Otsego County, New York

Not to be confused with Oswego County, New York.

Otsego County
County
Original Otsego County Bank, in Cooperstown
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°38′N75°02′W / 42.63°N 75.04°W / 42.63; -75.04
Country	United States
State	New York
Founded	February 16, 1791
Seat	Cooperstown
Largest city	Oneonta
Area
• Total	1,016 sq mi (2,630 km2)
• Land	1,002 sq mi (2,600 km2)
• Water	14 sq mi (40 km2)  1.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	58,524 [1]
• Density	58.4/sq mi (22.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	19th
Website	www.otsegocounty.com

Otsego County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,524. ^[2] The county seat is Cooperstown. ^[3] The county's population center is Oneonta. The name Otsego is from a Mohawk or Oneida word meaning "place of the rock." ^[4] The county is part of the Mohawk Valley region of the state.

History

See also: Montgomery County, New York

Map of Otsego County, at its formation

Map of Otsego County, New York, by Simeon De Witt c. 1792-1793

1829 map of Otsego County, New York

In 1789, Ontario County was split off from Montgomery. The area split off from Montgomery County was much larger than the present county, as it included the present Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Steuben, Wyoming, Yates, and part of Schuyler and Wayne counties.

Formation

Otsego County was one of three early counties split off from Montgomery (the other two being Herkimer and Tioga) after the American Revolutionary War. Otsego County was officially established on February 16, 1791, with Cooperstown as its county seat. The original county consisted of three large townships:

• Cherry Valley in the northeast,
• Otsego in the northwest, and
• Harpersfield in the south.

Otsego and Cherry Valley together roughly covered the area of modern Otsego County, while Harpersfield covered the area south of the current county as far as the Delaware River.

Governor George Clinton made the original appointments to Otsego County government positions, including:

• Richard R. Smith, county sheriff, from Otsego township,
• Jacob Morris, county clerk, from Otsego township,
• William Cooper, chief judge, founder of Cooperstown and from Otsego township,
• Jedediah Peck, associate justice from Otsego township,
• Edward Griswold, associate justice from Cherry Valley
• Platt Townsend, associate justice from Harpersfield,
• Alexander Harper, commander of the county militia, from Harpersfield.

New towns

By 1793, four towns had been added to the county by division of the existing towns:

• The Otsego township had been divided into the towns of:
  • Burlington in the west,
  • Otsego in the northeast,
  • Richfield in the north, and
  • Unadilla in the south.
• Harpersfield had been divided into the towns of:
  • Franklin in the west and
  • Harpersfield in the east.

In 1795, a piece of Otsego County was joined with a portion taken from Albany County to create Schoharie County.

In 1797, a piece of Otsego County was joined with a portion taken from Ulster County to create Delaware County.

In 1843, Otsego County, Michigan was named after the county in New York. ^[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,016 square miles (2,630 km²), of which 1,002 square miles (2,600 km²) is land and 14 square miles (36 km²) (1.4%) is water. ^[6]

Otsego County is in central New York State, to the west of Albany, southeast of Utica, and northeast of Binghamton. The county is part of the Central New York Region and Mohawk Valley Region of New York State. The county is considered by some to belong to the Southern Tier region of New York State, and is the northernmost county of the Appalachian Region.

Adjacent counties

• Herkimer County - north
• Montgomery County - northeast
• Schoharie County - east
• Delaware County - south
• Chenango County - southwest
• Oneida County - northwest
• Madison County - northwest

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1800	21,343		—
1810	38,802		81.8%
1820	44,856		15.6%
1830	51,372		14.5%
1840	49,628		−3.4%
1850	48,638		−2.0%
1860	50,157		3.1%
1870	48,967		−2.4%
1880	51,397		5.0%
1890	50,861		−1.0%
1900	48,939		−3.8%
1910	47,216		−3.5%
1920	46,200		−2.2%
1930	46,710		1.1%
1940	46,082		−1.3%
1950	50,763		10.2%
1960	51,942		2.3%
1970	56,181		8.2%
1980	59,075		5.2%
1990	60,517		2.4%
2000	61,676		1.9%
2010	62,259		0.9%
2020	58,524		−6.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010-2020 [2]

2020 census

Otsego County, New York – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 1980 [11]	Pop 1990 [12]	Pop 2000 [13]	Pop 2010 [14]	Pop 2020 [15]	% 1980	% 1990	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	57,938	58,595	58,321	57,734	51,490	98.08%	96.82%	94.56%	92.73%	87.98%
Black or African American alone (NH)	343	757	1,014	958	1,189	0.58%	1.25%	1.64%	1.54%	2.03%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	70	113	128	103	109	0.12%	0.19%	0.21%	0.17%	0.19%
Asian alone (NH)	207	308	386	660	813	0.35%	0.51%	0.63%	1.06%	1.39%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	x [16]	x [17]	28	16	7	x	x	0.05%	0.03%	0.01%
Other race alone (NH)	103	24	60	42	180	0.17%	0.04%	0.10%	0.07%	0.31%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	x [18]	x [19]	568	825	2,344	x	x	0.92%	1.33%	4.01%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	414	720	1,171	1,921	2,392	0.70%	1.19%	1.90%	3.09%	4.09%
Total	59,075	60,517	61,676	62,259	58,524	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2000 census

As of the census ^[20] of 2000, there were 61,676 people, 23,291 households, and 15,115 families residing in the county. The population density was 62 people per square mile (24 people/km²). There were 28,481 housing units at an average density of 28 units per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.80% White, 1.75% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.90% of the population. 15.0% were of Irish, 14.9% English, 14.9% German, 11.3% Italian and 9.1% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.4% spoke English and 2.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 23,291 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.10% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 14.40% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,444, and the median income for a family was $41,110. Males had a median income of $29,988 versus $22,609 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,806. About 8.80% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.80% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

United States presidential election results for Otsego County, New York ^[21]

Year	Republican  /  Whig		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	15,256	53.36%	13,031	45.58%	305	1.07%
2020	14,382	51.22%	12,975	46.21%	723	2.57%
2016	13,308	51.85%	10,451	40.72%	1,909	7.44%
2012	11,461	47.48%	12,117	50.20%	561	2.32%
2008	12,026	46.04%	13,570	51.95%	525	2.01%
2004	13,342	50.06%	12,723	47.74%	587	2.20%
2000	12,219	48.19%	11,460	45.19%	1,679	6.62%
1996	8,774	36.37%	11,470	47.54%	3,882	16.09%
1992	10,141	38.12%	10,471	39.36%	5,994	22.53%
1988	13,021	53.51%	11,069	45.49%	245	1.01%
1984	16,777	63.28%	9,582	36.14%	152	0.57%
1980	11,814	49.42%	8,795	36.79%	3,298	13.80%
1976	14,796	59.77%	9,787	39.54%	171	0.69%
1972	17,364	68.58%	7,898	31.19%	59	0.23%
1968	13,543	59.67%	7,981	35.16%	1,172	5.16%
1964	8,643	36.23%	15,190	63.67%	26	0.11%
1960	17,422	68.73%	7,899	31.16%	26	0.10%
1956	19,484	77.54%	5,644	22.46%	0	0.00%
1952	20,304	76.78%	6,115	23.12%	27	0.10%
1948	15,437	66.55%	7,174	30.93%	586	2.53%
1944	15,427	66.17%	7,849	33.67%	37	0.16%
1940	16,771	68.04%	7,798	31.64%	78	0.32%
1936	16,682	67.36%	7,807	31.52%	276	1.11%
1932	14,904	64.06%	8,114	34.88%	247	1.06%
1928	18,286	74.32%	6,006	24.41%	314	1.28%
1924	13,573	65.67%	5,841	28.26%	1,256	6.08%
1920	12,112	63.88%	6,275	33.09%	574	3.03%
1916	5,926	48.16%	5,975	48.56%	403	3.28%
1912	5,138	40.65%	5,338	42.23%	2,165	17.13%
1908	7,459	53.37%	5,975	42.75%	543	3.88%
1904	7,770	55.44%	5,725	40.85%	519	3.70%
1900	7,893	54.84%	6,142	42.67%	359	2.49%
1896	8,161	56.37%	5,820	40.20%	496	3.43%
1892	7,095	49.49%	6,408	44.70%	833	5.81%
1888	7,829	50.95%	6,972	45.37%	565	3.68%
1884	6,871	43.78%	8,307	52.93%	516	3.29%
1880	7,156	49.10%	7,184	49.29%	235	1.61%
1876	6,859	49.04%	7,027	50.24%	101	0.72%
1872	6,236	49.78%	6,275	50.10%	15	0.12%
1868	6,568	51.95%	6,075	48.05%	0	0.00%
1864	6,151	50.43%	6,047	49.57%	0	0.00%
1860	6,543	51.95%	6,051	48.05%	0	0.00%
1856	6,373	56.92%	3,595	32.11%	1,229	10.98%
1852	4,454	42.11%	5,488	51.89%	634	5.99%
1848	3,929	41.00%	3,674	38.34%	1,979	20.65%
1844	4,743	42.33%	6,050	53.99%	413	3.69%
1840	4,856	46.27%	5,580	53.16%	60	0.57%
1836	2,469	34.79%	4,627	65.21%	0	0.00%

Otsego County is generally a swing and bellwether county, having voted for the winner of the national election in every election from 1980 to 2016. In 2004, Otsego County voted 51–48 percent in favor of George W. Bush. In 2008 and 2012, Otsego County voted in favor of Barack Obama. Democrats are prevalent in the City of Oneonta and Village of Cooperstown, whereas the majority of voters in many of the surrounding towns are registered Republicans. In 2020 the county voted for 51%-46% Donald Trump, and lost its bellwether status when Biden won the election.

Otsego County is the only county in New York that names its legislative body the Board of Representatives. It consists of fourteen members elected from single-member districts. The Board Chair is David Bliss (R). The county also has an elected District Attorney, County Treasurer, County Clerk, and County Sheriff.

Media

Along with Herkimer County and the eastern portion of Oneida County, northern Otsego County is considered part of the Utica television market, while the southern half of the county, including the city of Oneonta, is considered to be in the Binghamton television market. ^[22]

Economy

The Village of Cooperstown (home of James Fenimore Cooper, whose father William Cooper founded it) is located at the south end of Otsego Lake. It attracts many tourists to the Baseball Hall of Fame and the New York State Historical Association museums. Cultural attractions also include the Glimmerglass Opera, with a summer season that draws many repeat visitors for stays.

The primary contributor to the economy is healthcare: Bassett Medical Center, the headquarters of Bassett Healthcare Network and its more than 3,000 employees, is located here.

The City of Oneonta has two institutions of higher education: Hartwick College and the State University of New York at Oneonta; A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital, an affiliate of the Bassett Network; major retail activity; and numerous small businesses. The county as a whole remains relatively rural, with dairy farming a contributing industry that has consolidated employment in recent years, although production has remained steady.

Communities

Map of Otsego County NY to accompany Bacon's History 1902

City

• Oneonta

Towns

• Burlington
• Butternuts
• Cherry Valley
• Decatur
• Edmeston
• Exeter
• Hartwick
• Laurens
• Maryland
• Middlefield
• Milford
• Morris
• New Lisbon
• Oneonta
• Otego
• Otsego
• Pittsfield
• Plainfield
• Richfield
• Roseboom
• Springfield
• Unadilla
• Westford
• Worcester

Villages

• Cherry Valley
• Cooperstown (county seat)
• Gilbertsville
• Laurens
• Milford
• Morris
• Otego
• Richfield Springs
• Unadilla

Census-designated places

• Burlington Flats
• East Worcester
• Edmeston
• Fly Creek
• Garrattsville
• Hartwick
• Hartwick Seminary
• Mount Vision
• Portlandville
• Schenevus
• Schuyler Lake
• South Edmeston
• Springfield Center
• Unadilla Forks
• Wells Bridge
• West End
• Westford
• Worcester

Hamlets

• East Springfield
• Schuyler Lake
• Silver Lake
• West Burlington
• West Edmeston

See also

• New York (state) portal

• List of counties in New York
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Otsego County, New York

References

1. "US Census 2020 Population Dataset Tables for New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
2. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Otsego County, New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. Beauchamp, William Martin (1907). Aboriginal Place Names of New York (New York State Museum Bulletin, Volume 108). New York State Education Department. p. 174. ISBN   9781404751552 . Retrieved August 12, 2015.
5. "Otsego". Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
11. "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - New York - Table 15 - Persons by Race and Table 16 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 34/29-34/70)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
12. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - New York - Table 3 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau . p. 45-215.
13. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Otsego County, New York". United States Census Bureau .
14. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Otsego County, New York". United States Census Bureau .
15. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Otsego County, New York". United States Census Bureau .
16. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
17. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
18. not an option in the 1980 Census
19. not an option in the 1990 Census
20. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
22. "WKTV.com | WKTV bringing CBS affiliation to Utica". WKTV.com. October 26, 2015. Archived from the original on October 27, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.

Further reading

• Butterfield, Lyman H. "Cooper's Inheritance: The Otsego Country and its Founders" Archived July 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , New York History, Vol. 35, No. 4 (October 1954), pp. 374–411.
• French, J. H. "Otsego County", Gazetteer of the State of New York, Syracuse, New York: R. Pearsall Smith, 1860
• Sullivan, James; Williams, Melvin E.; Conklin, Edwin P.; Fitzpatrick, Benedict, eds. (1927), "Chapter III. Otsego County.", History of New York State, 1523–1927 (PDF), vol. 5, New York City, Chicago: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., p. 715-22, hdl:2027/mdp.39015028558818, Wikidata   Q114149630

External links

• Official Otsego County Government site
• Henderson Scout Reservation - Boy Scout Camp serving Otsego County

42°38′N75°02′W / 42.63°N 75.04°W / 42.63; -75.04