A Place called Colonie.
The Town of Colonie (pronounced Kol-on-ee', with the accent on the last syllable) was founded in 1895 and received its name from the Dutch "Colonie" meaning "the settlement outside the city." Today, Colonie is the hub of the Capital District just minutes from the downtowns of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy. Working and living in Colonie, New York. We all have an idea of what a good place should offer. It should be a friendly place to live. A safe but stimulating place for our children and a productive place to work. It should be a place like Colonie, a great place to raise a family. We offer some of the most varied housing in the state and some of the best schools. And we have an incredible range of recreation nearby, whether your preference is hiking, boating, golfing, skiing, horse racing, or even listening to the world's finest orchestra on Summer tour at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Whatever your taste, you'll find something to suit it in or near Colonie. The avid shopper doesn't want for adventures in Colonie. The Town of Colonie has a remarkable array of department stores and specialty shops. Just imagine: You can start your shopping adventure at a major department store, travel a short distance to an exotic import chain, pick up a few plants at a nursery on Wolf Road, swing by another mall to check out sales at some of the famous women's clothing chains, buy some china at one of the many high-end outlets, and finally, pick up some elegant gourmet take-out on your way back home. Recreational opportunities abound in Colonie: We have a 150-acre town park with an Olympic-size swimming pool, 15 neighborhood pocket parks, a town golf course, tennis and basketball courts, skating rinks, and a 5.5-mile-long bicycle trail. There's plenty of professional sports activity as well. Heritage Park is home to the Albany Colonie Diamond Dogs baseball team and professional football can be found nearby in Albany, home of the Firebirds. William K. Sanford Town Library plays an important role in Colonie. The library has almost 140,000 holdings and is expanding to accommodate 50,000 more volumes. Open seven days a week, the library offers a range of services and activities from film series to art shows to inter-library loans. The school system (North Colonie and South Colonie) is the life of any community, and Colonie has two active, progressive, public school systems that encourage parental involvement. Both school systems have a strong emphasis on basic skills, enrichment programs for the gifted child, and accelerated programs at the high school level. Colonie is literally the hub or center of the Capital District area, which includes the major northeastern cities of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy. Strategically located along the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, Colonie lies at the intersection of the Boston-Buffalo axis and the New York City-Montreal axis, which puts it within a few hours' drive of these major market areas. Housing in Colonie is as diverse as the town itself. You'll find every kind of housing imaginable, from large turn-of-the-century houses in Loudonville to magnificent one-of-a-kind executive homes in the Cobble Hill development, to more modest townhouses and single-family homes found throughout the Town. Colonie is truly a town of neighborhoods and has two incorporated villages, Menands and the village of Colonie, and more than a dozen "hamlets," each with their own distinctive "personalities." Colonie's 36-hole golf course features a driving range, putting green, tennis courts, pro shop and golf lessons. The clubhouse has locker room facilities and refreshments, and a restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily. A great place to raise a family. Colonie has plenty of room for a growing family. It also has plenty of room for a growing business. In fact, the Town of Colonie, despite its prosperity, still has 35% land availability. We also have one the lowest unemployment rates in New York State, plus an ample and talented labor pool. Our stable tax rate represents a local government that's friendly to business and has established a good balance of commercial and residential growth. Colonie has a great transportation network, whether you're trying get around in the area or flying into Colonie from any major city. Colonie is the center of a dynamic, bustling area, but it's only a short drive away from some of the most spectacular scenery in the Northeast. Head north and within an hour or so you'll glimpse the high peaks of the Adirondacks, an 8900-square-mile preserve legislated to remain "forever wild." Drive South and soon you'll be in the Catskills, the same land of brooks and mountains that lulled Rip Van Winkle to sleep. Although Colonie is one of the fastest growing municipalities in New York State, it has an exceptionally large land area, and because of careful planning, still has ample room for commercial, industrial, and residential expansion. Getting into and flying out of Colonie are exceptionally easy. The Albany International Airport, which serves the entire Capital Region, is located within Colonie, making a trip to the airport just minutes away. The airport is served by five major carriers and a host of smaller commuter airlines. Colonie is bisected by four major New York State highways, which have encouraged the growth of tractor-trailer terminals and transfer warehouses. In addition to its major state highways, it has an excellent arterial road network ensuring ease of automobile travel, an excellent public transportation system, and Amtrak service with direct passenger trains to New York City, Chicago, Boston, and Montreal. Employers will find a strong and diverse labor pool in the Capital District with a variety of skills and talents, whether your need is high-tech engineering capabilities or reliable support staff. Siena College is located within Colonie, and its grassy campus and ivy-covered buildings grace one of the Town's major roads. The entire Capital District has more than a dozen colleges, assuring area employers of a vast and talented network of recent college graduates from schools as varied as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, one of the country's premier engineering schools, to Union College, one of the oldest colleges in the country. A great place for your business. Colonie offers several options for businesses looking to locate here. Not only is there land available if you are a business looking to build, but there are also a number of office complexes and office buildings. Although Wolf Road is considered to be the heart of Colonie's commercial development there are several other keys areas such as the Albany International Airport area, Route 9, Central Avenue and Route 7 that offer many opportunities for business development. For further information on the business climate and support services that are available contact either the Albany Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce or the Latham Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the Chambers of Commerce, information on the benefits of locating your business here or to arrange for a personal visit, please call the: Town of Colonie
Industrial Development Agency If you prefer orchestral music, the City of Albany which is adjacent to Colonie is home to the Albany Symphony Orchestra (add the link) and the Philadelphia Orchestra performs at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center during the month of August.
One of the things people like most about Colonie is that it's not far from all the pleasures of the country. With our four-season climate, you'll enjoy skiing in the Winter (downhill or cross-country), rafting in Springtime, picnicking in Summer, and invigorating hikes in the Fall. There are many other benefits to living in Colonie. The Capital District's modern comprehensive health care system of tertiary-care and community hospitals, health maintenance organizations, and long-term care facilities meet the needs of young and old alike. The area has more than a dozen hospitals, among them the Albany Medical Center and the Veteran's Administration Hospital; specialized hospitals like Sunnyview Hospital Rehabilitation Center; and numerous general care hospitals with excellent reputations and services. The port of Albany is located 124 miles north of New York City at the northern terminous of the deepwater navigation channel of the Hudson River. The port can accommodate ships with lengths of up to 175 feet and has on-site customs and a U.S. Department of Agriculture office to expedite cargo clearance. The port has modern facilities, including fireproof, sprinklered storage, industrial sites, grain elevators, and warehouses for a variety of cargo items from bananas to molasses. Colonie is adjacent to the city of Albany, a lively city of about 100,000 and the capital of New York State. As state capital, Albany offers a variety of attractions including the New York State Museum and Library, the magnificent Empire State Plaza, and the State Capitol building. Colonie is committed to maintaining its prosperous, dynamic community, and to providing the best quality of life it can. 
Last updated 1/28/04 |
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