Timeline of town creation in New York's Capital District

The towns and cities of New York's Capital District were created by the U.S. state of New York as municipalities in order to give residents more direct say over local government.[1] The Capital District is an 11 county area, which consists of the counties of Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schoharie, Warren, Washington, Columbia, Montgomery, Fulton, and Greene.[2] New York experimented with different types of municipalities before settling upon the current format of towns and cities occupying all the land in a county.[3] Districts were created for Albany and Tryon counties in 1772;[4] all were transformed into towns (or divided into multiple towns) in 1788 when all of the state of New York was divided into towns.[1] Two years before that, in 1786, all of what Washington County encompassed at that time was divided into townships with the same legal status, abilities, and responsibilities as districts[5] with their status as towns confirmed in 1788.[1] Some other forms of government in earlier years included land patents with some municipal rights and boroughs. The following timelines show the creation of the current towns from their predecessors stretching back to the earliest municipal entity over the area. The timelines only represent from which town(s) a particular town was created from and does not represent annexations of territory to and from towns that already existed. All municipalities are towns unless otherwise noted as patent, township, borough, district, or city. Unless otherwise sourced with a footnote all dates of incorporation represent those stated in the 1860 Gazetteer of the State of New York by John H. French.

Opening paragraph of the Dongan Charter creating the city of Albany, New York, the oldest municipality in New York's Capital District
Part of a series on
Regions of New York
Downstate New York
Upstate New York
Administrative divisions
Timelines of town creation

Albany and Rensselaer counties, with Niskayuna (Schenectady County)
Beverwyck
village
1652[0]
(Albany
in 1664)		Albany
city
1686[A]
West
Manor
district
1779-
1788[A]		Watervliet
1788[1]
-1896[A]
Rensselaer-
ville
1790[A]		Berne
1795[A]		Knox
1822[A]
Westerlo
1815[A]
Coeymans
1791[A]
Bethlehem
1793[A]		New
Scotland
1832[A]
Guilderland
1803[A]
Manor[A]
district
1772-
1779		Colonie[A]
1808-1815
Niskayuna
1809[B]
Cohoes[A]
city 1869[6]
Colonie
1895[7][A]
Green Island
1896[8][A]		North
Greenbush
1855[D]
Watervliet
city
1896[8][A]		Clinton
1855[D]
(East
Greenbush
in 1858)
Greenbush
1795-
1897[D]		Rensselaer
city
1897[9][D]
East
Manor
district
1779-
1784[A]		Rensselaer-
wyck
district[A]
1784-1788		Rensselaer-
wyck[C]
1788[1]-
1795		Schodack
1795[D]		Sand
Lake[D]
1812
Brunswick
1807[D]
Troy
1791-
1816[D]		Troy
city
1816[D]		Poesten-
kill
1848[D]
Lansing-
burgh
1807-1901[D]
Stephentown
district
1784-1788[A]		Stephentown
1788[1][C]		Petersburgh
1791[D]		Grafton
1807[D]		Berlin
1806[D]
Philips-
town
1806[D]
(Nassau
in 1808)
Schagh-
ticoke
district
1772-
1788[A]		Schagh-
ticoke
1788[1][C]
Pittstown
1788[1][a][C]
Hoosick
district
1772-
1788[A]		Hoosick
1788[1][C]

Notes
[0]= A part of New Netherland, a Dutch territory, until 1664, thereafter part of the English colony of New York,
and within Albany County from its formation in 1683.
[A] = A part of Albany County.
[B] = A part of Schenectady County when formed from Albany County in 1809.
[C] = A part of Albany County until 1791 when Rensselaer County was formed.
[D] = A part of Rensselaer County.

Schoharie and Greene counties, with Duanesburgh (Schenectady County)
Hurley
township[9]
1708-1788		Woodstock
township[10]
1787-1788[9]		Woodstock
1788[1][9]		Windham
1798[10]		Greenland
1813[F]
(Hunter in 1814)
Jewett
1849[F]
New Goshen[F]
January 17, 1813
(Lexington
in March 19, 1813)		Halcott
1851[F]
Prattsville
1833[F]
Ashland
1848[F]
Great Imboght
District[A]
1772-1788		Catskill 1788[2]
Athens 1815[F]
Coxsackie
District
1772-1788[A]		Coxsackie 1788[C]
Canton 1803[F]
(Cairo 1808)
New Baltimore
1811[F]
Freehold 1790[C]
change to
Durham 1805
Greenfield 1803[F]
(Freehold in 1808)
(Greenville 1809)
Duanesburgh
patent[A]
1765[11]-1772		Duanesburg
1789[12][D]		Conesville
1836[8]
United Districts
of Duanesburgh
and Schoharie
1772[4]-1788[A]		Schoharie
1788[1][E]		Bristol 1797[G]
change to
Broome 1808
Gilboa 1848[G]
Schoharie[A]
patent
1714[13]-1772		Blenheim 1797[G]Jefferson
1803[G]
Richmondville
1845[G]		Summit 1819[G]
Cobleskill 1797[G]
Carlisle 1807[G]
Sharon 1797[G]Seward 1840[G]
Middletown 1797
Middleburgh 1801[G]		Fulton 1828[G]
Wright 1846[G]
Esperance 1846[G]

Notes
[A] = A part of Albany County.


[2] = A part of Albany County until 1798, then part of Ulster County until 1800 when Greene County was formed.

[C] = A part of Albany County until 1800 when Greene County was formed.
[D] = A part of Albany County, until 1809 when Schenectady County was formed.
[E] = A part of Albany County until 1797 when Schoharie County was formed.
[F] = A part of Greene County
[G] = A part of Schoharie County
[H] = Schoharie County annexed a portion of the town of Durham (Greene County) in 1836,
that portion was joined with a part of the town of Broome to become Conesville.


[9] = A part of Ulster County.
[10] = A part of Ulster County until 1800 when Greene County was formed.

Schenectady County, except Niskayuna and Duanesburgh
Schenectady City Hall
Schenectady patent 1684-1765[A]
Schenectady borough 1765-1772[A]
Schenectady district 1772-1788[A]
Schenectady town 1788-1798[A]
Princetown 1798[B]Schenectady city 1798[B]
Glenville 1820[C]Rotterdam 1820[C]

Notes
[A] = A part of Albany County.
[B] = A part of Albany County, until 1809 when Schenectady County was formed.
[C] = A part of Schenectady County.

Saratoga County, and Easton (Washington County)
Charlton
1792[C]
Galway
1792[C]		Providence
1796[C]		Northfield
1801
(Edinburgh
in 1808)[C]		Corinth
1818[C]
Ballstown
district
1775-
1788[A]		Ballston
1788[B]		Milton
1792[C]
Saratoga
district
1772-
1788[A]		Greenfield
1801[C]		Concord 1819
(Day in 1827)[C]
Hadley
1801[C]
Saratoga
1788[B]		Northumberland
1798[C]		Moreau
1805[C]
Wilton
1818[C]
Saratoga
Springs
town 1819-
1915[C]		Saratoga
Springs
city
1915[14][C]
Easton
1789[D]
Stillwater
1788[B]		Malta
1802[C]
Halfmoon
district
1772-
1788[A]		Mechanicville
city 1915[15][C]
Halfmoon
1788[B]		Waterford
1816[C]
Clifton 1828
(Clifton Park
in 1829)[C]

Notes
[A] = A part of Albany County.
[B] = A part of Albany County, until 1791 when Saratoga County was formed.
[C] = A part of Saratoga County.
[D]= A part of Albany County, until 1791 when annexed by Washington County

Washington County, except Easton
Jackson
1815[D]
Cambridge
patent[A]
1761-1788		Cambridge
1788[C]		White Creek
1815[D]
Kingsbury
patent[B]
1762-1786		Kingsbury[D]
township
1786-1788		Kingsbury
1788[D]
Argyle
patent[B]
1764-1786		Argyle[D]
township
1786-1788		Argyle
1788[D]		Greenwich
1803[D]
Salem[B]
patent
1764-1786		Salem[D]
township
1786-1788		Salem[D]
1788		Fort Edward
1818[D]
Skenesborough
patent[B]
1765-1786		Whitehall[D]
township
1786-1788		Whitehall
1788[D]
Granville[D]
township
1786-1788		Granville
1788[D]
Hampton[D]
township
1786-1788		Hampton
1788[D]
Hebron[D]
township
1786-1788		Hebron
1788[D]
Westfield[D]
township
1786-1788		Westfield
1788[D]
(Fort Ann
in 1808)		Hartford
1793[D]
Putnam
1806[D]		South Bay[D]
March 15, 1822
(Dresden in
April 17, 1822)

Notes
[A] = A part of Albany County.
[B]= A part of Albany County until 1772 when Charlotte County was formed (name changed to Washington County in 1778).
[D]= A part of Albany County, until 1791 when annexed by Washington County
[D]= A part of Washington County.

Warren County
Caldwell
1810[3]
(Lake George
in 1963[16])
Chester
1799[3]
Bolton
1799[3]		Rochester
1807[3](Hague
in 1808)
Horicon
1838[4]
Queensbury
patent[A]
1762-1786		Queensbury
township[B]
1786[5]-1788		Queensbury
1788[3][1]		Thurman[B][17]
1792-1813		Johnsburg
1805[3]
Fairfield
1792[3]
(Luzerne
in 1808
Lake Luzerne
in 1963[16])		Athol[4]
1813-1852		Thurman
1852[4]
Glens Falls
city 1908[4]		Warrensburg
1813[4]		Stony Creek
1852[4]

Notes
[A]= A part of Albany County until 1772 when Charlotte County was formed (name changed to Washington County in 1778).
[B]= A part of Washington County.


[3] = A part of Washington County until 1813 when Warren County was formed.
[4] = A part of Warren County.

Columbia County
Hillsdale
District[A]
1782-1788		Hillsdale
1788[B]
Hudson
city[A]
1785		Greenport
1837[B]
Claverack
District[A]
1772-1788		Claverack
1788[B]
(1)(1)
Stuyvesant
1823[B]		Stockport
1833[B]
Kinderhook
District[A]
1772-1788		Kinderhook
1788[B]		Ghent
1818[B]
Chatham
1795[B]
Austerlitz
1818[2]
Kings
District[A]
1772-1788		Canaan
1788[B]		New Lebanon
1818[B]
German Camp[18]
(East Camp)
District[A]
1775-1788		Germantown
1788[B]
Clermont
1787[B]		Gallatin 1803
(Ancram 1814)[B]		Gallatin
1830[B]
Manor
of
Livingston
District[A]
1772-1788		Livingston
1788[B]		Granger 1803[B]
(Taghkanic 1814)		Copake
1824[B]

Notes
[A] = A part of Albany County until 1786 when Columbia County was formed.
[B]= A part of Columbia County.

Fulton, Montgomery, and Hamilton counties, with part of Herkimer County
Salisbury
1797
Oppenheim
1808		St. Johnsville
1838
Manheim
1817
Stone
Arabia
1772-
1788
(Palatine
in 1773)		Palatine
1788		Ephratah
1827
Canajoharie
district
1772-1788		Canajoharie
1788		Minden
1798		Danube
1812		Stark
1828
Bleecker
1831		Caroga
1842
Root
1823		Gloversville
1840
Johnstown
1895
Mohawk
district
1772-
1788		Mohawk
1788-
1793		Charleston
1793		Glen
1823		Johnstown
1793
Florida
1793		Mohawk
1837
Lake Pleasant
1812		Arietta
1836		Long Lake
1837
Morehouse
1835		Inlet
1901
Caughnawaga
district
1780-1788		Caughnawaga
1788-1793		Mayfield
1793		Wells
1805		Indian Lake
1858
Broadalbin
1793		Northampton
1799		Hope
1818		Benson
1860
Amsterdam
1793		Perth
1838		Gilman
1839-1860
Amsterdam
city
1885

See also

Notes
  • a. ^ Though many sources put Pittstown as incorporated as a township by patent on July 23, 1721 no law can be found incorporating it as such. [19] When Albany County was divided into districts Pittstown is not mentioned, though the land it currently occupies was included in Schaghticoke;[4] if Pittstown had been a municipality it ceased to be so in 1772 (or earlier); the current town of Pittstown was formed in 1788.[1]

References
  1. Laws of the State of New York, Vol. 2; 1785-1788. State of New York. 1886. p. 748. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
  2. "Capital District Community Loan Fund". Archived from the original on 2009-08-10. Retrieved 2009-09-6-09. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  3. "Governmental Units". John B. Deitz. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
  4. The Colonial Laws of New York, Vol. 5; 1769-1775. James B. Lyon (State of New York). 1894. p. 383. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  5. Laws of the State of New York, Vol. 2; 1785-88. State of New York. 1886. p. 196. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  6. Statutes at Large of the State of New York, Vol. 7; 1867-1870. Weed, Parsons & Company. 1870. p. 405. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
  7. Charles Lincoln (1906). The Constitutional History of New York; Vol. 4. The Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company. p. 401. Retrieved 2009-04-05. the constitutional history of new york 1906.
  8. National Reporter System (1898). New York Supplement, Vol. 50. W.C. Little & Co. pp. 488–491. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  9. New York State Session Laws, Vol. 1. State of New York. 1897. p. 323.
  10. Laws of the State of New York, Vol. 2; 1785-88. State of New York. 1886. p. 508. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
  11. Proceedings of the New York State Historical Association. New York State Historical Association. 1916. p. 255. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
  12. Laws of the State of New York, Vol. 2; 1788-92. Thomas Greenleaf (State of New York). 1792. p. 214. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  13. Ruth Higgins (1931). Expansion in New York. Ohio State University. p. 52. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
  14. General Laws of the State of New York, passed in 1915. West Publishing Company. 1915. p. 803. Retrieved 2009-09-02. an act to incorporate the city of saratoga springs.
  15. General Laws of the State of New York, passed in 1915. West Publishing Company. 1915. p. 795. Retrieved 2009-09-02. mechanicville.
  16. "Warren County Historical Society". Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  17. Laws of the State of New York, Vol. 2; 1788-92. Thomas Greenleaf (State of New York). 1792. p. 457. Retrieved 2009-09-01. schoharie patent new york law.
  18. The Colonial Laws of New York, Vol. 5; 1769-75. James B. Lyon (State of New York). 1894. p. 773. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  19. State of New York (1894). Colonial Laws of New York, Vol. II; 1720-1737. James B. Lyon. Retrieved 2010-01-29. july 23.

Further reading
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