Kinderhook, New York
Town
Main square in Kinderhook
Main square in Kinderhook
Location of Kinderhook, New York
Location of Kinderhook, New York
Coordinates: 42°24′46″N 73°40′53″W / 42.41278°N 73.68139°W / 42.41278; -73.68139
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountyColumbia
Settled1750
Established1788
Government
 • TypeTown Council
 • Town SupervisorTim Ooms (R)
 • Town Council
Members' List
Area
[1]
 • Total32.41 sq mi (83.95 km2)
 • Land31.81 sq mi (82.38 km2)
 • Water0.61 sq mi (1.57 km2)
Elevation
239 ft (73 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,330
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
12106
Area code518
FIPS code36-021-39573
GNIS feature ID0979116
Websitewww.kinderhook-ny.gov

Kinderhook is a town in the northern part of Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 8,330 at the 2020 census,[2] making it the most populous municipality in Columbia County. The name of the town means "Children's Corner" in the language of the original Dutch settlers (Kinderhoek). The name "Kinderhook" has its root in the landing of Henry Hudson in the area around present-day Stuyvesant, where he was greeted by Native Americans with many children. With the Dutch kind meaning "child" and hoek meaning "corner", it could be that the name refers to a bend (or "corner") in the river where the children are. The eighth President of the United States, Martin Van Buren, was born in Kinderhook and retired to it.

The town of Kinderhook contains two villages, one of which is also named Kinderhook; the other is the village of Valatie. In addition, the town contains the hamlet of Niverville, next to Kinderhook Lake.

History

In 1609 Henry Hudson sailed as far north as Kinderhook on his exploration of the Hudson River and named the location "Kinderhoek".[3] Kinderhook signifies in the Dutch tongue "the children's corner", and is supposed to have been applied to this locality, in 1609, on account of the many Indian children who had assembled on one of the bluffs along the river to see his strange vessel (the Half Moon) sailing upstream.[4] Hudson had mixed dealing with the local Mohican natives, ranging from peaceful trade to minor skirmishes. As the Dutch attempted to colonize the area, further warfare broke out with the natives. Another version says that a Swede named Scherb, living in the forks of an Indian trail in the present town of Stuyvesant, had such a numerous family of children that the name of Kinderhook was used by the Dutch traders to designate that locality. A third theory about the town's name derives from a settler, named Franz Pietersz Clauw, who operated a mill on the river and was known as the "child of luxury" ("Kind van Weelde").[5]

Kinderhook was settled before 1651[6] and established as a town in 1788[7] from a previously created district (1772), but lost substantial territory to form part of the town of Chatham in 1775. Kinderhook was one of the original towns of Columbia County. More of Kinderhook was lost to form the town of Ghent in 1818 and the town of Stuyvesant in 1823.[8]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.4 square miles (83.9 km2), of which 31.8 square miles (82.4 km2) is land and 0.62 square miles (1.6 km2), or 1.87%, is water,[9] including Kinderhook Lake, Kinderhook Creek, and the waterfalls of Valatie.

The northern town line is the border of Rensselaer County.

Kinderhook Creek is an important stream in the town, flowing southwest toward tidal Stockport Creek, an arm of the Hudson River. U.S. Route 9 and New York State Route 9H pass through the town.

Arts and culture

President Martin Van Buren's retirement home, Lindenwald, is in the town of Kinderhook.[10][11] The Dutch Colonial Luykas Van Alen House, a National Historic Landmark (c.1737), is thought to be author Washington Irving's inspiration for the "Van Tassel family" farm in his classic story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", as Irving — a friend of Van Buren — was a frequent visitor and sometime resident to the area.[12] The 19th-century rural Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse, named for the Washington Irving character patterned after Kinderhook schoolteacher, Jesse Merwin, is adjacent to the Van Alen House.[13][14]

The Columbia County Historical Society is headquartered in the town, with four historic properties, including the 1737 Luykas Van Alen House, the 1850 Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse, the c1819 James Vanderpoel 'House of History', and the 1915 CCHS Museum & Library building. The Historical Society also owns and exhibits a permanent collection consisting of important and unique genealogical materials, archives, paintings, textiles, furniture and decorative arts relating to Columbia County's culture and heritage.

The James Vanderpoel House, known as "The House of History", on Broad Street in Kinderhook village was built circa 1819 and is an important example of high-style Federal architecture that is owned and maintained by the Columbia County Historical Society.[14][15] The Old Columbia Academy was an early Dutch school established on March 13, 1787. The school was renamed Kinderhook Academy on April 3, 1824.[7]

The former Martin Van Buren Public School, on Broad Street, now houses an international gallery of contemporary fine art, The School, a branch of the Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.[16][17]

The Olde Kinderhook Fair, also called the Kindercrafters Fair, is an annual arts and crafts fair held in the Kinderhook Village Square and sponsored by the Kinderhook Business and Professional Association.[18] Other activities are often scheduled for the fair day, such as the Kinderhook Memorial Library Book Sale, free tours of the James Vanderpoel House, and live music. The 42nd fair was held in June, 2018.[19]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18203,963—
18302,706−31.7%
18403,51229.8%
18503,97013.0%
18604,3319.1%
18704,055−6.4%
18804,2003.6%
18903,709−11.7%
19003,333−10.1%
19102,947−11.6%
19202,935−0.4%
19303,1045.8%
19403,094−0.3%
19503,2846.1%
19604,18527.4%
19705,68835.9%
19807,67434.9%
19908,1125.7%
20008,3002.3%
20108,4982.4%
20208,330−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[2]

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,296 people, 3,165 households, and 2,247 families residing in the town. The population density was 260.6 inhabitants per square mile (100.6/km2). There were 3,434 housing units at an average density of 107.9 per square mile (41.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.31% White, 0.68% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41% of the population.[20]

There were 3,165 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.01.[20]

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.[20]

The median income for a household in the town was $52,604, and the median income for a family was $61,074. Males had a median income of $41,386 versus $27,880 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,259. About 2.8% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.[20]

Government

Timothy Ooms is the Town Supervisor. April Pinkowski is the current Town Clerk. The "Town Department" section of the Town of Kinderhook government website maintains current information on other town officials and governing bodies.[21]

Notable people

Historic marker commemorating Kinderhook as the birthplace of President Martin Van Buren.

Communities and locations in the town

Trivia

Moving pictures filmed in Kinderhook

Films
Television

Music

Other

  • One of the linguistic legends of the word "okay" has its origin during Martin Van Buren's campaign as an abbreviation of "Old Kinderhook", or "O.K."[31]
  • The children of the American actor Sidney Poitier attended school in Kinderhook.

References

  1. ↑ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Census, 2020, 'Kinderhook town, Columbia County, New York'
  3. ↑ Collier, Edward Augustus (1914). A History of Old Kinderhook from Aboriginal Days to the Present Time: Including the Story of the Early Settlers, Their Homesteads, Their Traditions, and Their Descendants; with an Account of Their Civic, Social, Political, Educational, and Religious Life. G. P. Putnam's Sons. p. 2. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Town of Kinderhook New York". Town of Kinderhook, New York. Archived from the original on December 10, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  5. ↑ A Note on Frans Pietersz Clauw: L by Dr. Wilson O. Clough, Professor Emeritus, University of Wyoming. pg. 9, http://www.hollandsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/deHalveMaen_1964-01_XXXVIII_04-Red.pdf
  6. ↑ Edward A Collier, D.D., A History of Old Kinderhook. G.P. Putman & Sons, 1914, p.44
  7. 1 2 "Points of Interest". Town of Kinderhook New York. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  8. ↑ "History". Columbia County, New York. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Kinderhook town, Columbia County, New York". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Martin Van Buren National Historic Site". National Park Service. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, Lindenwald, New York". National Park Service. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Van Alen House receives $2.25K for new signs". Columbia-Greene Media. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Columbia County Historical Sites". Columbia County. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  14. 1 2 Buff, Sheila (2009). Insiders' Guide® to the Hudson River Valley. Globe Pequot. p. 26. ISBN 9780762755691. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  15. ↑ "James Vanderpoel House". Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  16. ↑ Hallenbeck, Brent (February 25, 2016). "Going Home, new Weekend feature: Columbia County, N.Y.". Section: "Kinderhook". The Burlington Free Press. burlingtonfreepress.com. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  17. ↑ "About the Gallery". Jack Shainman Gallery. jackshainman.com. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Kinderhook Business & Professional Association (KBPA)". Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Olde Kinderhook Fair in Kinderhook". Louis Marquette. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  20. 1 2 3 4 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  21. ↑ "Town of Kinderhook, NY - Town Departments". Town of Kinderhook, NY. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Faso, John J., (1952 - )". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  23. ↑ "An Ill-Timed Candidate Believes His Time Is Now". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Gibson, Christopher (1964 - )". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kinderhook, New York". City-Data.com. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Connecticut's Sleepy Hollow". ConnecticutHistory.org. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Martin Van Buren Slept Here". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Sickles, Nicholas (1801 - 1845)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Van Alen, John Evert (1749 - 1807)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  30. ↑ Newman, Roger K. (2009). The Yale Biographical Dictionary of American Law. Yale University Press. p. 560. ISBN 978-0300113006. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  31. ↑ Ciardi, John. "Martin Van Buren Was OK". NPR. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
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