Rensselaer, NY

Rensselaer, New York

Introduction to Rensselaer, New York

Rensselaer, New York, in Rensselaer County, is 1 mile SE of Albany, New York and 132 miles N of New York, New York. The city is conveniently located inside the Albany-Schenectady-Troy metropolitan area. There are an estimated 7,761 people in Rensselaer.

Rensselaer History

The area was initially a part of Rensselaerwyck manor. It was then known as Greenbush. In 1815, Greenbush was incorporated as a village, and it became a city in 1897. In the same year, it was renamed Rensselaer in honor of Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, the original landowner of New Netherland. The Port of Albany-Rensselaer was constructed in 1932, which led to significant industrial development in the area.

Rensselaer and nearby Attractions

• Fort Crailo
• Henry Hudson Planetarium
• New York State Museum
• Thompson's Lake State Park
• Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site
• Berkshire Botanical Garden

Things To Do In Rensselaer

Rensselaer is home to Fort Crailo, which is also known as the Crailo State Historic Site. The Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site, the New York State Capitol, Mount Lebanon Shaker Village, the Rensselaer County Historical Society, the New York State Museum and the Watervliet Arsenal Museum are some of the historic sites and museums in the area. Peebles Island State Park, located at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers, offers fishing, hiking and picnicking opportunities, while swimming, hiking and biking can also be enjoyed at John Boyd Thacher State Park or at Thompson's Lake State Park.

Rensselaer Transportation

Albany International is the nearest major airport.

Rensselaer Higher Education

Siena College, SUNY at Albany, Hudson Valley Community College and Excelsior College are among the nearby colleges.

High Points

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

Category	Trophy
Public Transportation Use (vs. Peers)	Top 13%
Short Commute Times (vs. State)	Top 17%

Comparative Profile of Rensselaer, NY

Comparing Rensselaer 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
Female Share of the Population
Well-Paid Single Women
Children Under 5 Years Old
Racial Diversity
Well-Paid Single Men
Senior Citizens
Age of the Population
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
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty
College Educated Adults
Median Family Income

Commute & Sprawl

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

Housing

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

Crime

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

Rensselaer Almanac

Rensselaer Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

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

Rensselaer Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Rensselaer, 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

Rensselaer Public Libraries

More Information for Librarians

Rensselaer High Schools (2004)

RENSSELAER HS
555 BROADWAY
518-436-8561
Title I eligible, not participating.
Serves 293 students.

Rensselaer Colleges

(List of All New York Colleges)

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