SafekipediaOswego County, New York
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
Oswego County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 117,525. The county seat is the city of Oswego.
The name "Oswego" comes from a Mohawk-language word meaning 'the pouring out place'. This name refers to where the Oswego River flows into Lake Ontario, located at the northern edge of the county in the city of Oswego.
Oswego County is part of the Central New York region and is also included in the larger Syracuse metropolitan area.
History
Oswego County has a long history that goes back to when New York was a British colony. In 1683, the land that is now Oswego County was part of Albany County, which was very large and included parts of what are now Vermont and even stretched west to the Pacific Ocean. Over time, Albany County was split into smaller counties.
In 1772, Albany County was divided, and one part became Tryon County, named after William Tryon, the colonial governor of New York. After the American Revolutionary War ended in 1784, Tryon County was renamed Montgomery County to honor General Richard Montgomery. Over the years, Montgomery County was also split into smaller counties. Oswego County was officially created in 1816 from parts of Oneida and Onondaga counties, becoming New York State’s 48th county.
Geography
Oswego County is located in northwestern New York, just north of Syracuse and northwest of Utica. It lies on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. The county covers a total area of 1,312 square miles (3,400 km2), with 952 square miles (2,470 km2) of land and 360 square miles (930 km2) of water. The highest point in the county is part of the Tug Hill Plateau, reaching up to 1,550 feet (470 m). A well-known sight is the Salmon River Falls, a 110-foot (34 m) waterfall.
The county has two important harbors: Oswego Harbor at the mouth of the Oswego River and Port Ontario on the Salmon River. The Port of Oswego Authority dock is the first major stop for ships entering the Great Lakes.
Demographics
Oswego County is home to two colleges: the State University of New York at Oswego in the Town of Oswego and the Fulton Branch Campus of the Cayuga County Community College in the City of Fulton.
According to the census in 2000, there were 122,377 people living in the county. Most people, about 97%, were White. Many families spoke English at home, with just a small number speaking Spanish. Most households had children under 18, and many were led by married couples. The average household had about 2.6 people, and families were a bit larger at around 3.1 people. About a third of the county's people were under 18 years old, with the median age being 35. The median income for a household was $36,598, and about 14% of the population lived below the poverty line.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0.0% | |
| 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% | |
| 2020 | 117,525 | −3.8% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 118,569 |  | 0.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2019 | |||
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980 | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 112,146 | 119,132 | 118,110 | 116,091 | 105,710 | 98.46% | 97.83% | 96.51% | 95.07% | 89.95% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 423 | 578 | 674 | 862 | 1,370 | 0.37% | 0.47% | 0.55% | 0.71% | 1.17% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 308 | 417 | 461 | 465 | 457 | 0.27% | 0.34% | 0.38% | 0.38% | 0.39% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 349 | 454 | 498 | 709 | 870 | 0.31% | 0.37% | 0.41% | 0.58% | 0.74% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x | x | 16 | 14 | 19 | x | x | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 79 | 31 | 48 | 59 | 302 | 0.07% | 0.03% | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.26% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x | x | 978 | 1,357 | 5,181 | x | x | 0.80% | 1.11% | 4.41% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 596 | 1,159 | 1,592 | 2,552 | 3,616 | 0.52% | 0.95% | 1.30% | 2.09% | 3.08% |
| Total | 113,901 | 121,771 | 122,377 | 122,109 | 117,525 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Communities
Oswego County has 22 towns, 2 cities, and 10 villages.
The Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary is located near the county. Popular swimming spots include:
Other places to swim include Taft Bay Park at Bernhards Bay, New York on Oneida Lake, along with beaches in towns like Gallager Pool in Oswego and Fulton City Pools.
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
| # | Location | Population | Type | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | †Oswego | 18,142 | City | Lake Shore |
| 2 | Fulton | 11,896 | City | Riverbank |
| 3 | ‡Brewerton | 4,029 | CDP | Lake Oneida |
| 4 | SUNY Oswego | 3,541 | CDP | Lake Shore |
| 5 | Phoenix | 2,382 | Village | Riverbank |
| 6 | Pulaski | 2,365 | Village | Lake Shore |
| 7 | Central Square | 1,848 | Village | Lake Oneida |
| 8 | Mexico | 1,624 | Village | Lake Shore |
| 9 | Constantia | 1,182 | CDP | Lake Oneida |
| 10 | Minetto | 1,069 | CDP | Riverbank |
| 11 | Sand Ridge | 849 | CDP | Riverbank |
| 12 | Sandy Creek | 771 | Village | Lake Shore |
| 13 | Cleveland | 750 | Village | Lake Oneida |
| 14 | Lacona | 582 | Village | Lake Shore |
| 15 | Hannibal | 555 | Village | Riverbank |
| 16 | Parish | 450 | Village | East |
| 17 | ††Altmar | 407 | CDP | East |
Economy
Oswego's economy is mainly based on industry. In 2012, goods made there were worth $2.1 billion. Retail shopping was the next biggest part, with over $1.2 billion spent. Wholesale sales added another $368 million that year. Services, like food, healthcare, and hotels, were also important, bringing in more than $500 million.
Media
Sample News Group publishes four newspapers in Oswego County. These newspapers are The Palladium-Times, Valley News, Oswego County News, and Oswego Shopper. They also share a website called OswegoCountyNewsNow.com.
Government and politics
Oswego County has a group of 25 elected leaders called the Oswego County Legislature. They come from different parts of the county and work in committees to discuss important topics like public safety, health, and finances. In 2019, a group called the GOP gained more seats in the legislature.
Oswego County has two representatives in the state assembly and two state senators who help make laws for the area. These leaders work to address the needs of the people living in Oswego County.
| District Number | Municipality | Representative |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sandy Creek, Redfield, Boylston | Michael G. Yerdon (R) |
| 2 | Orwell, Albion, Williamstown, Richland | Herbert G. Yerdon (R) |
| 3 | Pulaski, Richland | Edward Gilson (R) |
| 4 | Amboy, Hastings, Parish, Williamstown, West Monroe | David Holst (R) |
| 5 | Constantia | Roy Reehil (R) |
| 6 | Hastings, West Monroe | John Martino (R) |
| 7 | Mexico | Frank Bombardo (R) |
| 8 | Palermo, Hastings, Schroeppel | Paul House, Majority Leader (R, C, I) |
| 9 | Central Square, Hastings | James Weatherup, Legislature Chair (R, I) |
| 10 | Volney, Granby, Schroeppel | Mary Chesbro (R, C) |
| 11 | Volney | Linda Lockwood (R) |
| 12 | Schroeppel, Hastings | Richard Kline (R, C) |
| 13 | New Haven, Scriba | Patrick Twiss, Majority Whip (R) |
| 14 | Scriba | Stephen Walpole (R, I) |
| 15 | City of Oswego | Kevin Hill (R) |
| 16 | City of Oswego | James Scanlon (R) |
| 17 | City of Oswego, Scriba | Charles Burger (R) |
| 18 | City of Oswego | Robert Wilmott (R, C, I) |
| 19 | Minetto, Oswego (Town), Hannibal, Granby | Marie Schadt, Minority Whip (D, C) |
| 20 | Oswego Town | Paul Connolly (R) |
| 21 | Hannibal | Noelle Salmonson (R) |
| 22 | Granby, City of Fulton | James Karasek (R) |
| 23 | Granby | Michael Soloway (R) |
| 24 | City of Fulton, Granby | Marc Greco, Vice Chair (R, I) |
| 25 | City of Fulton | Frank Castiglia, Minority Leader (D) |
Education
Oswego County has many school districts where students learn and grow. Some of these districts include Fulton City School District, Hannibal Central School District, Mexico Central School District, Oswego City School District, Phoenix Central School District, and South Jefferson Central School District, along with others like Altmar-Parish-Williamstown, Camden, Cato-Meridian, Central Square, Pulaski, Sandy Creek, and more.
Images
Related articles
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