The native Mahican people had occupied this territory for hundreds of years before Dutch colonists began to settle here in the 17th century,[4] calling it "Claverack Landing" (as it was later known in English).

After Alsop's death in November 1794, his partner, Isaac Hicks, began to focus more of his efforts toward increasing his sale of whale products-especially oil and spermaceti candles.

The case eventually wound up with Alexander Hamilton defending Crosswell before the New York Supreme court in Albany in 1804.

The Hudson River continued to be important to commerce, as it carried lumber and other products from the Midwest to New York and downriver markets.

In 1935, to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the city, the United States Mint issued the Hudson Half Dollar.

On the front of the coin is an image of Henry Hudson's ship the Half Moon, and on the reverse is the seal of the city.

Local legend has it that coin was minted on direct order of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to thank the Hudson City Democratic Committee for being the first to endorse him for state senator and governor.

These rackets were mostly broken up in 1951, after surprise raids of Hudson brothels by New York state troopers, under orders from Governor Thomas E. Dewey, netted several local policemen, among other customers.

The first definition of a cocktail as an alcoholic beverage appeared three years later in The Balance and Columbian Repository (Hudson, New York) May 13, 1806.

Sustained grassroots opposition to the project was led by business owner Peter Jung[16] and journalist Sam Pratt,[17][18] co-founders of Friends of Hudson (FOH).

[19] Opponents argued the proposed project violated state environmental regulations and would adversely affect the river, shoreline, and related habitats.

[20] Opponents of the cement project described the ruling as "a colossal relief", and supporters, including the Business Council of New York State, denounced it as "flawed in its logic".

[21] Nearly 14,000 public comments were received by the State's Division of Coastal Resources (87% of them opposed to the project), a record for that agency.

Across the Hudson River lies the town of Athens in Greene County; a ferry connected the two municipalities during much of the 19th century.

Between them lies Middle Ground Flats, a former sandbar that grew due to both natural silting and also from dumping the spoils of dredging; today it is inhabited by deer and a few occupants of quasi-legal summer shanties.

This period has been marked by unusual levels of friction between elected officials and residents, as the demographics and economics of the city have shifted.

In 2010, Hudson High School made national history when two openly gay seniors, Timothy Howard and Charlie Ferrusi, were named prom king and queen.

Lil' Deb's Oasis is a restaurant in the city that hosts queer events and is an LGBTQ gathering space.

[28] After a steep economic decline in the 1960s and '70s, following the loss of jobs due to restructuring in the manufacturing sector, the city has undergone a significant revival.

Attracted by its quality architecture, a group of antiques dealers opened shops on the city's main thoroughfare, Warren Street, in the mid-1980s.

In the early 21st century, the city has nearly seventy shops now, represented by the Hudson Antiques Dealers Association (HADA).

[38] A farmers market takes place on Saturdays, offering a variety of fresh organic products from the Hudson Valley area.

[41][page needed] The vast majority of properties listed within the Hudson Historic District are considered to be contributing, attesting to their quality.