The City of Kingston, NY

    Welcome to the City of Kingston, NY

    Kingston, dating to the arrival of the Dutch in 1652, is a vibrant city with rich history and architecture, was the state's first capital, and a thriving arts community. City Hall is in the heart of the community at 420 Broadway, and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except July & August (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).  Come tour our historic City, with restaurants that are among the region's finest, and local shopping that promises unique finds.

    Historic Churches

    Kingston is home to many historic churches. The oldest church still standing is the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Kingston which was organized in 1659. Referred to as The Old Dutch Church, it is located in Uptown Kingston. Many of the city's historic churches populate Wurts street (6 in one block) among them Hudson Valley Wedding Chapel is a recently restored church built in 1867 and now a chapel hosting weddings. Another church in the Rondout is located at 72 Spring Street. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded in 1849. The original church building at the corner of Hunter Street and Ravine Street burned to the ground in the late 1850s. The current church on Spring Street was built in 1874.

    Kingston, NY

    Kingston became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British on October 13, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga. In the 19th century, the city became an important transport hub after the discovery of natural cement in the region, and had both railroad and canal connections.

    Kingston, NY

    The town of Rondout, New York, now a part of the city of Kingston, became an important freight hub for the transportation of coal from Honesdale, Pennsylvania to New York City through the Delaware and Hudson Canal. This hub was later used to transport other goods, including bluestone. Kingston shaped and shipped most of the bluestone made to create the sidewalks of New York City.

     

    Contact Us

    City Hall Address:
    420 Broadway
    Kingston, New York
    12401

    Phone:
    (845) 331-0080
    Email:
    [email protected]

    Kingston News

    12/30/2022 - Redistricting Public Hearing to Be Held on January 12, 2023

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    December 30, 2022

     

    Redistricting Public Hearing to Be Held on January 12, 2023

    Three Redrawn Ward Map Alternatives Available for Public Comment

     

    KINGSTON, NY – the Common Council’s Redistricting Subcommittee will host a Public Hearing regarding the proposed redistricting maps on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 6:00pm. The Public Hearing will be held in-person at City Hall in Council Chambers and virtually via Zoom.

    The City of Kingston, like other municipalities, must redraw its current ward maps to align with 2020 Census data on local population changes. Under the City’s Charter, the Common Council must undertake this redistricting process to make the nine wards more equitable. The Common Council’s Redistricting Sub-Committee has been tasked with overseeing the ward map redrawing for the City of Kingston, and has been working with a consultant who has created three proposed redistricting plans.

    The three draft redistricting plans and a Deviation and Demographics Report for each plan are available at Engage Kingston or in person at the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall. Plan A represents the alternative with the least change and makes the fewest possible adjustments to the existing wards while still bringing the City of Kingston into compliance with State and Federal laws. Plan B is an example of a potential alternative that makes more significant changes using the same legal guidelines. Plan C would create new wards based on census data and the City’s communities with less focus on keeping the current ward boundaries.

    The Redistricting Sub-Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 3 at 6:30pm at City Hall in Conference Room #1 and will then hear public feedback at the Public Hearing on January 12.  

    Redistricting Public Hearing

    January 12, 2023 6:00pm Council Chambers at City Hall or

    Via Zoom (Click here. Passcode: 4EJdWd5d)

    Live Spanish interpretation will be available

     

    Written comment can also be sent to [email protected] or to the City Clerk’s Office at 420 Broadway, Kingston NY 12401 until Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 1:00pm.

    The first Public Hearing was held in-person on December 13, 2022. The Redistricting Sub-committee met with the consultants/mapper on Tuesday, December 27 and can be viewed here. The Redistricting Sub-Committee also held an informational meeting on November 17. The recording can be viewed here.

    The Common Council is expected to vote on the final maps before January 27, 2023.

    Federal and state laws, including the Voting Rights Act and the new John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York, guide the redistricting process and require the Common Council to avoid creating districts that deny or abridge minority voting rights. Applicable statutes also impose requirements on how the Common Council configures ward boundaries and requires new maps to protect “communities of interest.” The City’s new maps may not be drawn to discourage political competition or for the purpose of favoring (or disfavoring) particular candidates or political parties. 

    More information at www.engagekingston.com/redistricting. 
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