Clermont is a
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an ori ...
in
Columbia County,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
, United States. The population was 1,965 at the 2010 census.
The name of the town is
French for "Clear Mountain", in reference to the mountain views in the town.
The town is in the southwestern corner of Columbia County, south of the city of
Hudson
Hudson may refer to:
People
* Hudson (given name)
* Hudson (surname)
* Henry Hudson, English explorer
* Hudson (footballer, born 1986), Hudson Fernando Tobias de Carvalho, Brazilian football right-back
* Hudson (footballer, born 1988), Hudso ...
.
History
"Clermont" was originally one of the oldest of the great estates of the mid-Hudson valley. The
Clermont Manor
The Clermont State Historic Site, also known as the Clermont estate, the Clermont Manor or just Clermont, is a New York State Historic Site in southwestern Columbia County, New York, United States. It protects
the former estate of the Livingston ...
was established in 1728, in what is now the town of Clermont. The manor was originally part of the
Livingston Manor
Livingston Manor was a tract of land in the Province of New York granted to Robert Livingston the Elder during the reign of George I of Great Britain.
History
Livingston Manor was a tract of land in the colonial Province of New York granted ...
; Clermont was a section in the southwest corner that was bequeathed to
Robert Livingston, a younger son. His descendants would come to own more than in the
Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains, also known as the Catskills, are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains, located in southeastern New York. As a cultural and geographic region, the Catskills are generally defined as those areas c ...
and more than in
Dutchess County
Dutchess County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 295,911. The county seat is the city of Poughkeepsie. The county was created in 1683, one of New York's first twelve counties, and later organ ...
.
Clermont marked the northernmost penetration by
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
troops up the
Hudson River
The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York and flows southward through the Hudson Valley to the New York Harbor between N ...
during the
American Revolution
The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...
; Livingston's home was burned because of his prominent role in the Revolution. It was rebuilt between 1779 and 1782. The house is now a
New York State Historic Site
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP) is a state agency within the New York State Executive Department Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law § 3.03. "The office of parks, recreation a ...
and a
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
.
In 1788, Clermont Manor was organized as the town of Clermont.
Clermont was the port of registry of
Robert Fulton
Robert Fulton (November 14, 1765 – February 24, 1815) was an American engineer and inventor who is widely credited with developing the world's first commercially successful steamboat, the (also known as ''Clermont''). In 1807, that steamboat ...
's first steamboat, co-owned by Livingston, which was called the ''
North River''. Today it is known as the ''Clermont''. The ruins of its dock on the
Hudson River
The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York and flows southward through the Hudson Valley to the New York Harbor between N ...
can still be found at the historic site.
The estate, and later the town, was home to seven generations of the
Livingston
Livingston may refer to:
Businesses
* Livingston Energy Flight, an Italian airline (2003–2010)
* Livingston Compagnia Aerea, an Italian airline (2011–2014), also known as Livingston Airline
* Livingston International, a North American custom ...
family until 1962.
The
Bouwerie,
Thomas Brodhead House,
Clarkson Chapel,
Clermont Academy,
Clermont Civic Historic District
Clermont Civic Historic District is a national historic district located at Clermont in Columbia County, New York. The district includes one contributing building and one contributing site: the Clermont Town Hall and the Clermont Cemetery. W ...
,
Coons House,
Hickory Hill,
Old Parsonagee,
Sixteen Mile District, and
St. Luke's Church are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 6.23%, is water.
The southern town line is the border of
Dutchess County
Dutchess County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 295,911. The county seat is the city of Poughkeepsie. The county was created in 1683, one of New York's first twelve counties, and later organ ...
, and part of the western town boundary, marked by the
Hudson River
The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York and flows southward through the Hudson Valley to the New York Harbor between N ...
, is the border of
Ulster County
Ulster County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. It is situated along the Hudson River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 181,851. The county seat is Kingston. The county is named after the Irish province of Ulster.
History
...
. The northeastern border of the town follows the
Roeliff Jansen Kill
The Roeliff Jansen Kill is a major tributary to the Hudson River. Roeliff Jansen Kill was the traditional boundary between the Native American Mahican and Wappinger tribes.
Its source is in the town of Austerlitz, New York, and its mouth is at th ...
, a tributary of the Hudson River. The border formed by the kill is, for much of its length, quite close to the town's southern border; then is its border with the town of
Germantown Germantown or German Town may refer to:
Places
Australia
* Germantown, Queensland, a locality in the Cassowary Coast Region
United States
* Germantown, California, the former name of Artois, a census-designated place in Glenn County
* Ge ...
to the west, resulting in long, narrow extensions of the town to the southeast and north.
Demographics
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 1,726 people, 593 households, and 437 families residing in the town. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 96.0 people per square mile (37.0/km
2). There were 725 housing units at an average density of 40.3 per square mile (15.6/km
2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.58%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 1.27%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.23%
Native American, 0.35%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.52% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.04% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 2.72% of the population.
There were 593 households, out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,039, and the median income for a family was $51,012. Males had a median income of $35,526 versus $26,250 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the town was $21,566. About 6.4% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Clermont
![Clermont, NY, town hall](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Clermont%2C_NY%2C_town_hall.jpg)
*Clermont – The
hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...
of Clermont in the northeastern part of the town.
*
Clermont State Historic Site
The Clermont State Historic Site, also known as the Clermont estate, the Clermont Manor or just Clermont, is a New York State Historic Site in southwestern Columbia County, New York, United States. It protects
the former estate of the Livingston ...
– A state and national historic site at the Hudson River, comprising the core of Clermont Manor.
*Cross Hill – A hamlet in the western part of town, east of the state historic site.
*
Elizaville – A hamlet in the southeastern corner of the town.
*Nevis – A hamlet south of Clermont on Route 9.
*Viewmont – A hamlet on the northern town line, north of Cross Hill.
Callendar House, Clermont
"Callendar House" was built on a bluff overlooking the river in 1794 by Henry Gilbert Livingston (1758–1817), whose country seat was next door. He was the great-grandson of
Robert Livingston the Elder
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...
through his grandfather Gilbert. In 1795 he sold it to his cousin Philip Henry Livingston (1769–1831), great-grandson of Gilbert's older brother
Philip Livingston (1686–1749), the second
Lord of Livingston Manor. Philip and his wife called it "Sunning Hill" and occupied it until 1828,
[''Historical and Genealogical Record Dutchess and Putnam Counties New York'', Press of the A. V. Haight Co., Poughkeepsie, New York, 1912]
/ref> when it was purchased by Robert L. Tillotson. In 1835, Tillotson sold the property to architect Richard T. Auchmuty.
William E. Toler acquired the premises in 1854; and then Jacob R. LeRoy, son of Herman Leroy, who founded Le Roy, Bayard & Co. Jacob's sister, Caroline LeRoy
Caroline LeRoy Webster (September 28, 1797 – February 26, 1882) was the second wife of 19th century statesman Daniel Webster.
Early life
She was a daughter of Hannah (née Cornell) LeRoy and Herman LeRoy. Her father was once head of the comm ...
married Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster (January 18, 1782 – October 24, 1852) was an American lawyer and statesman who represented New Hampshire and Massachusetts in the U.S. Congress and served as the U.S. Secretary of State under Presidents William Henry Harrison, ...
. Jacob LeRoy gave "Sunning Hill" to his daughter Charlotte, the wife of Rev. Henry De Koven. De Koven had served at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Tivoli; he founded and was first rector of Christ Church in Red Hook.
In 1860 it became the property of Johnston Livingston, and then that of his son-in-law, Geraldwyn Redmond. Livingston was on the boards of both Wells Fargo and American Express. "Callendar House" is the name of a former Livingston mansion in Fallkirk, Scotland. It was one of the names Robert Livingston had considered for the Lower Manor, but family members objected that it was a prerogative of the head of the family, and so he chose Clermont instead.
It later came into the possession of Jean de Castella, who raised thoroughbred race horses there. Castella renamed it "Tivoli".
The property included thirty-five acres. The house has a Federal-style core."History abounds along Hudson; Mansions", ''Albany Times Union'', January 12, 1999
/ref> A hall bisects the downstairs from front to back. In 1828 one-story wings were added, and around 1830, a veranda. In 1910, a living room was added to the first floor by McKim Mead & White, as well as a south wing. The murals were painted in 1921 by Olin Dows
Stephen Olin Dows (August 14, 1904 – June 6, 1981) was a United States Army artist who served in the European Theater of Operations during World War II.
Early life
Dows was born in 1904, at Irvington-on-Hudson, New York. He was the only so ...
.
References
External links
Town of Clermont official website
History of Clermont
{{authority control
*
Towns in Columbia County, New York
New York (state) populated places on the Hudson River