Portions of modern NY 7 between Binghamton and Central bridge were part of the Susquehanna Valley Route Auto trail. The state took over maintenance of certain trunk line highways at the beginning of the 20th century. Most of modern NY 7 was first defined in the 1909 Highway Law (amended in 1911) as State Route 7, which was designated from the Pennsylvania state line at Binghamton town to Harpursville, then along the Susquehanna Valley through Oneonta to the town of Schoharie. From there, the legislative route 7 went east via Berne and New Scotland then ending in Albany. The portion of modern NY 7 continuing northeast from the town of Schoharie to Schenectady was part of State Route 7A. The portion of modern NY 7 between Troy and Schenectady was defined as part of State Route 42, while that between Troy and Hoosick was part of State Route 22.