Established by an act of the New York State Legislature on June 7, 1895, the Town of Colonie received its name from the Dutch "Colonye," meaning "the settlement outside the city." It was created from the Town of Watervliet when farmers living in the rural part of the Town of Watervliet were dissatisfied with being governed by the Village of West Troy. The New York State Legislature, after listening to their concerns, allowed the rural portion of the Town to secede. Subsequently, most of the former Township of Watervliet, except for the City of Watervliet, became the Town of Colonie. Since its inception, the Town has steadily grown to become the largest and most populous municipality in Albany County with 57.2 square miles and over 80,000 residents. The newly renovated and expanded Albany International Airport is located within the borders of the Town, and the Amtrak Railway is a short drive away. Colonie is bounded on the north by the Mohawk River and on the East by the navigable Hudson River. The Town of Colonie, a Town of the first class (in New York, towns are either first or second class depending upon their size), is one of 932 towns in the State of New York. It is the most populous in Albany County. Colonie is located in the 21st Congressional District, the 109th Assembly District and the 42nd Senatorial District. Colonie - "A Wonderful Place to Live." Simply put, there are several reasons why someone would like to live in the Town of Colonie. Location, Location, Location There is a saying
in real estate that "The key to selling a piece of property is
location". Fortunately for us the Town of Colonie has great location!
As a resident you are able to easily and quickly access major transportation
routes. Four main New York State Highways (Route 9, Route 7, the Northway
(I-87) and Route 5 bisect the Town. In addition, residents of the Town
can also easily access Interstates 90, 787 and 88, the New York State
Thruway, the Albany International Airport and the Amtrak Train Station.
Strong Financial Outlook The Town has a low tax rate and a strong economy. As a result of careful fiscal planning, Town residents have experienced very few tax increases over the past seven years and actually saw decreases in two of those years. As a result of our strong financial position, the Town enjoys a solid credit rating as assigned by Moody's Investor Services. As a result, the Town benefits from savings of lower interest rates which is passed on to residents and taxpayers. Quality of Life When one decides to live in the Town, they can be assured of the finest police protection, excellent youth and a wide variety of recreational opportunities. The Town was recently named the 6th Safest Community in the United States in a ranking compiled by Morgan Quinto Press, a Lawrence, Kansas based research company. All 350 communities with populations of 75,000 and above that report crime data to the FBI are included in this study.
The goal of the Police Department is to try and prevent crimes from occurring in the first place. Through constant contact with residents, youth and businesses relationships are formed and a level of trust established. With regard to youth and senior programs the Town has a Youth Bureau, the Parks and Recreation Department, the Senior Resources Department and Senior Clubs that provide numerous and diverse programs and services to residents of all ages. Other Points of Interests
Other recreational opportunities in the Town include 15 neighborhood pocket parks, tennis and basketball courts, skating rinks, a 36-hole championship golf course and a 5.5 mile long bike trail. Educational And Cultural Opportunities
For those interested in exploring the history and culture of Colonie, we suggest a visit to the Pruyn House , a historic structure located in the Town that is on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places. The Pruyn House is open to the public for tours and is the site for art exhibits throughout the year as well as music and historical programs. Conclusion The above just briefly covers the many services, programs, activities and places of interest that the Town has to offer. Employees of all of our Town Departments and elected officials continue to work together and to work with the community to improve upon the quality of life that we offer making this a place where people want to live, work and play for many years to come. To read more about
the Town of Colonie, try About Colonie and
the Early History of Colonie.
URL:
http://www.colonie.org/about.html |
As
Supervisor of the Town of Colonie, it gives me great pleasure
to welcome you to our web site that only provides a small glimpse
of all that this Town has to offer to its residents and businesses.
Of
course, much of this is attributed to our 
Whether young
or old, Colonie has something to offer all new residents. If you enjoy
recreational activities, the Town has a 150-acre park which includes
an Olympic-size swimming pool, hiking trails, and access to boating
on the Mohawk River. 
Located in the heart of Colonie, the