Wilton is a town 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, 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 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

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.0 sqmi, of which 35.9 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (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. 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 of 2020, there were 17,361 people. The majority of the population resides close to the border with Saratoga Springs, 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: Town Clerk - Susan Baldwin (R, C, I) Highway Superintendent - Kirklin Woodcock (R, C) Town Justice:

Communities and locations in Wilton