Directly west of Albany County is Schoharie County, New York, named after the Mohawk word for “floating wood.” Spanning 626 square feet, this county has a population of just 29,000 and encompasses Burnt-Rossman Hills State Forest. Schoharie is known for its hiking trails and breweries. The county is also packed full with historic sites, caves, and farms.

The Town of Schoharie has a village, also called Schoharie. Both are derived from the Mohawk word for driftwood. The town is on the northeast border of the county and is southwest of Albany, and east of Oneonta and Cooperstown, both located in Otsego County. Developed for agriculture, the Schoharie Valley was considered a bread basket of the colony because of the amount of wheat produced even during the American Revolutionary War. The Schoharie Creek flows northward out of the town to the Mohawk River. The Cobleskill Creek enters Schoharie Creek by Old Central Bridge in the northwest part of the town.