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Wendy Elkis Class of 1977
From the beginning, New York was a popular port city. The harbor was used as a main port dating back to the 1600s. At that time, trade was centered around bartering for furs. Around 1625, the Dutch West India Company established themselves at the harbor in what was then known as New Amsterdam. It was such a popular port that by the 1650s, you could find people from around the
New York Harbor 1600s world, and you could hear approximately 18 different languages. Commerce kept growing year after year, regardless of who was in control of the area.
