Albany County, New York, Cities, Towns and Villages

This material is a compilation of resources available. The inclusion of a link does not constitute an endorsement of its content or accuracy.  Please send any additions or corrections to webmaster@nygbs.org.


 


List of towns, formation dates, and other details









































































































































Albany (city)
  Longest continuously chartered city in the U.S.
  1614    Trading post (Fort Nassau) established on Castle/Westerlo Island.
  1624    Dutch West India Company establishes Fort Orange (North of Westerlo Island)
  1629    Killaen van Rensselaer acquires patroonship of Rensselaerswijck, surrounding Fort Orange
  1652    Settlement surrounding Fort removed from Rensselaerswijck and named Beverwyck
  1664    English rule, Beverwyck renamed New Albany
  1673    Dutch return, New Albany renamed Willemstad(t)
  1674    English rule resumed, name New Albany restored but “New” gradually discarded
  1685    Rensselaerswijck given status of English manor; Van Rensselaers renounce all claims to Albany
  1686    Charter incorporates City of Albany
  1797    Made state capital
  1815    Town of Colonie dissolved and divided between City of Albany and Town of Watervliet
  1870    Annexed North Albany from Town of Watervliet; annexed large of Normansville from Town of Bethlehem
  1916    Annexed Groesbeck and Kenwood from Bethlehem
  1926    Annexed Westerlo Island from Town of Bethlehem
  1967    Annexed Hurtsville and Karlsfeld from Town of Bethlehem
Ballston  
  In Albany County 1775-1791
Berne  
  1750    Settled by German immigrants
  1795    Formed from Rensselaerville
  1822    Daughter town Knox formed
Bethlehem
  1614    Fort Nassau established by the New Netherland Trading Company on Castle Island
  1793    Formed from town of Watervliet
  1832    Daughter town New Scotland formed
  1870    Ceded large section north of Normansville to City of Albany
  1916    Ceded Groesbeck and Kenwood to City of Albany
  1926    Ceded Westerlo Island to City of Albany
  1967    Ceded Hurtsville and Karlsfeld to City of Albany
Cambridge
  In Albany County 1772-1791
Canaan  
  In Albany County as Kings District 1772-1786
Catskill  
  In Albany County 1772-1798
Claverack
  In Albany County 1772-1786
Coeymans
  1636    Settlers from Utrecht
  1791    Formed from Town of Watervliet
  1815    Daughter town Westerlo formed
Cohoes (city)
  1869    Formed from the village of Cohoes in Town of Watervliet
Colonie (1791-1815)
  1791    Incorporated as a municipality in Town of Watervliet
  1804    Village of Colonie incorporated
  1808    Formed as town
  1815    Divided and merged into City of Albany and Town of Watervliet
Colonie  
  1895    Formed from Town of Watervliet
Coxsackie
  In Albany County 1772-1800
Duanesburg(h)
  In Albany County 1765-1809
Easton  
  In Albany County 1789-1791
Freehold
  In Albany County 1790-1800
Germantown
  In Albany County as East Camp District 1775-1786
Green Island
  1896    Formed from Village of Green Island when Town of Watervliet was dissolved and divided
Guilderland
  1803    Formed from the Town of Watervliet
  1871    Annexed land from Town of Watervliet
Halfmoon
  In Albany County 1771-1791
Hillsdale
  In Albany County 1782-1786
Hoosick  
  In Albany County 1785-1786
Hudson (city)
  In Albany County 1785-1786
Kinderhook
  In Albany County 1772-1786
Knox  
  Settled by Germans before American Revolution
  1822    Formed from Berne
Livingston
  In Albany County 1772-1786
New Scotland
  c. 1660    Settled
  1632    Formed from Bethlehem
Pittstown
  In Albany County 1761-1791
Princetown
  In Albany County 1798-1809
Rensselaerville
  Settlers from New England following the American Revolution
  1790    Formed from the Town of Watervliet
  1795    Daughter town Berne formed
  1815    Daughter town Westerlo formed
Rensselaerwyck (district)
  1629    Kiliaen van Rensselaer granted covering all future Albany and Rensselaer counties, excepting Fort Orange
  1652    Village of Beverwyck created around the Fort, separated from Rensselaerswijck
  1665    English recognize Dutch patroonship and grant patent
  1685    Rensselaerswijck given status of English manor
  1772    Rensselaerwyck becomes a district
  1779    Rensselaerswyck divided into East and West Districts
  1784    Daughter town Stephentown formed from East District
  1788    West District becomes Town of Watervliet 
  1791    Rensselaer County formed including remainder of East District
  1839    Manor ceased to exist following death of Stephen Van Rensselaer III
Saratoga
  In Albany County 1772-1791
Schaghticoke
  In Albany County 1772-1791
Schenectady (town then city)
  In Albany County 1684-1809
Schoharie
  In Albany County 1784-1791
Stephentown
  In Albany County 1784-1791
Stillwater
  In Albany County 1788-1791
Watervliet (city)
  1896    Formed as City of Watervliet from the village of West Troy when Town of Watervliet was dissolved and divided
Watervliet (town) 1788-1896
  1788    Formed as a town replacing the West District of Rensselaerwyck; includes all present day Albany County except the city
  1790    Daughter town Rensselaerville formed
  1791    Daughter town Coeymans formed
  1793    Daughter town Bethlehem formed
  1803    Daughter town Guilderland formed
  1809    Daughter town Niskayuna formed in Schenectady county
  1815    Town of Colonie dissolved and divided between Town of Watervliet and City of Albany
  1869    Village of Cohoes became city
  1870    Ceded North Albany to City of Albany
  1871    Ceded land to Town of Guilderland
  1895    Town of Colonie formed to avoid being part of the City of Watervliet as plans for the new city were developed
  1896    Town dissolved and divided into City of Watervliet and Town of Green Island
Westerlo
  Settled before American Revolution
  1815    Formed from towns of Coeymans and Rensselaerville

Selected links to town websites, clerks, and historians




















Albany
Altamont
Berne
Bethlehem
Coeymans
Cohoes
Colonie (Town)
Colonie (Village)
Green Island
Guilderland
Knox
Menands
New Scotland
Ravena
Rensselaerville
Voorheesville
Watervliet
Westerlo