Rensselaerville, New York
| Rensselaerville | |
| Town | |
| Official name: Town of Rensselaerville | |
| Name origin: For Stephen Van Rensselaer, patroon of Rensselaerswyck | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | New York |
| Region | Capital District |
| County | Albany |
| Elevation | 1,598 ft (487 m) |
| Coordinates | 42°28′46″N 74°10′19″W / 42.47944°N 74.17194°WCoordinates: 42°28′46″N 74°10′19″W / 42.47944°N 74.17194°W |
| Area | 61.9 sq mi (160 km2) |
| - land | 61.5 sq mi (159 km2) |
| - water | .4 sq mi (1 km2) |
| Population | 1,843 (2010) |
| Incorporation as town | 1790 |
| Government | |
| - location | Town Hall |
| Town Supervisor | Valarie Loudsbury
|
| Timezone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP Code | 12147 |
| Area code | 518 |
| FIPS code | 36-61181 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979415 |
 Location in Albany County and the state of New York.
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| Website: www.rennselaerville.com | |
Rensselaerville is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,843 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Stephen Van Rensselaer. The "official" hamlets are Cooksburg, Medusa, Potter Hollow, Preston Hollow, and Rensselaerville.
Rensselaerville was once part of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck, as such the people who farmed the land were technically leaseholders of the patroon under a feudal system, first as part of the Dutch colony of New Netherland, then under the English colony, and then U.S. state, of New York. Some of the earliest settlement in Rensselaerville was along the five Native American paths that crossed the town in the early 18th century. The southwestern corner along one of these, that connected the Hudson River to the Schoharie Valley was the first section of the town to be settled, this would be around 1712. This path was also the one used during wars between the and those at Schoharie.
In 1787, the patroon had a survey and census taken in order to enroll squatters and collect the quitrent required of settlers on his lands.
Rensselaerville was created from part of the town of Watervliet in 1790. In 1795, the northern part of the town was lost to create the new town of Berne. Additional territory was lost from the eastern part of the town upon the formation of the town of Westerlo in 1815.
In 1795, after Shays' Rebellion Daniel Shays moved from Massachusetts to Preston Hollow, a hamlet in Rensselaerville. His son became one of the leading citizens of the town.
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Wikipedia