12 Facts About Downtown Schenectady

Downtown Schenectady is the central business district for the city of Schenectady, New York.

Home to the headquarters and major manufacturing plants of two large corporations, General Electric and American Locomotive Company, Downtown Schenectady catered to tens of thousands of workers in its heyday.

Typical of the post-industrial Northeastern United States and Upstate New York in particular, Downtown Schenectady saw a decline in manufacturing and population starting in the 1970s.

Shortly after the fire however the Erie Canal was being built a few hundred yards east of the city and therefore the commercial interests of Schenectady began to move east to what is Downtown Schenectady, this left the Stockade to develop as a residential community separate from the business district.

Downtown Schenectady includes Union College, which is a private 4-year college established in 1795.

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Redevelopment of Downtown Schenectady continues, especially along State Street near Proctor's Theatre, with the Metroplex Development Authority's purchase of the Foster Building at 508 State Street along with the neighboring parcels of 510 and 512 State Street and 204 Lafayette Street.

Downtown Schenectady occupies approximately 340 acres of the northwestern portion of the city of Schenectady.

Downtown Schenectady has a number of buildings that are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Schenectady City Hall, the Schenectady Post Office, the Schenectady Armory, the Nott Memorial, Proctor's Theatre, the Hotel Van Curler, Central Fire Station, and the Foster Building.

Downtown Schenectady is home to an Amtrak station and to a bus station served by Greyhound Lines.

Downtown Schenectady has three parks- South Avenue Park, Liberty Park and Veteran's Park.

Downtown Schenectady is host to many cultural events throughout the year, such as the Urban Arts Show with over 500 artist's works, Jazz on Jay which is a free noon-time concert held on the corner of Jay and State street, and the annual Schenectady County SummerNight which includes live music, carnival games, and fireworks.

Downtown Schenectady is home to the Schenectady County Community College, a two-year community college and Union College a private four-year college.