You can find out in which current community (city, village or CDP) an 
address is located, which is oftentimes different from the community named in 
that addresses' mailing address, by using the Census Bureau's online address 
search function (you may need to manually copy and paste in sections in order 
to get this extended URL into a browser):

http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/AGSGeoAddressServlet?_lang=en&_programY
ear=50&_treeId=420

CDP or Census Designated Place is the Census Bureau equivalent for a hamlet 
in New York State.

I'm including after my name a NYS Geographic Glossary with the NYS 
definitions of county, city, town, village, hamlet and postal zone.

Among other things, the Census Bureau's online address search function also 
indicates in which school district an address is located, which makes it 
easier to figure out the respective library district.


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

Sincerely,

Walter Greenspan
Great Falls, MT & Jericho, NY


.....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.

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