HUDSON
VALLEY REGION
The
Hudson Valley is divided up into 3 regions: Lower, Middle, and Upper. It is a physiographic section of the larger
Valley and Ridge province. The Valley
and Ridge province is part of the Appalachian physiographic division.[i] From the beginning, the first people settled
along the banks of the river. The Algonquin-speaking
Mahican and the Munsee Native Americans called River Indians made their homes
near the banks using the water for transportation, food, and drink.[ii] The Europeans arrived in the 17th
century. In 1609, Englishman Henry
Hudson sailed up the river and claimed land for the Dutch. The river is named after Hudson. The Dutch settlement in 1610 created the
trading post, Fort Nassau, where European goods were exchanged for beaver
pelts. Years after Hudson’s
explorations, the Dutch West India Company was given permission to settle and
rule the area. Fort Nassau was then replaced
by Fort Orange.[iii]
The
French and Indian War in the 1750s was fought between the British defenses
against the French invasion from Canada.
During the war, Albany was an important stop because its river location
allowed easy shipment of supplies for the troops. The French brought other businesses other
than just the fur trade into the area.
Farmers were producing wheat, the timber industry was increasing, and
stone docks were made to anchor boats. Outbound
vessels carried flour, fish, lumber, and horses while boats from the West
Indies imported loads of rum and sugar.
Ships from Europe brought dry goods such as hardware and wines. The area continued to grow by bringing people
from New York City to up to the Catskills.
The steamboat was invented and provided quick and easy access to the
northern part of the Hudson River.[iv]
The
Erie Canal was completed in 1825 and became one of the nation’s main methods of
trade. The canal opened the Hudson
Valley and New York City to trade with the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. The 19th century progressed and
businesses flourished in the Upper Hudson Valley. The American Express Co. was founded and in
1861, a meeting on slavery resulted in wealthy families being able to own three
or four slaves. Albany became the
state’s capital.[v]
As
the decades passed, more industries and rail lines were developed causing the
Hudson Valley’s forests to be cut down.
Sewage and industrial wastes were beginning to take affect the river. More and more industries were settling along
the banks of the Hudson and created more waste to be dumped into the
Hudson. This affected the water’s
quality tremendously that it killed fish and aquatic species. Con Edison had proposed to build a major
hydro-electric plant at Storm King Mountain which caused a battle and began the
environmental movement. The battle went
on for 17 years resulting in Con Edison giving up his plan. He donated the land purchased for the plant
to be used as a park. However, the Fort
Edwards and Hudson Falls facilities continued to dump dangerous PCBs into the
river which led to more environmental battles.
The company was banned and was ordered to clean up. PCB levels have dropped but recently levels
have increased downstream as the tide and currents shake up the settled PCB-ridden
silt.[vi]
The Hudson River has played a tremendous role in the
Hudson Valley’s early commercial, military, and cultural history.
[i] “Physicographic divisions of the
conterminous U.S.” U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2007-12-06
[ii] Ruttenburg, Edward
Manning (1872). History of the Indians tribes of the Hudson’s River: Their Origin,
Manners and Customs, Tribal and Sub-tribal Organizations, Wars, Treaties, etc.
Alabany, NY: J. Munsell
[iii] Gehring, Charles T.;
Starna, William A., “Dutch and Indians in the Hudson Valley: The Early Period”.
Wermuth et. Al., pp. 13-29.
[iv] Thomas, A and Smith,
P; Upstate down: thinking about New York
and its discontents University Press of America 2009, p78.
[v] Stanne, Stephen P.,
et. Al. (1996). The Hudson: An
Illustrated Guide to the Living River, p. 120. Rutgers University Press.
[vi] “Frequently Asked
Questions”. Hudson River PCBs. New
York, NY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 2011-09-29.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANNOTATED LINKS
The Riverkeeper
organization is a member-supported site that is dedicated to defend the Hudson
River and protect the drinking water. The
Riverkeeper address is located in Ossining, NY.
Riverkeeper focuses on the restoration of the Hudson River ecosystem,
with particular emphasis on minimizing fish kills and water population. The website provides tons of information on
the Hudson
River
and news
and events. There is information provided on the Hudson
River water quality that lists places in the Hudson Valley to show what
water is acceptable under the standards of the EPA. The site includes a link on how you can get
involved
by becoming a member, taking action, and showing support.
The Pfeiffer Center is located in Chestnut
Ridge, NY and the mission of the center is to practice, teach, and spread
awareness of the biodynamic method of agriculture and land care. The Pfeiffer Center is widely known for its
beekeeping workshops and draft horses for horsepower. There is a link to sign up for workshops and events. An example workshop is How to Begin a
Vegetable Garden and an example event is Community Earth Day Gathering. There are internship programs where
participants will receive a certificate of completion. There are even children’s programs that
provide educational activities and lessons on nature. The site provides a link of articles and resources which gives tons of
information on biodynamics farming and management, gardening, and so much more.
Spectra was formed in 1933 and is an
integrated company comprised of environmentalists and engineers. Spectra’s headquarters are located in Latham,
NY but also maintains offices in Syracuse and Poughkeepsie. Spectra has about 40 employees who specialize
in environmental engineering, infrastructure engineering, mining services,
surveying and ground penetrating radar, and other services. The site provides news
and links
which explain the projects Spectra is currently in or has achieved. The site also has a list of available
positions and employment
opportunities.
The Mid-Hudson Chapter Adirondack
Mountain Club, in cooperation with the Department of Environmental
Conservation, is dedicated to the protection and responsible recreational use
of the New York Forest Preserve, parks, and other wild lands and water. Most of the members live in the Ulster and
Dutchess counties. The mission of the
Conservation Committee is to support the ADK Club and be involved in projects
related to land-use, water quality, urban sprawl, reduction of pollution, and
the wise use of natural and other resources.
The site provides membership
information
on how to become a member and the satisfaction it brings. There are many adventurous outings such as
hiking and paddling that the members take part of and the updated schedule is listed on the
site. There are even photographs of some of the
outings that the members participated in.
Hudsonia is a non-profit institute
for research, education, and technical assistance in the environmental
sciences. Since 1981, Hudsonia has
conducted environmental research, education, training and technical assistance
to protect the natural heritage of the Hudson Valley and neighboring regions. Hudsonia addresses emerging environmental
issues
that affect wildlife and plants, and most importantly, our future. Hudsonia’s program of research has focused on
a broad range of topics and provides
information on each. The site gives
information on how you can volunteer, become employed, donate, sponsor, and
support Hudsonia.
ECONOMIC ANNOTATED LINKS
The HudsonValley
Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC), located in New Windsor New York, is
the single source for companies who are considering relocating or expanding in
the seven counties of the Hudson Valley.
The HVEDC provides comprehensive market data that include economic
indicators and workforce information. It
also provides up-to-date information about buildings and sites available in the
seven counties of the Hudson Valley. The
site provides a search toolbar where businesses can relocate and narrow
their search by type (building or land), county, and square feet. The site also provides a list of new companies and gives the
location, industry, and additional notes of each new company. There is helpful and useful information on
regional data. It
lists everything based on employment, household income, hospitals, schools,
population, and wages by major industry for each county in the Hudson Valley.
The Regional Economic
Development Councils represents the 10 regions of New York State and you can
click each region to find out about their economic development plans. The Hudson Valley region’s strategic plan to create jobs
contains information on how to obtain long term economic growth, align state
resources with priority projects, identify resources from public and private
sector, reduce obstacles to growth, and continually update and improve the
strategies. The site shows the Hudson Valley region in terms of the physical and
environmental built, economic environment, and policy environment. Under
the economic environment, it explains information on the key regional assests,
major economic development projects, and the regional issues/challenges.
The Sustainable Hudson Valley (SHV)
is a regional organization who promotes an economic strategy that is based on
environmental and community revitalization.
SHV works to build and create an economy that works for everyone, while
caring about jobs and business opportunities as well as protecting nature and
its environment. The website is based on
expanding “green jobs.” SHV provides
stories that were in the news that are based on
economic green issues. The site shows
how you can get
involved by helping with fundraising, research, and
special projects.
The
purpose of the Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation (HVADC) is
the development, promotion, enhancement, and retention of the agricultural
industry and its associated economic and agricultural benefits. It differs itself from other economic
development entities by focusing on a narrow set of industry clusters such as
production agriculture, value-added food processing, agro/culinary tourism and
a few others. The HVADC strives to
enhance the farm businesses and strengthen the agricultural industry. The site provides news and events that shows the current events, plans, and
topics associated with the HVADC. The
site explains who they can help whether you have a small family farm to a
large horticultural enterprise.
The Hudson Valley Pattern for
Progress located in Newburgh NY, promotes regional, balanced, and sustainable
solutions to enhance the growth of the Hudson Valley. The site explains how you can become a member
to speak out for the future of the Hudson Valley. The site gives a list of the policies and issues that are going on in
the region. Under Hudson Valley Resources it lists all the
Chambers of Commerce in the region, economic and environmental developments,
media, and universities. Pattern
News
gives all the stories pertaining to the Pattern for Progress in the media.
SOCIAL ANNOTATED LINKS
The Hudson Valley Click was founded
on May 13, 2010 and is located in Newburgh, New York. It is the Hudson Valley’s largest portfolio
building group in the area and its focus is to provide access to interesting
venues. The group is open to
photographers, models, makeup-artists, hair stylists, wardrobe stylists, and
fashion designers of any skilled level who want to network. It is also a way for people to share
knowledge, learn new techniques, try new equipment, explore concepts and
improve their craft. There are 715 members and you can easily become
one yourself. There are over thousands
of photos organized in albums
to show off each member’s work. There
even is a message board to discuss questions, comments, and events.
The Rainbow Rascals was founded on
April 15, 2010 and is located in Monroe New York. It is a social activities group that brings
together all the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender families of the Hudson
Valley. This organization meets monthly
to have fun and enjoy activities such as hiking, snow tubing, roller-skating,
and other exciting indoor/outdoor activities.
The goal of the organization is to show the children that they are
accepted and supported and that there are other families like theirs. It is a way for the children to create
friendships and strong bonds. There are
54 members and you can become a member too. There are albums of photos to show the activities the children take part
in. There is also a message board to discuss events and
new meet-up places.
The Gateway Chamber has a full range
of reference and information sources about the Hudson Valley if you are
considering visiting, living, or working here.
The benefits of becoming a member are taking part in networking, business
development and savings programs, insurance benefit programs, and marketing and
advertising. The communities link provides reasons why the Hudson
Valley is the perfect place to live, raise a family, work, and enjoy life. It gives information on certain areas in the
Hudson Valley, parks and recreation, clubs and organizations, places of
worship, schools, and transportation.
The Hudson Valley is America’s
oldest wine making and grape-growing region.
The Hudson Valley has numerous wineries and wine trails. The site gives a list of wineries in each area of the Hudson Valley. The site also provides a detailed history of how some of the country’s oldest
vineyards are found in the Hudson Valley.
You can plan a tour in the most efficient and effective
way possible by choosing which wineries you would like to go to and then
getting directions from place to place. Accommodations and dining is also available. There is an organized list of wines that
provides which kind of grape in the Hudson Valley it is made from. Photos are provided from some of the wineries in
the Hudson Valley.
Mohonk Mountain House is a
seven-story Victorian castle that was built above Lake Mohonk in 1869. It is located in New Paltz, New York and
surrounded by thousands of acres of unspoiled forests and winding trails. This hotel located in the Hudson Valley
offers spa services, year-round fitness center classes, unique theme programs,
nightly entertainment, and indoor/outdoor activities. Many people go there to relax, adventure,
enjoy nature, and vacation. Numerous
celebrities have gone there and people have their weddings there as well. There are all different types of activities for day guests, night guests, every
season, and children. Photos are provided to show
the mountain house, nature, and activities of Mohonk. Mohonk Mountain House has a deep and
interesting history, and is a number one attraction in the Hudson Valley.
Further Reading
Bowker, R.R. (1994). “The Official
Museum Directory: 24th Edition. Reed Publishing
Dunwell, F. Frances (1991). “The
Hudson River Highlands”. Columbia University Press.
Gekle, F. William (1982). “The Lower
Reaches of the Hudson River”. Wyvern House.
Mulligan, Tim (1981). “The Hudson
River Valley: A History & Guide”. Random House Inc.
