By the end of the 17th century, Dutch settlers from Albany and Schenectady began to establish farms in the area, beginning first along the banks of the Normans Kill.

In 1712, a group of emigrants from the Rhine Valley in present-day Germany passed through the town on their way to Schoharie.

They were the first to record and name the Helderberg Escarpment, originally Hellebergh meaning "bright or clear mountain".

[5] Guilderland was, from its beginning, a location amenable to early industry due to its many streams for waterwheels, large forests for wood fuel, and the fine sand for glass works.

In 1795, Jan and Leonard de Neufville (father and son) established a large glass factory mostly for the manufacture of windows but also for bottles of various shapes, sizes, and uses.

The factory could not compete with cheap British imports after the War of 1812, and with its collapse, the glass industry would never return to Guilderland.

Those who remained loyal to the established government operated, among other places, from the caves of the Helderbergs, raiding settlements with the help of Native Americans.

A battle between Loyalists and rebel Schenectady Militia with help from Rhode Island Continental Troops was fought just east of Guilderland Center.

It was later alleged the local Loyalists were about to burn Schenectady and Albany, which is not entirely trustworthy as these would have been their own neighbors.

The name Guilderland (spelled Guilderlandt in the original law) was the suggestion of resident Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, who happened to be Lieutenant-Governor of the state at the time, and as such was President of the Senate.

[6][7] Parts of this territory would be annexed back to Albany in 1910, setting up more or less the current border.

Wealthy grandfather Schoolcraft, who owned much property in Guilderland hamlet and ran an inn and tavern, was the first Justice of the Peace in the hamlet, an elder and trustee of the Hamilton Union Church, and a member of the first Guilderland School Board.

John L. Schoolcraft started a profitable mercantile business, became president of Albany Commercial Bank (later part of today's Key Bank), and was groomed for politics by Thurlow Weed, editor of the Albany Evening Journal, winning his first Congressional election in 1848.

It also borders the towns of Berne, Colonie, Bethlehem, and New Scotland and the city of Albany.

The current councilmen and councilwomen are Patricia Slavick (2000), Paul Pastore (2006), Lee Carman (2016), and Rosemary Centi (2016).

Like most of Albany County, Guilderland generally votes for Democrats for state and federal offices.

Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Representative Tonko all easily won Guilderland in their most recent elections.

Sherwood stole $11 million from estate trust funds he was charged with managing in his private practice.

Western Turnpike Rescue Squad[21] served the local community from 1939 to 2018, before Guilderland EMS purchased an ambulance and assumed operations.

[27] The Guilderland Public Library, located at 2228 Western Avenue (US Route 20) serves as a cultural center for the town and the surrounding area.