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Oswego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Yorkmarker. As of 2005, the estimated population was 118,560. The City of Oswegomarker serves as the county seat. 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, NY 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 Vermontmarker and, in theory, extending westward to the Pacific Oceanmarker. 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 Schenectadymarker, 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 Canadamarker. In 1784, following the peace treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War, the name of Tryon County was changed to Montgomery Countymarker to honor the general, Richard Montgomery, who had captured several places in Canada and died attempting to capture the city of Quebecmarker, replacing the name of the hated British governor.

In 1789, the size of Montgomery County was reduced by the splitting off of Ontario Countymarker from Montgomery. The actual area split off from Montgomery County was much larger than the present county, also including the present Alleganymarker, Cattaraugusmarker, Chautauquamarker, Eriemarker, Geneseemarker, Livingstonmarker, Monroemarker, Niagaramarker, Orleansmarker, Steubenmarker, Wyomingmarker, Yatesmarker, and part of Schuylermarker and Wayne Countiesmarker.

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

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

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

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

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

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 Mexicomarker. None of these attempts succeeded, however.

Events

  • 1-12 February 2007 - A major lake effects 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 Plattsburg, NY. 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 Syracusemarker and northwest of Uticamarker, on the eastern shore of Lake Ontariomarker. Part of the Tug Hill Plateau is in the eastern part of the county and, at 1550', is the highest point. Oswego County Clerk's Office, NY

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,312 square miles (3,399 km²), of which, 953 square miles (2,469 km²) of it is land and 359 square miles (929 km²) of it (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".

Adjacent Counties



Major Highways



Demographics

As of the census 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% Americanmarker, 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 Oswegomarker 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, NY

Cities



Towns



Villages



See also

External links



References


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