The first settlement was made in 1788 on the flats of the Schoharie Kill, near the present hamlet of Lexington Flats. It is located on the Hudson in the northeast corner of the county, is a good farming section, and famous for its apples. Settlement began relatively early because of its proximity to Albany. The Vande Zees, the Van Slykes, as well as others were in this region before 1700. Milling, tanning, boat building and ice harvesting have, in turn, been important steps in the industrial development of the town.
Agriculture is now the main occupation.
New Baltimore and Medway are the principal hamlets. The town is situated in the western part of the county in one of the better of the agricultural sections. Settlements were started in the region by the Dutch a few years after the French War, 1763. During the Revolution they were attacked by a body of Indians and Tories, under British officers, who tried to drive the settlers from their homes. A pitched battle was fought with the routing of the invading forces.