Michael Esposito
A significant part of Troy's history, and that of its neighborhood, is
the immigration of diverse ethnic groups. By 1900, the US Census
reported 465 Italian-born residents in Troy, and in 1930, there were
2,000 Italian immigrants. From 1900 to the 1950s, Little Italy,
bordering the central business district from Ferry Street to the
Poestenkill and from Fourth Street to Prospect Park, was predominately
an Italian or Italian American neighborhood. Among the close-knit
families of Troy's Little Italy were import stores, 60 mom-and-pop
shops, churches, schools, a community center, and a veterans' post, all
of which were found within a 20-block radius. America's Little Italy
neighborhoods became centers of ethnic culture and heritage. In the
1960s, urban renewal challenged Troy and other cities with mixed
results. Today, there is resurgence in Troy, with plans to expand the
city's central historic district to include most of Little Italy. In the
meantime, empty nesters, artists, and young professionals are moving
into the neighborhood as valuable community partners continue to support
the efforts of the neighborhood group Troy Little Italy.
