Rensselaer County, New York Cities, Towns, and Villages

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List of towns, formation dates, and other details











































































































Berlin  
  1806    Formed from towns of Peterburgh, Schodack, and Stephentown
  1812    Daughter town Sand Lake formed
   
Brunswick
  1807    Formed from City of Troy
  1814    Ceded land to City of Troy
  1839    Annexed land from Town of Lansingburgh 
   
Clinton  
  Name for Town of East Greenbush 1855–1858
   
East Greenbush
  1855    Formed as Clinton from Town of Greenbush
  1858    Name changed to East Greenbush
  1902    Ceded land to City of Rensselaer
   
Grafton  
  1807    Formed from Town of Petersburgh and City of Troy
   
Greenbush 1792–1897
  (see East Greenbush, North Greenbush and City of Rensselaer)
  1792    Formed from district of Rensselaerwyck (see Albany County)
  1795    Second act of incorporation
  1812    Daughter town Sand Lake formed
  1843    Annexed land from Town of   Sand Lake
  1855    Daughter towns Clinton (now East Greenbush) and North Greenbush formed leaving the Village of Greenbush coterminous with the town
  1897    Incorporated as a city and name changed to Rensselaer
   
Hoosick  
  1688    Hoosick Patent granted
  1772    Formed as a district
  1788    Recognized as a town in Albany County
  1791    Transferred to new county of Rensselaer
   
Lansingburgh 1807–1900
  1807    Formed from towns of Petersburgh and Troy
  1819    Annexed land from Town of Schaghticoke 
  1836    Ceded land  to City of Troy
  1839    Ceded land to Town of Brunswick
  1900    Town ceded to City of Troy
   
Nassau  
  1806    Formed as Philipstown from   towns of Petersburgh, Schodack, and 
   
Stephentown
  1808    Name changed to Nassau
   
North Greenbush
  1855    Formed from Town of Greenbush
  1902    Ceded Village of Bath to City of Rensselaer
   
Petersburgh
  1791    Formed from Town of Stephentown
  1806    Daughter towns of Berlin and Philipstown (now Nassau)  formed
  1807    Daughter towns Grafton and Lansingburgh formed
   
Philipstown
  Name for Town of Nassau 1806–1808 
   
Pittstown
  1650    Settlement commenced
  1761    Became a township by patent in Albany County (part of Schaghticoke District)
  1788    Recognized as town by State      of New York
  1791    Transferred to new county of Rensselaer
   
Poestenkill
  1848    Formed from Town of Sand Lake
   
Rensselaer (city)
  1897    Town and Village of Greenbush incorporated as City of Rensselaer [
  1902    Annexed Village of Bath, Town of North Greenbush, and western part of Town of East Greenbush
   
Sand Lake
  1812    Formed from towns of Berlin  and Greenbush
  1843    Ceded land to Town of Greenbush
  1848    Daughter town Poestenkill formed
   
Schaghticoke
  1772    Formed as a district in Albany County
  1788    Recognized as a town by State   of New York
  1791    Transferred to new county of Rensselaer
  1819    Ceded land to Town of Lansingburgh
   
Schodack
  1795    Formed from Rensselaerwyck (see Albany County)
  1806    Daughter towns Berlin and Philipstown (now Nassau)  formed 
   
Stephentown
  1784    Formed from Rensselaerwyck   (see Albany County) 
  1788    Recognized as a town by State   of New York
  1791    Transferred to new county of Rensselaer; daughter town Petersburgh formed
  1806    Daughter towns Berlin and Philipstown (now Nassau)   formed
   
Troy (town, then city)
  Settled pre-Revolution by Dutch; settlement known as Ashleys Ferry and Vanderheydens Ferry
  1789    Name Troy adopted in Albany County
  1791    Transferred to new county of Rensselaer; formed as a town from 
   
Rensselaerwyck,  Albany County
  1807    Daughter towns Brunswick, Grafton, and Lansingburgh  formed
  1814    Annexed land from Town of Brunswick
  1816    City charter 
  1836    Ceded land to Town of Greenbush; annexed land from Town of Lansingburgh 
  1900    Annexed Town of Lansingburgh

Selected links to town websites, clerks, and historians






















Berlin
Brunswick
Castleton-on-Hudson
East Greenbush
East Nassau
Grafton
Hoosick
Nassau (town)
Nassau (village)
North Greenbush
Petersburgh
Pittstown
Poestenkill
Rensselaer
Sand Lake
Shaghticoke (town)
Shodack
Stephentown
Troy
West Sand Lake