Guilderland, New York
Encyclopedia
Guilderland is a town in Albany County
, New York
, United States
. In the 2010 census
, the town had a population of 35,303. The town is named for the Gelderland
province in the Netherlands
.
The town of Guilderland is on the central-northwest border of the county. It is west of Albany
, the capital of New York
.
Kiliaen van Rensselaer 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 Lutheran dominie
from Athens, New York
to the "Normanskill Folk", and the first religious structure was a Dutch Reformed Church in 1750.
Guilderland was from the beginning a location very amenable to early industry due to its numerous 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 of bottles of various shapes, sizes, and uses. Around this factory would spring 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, would be home many textile mills thanks to the power harnessed from the falls on the Normans Kill near Guilderland Center.
During the US Revolutionary War many families in Guilderland were split in their loyalties. The patroon of Rensselearswyck and the local clergy however were able to gather the support and focus the energy of the majority of the settlers in opposing the Tories who operated from the caves of the Helderbergs raiding settlements with the help of Native American
allies of the British. A battle between the Tories and the Schenectady Militia with help from Rhode Island
Continental Troops was fought just east of Guilderland Center. The Tories had planned to burn and loot loosely defended Schenectady and Albany. The victory of the American forces not only saved these communities but also allowed the Rhode Island contigent to travel to Saratoga
for the Battle of Saratoga
that occurred five weeks later, the turning point of the US Revolution.
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
. In 1871 the northwestern portion of Albany, west from Magazine Street, was annexed to Guilderland, after the town of Watervliet refused the annexation of the same territory. Portions of this territory would be annexed back to Albany in 1910, setting up more or less the current border.
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.
would be used in 1799 as part of the Great Western Turnpike
, this was one of the most important routes from Albany and New England
to the western frontier and operated with tolls until 1905. Taverns, hotels, and other establishments along the road led to increased prosperity and settlement of Guilderland. In 1849 the Schoharie and Albany Plank Road was constructed connecting the Great Western Turnpike to Schoharie; from Altamont to the Great Western Turnpike it followed the route of the Old Schoharie Road, today New York Route 146 for the most part follows this route.
The railroads would come to Guilderland in the 1860s connecting the town to Albany and other local stops and also to the broader world. The Albany and Susquehanna Railroad
followed along the base of the Helderbergs in the southwestern corner of town while the Hudson and Saratoga Railroad
went through the center of the town. They contributed to the founding of Altamont
(originally Knowersville), Guilderland Center
, and Fullers Station
.
, the town has a total area of 58.7 square miles (152 km²), of which, 57.9 square miles (150 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (1.31%) is water.
The town borders Schenectady County
, New York, including the towns of Princetown
and Rotterdam on the northern and western edges. It also borders the towns of Berne
, Colonie and New Scotland
and the city of Albany
.
There are several ZIP code
s 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 32,688 people, 13,422 households and 8,764 families residing in the town. The population density
was 564.3 people per square mile (217.9/km²). There were 13,928 housing units at an average density of 240.5 per square mile (92.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.07% White, 2.51% African American, 0.14% Native American, 3.82% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races
, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79% of the population. 93.2% of population are native U.S. citizens and 6.8% are immigrants.
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.
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.
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. 64.9% of workers are employed in the private-sector, and 29.1% are government employees.
. It has one high school, Guilderland High School
, one middle school, Farnsworth Middle School, and five elementary schools. These include Guilderland Elementary School, Pine Bush Elementary School, Lynnwood Elementary School, Altamont Elementary School, and Westmere Elementary School. Some portions of the town are served by other school districts, including Voorheesville Central School District, based in the town of New Scotland
; as well as Schalmont Central School District and Mohonasen Central School District, both of which are based in the town of Rotterdam.
is Kenneth D. Runion (since 2000).
The current councilmen and councilwomen are Patricia Slavick (2000), Paul Pastore (2006), Mark Grimm(2008), and Warren Redlich
(2008).
Rosemary Centi is the current town clerk.
Jean J. Cataldo is the current Receiver of Taxes, serving since 2000.
The current town attorney is Richard Sherwood.
The seat of Guilderland's government is the Guilderland Town Hall.
for the town of Guilderland, except for the village of Altamont as well as Guilderland Center, are provided by two main, yet separate medical organizations. Both Western Turnpike Rescue Squad, serving the local community since 1939 and the Altamont Rescue Squad, established in 1937, which covers the village of Altamont, the hamlet of Guilderland Center, and parts of the town of Knox are the BLS transport ambulances for the town of Guilderland. Advanced Life Support Care is provided by the career paramedic
staff of Guilderland EMS, which is a division of the Guilderland Police Department.
The Altamont Free Library, located in and serving the Village of Altamont, is an association library. The Village of Altmont is a political entity within the borders of the Town of Guilderland.
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In the 2010 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, the town had a population of 35,303. The town is named for the Gelderland
Gelderland
Gelderland is the largest province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. The capital city is Arnhem. The two other major cities, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn have more inhabitants. Other major regional centers in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Tiel, Wijchen,...
province in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
The town of Guilderland is on the central-northwest border of the county. It is west of Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, the capital of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
History
Guilderland was originally a part of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck begun by PatroonPatroon
In the United States, a patroon was a landholder with manorial rights to large tracts of land in the 17th century Dutch colony of New Netherland in North America...
Kiliaen van Rensselaer in 1629 as part of the New Netherland
New Netherland
New Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the 17th-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
colony. By the end of the 17th century Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
settlers from Albany and Schenectady
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
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
Rhine Valley
The Rhine Valley is a glacial alpine valley, formed by the Alpine Rhine , i.e. the section of the Rhine River between the confluence of the Anterior Rhine and Posterior Rhine at Reichenau and its mouth at Lake Constance....
in present-day Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
passed through the town on their way to Schoharie
Schoharie County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,582 people, 11,991 households and 8,177 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 15,915 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
. They were the first to record and name the Helderberg Escarpment
Helderberg Escarpment
The Helderberg Escarpment is an escarpment in eastern New York, roughly west of the city of Albany....
, originally Hellebergh meaning "bright or clear mountain". This name would also be used for all the land between the Normans Kill and the escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
. In 1734 the first known religious service was held by a Lutheran dominie
Dominie
Dominie is a Scots language and Scottish English term for a Scottish schoolmaster or a minister, usually of the Church of Scotland but sometimes of other presbyterian churches in Scotland...
from Athens, New York
Athens, New York
Athens, New York can refer to:* Athens , New York* Athens , New York...
to the "Normanskill Folk", and the first religious structure was a Dutch Reformed Church in 1750.
Guilderland was from the beginning a location very amenable to early industry due to its numerous 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 of bottles of various shapes, sizes, and uses. Around this factory would spring the hamlet of Hamilton (today called Guilderland). The factory could not compete with cheap British imports after the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
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, would be home many textile mills thanks to the power harnessed from the falls on the Normans Kill near Guilderland Center.
During the US Revolutionary War many families in Guilderland were split in their loyalties. The patroon of Rensselearswyck and the local clergy however were able to gather the support and focus the energy of the majority of the settlers in opposing the Tories who operated from the caves of the Helderbergs raiding settlements with the help of Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
allies of the British. A battle between the Tories and the Schenectady Militia with help from Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
Continental Troops was fought just east of Guilderland Center. The Tories had planned to burn and loot loosely defended Schenectady and Albany. The victory of the American forces not only saved these communities but also allowed the Rhode Island contigent to travel to Saratoga
Saratoga, New York
Saratoga is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,141 at the 2000 census. It is also the commonly used, but not official, name for the neighboring and much more populous city, Saratoga Springs. The major village in the town of Saratoga is Schuylerville which is...
for the Battle of Saratoga
Battle of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga conclusively decided the fate of British General John Burgoyne's army in the American War of Independence and are generally regarded as a turning point in the war. The battles were fought eighteen days apart on the same ground, south of Saratoga, New York...
that occurred five weeks later, the turning point of the US Revolution.
From 1799 until its formation in 1803 Guilderland was a part of the town of Watervliet
Watervliet (town), New York
For the Shaker village, see Watervliet Shaker Historic District.The town of Watervliet was a town that at its height encompassed most of present-day Albany County and the majority of the current town of Niskayuna in neighboring Schenectady County, in the state of New York, United States...
. The name Guilderland (spelled Guilderlandt in the original law) was the suggestion of resident Jeremiah Van Rensselaer
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer was a Representative from New York to the United States Congress. He was the cousin of Killian K...
, 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
Gelderland
Gelderland is the largest province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. The capital city is Arnhem. The two other major cities, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn have more inhabitants. Other major regional centers in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Tiel, Wijchen,...
, a province of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. In 1871 the northwestern portion of Albany, west from Magazine Street, was annexed to Guilderland, after the town of Watervliet refused the annexation of the same territory. Portions of this territory would be annexed back to Albany in 1910, setting up more or less the current border.
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
Guilderland Central School District
The Guilderland Central School District serves approximately 5,700 students and encompasses most of the Town of Guilderland and part of the town of Bethlehem in Albany County, of New York’s Capital District....
would be formed on the consolidation of the eight smaller districts.
Early transportation
The route used by the German immigrants on their way to Schoharie was established in 1750 as the Old Schoharie Road, it was a poor dirt road or path and had no bridges over the many streams it came upon. Part of this route, from Albany to Foundry Road in Guilderland hamletGuilderland (hamlet), New York
Guilderland is a hamlet of the town of the same name in Albany County, New York.-History:The hamlet of Guilderland was begun as a glass factory in 1792, often referred to as the "Glass House". This factory was in the middle of the wilderness of the Pine Bush pine barrens, in an area then called...
would be used in 1799 as part of the Great Western Turnpike
Great Western Turnpike
The Great Western Turnpike was a series of east–west toll roads that crossed part of New York in the United States. The toll roads that carried this name were:...
, this was one of the most important routes from Albany and New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
to the western frontier and operated with tolls until 1905. Taverns, hotels, and other establishments along the road led to increased prosperity and settlement of Guilderland. In 1849 the Schoharie and Albany Plank Road was constructed connecting the Great Western Turnpike to Schoharie; from Altamont to the Great Western Turnpike it followed the route of the Old Schoharie Road, today New York Route 146 for the most part follows this route.
The railroads would come to Guilderland in the 1860s connecting the town to Albany and other local stops and also to the broader world. The Albany and Susquehanna Railroad
Albany and Susquehanna Railroad
The Albany and Susquehanna Railroad was a railroad running from Albany to Binghamton, operating 1851 to 1870-History:Construction began on April 19, 1851 from Albany to Schoharie Junction, New York, a distance of 35 miles . This phase was completed in 1863...
followed along the base of the Helderbergs in the southwestern corner of town while the Hudson and Saratoga Railroad
West Shore Railroad
The West Shore Railroad was the final name of a railroad from Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City, north along the west shore of the river to Albany, New York and then west to Buffalo...
went through the center of the town. They contributed to the founding of Altamont
Altamont, Albany County, New York
Altamont is a village located in the town of Guilderland in Albany County, New York. The village is in the western part of the town. The population was 1,720 at the 2010 census. The name means "high mountain."- History :...
(originally Knowersville), Guilderland Center
Guilderland Center, New York
Guilderland Center is a hamlet in the town of Guilderland, Albany County, New York. The hamlet lies along New York Route 146 and the Black Creek, a tributary of the Normans Kill.-History:...
, and Fullers Station
Fullers, New York
Fullers is a hamlet in the town of Guilderland, Albany County, New York. The hamlet lies along US Route 20 .-History:Fullers owes its origins, name, and early growth to the Fuller family...
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 58.7 square miles (152 km²), of which, 57.9 square miles (150 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (1.31%) is water.
The town borders Schenectady County
Schenectady County, New York
Schenectady County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 154,727. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Schenectady. The name is from a Mohawk Indian word meaning "on the other side of the...
, New York, including the towns of Princetown
Princetown, New York
Princetown is a town in Schenectady County, New York, United States. The population was 2,132 at the 2000 census.The Town of Princetown is in the central part of the county, west of the City of Schenectady.-Geography:...
and Rotterdam on the northern and western edges. It also borders the towns of Berne
Berne, New York
Berne is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 2,794 at the 2010 census. The town is at the west border of Albany County.- History :...
, Colonie and New Scotland
New Scotland, New York
New Scotland is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 8,648 at the 2010 census.The town is southwest of Albany, New York, the state capital. New Scotland is centrally located in the county.-History:...
and the city of Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
.
There are several ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
s 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
Crossgates Mall
Crossgates Mall is a shopping mall located in Albany, New York, United States, not far from Schenectady. The mall opened on March 4, 1984, and in October 1994 underwent a large expansion that nearly doubled its size. It now has a gross leasable area of with two floors including 250 shops and...
a large mall on the edge of Guilderland. US-20 also runs through the town.
Demographics
As of the 2000 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, there were 32,688 people, 13,422 households and 8,764 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 564.3 people per square mile (217.9/km²). There were 13,928 housing units at an average density of 240.5 per square mile (92.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.07% White, 2.51% African American, 0.14% Native American, 3.82% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79% of the population. 93.2% of population are native U.S. citizens and 6.8% are immigrants.
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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.
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.
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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. 64.9% of workers are employed in the private-sector, and 29.1% are government employees.
Education
Guilderland is served by the Guilderland Central School DistrictGuilderland Central School District
The Guilderland Central School District serves approximately 5,700 students and encompasses most of the Town of Guilderland and part of the town of Bethlehem in Albany County, of New York’s Capital District....
. It has one high school, Guilderland High School
Guilderland High School
Guilderland High School is a public senior high school, located in Guilderland Center, New York. It is part of the Guilderland Central School District. Constructed in 1953, the high school has since undergone additions in 1955, 1960, 1997 and 2010...
, one middle school, Farnsworth Middle School, and five elementary schools. These include Guilderland Elementary School, Pine Bush Elementary School, Lynnwood Elementary School, Altamont Elementary School, and Westmere Elementary School. Some portions of the town are served by other school districts, including Voorheesville Central School District, based in the town of New Scotland
New Scotland, New York
New Scotland is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 8,648 at the 2010 census.The town is southwest of Albany, New York, the state capital. New Scotland is centrally located in the county.-History:...
; as well as Schalmont Central School District and Mohonasen Central School District, both of which are based in the town of Rotterdam.
Politics
The current town supervisorTown supervisor
Town Supervisor is an elective legislative position in New York towns. Supervisors sit on the town board, where they preside over town board meetings and vote on all matters with no more legal weight than that of any other board member .Towns may adopt local laws that allow them to provide for an...
is Kenneth D. Runion (since 2000).
The current councilmen and councilwomen are Patricia Slavick (2000), Paul Pastore (2006), Mark Grimm(2008), and Warren Redlich
Warren Redlich
Warren Redlich is a lawyer and politician from Guilderland, New York. In 2004 and 2006, Redlich ran for US Congress for the 21st District of New York State as a Republican. In 2005, he briefly served as the Political Director of the Libertarian Party of New York. He is currently a town councilman...
(2008).
Rosemary Centi is the current town clerk.
Jean J. Cataldo is the current Receiver of Taxes, serving since 2000.
The current town attorney is Richard Sherwood.
The seat of Guilderland's government is the Guilderland Town Hall.
Ambulance and paramedic level care
Emergency Medical ServicesEmergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
for the town of Guilderland, except for the village of Altamont as well as Guilderland Center, are provided by two main, yet separate medical organizations. Both Western Turnpike Rescue Squad, serving the local community since 1939 and the Altamont Rescue Squad, established in 1937, which covers the village of Altamont, the hamlet of Guilderland Center, and parts of the town of Knox are the BLS transport ambulances for the town of Guilderland. Advanced Life Support Care is provided by the career paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
staff of Guilderland EMS, which is a division of the Guilderland Police Department.
Fire departments
There are eight main fire departments that also provide rescue; including Guilderland Fire Department, Westmere Fire Department Guilderland Center Fire Department, Fort Hunter Fire Department, Altamont Fire Department, North Bethlehem Fire Department, McKownville Fire Department and Pine Grove Fire Department.Police Department
Guilderland has its own police department with multiple special units and is headquartered in town hall with a sub-station located at Crossgates Mall.Communities and locations in Guilderland
- AltamontAltamont, Albany County, New YorkAltamont is a village located in the town of Guilderland in Albany County, New York. The village is in the western part of the town. The population was 1,720 at the 2010 census. The name means "high mountain."- History :...
– A village in the western part of Guilderland, west of Guilderland Center. - Community Gardens – Town sponsored activity located in Tawasentha Park which includes 100 garden plots.
- Dunnsville – A hamlet in the northwest part of the town.
- Fort HunterFort Hunter, New YorkFort Hunter is a hamlet in the town of Florida in Montgomery County, New York, on the Mohawk River at Schoharie Creek.In the 18th century, Fort Hunter was built as a fort near the location of one of the two primary Mohawk settlements. The Mohawk name for the village was rendered variously in...
– A hamlet in the northern part of the town. - FullersFullers, New YorkFullers is a hamlet in the town of Guilderland, Albany County, New York. The hamlet lies along US Route 20 .-History:Fullers owes its origins, name, and early growth to the Fuller family...
– A hamlet northwest of Hartmans Corners on Route 20. - GuilderlandGuilderland (hamlet), New YorkGuilderland is a hamlet of the town of the same name in Albany County, New York.-History:The hamlet of Guilderland was begun as a glass factory in 1792, often referred to as the "Glass House". This factory was in the middle of the wilderness of the Pine Bush pine barrens, in an area then called...
– A hamlet with the same name as the town; located on Route 20, established in 1796. - Guilderland CenterGuilderland Center, New YorkGuilderland Center is a hamlet in the town of Guilderland, Albany County, New York. The hamlet lies along New York Route 146 and the Black Creek, a tributary of the Normans Kill.-History:...
– A hamlet west of Guilderland hamlet. - Hartmans Corners – A hamlet northwest of Guilderland hamlet on Route 20.
- McCormacks Corners – A location northwest of Guilderland hamlet on Route 20.
- McKownvilleMcKownville, New YorkMcKownville is a hamlet in the town of Guilderland, Albany County, New York. 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...
– A hamlet near the east town line and Albany. - Meadowdale – A hamlet by the south town line.
- Parkers Corners – A hamlet in the northwestern part of the town.
- Watervliet Reservoir – A reservoir north of Guilderland Center.
- WestmereWestmere, New YorkWestmere is a hamlet in the town of Guilderland, Albany County, New York. Since the 1970 Census a census-designated place 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...
– 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
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. 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.The Altamont Free Library, located in and serving the Village of Altamont, is an association library. The Village of Altmont is a political entity within the borders of the Town of Guilderland.
Notable natives and residents
- Evert BanckerEvert Bancker (mayor)This article is about the Mayor of Albany. For the Speaker of the NY Assembly see Evert Bancker Evert Bancker was an American trader and politician who was Mayor of Albany from 1695 to 1696 and from 1707 to 1709.-Life:He was the only surviving son of Gerrit Bancker, a pioneer fur trader, and...
(1665–1734), fur trader and mayor of Albany - Ryan Sommers BaumRyan Sommers BaumRyan Dowell Baum is an American former child actor who is best known as J.B. Halliburton on the Disney Channel original series The Famous Jett Jackson.-Biography:...
, child actor - Jon BuschJon BuschJon Busch is an American soccer goalkeeper for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
, soccer player - Johnny GrabowskiJohnny GrabowskiJohn Patrick Grabowski , nicknamed "Nig", was a Major League Baseball catcher who played 7 seasons for the Chicago White Sox , New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers .Born in Ware, Massachusetts to a family of Polish descent, Grabowski played 296 major league games—282 of them as a catcher...
(1900–1946), baseball player and umpire - Victoria A. GraffeoVictoria A. GraffeoVictoria A. Graffeo is a judge on New York State's Court of Appeals. Judge Graffeo was appointed to the court by Republican Governor George Pataki in 2000 for a 14-year term. Her current term expires in 2014.-Education:...
, judge - David PatersonDavid PatersonDavid Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
- While his primary residence is located downstate in HarlemHarlemHarlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, the former Governor of New York State maintained a residence in Guilderland as a state senator and later Lieutenant Governor of New York State prior to assuming the governorship. Paterson resided in the New York State Executive MansionNew York State Executive MansionThe New York State Executive Mansion is the official residence of the Governor of New York. Located at 138 Eagle Street in Albany, New York, it has housed 31 governors and their families. The Italianate building was constructed in 1856 as a banker's private home...
while in Albany, but kept his Guilderland and Harlem residences. - Joseph E. PersicoJoseph E. PersicoJoseph E. Persico is an author. From 1974 to 1977 he was primary speechwriter to Vice President Nelson Rockefeller...
, author and speechwriter - Henry RamsayHenry Ramsay (NY engineer)Henry Ramsay was an American civil engineer and for a short time New York State Engineer and Surveyor in 1853.-Life:...
(1808–1886), prominent civil engineer - Henry SchoolcraftHenry SchoolcraftHenry Rowe Schoolcraft was an American geographer, geologist, and ethnologist, noted for his early studies of Native American cultures, as well as for his 1832 discovery of the source of the Mississippi River. He married Jane Johnston, whose parents were Ojibwe and Scots-Irish...
(1793–1864), geologist, geographer, and ethnologist - William D. VeederWilliam D. VeederWilliam Davis Veeder was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in Guilderland, New York, Veeder completed preparatory studies.He studied law....
(1835–1910), politician