Norwich, New York Facts for Kids

This page is about the city. For the surrounding town, see Norwich (town), New York.

Quick facts for kids Norwich, New York
City

Location in Chenango County and the state of New York.
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Chenango
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
Area
• Total	2.12 sq mi (5.50 km²)
• Land	2.12 sq mi (5.50 km²)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)
Elevation	1,014 ft (309 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	7,051
• Density	3,319.68/sq mi (1,281.50/km²)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	13815
Area code(s)	607
FIPS code	36-017-53979
GNIS feature ID	0959025

Norwich is a city in New York, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Chenango County, New York. The city is completely surrounded by the larger Town of Norwich. Its name comes from Norwich, England. In 2020, about 7,051 people lived there. The Lt. Warren Eaton Airport (OIC) is located just north of the city.

History of Norwich
Geography of Norwich
Economy and Businesses
Population of Norwich
Culture and Events
- Festivals and Traditions
- Museums to Visit
Notable People from Norwich
Images for kids
See also

History of Norwich

The first log cabin in the area was built in 1788. It was built by Colonel William Monroe. He was a drummer boy during the Revolutionary War. The larger Town of Norwich was created in 1793. It was formed from parts of other towns. Over time, Norwich gave up land to form new towns like Pharsalia and Plymouth. The main community of Norwich became a village in 1816. Later, in 1914, it officially became the City of Norwich.

Geography of Norwich

Norwich covers about 2.12 square miles (5.5 square kilometers) of land. The city does not have many clearly defined neighborhoods. However, it is divided into six wards for political reasons.

Downtown Area

The Downtown area is the main shopping and business part of Norwich. It includes North and South Broad streets, and East and West Main streets. Other smaller streets are also part of downtown. This area is bordered by Cortland and Mitchell streets to the north. To the south, it is bordered by Front Street and Eaton Avenue.

Rivers and Creeks

Norwich is located in upstate New York. It sits in the valley of the Chenango River. This river flows south along the eastern edge of the city. The Chenango River is a branch of the Susquehanna River. On the western side of the city, Canasawacta Creek flows south. It joins the Chenango River at the southern edge of Norwich.

City Location and Roads

Norwich is located near the center of a triangle formed by three larger cities: Syracuse, Albany, and Binghamton. The city is at the meeting point of New York State Route 12 and New York State Route 23.

Route 12 goes north 48 miles (77 km) to Utica. From Utica, you can reach Interstate 90.
Route 12 goes south 40 miles (64 km) to Binghamton. From Binghamton, you can reach Interstate 81 and Interstate 86.
Route 23 goes east 32 miles (51 km) to Oneonta. From Oneonta, you can reach Interstate 88.
Route 23 goes west 42 miles (68 km) towards Cortland and Interstate 81.

Economy and Businesses

For almost 100 years, Norwich was home to important manufacturing companies.

Norwich Pharmacal Company

The Norwich Pharmacal Company started in 1887. It was known for making medicines and products for animals. Some of its famous products included Unguentine, an antiseptic cream, and Pepto-Bismol, for upset stomachs. In the 1960s and 1980s, the company was sold to larger corporations. This led to many job losses in Norwich. The city then had to find new ways to support its economy.

Other Industries

In 1996, Dan Wesson Firearms moved its plant to Norwich. It is now part of a larger company called Colt CZ Group.
From 1845 to 1961, the Maydole Hammer Factory was in Norwich. Its founder, David Maydole, created hammers with very secure heads. His company became the largest hammer maker in the United States.

Transportation

In the past, the Chenango Canal and several railroads helped transport goods and people. These included the New York, Ontario and Western Railway and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. Today, the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad still operates freight trains on a renovated line.

Local Businesses and Shopping

Two major companies, NBT Bancorp and Chobani Yogurt, have their main offices in Norwich.
Route 12 runs through the city as North and South Broad Street. Many local businesses are located along this road.
There are also shopping areas just outside the city limits. These include supermarkets, gas stations, and larger stores like Lowe's and Walmart.
For some goods and services, Norwich residents often travel to larger nearby cities. These include Oneonta, Binghamton, Utica, Syracuse, and Albany.

Population of Norwich

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1890	5,212	—
1900	5,766	10.6%
1910	7,422	28.7%
1920	8,268	11.4%
1930	8,378	1.3%
1940	8,694	3.8%
1950	8,816	1.4%
1960	9,175	4.1%
1970	8,843	−3.6%
1980	8,082	−8.6%
1990	7,613	−5.8%
2000	7,355	−3.4%
2010	7,190	−2.2%
2020	7,051	−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, about 7,355 people lived in Norwich. The city had 3,131 households. About 28.6% of these households had children under 18. The average household had 2.19 people. The average family had 2.95 people. About 24.6% of the population was under 18 years old. About 21.2% were 65 years or older. The average age in the city was 39 years. The median income for a household was $28,485. This means half of the households earned more and half earned less. About 18.7% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Culture and Events

The Chenango Arts Council is a center for arts and entertainment in Norwich. It is located in the old Norwich High School building. The Council has an art gallery and classrooms for art lessons. It also has the Martin Kappel Theater, which seats 515 people. This theater was built in 1922 and was renovated in 1995. It hosts many performances and community events.

Festivals and Traditions

Norwich has several annual festivals and events:

The Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival happens in early September. It features local musicians and artists.
The Chenango Blues Festival is held every August. It attracts thousands of people and features famous blues artists.
Since the 1990s, the Gus Macker organization has hosted a 3-on-3 basketball tournament in early July. Hundreds of teams take part each year.

Museums to Visit

The Chenango County Historical Society teaches about the area's past.
The Northeast Classic Car Museum displays over 160 classic cars. It has the world's largest collection of Franklin automobiles.