Cortland County, New York
Cortland County | |
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UTC−4 (EDT) | |
Congressional district | 19th |
Website | www |
Cortland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population of Cortland County was 46,809.[2] The county seat is Cortland.[3] The county is named after Pierre Van Cortlandt, president of the convention at Kingston that wrote the first New York State Constitution in 1777, and first lieutenant governor of the state. The county is part of the Central New York region of the state.
Cortland County comprises the Cortland, NY
The Cortland apple is named for the county.[4]
History
Early history
Located in the glaciated
What was to become Cortland County remained within Indian territory until the American Revolution. It became part of the Military Tract, when, in 1781, more than 1¼ million acres (5,100 km2) were set aside by the State's Legislature to compensate two regiments formed to protect the State's western section from the English and their Iroquois allies, at the close of the Revolution. To encourage settlement in the upstate isolated wilderness, the State constructed a road from Oxford through Cortland County to Cayuga Lake in 1792–94. This, and construction of privately financed roads, were the major impetus to settlement.
When counties were established in New York in 1683, the present Cortland County was part of Albany County, which encompassed the northern part of New York and all of the present State of Vermont, as well as indeterminate territory to west. On March 12, 1772, present day Cortland County became part of Tryon County, named for William Tryon, colonial governor of New York. In 1784, following the peace treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War, the name of the county was changed to honor General Richard Montgomery, who had captured several places in Canada and died attempting to capture the city of Quebec, thus replacing the name of the locally unpopular British governor. Present day Cortland County became part of Herkimer County in 1791, then became a part of Onondaga County when it split from Herkimer in 1794. Cortland County was formed by the splitting of Onondaga County in 1808.
Settlement of the county
Eastern New Yorkers and New Englanders, wanting new land to farm, welcomed the opening of this frontier. The first white settlement in the county was made in 1791 by Amos Todd, Joseph Beebe and Rhoda Todd Beebe, emigrants from Connecticut who paddled up the Tioughnioga River from Windsor, to live near the head of navigation in the Town of Homer. Following them came a flood of settlers who, in 1808, petitioned the State Legislature for county status. Thus, Cortland County was created from the southern half of Onondaga County as part of the Boston Ten Towns on April 8, 1808, and was named in honor of the Pierre Van Cortlandt family - Pierre, Sr. having been the first lieutenant governor of the state.
Nineteenth century
The
At the Battle of Gettysburg, the 76th New York was one of the first infantry regiments on the field, holding down the extreme right of the Union line on the first day. The regiment took huge casualties in that battle - nearly one-third of its strength - including its commander Major Andrew J. Grover, the first infantry officer killed in the battle.
Modern Cortland County
Today, Cortland county is noted for the production of
The county's present reflects its past. Agribusiness flourishes, yet consistent with the pattern elsewhere in New York State, the number of farms has declined while farm size and yield have increased. Continued growth in the service and light industry sectors is contributing to the growing strength of the Central New York region and the Southern Tier region.
The loss of many of its local businesses has led to the current economic decline of the region.
Government and politics
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 10,789 | 49.77% | 10,370 | 47.83% | 520 | 2.40% |
2016 | 9,900 | 48.90% | 8,771 | 43.33% | 1,573 | 7.77% |
2012 | 8,695 | 44.31% | 10,482 | 53.41% | 447 | 2.28% |
2008 | 9,678 | 44.15% | 11,861 | 54.11% | 381 | 1.74% |
2004 | 11,613 | 51.02% | 10,670 | 46.88% | 477 | 2.10% |
2000 | 9,857 | 47.56% | 9,691 | 46.76% | 1,178 | 5.68% |
1996 | 7,606 | 39.11% | 9,130 | 46.94% | 2,713 | 13.95% |
1992 | 7,782 | 37.32% | 7,815 | 37.48% | 5,254 | 25.20% |
1988 | 10,934 | 58.26% | 7,673 | 40.88% | 162 | 0.86% |
1984 | 13,691 | 67.70% | 6,438 | 31.83% | 95 | 0.47% |
1980 | 9,885 | 54.77% | 6,176 | 34.22% | 1,987 | 11.01% |
1976 | 11,222 | 61.32% | 6,947 | 37.96% | 131 | 0.72% |
1972 | 12,885 | 70.97% | 5,234 | 28.83% | 37 | 0.20% |
1968 | 10,209 | 60.76% | 5,791 | 34.47% | 801 | 4.77% |
1964 | 6,149 | 35.61% | 11,110 | 64.33% | 11 | 0.06% |
1960 | 12,305 | 67.48% | 5,921 | 32.47% | 9 | 0.05% |
1956 | 14,085 | 79.59% | 3,612 | 20.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 13,985 | 77.32% | 4,079 | 22.55% | 24 | 0.13% |
1948 | 10,433 | 68.27% | 4,614 | 30.19% | 236 | 1.54% |
1944 | 10,450 | 67.68% | 4,967 | 32.17% | 24 | 0.16% |
1940 | 12,233 | 70.26% | 5,147 | 29.56% | 31 | 0.18% |
1936 | 11,718 | 70.43% | 4,606 | 27.69% | 313 | 1.88% |
1932 | 9,859 | 67.60% | 4,425 | 30.34% | 301 | 2.06% |
1928 | 11,960 | 75.37% | 3,662 | 23.08% | 247 | 1.56% |
1924 | 10,032 | 76.93% | 2,170 | 16.64% | 839 | 6.43% |
1920 | 9,606 | 76.75% | 2,541 | 20.30% | 369 | 2.95% |
1916 | 4,521 | 59.21% | 2,693 | 35.27% | 422 | 5.53% |
1912 | 2,959 | 39.99% | 2,283 | 30.86% | 2,157 | 29.15% |
1908 | 5,090 | 62.26% | 2,616 | 32.00% | 470 | 5.75% |
1904 | 5,222 | 63.34% | 2,649 | 32.13% | 373 | 4.52% |
1900 | 4,895 | 60.99% | 2,773 | 34.55% | 358 | 4.46% |
1896 | 4,939 | 63.39% | 2,574 | 33.04% | 278 | 3.57% |
1892 | 4,134 | 53.57% | 2,907 | 37.67% | 676 | 8.76% |
1888 | 4,732 | 55.97% | 3,163 | 37.41% | 560 | 6.62% |
1884 | 4,042 | 55.35% | 2,774 | 37.98% | 487 | 6.67% |
Cortland County is a bellwether county, having voted for the national winner in every presidential election from 1976 to 2016. The city of Cortland itself, the largest city in the county, leans Democratic.
In 2020, Cortland County's streak of voting for the winner ended, as Joe Biden defeated Republican incumbent Donald Trump. Had the streak continued, it would have been tied with Clallam County, Washington for the longest active streak in the nation, as the streaks of longstanding bellwethers Valencia County, New Mexico and Vigo County, Indiana also ended in 2020. Cortland was one of five counties in the state that Trump carried by less than 500 votes.
Cortland County's lawmaking body is the legislature, which consists of 17 members. All are elected from single member districts.
Geography
According to the
Cortland County is sometimes considered to be part of Central New York and Southern Tier regions of New York and is also somewhat to the southwest of the center of New York, south of Syracuse and north of Binghamton.
Adjacent counties
- Onondaga County - north
- Madison County - northeast
- Chenango County - east
- Broome County - south
- Tompkins County - west
- Tioga County - southwest
- Cayuga County - northwest
Major highways
- Interstate 81
- U.S. Route 11
- New York State Route 13
- New York State Route 41
- New York State Route 90
- New York State Route 392
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1810 | 8,869 | — | |
1820 | 16,507 | 86.1% | |
1830 | 23,791 | 44.1% | |
1840 | 24,607 | 3.4% | |
1850 | 25,140 | 2.2% | |
1860 | 26,294 | 4.6% | |
1870 | 25,173 | −4.3% | |
1880 | 25,825 | 2.6% | |
1890 | 28,657 | 11.0% | |
1900 | 27,576 | −3.8% | |
1910 | 29,249 | 6.1% | |
1920 | 29,625 | 1.3% | |
1930 | 31,709 | 7.0% | |
1940 | 33,668 | 6.2% | |
1950 | 37,158 | 10.4% | |
1960 | 41,113 | 10.6% | |
1970 | 45,894 | 11.6% | |
1980 | 48,820 | 6.4% | |
1990 | 48,963 | 0.3% | |
2000 | 48,599 | −0.7% | |
2010 | 49,336 | 1.5% | |
2020 | 46,809 | −5.1% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[2] |
2020 Census
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (NH)
|
40,801 | 87.16% |
Black or African American (NH)
|
829 | 1.8% |
Native American (NH)
|
113 | 0.24% |
Asian (NH)
|
1,018 | 2.17% |
Pacific Islander (NH)
|
6 | 0.01% |
Other/Mixed (NH)
|
2,384 | 5.1% |
Latino
|
1,658 | 3.54% |
2000 census
As of the
There were 18,210 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.20% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.20% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 15.50% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,364, and the median income for a family was $42,204. Males had a median income of $30,814 versus $22,166 for females. The
As of 2014 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Cortland County, New York were:
- English - 17.7%
- Irish - 12.9%
- German - 11.9%
- Italian - 8.8%
- "American" - 6.9%
- French (except Basque) - 2.8%
- Dutch - 2.7%
- Polish - 2.2%
- Scottish - 2.1%[14]
As of 2015 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Cortland County, New York were:
- English - 18.8%
- Irish - 12.3%
- German - 10.8%
- Italian - 8.1%
- "American" - 7.3%
- Dutch - 2.5%
- Scottish - 2.3%
- French (except Basque) - 2.2%
- Polish - 2.1%[15]
As of 2016 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Cortland County, New York were:
- English - 19.8%
- Irish - 11.9%
- German - 10.2%
- Italian - 8.0%
- "American" - 6.9%
- Dutch - 2.4%
- Scottish - 2.0%
- French (except Basque) - 2.3%
- Polish - 2.1%[16]
Education
Area schools include:
- State University of New York at Cortland
- Tompkins Cortland Community College
- Cincinnatus Central School District
- Cortland City School District
- Homer Central School District
- Marathon Central School District
- McGraw Central School District
Communities
Larger settlements
# | Location | Population | Type | Town(s) within |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | †Cortland | 19,204 | City | Cortlandville |
2 | Homer | 3,291 | Village | Cortlandville, Homer |
3 | Munsons Corners | 2,728 | CDP | Cortlandville |
4 | Cortland West | 1,356 | CDP | Cortlandville |
5 | McGraw | 1,053 | Village | Cortlandville |
6 | Marathon | 919 | Village | Marathon |
7 | Blodgett Mills | 303 | CDP | Cortlandville |
8 | Virgil | 298 | CDP | Virgil |
Towns
Notable people
- William Dillon, composer, lyricist, and vaudevillian
- Rainbow and Black Sabbath; a street in the city of Cortland is named for him (Dio Way)
- St. Patrick's Day Parade
- John McGraw, Hall of Fame Major League Baseball player and manager from the town of Truxton
- Alton B. Parker, Democratic candidate for president in 1904
- Arthur C. Sidman, playwright and vaudevillian
- Elmer Ambrose Sperry, prolific inventor who invented gyroscopic compass and held over 400 patents; the USS Sperry is named after him
See also
- List of counties in New York
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Cortland County, New York
- Svend O. Heiberg Memorial Forest
References
- ^ "US Census 2020 Population Dataset Tables for New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Cortland County, New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Cortland". The State of New York. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
The Cortland variety of apple is named for the county.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - State Data".
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cortland County, New York".
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ Bureau, U.S. Census. "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- ^ Bureau, U.S. Census. "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- ^ Bureau, U.S. Census. "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
Further reading
- Sullivan, James; Williams, Melvin E.; Conklin, Edwin P.; Fitzpatrick, Benedict, eds. (1927), "Chapter VI. Cortland County.", History of New York State, 1523–1927 (PDF), vol. 2, New York City, Chicago: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., p. 737-42, Wikidata Q114149636
External links
- Cortland County official website
- Weather forecast for Cortland County
- Cortland County at Curlie
- Cortland County Economic Development
- Cortland County Chamber of Commerce
- Cortland County Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Early history of Cortland County and its towns [dead link]
- Cortland County Historical Aerial Photographs of New York , Cornell University Library & Cornell Institute for Resource Information Sciences
- Cortland Public History Archived August 13, 2018, at the Wayback Machine