Normansville was located within and along the north and south banks of the ravine carved by the Normans Kill, a tributary of the Hudson River.

Normansville was originally called Upper Hollow; it was named for the deep ravine carved by the Normans Kill in which it was located.

[1][2] Soon after the turnpike was constructed, taverns and various industries began to spring up to take advantage of the power that could be harnessed from the Normans Kill's waters.

[6] In 1929, Delaware Avenue was rerouted and a longer, higher highway bridge called the Normanskill Viaduct was built across the top of the Normans Kill ravine.

[7] The Normanskill Viaduct allowed commuters to pass between Bethlehem and Albany along Delaware Avenue without driving into the ravine where Normansville was located.

The closure of the bridge was supported by the Normansville Neighborhood Association due to a desire to prevent drivers from using Rockefeller Road as a shortcut between Kenwood and Delaware Avenues.

This ravine was carved by the Normans Kill, a creek and tributary of the Hudson River that forms the border between the city of Albany to the north and the town of Bethlehem to the south.