HUDSON, NEW YORK - FOUNDED IN 1785

The small city of Hudson has the distinction of being the first city in America—that is, it was the first city to be incorporated after the thirteen colonies became the United States. The city is located in the Hudson Valley which was named one of the world's greatest places of 2021 by Time. Hudson is just a 2 hour drive north of NYC.  

The idea of Hudson started even before the Treaty of Paris was signed. A group of men from Nantucket and New Bedford—seafarers, owners of whaling ships—were convinced that King George would not be content to let the American colonies go, and the British would be back to recapture what they’d lost. Their location made them and their livelihood especially vulnerable, so early in 1783, two brothers, Thomas and Seth Jenkins, representing an association of men involved in maritime commerce, set out to find and purchase a safe harbor where they could relocate their families and their ships. Sailing up the Hudson, they found what they were looking for about a hundred miles north of New York Harbor: a high bluff on the east bank of the river with a natural harbor on either side. They bought the land on the bluff and along the river from Dutch families whose ancestors had purchased it from the Mohicans generations before, and they set about to create there a seaport far from the sea. 

Things To Do In Hudson

By the early 2000’s, Hudson boasted nearly 70 antiques dealers and the New York Times described the city as top destination for antiques hunters. Today in this first incorporated city, over 50 antiques dealers do business on Warren Street and in warehouses by the waterfront. Hudson, NY is now an an artsy destination that provides an easy escape from New York City. In 2022 Travel & Leisure named Hudson on their "16 of the best small towns in America" list.