Editing Hillsdale, New York

{{distinguish|text = Hillsdale, a hamlet in [[Granville, New York]]}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Hillsdale, New York
| settlement_type                 = [[Administrative divisions of New York#Town|Town]]
<!-- Images -->| image_skyline                   = Hillsdale, NY.jpg
| image_caption                   = Hillsdale hamlet
| image_flag                      = 
| image_seal                      = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map                       = Columbia County New York incorporated areas Hillsdale highlighted.svg
| map_caption                     = Location of Hillsdale, New York
| pushpin_map                     = <!-- Location -->
| coordinates                     = {{coord|42.179|N|73.523|W|region:US-NY|display=inline,title}} 
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = United States
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[New York (state)|New York]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in New York|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Columbia County, New York|Columbia]]
| established_title               = 
| established_date                = <!-- Government -->
| government_type                 = [[Town Council]]
| leader_title                    = [[Town Supervisor]]
| leader_name                     = D. Michael Dvorchak ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| leader_title1                   = [[Town Council]]
| leader_name1                    = {{Collapsible list
| title             = Members' List
| frame_style       = border:none; padding: 0;
| title_style       = <!-- (optional) -->
| list_style        = text-align:left;display:none;
| 1 = • Tom Carty ([[United States Democratic Party|D]])
| 2 = • Joanna Virello ([[United States Democratic Party|D]])
| 3 = • Jamie Carano Nordenstrom ([[United States Democratic Party|D]])
| 4 = • Irwin Feld ([[United States Democratic Party|D]])
}}
<!-- Area -->| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_total_km2                  = 124.03
| area_land_km2                   = 123.61
| area_water_km2                  = 0.42
| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_m                     = 293
| elevation_ft                    = 961
<!-- Population -->| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 1831
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_km2          =  
<!-- General information -->| timezone                        = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset                      = -5
| timezone_DST                    = EDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = -4
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code                     = 12529
| area_code                       = [[Area code 518|518]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 36-021-34748
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 0979068
| website                         = {{URL|www.hillsdaleny.com}}
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| pop_est_footnotes               = 
| population_est                  = 
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2016">{{cite web|title=2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2016_Gazetteer/2016_gaz_place_36.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 4, 2017}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi                = 47.89
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 47.72
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.16
| population_density_sq_mi        = 38.64
| name                            = 
}}
'''Hillsdale''' is a town in eastern [[Columbia County, New York|Columbia County]], [[New York (state)|New York]], near the New York - Massachusetts border and [[Great Barrington, Massachusetts]]. New York state routes [[New York State Route 22|22]] and [[New York State Route 23|23]] intersect near the town center, which is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The town has several restaurants and a general store, among other businesses. Hillsdale is known for its hilly landscape and is near [[Bash Bish Falls]], [[Taconic State Park]], and the [[Catamount Ski Area]].  The [[Harlem Valley Rail Trail]], a 26-mile bike path in two sections, is located not far from the intersection of routes 22 and 23.

== History ==
Much of what would become the town of Hillsdale was part of the [[Manor of Rensselaerswyck]]. Due to overlapping boundary lines, portions of the eastern part were claimed by the Province of Massachusetts.  Kakeout was established by settlers from New England who raised sheep.<ref name=parmet>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110811083448/http://hillsdaleny.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/HillsdaleHistory.cwk-WP.pdf Parmet, Herbert S., "Hillsdale, A History"]</ref> Around 1745, Martin Krum is reported to have purchased 800 acres in the western portion of the town from the [[Van Rensselaer (family)|Van Rensselaer family]]. Robert Noble and his associates procured the Indian title to land about five miles square in the eastern part and called it Nobletown. The Van Resselaers and the Livingstons leased land on their vast estates to tenant farmers, but those who had emigrated from Massachusetts did not recognized the landlords' titles. The dispute was not settled until 1773.

In 1776 [[Henry Knox]] passed through Hillsdale while transporting cannons from [[Albany, New York]], to aid the Continentals in the [[siege of Boston]]. Two markers are posted in Hillsdale along the [[Henry Knox Trail]].{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

This territory was taken from the town of [[Claverack, New York|Claverack]] in 1782.<ref name=parmet/> The Columbia Turnpike was chartered by the state legislature in 1799. The road ran from the Massachusetts state line to the Hudson River port of Hudson as a way to bring farm produce, especially wool, rye, and wheat from the farm communities downriver to New York City. Revenues from tolls covered construction and maintenance. The East Gate tollhouse was located in Hillsdale. In 2016, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.<ref>[https://www.friendsofeastgate.org/history "East Gate in Context", Friends of East Gate]</ref>

The [[Dr. Joseph P. Dorr House]] and [[Pine View Farm]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris 2010a">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[Image:Alford - Entering NY.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Route 71 enters Hillsdale from [[Alford, Massachusetts]].  Note the Knox Trail marker at the foot of the town line sign.]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|124.0|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|123.6|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.4|km2|disp=flip}}, or 0.34%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US3602134748| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212152004/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US3602134748| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Hillsdale town, Columbia County, New York| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=December 10, 2014}}</ref>

The eastern town line is the New York–[[Massachusetts]] border, along the [[Taghkanic Mountains|Taghkanic Mountain range]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 2511
|1830= 2446
|1840= 2470
|1850= 2123
|1860= 2552
|1870= 2083
|1880= 1939
|1890= 1554
|1900= 1390
|1910= 1504
|1920= 1052
|1930= 968
|1940= 1050
|1950= 1183
|1960= 1299
|1970= 1447
|1980= 1648
|1990= 1793
|2000= 1744
|2010= 1927
|2020= 1831
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref> 2020<ref>US Census Bureau, 2020 Census Report, Hillsdale town, Columbia County, New York https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?searchType=web&cssp=SERP&q=Hillsdale%20town,%20Columbia%20County,%20New%20York Accessed December 29, 2022</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,744 people, 721 households, and 485 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|36.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,133 housing units at an average density of {{convert|23.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 97.88% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.63% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.46% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.52% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.52% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.61% of the population.

There were 721 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90.

Age groups in the town were spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,156, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $30,893 versus $25,694 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $27,186.  About 4.7% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

== Communities and locations ==
*'''Harlemville''' &ndash; The [[hamlet (New York)|hamlet]] of Harlemville is located in the northwestern corner of the town on County Route 21. It is the home of Hawthorne Valley Farm Store and its Waldorf school. The [[Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Harlemville and Cemetery]] were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.<ref name="nris 2009a">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>
*'''Hillsdale Hamlet''' &ndash; The hamlet of Hillsdale is located on the southern border of the town, next to the [[Copake, New York|Copake]] town line. It is at the junction of state routes [[New York State Route 22|22]] and [[New York State Route 23|23]]. The [[Hillsdale Hamlet Historic District]] was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2010 due to its abundance of pre-1900 buildings, including the recently-restored{{as of?|date=March 2023}} Hillsdale General Store and three historic inns: Hillsdale House, Mount Washington House, and a 1790 brick structure that formerly housed the Aubergine restaurant. The Hillsdale Hamlet Park offers playground equipment for children and a basketball court. A town flea market is held in the park over Memorial Day weekend. An extension of the [[Harlem Valley Rail Trail]] terminates in the hamlet. The 1.5-mile extension was paved in spring 2017.
*'''North Hillsdale''' &ndash; A hamlet near the center of Hillsdale on Route 22, originally the location of Nobletown. The [[North Hillsdale Methodist Church]] was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.<ref name="nps">{{cite web |date=October 8, 2010 |title=National Register of Historic Places |url=http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20101008.htm |work=Weekly list of actions taken on properties: 9/27/10 through 10/01/10 |publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
*'''Roeliff Jansen Park''', a state park run by the town of Hillsdale, has miles of hiking and snowshoeing trails, a year-round dog run, many family events, and a summer program for children, as well as a weekly Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market in the summer and fall. The park is located on Route 22 in the town of Copake, approximately one mile south of the intersection of Routes 22 and 23. 
*Across from the park is the '''Roeliff Jansen Community Library''', which also serves the towns of Copake and [[Ancram, New York|Ancram]]. 

==Festivals and celebrations==
[[File:Hillsdale, NY, town hall.jpg|thumb|right|Town hall|alt=A small brick building in a neoclassical style, with two columns beside the main entrance and a gabled roof, seen from its front right, in the shade of a tall spruce tree. A sign next to the steps up from the street says "Hillsdale Town Hall".]]
The Oldtone Music Festival is held at Cool Whisper Farm on Route 21 in early September. Grass Fed Arts/Oldtone preserves roots music and traditional folkways through artist and audience participation; connecting neighbors, bridging cultures, and sharing insight and wisdom across generations.<ref>https://www.oldtone.org/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>

==Notable residents, past and present==
*[[Brian Denis Cox]], Scottish actor, HBO series ''Succession'', Broadway plays ''Great Society'', ''Pretenders'', ''Strange but True''
*[[James Agee]], writer
*[[Samuel Birdsall]], U.S. congressman, studied law with [[Martin Van Buren]]
*[[Squire S. Case]], New York legislator
*[[Peter Kane Dufault]], poet
*[[Anna Roosevelt Halsted]], writer
*[[John Krum]], attorney, jurist, and mayor of St. Louis, Missouri and Alton, Illinois<ref>{{Cite book |last=Conard |first=Howard Louis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dxPVAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA561 |title=Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri: A Compendium of History and Biography for Ready Reference |date=1901 |publisher=Southern History Company |page=561 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Henry Augustus Loop]], painter
*[[John F. Collin]], U.S. Congressman (1845-1846), Farmer, Historian<ref>https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C000632 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> 
*[[John Cowper Powys]], writer<ref>Helen Dreiser, ''My Life With Dreiser'', Cleveland and New York: The World Publishing Company, 1951, p. 56</ref>
*[[Michael Lally (poet)|Michael Lally]], Irish American poet, actor<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sevenstories.com/books/4075-another-way-to-play|title = Another Way to Play}}</ref>
*[[Walton Goggins]], Actor, HBO series ''The White Lotus, Season 3'', ''Fallout''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Hillsdale, New York}}
* [http://www.hillsdaleny.com Town of Hillsdale official website]
{{Columbia County, New York}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Columbia County, New York]]
[[Category:Towns in New York (state)]]
[[Category:1788 establishments in New York (state)]]