SCHOHARIE COUNTY, NY

County Offices
284 Main Street
Schoharie 518-295-8300
https://www4.schohariecounty-ny.gov/

Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce
143 Caverns Road
Howes Cave 518-296-8820
https://www2.schohariecounty-ny.gov

Schoharie County is home to more than 32,800 residents. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Schoharie. Schoharie County is primarily an agricultural county, with a long tradition of farming some of the most fertile land in the state

Lifestyle
Marked by a rich history of agricultural heritage and miles of breathtaking scenery, plus some of the nations’ most fascinating natural wonders, Schoharie County is an amazing place to call home. It is home to historical sites and museums. Residents can enjoy some family time at amusement parks and farms. The county is home to 16 towns, villages and hamlets, each with its own flair and character. Residents can enjoy seasonal fairs and festivals.

Outdoor adventure and recreation are a big part of Schoharie County.  The county is home to some very special six-million-year-old caves, Howe Caverns and the Secret Caverns, which boasts a 100 foot underground waterfall. The county is also home to several museums displaying artifacts dating back hundreds of years, and historical sites recognized by New York State and National Register of Historic Places.  In addition to historic and natural site recreation, residents can hike, bike, cross-country ski or snowshoe around the exceptional parks, trails and wooded areas that dot the region on hundreds of acres of hiking trails, native plant trails, gardens and wildlife habitats. Fishing, biking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and trailblazing are year round activities.  And for the golfer, there are several courses to suit every skill level.

Residents can enjoy gourmet restaurants, amusement parks and petting zoos. Sample field-fresh products and homemade goodies at local farms and seasonal farmers markets and pick your own favorites at u-pick orchards. Shopping and exploring are easy at one of the many antique shops, art galleries, seasonal farmers markets, specialty boutiques, country stores, quaint bookstores, confectionaries and other one-of-a-kind shops. Whatever recreational opportunity residents can think of they can find close to home. Best of all if they want even more, the urban sights and sounds of Albany are not far from home.

Services
The primary industry of Schoharie County is agriculture. Farms are situated all over the county and farm stands with local produce are located throughout the Schoharie Valley. Many people also work in the capital region which is within commuting distance. There is also a small but growing tourist industry developing in the county. Visitors come to visit Howe Caverns, Secret Caverns, The Carrot Barn, Vroman’s Nose, the Old Blenheim Bridge, and the Old Stone Fort.

Education is important in the county and this can be seen in the highly performing school districts in the county. There are six local school districts. Higher educational opportunities abound at the BOCES Career & Tech and SUNY Cobleskill which provide a substantial foundation for engineers to technicians, culinary experts to cosmetologists. Outside of the county more than 24 colleges and universities are within a 1 hour drive of the county.

Health care is a priority in the county and is well represented by an selection of facilities and human service agencies that offer a continuum of care, resources and support to meet the physical, mental and developmental needs of the community. The county is served by the Cobleskill Regional Hospital. In addition there are hospitals available in nearby counties to serve residents health needs.

Cobleskill
Town Offices
518-255-5011
https://www.cobleskill.edu/

Cobleskill is a small town that is home to more than 6,500 residents. The town contains a village, also named Cobleskill, as well as the State University of New York at Cobleskill. The town is in the northern part of the county and is southwest of Amsterdam. Cobleskill Creek flows eastward through the town. Interstate 88 passes across the town. New York State Route 145 is an east-west highway, which runs conjointly with New York State Route 10 near Cobleskill village. Both the Interstate and NY-10 follow a route similar to Cobleskill Creek. Cobleskill is one of the six original villages in Schoharie County. It’s the setting for Schoharie County Sunshine Fair every year, which presents a mix of everything from animals and agriculture, to amusement rides and midway games. Cobleskill is home to the historic Park Theatre and Gobbler’s Knob Family Fun Park, featuring go-cart racing, mini-golf and other opportunities for family fun. The community has two underground cavern complexes that are open to tourists: Howe Caverns and Secret Caverns. Both are north of I-88 and Howes Cave. The town is also home to the nationally recognized State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill. This institution has a rich academic tradition that spans nearly 100 years. Today, over 2,500 students are enrolled in the 52 associate and baccalaureate degree programs offered through The School of Agriculture and Natural Resources and The School of Business and Liberal Arts & Sciences.

Esperance
Town Offices
518-875-6109
https://www4.schohariecounty-ny.gov/government/town-of-esperance/

Esperance is home to more than 2,000 residents. The town was given the name of the principal village, which was named for “hope” in French. The Town of Esperance contains a village called Esperance. The town is in the northeast part of Schoharie County and is west of Schenectady. Esperance is best known for its important agricultural past. The Esperance Museum & Historical Society, housed in the old village schoolhouse, bears testament to this. Esperance is also home to the over 500 acres of public garden in the Landis Arboretum, which offers nature walks through natural areas, woodlands and open fields containing rare trees and plants, plus educational programs throughout all year long. Residents enjoy a quiet lifestyle surrounded by nature.

Middleburgh
Town/Village Offices
518-827-4016
https://www.middleburghnyvillage.org/

Middleburgh is a rural community and home to more than 3,500 residents. The Town of Middleburgh contains a village called Middleburgh. The town is on the county’s east border and is west of Albany
Middleburgh has some of Schoharie County’s most fertile farmland, and was once known as the “Breadbasket of the Revolution.” The village embodies many historic places, specialty shops and restaurants, and spectacular views of nature. One such place is the mountain called Vroman’s Nose, where hike-able cliff-tops sit six hundred feet above scenic Schoharie Valley farmland. Besides hiking, outdoor enthusiasts can try their hand at hunting, fishing and kayaking in Middleburgh. Local residents enjoy scenic beauty combined with a casual lifestyle.

Schoharie
Town Offices
518-295-6570
https://www4.schohariecounty-ny.gov/

The town of Schoharie is a largely agricultural community and home to more than 3,300 residents. The village is named after a native word for driftwood. The Town of Schoharie has a village, also called Schoharie. The town is on the northeast border of the county and is west of Albany and east of Oneonta and Cooperstown. The village of Schoharie is brimming with historical and agricultural significance. On the historical side, Schoharie is home to the 1743 Palatine House Museum, a medieval, German style construction built by the colonists for their minister and restored in 1971. On the agricultural side, Cooper’s Ark Farm offers educational farm tours, plus pony and hayrides on their 15-plus acres. History and agriculture combine at the Old Stone Fort Museum Complex, a Dutch reformed church-turned-museum full of an eclectic mix of artifacts like tools and agricultural implements, some over 120 years old. The community is full of resilient residents, many who come from families that have lived in the area for generations. This was evident in 2011 after Hurricane Irene caused severe damage to the community with areas being flooded by more than seven feet of water. Residents banded together to ensure that the community recovered and prospered. This can be seen in the town today.

Sharon
Town Offices
518-284-3010
https://www4.schohariecounty-ny.gov/government/town-of-sharon/

Sharon is a quiet agricultural community and home to more than 1,900 residents. The town is named after a location in Connecticut, from where some early settlers came. The Town of Sharon is in the northwest corner of the county and is southwest of Amsterdam. Recognized by both the National Register of Historic Places as well as New York State’s Register of Historic Places as a historic spa village, Sharon Springs was famous worldwide for its restorative mineral springs back in the mid-19th century. Remnants of this can still be seen today in some of the area’s architectural structures. Many farmhouses and hotels, for example, date back before the American Revolution through the turn of the century and continue to portray the spirit of the early pioneers and Victorian high society.