"Halfmoon" is a location in old Albany County. The Half Moon is the ship Henry Hudson sailed up the North River in 1609! Both have substantial histories in their own right. The purpose of this exposition is to place references to "Halfmoon" (the place) in their early Albany context.

Initially, the name referred to a cluster of small islands where the Mohawk met the Hudson river. It was called "Half Moon Point" and was a place where Albany people met Native Americans to trade for furs. Located north of the manor of Rensselaerswyck, much of it was encompassed in the Van Schaick Patent granted by the English in 1674. Settlement occurred mostly after 1680.

In 1720, a list of freeholders for Albany city and county included a separate listing for Halfmoon.

In 1788, the town of Halfmoon was erected within Albany County. In 1791, the town of Halfmoon became part of newly formed Saratoga County.