Hudson, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hudson
City
Warren Street in Hudson
Etymology: From Henry Hudson
Nickname(s):  The Friendly City
Location of Hudson, New York
Location of New York in the United States
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Columbia
Founded	Incorporated
Area
• Total	2.33 sq mi (6.03 km2)
• Land	2.16 sq mi (5.59 km2)
• Water	0.17 sq mi (0.45 km2)
Elevation	100 ft (30 m)
Highest elevation	420 ft (130 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,894
• Density	2,731.23/sq mi (1,054.60/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	12534
Area codes	518
FIPS code	36-021-35969
FIPS code	36-35969
GNIS feature ID	0953386
Wikimedia Commons	Hudson, New York

Hudson is a city in Columbia County, New York, United States. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 5,894. On the east side of the Hudson River, 120 miles (190 km) from the Atlantic Ocean, it was named after the river's explorer Henry Hudson.

History

The land was purchased from native Mahicans by Dutch settlers in 1662 and was originally part of the town of Claverack; formerly it was known as "Claverack Landing". Settled by New England whalers and merchants hailing primarily from Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Providence, Hudson was chartered as a city in 1785. The self-described "Proprietors" laid out a city grid, and Hudson grew rapidly as an active port, coming within one vote of being named the capital of New York state.

The city grew rapidly and by 1790 was the 24th largest city in the United States. As late as 1820, it was the fourth largest city in New York. Martin Van Buren opened his first law office in Hudson. Margaret B. Schram's Hudson's Merchants and Whalers: 1783-1850 tells the story of the city's maritime history. On March 1, 1794, General William Jenkins Worth, the future liberator of Texas in the Mexican–American War, was born on Union Street in Hudson. The house where he was born still stands. Worth Avenue in the city is named after him, as is Fort Worth, Texas. Sanford Robinson Gifford, a member of the second generation of Hudson River School of landscape painters, was born in Hudson on July 10, 1823, and following his death on August 29, 1880, was buried in Hudson's Cedar Park Cemetery. Hudson obtained a new charter in 1895. In 1935, to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the city, the United States Mint issued the Hudson Half Dollar. The coin is one of the rarest ever minted by the United States Government, with only 10,008 coins struck. On the front of the coin is Henry Hudson's ship the Half Moon, and on the reverse is the seal of the city. Local legend has it that coin was minted on the direct order of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to thank the Hudson City Democratic Committee for being the first to endorse him for state senator and governor.

After a steep decline in the 1960s and '70s, the city has undergone a significant revival. 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). Following this business revival, the city experienced a residential revival as well, and is now known for its active arts scene, antiques shops, restaurants, art galleries and nightlife.

In the last few years, perhaps encouraged by the number of gay business owners among the original antiques dealers, Hudson has become a destination for gay people who have opened new businesses, moved here from larger urban areas, and who have been in the forefront of the restoration of many of the city's historic houses. In 2010, Hudson High School made history when openly gay seniors, Charlie Ferrusi and Timmy Howard, were named prom king and queen. During the same year, Hudson hosted its first gay pride parade, which was attended by several hundred people.

With hundreds of properties listed or eligible to be listed in the State and National Registers of historic places, Hudson has been called the "finest dictionary of American architecture in New York State". The vast majority of properties in the Register-listed Hudson Historic District are considered contributing. A discussion of Hudson's architecture, its history, and recent revival, together with a collection of 200 period photographs of the city spanning the mid-19th to the early 20th century, is Historic Hudson: An Architectural Portrait by historian Byrne Fone.

In the 1990s and early 21st century, Hudson has had five mayors: William Allen, Dolly Allen, Richard Scalera, Kenneth Cranna and Richard Tracy. During that time Scalera has been elected mayor seven times, but declined to run twice. This period has been marked by unusual levels of friction between elected officials and residents as the demographics and economics of the city have shifted.

This was followed from late 1998 until spring 2005 by a land use conflict between St. Lawrence Cement (SLC), a subsidiary of what was then one of the world's largest cement companies, the Swiss multinational giant Holderbank (since renamed Holcim), and private citizens. The company proposed a massive, coal-fired cement manufacturing project sprawling over 1,800 acres (7.3 km²) in the city of Hudson and the town of Greenport. Sustained grassroots opposition to the project was spearheaded by business owner Peter Jung and journalist Sam Pratt, co-founders of Friends of Hudson (FOH). The controversy garnered national attention from news outlets such as CNN and The New York Times, as well as media outlets in Canada and Switzerland. The project was withdrawn after Secretary of State Randy Daniels determined that the company's plans were inconsistent with the State's 24 Coastal policies, an outcome which opponents described as "a colossal relief" and supporters denounced as "flawed in its logic". Nearly 14,000 public comments were received by the State's Division of Coastal Resources (87% of them opposed to the project), a record for that agency.

The Dr. Oliver Bronson House and Estate, Dr. Oliver Bronson House and Stables, Henry A. and Evanlina Dubois House, Cornelius H. Evans House, Front Street-Parade Hill-Lower Warren Street Historic District, Houses at 37–47 North Fifth Street, Hudson Almshouse, Hudson Historic District, Hudson/Athens Lighthouse, Rossman-Prospect Avenue Historic District, United States Post Office, William Henry Ludlow House, Elisha Williams House, Oliver Wiswall House, and Van Salsbergen House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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  Artist's rendering of fishermen on the Athens side of the Hudson, with view of City of Hudson waterfront (date unknown)

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  Engraved view of the city (date, artist unknown)

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  South Western View of Hudson City N.Y. from Academy Hill, or Prospect Hill (1837) by W.H. Bartlett

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  photo of 1786 William Henry Ludlow house

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²). 2.2 square miles (5.6 km²) of it is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km²), or 7.38%, is water.

Hudson is located on what began as a spit of land jutting into the Hudson River between the South Bay and North Bay, now both largely filled in.

Across the Hudson River lies the town of Athens in Greene County, New York; a ferry connected the two municipalities during much of the 19th century. Between them lies Middle Ground Flats, a former sandbar that grew due to both natural silting and also from dumping the spoils of dredging; today it is inhabited by deer and a few occupants of quasi-legal summer shanties. The town of Greenport borders the other three sides of the city.

Demographics

Fire station in Hudson

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,713 people, 2,766 households, and 1,368 families residing in the city. The population was estimated at 6,648 Hudson (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau in 2013. These numbers include the approximately 360 residents of the local Hudson Correctional Facility.

Population declines since the late 20th century may be attributable to demographic trends in which retirees, young couples, childless couples, singles, and weekenders have been gradually replacing larger families in the city. They have converted apartment buildings to single-family homes, and the number of unoccupied homes and rate of tax delinquency have declined.

The population density was 3,110.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,201.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.0% (55.5% Non-Hispanic) White, 25.0% African American, 0.4% Native American, 7.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 5.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.2% of the population.

There were 2,766 households, out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.6% were married couples living together, 19.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.5% were non-families. 40.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,117, and the median income for a family was $37,400. Males had a median income of $26,274 versus $22,598 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,353. About 23.0% of families and 23.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.8% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over.

LGBTQ community

In the early 21st century, Hudson has become a destination for LGBTQ people. In 2010, Hudson High School made national history when two openly gay seniors, Timothy Howard and Charlie Ferrusi, were named prom king and queen. During the same year, Hudson hosted its first LGBTQ pride parade, attended by several hundred people. Lil' Deb's Oasis is a restaurant in the city that hosts queer events and is an LGBTQ gathering space.

Economy

After a steep economic decline in the 1960s and '70s, following the loss of jobs due to restructuring in the manufacturing sector, the city has undergone a significant revival. The economy has shifted to one based on tourism, services and related retail.

Attracted by its quality architecture, a group of antiques dealers opened shops on the city's main thoroughfare, Warren Street, in the mid-1980s. Among these were the Hudson Antiques Center, founded by Alain Pioton, and the English Antiques Center. In the early 21st century, the city has nearly seventy shops now, represented by the Hudson Antiques Dealers Association (HADA). The business revival stimulated tourism and attracted residents, some taking second homes in the city. It has become known for its active arts scene, restaurants, art galleries and nightlife, in addition to the antique shops.

Hudson (2016) has a higher concentration of independent artists than only two other U.S. counties — Kings County, known worldwide as Brooklyn, and Taos County, N.M., according to Captivate: The Capital Region's Creative Economy, a study released two years ago by the Regional Alliance for the Creative Economy.

Transportation

Amtrak's Hudson station

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Hudson via the Hudson station.

Columbia County Public Transportation provides local service and commuter service to Albany.

Hudson Ferry Company provides ferry service across the Hudson River to Athens, NY.

Attractions

Warren Street in downtown Hudson

Hudson is home to the Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY) 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 nursing home for firemen in the country.

The Hudson Music Festival was an annual event established in 2011 and was New York's largest free music festival. The fourth annual Hudson Music Festival took place August 8, 9 & 10, 2014 and showcased 100 acts.

Hudson Hall, an arts venue and organization, is located on Warren Street in the center of the city. It is New York's oldest operating theater.

Time & Space Limited, a not-for-profit arts organization serves the City of Hudson and the Hudson River Valley Region. It shows a wide selection of independent movies.

A farmers market takes place on Saturdays, offering a variety of fresh organic products from the Hudson Valley area. The market is conducted outdoors in the warm season and indoor in the wintertime.

Olde York Farm is a woman-owned and family-operated distillery sourcing Hudson Valley foraged and farmed ingredients to make seasonal batch spirits. The farm consists of land growing apples for apple based spirits, land for growing grain, and a black walnut tree grove on site at the distillery. The property is part of the historic Jacob Rutsen van Rensselaer House and Mill complex. Rensselaer also had his own distillery and cooperage circa 1805. Today the distillery and cooperage reside in Rensselaer's former carriage house. Barrels are handmade on site to age bourbon, whiskey, and brandy.

Many local restaurants use fresh meat, eggs, herbs, and produce from local farms and agrarian groups.

National Register of Historic Properties listings

With hundreds of properties listed or eligible to be listed in the State and National registers of historic places, Hudson has been called the "finest dictionary of American architecture in New York State". The vast majority of properties listed within the Hudson Historic District are considered to be contributing, attesting to their quality.

These properties include the Dr. Oliver Bronson House and Estate and Dr. Oliver Bronson House and Stables (both for Dr. Oliver Bronson), Henry A. and Evanlina Dubois House, Cornelius H. Evans House, Front Street-Parade Hill-Lower Warren Street Historic District, Houses at 37–47 North Fifth Street, Hudson Almshouse, Hudson Historic District, Hudson/Athens Lighthouse, Rossman-Prospect Avenue Historic District, United States Post Office, William Henry Ludlow House, Elisha Williams House, Oliver Wiswall House, and Van Salsbergen House.

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  Artist's rendering of fishermen on the Athens side of the Hudson, with view of City of Hudson waterfront (date unknown)

• 

  Engraved view of the city (date, artist unknown)

• 

  South Western View of Hudson City N.Y. from Academy Hill, or Prospect Hill (1837) by W.H. Bartlett

• 

  The 1786 William Henry Ludlow house

Notable people

• Marina Abramović, performance artist
• Robert Adams, American sailor and explorer
• John Ashbery, New York State poet laureate
• Melissa Auf der Maur, musician (The Smashing Pumpkins, Hole) and owner of Basilica Hudson, an arts and performance venue
• Rashad Barksdale, New York Giants cornerback
• Jonah Bokaer, choreographer, media artist
• J. D. Cannon, actor
• Nicolas Carone, artist
• Dave Cole, Sculptor
• Rich Conaty (1954–2016), radio disc jockey
• John Corapi, born and grew up in Hudson, accountant who turned to religion and became a Catholic priest, whistleblower in false claims suit in California, spoke about Catholicism on radio and TV; suspended from ministry by his order, he resigned
• Lynn Davis, photographer
• Tom Davis, comedian
• Alice Mary Dowd (1855–1943), educator, author
• Sarah Stoddard Eddy (1831–1904), reformer and clubwoman
• George C. Ewing, politician, and founder of Holyoke, Massachusetts
• Joel Flaum, Judge on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals
• Nancy Fuller, host of Food Network's Farmhouse Rules
• Kevin Geary (born 1952), English portrait and abstract artist
• Sanford Robinson Gifford, was born here in 1823 and grew up here; an artist, he became a member of the second generation of the Hudson River School landscape painters. Following his death on August 29, 1880, he was buried in Hudson's Cedar Park Cemetery.
• Kirsten Gillibrand, politician, lawyer, and member of the United States Senate
• Malcolm Gladwell – author, essayist, journalist, storyteller, podcast host
• Robert J. Gorlin (1923–2006) – oral pathologist and clinical geneticist, was born in Hudson
• Bibbe Hansen – performance artist, actress, musician
• Gaby Hofmann - actress
• Hezekiah Lord Hosmer – first chief justice of the Montana Territory Supreme Court
• Joshua Lee, US congressman
• John B. Longley (1830–1892), lawyer and politician
• Tyler Lydon, basketball player, first-round selection in 2017 NBA draft
• Sam J. Miller, science fiction author
• Alex MacKinnon, darts player
• Meshell Ndegeocello, musician
• Benjamin Moore Norman, author and book dealer
• Elvis Perkins, musician
• Cornelia Holroyd Bradley Richards, author
• Tommy Stinson, musician
• Bob Trowbridge, former Major League Baseball pitcher
• Chris Urbanowicz, musician
• Martin Van Buren, US president, set up his first law office in Hudson.
• William Jenkins Worth, was born on Union Street in Hudson and grew up here. He entered the military and served as a general during the Mexican–American War. Worth Avenue in Hudson is named after him, as is Fort Worth, Texas.
• Rupert Wyatt (film maker)

In popular culture

• Several movies and television shows have been filmed in Hudson:
  • Odds Against Tomorrow (1959), starring Harry Belafonte and Robert Ryan
  • Ironweed, starring Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep
  • Nobody's Fool (1994 film), starring Paul Newman.
  • A Bread Factory (2018), directed by Patrick Wang
• The PBS documentary Two Square Miles, directed by Barbara Ettinger, is about Hudson.
• Our Town: Hudson, WHMT Aired: 2011
• Hudson is referenced throughout the series Gossip Girl as the home of Alison Humphrey and later Jenny Humphrey
• Creative-Exposure/Portraits of Hudson, NY is a book authored by Chad Weckler that highlights some of those that have contributed their creativity to Hudson's community. Published 2024.
• Hudson is the town in which author Lionel Shriver set her 2020 novel The Motion of the Body Through Space.
• Hudson is the town in which author Jen Beagin set her 2023 novel Big Swiss.

See also

In Spanish: Hudson (Nueva York) para niños