Census records and name lists for New York are found mostly at the county level, which is why this work shows precisely which census records or census substitutes exist for each of New York's sixty-two counties and where they can be found. In addition to the numerous statewide official censuses taken by New York, this work contains references to census substitutes and name lists for time periods in which the state did not take an official census. It also shows the location of copies of federal census records and provides county boundary maps and numerous state census facsimiles and extraction forms.

The Poesten Kill has sustained Rensselaer County communities for generations. Native Americans first gained sustenance from the stream's waters and hunted and gathered on its shores. Its wild places, large waterfalls and natural springs served as healthful inspiration to artists and adventurers. And during the nineteenth century, urban industrialists tapped its power to provide work opportunities for Irish, German, French and Italian immigrants. John Warren paints a vivid picture of the kill, highlighting the force and wonder that has stirred naturalists and entrepreneurs for centuries.