The Town of Kinderhook (population 8,300) is located in northern Columbia County, New York State, and approximately 15 miles southeast of the capital city of Albany. It is approximately 150 miles north of New York City. The Town covers an area of about 32 square miles. Kinderhook is said to have received its name from the famous Dutch explorer Hendrick Hudson. As Hudson traveled up the river, he observed Mahican (Native American) children playing on the riverbank, and named the area Kinderhook, Dutch for "Children's Corner."

Kinderhook is the township in Columbia County with the largest population. In addition to rural countryside, it includes two villages, Valatie and Kinderhook, and the hamlet of Niverville. The Town is steeped in historical significance.

Kinderhook is the birth place of Martin Van Buren, the Country's eighth President.  His home, Lindenwald, now a National Historic Landmark maintained by the National Park Service, attracts many visitors each year. Van Buren's nickname was "Old Kinderhook," and the colloquial phrase "Okay" is said to have originated with him. Van Buren would frequently sign notes to his staff with "O.K," which stood for either "Old Kinderhook" or, in some cases, it meant "Off to Kinderhook."

Another National Historic Landmark, the Lukas Van Alen House, is a well-preserved example of Early American Dutch Colonial architecture. The Ichabod Crane School House on the same property, is said to be the site that inspired "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving when he was in residence at Merwin Lake. Both are maintained by the Columbia County Historical Society.

There are many other buildings of historical significance in Kinderhook. The Village of Kinderhook is home to the Benedict Arnold House, where it is believed that the infamous traitor was taken after being wounded at the Battle of Bemis Heights in 1777. Down the road from the Benedict Arnold House is the James Vanderpoel House, a well preserved circa 1820 home of a prominent local attorney. The Columbia County Historical Society now owns the home, also known as the "House of History."

Kinderhook is also home to the General John Burgoyne House. General Burgoyne, as prisoner of war, was entertained here on the night of October 22, 1777, while being taken from Saratoga to Boston. Also on Broad Street is the Peter Van Schack House, built in 1785, is reputed to be the State’s first law school. Van Schack, a prominent attorney, hosted many distinguished guests here such as John Jay, Aaron Burr, Martin Van Buren and Washington Irving.

Historically, agriculture has played an important role in the regional economy. The agricultural tradition continues in Kinderhook today. In addition to dairy farms, fruit orchards and other "traditional" farming enterprises, the town is also home to several farms employing progressive techniques, including organic farming at Roxbury Farm, with over 700 member households. Even today it is not unusual for many residents and visitors to be delayed in their travels on their commute to the office because they are traveling behind tractors or other farm equipment and cannot pass on the two-lane roads.

In addition to agricultural businesses, the Town of Kinderhook is home to many small-scale retail businesses and manufacturers. While many people work locally, some in cottage industry, a growing number commute north to the Albany area, south to the Hudson area, or travel by train to New York City to work.

The sense of community is very pronounced in Kinderhook, and the people are strongly committed to local schools and supportive of academics, sports, and entertainment programs. Kinderhook is home to the North Point Cultural Arts Center.

There are local farmers’ markets in Village Squares, concerts in the local bandstands, and many community events in Kinderhook throughout the year. The local population is an eclectic mix of descendants of some of the Town's first settlers, young professional families looking for a wholesome community in which to live, New York City residents who have chosen to live in a more rural environment, and a mix of others.

Natural resources abound in Kinderhook. In addition to being close to the Hudson River, the area possesses some of the most fertile soil in the Hudson Valley. The area is mostly flat, with commanding views of the Catskill Mountains. The Kinderhook Creek, the Valatie Kill, and woodlands such as the Pachaquack Preserve all contribute to the enjoyment of the abundant natural resources in the Town. Many residents enjoy the sight of wildlife in their backyards; deer, foxes, pheasants and turkeys are common sights in Kinderhook.

The features that make the area so hospitable to agriculture also make it attractive to developers--wide-open space with beautiful views within a reasonable commute to larger metropolitan areas. The stress on the community has already started. A large "big box" mall has been proposed for the junction of Routes 9 and 9H, the gateway to both Villages and the retail center of the Town. Route 9 is already mostly commercial in the Town, and Route 9H is commercially zoned as well. Much of the land along the Route 9H corridor is former farmland, and is for sale.

What’s more, the State of New York is committed to expanding high-technology initiatives in the greater capital region. The Town of Kinderhook is one of the last undeveloped areas within a reasonable commuting distance to Albany. Studies by the State and by unaffiliated organizations have indicated that the existing housing stock in the capital region is insufficient to support the demand that will result from the "Tech Valley" initiative. This initiative will put increasing pressure on Kinderhook to provide housing and services for those who move to the area to take advantage of the new job opportunities created.

Kinderhook Neighbors for Good Growth was formed in April 2002. Despite our limited resources, KNGG has sponsored several educational events to inform the public about "good growth," "smart growth" and "new urbanism," and development options other than big box chain stores and shopping malls. These events include a showing of "Store Wars," a documentary funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that examines the impact that the arrival of a large national chain store can have on a small community. A lively public debate followed the documentary, which explored both sides of this sometimes controversial issue. KNGG also sponsored an evening with the founder/operator of Roxbury Farm, Jean-Paul Courtens (discussed above), and Jerry Cosgrove, the Northeast Director of American Farmland Trust. Those in attendance had the opportunity to hear about the challenges facing farmers in today's economy and some options to preserve farmland .

In addition to these educational forums, KNGG was instrumental in conceiving and supporting a study for the Route 9 and 9H corridor. The Town Board has enthusiastically embraced the concept of the corridor study, and an independent committee has been established to pursue it.

KNGG opposes the construction of the proposed "big box" mall. We have taken an active role in the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) process to ensure that the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code are followed, and have worked to encourage the developer to modify the project so that it is more in harmony with the rich tradition of the community and is reflective of the unique qualities that we love about our Town. and to promote development that is in harmony with the rich tradition of the community and reflective of the unique qualities that we love about our Town. KNGG is not anti-development; we are fully supportive of development that respects the Town's unique history and natural beauty. We welcome businesses and commercial enterprises that support the village scale lifestyle that the residents currently enjoy. KNGG supports development that works in harmony with our natural resources by preserving sensitive environmental areas and significant views. The organization embraces businesses that enable Town residents to live and shop in a community setting.

KNGG is opposed to big box development and chain businesses that do not appreciate or respect the values that we hold dear. Kinderhook residents do not wish to become part of the homogenization of America; we are proud of our unique and varied history, and will fight any attempt to minimize or disregard our history and heritage. Our organization has been in existence since April 2002, and in that time we have had to focus not only on the education the local populous about "good growth," "smart growth" and "new urbanism," but also on opposing the big box mall proposed for the Routes 9/9H intersection. Despite our limited resources, KNGG has been proactive in sponsoring several educational events to inform the public about "good growth" and development options other than big box chain stores and shopping malls. These events include a showing of "Store Wars," a documentary funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that examines the impact that the arrival of a large national chain store can have on a small community. A lively public debate followed the documentary, which explored both sides of this sometimes-controversial issue. In addition, KNGG sponsored an evening with the founder/operator of Roxbury Farm, discussed above, and the Northeast Director of American Farmland Trust. Those in attendance had the opportunity to hear about the challenges facing farmers in today's economy and some options to preserve farmland.A

In addition to these educational forums, KNGG was instrumental in conceiving and supporting a study for the Route 9H corridor. The Town Board has enthusiastically embraced the concept of the corridor study, and an independent committee has been established to pursue it.

With additional funding, KNGG would like to present more educational programs about good growth, new urbanism, land conservation options, and modern farming that is in harmony with the environment. We would like to be a source for residents, business people, and others about these topics and create an environment that is welcoming to businesses and residents alike.