Clinton is most likely to honor De Witt Clinton-- gov. of NY-- and the man who planned to dig the ditch-- the erie canal-- it help open the near west (ohio, and all of the Great Lakes) to NY -- which gave traders two markets-- more competition, and often better prices-- and since the route wasn't upstream all the way--(as it on the mississippi,) and was shorter--by half! So they could get good from outside markets, and sell their furs, and farm products to a burgeoning new city. It also provided a westward route for people who wanted to leave NY.
In less than 20 years or so, it was replaced by railways-- but for a short while is was a major factor in NY growth-- not just NYC-- but the whole state benefited from gaining access to the near west--I guess maybe Michigan gained too, and got an increase in population, and better trade goods, and maybe an improved economy-- but that didn't get taught in NY civic classes! Clinton is one of a hand full of gov. who's names got pressed into memory.
