Overview

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.

Demographics

People

Total Population23,210
Male Share of the Population47.5%
Female Share of the Population52.5%
Senior Citizens15.4%
Employed Population 16+11,422
Age of the Population38

Families

% of people married38%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher27.2%
Median Earnings25+$31,440
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$20,870
Median Earnings With High School Degree$27,525

Wealth

Median Family Income$58,644
% Above Poverty Level82%
% Below Poverty Level18%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time23 minutes
% Working from Home4.8%
% Walking and Biking to Work7%
% Using Public Transportation4.5%

Housing

People Living Alone35.6%
Median Gross Rent$1,054
Median House Value$169,800

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)32%
Irish18.3%
German16%
Italian15.3%
English7%
Dutch4%
Polish4%
French Except Basque3%
West Indian2.8%
Jamaican2%
Scottish1.7%
African1.5%
Russian1.3%
Greek1.1%
Hungarian0.9%
Norwegian0.8%
Canadian0.8%
Swedish0.8%
Czech0.4%
Ukrainian0.4%
Welsh0.3%
Haitian0.3%
US/American0.2%
Slovak0.2%
Arab0.2%
Danishn0.2%
Portuguese0.2%
Austrian0.2%
Nigerian0.1%
Albanian0.1%
Swiss0.1%
Romanian0.1%
Croatian0.1%
Finnish0.1%
Brazilian0.1%
Lithuanian0.1%
Jordanian0.1%
Australian0.1%
Egyptian0.1%
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Kingston Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyUlster County
Standard Zip Codes12401
P.O. Box Zip Codes12402
Phone Area Codes845, 914
Time ZoneAmerica/New_York
Approximate Latitude41.93
Approximate Longitude-73.99

Kingston Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

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

StationMOHONK LAKE
Distance13.6 miles
Jan Temp17 to 32 F
Apr Temp38 to 58 F
Jul Temp63 to 81 F
Oct Temp44 to 60 F
Annual Precip51 inches
StationMILLBROOK
Distance20.3 miles
Jan Temp12 to 34 F
Apr Temp33 to 58 F
Jul Temp56 to 81 F
Oct Temp34 to 61 F
Annual Precip42.5 inches
StationCOPAKE
Distance26.5 miles
Jan Temp11 to 33 F
Apr Temp32 to 59 F
Jul Temp57 to 84 F
Oct Temp36 to 62 F
Annual Precip42.8 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Lake Katrine2,533$69,063
Port Ewen3,442$79,297
Staatsburg403$110,000
West Hurley1,871$96,510

Kingston Public Libraries

Kingston Library
55 FRANKLIN STREET
Kingston, New York
(845) 331-0507
Town Of Ulster Public Library
860 ULSTER AVENUE
Kingston, New York
(845) 338-7881

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More Information for Librarians

Kingston Hospitals

Healthalliance Hospital - Broadway Campus
(Non-profit)
396 Broadway
(845) 331-3131
Healthalliance Hospital - Mary's Avenue Campsu
(Non-profit)
105 Mary's Avenue
(845) 338-2500

Kingston Public Schools

Chambers School
945 Morton Blvd
ZIP: 12401
(845) 336-5995
Primary
Total Enrollment 342
George Washington School
67 Wall St
ZIP: 12401
(845) 338-1978
Primary
Total Enrollment 390
Harry L Edson School
116 Merilina Ave
ZIP: 12401
(845) 338-6990
Primary
Total Enrollment 478
J Watson Bailey Middle School
Merilina Ave Ext
ZIP: 12401
(845) 338-6390
Middle
Total Enrollment 1052
John F Kennedy School
107 Gross St
ZIP: 12401
(845) 331-3174
Primary
Total Enrollment 334
Kingston High School
403 Broadway
ZIP: 12401
(845) 331-1970
High
Total Enrollment 1870

Kingston Private Schools

Center For Spectrum Services
70 Kukuk Ln
ZIP: 12401
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 110
Children's Home Of Kingston
26 Grove St
ZIP: 12401
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 49
Hudson Valley Sudbury School
84 Zena Rd
ZIP: 12401
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 39
Kingston Catholic School
159 Broadway
ZIP: 12401
Elementary
Total Enrollment 219
St Joseph School
235 Wall St
ZIP: 12401
Elementary
Total Enrollment 126
Winter Bear Montessori School
109 Albany Ave
ZIP: 12401
Elementary
Total Enrollment 2
Sources :
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Historic Kingston

photo

Old Tappan house 1906 (est.)

Select a photo to view (Source):

Old Tappan house 1906 (est.)

Old Senate House 1906 (est.)

Hoffman House c1906.

Additional Resources
Info for Kingston Government Officials


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