Welcome to Kinderhook, one of the most historically significant places in the Hudson Valley. The name Kinderhook appeared on Dutch maps as early as 1614 making it one of the oldest names in the state. In the early days, Kinderhook (Dutch meaning children’s corner) embraced all of Stuyvesant, parts of Chatham, Stockport, and Ghent. Kinderhook was chartered as a township in 1687. The first town records were kept in Dutch and the language was spoken here until the 1840’s. As Americans we tend to view our history through English eyes, however the Dutch were here first and their impact culturally, architecturally and agriculturally remains today.