The term CITY NEAR THE MOHAWK RIVER is solved by the 5-letter word UTICA. Utica is a city located in the Mohawk Valley region of New York State, situated on the banks of the Mohawk River. It is the tenth most populous city in the state and the second largest city in the Mohawk Valley region. Utica has a rich history, having been founded in 1758 by the British as a trading post. It was later incorporated as a village in 1832 and as a city in 1832.