I'm adding a bit more info -- specifically, that the Hamlet of Boston Corners
is in two (2) towns in two (2) different counties -- to the eMail I sent
earler today:

Boston Corners is a hamlet (an unincorporated area) partly in the Town of
Ancram, Columbia County and partly in the Town of North East in Dutchess
County.  (I'm including after my name a NYS Geographic Glossary with the NYS
definitions of county, city, town, village, hamlet and postal zone.)

"Boston Corners is a small hamlet situated at the junction of the three
railroads running through the town. It contains one hotel, one store, one
blacksmith-shop, a fine depot, and about a dozen dwellings, of which nearly
half are in the town of North East, in Dutchess county.  The name was given
to the locality when the State of Massachusetts owned the triangular tract of
land lying west of the Taghkanic mountains.  The mountain formed an almost
impassable barrier between this spot and the seat of civil authority, and it
became a sort of "city of refuge" for criminals and outlaws of all classes,
who fled to it to escape from the reach of the officers of the law.  On this
account it also became a resort of prize-fighters, who could here carry out
their brutal and inhuman purposes secure from the interference of the
authorities.  The celebrated fight between John Morrissey and "Yankee"
Sullivan occurred here.  For these reason it finally became necessary to make
some change to enable the civil authorities to enforce the laws protective of
peace and property, and in December, 1848, the inhabitants petitioned to be
annexed to the State of New York.  The State of Massachusetts consented in
May, 1853.  The cession was accepted by New York, July 21, 1853; confirmed by
Congress, Jan. 3, 1855; and the corner was annexed to Ancram, April 13, 1857."

Source:
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/columbia/ancram/boston_corners.htm


I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting.

Sincerely,

Walter Greenspan


.   Cities, Towns, Villages, Hamlets and Postal Zones in New York State

New York State is divided into counties.

County
A county is a municipal corporation, a subdivision of the state, created to
perform state functions; a "regional" government.  All counties are divided
into cities, towns and Indian reservations.

City
A city is a unique governmental entity with its own special charter.  Cities
are not sub-divided, except into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic
areas.

Town
A town is a municipal corporation and encompasses all territory within the
state except that within cities or Indian reservations.  Towns can be
sub-divided into villages and hamlets.

Village
A village is a general purpose municipal corporation formed voluntarily by
the residents of an area in one or more towns to provide themselves with
municipal services.  The pattern of village organization is similar to those
of a city.  A village is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal
geographic areas.

Hamlet
A hamlet is an unincorporated area in one or more towns that is governed
at-large by the town(s) it is in.  A hamlet is divided into neighborhoods,
which are informal geographic areas.

Postal Zone "City" and "Town"
A postal zone "City" and "Town" is an administrative district established by
the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the mail.  Postal zone "City" and "Town"
may not (but are encouraged to) conform to municipal or community borders.
Thus, postal zone location does not always determine city, village or hamlet
location.


Please be aware:  In many areas of New York State, the problem of
non-conforming postal zones leads to a situation where the majority of places
have a different community name in their mailing address than the community
where that place is actually located.