Mechanicville
The Basics
Mechanicville became a city in 1915 and is located on the Hudson River just north of Albany. The city of Mechanicville was an important crossroads since Colonial times. Mechanicville was strongly affected by the 19th century Industrial Revolution and was a key point on the Erie and Champlain Canal systems. Mechanicville also served as a major hub for railroads and other industries.
The first European settlers on the Tenendeho Creek in the area of today's Mechanicville arrived in 1764. The first documented occurrence of the name "Mechanicville" dates back to 1829. The name comes from the early settlers, who were independent master craftsmen such as millers, carpenters, or butchers, whose professions were commonly known as the "mechanical arts" at the time. When the Champlain Canal reached the settlement in 1823, and especially when the Saratoga and Renselaer Railway laid a track through the area in 1835, Mechanicville became an important commerce interchange.