The Croton Aqueduct was a large and complex water distribution system constructed for New York City between 1837 and 1842. Before the aqueduct was constructed New Yorkers got water from cisterns, wells, natural springs, and other bodies of water. But rapid population growth in the Nineteenth Century led to the pollution of many water sources. The unsanitary conditions were causing an increase in disease and epidemics like cholera and yellow fever ravaged the city. The rapid expansion in largely wooden buildings also led to many fires destroying large parts of the city. Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the United States, and is at the center of international finance, politics, entertainment, and culture. ... 1837 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... A term mainly used in the US; a New Yorker is a resident of New York City. ... Distribution of cholera Cholera (also called Asiatic cholera) is an infectious disease of the gastrointestinal tract caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. ...

A new supply of fresh water was needed. Accordingly, a vast engineering project was begun to supply this need. Iron pipe encased in brick masonry was laid from the Croton Dam in northern Westchester County to the Harlem River, where it travelled over the High Bridge at 173rd Street down the west side of Manhattan to a Receiving Reservoir between 79th and 86th streets and Sixth and Seventh Avenues in an area then known as Yorkville. The Receiving Reservoir was a fortress-like building 1,826 feet long and 836 feet wide, and held up to 180 million gallons of water. Thirty-five million gallons flowed into it daily from northern Westchester. Westchester County is a suburban county with about 940,000 residents located in the U.S. state of New York. ... The Harlem River, shown in red, between the Bronx and Manhattan in New York City The Harlem River is a tidal strait in New York City, USA that flows 8 miles between the East River and the Hudson River, separating the borough of Manhattan from the Bronx. ... High Bridge may refer to: High Bridge, New Jersey High Bridge, Kentucky The name of a variety of bridges in a number of English-speaking countries, including the High Bridge that crosses the Harlem River in New York City. ... Manhattan is an island bordering the lower Hudson River. ...

From the Receiving Reservoir water flowed down to the Distributing Reservoir, better known as the Croton Reservoir, a similar fortification located on Fifth Avenue between 40th and 42nd streets where the main branch of the New York Public Library is located today. New York Public Library, central block, built 1897–1911, Carrère and Hastings, architects (June 2003) The New York Public Library (NYPL), one of three public library systems serving New York City, is one of the leading libraries in the United States. ...

The Aqueduct opened to great fanfare on October 14, 1842. The celebration culminated in a fountain of water that spouted to a height of fifty feet from the beautifully decorated Croton Fountain in City Hall Park. Among those present was then-current President of the United States John Tyler, former presidents John Quincy Adams and Martin van Buren, and New York State Governor William Seward. October 14 is the 287th day of the year (288th in Leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... John Tyler (March 29, 1790 - January 18, 1862), of Virginia, was the tenth (1841) Vice President of the United States, and the tenth (1841-1845) President of the United States. ... John Quincy Adams (July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848) was the sixth (1825-1829) President of the United States. ... Order: 8th President Vice President: Richard M. Johnson Term of office: March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841 Preceded by: Andrew Jackson Succeeded by: William Henry Harrison Date of birth: December 5, 1782 Place of birth: Kinderhook, New York Date of death: July 24, 1862 Place of death: Kinderhook, New York... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki Official languages None Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... Willam H. Seward William Henry Seward (May 16, 1801–October 10, 1872) was United States Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. ...

The Croton Reservoir continued to supply New York City with drinking water until 1940, when Commissioner of Parks and Recreation Robert Moses ordered it drained and filled to create the Great Lawn in Central Park. Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the United States, and is at the center of international finance, politics, entertainment, and culture. ... 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Robert Moses. ... A wintry aerial view, looking south: ice on the frozen lakes, the Metropolitan Museum in the park at left, the East River and the Empire State Building in the distance Central Park (40°46′59″ N 73°58′20″ W) is a large urban public park (843 acres or 3. ...

Links

Croton Aqueduct