Oswego County, New York

Oswego County, New York
Seal
Location in the state of New York
New York's location in the U.S.
Founded	1816
Seat	Oswego
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,312 sq mi (3,398 km²) 953 sq mi (2,468 km²) 359 sq mi (930 km²), 27.35%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	122,109 128/sq mi (49.4/km²)
Website	www.co.oswego.ny.us

Oswego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 Census, the estimated population was 122,109.^[1] The City of Oswego and the Village of Pulaski serve as the dual county seats in a two shire system of government. The county name is from the Iroquois word meaning "the outpouring", referring to the mouth of the Oswego River.

Oswego County is part of the Syracuse, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

When counties were established in New York State in 1683, the present Oswego County was part of Albany County. This was an enormous county, including the northern part of New York State as well as all of the present State of Vermont and, in theory, extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. This county was reduced in size on July 3, 1766 by the creation of Cumberland County, and further on March 16, 1770 by the creation of Gloucester County, both containing territory now in Vermont.

On March 12, 1772, what was left of Albany County was split into three parts, one remaining under the name Albany County. One of the other pieces, Tryon County, contained the western portion (and thus, since no western boundary was specified, theoretically still extended west to the Pacific). The eastern boundary of Tryon County was approximately five miles west of the present city of Schenectady, and the county included the western part of the Adirondack Mountains and the area west of the West Branch of the Delaware River. The area then designated as Tryon County now includes 37 counties of New York State. The county was named for William Tryon, colonial governor of New York.

In the years prior to 1776, most of the Loyalists in Tryon County fled to Canada. In 1784, following the peace treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War, the name of Tryon County was changed to Montgomery County to honor the general, Richard Montgomery, who had captured several places in Canada and died attempting to capture the city of Quebec, replacing the name of the hated British governor.

In 1789, the size of Montgomery County was reduced by the splitting off of Ontario County from Montgomery. The actual area split off from Montgomery County was much larger than the present county, also including the present Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Steuben, Wyoming, Yates, and part of Schuyler and Wayne Counties.

Oswego County was partly in Macomb's Purchase of 1791.

In 1791, Herkimer County was one of three counties split off from Montgomery (the other two being Otsego, and Tioga County). This was much larger than the present county, however, and was reduced by a number of subsequent splits.

In 1794, Onondaga County was created from a part of Herkimer County. This county was larger than the current Onondaga County, including the present Cayuga, Cortland, and part of Oswego Counties.

In 1798, Oneida County was created from a part of Herkimer County. This county was larger than the current Oneida County, including the present Jefferson, Lewis, and part of Oswego Counties.

In 1805, Oneida County was reduced in size by the splitting off of Jefferson and Lewis Counties.

In 1816, Oswego County was created as New York State's 48th county from parts of Oneida and Onondaga Counties.

In 1841, businessmen in Oswego attempted to divide Oswego County into two counties. They failed to persuade the State to do so, however. Occasionally, the topic still comes up today by dividing the county into an east part and a west part, with the east portion being renamed "Salmon County".

At various times, beginning in 1847 and as late as 1975, attempts were made to move the county seat to the Village of Mexico. None of these attempts succeeded, however.

Events

• 1–12 February 2007 - A major lake effect snowfall dumped over ten feet of snow in many places in Oswego County, resulting in several roof collapses, some communities being cut off, and some people being snowed-in in their homes. A state of emergency was declared for the county, and the National Guard was sent in to help clear the snow.

• On April 20, 2002, around 6:50 am, many residents of Oswego County were shaken awake by a magnitude 5.2 earthquake centered near Plattsburgh, New York. Minor damage to a Fire Hall in Altmar was the only report of damage. No injuries were sustained.

County government and politics

Presidential elections results

Year	Republican	Democrat
2008	48.52% 21,909	51.11% 23,078
2004	51.01% 26,325	46.76% 24,133
2000	47.96% 23,249	47.15% 22,857
1996	37.57% 17,159	44.75% 20,440
1992	36.38% 18,530	33.36% 16,990
1988	57.37% 25,362	41.69% 18,430
1984	68.39% 31,481	31.17% 14,347
1980	53.63% 22,816	36.07% 15,343
1976	59.19% 23,949	40.36% 16,332
1972	71.84% 29,109	27.93% 11,317
1968	54.39% 20,041	39.72% 14,636
1964	33.35% 12,415	66.59% 24,788
1960	60.69% 24,013	39.28% 15,544

The Oswego County legislature has 25 members, elected from equal population districts, reduced from 36 in 1993.

Geography

Oswego County is in northwestern New York State, just north of Syracuse and northwest of Utica, on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. Part of the Tug Hill Plateau is in the eastern part of the county and, at 1550', is the highest point.^[2]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,312 square miles (3,400 km²), of which 953 square miles (2,470 km²) is land and 359 square miles (930 km²) (27.35%) is water.

There are two harbors in the county, Oswego Harbor at the mouth of the Oswego River and Port Ontario on the Salmon River. The first major port of call on the Great Lakes is the Port of Oswego Authority dock.

The town of Orwell is officially designated as "dry".^[2]

Adjacent counties

• Jefferson County - north
• Lewis County - northeast
• Oneida County - east
• Madison County - southeast
• Onondaga County - south
• Cayuga County - southwest

Major highways

• Interstate 81
• U.S. Route 11
• New York State Route 3
• New York State Route 13
• New York State Route 48
• New York State Route 49
• New York State Route 69
• New York State Route 104
• New York State Route 104B
• New York State Route 481 (Veterans Memorial Highway)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1820	12,374		—
1830	27,119		119.2%
1840	43,619		60.8%
1850	62,198		42.6%
1860	75,958		22.1%
1870	77,941		2.6%
1880	77,911		0%
1890	71,883		−7.7%
1900	70,881		−1.4%
1910	71,664		1.1%
1920	71,045		−0.9%
1930	69,645		−2.0%
1940	71,275		2.3%
1950	77,181		8.3%
1960	86,118		11.6%
1970	100,897		17.2%
1980	113,901		12.9%
1990	121,771		6.9%
2000	122,377		0.5%
2010	122,109		−0.2%
Source[3]

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 122,377 people, 45,522 households, and 31,228 families residing in the county. The population density was 128 people per square mile (50/km²). There were 52,831 housing units at an average density of 55 per square mile (21/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.17% White, 0.59% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population. 15.5% were of Irish, 14.0% German, 13.7% Italian, 13.3% English, 9.6% American, 7.9% French and 5.3% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.2% spoke English and 1.7% Spanish as their first language.

There were 45,522 households out of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.80% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 10.90% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,598, and the median income for a family was $43,821. Males had a median income of $34,976 versus $23,938 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,853. About 9.70% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.10% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

Oswego County is also home to two colleges: State University of New York at Oswego located in the Town of Oswego and the Fulton Branch Campus of Cayuga County Community College located in the City of Fulton.

Cities, towns, and villages

Oswego County has 22 towns, 2 cities, and 10 villages.

A map of towns and cities located in Oswego County, New York

Cities

• Fulton
• Oswego

Towns

• Albion
• Amboy
• Boylston
• Constantia
• Granby
• Hannibal
• Hastings
• Mexico
• Minetto
• New Haven
• Orwell
• Oswego
• Palermo
• Parish
• Redfield
• Richland
• Sandy Creek
• Schroeppel
• Scriba
• Volney
• West Monroe
• Williamstown

Villages

• Altmar
• Central Square
• Cleveland
• Hannibal
• Lacona
• Mexico
• Parish
• Phoenix
• Pulaski
• Sandy Creek

See also

New York portal

• List of counties in New York
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Oswego County, New York

External links

• Oswego County, New York Government site
• Oswego County at the Open Directory Project
• Links to the early history of Oswego County, New York
• Oswego County history pages
• State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego
• Cayuga Community College

References

1. ^ Oswego County, New York - Fact Sheet - American FactFinder
2. ^ ^{a b} Oswego County Clerk's Office, NY
3. ^ New York State Department of Economic Development
4. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

Coordinates: 43°28′N 76°12′W / 43.47°N 76.20°W / 43.47; -76.20