Hamlets and Communities

The individual Hilltowns are quite large, and transportation was difficult. Settlers tended to gather together in small hamlets, villages, or communities. Each hamlet has its own history.

Berne Hamlets

• The hamlet of Berne - the largest hamlet in the town, is located at the intersection of New York State Route 443 and New York State Route 156. Before the Post Office was located here in the latter half of the 19th century it was called "Bernville." In the 19th and first half of the 20th century it had a number of stores, up to three hotels, several blacksmith shops, a funeral home, cabinet makers, harness makers, etc.; now it almost entirely residential. The Town Hall is located here in a former hotel. The same building houses the Berne Public Library. Upstairs is the Berne Museum with "ten rooms of history" operated by the Berne Historical Society. The Post Office is next door. The Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School is at the west end of the hamlet. Here is a "report card" on the elementary and Junior-Senior High Schools.
• East Berne - a hamlet a few miles east of the hamlet of Berne has a gas station, a couple of restaurants, and a hardware store.
• Huntersland - a hamlet in the southwest part of the town, was formed circa 1797.
• Reidsville - a hamlet in the southeast part of the town bordering Westerlo.
• South Berne - a hamlet near the south town line bordering Westerlo.
• Thompsons Lake - a small community in the northeast part of the town, south of Thompsons Lake.
• Warners Lake - the lake and surrounding community in the north central part of the town near East Berne.
• West Berne - a small hamlet in the northwest corner of the Town near the west town line with Knox and the county line with Schoharie.
• West Mountain - refers to the highlands in the southwest quadrant of the town.

Knox Hamlets

• East Township - a hamlet in the northeast part of the town on Route 146.
• hamlet of Knox - (formerly "Knoxville"), the largest hamlet in Knox, is in the central part of the town, located at the junction of State Route 156 (Berne-Altamont Road) and County Road 252 (Knox Cave Road). Beaverdam Creek flows past the hamlet.
• Lee's Corners - now gone, existed at the corner of Beebe Road and Knox Cave Road
• Thompson's Lake - a lake in the southeast part of the town.
• West Berne - a hamlet at the town line in the southwest part of the town, most of which is in Berne
• West Township - a hamlet in the northwest part of the town on Route 146.

Rensselaerville Hamlets The "official" hamlets are Cooksburg, Medusa, Potter Hollow, Preston Hollow, and Rensselaerville.

• Cooksburg -- A hamlet near the south town line in the southwest part of Rensselaerville.
• Medusa -- A hamlet near the town line, located east of Cooksburg.
• Potter Hollow -- A hamlet near the south town line, west of Cooksburg.
• Peckham Hollow -- A settlement east of Ten Mile Creek.
• Preston Hollow -- A hamlet in the southwest part of the town, north of Cooksburg.
• Rensselaerville hamlet -- The hamlet of Rensselaerville, the largest hamlet in the town of Rensselarville, is in the northeast part of the town.
• Shufelt Corners -- A location north of Rensselaerville village.
• Smiths Corners -- A hamlet at the east town line.
• Williamsburg -- A hamlet at the west town line, also known as Connorsville.

Westerlo Hamlets

• Bramans Corners - an intersection at the north town line.
• Chesterville - an early name for the hamlet of Westerlo.
• Dormansville - a hamlet near the east town line.
• Ford Corners - an intersection north of the hamlet of Westerlo.
• Lambs Corners - a hamlet in the southwest part of the town.
• Newry - a hamlet at the south town line.
• Snyder's Corners - a crossroads in northwest of Westerlo village.
• South Westerlo - a hamlet near the south town line. It was formerly known as Smith's Mills.
• Thayer's Corners - is a hamlet south of the hamlet of Westerlo. It was formerly known as Westerlo Center.
• hamlet of Westerlo - largest hamlet in the town of Westerlo, is near the center of the town. It was formerly known as Chesterville.