{{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Valatie, New York | native_name = Pachaquack | native_name_lang = Algonquin | settlement_type = Village | nickname = ''Vaaltje'' ("Little Falls") | motto = "What a Village Should Be"
<!-- Images -->| image_seal = | image_skyline = First Prebyterian Church Valatie NY Feb 2017.jpg | image_caption = The First Presbyterian Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places | image_flag = Valatie, New York Flag.png | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none --> | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | image_map = Columbia County New York incorporated areas Village of Valatie highlighted.svg | mapsize = | map_caption = Location of Valatie, New York | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = <!-- Location --> | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = New York | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Columbia | subdivision_type3 = Town | subdivision_name3 = Kinderhook | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | established_title = Settled | established_date = 1665
<!-- Area -->| unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref> | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 3.28 | area_land_km2 = 3.25 | area_water_km2 = 0.03
<!-- Population -->| population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 1785 | population_density_km2 = 549.50 | population_density_sq_mi = 1423.44
<!-- General information -->| timezone = Eastern (EST) | utc_offset = -5 | timezone_DST = EDT | utc_offset_DST = -4 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 73 | elevation_ft = 240 | coordinates = {{coord|42|24|50|N|73|40|39|W|region:US-NY_type:city|display=inline,title}} | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 12184 | area_code = 518 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 36-76617 | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 0968342 | website = {{URL|www.valatievillage.com}} | footnotes = | pop_est_as_of = | pop_est_footnotes = | population_est = | area_total_sq_mi = 1.27 | area_land_sq_mi = 1.25 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.01 }} '''Valatie''' ({{IPAc-en|v|ə|ˈ|l|eɪ|ʃ|ə}}; {{respell|və|LAY|shə}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/culture/article/Hudson-Valley-pronunciation-guide-16666063.php|title=You've been saying it wrong: A Hudson Valley pronunciation guide}}</ref>) is a village with several waterfalls in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 1,785 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3676617| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212190446/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3676617| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Valatie village, New York| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=December 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 census results, Valatie. https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?searchType=web&cssp=SERP&q=Valatie%20village,%20New%20York</ref> The village is at the center of the town of Kinderhook on US 9.
==History== thumb|left|Main Street, Valatie, 1914
Valatie was first named ''Pachaquack'', meaning "cleared meadow", by the earliest Native American settlers—Algonquian Mohicans—who lived along the banks of Valatie's two waterways now referred to as Valatie Kill and Kinderhook Creek.
Part of the original New Netherland, the first European settlers were the Dutch who settled Kinderhook around 1665, and named this area "Vaaltje", meaning "little falls".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lizzi|first1=Dominick|title=Valatie, the Forgotten History|date=2009|publisher=Valatie Press|location=Valatie, New York|isbn=978-0615291864|page=8|edition=first |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gGI-QwAACAAJ}}</ref> The first post office was established in 1832. By the early 19th century there were nine cotton mills in Valatje operating on power derived from the famous waterfalls; the village was incorporated in 1856. With a bustling Main Street, Valatie was considered the center of commerce in northern Columbia County throughout the 19th century.
The United States' first Santa Claus Club was founded in Valatie in 1946 by fifteen village veterans to provide holiday gifts for several critically ill children. Every Christmas Eve, a Santa travels throughout the village, personally visiting every child under age ten.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
==Geography== Valatie is located in the center of the Town of Kinderhook in northern Columbia County. It is part of the Hudson Valley region of New York State. It is {{convert|21|mi}} south of Albany, the state capital, and {{convert|15|mi}} northeast of Hudson.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of {{convert|3.28|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|3.25|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.03|km2|disp=flip|2}}, or 0.95%, is surface water.<ref name="Census 2010"/> The village is located at the juncture of Valatie Kill with Kinderhook Creek, a tributary of the Hudson River. There are three waterfalls in the village, all along Main Street: Valatie Kill Falls/Wild's Falls, Little Falls Creek/Beaver Mill Falls, and Kinderhook Creek.
=== Nearby communities within the Town of Kinderhook === *Niverville – A hamlet south of Kinderhook Lake on County Road 28 and New York State Route 203, {{convert|2|mi|0}} northeast of Valatie. *Kinderhook – A village on U.S. Route 9, {{convert|2|mi|0}} southwest of Valatie.
==Demographics== {{US Census population |1880= 1775 |1890= 1437 |1900= 1300 |1910= 1219 |1920= 1301 |1930= 1246 |1940= 1208 |1950= 1225 |1960= 1237 |1970= 1288 |1980= 1620 |1990= 1487 |2000= 1712 |2010= 1819 |2020= 1785 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref> }}
As of the 2010 census, the total population of Valatie was 1,819.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|1,388.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 627 housing units at an average density of {{convert|508.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the village was 93.84% White, 2.14% Native American, 1.37% African American, 0.49% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.23% of the population.
Valatie's median household income was $60,365 in 2006-2010 and has grown by 36.03% since 2000. The income growth rate is higher than the state average rate of 24.79% and nearly twice the national average rate of 19.17%. The per capita income for the village was $16,650. About 7.94% of families and 8.68% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.
There were 584 households, out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.6 males.
==Arts and culture== A WinterWalk parade and festival is hosted annually in mid-December. The parade includes fire trucks and rescue vehicles, marching bands from the Ichabod Crane High School, Santa Claus riding in a sleigh, and marchers from the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and the Valatie Free Library. Elves and marionettes march along with the vintage and new vehicles.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
The First Presbyterian Church, Wild's Mill Complex, and Nathan Wild House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
The Valatie Free Library was begun in 1928 as a casual circulation of books. It was incorporated in 1931 and moved to a small {{convert|600|sqft|adj=on}} 19th-century cottage.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
==Education== It is in the Kinderhook Central School District (Ichabod Crane)<!--UNI 15210-->.<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st36_ny/schooldistrict_maps/c36021_columbia/DC20SD_C36021.pdf|title=2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Columbia County, NY|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|place=Suitland, Maryland|date=January 12, 2021|access-date=2025-12-12}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st36_ny/schooldistrict_maps/c36021_columbia/DC20SD_C36021_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
==Media== * ''Haldane of the Secret Service'' (1924), directed by and starring Harry Houdini, was filmed at Beaver Kill Falls in Valatie. * ''Meskada'' (2009) was filmed partially in Valatie.
==Notable people== * Martin H. Glynn, 40th Governor of New York, from 1913 to 1914,<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Lizzi | first1 = Dominick C. | title = Valatie: The Forgotten History | publisher = Valatie Press | year = 2009 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=gGI-QwAACAAJ | pages = 8| isbn = 9780615291864 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Lizzi|first1=Dominick C.|title=Martin H. Glynn: Forgotten Hero|date=2007|publisher=Valatie Press/Lane Press|location=Valatie, New York|asin=B0006F37EU|edition=First}}</ref> was born in the Town of Kinderhook in 1871, and shortly thereafter moved with his family to Valatie, where his family operated Glynn Tavern on Main Street.<ref>{{cite web|last1=New York State Library|title=Martin Henry Glynn Papers, 1913-1924 SC21255|url=http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/msscfa/sc21255.htm|website=nysl.nysed.gov|publisher=Manuscripts and Special Collections|access-date=March 19, 2017}}</ref> * Virginia O'Hanlon, her 1897 letter to the ''New York Sun'' asking whether there really was a Santa Claus was the inspiration for the 1947 film, ''Miracle on 34th Street''; the editorial response by the ''NY Sun'' to her letter has become one of the most popular holiday quotes, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kraner |first1=Howard |title=Chatham & Sleepy Hollow, New York |url=http://thecompletepilgrim.com/virginia-ohanlan-sites/ |website=The Complete Pilgrim |date=October 18, 2014 |publisher=The Complete Pilgrim, LLC |access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref> Virginia O'Hanlon Douglas retired and spent her final years in Valatie and is buried in the nearby village of Chatham.<ref>{{cite book | last = Bellaver | first = Richard F. | title = Characters of the Information and Communication Industry: 2nd Edition | publisher = AuthorHouse | year = 2011 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=TmYtq3itd80C&pg=PP1 | pages = 49| isbn = 9781456732592 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Hudson Valley}} {{Official website|https://www.valatievillage.com/}}
{{Columbia County, New York}} {{Capital District}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Villages in New York (state) Category:Villages in Columbia County, New York Category:Dutch-American culture in New York (state) Category:Populated places established in 1665 Category:1665 establishments in the Province of New York Category:Upstate New York Category:Capital District (New York) Category:Hudson Valley