Oswego County, New York
U.S. County|
county = Oswego County|
state = New York |
seal = Oswego County ny seal.gif |
map size = 225|
founded =
1816| seat =
Oswego | area = 3,399
km² (1,312
mi²) |
area land = 2,469 km² (953 mi²) |
area water = 929 km² (359 mi²) |
area percentage = 27.35% |
census yr = 2000|
pop = 122,377 |
density = 50|
web = 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.
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.
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.
The Oswego County legislature has 25 members, elected from equal population districts, reduced from 36 in
1993.
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.
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.
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Albion (town)
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Altmar (village)
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Amboy (town)
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Boylston (town)
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Central Square (village)
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Cleveland (village)
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Constantia (town)
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Fulton (city)
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Granby (town)
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Hastings (town)
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Hannibal (village)
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Hannibal (town)
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Lacona (village)
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Mexico (village)
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Mexico (town)
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Minetto (town)
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New Haven (town)
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Orwell (town)
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Oswego (city)
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Oswego (town)
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Palermo (town)
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Parish (village)
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Parish (town)
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Phoenix (village)
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Pulaski (village)
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Redfield (town)
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Richland (town)
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Sand Ridge*
Sandy Creek (village)
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Sandy Creek (town)
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Schroeppel (town)
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Scriba (town)
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Volney (town)
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West Monroe (town)
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Williamstown (town)
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Oswego County, NY *
Links to the early history of Oswego County, NY *
Oswego County history pages
