Rensselaer is a city in Rensselaer County, New York, USA, located on the Hudson River, directly opposite Albany. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,761; in 1920, it was 10,832. The name is from Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, the original landowner of the region in New Netherland.
The City of Rensselaer is on the west border of the county.
The area was part of the Rensselaerwyck manor. Rensselaer was originally called Greenbush. The village of Greenbush within the Town of Greenbush was incorporated in 1815. In 1897, Greenbush was chartered as a city, and its name was changed to Rensselaer. Its limits were extended in 1902 by the annexation of the village of Bath and the western part of the Town of East Greenbush.
Rensselaer is home to historic Fort Crailo.
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,761 people, 3,397 households, and 1,946 families residing in the city. The population density was 995.5/km² (2,579.2/mi²). There were 3,713 housing units at an average density of 476.3/km² (1,233.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.11% White, 7.06% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of the population.
There were 3,397 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,730, and the median income for a family was $40,688. Males had a median income of $29,685 versus $26,291 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,674. About 9.8% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
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