Columbia County was formed in 1786 out of Albany
County. In 1799, the southern boundary of Columbia County was modified to
include the portion of Livingston Manor located in Dutchess County. The county
seat was originally at Claverack, but moved to
Hudson in 1805, where it is today. Columbia County
is in the northern part of the Hudson River Valley, about 125 miles north of
New York city and 35 miles south-east of Albany.