On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Red Hook is more historic than 81% of U.S. towns. All 2 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.
A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Red Hook’s overall grade.
New York towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical New York town has 12.3 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Red Hook’s 35.2 sits near the middle of its state (64% of New York towns have fewer) while its 8 historic buildings outnumber those of 74% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on two of the three inputs, so a change in either one moves the letter more than it would with three. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±4.4 points).
Founding year: our sources. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
The original inhabitants of this land were the Mohican, Munsee and Lenape people. During European settlement, Native American tribes played a fundamental role in the area's economy as they traded beaver skin with European settlers. European settlers imported several foreign goods, such as cattle, horses, and sheep. Enslaved African American individuals were also brought.
Through importing non-native species, the landscape and ecology of this region has been dramatically changed.
Passages that mention Red Hook, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The history of Dutchess County, New York1909 · page 645Read the page →
Read the text
Church of the Sacred Heart, Barrttown. This society was incorporated November 17, 1876. Originally Barrytown was a mission attended from Rhineclifi', until September 1, 1886, when the entire township of Red Hook was set off as a new parish, and Rev. William
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The history of Dutchess County, New York1909 · page 688Read the page →
Read the text
W. H. BAKER, manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa, at Red Hook, N. Y., conducts one of the most important industries in the town of Red Hook. This factory was established at Annandale in 1896, and a new factory was erected in the village of Red Hook in 1904. The plant covers over two acres of ground, and gives employment to upwards of one hundred persons.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
Red Hook, 1797 to 1992
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Red Hook is more historic than 81% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Red Hook?
20% of Red Hook’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±4.4 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1977.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (5), Wikidata (1), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
1876
1876
