About the Area
Schenectady is one of New York’s best kept secrets. Its early Dutch
heritage is preserved in the historic Stockade district on the banks of
the Mohawk River. In 1825, the opening of the Erie Canal changed the
character of Schenectady from that of a riverfront town that served as
the gateway to the west, to a leader in the Industrial Revolution.
Thomas Edison established his Edison Machine Works, later to become the
General Electric Company, here in 1886.
Undergoing
revitalization, Schenectady boasts of abundant recreational and cultural
venues with beautiful Central Park and its nationally recognized Rose
Garden; and the restored vaudevillian theater, Proctors, which recently
underwent a multi-million dollar expansion and renovation to accommodate
Broadway’s biggest shows.
Schenectady is a cornerstone in the Capital District’s Tri-cities and is
a short drive from its sister cities, Albany and Troy. Albany, the State
Capitol, features the NY State Museum, historic institute, performing
arts center, the Palace Theater and the Times Union Center.
Schenectady
and the wider Capital Region offer a wide range of quality educational
opportunities. From pre-k through high school, including public, private
and charter schools, there are numerous academic programs to choose
from. The region is also home to several prestigious colleges, such as
Union College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Siena College, Skidmore
College and many more.
Our proximity to major urban areas, Manhattan, Boston, Montreal, as well
as the recreational settings of Lake George (Queen of American Lakes),
Saratoga Springs (historic race course, national museums and Saratoga
Performing Arts Center), Adirondack State Park and the Catskills provide
an inexhaustible array of choices for weekend getaways. Sports
enthusiasts enjoy some of the finest skiing, boating, fishing, hiking
and mountain climbing, all within an hour or two of the Capital
District. For more information about living in Schenectady, go online to
www.schenectadychamber.org
Schenectady’s
housing opportunities are equally bountiful and range from garden
apartments in scenic rural settings to restored urban brownstones. For more information, please visit the websites of local
newspapers The Daily Gazette (dailygazette.com)
and Times Union (timesunion.com).
Other Notable Attractions...