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New York State...
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New York Counties
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New York Counties
There are 62 counties in the State of New York. The first twelve counties in New York were
created immediately after the British annexation of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, although two of these
counties have since been abolished. The most recent county formation in New York was in 1912, when Bronx County
was created from the portions of New York City that had been annexed from Westchester County. New York's
counties are named for a variety of Native American words, British provinces, cities, and royalty, early
American statesmen and generals, and state politicians. |
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Madison County, New York
Madison County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education
County Seat: Wampsville
Year Organized: 1806
Square Miles: 656 |
Court House: P.O. Box 635
County Office Building
Wampsville, NY 13163-0635
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Etymology - Origin of County Name
named after James Madison, fourth President of the United
States
Demographics:
County QuickFacts:
Census Bureau Quick Facts
History
Madison County, was taken from Chenango county in 1806, and named after James Madison, president of the United
States. Greatest length N. and 5. 33, greatest breadth E. and W. 32 miles. Centrally distant from New York 250, from
Albany 108 miles. The surface of the county is much diversified. The middle and southern towns are more or less uneven
and hilly; but the northern is more level. In the northern part much wheat is produced: the southern is better adapted
to grass. The county is generally well watered. The route of the Chenango canal follows up the Oriskany, and crosses
thence into the Chenango valley. (Historical Collections of the State of New York, Past and Present, John Barber, Clark
Albien & Co., 1851)
This section was at one time the seat of the Oneida Indians, of the famed Iroquois Confederacy. The Oneida Castle
site was chosen with true Indian sagacity as their village. It rested at the foot of one of the largest valleys,
occupied by the Chenango River. The area in general was characterized by rolling highland, with exceptionally steep
slopes, subsiding into flat, swampy land. The Oneidas thus had abundant opportunities for crude agriculture in rich
soil and for unexampled fishing. The Oneidas were invaluable friends to the English and helped to check French
expansion on this continent. Eventually, the Oneidas moved west. President James Madison is memorialized by the
county’s name.
Full History at NYSAC
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 662 square miles (1,713 kmē), of which, 656
square miles (1,699 kmē) of it is land and 6 square miles (15 kmē) of it (0.86%) is water.
Madison County is located in west central New York State, east of Syracuse, north of Binghamton, and slightly north
of due west from Albany. Madison County contains the geographic center of the state at Pratts Hollow in the Town of
Eaton.
Oneida Lake and Oneida Creek define part of the northern boundary. Chittenango Creek defines part of the western
boundary.
Neighboring Counties:
- Oneida County, New York - northeast
- Otsego County, New York - southeast
- Chenango County, New York - south
- Cortland County, New York - southwest
- Onondaga County, New York - west
- Oswego County, New York - northwest
Cities and Towns:
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- Brookfield |
town |
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- Canastota |
village |
Incorporated Area |
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- Cazenovia |
village |
Incorporated Area |
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- Chittenango |
village |
Incorporated Area |
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- Eaton |
town |
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- Fenner |
town |
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- Georgetown |
town |
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- Hamilton |
village |
Incorporated Area |
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- Lenox |
town |
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- Lincklaen |
town |
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- Lincoln |
town |
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- Madison |
village |
Incorporated Area |
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- Morrisville |
village |
Incorporated Area |
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- Munnsville |
village |
Incorporated Area |
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- Nelson |
town |
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- Oneida |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Oneida Castle |
village |
Incorporated Area |
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- Smithfield |
town |
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- Stockbridge |
town |
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- Sullivan |
town |
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- Wampsville
(County
Seat) |
village |
Incorporated Area |
County Resources:
Enter County Resources and Information Here
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County Resource Guide
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The history of our nation can be seen as a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names we've given our counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic
features of our country!"
But age, size and colorful names of our counties isn't the only reason to explore counties' role in American history, or the history of county government itself. In fact, the story of county government reflects the larger meanings of American history.
Today's counties are the most flexible, locally responsive and creative governments in the US. They are the most diverse, varying in size, population, geography, and governmental structure. In their politics and policies, they express a 1990's political slogan "Think globally,
act locally." |
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