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Cohoes, NY

Frequently asked questions

Cohoes, NY

Cohoes is an incorporated city located in the northeast corner of Albany County in the U.S. state of New York. It is called the "Spindle City" because of the importance of textile manufacturing to its growth in the 19th century. The city's factories processed cotton from the Deep South. 

As of the 2020 census, the city population was 18,174. The name Cohoes is believed to be derived from a Mohawk term, Ga-ha-oose, referring to the Cohoes Falls and meaning "Place of the Falling Canoe," an interpretation noted by Horatio Gates Spafford in his 1823 publication "A Gazetteer of the State of New York". Later historians posited that the name is derived from the Algonquian Cohoes, a place name based on a word meaning 'pine tree'.

In the early years of Dutch colonial settlement, the majority of the city's territory was once part of the area of Manor of Rensselaerswyck, a feudal-style manor or patroonship. The land north of a line crossing Cohoes Falls (today Manor Avenue) was outside the Manor and was owned by the Van Olohde family between 1725 and 1750. Rensselaerswyck was established by Killiaen Van Rensselaer, the patroon and a Dutch merchant. In 1632, he had an agent pace off an enormous triangle-shaped area around the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers, from Peebles Island northwest to Cohoes Falls and south to today's Watervliet; this area was the core of the future city of Cohoes. Starting in the 1690s the Patroon began to issue leases for the area of Cohoes, reserving for himself a strip below the Cohoes Falls for the future site of mills powered by water.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (11 km²), of which 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) (11.79%) is water. 

Cohoes is situated at the confluence of the Mohawk with the Hudson River, where the Mohawk forms several channels and islands. Cohoes is named for its most famous landmark, the Cohoes Falls, a majestic waterfall first seen by the area's successive generations of indigenous peoples. In the historic era, these were the Mohawk Nation. The city includes Van Schaick Island, where the historic Van Schaick Mansion is located, and Simmons Island. 

Within Albany County, the city has the town of Colonie to its northwest, west, and south; with the town and village of Green Island to the south of Van Schaick Island. To the north across the Mohawk River is Saratoga County and the town of Waterford's hamlet of Northside. A bridge connects Cohoes to Waterford. To the east of Van Schaick Island across the Hudson River is Rensselaer County and the city of Troy's Lansingburg neighborhood. The 112th Street Bridge connects Van Schaick Island to Troy.

In Cohoes, New York, residents have access to various health and wellness activities and projects to support their well-being. Harmony Day Spa provides a relaxing environment with massages, facials, and body treatments aimed at rejuvenation and stress relief. For fitness enthusiasts, Cohoes Community Center features a fully equipped gymnasium, fitness center, and indoor swimming pool, offering diverse fitness classes and personal training services. The Hot Yoga Spot offers heated yoga classes that promote flexibility, detoxification, and mental clarity. Healthplex Fitness and FITERNITY focuses on functional fitness training with classes tailored to improve strength, endurance, and mobility. For holistic health, Pine Hollow Arboretum provides serene walking trails and nature programs that promote mental wellness and relaxation.

Top sites in Cohoes, NY: Falls View Park, Lansing Park, and Peebles Island State Park.

Population: 17,876 (2022). ZIP Code: 12047. Area code: 518. Elevation: 80 ft (20 m). Area: 4.24 sq mi (10.97 km²).

FAQs

What is Cohoes, NY famous for?

In the 1800s, Cohoes earned the nickname "Spindle City" with 6 large cotton mills running over 200,000 spindles. Today, Cohoes is experiencing a revitalization with an array of new breweries, restaurants, and small businesses. Cohoes is also home to Cohoes Falls, the second-largest waterfall in NYS.

What is the crime rate in Cohoes, NY?

The crime rate in Cohoes is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although, at 18 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Cohoes is 1 in 56. Based on FBI crime data, Cohoes is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to New York, Cohoes has a crime rate that is higher than 85% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

What is the average household income in Cohoes, NY?

The average household income in Cohoes is $73,441 with a poverty rate of 19.56%.  The median age in Cohoes is 37.6 years: 36.9 years for males, and 37.8 years for females. Cohoes is currently declining at a rate of -0.65% annually and its population has decreased by -2.56% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 18,108 in 2020.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Cohoes

St. Peter's Health Partners

Neighborhood Scout

World Population Review

All Trails

Discover Albany

Falls View Park

Lansing Park

Peebles Island State Park

Harmony Day Spa

Cohoes Community Center

The Hot Yoga Spot

Healthplex Fitness

FITERNITY

Pine Hollow Arboretum

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