From 1772 to 1795, Sharon successively belonged to Tryon, Montgomery, and Otsego counties before becoming part of Schoharie County in 1795. Originally called New Dorlach by its first settlers, Sharon was formed in 1797. In the early 1800s, the Great Western Turnpike was built across the town, linking the wilderness to the west with centers of trade along the Hudson to the east. At the heart of the town lies the village of Sharon Springs, named for the numerous mineral springs that gush from the hillside. Native Americans are said to have known the curative powers of the mineral waters for ages, and by the late 1800s the springs had become world-renowned. The village of Sharon Springs was incorporated in 1871 and included the agricultural hamlet of Rockville, which straddled the Great Western Turnpike, and the resort of Sharon Springs, which offered gracious accommodations for the wealthy. By the 1920s, the village had nearly 60 hotels and rooming houses accommodating more than 10,000 visitors. In 1994, approximately 180 buildings, including bathhouses, hotels, and homes dating from the mid-1800s, were recognized as an Historic District and placed on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places. The main springs are Sulphur, Magnesia, Blue Stone, and Chalybeate; their waters were used to treat skin conditions, arthritis, internal problems, inflammatory eye conditions, and anemia.