Rensselaer County is part of a region that boasts an unrivaled combination of travel access, skilled labor, intellectual capital and recreational activities. An integral part of the Tech Valley Region of New York, Rensselaer County is among the fastest-growing metro areas in the United States, with a positive employment outlook that exceeds national averages.
A wide variety of industries flourish here, from technology companies to retailers, health care organizations to construction companies and from educational institutions to transportation companies. This diversity contributes to the economic vitality of the region. Discover more about why life looks good in Rensselaer County.
Did You Know?
- Many historical figures called Rensselaer County home. Educator Emma Willard, financier Russell Sage and others have all left lasting academic and philanthropic legacies. Samuel B. Wilson, known as "Uncle Sam" is buried at Troy's beautiful Oakwood Cemetery and is memorialized with a 15-foot high aluminum statue in downtown Troy. In 1864, Kate Mullany and Ester Keegan established the nation's first female labor union, "The Collar Laundry." Visitors can still view Ms. Mullany's house, which is a historical landmark.
- A replacement for the original Liberty Bell (cast in 1876 for the Centennial) that hangs today in the bell tower of Independence Hall, Philadelphia was produced in Troy. This bell weighs 13,000 pounds, a thousand pounds for each of the original thirteen States.
- The patriotic "Yankee Doodle," a wartime marching song, is said to have been composed at the Van Rensselaer Manor House, Fort Crailo, in the City of Rensselaer, where today a museum commemorates the legend.
- The American classic, "Twas the Night Before Christmas," was penned in 1823 by Clement Clarke Moore and published in the "Troy Sentinel." A plaque located on historic River Street in the antiques district marks the site of the former newspaper building.
- It was in the Village of Hoosick Falls that an art collector named Louis Caldor discovered an appealing display of primitive and colorful art at the local drugstore. The artist was an untrained woman in her 70s. Since then, Grandma Moses' works have gone on to immortalize the everyday rural life of Rensselaer County and are sought-after by art collectors.
- There are more than 55 waterfalls in Rensselaer County, adding to the beauty of the area and its quality of life. Historically, these waterfalls powered everything from grist mills to iron works, providing a natural source of energy that assisted the region in becoming an important leader in the industrial revolution. Today, the waterfalls boost the area's attraction for tourists.
- Rensselaer County has more authentic Tiffany brand windows per square mile than anywhere else. Some of the finest examples are installed at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Troy, built in 1826 and remodeled by the Tiffany Glass and Decoration Co. in the 1890's. The church's windows attract enthusiasts from all over the globe.
- Under the patronage of Stephen van Rensselaer, in 1824 Troy became the home of the first strictly scientific academic institution in the United States, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. It trained students who later helped found the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Sheffield Scientific School at Yale.
Proximity to Cities in New York State:
- Albany: 7 miles
- Binghamton: 145 miles
- Buffalo: 290 miles
- New York: 160 miles
- Plattsburgh: 155 miles
- Rochester: 230 miles
- Syracuse: 150 miles
Other Major Cities:
- Boston: 175 miles
- Hartford: 100 miles
- Providence: 170 miles
- Burlington, Vermont: 145 miles
- Concord, New Hampshire: 145 miles
- Portland, Maine: 275 miles
- Philadelphia: 230 miles
- Pittsburgh: 450 miles
- Scranton, Pennsylvania: 190 miles
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: 275 miles
- Baltimore, Maryland: 335 miles
- Washington, D.C.: 370 miles
- Trenton: 205 miles
- Atlantic City: 275 miles
- Cleveland: 470 miles
- Alexandria, Virginia: 380 miles
- Montreal: 220 miles
