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Towns Of Chenango County

The Story of Chenango County
The English colony of New York was founded on Sept. 8, 1664, when the Dutch surrendered the colony of New Netherlands. With increasing potential for settlement, the English formed the first counties to better administer their new domain. The first designation of counties took place on Nov. 1, 1683. The land that now constitutes Chenango County was part of a vast territory of western lands designated Albany County.

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The Story of Chenango County cont'd
Soon after the conclusion of the French and Indian War, the English – to keep peace with the Native Peoples – agreed to the Fort Stanwick Treaty on Nov. 5, 1768. This treaty formed a line that ran south from Fort Stanwick (present day Rome, N.Y.) to separate the lands between European settlement (east of the line) and the Native Peoples (west of the line). This line, in part, followed the Unadilla River to the Susquehanna River, establishing the future eastern border of Chenango County. On March 12, 1772, the western lands including what is now Chenango County were separated from Albany County to become Tyron County named after Colonial Governor William Tyron.

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The Story of Chenango County cont'd
With the birth of the United States in 1776 and the conclusion of the American Revolution in 1783, the state of New York was established. The first form of national government, the Articles of Confederation, left affairs of western land settlement and negotiations with the Native People to the individual states. The Fort Stanwick Treaty was now void, and Tyron County’s name was changed to Montgomery County in memory of General Richard Montgomery who was killed in the assault on Quebec during the 1775 American invasion of Canada.

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The Story of Chenango County cont'd
Two treaties – one at Fort Herkimer on June 28, 1785 and one at Fort Schyler (present day Utica, N.Y.) on Sept. 22, 1788 – between the Native People and the state of New York opened the lands west of the Unadilla River for settlement. On Feb. 25, 1789, surveyor General Simon Dewitt began the process of surveying these newly opened lands. Portions of Montgomery County were divided into Tioga, Herkimer and Ontario counties. The first Chenango County was vastly larger than today, reaching from the south shore of Oneida Lake to present-day Broome County. This new county was established from parts of Herkimer and Tioga counties on March 15, 1798. The county was then surveyed into towns.

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The Story of Chenango County cont'd
Each town was divided into lots 1 to 100 with one lot set aside for religious use, called the Gospel Lot, and one for education. The state of New York then sold these lots to land agents who resold the lots. In many cases, the land was leased to the first settlers. On April 4, 1804, some of Chenango County was partitioned to expand Oneida County. On March 21, 1806, more of Chenango County was partitioned to produce Madison County. This established the current borders of Chenango County, which have been maintained to the early 21st century. This area was developed for agriculture in the 19th century and is still largely rural.

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The Story of Chenango County cont'd
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles of which 894 square miles are land and 5.1 square miles are water. Chenango County is in the approximate center of the state, west of Albany, north of Binghamton and southeast of Syracuse. The county is considered to be in the Southern Tier region of New York state. The Chenango River, a tributary of the Susquehanna River, flows southward through the county.

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Interesting Facts Of Chenango County

The county’s name originates from an Oneida Native American word meaning “large bull-thistle.”
The county’s name originates from an Oneida Native American word meaning “large bull-thistle.”
The Chenango County flower is the bull thistle, Cirsium vulgare.
The Chenango County flower is the bull thistle, Cirsium vulgare.
The Chenango County court house in Norwich was built in 1837 and still houses the county’s courtroom.
The Chenango County court house in Norwich was built in 1837 and still houses the county’s courtroom.
The Chenango County jail was built of stone after prisoners burned the former wooden jail and escaped.
The Chenango County jail was built of stone after prisoners burned the former wooden jail and escaped.
The Chenango Canal (1837-1878) connected Utica to Binghamton, passing through Sherburne, North Norwich, Norwich, Oxford and Greene. It allowed for goods to be shipped to this region that were new and not available a few years prior.
The Chenango Canal (1837-1878) connected Utica to Binghamton, passing through Sherburne, North Norwich, Norwich, Oxford and Greene. It allowed for goods to be shipped to this region that were new and not available a few years prior.
In 2012, there were an estimated 37,000 cows residing in Chenango County.
In 2012, there were an estimated 37,000 cows residing in Chenango County.

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