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'Onondaga County' is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2000 census, the population was 458,336. The estimated population for 2004 is 459,805, an increase of 0.3%. The county seat is Syracuse.
The name ''Onondaga'' derives from the name of the Native American people who lived here, who called themselves ''Onoda'gega'', sometimes spelled ''Onontakeka.'' The word means "People of the Hills." Sometimes the term was ''Onondagaono'' ("The People of the Hills"). Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people continue to reside in a separate nation within Onondaga County.

Contents

History

Geography

Adjacent Counties

Demographics

Cities, towns, villages, and hamlets

Indian reservations

Notes

References

External links

History

When counties were established in New York State in 1683, the present Onondaga 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 split off from Herkimer County. This county was larger than the current Onondaga County, including the present Cayuga, Cortland, and part of Oswego Counties.
In 1799, Cayuga County was split off from Onondaga.
In 1808, Cortland County was split off from Onondaga.
In 1816, parts of Oneida and Onondaga Counties were taken to form the new Oswego County.
Central New York developed rapidly after the New Military Tract provided land to Revolutionary War veterans. Migration was largely from the east, mostly from New Engalnd states. The Genesee Road, which became the Seneca Turnpike in 1800, provided access. Generally settlers preferred higher land, since they associated lowlands will disease. In time, as hillside soil was eroded by early clearing and farming, valley lands were more fertile and highly prized for agriculture as well as for water power, which was the origin of many communities. The city of Syracuse, New York developed relatively late, due to its marshy situation. The highland village of Pompey, New York on the Seneca Turnpike in contrast was more important at an earlier date. Population of rural towns was greatest in the late nineteenth century, when more land was cultivated and farms were relatively small, supporting large households. Since that time, agriculture has declined in the county. Some Onodaga County towns like Spafford, New York were largely depopulated, many villages becoming veritable ghost towns. Onondaga County highlands now are more heavily reforested, with public parks and preserves providing recreation. Two Finger Lakes in the county also attract visitors. The village of Skaneateles on scenic Route 20 has become a major tourist destination.
At the turn of the twenty-first century, population declined in the City of Syracuse while suburban communities generally grew, particularly with tract developments north of the city. Elesewhere, scattered commuter houses appeared, generally on fairly large parcels. The Village of Skaneateles and shores of Skaneateles Lake attracted rapid development, demand for property increasing property values remarkably.

Geography

Onondaga County is in the west central portion of New York State, west of Utica, east of Rochester and north of Ithaca. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,087 km² (806 mi²). 2,021 km² (780 mi²) of it is land and 66 km² (25 mi²) of it (3.15%) is water. Onondaga Lake is bordered by many of the larger communities in the county.
The northern part of the county is fairly level lake plain, extending northward to Lake Ontario. Oneida Lake three rivers, as well as the Erie and subsequent Barge Canals are in the lake plain. The main line of the New York Central Railroad and the New York State Thruway extend east and west aross the county through the lake plain. The southern part of the county is Appalachian Plateau, with high hills rising at the southern edge of Syracuse. This is the eastern part of the Finger Lakes region. Skaneateles Lake and Otisco Lake are both in Onondaga County. Route US 20 extends east and west across the county, traversing dramatic hill-and-valley terrain. Between the lake plain and Appalachian highlands is a zone noted for drumlins, smaller, scattered hills formed as mounds of debris left by the last glacier. Tully is geologically noted for the terminal moraine deposited there by the glacier, filling the deep Tully Valley, which might have been another Finger Lake, had the moraine been left closer to Syracuse, impounding water. Tully is at the divide between two major watersheds, one flowing northward to the Atlantic Ocean by way of the St. Lawrence River and the other southward to the ocean vie the Susquehanna River. Onieda Lake, the Finger Lakes, and smaller bodies of water provide recreation. Several ski slopes are located in the Appalachian hills, where there are waterfalls and historic villages as attractions, as well as parks and large forest preserves.

Adjacent Counties

★ Oswego County, New York - north

★ Madison County, New York - east

★ Cortland County, New York - south

★ Cayuga County, New York - west

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 458,336 people, 181,153 households, and 115,394 families residing in the county. The population density was 227/km² (587/mi²). There were 196,633 housing units at an average density of 97/km² (252/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.78% White, 9.38% African American, 0.86% Native American, 2.09% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.89% from other races, and 1.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.44% of the population.

There were 181,153 households out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.90% were married couples living together, 12.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.30% were non-families. 29.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,847, and the median income for a family was $51,876. Males had a median income of $39,048 versus $27,154 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,336. About 8.60% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.50% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.
Demographic trends (2006): County population has decreased from a high in 1970. Increasing number of housing units apparently is due to smaller family units and more individuals living alone. While the City of Syracuse population has declined, some suburban towns have grown.

Cities, towns, villages, and hamlets

'Syracuse' is the only city in Onondaga County.
The following is a complete list of official towns and villages, and principal hamlets:^[1]
::

Towns	Villages	Hamlets
Camillus	Camillus	Amboy, Fairmount, Memphis ''(in part)'', Warners ''(in part)''
Cicero	North Syracuse ''(in part)''	Brewerton, Bridgeport, Cicero
Clay	North Syracuse ''(in part)''	Clay
DeWitt	East Syracuse	DeWitt, Jamesville
Elbridge	Elbridge, Jordan	Hart Lot
Fabius	Fabius	Apulia, Apulia Station
Geddes	Solvay	Geddes, State Fair Grounds
LaFayette		Cardiff, Collingwood, LaFayette
Lysander	Baldwinsville ''(in part)''	Lysander, Plainville
Manlius	Fayetteville, Manlius, Minoa	Kirkville
Marcellus	Marcellus	Clintonville, Marcellus Falls, Marietta, Rose Hill, Thorn Hill
Onondaga		Cedarvale, Howlett Hill, Indian Village, Navarino, Nedrow, Onondaga Hill, South Onondaga, Southwood, Split Rock, Taunton[2]
Otisco		Amber, Otisco
Pompey		Delphi, Delphi Falls, Oran, Pompey, Pompey Center, Watervale
Salina	Liverpool	Galeville, Hinsdale, Long Branch, Mattydale
Skaneateles	Skaneateles	Mottville, Skaneateles Falls
Spafford		Borodino, South Spafford, Spafford
Tully	Tully	Vesper
Van Buren	Baldwinsville ''(in part)''	Memphis ''(in part)'', Van Buren, Warners ''(in part)''

::Villages and hamlets labeled ''"(in part)"'' span the border between multiple towns.

Indian reservations

★ Onondaga Reservation

Notes

1. New York State Gazetteer, , , , New York State Department of Health, , Available at New York State Library Digital Image Project.
2. While the ''New York State Gazetteer'' lists Onondaga Valley as a hamlet in Onondaga, it in fact was annexed to Syracuse in 1926. Source: "Welcome to the Valley", pamphlet published by City of Syracuse, August 2006.

References

★ Onod'gega (People of the Hills)

External links

★ Onondaga County, NY official site

★ Onondaga County information at newyorkerslinks.com

★

★ Onondaga County, NY US GenWeb Project

★ Onondaga County, NY U.S. Census Page

★ Brief early history of Onondaga County and its towns