Altamont is a village in the town of Guilderland in Albany County, New York, United States. The village is in the western part of the town. The population was 1,675 at the 2020 census. The name means "high mountain."
History
thumb|[[Perspective map of Altamont with list of landmarks published by L.R. Burleigh in 1890]]
In colonial times, this area was part of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, granted by the Dutch West India Company to Killian Van Rensselaer in 1630. The area was known as Hellerburgh in the early 18th century. In the early 19th century Knowersville was established in the rural part of Albany County, just below the Helderberg Mountains. This settlement eventually became known as Altamont. Hiram Griggs was Altamont's first mayor, and his house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. Also on the National Register of Historic Places are the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Passenger Station, Fine Arts and Flower Building Altamont Fairground, Hayes House, and Lainhart Farm Complex and Dutch Barn.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has an area of , all land. Two major streams run through the town center, the Joriohenen and the Ostenraakie.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130818152521/http://historicnewspapers.guilpl.org/altamont-enterprise-1986/altamont-enterprise-1986%20-%200773.pdf]
Demographics
thumb|left|[[Delaware and Hudson Railroad Passenger Station (Altamont, New York)|The Delaware and Hudson Railroad Passenger Station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places]]
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,737 people, 646 households, and 474 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 674 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 97.64% White, 1.09% African American, 0.12% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.
There were 646 households, out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.14.