Rensselaer, New York

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Rensselaer, New York
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of New York
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New York
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Rensselaer
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 8.6
area_land_km2 = 7.8
area_water_km2 = 0.8
area_total_sq_mi = 3.3
area_land_sq_mi = 3.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.3

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 7761
population_density_km2 = 995.8
population_density_sq_mi = 2579.2

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 5
elevation_ft = 16
latd = 42 |latm = 38 |lats = 48 |latNS = N
longd = 73 |longm = 44 |longs = 1 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 12144
area_code = 518
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 36-61148
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0962384
website =
footnotes =

Rensselaer is a city in Rensselaer County, New York, U.S., located on the Hudson River, directly opposite Albany. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,761; in 1920, it was 10,832. The name is from Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, the original landowner of the region in New Netherland.

The City of Rensselaer is on the west border of the county.

History

The area was part of the Rensselaerwyck manor. Rensselaer was originally called Greenbush. The village of Greenbush within the Town of Greenbush was incorporated in 1815. In 1897, Greenbush was chartered as a city, and its name was changed to Rensselaer. Its limits were extended in 1902 by the annexation of the village of Bath and the western part of the Town of East Greenbush.

Rensselaer is home to historic Fort Crailo.

Geography

Rensselaer is located at coor dms|42|38|48|N|73|44|1|W|city (42.646713, -73.733743)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.6 km²), of which, 3.0 square miles (7.8 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) of it (9.61%) is water.

The city lies next to the Hudson River with Albany County and the City of Albany on the opposite shore. The towns of North Greenbush and East Greenbush in the county, border the city.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,761 people, 3,397 households, and 1,946 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,579.2 people per square mile (995.5/km²). There were 3,713 housing units at an average density of 1,233.9/sq mi (476.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.11% White, 7.06% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of the population.

There were 3,397 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,730, and the median income for a family was $40,688. Males had a median income of $29,685 versus $26,291 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,674. About 9.8% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Rail Transportation

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Rensselaer through the Albany-Rensselaer Rail Station. The Rensselaer stop also serves Albany, New York, the state capital, and Troy, New York and is designated in the Amtrak timetable as Albany-Rensselaer. Six Empire Service trains run from Albany-Rensselaer to New York City on weekday mornings and several depart for NY in the evening,returning and terminating at Albany-Rensselaer in the afternoon and late evening. Other Empire Service trains are shown in the table. One section of the Lake Shore Limited originates in New York City and one section originates in Boston. The two sections are joined at Albany-Rensselaer and travel on to Chicago, Illinois as a single train. The eastbound Lake Shore Limited reverses the process at Albany-Rensselaer and splits into two trains for onward travel.

References

External links