Columbia County is named for Christopher Columbus, who was a European explorer and who discovered America.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
E – Berkshire County, Massachusetts
S – Dutchess County
W – Ulster County and Greene County
Created: April 4, 1786
County Seat:
Claverack 1786 – 1805
Hudson 1805 – present
County Courthouse – Hudson
Location: 401 Union Street / Court Street
Built: 1907 – 1908
Style: Beaux Arts / Classical Revival
Architect: Warren & Wetmore of New York City
Contractor: Andrew J Robinson Company of New York City
Description: The building faces northeast and is a four story gray colored limestone and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Hudson. The building contains Vermont marble. The northeast front has four columns rising to a decorated pediment at the roof line. The first story windows have small pediment at the top and the second story windows are arched. A stone balustrade runs along the flat roof line. On the center of the roof is a large green colored dome. An addition was constructed on the southwest side. In the interior is a marble staircase. The large County Supreme Court courtroom is located on the second story above the northeast entrance. The courtroom has a wide dome ceiling and contains a large portrait of Judge Peter Van Ness arriving at the courthouse at Claverack in 1787. The building houses the County Supreme Court, County Court, County Family Court and County Surrogate’s Court of the 3rd Judicial District. The building was renovated in 2014. The architect was Lothrop Associates and the contractor was Eugene DiLorebzo, Inc.
See: The 3rd Judicial District 3 is located at Castleton-On-Hudson and includes Albany County, Greene County, Rensselaer County, Schoharie County, Sullivan County and Ulster County.
Old County Courthouse – Claverack
Location: Route 23B / Old Lane
Built: 1786 – 1787
Style: Federal
Architect: William Ludlow
Contractor: William Ludlow
Description: The building faces northwest and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Claverack. The front has a one story porch with two columns rising to a wide header. The roof is hipped. The building was the first courthouse built in the County and is now a private residence.
History: The county was created in 1786 and Claverack was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a two story red colored brick structure designed and built by William Ludlow in 1786 to 1787 and which is still standing. The county seat was moved to Hudson in 1805. The second courthouse was built in Hudson. The third courthouse was designed by Henry Skimmer Moul and constructed by Cure & Mont Ross in 1901. The courthouse burned in a fire on January 27, 1907. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1907 to 1908.
County Courthouse – Hudson
County Supreme Court courtroom
Old County Courthouse – Claverack
Photos taken 2014 and 2017
Images 23*