Chatham

Aside from its fun-filled Crellin Community Park, the town of Chatham has a lot to offer everyone who visits or who wishes to build their lives here.

Established in 1795 first by the Dutch and afterwards by the Quakers as well as New Englanders, the town of Chatham in Columbia County was the one of the area's first industrial centers for inner-state rail lines during the 1900's in NY state. Today, the Taconic State Parkway and I90 run through Chatham, and it is located at the intersection of NY's major Rts. 203 and 66. Chatham borders Kinderhook on its western end, as well as Canaan in CT on its eastern end; Nassau and Schodock are to its north (both part of Rensselaer County in NY) and Ghent and Austerlitz border its southern end: making Chatham itself a hubbub of activity, inviting everyone to stop and take in the sights on their journey.

Crellin Park is the main attraction in Chatham. It hosts Chatham's annual “Party in the Park”: when, each and every year on June 2 (usually a Saturday), everyone gathers to enjoy each other's company while also enjoying face painting, live music, concession stands, skateboarding and disc golf demontrations, and a Chicken BBQ Cook-out ($10 each) that is served curtosy via the Ghent Fire Department: just one way that you know you're part of a great community! There's lots of youth activities (one of the main reasons that Crellin Park exists, and has since the 1970's): you can always rely on the annual summer camp to keep your kids active and engaged, and the beach is open every single day of the week from 12pm to 6pm.

Everyone can find something to love at the Old Chatham Country Store in the oldest hamlet of the entire town:a wonderful restaurant whose menu is made fresh from its very own Seven Bridges Farm (right on Seven Bridges Road). At the store you'll find famous cheese made locally at the farm, as well as homemade cheeses and maple syrup from local farms. There's also the store's famous chips that go great with salsa cruda, a special salsa that you won't forget! The Old Chatham Country Store can be found in the Village Square of Old Chatham. Also have a wonderful soup by the cozy fire on a cold winter day at The Chatham House, located at 29 Hudson Avenue. (Their burgers are also reputed to be fantastic.) Highly rated by Zagat in 2009 and Westchester Restaurants Magazine! A great big dining room, perfect for special occasions as well, and an awesome tavern atmosphere. So easy to find, just take the Chatham exit from the Taconic Parkway, near Rt. 66 (otherwise known as the lower side of Main Street).

Kids who are lucky enough to live in Chatham attend the Chatham Central School District, which is pretty good, with a middle school that offers smaller classes which promote more chances of individual attention, and a high school that offers fantastic teachers that patiently work to know your student as an individual. Mary E Dardess Elementary School gets 5 stars for its dedicated teachers (including a wonderful Special Ed program) and the PTA is very involved in the activities and school assemblies; the school offers plenty of after-school activities as well as during the school hours: bottom line is, your kids will be very happy at Chatham Central School District!

Chatham serves 4,128 people and counting (since 2010).