The alignment of NY 196 dates back to the mid-19th century, as a new road was built in 1850 to connect between Hudson Falls (then known as Sandy Hill) and the hamlet of Adamsville.

After the Champlain Canal, NY 196 bends northeast through Kingsbury, crossing an intersection with the northern terminus of CR 42, soon leaving the residential section for a more rural area of town.

[3] Turning northeast, NY 196 continues through Hartford, crossing past numerous homes as a two-lane rural roadway.

[3] The alignment of NY 196 from the village of Hudson Falls to the hamlet of Adamsville was first constructed in 1850 as a plank road between the two communities.

[6] On August 4, 1913, the state let a contract to improve 0.94 miles (1.51 km) of roads in Hudson Falls, including part of modern NY 196.

The section of what is now NY 196 in Hartford was improved under a project contracted out on June 28, 1922,[6] and completed by 1926[7] as SH 8101.