In 2013, the village of Frankfort celebrated the 150th anniversary of its 1863 incorporation. It was a prime opportunity to recognize the historical heritage of the village and the surrounding township of Frankfort, incorporated in 1796. Many of the original hamlets, such as West Frankfort, Frankfort Center, and Frankfort Hill, still exist. Thanks to its advantageous location astride the Erie Canal-West Shore Railroad corridor, the village attracted a wide variety of industry. The railroad established a major repair-and-renovation facility, which later became home to manufacturing companies producing machine tools, agricultural implements, and highway equipment used throughout the nation. The world's first continuous match-making machine was invented here, and the famous aeronauts Carl and Carlotta Myers drew national attention with their involvement in a new national passion: hot-air ballooning.