Upstate New York treaties drawn up after the war ceded much of the land to settlers of European descent. It is largely rural with rugged terrain. The development of Upstate New York was spurred by the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, which greatly eased the transport of goods between the port of New York City and inland cities along the Great Lakes. As a result, Upstate became a hotbed for manufacturing, giving birth to such firms as General Electric, IBM, Kodak, and Xerox, and it welcomed a large influx of immigrants. Since the mid 20th century, American de-industrialization has contributed to
Ribble Link Trust Fazakerley, chairman of the Ribble Link Trust. In the Waterways Renaissance Awards 2002, the Ribble Link Partnership won the Partnership category because it demonstrated the best public/private/community partnership. Ribble Link Trust The Ribble Link Trust is a waterway society, campaigners, instigators of and involved in the Ribble Link, a navigable waterway that connects the Lancaster Canal to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Lancashire, England, via the River Ribble. The Trust is a member of the Ribble Link Partnership which includes British Waterways, Preston City Council and Lancashire County Council. The construction was funded by: The Ribble Link was opened