On 08/01/2000 (10:55:57 AM EDT), as part of an eMail from Ruth Piwonka
([log in to unmask]):

"In fact, I think that overall incorporated Villages are relatively rare."


As of May 1986, there were 557 villages in New York State.

They then ranged in size from the Village of Dering Harbor (pop. 14), Town of
Shelter Island, Suffolk County to Village of Hempstead (pop. 40,404), Town of
Hempstead, Nassau County.  The majority of villages have populations under
2,500, although there were 21 villages between 10,000 and 20,000 population
in 1980, and 12 villages with more than 20,000 population.

Seventy-two villages are located in two or more towns.  There are seven
villages which are in two counties.

Then there is the Village of Saranac Lake:  it's in 3 towns and 2 counties!

The Village of Saranac Lake is in the Towns of Harrietstown, St. Armand and
North
Elba and in the counties of Franklin and Essex.

Interestingly, the Village of Saranac Lake is within the border of only one
postal zone:  "Saranac Lake, NY 12983", which services an area larger than
the village.


In 1646, the Village of Breuckelen was authorized by the Dutch West India
Company and became the first municipality in what is now New York State.  In
1652, the Village of Fort Orange, predecessor to the City of Albany, received
similar municipal privileges.

Following the secession from Great Britain, in 1790, the Legislature granted
specific powers to the trustees of " ... part of the Town of Rensselaerwyck,
commonly called Lansingburgh."  The term "village" first appeared in state
law in a 1794 enactment incorporating Waterford.  (The Village of Waterford
still operates under this original charter.)


Regards,

Walter Greenspan