Wilton is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 17,361 at the 2020 census. The Town of Wilton is in the northeastern part of the county, northeast of

Saratoga Springs Saratoga Springs is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 28,491 at the 2020 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area, which has made Saratoga a popular resort destination for over ...

, which it borders. The town is a local economic hub, and hosts much suburban development, especially compared to its neighboring towns.

History

The region, once called "Palmertown," was first settled by Europeans around 1764. The Town of Wilton was created in 1818 from the Town of Northumberland. The Grant Cottage State Historic Site is located in Wilton, in an area known as Mount McGregor, which is the highest peak of the Palmertown Range, mostly north of Wilton. This site is the place where

Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was the 18th president of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877. In 1865, as Commanding General of the United States Army, commanding general, Grant led the Uni ...

died of throat cancer in 1885 just after completing his memoirs. A narrow-gauge railway built in 1882, the Saratoga, Mount McGregor and Lake George Railroad, ran through Wilton. Throughout the 1990s the town took advantage of its proximity to Saratoga Springs, by expanding suburban and commercial areas. The Wilton Mall is located in the town, as well as many large retail stores off of exit 15 on I-87. This economic development damaged downtown Saratoga at the time, however today Saratoga has recovered.

Notable people

* Henry D. Barron, Wisconsin jurist and legislator *

, U.S. President (died here) * Edgar T. Brackett, politician and businessman * Tabor B. Reynolds, physician and politician * Seneca Ray Stoddard, photographer and naturalist * Roy J. McDonald, NY Senator

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the town has a total area of , of which is land and (0.25%) is water. U.S. Route 9 and the Adirondack Northway ( Interstate 87) are parallel north–south highways. New York State Route 50 is a north–south highway in the eastern part of Wilton. The town is mostly located on the flat plain surrounding the

Hudson River The Hudson River, historically the North River, is a river that flows from north to south largely through eastern New York (state), New York state. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains at Henderson Lake (New York), Henderson Lake in the ...

. On the western side of the town, the plain gives way to the cliffs of the McGregor Fault, and the Palmertown Range, this can be seen along US Route 9.

Demographics

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2020, there were 17,361 people. The majority of the population resides close to the border with

, the north, east, and west parts of the town are relatively rural.

Government

The Town Council is a five-member legislative body, consisting of the Supervisor and four councilmen. The Supervisor is the presiding officer of the council, the chief administrator of town affairs, and the town's legislative representative on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. Other elected officials are the Town Clerk, Superintendent of Highways and two Town Justices. Supervisor - Art Johnson (R, C, I) Council people: * John Lant (R, I) * Steven Streicher (R, C) * John McEachron, Sr. (R) * JoAnn Klepetar (D) Town Clerk - Susan Baldwin (R, C, I) Highway Superintendent - Kirklin Woodcock (R, C) Town Justice: * Gearald Worth (R, C) * David Towne (R, I, C)

Communities and locations in Wilton

*Ballard Corners – A

hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

by the eastern town line on NY-50 at the junction of County Road 33. *Barnes Corners – A location in the southeastern part of the town on NY-50. *Dimmick Corners – A location in the northeastern part of the town on County Road 32. *Gurn Spring – A hamlet southeast of Wilton village on County Road 33. *Kings Station – A hamlet south of Wilton village on US-9. *Loughberry Lake – A small lake in the southwestern section of Wilton. * Mt. McGregor Correctional Facility – A New York state medium security prison at the northern town line (now closed). On its grounds lies the Grant Cottage. *Travers Corners – A hamlet south of Wilton village. *Wilton – The hamlet of Wilton in located on US-9 at the junction with County Roads 101, 32, 33, and 34, in the northern part of the town. *Hunters Wood – A community located along southern Loughberry Lake. *Birch Acres – A neighborhood located along Jones Road. *Vincek Corner – Located along the junction of Jones Road, and Smith Bridge Road.

References

External links

Wilton Fire Department

Wilton Emergency Squad

Greenfield Fire District

Wilton Town Court
{{authority control Towns in New York (state) Towns in Saratoga County, New York