Columbia County

Columbia County is an administrative division in eastern New York spanning hilly and mountainous terrain. The area is marked by river valleys that connect lowlands with higher elevations across the landscape.

The area was first inhabited by Mohican Indians before Dutch traders established posts along the Hudson River starting in 1612. These early trading contacts shaped settlement and economic development across the region.

The region keeps alive farming traditions and rural ways of life that shape daily routines today. Visitors still see farms producing local goods and supplying regional markets.

The county contains several small towns and villages scattered across its territory providing local services to residents and visitors. Fall offers ideal conditions for exploring the landscape when foliage shifts color throughout the region.

Refugees from the Palatinate region arrived in the early 1700s and founded settlements that still influence religious institutions and community life. These settlers left marks in architecture and customs that visitors can still notice today.

Location: New York

Inception: 1786

Capital city: Hudson

Shares border with: Rensselaer County, Dutchess County, Ulster County, Greene County, Albany County, Berkshire County

Website: http://columbiacountyny.org

GPS coordinates: 42.25000,-73.63000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 19:07