New York

Rensselaer

161,130
2020 population
1800
first census record
23
census records

About Rensselaer

Rensselaer, New York, first appears in the United States federal census in 1800, when it recorded a population of 30,351. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 161,130.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 127 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020161,130
2010159,429
2000152,538
1990154,429
1980151,966
1970152,510
1960142,585
1950132,607
1940121,834
1930119,781
1920113,129
1910122,276
1900121,697
1890124,511
1880115,328
187099,549
186086,328
185073,363
184060,259
183049,424
182040,153
181036,309
180030,351
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Rensselaer

National Register of Historic Places listings in Rensselaer, New York.

Chapel and Cultural Center
Troy
Ilium Building
Troy
US Post Office-Hoosick Falls
Hoosick Falls
McCarthy Building
Troy
United Waste Manufacturing Company Building
Troy
Central Troy Historic District
Troy
Marsh-Link-Pollock Farm
Brunswick
Hart-Cluett Mansion
Troy
Church of the Holy Cross
Troy
Cannon Building
Troy
Carner, John Jr., House
East Greenbush
Cannon-Brownell-Herrington Farmstead
Johnsonville
Knickerbocker Mansion
Schaghticoke
Lansingburgh Academy
Troy
National State Bank Building
Troy
Powers Home
Troy
Washington Park Historic District
Troy
Adams-Myers-Bryan Farmstead
Valley Falls
Muitzes Kill Historic District
Schodack
Smith, Henry Tunis, Farm
Nassau
East Nassau Central School
East Nassau
Bussey, Esek, Firehouse
Troy
Troy Gas Light Company
Troy
Patten, Jacob H., House
Troy
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Everything a full report reveals about Rensselaer County, New York

This page charts the census history of Rensselaer County, New York. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Rensselaer

When does Rensselaer first appear in the US census?
Rensselaer, New York first appears in the federal census in 1800, with a recorded population of 30,351.
What is the population of Rensselaer?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Rensselaer had a recorded population of 161,130.
How many historic places are in Rensselaer?
127 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Rensselaer, New York.
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