Guilderland is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. In the 2020 census, the town had a population of 36,848.[2] The town is named for the Gelderland province in the Netherlands.[4] The town of Guilderland is on the central-northwest border of the county. It is just west of Albany, the capital of the U.S. state of New York.
Guilderland was originally a part of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck that PatroonKiliaen van Rensselaer began in 1629 as part of the New Netherland colony. By the end of the 17th century, Dutch settlers from Albany and Schenectady began to establish farms in the area, beginning first along the banks of the Normans Kill. In 1712, a group of emigrants from the Rhine Valley in present-day Germany passed through the town on their way to Schoharie. They were the first to record and name the Helderberg Escarpment, originally Hellebergh meaning "bright or clear mountain". This name would also be used for all the land between the Normans Kill and the escarpment. In 1734, the first known religious service was held by a Lutherandominie from Athens, New York to the "Normanskill Folk", and the first religious structure was a Dutch Reformed Church in 1750.[5]
Guilderland was, from its beginning, a location amenable to early industry due to its many streams for waterwheels, large forests for wood fuel, and the fine sand for glass works. In 1795, Jan and Leonard de Neufville (father and son) established a large glass factory mostly for the manufacture of windows but also for bottles of various shapes, sizes, and uses. Around this factory would spring up the hamlet of Hamilton (today called Guilderland). The factory could not compete with cheap British imports after the War of 1812, and with its collapse, the glass industry would never return to Guilderland. A hat factory and a foundry would both occupy the site over the next 200 years. French's Mills, another hamlet founded on industry, was home to many textile mills, due to the power harnessed from the falls on the Normans Kill near Guilderland Center.[5]
During the US Revolutionary War, many families in Guilderland were split in their loyalties. In New York, tenant farmers generally opposed their landlords, the Patroons, who sided with the rebellious independentists (Patriots), making New York one of the colonies where the war of Independence became a vicious civil war. The patroon of Rensselaerswyck and the local clergy, however, rallied the support of most of the local settlers in opposing the Loyalists. Those who remained loyal to the established government operated, among other places, from the caves of the Helderbergs, raiding settlements with the help of Native Americans. A battle between Loyalists and rebel Schenectady Militia with help from Rhode Island Continental Troops was fought just east of Guilderland Center. It was later alleged the local Loyalists were about to burn Schenectady and Albany, which is not entirely trustworthy as these would have been their own neighbors. In any case, the victory of the American forces allowed the Rhode Island contingent to travel to Saratoga for the Battle of Saratoga that occurred five weeks later, the turning point of the US Revolution.[5]
From 1799 until its formation in 1803, Guilderland was a part of the town of Watervliet. The name Guilderland (spelled Guilderlandt in the original law) was the suggestion of resident Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, who happened to be Lieutenant-Governor of the state at the time, and as such was President of the Senate. His family (that of the original patroon) and many of the original settlers came from Gelderland, a province of the Netherlands.[5] In 1871 the northwestern part of Albany, west from Magazine Street, was annexed to Guilderland,[4] after the town of Watervliet refused the annexation of the same territory.[6][7] Parts of this territory would be annexed back to Albany in 1910, setting up more or less the current border.[8]
At the start of the town's founding, the Schoolcraft family was prominent. Congressman John L. Schoolcraft was born in Guilderland in September 1806. When his father, Captain John Schoolcraft, died in December of the same year, he was raised by his grandfather, John Schoolcraft. Wealthy grandfather Schoolcraft, who owned much property in Guilderland hamlet and ran an inn and tavern, was the first Justice of the Peace in the hamlet, an elder and trustee of the Hamilton Union Church, and a member of the first Guilderland School Board. He was also the uncle of the famed Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. John L. Schoolcraft started a profitable mercantile business, became president of Albany Commercial Bank (later part of today's Key Bank), and was groomed for politics by Thurlow Weed, editor of the Albany Evening Journal, winning his first Congressional election in 1848.
In the 1840s, Schoolcraft built the early Gothic Schoolcraft mansion John Schoolcraft House upon his return from a European journey. He used it mostly as a summer residence. Schoolcraft was a close friend and confidant of Governor William Seward and married Seward's niece, Carolyn Canfield, in 1853.
Guilderland was home to the New York Power Pool and its control center after the Power Pool's formation in 1966 in response to the 1965 blackout. Most of its operations were transferred over to the NYISO after the NYISO's formation in 1999. The NYISO built a new control center in 2014 in Rensselaer, New York.[10][11][12][13][14]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 58.7 square miles (152km2), of which 57.9 square miles (150km2) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1km2) (1.31%) is water.
There are several ZIP codes in Guilderland, including 12084 (Guilderland), 12085 (Guilderland Center), 12203 (Albany), 12009 (Altamont), 12303 and 12306 (Schenectady), 12159 (Slingerlands), and 12186 (Voorheesville).
Two interstate highways, I-87 and I-90 run through Guilderland, meeting in the city of Albany, north of Crossgates Mall a large mall on the edge of Guilderland. US 20 also runs through the town.
There were 13,422 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.7% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00.[2]
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.[2]
The median income for a household in the town was $58,669 and the median income for a family was $68,472. Males had a median income of $48,742 versus $34,796 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,508. About 2.4% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.[2] 64.9% of workers are employed in the private-sector, and 29.1% are government employees.[2]
Education
Guilderland High School
In 1812 the town was divided into eight school districts, mostly rural one room school houses. In 1901 the first high school in the town would be established at Altamont, this would be the only high school between Albany and Schoharie at the time. In 1953 the Guilderland Central School District would be formed on the consolidation of the eight smaller districts.[5]
The current town supervisor is Peter G. Barber (since 2016).
The current councilmen and councilwomen are Patricia Slavick (2000), Paul Pastore (2006), Lee Carman (2016), and Rosemary Centi (2016).
Jean J. Cataldo is the current town clerk.
Lynne Buchanan is the current Receiver of Taxes.
The current town attorney is James Melita.
The seat of Guilderland's government is the Guilderland Town Hall.
The Town of Guilderland website is www.townofguilderland.org.
Like most of Albany County, Guilderland generally votes for Democrats for state and federal offices. Barack Obama received 60 percent of the vote in Guilderland in 2008, and 59 percent in 2012. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Representative Tonko all easily won Guilderland in their most recent elections.[16]
In June 2018, Richard Sherwood, a former town judge, pleaded guilty to federal money laundering and tax evasion charges as well as a state grand larceny charge. Sherwood stole $11 million from estate trust funds he was charged with managing in his private practice. He also transferred property to his own name. He faces 3.5 years to 10 years in prison.[17][18][19]
Public safety
Emergency medical services
Emergency Medical Services for the town of Guilderland are provided by three separate medical entities. Guilderland EMS,[20] which was a division of the Guilderland Police Department but now operates on their own, provide the Advanced Life Support (career paramedics) for the town as well as other surrounding areas. Western Turnpike Rescue Squad[21] served the local community from 1939 to 2018, before Guilderland EMS purchased an ambulance and assumed operations. Altamont Rescue Squad served the Village of Altamont from 1937 to 2023. During college semesters Basic Life Support care and transport for the University at Albany is provided by Five Quad,[22] an all volunteer EMS agency consisting of University of Albany students and alumni.
Fire departments
Guilderland fire station on Western Avenue
There are eight main fire departments that also provide rescue; including Guilderland Fire Department,[23] Westmere Fire Department[24] Guilderland Center Fire Department,[25] Fort Hunter Fire Department, Altamont Fire Department,[26] North Bethlehem Fire Department, McKownville Fire Department and Pine Grove Fire Department.
Police department
The Guilderland Police Department is staffed by 36 sworn members along with 10 telecommunicators, three administrative office staff members, three animal services members and 20 full time and part time, paramedics operating under the EMS division. The police department is organized into the Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Unit, Traffic Safety Unit, Community Services Unit, K-9 Unit, Communications Division, and Animal Control Unit. The Guilderland Police Department is headquartered in Guilderland Town Hall, with a sub-station located at Crossgates Mall.
Communities
Altamont– A village in the western part of Guilderland, west of Guilderland Center
Dunnsville – A hamlet in the northwestern part of the town
Fort Hunter – A hamlet in the northern part of the town
Fullers– A hamlet northwest of Hartmans Corners on Route 20
Guilderland– A hamlet with the same name as the town; located on Route 20, established in 1796
Hartmans Corners – A hamlet northwest of Guilderland hamlet on Route 20
McCormacks Corners – A location northwest of Guilderland hamlet on Route 20
McKownville– A hamlet near the eastern town line and Albany
Meadowdale – A hamlet by the southern town line
Parkers Corners – A hamlet in the northwestern part of the town
Watervliet Reservoir – A reservoir north of Guilderland Center
Westmere– A hamlet in the eastern part of the town on Route 20 and a suburb of Albany; a census-designated place (CDP) of the same name is designated over this area.
Library
Guilderland Public Library, on Western Avenue
There are actually two libraries located in the Town of Guilderland: The Guilderland Public Library, and the Altamont Free Library. Both are members of the Upper Hudson Library System.[27] The Guilderland Public Library, located at 2228 Western Avenue (US Route 20) serves as a cultural center for the town and the surrounding area. Some 59% of town residents hold library cards. Library use has grown with the population of the town. Since 1992, when the Guilderland Public Library moved into its current location, patron visits have almost doubled, from 177,996 to 343,144 annually, and circulation has more than doubled, from 214,446 to 519,426 items every year.[28]
The Altamont Free Library, located in and serving the Village of Altamont, is a free association library. The Village of Altmont is a political entity within the borders of the Town of Guilderland.[29]
Notable people
Evert Bancker (1665–1734), fur trader and mayor of Albany
David Paterson, while his primary residence is located downstate in Harlem, the former Governor of New York maintained a residence in Guilderland as a state senator and later Lieutenant Governor of New York prior to assuming the governorship.[30] Paterson resided in the New York State Executive Mansion while in Albany, but kept his Guilderland and Harlem residences.[31]
Albany County is a county in the state of New York, United States. Its northern border is formed by the Mohawk River, at its confluence with the Hudson River, which is to the east. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 314,848. The county seat and largest city is Albany, which is also the state capital of New York. As originally established by the English government in the colonial era, Albany County had an indefinite amount of land, but has had an area of 530 square miles (1,400 km2) since March 3, 1888. The county is named for the Duke of York and of Albany, who became James II of England. The county is part of the Capital District region of the state.
Altamont is a village located in the town of Guilderland in Albany County, New York, United States. The village is in the western part of the town. The population was 1,675 at the 2020 census. The name means "high mountain."
Bethlehem is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. The town's population was 35,034 at the 2020 census. Bethlehem is located immediately to the south of the city of Albany and includes the following hamlets: Delmar, Elsmere, Glenmont, North Bethlehem, Selkirk, Slingerlands, and South Bethlehem. U.S. Route 9W passes through the town. The town is named after the biblical Bethlehem.
Voorheesville is a village within the town of New Scotland in Albany County, New York, United States. It is a suburb of Albany and part of the city's historic metropolitan area. The population was 2,841 at the 2020 census. The village is named after a railroad attorney, Alonzo B. Voorhees.
Westmere is a hamlet in the town of Guilderland, Albany County, New York, United States. Since the 1970 Census, a census-designated place (CDP) has been established with the name of Westmere for tabulating the population of what the census has defined as the boundaries for Westmere. The population was 7,284 at the 2010 census. It is a suburb of the neighboring city of Albany. U.S. Route 20 bisects the community and is the major thoroughfare and main street. Along Western Avenue are numerous strip malls, shopping plazas, and commercial buildings, with residential use on the side streets to the north and south. Crossgates Mall, the Capital District's largest shopping mall, is in Westmere's northeastern corner.
Colonie is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. It is the most-populous suburb of Albany, and is the third-largest town in area in Albany County, occupying approximately 11% of the county. Several hamlets exist within the town. As of the 2020 census, the town had a total population of 85,590.
New York State Route 155 (NY 155) is a 16.85-mile-long (27.12 km) state highway located entirely within Albany County in the Capital District of New York. The western terminus of the route is at NY 85A in Voorheesville. The eastern terminus is at NY 32 in Watervliet. NY 155 mainly serves as a connection to the Albany International Airport from the major roads it connects to.
Guilderland Center is a hamlet in the town of Guilderland, Albany County, New York, United States. The hamlet lies along New York Route 146 and the Black Creek, a tributary of the Normans Kill.
New York State Route 146 (NY 146) is a state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. It extends for 43 miles (69 km) from Gallupville at NY 443 to near Mechanicville at U.S. Route 4 (US 4) and NY 32. NY 146 is a major thoroughfare in the city of Schenectady, just outside Albany. Most of the route follows an east–west alignment; however, the middle third of the route between Guilderland and Clifton Park runs in a more north–south manner in order to serve Schenectady. At one time, NY 146 had three spur routes; only one—NY 146A—still exists.
New York State Route 158 (NY 158) is a state highway in New York, running from near the Albany County village of Altamont to the Schenectady County town of Rotterdam, just outside Schenectady. NY 158 is a two-lane highway for all of its length.
New York State Route 156 (NY 156) is a state highway in Albany County, New York. NY 156 begins at a junction with NY 443 in the town of Berne. Serving the hamlet of Knox and the village of Altamont, NY 156 soon reaches the town of Voorheesville and ends at a junction with NY 85A.
New York State Route 397 (NY 397) is a short state highway in New York, running from the village of Altamont to the hamlet of Dunnsville within the town of Guilderland, in Albany County. NY 397 is a two-lane highway its entire length.
John Lawrence Schoolcraft was a U.S. Representative from New York.
The neighborhoods of Albany, New York are listed below.
Watervliet was a town that at its height encompassed most of present-day Albany County and most of the current town of Niskayuna in neighboring Schenectady County, in the state of New York, United States. Just prior to its dissolution, the town encompassed the current towns of Colonie and Green Island and the city of Watervliet.
McKownville is a hamlet in the town of Guilderland, Albany County, New York, United States. It lies along the eastern border of the town with the city of Albany. McKownville is a heavily developed suburb of Albany and is home to many strip malls, shopping centers, and a portion of the University at Albany, SUNY and is bisected by U.S. Route 20. McKownville is named for John McKown and family, early settlers from the late 18th century.
Fullers is a hamlet in the town of Guilderland, Albany County, New York, United States. The hamlet lies along U.S. Route 20.
The Albany Glassworks Site is an archeological site in Guilderland, Albany County, New York. Approximately 2 acres (0.81 ha) in size, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The Normans Kill is a 45.4-mile-long (73.1 km) creek in New York's Capital District located in Schenectady and Albany counties. It flows southeasterly from its source in the town of Duanesburg near Delanson to its mouth at the Hudson River in the town of Bethlehem. In the town of Guilderland, the stream is dammed to create the Watervliet Reservoir, a drinking water source for the city of Watervliet and the Town of Guilderland. A one megawatt hydrolectric plant at the dam provides power to pump water to the filtration plant.
John Schoolcraft House is a historic home located at Guilderland in Albany County, New York.
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