Kingston, New York

Kingston is a city in Ulster County, New York, United States. It is the county seat and had a population of 24,069 as of the 2020 census. The city is located where the Rondout Creek meets the Hudson River, about 91 miles north of New York City and 59 miles south of Albany.

In 1777, Kingston became New York's first capital. However, during the American Revolutionary War, it was burned by British forces after the Battles of Saratoga. Albany became the state capital in 1797.

During the 1800s, Kingston grew as a key transport hub after natural cement was discovered there in 1825. The city's strong connections by railroad and the Erie Canal helped its economy. Today, many older buildings from that time are part of historic districts, such as the Stockade District and the Rondout-West Strand Historic District, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

Kingston has been home to the Esopus people for a long time. In 1614, the Dutch set up a trading post nearby, swapping European goods for furs. The Dutch settlers and the Esopus people didn’t always agree, especially about land and trade.

In 1654, more settlers arrived and took land from the Esopus. Tensions grew until fights broke out. In 1665, a peace treaty was made, allowing both groups to live together peacefully for many years.

In 1669, the English renamed the settlement Kingston. In 1777, Kingston was chosen as the first capital of New York state while New York City was occupied. Sadly, British soldiers burned the city that same year.

Kingston became an official city in 1872 after joining together with nearby villages.

Rondout

Main article: Rondout, New York

Rondout was a quiet farming village until a canal was built in 1825. This brought many workers and made Rondout a busy place for shipping coal and cement. Later, railroads changed the way things were moved, and Rondout’s role changed.

Wilbur

Wilbur was a small community where bluestone was loaded onto ships to build sidewalks in New York City.

Geography

Kingston has three main neighborhoods: the Uptown Stockade Area, the Midtown Area, and the Downtown Waterfront Area. The Uptown Stockade District was the first capital of New York State. Midtown is known for its early 20th-century industries and has important buildings like the Ulster Performing Arts Center and City Hall.

The downtown area, once called Rondout, is now the Rondout-West Strand Historic District. It borders Rondout Creek, which flows into the Hudson River. This area is known for its artists and art galleries and hosts fun events like the Kingston Jazz Festival and the Artists Soapbox Derby.

Midtown is the largest neighborhood and includes Kingston High School, a historic library, and two hospital campuses. The Uptown area feels old and charming, with many buildings from the 1600s and 1700s, including the Senate House, which was used as the state capitol during a big historical event. The city covers 8.6 square miles, with part of it on the west bank of the Hudson River.

The city is next to the towns of Hurley, Saugerties, Rhinebeck, and Red Hook.

Demographics

2020 census

According to the 2020 census, Kingston had a population of 24,069 people. The median age was 40.1 years, with 20.2% of residents being under 18 and 18.1% being 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 91.8 males aged 18 and over.

Almost all residents, 99.9%, lived in urban areas, with only 0.1% in rural areas. There were 10,407 households, and 25.0% of them had children under 18. Of all households, 30.2% were married couples, 24.0% had a male householder without a spouse, and 35.2% had a female householder without a spouse. About 38.8% of households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.

There were 11,571 housing units, with 10.1% being vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%, and the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%.

2010 census

In the 2010 census, the city had 23,887 people, 9,844 households, and 5,498 families. The population density was 3,189.5 persons per square mile. There were 10,637 housing units. The racial makeup was 73.2% White, 14.6% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 1.80% Asian, 1.90% from other races, and 5.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 13.4% of the population.

2000 census

The 2000 census reported 9,871 households, with 27.0% having children under 18. About 35.2% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder without a husband, and 44.3% were non-families. Some 36.8% of households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28, and the average family size was 3.02.

The population ages ranged from 23.9% under 18, to 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

The median household income was $31,594, and the median family income was $41,806. Males earned a median income of $31,634, while females earned $25,364. The city's per capita income was $18,662. About 12.4% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under 18 and 10.3% of those 65 or older.

Arts and culture

Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Ulster County, New York

The O+ Festival is a fun music and arts event held in Kingston. It brings together many artists and musicians to share their talents with the community.

Sports

Kingston Stockade FC is a men's soccer team that plays in the National Premier Soccer League. They play their home games at Dietz Stadium.

In 1921, a former baseball player named Dutch Schirick started a local team called the Colonels in Kingston. Sometimes, big league teams would play friendly games against them and even find new players from the area. One of these players, Bud Culloton, later played for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Parks and recreation

The city has a place called Hasbrouck Park. It was made in 1920 and covers 45 acres. The park has a nature trail where people can walk and enjoy the outdoors.

Government

See also: List of mayors of Kingston, New York

Kingston has a mayor and a city council called the Common Council. The Common Council has 10 members, with nine elected from different parts of the city and one elected by everyone in the city. The mayor is chosen by all the city's voters every four years.

Steve Noble became mayor in 2015.

List of notable mayors:

Education

The Kingston City School District serves the whole city and has seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. Kingston High School is the main public high school in the area.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York also runs Catholic schools in Ulster County. The Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster (KCSU) is a branch of the local community college. It offers many courses and programs, including training for police officers, human services, and criminal justice.

Media

Kingston has several newspapers, such as the Daily Freeman and Kingston Times. You can also find more information in the List of newspapers in New York in the 18th-century#Kingston.

The city has its own public-access television channel, channel 23, and News 12.

Radio stations based in Kingston include WAMK (90.9 FM), WGHQ (920 AM), WKNY (1490 AM/107.9 FM), and WKXP (94.3 FM).

Print publications in Kingston include Chronogram and Trends Journal.

Infrastructure

Transportation

You can take a bus to New York City every day. The trip takes about two hours.

There used to be train service to Kingston Union Station, but it stopped in 1958. Today, Amtrak trains stop near Rhinecliff–Kingston, which is about 11 miles away. You can also catch a train at the Poughkeepsie station, which is about 17 miles south.

There are roads like U.S. Highway 9W and the New York State Thruway that go through Kingston. The Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge is the closest bridge that crosses the Hudson River.

The Kingston–Ulster Airport serves the area, with bigger airports like Stewart International Airport and Albany International Airport not too far away.

Local buses run around the city, and there are buses that go to other places in Ulster County too.

Kingston used to be a very important place for travel, with rivers, canals, and railroads helping people and goods move around. Today, there are museums like the Hudson River Maritime Museum and the Trolley Museum of New York that show how Kingston helped people travel long ago.

Healthcare

People in Kingston and nearby areas go to HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley for healthcare. It has two campuses and is part of a bigger healthcare network.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Kingston, New York

Kingston, New York, has been home to many interesting people throughout history. Some of these individuals have made important contributions in fields like entertainment, sports, and more. The city continues to be a place where people from all walks of life come together.