Castleton-on-Hudson

History

Castleton gets its name from the exploration of the North (Hudson) River by Henry Hudson. While traveling up the river, he came upon a Mahican Indian village noted for a large structure located on a rise above the river. This structure was a storehouse for foodstuffs, but was of such size that it was thought to be a "castle". Another theory for the derivation of the name "Castleton" comes from Rutherford Hayner's Troy and Rensselaer County New York: A History (1925). Hayner states "Although the exact location of this landing of Hudson's has been more or less conjectural, the weight of opinion places it at or near the present site of the village of Castleton, for on Castle Hill, back of the village, stood the dwelling of the chief of the Mohicans." The area of Castleton was settled in 1792. When the small village was incorporated into Rensselaer County on April 13, 1827, there were about 100 people living in the area, mostly along the banks of the river. Between 1890 and 1920, the village had a booming economy, with small industry, a hotel, and a small port to gain access to river traffic. However, a large flood destroyed much of the business district in 1936, and the industry took the opportunity to relocate. These days the town is a very residential suburb, with some light agriculture. The name of the village was changed from Castleton to Castleton-on-Hudson in 1927. The Gazetteer of the State of New York of 1860 reports that Castleton was formerly known as Morriches Hastie. (JH French, 1860) The District School No. 3 and Joachim Staats House and Gerrit Staats Ruin are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land. The village is on the east bank of the Hudson River.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  21,879
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  21,215
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  19,537
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  18,980
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  18,338
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  17,806
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  16,954
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  15,904

Most recent

• M 3.1 — 2020-03-11
  0 km SSW of South Glens Falls, New York
• M 2.79 — 2015-09-27
  New York
• M 2.76 — 2011-08-27
  5 km WSW of Altamont, New York
• M 2.69 — 2011-08-25
  5 km WSW of Altamont, New York
• M 3.15 — 2009-12-13
  15 km N of Medusa, New York
• M 2.56 — 2009-12-13
  14 km N of Medusa, New York