on 14,236 illustrated, annotated, and searchable pages of the Historical Marker Database. Pages for historical markers from this state make up 5.9% of our total. In addition, we are reasonably certain of another 87 historical markers in New York State that we don’t yet have, and instead show on our Want List. Our correspondents have been finding and adding hundreds of markers a month to the database from all over the world, so next time you visit this page you will probably find that the numbers here have changed.
Click or scan to see this page online.
The first New York State marker in the database, Washington’s Headquarters, was added May 31, 2006. It was photographed in Wallkill in Ulster County and was erected in 1995. The last one added was submitted on May 6, 2024, and titled Korean and Viet Nam Conflicts Memorial. It is in Watkins Glen in Schuyler County. Keeping in mind that the erection date of many markers in the database is not known, the earliest historical marker we know of in New York State was erected in 1787. It was this one: Richard Montgomery, and one of our correspondents found it in Manhattan in New York County on July 4, 2008.
New Yorkers don’t want to forget their Settlements and Settlers history. How do we know? Because there are more historical markers in the database from New York State about Settlements and Settlers—2,077 of them—than about any other historical topic. It is followed by Industry and Commerce with 1,813 markers.
The first marker added to the database with the Settlements and Settlers topic was Die Pfalz, added February 24, 2008. It had been erected in 1935 in New Paltz in Ulster County. The last one submitted was submitted on May 5, 2024, and titled History Happened Here. It had been erected in Canandaigua in Ontario County. One of the earliest marker erected with the Settlements and Settlers topic that we have listed was erected in 1849. More than one was erected in 1849. This is one of them: Joseph Ellicott, found in Batavia in Genesee County on May 9, 2015.
What is the most interesting historical marker in New York State? What we know is that Miracle House 1906 is the most viewed entry in the database from New York State since it was added in 2018. It is located in Freeport in Nassau County. This year so far, the most viewed New York entry is located in Buffalo in Erie County. It is This Monument Honors the Soldiers and Sailors.
Counties, Cities and Towns
The New York State county with the most historical markers listed in this database is New York County, with 2053 of them. It is followed by Erie County with 612 markers. The Manhattan area of New York County has the highest number of markers within its limits, 2051. In Erie County the area with the most markers, 300, is Buffalo.
Historical Markers in These New York State Counties
Checking the database for the city or town in New York State with the most markers we again find Manhattan at the top of the list with 2051 markers in or near it. It is followed by Brooklyn in Kings County with 445 markers. For the ZIP Code with the most markers it’s 13838 at the top of the list with 355 markers in its delivery area. (ZIP Code 13838 is assigned to Sidney NY.) It is followed by ZIP Code 10004 with 265 markers. (10004 is assigned to New York NY including the Bowling Green, and Manhattan delivery areas.)
Historical Markers Near These New York State Cities and Towns
Getting back to New York County, the first marker added to the database from there, General Grant Memorial, was added December 1, 2007. in Manhattan. The last one submitted was uploaded on May 6, 2024, and is titled Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington Residence and was erected in 1976, in New York City. The earliest marker erected in New York County that we have listed was erected in 1787. It was Richard Montgomery, found in Manhattan on July 4, 2008.
By William Fischer, Jr., May 4, 2024
Latest Entry from New York State “Korean and Viet Nam Conflicts Memorial”
And finally the first, last, and oldest markers from Brooklyn. The first: William Moir Smith, was added April 25, 2008. It had been erected in 1865. The last: Ida B. Wells added on March 13, 2024. The earliest marker erected was erected in 1865: William Moir Smith, added on April 25, 2008.
Who Puts Up Historical Markers?
There is no organization in charge of erecting official historical markers state-wide in New York State today but the State Education Department was once responsible for erecting the familiar blue and yellow historical markers. They erected their first marker in 1926, and we have 2,135 of their markers in the database.
In addition, the William G. Pomeroy Foundation—not government affiliated—also erected numerous historical markers in New York State, and we have 3,004 of their New York State markers in the database. Also, a number of counties have erected historical markers on their streets and roads and within their public areas, as have some cities and towns.
By Anton Schwarzmueller, January 30, 2017
A State Education Department Historical Marker
Then there are federal government agencies that put up historical markers, especially in national parks and other areas under their jurisdiction. And finally, there are the numerous public and private organizations and individuals that erect markers. Some do this as a continual endeavor, and others once in a while, to mark something, someone, or someplace they find important or interesting. When one of our correspondents comes across one that satisfies our criteria, we add it to the database.
Off the Beaten Path
You’ll find that even the smallest, least populated, or most rural areas of New York State have been marked with history. Check out Schuyler County, Lewis County and Hamilton County. We've only found, respectively, 38, 18, and 16 historical markers there. Visiting one or more of these parts of New York State might make for a pleasant road trip, and maybe you’ll discover more historical markers while you’re there. If you do, perhaps you’ll take the time to photograph them and, when you get home, become an HMdb correspondent by adding them to the database. Happy Hunting!
New York State ranks second among states and provinces with markers in this database. New York is a state in the United States of America located in the American Northeast. It is also in the Mid-Atlantic region. New York State is some 55 thousand square miles in size with a population of around 19.5 million people. The state is divided into 62 counties and all of them have entries in this database. In New York State we have discovered historical markers in 1,434 cities and towns lying in 1,325 different ZIP Codes.
There are at least 12,677 historical markers in New York State, by our count. We have cataloged 12,590 historical markers and 1,868 war memorials, each individually presented on 14,236 illustrated, annotated, and searchable pages of the Historical Marker Database. Pages for historical markers from this state make up 5.9% of our total. In addition, we are reasonably certain of another 87 historical markers in New York State that we don’t yet have, and instead show on our Want List. Our correspondents have been finding and adding hundreds of markers a month to the database from all over the world, so next time you visit this page you will probably find that the numbers here have changed.
Click or scan to see this page online.
The first New York State marker in the database, Washington’s Headquarters, was added May 31, 2006. It was photographed in Wallkill in Ulster County and was erected in 1995. The last one added was submitted on May 6, 2024, and titled Korean and Viet Nam Conflicts Memorial. It is in Watkins Glen in Schuyler County. Keeping in mind that the erection date of many markers in the database is not known, the earliest historical marker we know of in New York State was erected in 1787. It was this one: Richard Montgomery, and one of our correspondents found it in Manhattan in New York County on July 4, 2008.
New Yorkers don’t want to forget their Settlements and Settlers history. How do we know? Because there are more historical markers in the database from New York State about Settlements and Settlers, 2,077 of them, than about any other historical topic. It is followed by Industry and Commerce with 1,813 markers.
The first marker added to the database with the Settlements and Settlers topic was Die Pfalz, added February 24, 2008. It had been erected in 1935 in New Paltz in Ulster County. The last one submitted was submitted on May 5, 2024, and titled History Happened Here. It had been erected in Canandaigua in Ontario County. One of the earliest marker erected with the Settlements and Settlers topic that we have listed was erected in 1849. More than one was erected in 1849. This is one of them: Joseph Ellicott, found in Batavia in Genesee County on May 9, 2015.
What is the most interesting historical marker in New York State? What we know is that Miracle House 1906 is the most viewed entry in the database from New York State since it was added in 2018. It is located in Freeport in Nassau County. This year so far, the most viewed New York entry is located in Buffalo in Erie County. It is This Monument Honors the Soldiers and Sailors.
Counties, Cities and Towns.
The New York State county with the most historical markers listed in this database is New York County, with 2053 of them. It is followed by Erie County with 612 markers. The Manhattan area of New York County has the highest number of markers within its limits, 2051. In Erie County the area with the most markers, 300, is Buffalo.
Checking the database for the city or town in New York State with the most markers we again find Manhattan at the top of the list with 2051 markers in or near it. It is followed by Brooklyn in Kings County with 445 markers. For the ZIP Code with the most markers it’s 1 3 8 3 8 at the top of the list with 355 markers in its delivery area. (ZIP Code 1 3 8 3 8 is assigned to Sidney NY.) It is followed by ZIP Code 1 0 0 0 4 with 265 markers. (1 0 0 0 4 is assigned to New York NY including the Bowling Green, and Manhattan delivery areas.)
Getting back to New York County, the first marker added to the database from there, General Grant Memorial, was added December 1, 2007. in Manhattan. The last one submitted was uploaded on May 6, 2024, and is titled Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington Residence and was erected in 1976, in New York City. The earliest marker erected in New York County that we have listed was erected in 1787. It was Richard Montgomery, found in Manhattan on July 4, 2008.
And finally the first, last, and oldest markers from Brooklyn. The first: William Moir Smith, was added April 25, 2008. It had been erected in 1865. The last: Ida B. Wells added on March 13, 2024. The earliest marker erected was erected in 1865: William Moir Smith, added on April 25, 2008.
Who Puts Up Historical Markers?.
There is no organization in charge of erecting official historical markers state-wide in New York State today but the State Education Department was once responsible for erecting the familiar blue and yellow historical markers. They erected their first marker in 1926, and we have 2,135 of their markers in the database.
In addition, the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, not government affiliated, also erected numerous historical markers in New York State, and we have 3,004 of their New York State markers in the database. Also, a number of counties have erected historical markers on their streets and roads and within their public areas, as have some cities and towns.
Then there are federal government agencies that put up historical markers, especially in national parks and other areas under their jurisdiction. And finally, there are the numerous public and private organizations and individuals that erect markers. Some do this as a continual endeavor, and others once in a while, to mark something, someone, or someplace they find important or interesting. When one of our correspondents comes across one that satisfies our criteria, we add it to the database.
Off the Beaten Path.
You’ll find that even the smallest, least populated, or most rural areas of New York State have been marked with history. Check out Schuyler County, Lewis County and Hamilton County. We've only found, respectively, 38, 18, and 16 historical markers there. Visiting one or more of these parts of New York State might make for a pleasant road trip, and maybe you’ll discover more historical markers while you’re there. If you do, perhaps you’ll take the time to photograph them and, when you get home, become an HMdb correspondent by adding them to the database. Happy Hunting!
New York State ranks second among states and provinces with markers in this database. New York is a state in the United States of America located in the American Northeast. It is also in the Mid-Atlantic region. New York State is some 55 thousand square miles in size with a population of around 19.5 million people. The state is divided into 62 counties and all of them have entries in this database. In New York State we have discovered historical markers in 1,434 cities and towns lying in 1,325 different ZIP Codes. 
