Kinderhook, New York

Kinderhook, New York
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
 • Total
32.41 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)
 • Total
8,330
 • Density260/sq mi (99/km2)
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.

  1. ^ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  2. ^ U.S. Census, 2020, 'Kinderhook town, Columbia County, New York'