Albany. Founded as a village called Beverwijck near Fort Orange. In 1664 the English took over and renamed the city as Albany, in honor of the then Duke of Albany, the future James II of England and James VII of Scotland. The city was officially chartered in 1686 under English rule. City of Albany City of Watervliet website
Cohoes. Incorporated as a village within the town of Watervliet in 1848; Chartered as a city in 1869. City of Cohoes website
Watervliet. Village of West Troy in 1895; incorporated as a city in 1896. City of Watervliet website
Towns
Berne. The town of Berne was created in 1795 from part of the town of Rensselaerville. In 1822 the north half of Berne was spun off to form the new town of Knox. Town of Berne website.
Bern is made up of the following:
- Berne The largest hamlet in the Town, it is located at the intersection of New York State Route 443 and New York State Route 156. Before the Post Office was located here in the latter half of the 19th century it was called "Bernville."
- East Berne A hamlet east of Berne village on New York State Route 443.
- Reidsville A hamlet in the southeast part of the town.
- South Berne A hamlet near the south town line.
- West Berne A hamlet near the west town line and west of Berne village on New York State Route 443. The community was once called "Mechanicsville" and "Peoria."
Bethlehem. The town of Bethlehem was established on March 12, 1793 from the town of Watervliet. In 1832, part of the town was used to form the town of New Scotland. Town of Bethlehem website.
Bethlehem is made up of the following:
- Beckers Corners: A hamlet in the south part of the town at Route 9W.
- Bethlehem Center: A hamlet in the northeast part of the town.
- Bethlehem Heights: A community east of South Bethlehem, and often associated with it.
- Cedar Hill: A hamlet in the southeast part of the town, east of the Thruway.
- Delmar: A hamlet near the center of the town and the location of the town government. Formerly known as Adamsville.
- Elsmere: A hamlet east of and adjacent to Delmar.
- Glenmont: A hamlet in the eastern part of the town.
- Houcks Corners: A hamlet south of Delmar.
- Normansville: A hamlet in the north part of the town.
- North Bethlehem: A hamlet at the north town line in the northeast part of the town.
- Selkirk: A hamlet east of South Bethlehem.
- Slingerlands: A hamlet immediately west of Delmar and near the west town line.
- South Albany: A hamlet in the south part of the town, north of South Bethlehem.
- South Bethlehem: A hamlet in the south part of the town.
- Wemple: A hamlet in the southeast part of the town.
Coeymans. Coeymans was formed from part of the town of Watervliet in 1791. In 1815, part of the town was used to make the new town of Westerlo. Town of Coeymans website.
The town of Coeymans is made up of the following:
- Alcove A hamlet in the southwest part of the town, east of the Alcove Reservoir.
- Aquetuck A hamlet near the south town line.
- Coeymans A hamlet in the southeast part of the town by the Hudson River on Route 144.
- Coeymans Hollow A hamlet east of Alcove.
- Ravena A village in the south part of the town on Route 9W.
- Roah Hook A hamlet north of Coeymans hamlet on the bank of the Hudson River.
Colonie. This area was once part of the Rensselaerwyck manor. The town of Colonie was formed in 1895 after the rural residents of the town of Watervliet opposed the state's proposal to transform the entire town into a city of Watervliet. Town of Colonie website.
The town of Colonie is made up of the following:
- Boght Corners - A hamlet in the northeast part of the town.
- Colonie - An incorporated village.
- Crescent Station - A hamlet at the northernmost point of the town of Colonie.
- Karner - A hamlet southwest of the village of Colonie.
- Dunsbach Ferry - A hamlet in the northwest part of the town at the Mohawk River.
- Latham - A hamlet near the center of the town.
- Lisha Kill - A hamlet in the northwest section of town, on Route 5.
- Loudonville - A suburban hamlet near the city line of Albany.
- Maplewood - A hamlet adjacent to Cohoes, Watervliet and Green Island.
- Maywood - A hamlet northwest of Colonie village on Route 5.
- Menands - An incorporated village in the eastern part of town.
- Newtonville - A hamlet between Latham and Loudonville.
- Schuyler Heights - A hamlet north of Menands; south and west of Watervliet; east of Loudonville; lying on the west bank of the Hudson River.
- Stanford Heights - A hamlet on the west town line with Schenectady County.
- Verdoy - A hamlet north of Albany airport.
- West AlbanyA hamlet on the southern edge of the town, along the city line of Albany.
Green Island. Green Island was incorporated into a town in 1896.
Guilderland. Guilderland was originally a part of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck begun by Patroon Kiliaen van Rensselaer in 1629. It was incorporated as a town in 1803. Town of Guilderland website.
The town of Guilderland is made up of the following:
- Altamont A village in the western part of Guilderland, west of Guilderland Center.
- Dunnsville A hamlet in the northwest 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.
- Guilderland Center A hamlet west of Guilderland hamlet.
- Hartmans Corners A hamlet northwest of Guilderland hamlet on Route 20.
- McKownville 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.
- Westmere A hamlet in the eastern part of the town on Route 20 and a suburb of Albany.
Knox. The Town of Knox was established in 1822 from part of the Town of Berne. Town of Knox website.
The town of Knox is made up of the following:
- East Township A hamlet in the northeast part of the town on Route 146.
- Knox (formerly "Knoxville") The hamlet of Knox is in the south part of the town, located at the junction of State Route 156 (Berne-Altamont Rd.) and County Road 252 (Knox Cave Rd.).
- West Berne A hamlet at the town line in the southwest part of the town.
- West Township A hamlet in the northwest part of the town on Route 146.
New Scotland. The Town of New Scotland was settled around 1660. New Scotland was founded in 1832 from the west part of the town of Bethlehem. Town of New Scotland website.
The Town of New Scotland is made up of the following:
- Clarksville A hamlet in the southwest part of the town on Route 443.
- Feura Bush A hamlet in the southeast part of the town, south of Unionville on County Rt. 32.
- New Salem A hamlet west of New Scotland village.
- New Scotland The hamlet of New Scotland is south of Voorheesville.
- Tarrytown (also "Onesquethaw") A hamlet south of Clarksville.
- Unionville A hamlet by the eastern town line with Bethlehem.
- Voorheesville An incorporated village in the northern part of the town.
- Wolf Hill A hamlet at the west town line.
Rensselaerville. Rensselaerville was once part of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck. It was incorporated as a town in 1790. Town of Rensselaerville website.
The Town of Rensselaerville is made up of the following:
- Cooksburg A hamlet in the southwest part of Rensselaerville near the town line.
- Medusa A hamlet near the town line, located east of Cooksburg.
- Potter Hollow A hamlet near the south town line, west of Cooksburg.
- Preston Hollow A hamlet in the southwest part of the town, north of Cooksburg.
- Rensselaerville A hamlet in the northeast part of the town.
- Smiths Corner A hamlet at the east town line.
Westerlo. The Town of Westerlo was formed from parts of the Towns of Coeymans and Rensselaerville in 1815. Town of Westerlo website.
The Town of Westerlo is made up of the following:
- Dormansville A hamlet near the east town line.
- Lambs Corner A hamlet in the southwest part of the town.
- Newry A hamlet at the south town line.
- South Westerlo A hamlet near the south town line.
- Westerlo The hamlet of Westerlo is near the center of the town.
Villages
Altamont. In colonial times, this area was part of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, granted by the Dutch West India Company to Killian Van Rensselaer in 1630. The area was known as Hellerburgh in the early 18th century. In the early 19th century Knowersville was established in the rural part of Albany county just below the Helderberg Mountains. This settlement eventually became known as Altamont. Village of Altamont website.
Colonie. The Village of Colonie was incorporated on March 2, 1921. Village of Colonie website.
Green Island. The Village of Green Island was incorporated in 1803. Village of Green Island website.
Menands. The Village of Menands was settled in 1842 and was incorporated as a village in 1924. It was named after Louis Menand who settled in the village in 1842 and established an important horticultural business there. Village of Menands website.
Ravena. The Village of Ravena was incorporated in 1914. Prior to its incorporation, it was known as "Coeymans Junction," but the name was changed to "Ravena" to avoid confusion with another hamlet in the town, "Coeymans Landing." The Village of Ravena website.
Voorheesville. The Village of Voorheesville was incorporated in 1899. It was named after railroad attorney Alonzo B. Voorhees. Village of Voorheesville website.
