Guilderland (hamlet), New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Guilderland
hamlet
Guilderland Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
Region	Capital District
County	Albany
Settled	1796
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	12084
Area code(s)	518

Guilderland is a small community, also known as a hamlet. It is part of the larger Town of Guilderland in Albany County, New York. This area is located in the United States.

History of Guilderland

Map of Hamiltonville in 1866.

The community of Guilderland started as a glass factory in 1792. People often called it the "Glass House". This factory was built in a wild area known as the Pine Bush pine barrens. This specific spot was then called Dowesburgh.

In 1796, people hoped to create a busy factory town. They planned streets and sold land. Workers built 54 houses for the factory employees. This small village was named Hamilton. It was named after Alexander Hamilton, who was an important person in early American history. He was the first Secretary of the Treasury and a Founding Father of the United States. He was also from Albany.

When the Great Western Turnpike was built in 1799, it passed through Hamilton. This road connected Albany to the western frontier. Because of the road, Hamilton became home to several taverns and shops. These businesses served pioneers traveling west.

The glass factory closed in 1815. This ended the dream of Hamilton becoming a major factory town. In 1815, Hamilton also got its first post office. However, the post office was named Guilderland. Over time, the community became known locally as Sloan's, named after the owner of the main hotel there. The name Hamilton still lives on today in the Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church, which started in 1824.

Geography of Guilderland

Guilderland is a hamlet, so its exact borders are not always clear. Generally, it is found along US Route 20 (Western Avenue). This area stretches between New York Route 155 (State Farm Road/New Karner Road) and New York Route 146 (the road leading south to Altamont).

Where is Guilderland Located?

	Hamlet of McCormacks Corners		City of Albany Pine Bush Preserve
	Hamlet of Guilderland Center		Hamlet of Westmere
		Hamlet of Guilderland

Important Places in Guilderland

Guilderland Public Library, on Western Avenue

Here are some notable places you can find in Guilderland:

• Prospect Hill Cemetery
• Guilderland Elementary School
• Guilderland Public Library
• Guilderland YMCA
• Western Turnpike Golf Course