All debts from the original town were divided proportionally between Green Island, Watervliet, and Colonie.

The central part of the town was once the location of the extensive Shaker community farms.

[citation needed] Through to the 1930s, Colonie was a simple series of extensive farms and a few hamlets.

However, in the post-war years, there was intensive suburban development, originally on the corridor that connected Albany and Schenectady, but quickly following throughout the entire township.

[citation needed] The Casparus F. Pruyn House at Newtonville is open to the public as the historical and cultural arts center for the Town of Colonie.

The eastern town boundary is the border of Rensselaer County, marked by the Hudson River.

[11] Crummey's election marked a change in political power at the Supervisor's position from Democrat to Republican.

[12] The outgoing town supervisor Paula Mahan, a Democrat, chose not to seek an eighth two-year term.

Mahan was elected to her first term in November 2007, defeating long-time Republican incumbent Mary Brizzell.

In November 2009, Mahan was re-elected to a second term, defeating former Republican Albany County Executive/former New York State Senator Michael J. Hoblock.

In November 2011, Mahan was re-elected to a third term, defeating former New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and the former Director of the town's Planning and Economic Development Committee, Denise Sheehan, by less than 400 votes.

She was re-elected in 2013 to a fourth term by defeating political newcomer Todd A. Drake.

In November 2007, the town of Colonie was ranked the sixth safest place to live in a Morgan Quitno Publishing study of crime rates across the United States.

By November 2009 CQ Press (formerly known as Morgan Quitno Publishing) ranked the town of Colonie with the lowest crime rate of all communities in the United States with a population of at least 75,000 residents.

The EMS Department operates out of six ambulance stations scattered throughout the town of Colonie to facilitate the most rapid response.

The EMS Department also serves as an integral part of any heavy or light technical rescue operations in the town.

Niskayuna Central School District's boundaries enter Colonie for the short segment of Vly Rd.

The town of Colonie is also home to the Christian Brothers Academy, as well as several private and/or religious elementary schools.

The studios are located inside the William K. Sanford town library on Albany Shaker Road.