Rensselaer, New York

The City of Rensselaer is located across the Hudson River from Albany in New York State. The current estimated population is 7,761. The city is named after a 17th century landowner, Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, who owned a sizeable land claim on both sides of the river. Once a major railroad hub, Rensselaer still sees substantial rail traffic, and a new Amtrak station was built in 2002 to replace the outdated 1968 terminal. Fort Crailo, an 18th century manor house built by Van Rensselaer's grandson, is preserved as a National Historic Landmark and house museum.

The area that is present-day Rensselaer was part of Henry Hudson's original land claim. The first settlements were established by 1628, and by 1642 Rensselaer had several farms, a brewery and a ferry to Beverwyck (now present-day Albany). By the early 19th century, the hamlets of Greenbush, East Albany and Bath were well established; the three hamlets would later combine to become the city of Rensselaer. At mid-century, two important developments occurred: the arrival of the railroads, and the invention of aniline dyes. The Boston & Albany Railroad established freight yards, shops, and a roundhouse and passenger depot to facilitate transfers with the New York Central Railway. In 1868, the Albany Aniline and Chemical Company began manufacturing dyes at Rensselaer. In 1882, at the same site, the Hudson River Aniline Color Works was formed to produce dyes under an agreement with the German firm Bayer and Company. Over the years, buildings were added, replaced and rebuilt. A succession of companies operated the dye works and by 1994 it was the largest and the oldest continually operating dye works in the U.S. BASF Corporation, the plant's final owner, closed the Rensselaer plant in 2000.

Rensselaer's history of industry makes asbestos exposure an ongoing concern for workers. For your convenience, we have listed mesothelioma oncologists located in or near Rensselaer at the bottom of this page. If you or a loved one have been exposed to asbestos in Rensselaer, you may benefit by seeking counsel from a mesothelioma lawyer.

Jobsites in Rensselaer where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Rensselaer, NY have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.

Mesothelioma Cancer Centers Near Rensselaer, NY

For your convenience we have compiled a list of mesothelioma cancer centers that are located within a 100 mile radius of Rensselaer, NY. Please click on a cancer center link to obtain more information about the clinical programs offered, professional designations, areas of expertise and how to contact the center.

Mesothelioma Doctors Near Rensselaer, NY

For your convenience we have compiled a list of mesothelioma doctors who are located within a 100 mile radius of Rensselaer, NY. Please click on a doctor link to obtain more information about his/her background, areas of expertise, professional affiliations and office locations.