Greene County, New York

Greene County is located in southeast central New York State, just west of the Hudson River and south of Albany.  Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general, Nathanael Greene. Its county seat is Catskill.

The northern and eastern regions are mostly low-lying plains adjacent to the Hudson; the southern and western areas rise sharply into the Catskill Mountains. The Catskill Park takes up much of the south central region.

The highest elevation is Hunter Mountain, at approximately 4,040 feet (1,232 m) above sea level; the lowest is sea level along the Hudson.

History

When counties were established in New York State in 1683, the present Greene County was divided between Albany and Ulster Counties.

Albany County was an enormous county, including the northern part of New York State as well as all of the present State of Vermont and, in theory, extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. This county was reduced in size on July 3, 1766 by the creation of Cumberland County, and further on March 16, 1770 by the creation of Gloucester County, both containing territory now in Vermont.

Then, on March 12, 1772, Albany County was divided into the counties of Albany, Tryon (now Montgomery), and Charlotte (now Washington). From 1772 to 1786 Albany County included, besides the present territory of Albany County, all of the present Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties, parts of the present Greene and Washington Counties, and a piece of what is now southwestern Vermont.

Albany County was reduced in size in 1786 by the splitting off of Columbia County; again in 1791 by the splitting off of Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties and the transfer of the Town of Cambridge to Washington County. It was further reduced in size in 1795 by the splitting off of a part that was combined with a portion of Otsego County to create Schoharie County.

Ulster County was an original county of New York State, considerably larger than the present Ulster County. It was reduced in size by the splitting off in 1797 of a part that was combined with a portion of Otsego County to create Delaware County.

In 1800 Greene County was created from portions of Albany and Ulster Counties.

History of the Town and Village of
Rensselaerville, NY

Rensselaerville township is composed of the hamlets of Rensselaerville, Medusa, Preston Hollow, Potter Hollow,
Cooksburg and Smiths Corners in the southwest corner of Albany County.
Owned from 1629 by the Dutch patroons Van Rensselaer and part of the huge Manor of Rensselaerwyck,
the area was so inaccessible that it was not settled until the late 1700’s.

Shortly after the Revolutionary War, Stephen Van Rensselaer III
advertised "free" tracts of land of 160 acres to anyone who would develop the land.
(After seven years farmers had to pay an annual rent of four fat fowls, 18 bushels of wheat and a day’s service.
The rents were perpetual and binding on subsequent purchasers of the land and the patroon reserved mineral and water rights.
These "incomplete sales" led to the Anti-Rent Rebellion 1839-1889, which influenced the wording of the
Federal Homestead Act of 1862 and opened up the west to settlement.)

Many war veterans took advantage of Van Rensselaer’s offer, coming mostly from Massachusetts, Connecticut and
eastern Long Island by boat up the Hudson River.

The first settlers were farmers. Soon mills were established along waterways to grind grain, provide lumber, and process wool for clothing.
Abundant water power and dense hemlock forests in the area made milling and leather tanning important industries.
General stores, inns, creameries, blacksmith shops and other support businesses naturally followed.

Throughout the first half of the 1800’s the town grew and prospered.
Then the forest resources began to dwindle, and rail and water transportation for goods bypassed the area.
Industry moved closer to less expensive means of transportation.
Further, as forests were cut, the land lost its ability to retain rainfall, causing a severe drop in the watershed.
One by one, the water-dependent mills went out of business. Little economic activity remained in the once-bustling hamlets.
As others left our rocky hills for better opportunities in the newly opened west, a few hardy farmers stayed on.
Today Rensselaerville is mostly residential, with an interesting blend of retirees, young professionals, and descendants of early settlers.