Schenectady County, New York

{{Short description|County in New York, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{More citations needed|date=January 2009}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Schenectady County | state = New York | type = [[List of counties in New York|County]] | flag = Flag of Schenectady County, New York.svg | seal = Schenectady county seal.svg | founded = 1809 | seat wl = Schenectady | largest city wl = Schenectady | area_total_sq_mi = 209 | area_land_sq_mi = 205 | area_water_sq_mi = 4.9 | area percentage = 2.3 | census yr = 2020 | pop = 158061<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Population%20Total&g=0400000US36%240500000&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29|access-date=January 2, 2022|title=US Census 2020 Population Dataset Tables for New York|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 162581 {{increase}} | density_sq_mi = 772.3 | web = https://www.schenectadycountyny.gov/ | ex image = Nott and Chapel.JPG | ex image cap = The [[Nott Memorial]] | district = 20th | named for = [[Mohawk language|Mohawk]] ''skahn-éht-ati'', ''"beyond the pines"'' | time zone = Eastern }}

'''Schenectady County''' ({{IPAc-en|s|k|ə|ˈ|n|ɛ|k|t|ə|d|i}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New York (state)|New York]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 158,061.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Schenectady County, New York|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/schenectadycountynewyork/PST120221|access-date=January 2, 2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=https://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The name is from a [[Mohawk language]] word meaning "on the other side of the pine lands," a term that originally applied to Albany. The county is part of the [[Capital District (New York)|Capital District]] region of the state.

Schenectady County is part of the [[Albany, New York|Albany]]-Schenectady-[[Troy, New York|Troy]], NY [[Capital District, New York|Metropolitan Statistical Area]], and is west of the confluence of the Mohawk with the [[Hudson River]]. It includes territory on the north and the south sides of the Mohawk River.

==History== This area of the river valley was historically occupied by the [[Mohawk people]], the easternmost of the Five Nations comprising the [[Iroquois Confederacy]] or ''[[Haudenosaunee]]''. They cultivated [[maize]] fields in the flats along the Mohawk River and had villages in the hills.

European settlement started in the present-day county by Dutch colonists in the 17th century; the village of Schenectady was founded in 1661. The [[fur trade]]rs in Albany kept a monopoly and prohibited settlers in Schenectady from the trade; those residents mostly became farmers. Other areas of the county were also developed for farming. The English enforced the Albany monopoly on the fur trade when they took over the New Netherland colony in 1664.

The English organized counties in the [[Province of New York]] in 1683; the area of the present-day Schenectady County was included in [[Albany County, New York|Albany County]]. Albany County contained an enormous area, including the northern part of New York State as well as all of the present State of [[Vermont]] and, in theory, extending westward to the [[Pacific Ocean]]. This county was reduced in size on July 3, 1766, by the creation of [[Cumberland County, New York|Cumberland County]], and further on March 16, 1770, by the creation of [[Gloucester County, New York|Gloucester County]], both containing territory now within the state of [[Vermont]].

On March 12, 1772, Albany County was divided to form two other counties. The area of Schenectady County was still within the reduced Albany.

From 1772 to 1786 Albany County included, besides the present territory of Albany County, all of the present [[Columbia County, New York|Columbia]], [[Rensselaer County, New York|Rensselaer]], [[Saratoga County, New York|Saratoga]], and Schenectady counties, parts of the present [[Greene County, New York|Greene]] and [[Washington County, New York|Washington]] counties, and a piece of what is now southwestern Vermont.

In 1786 Albany County was reduced in size when [[Columbia County, New York|Columbia County]] was organized; and again in 1791 by the splitting off of [[Rensselaer County, New York|Rensselaer]] and [[Saratoga County, New York|Saratoga]] counties and the transfer of the [[Cambridge (town), New York|Town of Cambridge]] to [[Washington County, New York|Washington County]]. It was further reduced in size in 1795 by the splitting off of a part that was combined with a portion of [[Otsego County, New York|Otsego County]] to create [[Schoharie County, New York|Schoharie County]]. It was further reduced in size in 1800 by the splitting off of a part that was combined with a portion of [[Ulster County, New York|Ulster County]] to create [[Greene County, New York|Greene County]].

In 1809, Schenectady County was split from Albany County and has kept its current borders. The city of Schenectady was designated as the county seat and is the only city in the county. Major European immigration began in the mid-19th century, with the arrival of Irish refugees from the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]]. More immigrants were attracted to the city for its industrial jobs, including those from Italy and Poland. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the city became an industrial powerhouse and center of innovation, the headquarters of [[General Electric]] and other national corporations.

The city of Schenectady reached its peak of population in 1930 but the county reached its peak in 1970, according to US Census data (see table below for county data.) These differences reflect different settlement patterns and the development of suburban housing outside the city limits. The city of Schenectady lost many jobs and population in the late 20th century due to industrial and railroad restructuring; some people stayed in the county working at alternative positions, including commuting to the capital of Albany.

==Geography== According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|209|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|205|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.9|sqmi}} (2.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_36.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 7, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519062322/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_36.txt|archive-date=May 19, 2014}}</ref>

Schenectady County is located in east central New York State, northwest of [[Albany, New York|Albany]], an area usually considered "[[Upstate New York|Upstate]]".

===Adjacent counties=== * [[Saratoga County, New York|Saratoga County]] - northeast * [[Albany County, New York|Albany County]] - southeast * [[Schoharie County, New York|Schoharie County]] - southwest * [[Montgomery County, New York|Montgomery County]] - west

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1810 = 10201 | 1820 = 13081 | 1830 = 12347 | 1840 = 17387 | 1850 = 20054 | 1860 = 20002 | 1870 = 21347 | 1880 = 23538 | 1890 = 29797 | 1900 = 46852 | 1910 = 88235 | 1920 = 109363 | 1930 = 125021 | 1940 = 122494 | 1950 = 142497 | 1960 = 152896 | 1970 = 160979 | 1980 = 149946 | 1990 = 149285 | 2000 = 146555 | 2010 = 154727 | 2020 = 158061 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 162581 | estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 6, 2026}}</ref> {{Increase}} | align-fn = center | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 7, 2015}}</ref> 1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 7, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ny190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 7, 2015}}</ref> 1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 7, 2015}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF"/> }}

===2020 census=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Schenectady County, New York – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 1980 !Pop 1990 !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Schenectady County, New York|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US36093&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Schenectady County, New York|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US36093&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Schenectady County, New York|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US36093&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH) |142,372 |138,428 |126,538 |119,409 |style='background: #ffffe6; |104,878 |94.95% |92.73% |86.34% |77.17% |style='background: #ffffe6; |66.35% |- |[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH) |4,631 |6,133 |9,456 |13,528 |style='background: #ffffe6; |15,943 |3.09% |4.11% |6.45% |8.74% |style='background: #ffffe6; |10.09% |- |[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH) |197 |242 |309 |445 |style='background: #ffffe6; |930 |0.13% |0.16% |0.21% |0.29% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.59% |- |[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH) |1,022 |1,783 |2,862 |4,917 |style='background: #ffffe6; |8,281 |0.68% |1.19% |1.95% |3.18% |style='background: #ffffe6; |5.24% |- |[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |38 |81 |style='background: #ffffe6; |130 |x |x |0.03% |0.05% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.08% |- |[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH) |347 |210 |267 |2,708 |style='background: #ffffe6; |4,469 |0.23% |0.14% |0.18% |1.75% |style='background: #ffffe6; |2.83% |- |[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |2,446 |4,812 |style='background: #ffffe6; |10,925 |x |x |1.67% |3.11% |style='background: #ffffe6; |6.91% |- |[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race) |1,377 |2,489 |4,639 |8,827 |style='background: #ffffe6; |12,505 |0.92% |1.67% |3.17% |5.70% |style='background: #ffffe6; |7.91% |- |'''Total''' |'''149,946''' |'''149,285''' |'''146,555''' |'''154,727''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''158,061 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===2010 census=== As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010, there were 154,727 people, 60,684 households, and 39,918 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|275|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}}. There were 68,032 housing units at an average density of {{convert|122|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}}. The racial makeup of the county was 79.77% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 9.79% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.23% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 3.97% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.21% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.00% from two or more races. 6.17% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 24.3% were of [[italian people|Italian]], 14.7% [[irish people|Irish]], 8.7% [[german people|German]], 6.4% [[polish people|Polish]], 4.0 [[Puerto Rican American|Puerto Rican]], 3.9% [[english people|English]] ancestry according to [[2010 United States Census|Census 2010]].<ref>[https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website] . Factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on August 16, 2013.</ref> 87.6% spoke [[english language|English]], 4.7% [[spanish language|Spanish]] and 1.1% [[italian people|Italian]] as their first language.

There were 60,684 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.30% were non-families. 30.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% 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 3.17.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $53,399 ($41,739-2000), and the median income for a family was $57,670. Males had a median income of $41,840 versus $29,339 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $24,992. About 7.80% of families and 11.90% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.70% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and politics== {{PresHead|place=Schenectady County, New York|source1=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>|source2=<ref>There were only 3,456 votes for the leading "other" candidate, Socialist [[Eugene Debs]], plus 2,640 for [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], 245 for the [[Prohibition Party]]'s [[Eugene Chafin]], and 111 for [[Socialist Labor Party of America|Socialist Labor]] candidate [[Arthur E. Reimer|Arthur Reimer]].</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1884|Republican|3,260|2,977|146|New York}} {{PresRow|1888|Republican|3,633|3,328|158|New York}} {{PresRow|1892|Democratic|3,481|4,081|493|New York}} {{PresRow|1896|Republican|4,903|3,711|293|New York}} {{PresRow|1900|Republican|6,769|4,783|432|New York}} {{PresRow|1904|Republican|9,535|5,981|634|New York}} {{PresRow|1908|Republican|9,944|7,129|1,789|New York}} {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|5,230|5,345|6,032|New York}} {{PresRow|1916|Republican|9,759|8,962|1,845|New York}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|19,208|8,741|5,633|New York}} {{PresRow|1924|Republican|24,514|9,167|6,018|New York}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|29,428|21,277|1,304|New York}} {{PresRow|1932|Republican|28,187|22,230|2,954|New York}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|26,914|31,027|1,466|New York}} {{PresRow|1940|Republican|34,101|32,041|334|New York}} {{PresRow|1944|Republican|35,178|33,397|294|New York}} {{PresRow|1948|Republican|35,495|28,225|3,765|New York}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|54,272|27,157|208|New York}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|58,540|21,673|0|New York}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|40,180|37,003|70|New York}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|21,848|51,892|80|New York}} {{PresRow|1968|Democratic|33,687|34,786|3,529|New York}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|47,529|29,619|191|New York}} {{PresRow|1976|Republican|40,789|31,838|2,105|New York}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|32,003|29,932|8,599|New York}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|42,808|30,612|277|New York}} {{PresRow|1988|Democratic|33,364|36,483|539|New York}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|26,258|32,335|15,277|New York}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|22,106|35,404|9,199|New York}} {{PresRow|2000|Democratic|27,961|35,534|3,459|New York}} {{PresRow|2004|Democratic|32,066|35,971|1,432|New York}} {{PresRow|2008|Democratic|29,758|38,611|1,473|New York}} {{PresRow|2012|Democratic|26,568|36,844|1,521|New York}} {{PresRow|2016|Democratic|28,953|33,747|4,580|New York}} {{PresRow|2020|Democratic|30,741|42,465|1,841|New York}} {{PresRow|2024|Democratic|31,975|39,733|902|New York}} {{PresFoot}} Voters in Schenectady County have typically leaned Democratic since the mid-20th century. They have given small to moderate leads to Democrats since 1988 in presidential elections. The congressman [[Paul Tonko]] is a Democrat. Schenectady County is a statewide bellwether in presidential elections, as it has voted for the statewide presidential winner in every presidential election since 1980. This is the longest such streak of any county in the state. Legislative authority is vested in the County Legislature, which consists of 15 members representing 8 communities, separated into four districts. The current composition of the Legislature is as follows (10 Democrats, 2 Republicans, and 3 Conservatives who caucus with the Democrats):

District 1 - [[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady]]: * {{Party shading/Democratic/block}} Richard Patierne (D) * {{Party shading/Democratic/block}} Richard Ruzzo (D) * {{Party shading/Democratic/block}} Margaret King (D)

District 2 - [[Schenectady]]: * {{Party shading/Democratic/block}} Philip Fields (D), deputy chair * {{Party shading/Democratic/block}} Gary Hughes (D), majority leader * {{Party shading/Democratic/block}} Jeffrey M. McDonald (D), vice chair

District 3 - [[Glenville, Schenectady County, New York|Glenville]], [[Niskayuna]], and [[Scotia, New York|Scotia]]: * {{Party shading/Democratic/block}} Thomas Constantine (D) * {{Party shading/Democratic/block}} Cathy Gatta (D) * {{Party shading/Coalition/block}} Grant Socha (C) * {{Party shading/Democratic/block}} Sara Mae Pratt (D) * {{Party shading/Democratic/block}} Michelle Ostrelich (D)

District 4 - [[Duanesburg]], [[Princetown, New York|Princetown]], and [[Rotterdam, New York|Rotterdam]]: * {{Party shading/Democratic/block}} Anthony Jasenski (D), chair * {{Party shading/Republican/block}} Brian McGarry (R), minority leader * {{Party shading/Coalition/block}} Randy Pascarella (C) * {{Party shading/Coalition/block}} Holly Vellano (C)

===County government=== Schenectady County was governed by an elected board of supervisors until 1966, after voters approved a new county charter under New York's home rule law.

On January 2, 1966, a board of representatives replaced the county supervisors. In 1987, a 15-member legislature replaced the board of representatives. The legislature hires a county manager to oversee day-to-day government operations. {| class="wikitable" |+ Schenectady County managers ! Name !! Term |- | Theodore Birbilis || January 2, 1966 – December 31, 1967 |- | Robert W. Williams || January 1, 1968 – June 30, 1968 (interim) |- | Carl F. Sanford || July 1, 1968 – November 30, 1977 |- | Robert D. McEvoy || 1978 – December 31, 2000 |- | George A. Davidson || January 1, 2001 – February 10, 2002 (interim) |- | Kevin D. DeFebbo || February 11, 2002 – December 31, 2005 |- | Kathleen A. Rooney || January 1, 2006 – June 6, 2019 |- | Dr. Rory L. Fluman || June 7, 2019 – present |}

===County services=== The county operates the Schenectady County Public Library (SCPL), which consists of a central library and eight branches.

==Communities==

===Larger settlements=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !# !Location !Population !Type !Sector |- |1 |†[[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady]] |67,047 |City |East |- |2 |[[Rotterdam (CDP), New York|Rotterdam]] |22,968 |CDP |East |- |3 |[[Niskayuna (CDP), New York|Niskayuna]] |20,787 |CDP |East |- |4 |[[Scotia, New York|Scotia]] |7,729 |Village |East |- |5 |[[East Glenville, New York|East Glenville]] |6,616 |CDP |East |- |6 |[[Mariaville Lake, New York|Mariaville Lake]] |722 |CDP |West |- |7 |[[Duanesburg (CDP), New York|Duanesburg]] |391 |CDP |West |- |8 |[[Delanson, New York|Delanson]] |377 |Village |West |- |9 |[[Duane Lake, New York|Duane Lake]] |323 |CDP |West |} † - County seat

===Hamlets=== * [[Alplaus, New York|Alplaus]] * [[Aqueduct, New York|Aqueduct]] * [[Quaker Street, New York|Quaker Street]]

==See also== {{Portal|New York (state)}} * [[List of counties in New York]] * [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Schenectady County, New York]] {{Clear}}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading== * {{Cite book |title=Family Bible Records of Schenectady County |first=Charlotte|last=Lockhart |publisher=Unknown |year=1921 |url=https://shenectadycountygenealogyrecords.blogspot.com}} * {{cite Q|Q114149636|p=703-08|chapter=Chapter I. Schenectady County. |editor=Sullivan, James |editor2=Williams, Melvin E. |editor3=Conklin, Edwin P. |editor4=Fitzpatrick, Benedict }} * {{Cite book |title=Schenectady County, New York: Its History to the Close of the Nineteenth Century |first=Austin A. |last=Yates |publisher=the New York History Company |year=1902 |url=https://www.schenectadyhistory.org/resources/yates/index.html}}, selected chapters available online in transcribed version, including one on genealogy

==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://www.schenectadycountyny.gov/ Official Schenectady County government site] *[https://schenectadyhistorical.org/ Schenectady County Historical Society] *[https://www.scpl.org/ Schenectady County Public Library] {{Geographic Location |Centre = Schenectady County, New York |North = |Northeast = [[Saratoga County, New York|Saratoga County]] |East = |Southeast = |South = [[Albany County, New York|Albany County]] |Southwest = [[Schoharie County, New York|Schoharie County]] |West = |Northwest = [[Montgomery County, New York|Montgomery County]] }} {{Schenectady County, New York}} {{Capital District}} {{New York}}

{{Coord|42.81|-74.07|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NY_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Schenectady County, New York| ]] [[Category:Capital District (New York)]] [[Category:1809 establishments in New York (state)]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1809]] [[Category:New York (state) placenames of Native American origin]]