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East Greenbush (town), New York
Encyclopedia
East Greenbush is a town in Rensselaer County
, New York
, USA. The population was 15,560 at the 2000 census. The word Greenbush is derived from the Dutch
"Greenen Bosch," referring to the pine woods that originally covered the land. The first settlement of the land now known as East Greenbush was made by tenants under Patroon
Kiliaen van Rensselaer around 1630. The town was formed in 1855 as the town of Clinton, the name changing to East Greenbush three years later. It is mostly suburban along its major highways and rural in the southwestern and northeastern corners.
Interstate 90
passes through the town. It contains the west (or south) end of US Route 4
and the northern terminus of NY Route 9J; as well as US Route 9 and US Route 20. The last two are concurrent, under the name Columbia Turnpike, and is often referred to by locals as "9 and 20".
prior to Rensselaer County's creation in 1791. The town of Clinton was created on February 23, 1855 from the town of Greenbush at the same time as the town of North Greenbush
. Three years later on April 14, 1858 the name was changed to East Greenbush by New York State Laws of 1858, Chapter 194. The town originally included land that is now the industrial and residential southend of the city of Rensselaer including Fort Crailo
, this was annexed to Rensselaer in 1902.
Early settlement along the Hudson River shoreline occurred around 1628/9 and in 1669 a fort was built on Papscanee Island. The hamlet of East Greenbush
was settled around 1630, with a Dutch Reformed church first built in 1787, and a post office was established in 1845. In the late 18th century until his death in 1834, Prospect Hill on Hays Road in the southern section of the town was home to Edward Charles Genet, former adjutant-general, minister plenipotentiary, and consul-general to the United States representing France; and as an American citizen he was a New York state legislator from Rensselaer County and a major-general in the state militia.
The town's main thoroughfares are quite old, starting with the old post roads constructed during the French and Indian Wars
by the English
. The Boston and Albany Turnpike was constructed in 1800, today known as the Columbia Turnpike designated as US Routes 9 and 20. Another major highway in the town, the Farmer's Turnpike also was built at or before this time, today it is NY Route 9J.
The town saw at least one memorable event during the Anti-Rent War
which was a popular revolt among tenants of the last patroon of Rensselaerswyck over rent payments. A deputy sheriff named Gregg was killed in the line of duty while evicting a man by the name of Witbeck from his farm. The area of East Greenbush behind the Town Hall was the site of a huge cantonment, occupied by over 5,000 soldiers during the War of 1812
, this included a hospital, barracks, and an arsenal. Along the Hudson River near Papscanee Island in the mid-late 19th century a large farm was occupied by Colonel Kiliaen van Rensselaer, great-grandson of his namesake and first Patroon
of Rensselaerswyck, Kiliaen van Rensselaer.
In the late 1980s the descendants of the original Dutch settlers on Papscanee Island came under pressure from suburban development in the area, and the Open Space Institute
began to buy large parcels of land and development rights to surrounding areas, creating the Papscanee Preserve. In 1997 the county took charge of management and the park has been developed with informational signs, trails, picnic areas, and a central theme dedicated to the Mohican
natives of the areas.
, the town has a total area of 24.4 square miles (63.1 km²), of which, 24.1 square miles (62.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (1.03%) is water.
The western section of the town along the Hudson River
is marked by bluffs that rise to an elevation of between 100 and 300 feet. The little flat land that exists along the river is on the Papscanee Island. Papscanee Island is actually a peninsula, separated from the rest of the town by the Papscanee Creek. The town then spreads out as rolling hills rising towards the east. Mill Creek (formerly Tierken Kill
) and Morden Creek are the principal streams of the town.
East Greenbush is bordered by the town of North Greenbush to the north, the town of Sand Lake
to the east, the town of Schodack
to the south. To the west the town borders the city of Rensselaer
from the North Greenbush line to southern tip of the city, then East Greenbush's border is with Albany County
town of Bethlehem
, the border being in the middle of the Hudson River.
of 2000, there were 15,560 people, 6,084 households, and 4,185 families residing in the town. The population density
was 645.8 people per square mile (249.4/km²). There were 6,281 housing units at an average density of 260.7 per square mile (100.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.01% White, 2.85% Black or African American
, 0.13% Native American, 1.94% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races
, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.
There were 6,084 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,822, and the median income for a family was $62,917. Males had a median income of $43,028 versus $31,777 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $25,503. About 1.7% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
serves a very small portion of the eastern part of the town. The East Greenbush Central School District has five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
Elementary Schools
Bell Top Elementary (Troy)
Citizen Genet Elementary (East Greenbush)
Donald P. Sutherland Elementary (Nassau)
Green Meadow Elementary (Castleton)
Red Mill Elementary (Rensselaer)
Holy Spirit School (Private; Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
)
Middle School
Goff Middle School (East Greenbush)
High School
Columbia High School
(East Greenbush)
Rensselaer County, New York
Rensselaer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 159,429. Its name is in honor of the family of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original Dutch owner of the land in the area. Its county seat is Troy...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA. The population was 15,560 at the 2000 census. The word Greenbush is derived from the Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
"Greenen Bosch," referring to the pine woods that originally covered the land. The first settlement of the land now known as East Greenbush was made by tenants under Patroon
Patroon
In the United States, a patroon was a landholder with manorial rights to large tracts of land in the 17th century Dutch colony of New Netherland in North America...
Kiliaen van Rensselaer around 1630. The town was formed in 1855 as the town of Clinton, the name changing to East Greenbush three years later. It is mostly suburban along its major highways and rural in the southwestern and northeastern corners.
Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
passes through the town. It contains the west (or south) end of US Route 4
U.S. Route 4 in New York
U.S. Route 4 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from East Greenbush, New York, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In the U.S. state of New York, US 4 extends from an intersection with US 9 and US 20 in East Greenbush to the Vermont state line northeast of Whitehall...
and the northern terminus of NY Route 9J; as well as US Route 9 and US Route 20. The last two are concurrent, under the name Columbia Turnpike, and is often referred to by locals as "9 and 20".
History
East Greenbush was part of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck, and Albany CountyAlbany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
prior to Rensselaer County's creation in 1791. The town of Clinton was created on February 23, 1855 from the town of Greenbush at the same time as the town of North Greenbush
North Greenbush, New York
North Greenbush is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. North Greenbush is located in the western part of the county. The population was 10,805 at the 2000 census....
. Three years later on April 14, 1858 the name was changed to East Greenbush by New York State Laws of 1858, Chapter 194. The town originally included land that is now the industrial and residential southend of the city of Rensselaer including Fort Crailo
Fort Crailo
Fort Crailo, also known as Yankee Doodle House or Crailo State Historic Site, is a historic, fortified brick manor house in Rensselaer, New York, United States which was originally part of a large patroonship held by Kiliaen van Rensselaer, c...
, this was annexed to Rensselaer in 1902.
Early settlement along the Hudson River shoreline occurred around 1628/9 and in 1669 a fort was built on Papscanee Island. The hamlet of East Greenbush
East Greenbush (CDP), New York
East Greenbush is a census-designated place in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 4,085 at the 2000 census.East Greenbush is mostly within the south part of the town of East Greenbush, but a small section of the community extends southward into the town of Schodack.U.S....
was settled around 1630, with a Dutch Reformed church first built in 1787, and a post office was established in 1845. In the late 18th century until his death in 1834, Prospect Hill on Hays Road in the southern section of the town was home to Edward Charles Genet, former adjutant-general, minister plenipotentiary, and consul-general to the United States representing France; and as an American citizen he was a New York state legislator from Rensselaer County and a major-general in the state militia.
The town's main thoroughfares are quite old, starting with the old post roads constructed during the French and Indian Wars
French and Indian Wars
The French and Indian Wars is a name used in the United States for a series of conflicts lasting 74 years in North America that represented colonial events related to the European dynastic wars...
by the English
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The Boston and Albany Turnpike was constructed in 1800, today known as the Columbia Turnpike designated as US Routes 9 and 20. Another major highway in the town, the Farmer's Turnpike also was built at or before this time, today it is NY Route 9J.
The town saw at least one memorable event during the Anti-Rent War
Anti-Rent War
The Anti-Rent War was a tenants' revolt in upstate New York during the early 19th century, beginning with the death of Stephen Van Rensselaer III in 1839....
which was a popular revolt among tenants of the last patroon of Rensselaerswyck over rent payments. A deputy sheriff named Gregg was killed in the line of duty while evicting a man by the name of Witbeck from his farm. The area of East Greenbush behind the Town Hall was the site of a huge cantonment, occupied by over 5,000 soldiers during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, this included a hospital, barracks, and an arsenal. Along the Hudson River near Papscanee Island in the mid-late 19th century a large farm was occupied by Colonel Kiliaen van Rensselaer, great-grandson of his namesake and first Patroon
Patroon
In the United States, a patroon was a landholder with manorial rights to large tracts of land in the 17th century Dutch colony of New Netherland in North America...
of Rensselaerswyck, Kiliaen van Rensselaer.
In the late 1980s the descendants of the original Dutch settlers on Papscanee Island came under pressure from suburban development in the area, and the Open Space Institute
Open Space Institute
Open Space Institute is a conservation organization and think tank with an extensive mission statement. It seeks to preserve scenic, natural and historic landscapes for public enjoyment, conserve habitats while sustaining community character, and help protect the environment...
began to buy large parcels of land and development rights to surrounding areas, creating the Papscanee Preserve. In 1997 the county took charge of management and the park has been developed with informational signs, trails, picnic areas, and a central theme dedicated to the Mohican
Mohican
-Native Americans:* Mahican , a Native American tribe who lived in and around the Hudson Valley* Mohegan, a functional confederation of several branches of Native Americans during the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century...
natives of the areas.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 24.4 square miles (63.1 km²), of which, 24.1 square miles (62.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (1.03%) is water.
The western section of the town along the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
is marked by bluffs that rise to an elevation of between 100 and 300 feet. The little flat land that exists along the river is on the Papscanee Island. Papscanee Island is actually a peninsula, separated from the rest of the town by the Papscanee Creek. The town then spreads out as rolling hills rising towards the east. Mill Creek (formerly Tierken Kill
Kill (body of water)
As a body of water, a kill is a creek. The word comes from the Middle Dutch kille, meaning "riverbed" or "water channel." The modern Dutch term is kil....
) and Morden Creek are the principal streams of the town.
East Greenbush is bordered by the town of North Greenbush to the north, the town of Sand Lake
Sand Lake, New York
Sand Lake is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 7,987. The Capital District Regional Planning Commission indicates it to be 8,336 as of September 2010. The town is in the south-central part of the county...
to the east, the town of Schodack
Schodack, New York
Schodack is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 12,536 at the 2000 census. The town name is derived from the native word, Escotak. The town is in the southwestern part of the county. Schodack is southeast of Albany, New York.- History :Prior to the advent of...
to the south. To the west the town borders the city of Rensselaer
Rensselaer, New York
Rensselaer is a city in Rensselaer County, New York, United States, and is located on the Hudson River directly opposite Albany. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,392; in 1920, it was 10,832. The name is from Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original landowner of the region in New...
from the North Greenbush line to southern tip of the city, then East Greenbush's border is with Albany County
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
town of Bethlehem
Bethlehem, New York
Bethlehem is a town in Albany County, New York, USA. The population was 33,656 at the 2010 census. The town is south of Albany. Bethlehem includes the following hamlets: Delmar, Elsmere, Slingerlands, Glenmont, Selkirk, South and North Bethlehem. U.S. Route 9W passes through the town...
, the border being in the middle of the Hudson River.
Location
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 15,560 people, 6,084 households, and 4,185 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 645.8 people per square mile (249.4/km²). There were 6,281 housing units at an average density of 260.7 per square mile (100.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.01% White, 2.85% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.13% Native American, 1.94% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.
There were 6,084 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,822, and the median income for a family was $62,917. Males had a median income of $43,028 versus $31,777 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $25,503. About 1.7% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The East Greenbush Central School District serves the majority of the community, with the student population of approximately 4,600. Averill Park Central School DistrictAverill Park Central School District
Averill Park Central School District is a rural fringe public school district located east of the city of Rensselaer in south central Rensselaer County, New York. The district has five operating school buildings: three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school...
serves a very small portion of the eastern part of the town. The East Greenbush Central School District has five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
Elementary Schools
Bell Top Elementary (Troy)
Citizen Genet Elementary (East Greenbush)
Donald P. Sutherland Elementary (Nassau)
Green Meadow Elementary (Castleton)
Red Mill Elementary (Rensselaer)
Holy Spirit School (Private; Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany covers all or part of 14 counties in Eastern New York...
)
Middle School
Goff Middle School (East Greenbush)
High School
Columbia High School
Columbia High School (New York)
Columbia High School is a public high school located on Luther Road in East Greenbush, New York, USA. It is the only high school for the East Greenbush Central School District and educates around 1,501 students in grades 9-12. The school has a thirteen to one student to teacher ratio that is...
(East Greenbush)
Communities and locations in or near East Greenbush
- Best — A hamlet in the northeast part of the town by the east town line on Routes 53 and 55, north of Luther.
- Clinton Heights — A suburban neighborhood in the west part of the town.
- Couse Corners — A hamlet located on Route 4 north of the hamlet of East Greenbush, south of Exit 9 of Interstate 90.
- East GreenbushEast Greenbush (CDP), New YorkEast Greenbush is a census-designated place in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 4,085 at the 2000 census.East Greenbush is mostly within the south part of the town of East Greenbush, but a small section of the community extends southward into the town of Schodack.U.S....
— The hamlet of East Greenbush is by the south town line, located on Routes 9 and 20. It is also a census designated place by the US Census Bureau. - Hampton ManorHampton Manor, New YorkHampton Manor is a census-designated place in the town of East Greenbush in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 2,525 at the 2000 census.Hampton Manor is a suburb of the cities of Rensselaer and the Albany.-Geography:...
— A suburban neighborhood in the west part of the town. It is also a census designated place by the US Census Bureau. - Luther — A hamlet on Route 151 and east of East Greenbush hamlet near the east town line, south of Best.
- Prospect Heights — A suburban neighborhood in the west part of the town.
- Sherwood Park — A suburban neighborhood south of Columbia Turnpike (Routes 9 and 20) and west of Phillips Road (Rensselaer County Route 57).
- Woodland Park — A suburban neighborhood south of Columbia Turnpike (Routes 9 and 20) and east of Phillips Road (Rensselaer County Route 57).