COLUMBIA COUNTY, NY
County Offices
560 Warren Street
Hudson 518-828-3339
www.columbiacountyny.com
Columbia County Commerce
1 North Front Street
Hudson 518-828-4417
https://columbiachamber-ny.com
Columbia County is home to more than 63,000 people who get to call this scenic and rural county home. The first exploration of the territory was by Henry Hudson who in 1609 sailed across the Atlantic and up the river which now bears his name. An accident to his boat forced him to stop and come ashore to visit the area. The native inhabitants of the region were the Mohican Indians. A lively trade was established by 1612 and early settlers began to colonize various regions. The establishments of Fort Orange and New Amsterdam in 1624 allowed traders and travelers to frequently stop along the shores of Columbia. Small settlements sprang up to supply goods to these ships. The region in and around Columbia County are some of the oldest settlement in the nation.
Quality of Life
Columbia County is the cultural gem of the Hudson Valley. Here in this countryside setting you can view performance and artistic works from international and regional artists and even musicals from the Broadway stage along with concerts of every size and shape. You can take in a play, a poetry reading, or listen to a band, opera, chamber music and more. Columbia County offers a lot to its residents, including some very historic locations, starting with a jewel of Columbia County architecture: Olana—the home of one of America’s premier landscape painters. Stroll the lush gardens at Clermont, with its 18th-century great house. Wander through the Federal mansion of Judge James Vanderpoel and the Georgian home of the eighth president, Martin van Buren. The county is also home to the American Museum of Firefighting.
For those who enjoy the thrill of exploring a small town or shopping for unique treasures, the county is full of great locations to find antiques, fine art, gifts, home furnishings, jewelry and unique local items. One of the premier antiquing centers in the country, Hudson offers more than 65 shops lining Warren Street and its side roads. Throughout Columbia County, from the meandering Hudson River to the rugged Berkshire foothills, you’ll find charming shops with wonderful surprises. Shopping for local foods can be done in one of the many orchards and farmers markets. Throughout the seasons there are countless fairs and festivals celebrating music, antiques, the arts and seasons.
Columbia County is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with its lakes and rivers, hiking trails, forests, hunting areas and golf courses. There are many parks in the county plus a variety of indoor recreational activities. For residents the great outdoors is simply the best part of being in Columbia County. They can play a round of golf or fish for rainbow trout in one of the many local streams. They can ski in winter or enjoy a stroll to the untamed beauty of Bash Bish Falls or cycling on quiet country lanes. Race fans can enjoy the action at one of New York State’s best DIRT and NHRA tracks: Lebanon Valley Speedway & Dragway. No matter your outdoor activity choice, Columbia County offers you the opportunity to enjoy it. Nature’s beauty is a key part in living in the county and the views of the local landscape are spectacular with the nearby Catskill and Taconics Mountains there to frame your life.
Services
Health care is a priority in the County and is well represented by an excellent full-service hospital, healthcare facilities and human service agencies that offer a continuum of care, resources and support to meet the physical, mental and developmental needs of the community. The county is home to an excellent health care system, with Columbia County Hospital a continually expanding and improving hospital staffed with outstanding physicians, support by a dedicated emergency medical service staff. Columbia County Health Department provides numerous programs from health related to training and temporary aid for limited income families.
Education is important in the county, and students are offered a quality educational program that excels in academics. The County affords outstanding educational opportunities at all levels. Public and private schools offer strong college preparatory, vocational and technical programs. Columbia County Schools offer a variety of enrichment programs which take students beyond the normal curriculum.
Ancram
Town Hall
518-329-6215
www.ancramny.org
The Town of Ancram is located in the southeastern section of Columbia County. It is home to a little more than 1,500 residents. The City of Hudson is approximately 20 miles to the northwest, the City of Albany approximately 50 miles to the northwest and the City and Town of Poughkeepsie approximately 35 miles to the southwest. This is a rural community with a lot of open space and scenic beauty.
Austerlitz
Town Hall
518-392-3260
http://austerlitzny.com
Home to a population of just over 1,600 residents who live on more than 49 square miles of land. This is a sparsely populated rural community along the Taconic Mountain Range. Residents enjoy rural character, scenic vista, abundant wildlife, low housing density, slow growth, historic structures and a quiet lifestyle. The community is also home to old Austerlitz featuring a collection of 19th century buildings being restored and serving as a living history museum.
Canaan
Town Hall
518-781-3144
www.canaannewyork.org
Canaan has a population of less than 1,800 in an area of 36.7 square miles on New York’s border with Massachusetts. The town of Canaan includes parts of East Chatham, the rest of which is in the town of Chatham. Similarly, parts of Red Rock are included within Canaan’s southern boundary. Canaan is bordered by Austerlitz to the south, New Lebanon to the north, Massachusetts to the east, and Chatham to the west. It is tucked away in the northeast corner of the county and nestled in the Berkshires, Canaan is noted for crystal-clear Queechy Lake, green countryside, and a quiet lifestyle. Canaan is right on the Massachusetts border and residents use it as a perfect location for Albany and Pittsfield commutes, shopping, schools and entertainment. The town has two high-ranking school systems—Chatham and New Lebanon. Housing styles range original Saltboxes, grand Colonials and horse farms to estates. Queechy Lake is a beautiful part of the town and residents can picnic or fish on pontoon boats, or swim from the beach. In the winter, ice fishing is popular there. Canaan is a quiet town that has attracted a significant number of second-home owners from the metropolitan area who enjoy its high quality of life and country living.
Chatham/Village of Chatham
Town Hall
518-392-1655
http://chathamnewyork.us
Village Hall
518-392-5821
https://villageofchatham.com
Dating back to the late 1700’s, Chatham covers 53.3 square miles of land, making it the largest town in the county. The town itself is formed by many small hamlets, each with its own distinctive personality. One hamlet may be rural and dotted with orchards, while another has riding and hunting clubs or an array of historic estates. In Old Chatham, the largest collection of Shaker artifacts in the world is housed in the Shaker Museum and is a favorite attraction. Nearby is the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company which has the largest operating sheep farm in the country. The land ranges from undulating hills, to woodlands, to streams and ponds. One of the most famous trout streams in New York is the Kinderhook Creek which runs through several hamlets. On opening day of the trout season residents and visitors can be seen with fly rods and waders ready to cast their lines. The village offers a down home feel. It is home to specialty shops, coffee houses and an old-fashioned movie house showing first-run films. There is even The Chatham Film Club, showing foreign and fine art films. The annual Chatham NY Country Fair, which runs the entire Labor Day week, has become a must do for visitors and residents alike, featuring everything from pie-judging, food booths, games, rides, music and 4H competitions with livestock ranging from lambs to llamas, from hens to Herefords. Chatham offers its residents a classic slice of Americana.
Claverack
Town Hall
518-672-7911
www.townofclaverack.com
The Town of Claverack, incorporated in 1788, sits in the middle of the county, with easy access to Albany, Boston and New York City. There are approximately 6400 residents spread out over almost 50 miles of the town, which makes it the second most populated township in the County. The Town encompasses the hamlets of Churchtown, Claverack, Hollowville, and Mellenville; and the Village of Philmont. The town and its village offer a quiet, rural lifestyle for their residents. The community is home to several small businesses. In addition there is a park and sporting facility behind the town offices. The park is home to baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, playgrounds, soccer field
and a walking path. Residents have nearby access to all the things they need, while enjoying a rural lifestyle that is often sought after by people in urban areas.
Clermont
Town Hall
518-537-6868
www.clermontny.org
The Town of Clermont is a township of 11,000 acres and just over 1900 residents containing farmland, country places and two hamlets, situated on the east bank of the Hudson River, immediately opposite the Catskill Mountains, at the extreme southwest corner of Columbia County in the State of New York. It extends from the Hudson River on the west, south along the Dutchess County line and east to the southernmost bend of the Roeloff Jansen Kill. The town borders Gallatin on the east and Livingston on the east and north. It is bounded on this east and north border by the same Roeliff Jansens Kill. The town line is bounded by Germantown on the northwest. Famous for its natural beauty, Clermont possesses the beauty of nature in its undulating hills and dales, its wooded areas near the Hudson River, and its position opposite the Catskill Mountains make it a spot of striking beauty. Most of the land is arable.. There are small brooks and streams. The town is noted for its agricultural products and fruits – pears, apples, plums, berries, and grapes. Apples grown in Clermont are shipped all over the world. This is a quiet rural community in a mountain setting.
Copake
Town Hall
518-329-1234
http://townofcopake.org/
Since 1824 residents and visitors delight in Copake’s scenic valleys, lakes and streams, enhanced still more by the Berkshire Mountains to the East and the Catskills to the West. Located just two hours north of New York City and three hours west of Boston, the Town of Copake offers its more than 3,600 residents some of the best biking. Situated in the southeast corner of Columbia County this rural area has rolling country roads with vistas of the Taconic Mountains to the east and the Catskill Mountains to the west. The Harlem Valley Rail Trail offers safe, traffic free miles for young riders to explore. More experienced riders can follow loops to nearby Connecticut and Massachusetts. Whether you are biking 100 miles or taking an easy route with your family, you will pass beautiful lakes, working farms and farm stands. Residents enjoy a peaceful life surrounded by natures beauty.
Germantown
Town Hall
518-537-6687
www.germantownny.org
Located on the east bank of the Hudson River 100 miles north of New York City and 40 miles south of Albany, Germantown’s more than 2,000 residents enjoy a quiet, family-centered life-style in the country with easy access to the river for boating, fishing and enjoying all the river has to offer. Geographically the heart of the Hudson Valley, Germantown offers rich cultural and educational experiences at nearby Bard College, and historic Hudson City where antique stores and art galleries attract nation-wide buyers. Surrounding a lovely small lake with swimming and picnic facilities, Palatine Park offers a playground, Little League and soccer fields, Kellner Community Activities Center and the “Dog Bark” dog park. Set in a quiet garden area, Germantown Library offers residents organized programs and activities. Boaters and fishing fans have two access points to the Hudson River: Cheviot Park off County Rd. 9G and Lasher Memorial Park in North Germantown. As a major migration route, the Hudson Valley is a bird watcher’s delight, and Germantown’s KEEP Conservation area on County Rte. 8 is open year round for bird watching or just enjoying an easy walk in the woods. The downtown is home to several businesses including the well-known Otto’s Market, Germantown Variety store that features made-in-America products in an early 20th century setting. Germantown Central School serves grades kindergarten through Senior High School for Germantown and parts of neighboring communities.
Greenport
Town Hall
518-828-4656
The Town of Greenport is on the west border of the county and surrounds the City of Hudson on three sides. US 9 passes through the town. Greenport is located in beautiful upstate New York about 40 miles south of Albany and just outside the City of Hudson. Greenport’s recorded history begins in 1609 with the voyage of Henry Hudson, an Englishman exploring for the Dutch, who stumbled upon Greenport River while looking for the Verrazano Sea. The town is approximately 18 square miles and has less than 100 miles of roads. It is primarily a rural community. Greenport hosts a summer concert series at the town park featuring local and regional acts. The community is also home to the state historical site, Olana, is located in the south part of the town. It was the former home of Hudson artist Frederic Edwin Church and is decorated in a Persian style. This is a quiet community with a long history of rural calm.
Hillsdale
Town Hall
518-325-5073
http://hillsdaleny.com
Hillsdale is a rural town with a population of more than 1,900. The town’s topography consists of rolling hills, open farmland and wooded tracts. It is dotted with many houses, barns and other structures from the 18th and 19th centuries. Hillsdale is a popular area for second-home buyers from New York City, due in part to its proximity to two ski areas and the amenities of nearby Great Barrington, MA., and Hudson, N.Y. The Roeliff Jansen Park, a state park run by the Town of Hillsdale, has miles of hiking and snowshoeing trails, a year-round Dog Run, many family events, and a summer program for kids. Across from the park is the newly constructed Roeliff Jansen Community Library, which also serves the towns of Copake and Ancram. Hillsdale hosts a bi-weekly farmer’s market in the summer and fall and a flea market in May. The town is home to Catamount ski area.
Hudson
Town Hall
518-828-1030
http://cityofhudson.org
Hudson is located along the west border of the county. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson. The city is home to more than 6,500 residents.
A group of antiques dealers opened shops on the city’s main thoroughfare, Warren Street, in the mid-1980s, the earliest being the Hudson Antiques Center, founded by Alain Pioton, and The English Antiques Center. Their numbers grew from a handful in the 1980s to almost seventy shops now, represented by the Hudson Antiques Dealers Association (HADA). An amazing array and range of merchandise can be found in Hudson’s Antique Shops. Formal, country, art, modern, European and American Furniture, clocks, architectural items, garden furniture, rugs, paintings, porcelains, lighting, ephemera and decorative accessories abound in Hudson. Following this business revival, the city experienced residential growth as well, and is now known for its active arts scene, antiques shops, restaurants, art galleries and nightlife. Hudson is also home to the FASNY (Firemen’s Association of the State of New York) Museum of Firefighting, one of the largest fire service centered museums in the world. It is on the grounds of the FASNY Firemen’s home, the first old-age/nursing home for firemen in the country. The area around Hudson is also famous for its wines and the Hudson wine trail which extends from Southeast of Albany down to Hudson. You will find hand-crafted, award-winning and celebrated wines, beers, and spirits. You will also experience farm fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, baked goods, maple syrup, fresh apple ciders and other gourmet, local food products. Hudson is a city with a lot to offer its residents. The quality of life combined with all of the local amenities makes it a great place to call home.
Kinderhook/Kinderhook Village
Town Hall
518-784-2233
www.kinderhook-ny.gov
Village Hall
518-758-9882
http://villageofkinderhook.org
Kinderhook is the oldest town in the county. It got its name from Henry Hudson who while moored on the river noticed the Mohican Indian children on the shore and called the area Kinderhook – Dutch for “Children’s Corner.” Kinderhook is a small town steeped in history. Washington Irving wrote his classic story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” while staying at Lindenwald, the home of Martin Van Buren. The Van Alen House, built in 1737. The house is now a museum, along with the original Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse adjoining it. Close to the Hudson River on the Kinderhook Creek, a stream noted for powerful waterfalls and edged with fertile farmland, Kinderhook has long been a prosperous and prominent place. As roads settled into place, the village grew. Kinderhook became a major stagecoach stop on the route connecting Albany with New York City as well as one of the first post offices in the region. Residents enjoy a quiet lifestyle in a community that is close to everything they need.
New Lebanon
Town Hall
518-794-8888
www.townofnewlebanon.com
New Lebanon covers nearly 21,000 acres of Columbia County with great views, woods, pastures and rolling hills. It is home to more than 2700 residents. Travelers heading for Massachusetts or Vermont often stop to visit the areas many antique shops. The town is in the northeast corner of the county, bordered by Stephentown on the north, Canaan to the south, Chatham to the west and Pittsfield to the east. It’s a perfect location for commuting to Albany and Pittsfield. The town is a short drive from two of the regions ski areas as well as other local outdoor attractions. The town center offers residents and visitors shopping, restaurants, galleries and unique shops, and much more. The first Shakers arrived in this area from England in 1774 and settled in New Lebanon to form the largest Shaker community in the United States. Lebanon Springs became one of America’s most famous resorts because of the mineral spring discovered by the Stockbridge Indians. A visit to Mount Lebanon brings you back to the time of the Shakers. Here 50 of the original 100 buildings of the Shaker community are on the National Register of Historic Places. Residents have everything they need to close to home or with just a short trip across the border to the Lee Outlet Center where they can shop and dine and one of dozens of popular national retailers.
Stockport
Town Hall
518-828-9389
The first known Europeans to set foot in Columbia County were Henry Hudson and his crew. On September 17, 1609, Hudson stopped for a day at the mouth of what is now known as Stockport Creek, territory under control of the Mohican Indians. Stockport is the smallest town in Columbia County at 13 square miles in area. It was named after Stockport, England. At one time, the town was the hub of industrial activity in the County. The Claverack and Kinderhook Creeks join here to form the Stockport Creek, which flows out to the Hudson River. Waterpower was abundant and the historical evidence suggests that the motivation behind the Town’s formation was to benefit the proprietors of the many woolen mills along these sources of waterpower. These mills and associated buildings were used well into the 20th century. Another concentration of mills was found in Columbiaville, one mile inland from the Hudson, on the Stockport Creek. Columbiaville was an incorporated village from 1813 until the formation of the Town in 1833. The Columbia White Sulfur Springs was located in the Hamlet of Stottville, at the southern end of Town. In the mid-1800’s, these sulfur springs were as well known as those of Saratoga. People came from great distances to drink and bathe in the water. The historic mills and spas no longer exist and today Stockport is a semi-rural town made up of primarily residences and farms. Residents enjoy its quaint and easy going lifestyle.
Stuyvesant
Town Hall
518-758-6248
www.stuyvesantny.us
Stuyvesant is located in the northwest corner of Columbia County on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. It is bordered by Rensselaer County to the north, the Town of Kinderhook to the east, and the Town of Stockport to the south. It is a town of approximately 2,300 people, Stuyvesant is an agricultural community dotted with single family residences and small businesses. The predominance of farming within the community has left its rural character much the same as it’s been for more than a century. Stuyvesant’s landscape belies the fact that it is located less than 20 miles south of the state capital of Albany, New York. Centrally located in the state and the region, the town is approximately two and a half hours from both New York City and Boston. While the lifestyle is quiet, residents can quickly find themselves immersed in the urban atmosphere of Albany.
