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Schenectady, NY

Frequently asked questions

Schenectady, NY

Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2020 census, the city's population of 67,047 made it the state's ninth-most populous city and the twenty-fifth most populous municipality. The city is in eastern New York, near the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers. It is in the same metropolitan area as the state capital, Albany, which is about 15 miles (24 km) southeast.

Schenectady was founded on the south side of the Mohawk River by Dutch colonists in the 17th century, many of whom came from the Albany area. The name "Schenectady" is derived from the Mohawk word skahnéhtati, meaning "beyond the pines" and used for the area around Albany, New York. Residents of the new village developed farms on strip plots along the river. Connected to the west by the Mohawk River and Erie Canal, Schenectady developed rapidly in the 19th century as part of the Mohawk Valley trade, manufacturing, and transportation corridor. By 1824, more people worked in manufacturing than agriculture or trade; like many New York cities, it had a cotton mill that processed cotton from the Deep South. In the 19th century, nationally influential companies and industries developed in Schenectady, including General Electric and American Locomotive Company (ALCO), which were powers into the mid-20th century. Schenectady was part of emerging technologies, with GE collaborating in the production of nuclear-powered submarines and, in the 21st century, working on other forms of renewable energy.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.0 square miles (28.49 km2), of which 10.9 square miles (28.23 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (1.27%) is water. It is part of the Capital District, the metropolitan area surrounding Albany, the state of New York's capital. Along with Albany and Troy, it is one of the three principal population and industrial centers in the region.

Interstate 890 runs through Schenectady, and the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) is nearby. Amtrak has a station in Schenectady. The nearest airport is Schenectady County Airport; the nearest commercial airport is Albany International Airport. ZIP code 12345, which is used by the GE plant in Schenectady, has attracted media attention on account of its simplicity. Thousands of letters and Christmas lists addressed to Santa Claus are mailed to the ZIP code every year.

When first encountered by Europeans, the Mohawk Valley was the territory of the Mohawk nation, one of the Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, or Haudenosaunee. They had occupied territory in the region since at least 1100 AD. Starting in the early 1600s the Mohawk moved their settlements closer to the river and by 1629, they had also taken over territories on the Hudson River's west bank that were formerly held by the Algonquian-speaking Mahican people.

Health and wellness are integral to life in Schenectady. Squeeze is a modern massage studio that allows you to customize your massage experience using a mobile app. Juvenex Spa is known for its Korean-style spa treatments, including massages, saunas, and body scrubs. Red Moon Wellness offers therapeutic massages, acupuncture, and holistic wellness services. Ease NY provides a variety of massage techniques such as deep tissue, sports massage, and reflexology. Haven Spa offers relaxing massages including Swedish, hot stone, and aromatherapy massages. Thai Massage NYC specializes in traditional Thai massage techniques for relaxation and muscle relief.

Top Sites in Schenectady, NY: miSci (Museum of Innovation and Science), Proctor's Theatre, Central Park Rose Garden.

Elevation: 220 ft (67 m). ZIP Code: 12301-12309. Area code(s): 518. Area: 10.98 sq mi (28.43 sq km). Population: 67,047.
 

FAQs

Why was Schenectady, NY abandoned?

The loss of employment caused Schenectady's population to decline by nearly one-third from 1950 into the late 20th century. The early industries had left many sites contaminated with hazardous wastes. Such environmental brownfields have needed technical approaches for redevelopment.

What is the crime rate in Schenectady, NY?

With a crime rate of 41 per one thousand residents, Schenectady has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 24. Within New York, more than 98% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Schenectady.

What are the race demographics in Schenectady, NY?

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Schenectady, NY are White (Non-Hispanic) (52.7%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (17.8%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (8.51%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (5.71%), and Other (Hispanic) (4.3%). None of the households in Schenectady, NY reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.
 

Sources

Wikipedia - Schenectady

City of Schenectady

Neighborhood Scout

Data USA

Squeeze

Juvenex Spa

Red Moon Wellness

Ease NY

Haven Spa

Thai Massage NYC  

miSci (Museum of Innovation and Science)

Proctor's Theatre

Central Park Rose Garden

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete, or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.