The name of the village is derived from the Oneida name for Chittenango Creek, Chu-de-nääng′, meaning "where waters run north".[5] While the name "Chittenango" is often thought by locals to mean "river flowing north" or "where the waters divide and run north", a reference to the direction of water flow from the creek's point of origin to Oneida Lake, there is no derivation for these alternatives. On an 1825 map of the area, the village is called Chittening, a name used by early settlers which is thought to be derived directly from Chu-de-nääng′.[6] According to American anthropologistLewis H. Morgan, who studied Iroquois customs and language in his 1851 book League of the Iroquois, the name "Chittenango" may have come from Chu-de-nääng′ Ga-hun′-da, a redundant combination of the Oneida terms for "Chittenango Creek" (Chu-de-nääng′) and "creek" (Ga-hun′-da).[7]
Initial growth of the village is largely attributed to the construction of the Erie Canal, which officially opened in 1825, joining Buffalo on Lake Erie with Albany, the capital of New York, and the Hudson River. The Erie Canal passes just north of the village. The Chittenango Canal Company, incorporated in 1818, constructed a canal 1.5 miles (2.4km) in length connecting Chittenango to the Erie Canal.[8] The village became a virtual canal town upon the construction of the Chittenango Canal Boat Landing, which featured a three-bay dry dock where canal boats were built and repaired. The canal brought prosperity, growth and expansion to the village. It created a need for inns, hotels and restaurants, and area farms and factories found the canal useful as an inexpensive and easy way to ship goods further along the canal or beyond. Because the canal connected to the Hudson River, boats were able to ship goods south to the metropolis of Manhattan.[9]
Development increased considerably with the activities of John B. Yates, who opened and operated grist and saw mills, a woolen mill, stores, and founded the village's first church in 1828, the Dutch Reformed Church, now the First Presbyterian Church of Chittenango.[10][11]
The village was incorporated on March 15, 1842.[12] At the time, it contained between 900 and 1,000 inhabitants, about 180 dwellings, three churches, the Yates Polytechnic Institute, a large woolen factory, two large water lime factories, one flouring mill, three taverns and ten stores.[13] In 1853, the first bank in the village, the Chittenango Bank, was organized and began business with capital of $110,000, which increased to $150,000 one year later. The bank closed business nearly one decade later, and in December 1863 the First National Bank of Chittenango was organized, occupying the same building erected by the first bank. This bank also closed down in 1883.[14]
The first newspaper in the village was the Chittenango Herald, established in 1831 by Isaac Lyon. It later bore successively the name of the Chittenango Republican, Chittenango Phoenix, and Democratic Gazette, until it was discontinued in 1853.[16] In 1869 the Madison County Times was established and papers were published until 1975, at which time the Chittenango-Bridgeport Times was formed. This paper ran until 2009 when it merged with other Syracuse area papers to form the current Eagle Newspapers.[17]
The Chittenango Pottery Company, largely owing its early success to its location near the Chittenango Landing, was established in 1897. After burning down twice, the present, now abandoned brick structure was erected. After years of neglect and disrepair, the building was demolished in 2015.[18]
Chittenango is located in northwestern Madison County at 43°2′45″N75°52′26″W / 43.04583°N 75.87389°W / 43.04583; -75.87389 (43.045901, -75.873785),[20] in the southern part of the town of Sullivan. State Routes 5 and 13 pass through the village center as Genesee Street. NY 5 leads east 12 miles (19km) to Oneida and west 16 miles (26km) to the center of Syracuse, while NY 13 follows NY 5 to the east as far as Canastota, then turns north toward Sylvan Beach on Oneida Lake. To the south, NY 13 leads 9 miles (14km) to Cazenovia. NY 173 has its eastern terminus at Chittenango and leads southwest 6 miles (10km) to Manlius.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the village of Chittenango has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5km2), all of it recorded as land. Chittenango Creek passes through the village center, running north to enter Oneida Lake north of Bridgeport.
Climate
The climate can range from hot and often humid summers to very cold winters.
As of the census[23] of 2010, there were 5,081 people, 1,993 households, and 1,380 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,117.1 inhabitants per square mile (817.4/km2). There were 2,085 housing units at an average density of 868.8 per square mile (335.4/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 96.2% White, 1.1% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.
There were 1,993 households, out of which 47.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% of households had married couples living together, 13.3% of households had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-family households (people living in households with no members related to the householder). 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18 years, 7.1% from 18 to 24 years, 11.6% from 25 to 34 years, 14.4% from 35 to 44 years, 16.7% from 45 to 54 years, 12.1% from 55 to 64 years, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
Detailed socioeconomic information collected during past censuses was not collected during the 2010 Census. The 2010 Census used only a short form asking ten basic questions, including name, sex, age, date of birth, ethnicity, race, and homeownership status.[24] According to the 2000 Census, the median income for a household in the village was $43,750, and the median income for a family was $50,179. Males had a median income of $34,787 versus $25,902 for females. The per capita income for the village was $20,014. About 4.1% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Chittenango School District enrolls about 2,350 K-12 students in two elementary schools (K-4), one middle school (5-8) and one high school (9-12). The district is one of 23 members of the Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES, and employs about 210 instructional staff and 160 additional support staff.[25]
Transportation
Chittenango travel plaza westbound on I-90
Luther Airport is located 1.15mi (1.85km) southeast of the central business district of Chittenango. It is a small, private grass strip, home to several small propeller aircraft including a biplane.[26]
Interstate 90, the New York State Thruway, passes 3 miles (5km) north of the village. Exit 34A on the Thruway, 14 miles (23km) west of the village, is signed for Chittenango,[27] while Exit 34 at Canastota, 7 miles (11km) east of Chittenango, also provides access. The Chittenango travel plaza (rest area)[28] serves westbound traffic on Interstate 904 miles (6km) west of Exit 34.
Oz-Stravaganza! was cancelled during 2020 and 2021 due to health concerns over Covid-19. As Covid restrictions were gradually lifted, the festival came back in 2022, though on a smaller scale, with a lower amount of vendors than previous festival years.
The Wizard of Oz theme continues beyond the annual festival. The village is the home of the International L. Frank Baum & All Things Oz Historical Foundation.[31] The group is a 501(c)3 non-profit, and is 100% volunteer run. It is Chartered by the NY State Board of Regents. The organization coordinates the annual Oz-Stravaganza festival and also the All Things Oz Museum located in the historic village downtown. The museum features a collection of original costumes and props from the OZ universe, as well as collectibles and Baum family heirlooms. The foundation collection is nearly 15,000 items, and 1,200 - 1,400 are on exhibit at any time.
In 1982, the village installed a brick sidewalk on either side of the downtown portion of Genesee Street which was painted yellow as an homage to the yellow brick road from the novels and film. The sidewalk required regular upkeep as the color would fade over time and the bricks would chip and crack due to the freeze-thaw cycles in the colder months and regular use throughout the year. As part of a downtown Chittenango revitalization project in 2007, the sidewalks were replaced with concrete which was then stamped and colored to replicate the yellow brick road.[32] The old bricks have been made available to purchase at the All Things Oz museum and during the festival to raise money for the town's festival.[33] In 2017, the village also added a yellow brick road sidewalk to Dr. West memorial park where the annual Oz-stravaganza festival is held.
Chittenango and its yellow brick road featured in episode 6 of Michael Portillo's Great American Railroad Journeys shown on the BBC. Chittenango also features a new Wizard of Oz-themed casino that opened on June 2, 2015, called the Yellow Brick Road Casino, operated by the Oneida Indian tribe that also operates the much larger Turning Stone Casino and Resort located near Verona, New York.
Notable people
John Kirby Allen (1810–1838), co-founder of Houston, Texas; Texas state legislator, and backer of the Texas Revolution. Allen was partner at the store in Chittenango in 1826.[34]
Jerry Lawson, professional distance runner, former American record holder (1993) in the marathon with a time of 2:09:35. He was a graduate of Chittenango High School.
The Erie Canal is a historic canal in upstate New York that runs east–west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Completed in 1825, the canal was the first navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, vastly reducing the costs of transporting people and goods across the Appalachians. The Erie Canal accelerated the settlement of the Great Lakes region, the westward expansion of the United States, and the economic ascendancy of New York state. It has been called "The Nation's First Superhighway".
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 68,016. Its county seat is Wampsville. The county is named after James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, and was first formed in 1806. The county is part of the Central New York region of the state.
Canastota is a village within the town of Lenox in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 4,556 at the 2020 census, down from 4,804 in 2010.
Fenner is a town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 1,668 at the 2020 census. The town is in the north-central part of the county, east of Cazenovia Lake.
Lenox is a town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 8,768 as of the 2020 census.
Lincoln is a town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 1,802 at the 2020 census, down from 2,012 in 2010. The town is in the north-central part of the county.
Oneida is a city in Madison County in the U.S. state of New York. It is located west of Oneida Castle and east of Wampsville. The population was 10,329 at the 2020 census, down from 11,390 in 2010. The city, like both Oneida County and the nearby silver and china maker, was named for the Oneida people, who had a large territory here around Oneida Lake during the colonial period.
Sullivan is a town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 14,794 at the 2020 census. The town is named after Revolutionary War general John Sullivan.
Verona is a town in southwestern Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 6,293 at the 2010 census. The town was named after Verona, Italy.
Cicero is a town in northern Onondaga County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 31,435. The name of the town was assigned by a clerk interested in the classics, honoring Cicero, a Roman statesman.
Mattydale is a hamlet in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 6,446 at the 2010 census.
Cazenovia is a village in the town of Cazenovia in Madison County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the village had a population of 2,767. The village lies at the south end of Cazenovia Lake and is within a half hour of Syracuse. The village is located on US Route 20 and New York State Route 13, and was home to Cazenovia College.
Cazenovia is an incorporated town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 6,740 at the time of the 2020 census. The town is named after Theophile Cazenove, the 'Agent General of the Holland Land Company. The village of Cazenovia is located in the center of the town. The town is on the county's western border.
Madison is a town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 2,766 at the 2020 census. The village of Madison is the largest community within the town. Madison, along with the rest of Madison County, is part of the Syracuse Metropolitan Area.
Manlius is a town to the south east of Syracuse in Onondaga County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 33,712, making it the third largest suburb in metropolitan Syracuse. In 2005, the town was ranked 98th on CNN's list of Best Places to Live.
Oneida Lake is the largest lake entirely within New York state, with a surface area of 79.8 square miles (207 km2). The lake is located northeast of Syracuse and near the Great Lakes. It feeds the Oneida River, a tributary of the Oswego River, which flows into Lake Ontario. From the earliest times until the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, the lake was part of an important waterway connecting the Atlantic seaboard of North America to the continental interior.
Cazenovia Lake is located in Madison County, New York. It is located 20 miles (32 km) southeast of the city of Syracuse. The village of Cazenovia is located southeast of the lake.
New York State Route 13 (NY 13) is a state highway that runs mainly north–south for 152.30 miles (245.10 km) between NY 14 in Horseheads and NY 3 west of Pulaski in Central New York in the United States. In between, NY 13 intersects with Interstate 81 (I-81) in Cortland and Pulaski and meets the New York State Thruway (I-90) in Canastota. NY 13 is co-signed with several routes along its routing, most notably NY 34 and NY 96 between Newfield and Ithaca; NY 80 between DeRuyter and Cazenovia; and NY 5 between Chittenango and Canastota.
The Old Erie Canal State Historic Park encompasses a 36-mile (58 km) linear segment of the original Erie Canal's Long Level section. It extends westward from Butternut Creek in the town of DeWitt, just east of Syracuse, to the outskirts of Rome, New York. The park includes restored segments of the canal's waterway and towpath which were in active use between 1825 and 1917. It is part of the New York State Park system.
The Syracuse Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area comprising three counties in central New York, with the city of Syracuse as its core. The three counties are Onondaga, Madison, and Oswego. According to the 2020 census, the population of the Syracuse MSA was 662,057; a slight difference from 662,577, in the 2010 census.
↑ American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society. Annual Report of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society to the Legislature of the State of New York. Vol. 27. Albany: J.B. Lyon, State Printers, 1922.
↑ Beauchamp, William M. Aboriginal Place Names of New York. New York State Education Department. Albany. 1907. p. 112.
↑ Morgan, Lewis H. League of the Iroquois. Corinth, NY. Corinth Books (1851). pp. 65, 137.
↑ Mitchell, Samuel Augustus. An Accompaniment to Mitchell's Reference and Distance Map of the United States. Philadelphia, PA. Mitchell and Hinman (1834). ISBN1-149-26923-5 p. 228.
↑ Wyld, Lionel D. Canastota and Chittenango: Two Historic Canal Towns. Charleston, SC. Arcadia Publishing (1998). ISBN0-7524-0971-9 pp. 7-10.
↑ Smith, John E. Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York. Boston, MA. The Boston History Company (1899). pp. 326-327.
↑ Whitney, Luna M. Hammond. History of Madison County, state of New York. Syracuse, NY. Truair, Smith & Co., Book and Job Printers (1872). p. 674.
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