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Columbia County is a county located in the Hudson Valley region of New York State. It is situated east of the Hudson River and north of Dutchess County. The county covers an area of approximately 640 square miles and has a population of around 59,000 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 estimates.
The county is home to many small towns and villages, including Hudson, Chatham, Kinderhook, and Germantown, which offer a unique blend of rural charm and cosmopolitan flair.
One of the most popular attractions in Columbia County is Olana State Historic Site, the former home of the Hudson River School painter Frederic Edwin Church. The site features a stunning Persian-inspired mansion, beautifully landscaped gardens, and spectacular views of the Hudson River and the surrounding countryside.
Columbia County is also home to a number of other cultural and recreational attractions, including the Basilica Hudson, a restored 19th-century factory that now serves as a music and arts venue, the Columbia County Fairgrounds, which hosts the annual Columbia County Fair, and the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, a 15-mile multi-use trail that runs through the county.
The primary source of heating in Columbia County, like much of the Northeastern United States, is heating oil. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the majority of households (approximately 60%) in Columbia County use fuel oil as their primary heating fuel.