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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.

Otsego County, New York

Otsego County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

County Seat: Cooperstown
Year Organized: 1791
Square Miles: 1,003

Court House:

197 Main Street
County Office Building
Cooperstown, NY 13326-1128

Etymology - Origin of County Name

from an Indian word meaning "place of the rock"

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

History

Otsego County was taken from Montgomery in 1791. Centrally distant from New York city NY. 200, and from Albany W. 66 miles. Its form is very irregular. Greatest length N. and S. about 40; greatest breadth E. and W. 35 miles. This county is considerably elevated, though there are no distinct ranges of mountains of much height. A larger portion of the soil of the county is rich and productive. A large amount of capital is invested in agriculture and manufactures. The Susquehannah river, rising in the Otsego lake, flows southerly to the bounds of the county; then turning southwesterly, forms a part of the southern boundary. The Unadilla bounds the county on the west. Otsego lake, 9 miles long and from 1 to 3 wide, and Schuyler's lake, 5 miles long and from 1 to 2 wide, are beautiful sheets of water. The hills which encompass Otsego lake, have an elevation of from 400 to 500 feet above its surface. The purity of its waters, and the rich and varied scenery about it, render it attractive to the lovers of natural scenery. Portions of this county were settled as early as 1739. The mass of the settlers were emigrants from the eastern states. The county is divided into 22 towns. (Historical Collections of the State of New York, Past and Present, John Barber, Clark Albien & Co. 1851)

The close of the Revolutionary War found the valley lands of the Susquehanna River and its tributaries still sparsely settled. However, strong factors now pushed colonists westward. In 1787, a treats with the Indians had moved the so-called Indian Frontier to the far side of the Unadilla River, out of the area called Otsego. Also, most of the lands east of this had been sold or granted by the colonial government to men who were land speculators. The land had been surveyed and divided into lots ready for disposal. Frequently these grants required that these lands become tenanted. Full History at NYSAC

Geography

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

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,015 square miles (2,629 km²), of which, 1,003 square miles (2,597 km²) of it is land and 12 square miles (32 km²) of it (1.21%) is water.

Neighboring Counties:

Herkimer County, New York - north
Montgomery County, New York - northeast
Schoharie County, New York - east
Delaware County, New York - south
Chenango County, New York - southwest
Oneida County, New York - northwest
Madison County, New York - northwest

Cities and Towns:

- Burlington	town
- Butternuts	town
- Cherry Valley	village	Incorporated Area
- Cooperstown (County Seat)	village	Incorporated Area
- Decatur	town
- Edmeston	town
- Exeter	town
- Gilbertsville	village	Incorporated Area
- Hartwick	town
- Laurens	village	Incorporated Area
- Maryland	town
- Middlefield	town
- Milford	village	Incorporated Area
- Morris	village	Incorporated Area
- New Lisbon	town
- Oneonta	city	Incorporated Area
- Otego	village	Incorporated Area
- Otsego	town
- Richfield	town
- Richfield Springs	village	Incorporated Area
- Roseboom	town
- Springfield	town
- Unadilla	village	Incorporated Area
- Warren	town
- Westford	town
- Westville	town
- Worcester	town

County Resources:

Enter County Resources and Information Here

County Resource Guide

Counties: US Map

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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