the post road in new york transportation used on support industry , commerce in new york state. boston post road, between relatively small city of new york , boston, began path deliver post using post riders (the first ride lay out upper post road starting january 22, 1673), , developed wagon, or stage road in later colonial times. during 19th century, pieces of road taken on , improved turnpike companies. in 1910s , 1920s, lower post road alignment (and realignments made route) national auto trail known boston post road. large sections of various routes still given name boston post road, of u.s. route 1. by american revolutionary war, colonial province of new york still small , relatively sparsely populated. in 1790 united states census, state had population of 340,120, placing behind virginia (747,610), pennsylvania (434,373), massachusetts (378,787). state grew rapidly after new york city grew become country s shipping epicenter. on october 24, 1825, erie canal opened , on next cent