Kingston, NY

Kingston, New York

Introduction to Kingston, New York

Kingston is situated on the west bank of the Hudson River in Ulster County. The city has three neighborhoods known as uptown, midtown and downtown. The uptown and the downtown are historic districts. A wide variety of architecture such as Art Deco, Victorian, Greek Revival, Italianate, Neo-Classical and Romanesque are located in the city. The downtown has a prominent artist community and notable art galleries.

History

The area was originally named Esopus; the name of an Indian tribe and was one of the primary communities in New Netherland. The British took over the Dutch colony and changed the name to Kingston in 1664. It became the first capital of the state of New York in 1777. After the Battle of Saratoga was over, Kingston was set on fire by British soldiers. The fire destroyed most of the buildings and a significant granary.

The city of Rondout which is now part of Kingston, was an important freight center for moving coal from Pennsylvania to New York City. Due to major deposits of bluestone and cement the region was a prime location for quarrying, which began in 1844. The Newark Lime and Cement Company was sending cement all over the country. The brick making industry was thriving and was a significant factor for the economy.

Transportation

The city is served by the Stewart International and the Albany International Airports.

Museums

• Fred Johnston Museum has an elegant interior and features antique furniture and noteworthy artwork.
• Maritime Museum is dedicated to the maritime history of the Hudson River.
• Old Dutch Church & Museum.
• Senate House Museum is one of the oldest public buildings in the country.
• Trolley Museum.
• Volunteer Fireman's Hall & Museum of Kingston.

Attractions

• Coykendall Coach Houses.
• Rondout Lighthouse features historic furnishings.
• Van Steenburgh House.
• Henry Sleight House.
• The Historic Kingston Stockade District.
• The old village of Wiltwyck is a National Historic District, featuring numerous unique Pre-Revolutionary stone houses.
• Carnegie Library includes an attractive facade made out of bluestone, taken from local quarries.
• The Old City Hall.
• Ulster Performing Arts Center.
• Montgomery Place Historic Estate is located on a large acreage and is an architectural landmark.

Activities

The Big Indian Valley, located in the Catskill Mountains is a beautiful location and provides excellent opportunities for camping, hiking, snowshoeing and fishing. The Interpretive Nature Trail includes a wide variety of trees and offers scenic views of the Hudson River. The historic Roundout Walking tour showcases a 19th Century waterfront area named Kingston Landing, which offers different styles of architecture.

The Kingston Heritage Trail provides visitors the opportunity to see notable historic structures. There are a large number of noteworthy art galleries and theaters in the city. A cruise on the Hudson River is popular with tourists. The King Jazz Festival is a prominent event.

High Points

Kingston strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in New York):

Category	Trophy
Walking and Biking to Work (vs. Peers)	Top 10%
Racial Diversity (vs. Peers)	Top 15%
Public Transportation Use (vs. Peers)	Top 16%

Comparative Profile of Kingston, NY

Comparing Kingston to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in New York (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Racial Diversity
Female Share of the Population
Senior Citizens
Age of the Population
Well-Paid Single Women
Well-Paid Single Men
Children Under 5 Years Old
Male Share of the Population

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Average Household Size
Portion of People Married

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
College Educated Adults
Median Family Income
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Walking and Biking to Work
Public Transportation Use
Short Commute Times
Working at Home

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
People Living Alone
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Affordability of Rents
Affordability of Property Taxes
Housing Recently Built

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Property Crime
Low Violent Crime

Kingston Almanac

Kingston Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Kingston Public Libraries

More Information for Librarians

Kingston Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Political Contributions (2004)

Money donated by Kingston residents to parties and candidates for the 2004 elections.

by Political Party

by Presidential Candidate

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Kingston, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Kingston Hospitals

BENEDICTINE HOSPITAL
(Voluntary non-profit - Church)
105 MARY'S AVENUE
(845) 338-2500
Emergency Service: Yes

KINGSTON HOSPITAL
(Voluntary non-profit - Private)
396 BROADWAY
(914) 331-3131
Emergency Service: Yes

Kingston High Schools (2004)

KINGSTON HS
403 BROADWAY
845-331-1970
Serves 2,359 students.

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