Duanesburg, New York

Duanesburg is a town in Schenectady County, New York, USA. The population was 6,122 at the 2010 census. Duanesburg is named for James Duane, who held most of it as an original land grant. The town is in the western part of the county.

History

Originally known as Duanes's Bush, Duanesburg was established as a township by patent on March 13, 1765. According to Documentary History of New York Vol. lV, pg. 1067, "Mr. Duane entered in March, 1765 into contract with a company of twenty Germans from Pennsylvania of whom about sixteen (families) came on tract, and they made the first permanent settlement in that now flourishing town". The township was combined with Schoharie, New York, as the United Districts of Schoharie and Duanesburgh on March 24, 1772, which became the town of Schoharie in 1788. Duanesburg became its own town once again in 1789.James Duane, for whom the town was named, envisioned Duanesburg as the capital of New York, and ultimately the capital selected was located only 20 miles (32 km) away in Albany.