Schenectady, << skuh NEHK tuh dee >> (pop. 67,047), is an industrial city on the Mohawk River in eastern New York. The city is known for its long association with the General Electric Company (GE), one of the world’s largest producers of technology products (see General Electric Company ). Schenectady and nearby Albany and Troy form a metropolitan area with a population of 899,262. The city’s name comes from a Mohawk Indian name meaning the place beyond the pine plains.
For decades, the economy of the Schenectady area was based on manufacturing. Since the late 1900’s, the economy has become more diversified and service-oriented. GE remains a large employer. The company operates a major plant in Schenectady that produces power generation equipment. GE’s main global research center is in nearby Niskayuna.
Schenectady’s landmarks include two historic districts. One, called the Stockade, has many houses that were built in the 1600’s and 1700’s. The other district, the GE Realty Plot, has many fine houses built mainly for General Electric executives and scientists in the early 1900’s. Union College, one of the nation’s oldest private colleges, was founded in Schenectady in 1795.
Dutch pioneers bought the site of Schenectady from the Mohawk Indians in 1661. Schenectady was chartered as a borough in 1765 and as a city in 1798. General Electric began operating there in the late 1800’s. Schenectady is the seat of Schenectady County and has a mayor-council form of government.
