Oswego County, New York
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| Oswego County, New York | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of New York |
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| Statistics | |
| Formed | 1816 |
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| Seat | Oswego |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
3,399 km² (1,312 mi²) 2,469 km² (953 mi²) 929 km² (359 mi²), 27.35% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
122,377 50/km² |
| Website: www.co.oswego.ny.us | |
Oswego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of 2000, the population was 122,377. Two cities serve as the county seats: Oswego and Pulaski. The county name is from the Iroquois word meaning "the outpouring," referring to the mouth of the Oswego River.
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[edit] 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.
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.
[edit] Law and government
The Oswego County legislature has 25 members, elected from equal population districts, reduced from 36 in 1993.
[edit] 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.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,399 km² (1,312 mi²). 2,469 km² (953 mi²) of it is land and 929 km² (359 mi²) of it (27.35%) is water.
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Lewis County, New York - northeast
- Jefferson County, New York - northeast
- Oneida County, New York - east
- Madison County, New York - southeast
- Onondaga County, New York - south
- Cayuga County, New York - southwest
- Lake Ontario and Canada - northwest
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 122,377 people, 45,522 households, and 31,228 families residing in the county. The population density was 50/km² (128/mi²). There were 52,831 housing units at an average density of 21/km² (55/mi²). 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.
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.
[edit] Cities, Towns, and Villages
- Albion (town)
- Altmar (village)
- Amboy (town)
- Boylston (town)
- Central Square (village)
- Cleveland (village)
- Constantia (town)
- Fulton (city)
- Granby (town)
- Hastings (town)
- Hannibal (village)
- Hannibal (town)
- Lacona (village)
- Mexico (village)
- Mexico (town)
- Minetto (town)
- New Haven (town)
- Orwell (town)
- Oswego (city)
- Oswego (town)
- Palermo (town)
- Parish (village)
- Parish (town)
- Phoenix (village)
- Pulaski (village)
- Redfield (town)
- Richland (town)
- Sand Ridge
- Sandy Creek (village)
- Sandy Creek (town)
- Schroeppel (town)
- Scriba (town)
- Volney (town)
- West Monroe (town)
- Williamstown (town)
