York Shire (Province of New York) facts for kids

York Shire (also known as the Shire of York or Yorkshire) was the first large government area in the English Province of New York. It was created in 1664, soon after England took control of the land.

History of York Shire

How New York Became English

On August 29, 1664, the forces of the Duke of York captured New Amsterdam from the Dutch. This was part of their plan to take over all of New Netherland. They renamed New Netherland to the Province of New York. This new province included areas that are now New York, New Jersey, Vermont, parts of Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Forming York Shire

York Shire was created shortly after, in 1664. It covered a large area, including Long Island, Staten Island, Manhattan Island, and the east side of the Hudson River. This also included what we now call the Bronx and Westchester.

Dividing York Shire into Ridings

Just like the original Yorkshire in England, York Shire in New York was split into three main parts called ridings. These were the East, West, and North Ridings.

• The East Riding became modern Suffolk County.
• The West Riding included Staten Island, modern Brooklyn, and Elmhurst, Queens (also known as Newtown).
• The North Riding covered the rest of modern Queens, Nassau County, Westchester County, and the Bronx. It also included Manhattan.

Changes in Control

On July 21, 1667, the Peace of Breda treaty was signed between England, France, and the Netherlands. This treaty officially confirmed that England had taken New York from the Dutch in 1664.

However, fighting started again between England and the Netherlands. The Dutch managed to recapture New York in August 1673. On September 12, 1673, they brought back their old government structure in New Amsterdam.

But this change did not last long. On February 9, 1674, the Anglo-Dutch War ended with the Treaty of Westminster. This treaty once again gave the territory back to British control. The English then brought back their previous government system.

On June 29, 1674, King Charles II of England gave the same land to the Duke of York that he had received before. This included all the land in the Province of New York.

The End of York Shire

York Shire was officially ended on November 1, 1683. Its three ridings were then changed into separate counties.

• The East Riding became Suffolk County.
• The West Riding became Richmond County (Staten Island) and Kings County (Brooklyn).
• The North Riding became Queens County (which included today's Nassau County), New York County (Manhattan), and Westchester County (which included today's Bronx).