Troy: Home of Uncle
Sam
While this area was named after the Van Rensselaer family another area resident has claimed much more fame. "Uncle Sam" Wilson, a local meat packer, supplied beef to the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. Soldiers interpreted the government stamp "U.S. Beef" to mean "Uncle Sam's Beef" and not long after a caricature of Wilson came to personify the United States.
Today Rensselaer County includes the cities of Troy and Rensselaer and the towns of North Greenbush, East Greenbush, Sand Lake, Schodack, Nassau, Brunswick and Poestenkill.
There is a certain rural charm that graces the area, along with an exciting urban life that lies just across the Hudson River in the City of Albany.
In addition to the many activities and historical sites within the county, Rensselaer offers an outstanding educational center. Emma Willard School is among the oldest independent schools for the higher education of young women in the United States. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has been in the forefront of higher education for technology and science since its founding in 1824. RPI is a nationally-known research university with fine students, faculty and facilities. Among the other 15 local colleges and universities there are: The University at Albany, SUNY, Russell Sage College, Siena College and Hudson Valley Community College.
Rensselaer County is a pleasant place to live, with reasonably priced property and a warm, neighborly atmosphere.
Churches
Rensselaer is home to a wide variety of religious congregations. Check the local newspapers, the Troy Record or Times Union for service times and locations.
Medical
Rensselaer County hosts three hospitals and five more are nearby in Albany, providing a full-range of inpatient and outpatient services. Rensselaer County Hospitals include: Leonard Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital and Samaritan Hospital.
Transportation
Commuter: This area's well developed interstate system makes most of the Capital District only minutes away.
Public: The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) provides frequent inter-city bus service. Call 518-482-8822 for route information.
Rail: Located in Rensselaer, AMTRAK provides rail service to destinations nationwide and in Canada. Call 518-462-5763 for information.
Air: Albany International Airport, located in Colonie (15-20 minutes from Rensselaer County), is served by many major and commuter airlines.
The county of Rensselaer is served by the The Record, as well as by the Times Union and the Daily Gazette. In addition, there are several suburban and specialty papers which reach the market, namely The Capital District Business Review, Jewish World and Metroland and the Advertiser.
Nearby shopping centers are located in the cities of Troy, East Greenbush and Albany. Local plazas and shops are numerous.
Library
Troy Public Library located at 810 Broadway in Rensselaer. Phone 518-462-1193 for information.
Parks
& Recreation
This area is rich in recreational activities including golf, tennis, swimming, hiking, fishing and skiing. Rensselaer is surrounded by mountains, parks, streams and lakes. Two State Parks, Grafton and Cherry Plains are located within Rensselaer County and each offers swimming and boating. In addition, the Dyken Pond Environmental Management Center, a county-owned facility, has recreation and environmental education activities. It is open to the public for nature hikes, classes and boating. Not far to the north of Rensselaer are the lovely Adirondack Mountains. Downhill and cross-country skiing facilities are both found within the county, with numerous other ski resorts in nearby Vermont and Massachusetts. For entertainment, Rensselaer boasts numerous theatrical productions and concerts. The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, acoustically one of the finest music halls in the world, features Troy Chromatic Concerts and the Albany Symphony Orchestra. Art exhibits, lessons and lectures can be found at the Rensselaer County Council on the Arts in Troy's Washington Park. Less than an hours drive to the east is Tanglewood, a beautiful outdoor amphitheater and summer home to the Boston Symphony. A 30-minute drive north of Rensselaer is the renowned Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), which is home to the New York City Ballet in July and the Philadelphia Orchestra in August. From June through September SPAC offers one night special concerts featuring top-name entertainers.
