The land was purchased from the Oneida people in 1785. The town was first settled around 1787. One of the first settlements was in what is now known as East Guilford, by the Mercereau brothers. They built a mill on Guilford Creek at Indian Orchard Falls, along the Catskill Turnpike. Guilford was formed from the town of Oxford in 1813 as "Eastern". The name became "Guilford" in 1817. The town was called by an older name, "Fayette", for the early part of its history during the time it was in Tioga County.
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,046 people, 1,181 households, and 838 families residing in the town. The population density was 49.4 people per square mile. There were 1,462 housing units at an average density of 23.7 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 97.64% White, 0.66% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population. There were 1,181 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couplesliving together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.00. In the town, the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males. The median income for a household in the town was $36,681, and the median income for a family was $40,801. Males had a median income of $31,528 versus $24,742 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,536. About 10.7% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
Solomon G. Haven, former US congressman
Communities and locations in Guilford
East Guilford - A hamlet in the southeast corner of the town on NY-8 by the junction of County Road 35.
Godfrey Corners - A location near the east town line, west of Mount Upton.
Guilford Lake - A lake located northwest of the hamlet of Guilford.
High Bridge - A location near the east town line, northwest of Rockdale.
Ives Settlement - A hamlet southeast of Guilford hamlet.
Lathams Corners - A location at the east town line north of Rockwell Mills on NY-8.
Mount Upton - A hamlet in the northeast part of the town by the east town line on NY-8.
New Berlin Junction - A location south of East Guilford.
North Guilford Corners - A location near the north town line.
Parker - A hamlet south of Guilford Center on County Road 35.
Rockdale - A hamlet in the southeast part of the town at the east town line on NY-8.
Rockwells Mills - A hamlet in the northeast part of the town on NY-8. The Rockwells Mills Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
Trestle Corners - A location near the east town line, west of Rockdale.
Windsor Corners - A location north of Guilford hamlet, located at the junction of County Roads 36 and 37.
Yaleville - A hamlet in the southwest part of the town on County Road 38.
