City charter The state legislature grants the village of Utica a city charter. Thus, on February 13th, Utica – population nearly 8,400 becomes the sixth city in the state … after New York (chartered as the city of New Amsterdam in 1653), Albany (1686), Hudson (1785), Schenectady (1798) and Troy (1816). Utica’s boundaries are from the Bagg’s Square area on the north to the Oneida Square area on the south and from Third Avenue on the east to the York Street area on the west. Utica will have four wards. The First Ward will be on the northeast corner, the Second Ward on the northwest corner, the Third Ward on the southwest corner and the Fourth Ward on the southeast corner. In March, an election will be held to choose three aldermen from each ward. The 12 aldermen will make up the Common Council and elect the city’s first mayor.