Greenport is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 4,473 at the 2020 census, up from 4,165 in the 2010. The town is on the western border of the county and surrounds the city of Hudson on three sides. It is the third largest municipality in southern Columbia County, after Claverack and Hudson. Olana State Historic Site is located in the southern part of the town. It was the former home of Hudson artist Frederic Edwin Church and is decorated in a Persian style.

History

The region was explored by Henry Hudson in 1609. The town was established in 1837 from part of the city of Hudson and was previously part of the town of Claverack. Greenport was the last town founded in the county. The Van Salsbergen House, built about 1700, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. Also listed are the Columbia Turnpike-West Tollhouse, Turtle House, and Henry (Hendrick) I. Van Rensselaer House.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Greenport has a total area of 53.1 km2, of which 48.2 km2 is land and 4.9 km2, or 9.18%, is water. The western town line is defined by the city of Hudson and the center of the Hudson River, with Greene County on the opposite shore. The town of Stockport is north of Greenport. East of Greenport is Claverack, and south of the town is Livingston US 9 passes through the town. New York Route 23B runs east-west through the town. The New York Route 23 bridge in the southern part of the town connects Greenport to the village of Catskill.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,180 people, 1,777 households, and 1,144 families residing in the town. The population density was 222.7 PD/sqmi. There were 1,896 housing units at an average density of 101.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 91.10% White, 5.10% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.84% from other races, and 1.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.49% of the population. There were 1,777 households, out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% 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 2.83. In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males. The median income for a household in the town was $37,394, and the median income for a family was $47,452. Males had a median income of $35,250 versus $26,381 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,543. About 6.1% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Greenport

Notable people