Onondaga Reservation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Onondaga Reservation
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Location within the state of New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Counties | Onondaga |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.3 sq mi (24.1 km2) |
| • Land | 9.3 sq mi (24.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 832 |
| • Density | 89.41/sq mi (34.52/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 315 |
| Website | http://www.onondaganation.org/ |
The Onondaga Reservation is a special place in Onondaga County, New York. It is the traditional home of the Onondaga Nation, a Native American group. This reservation is located just south of the city of Syracuse. In 2020, about 832 people lived here.
The Onondaga Nation is recognized by the United States government. This means they are a politically independent group. They have their own government and can make many of their own rules. They also work with New York State on certain issues.
Where is the Onondaga Reservation?
The Onondaga Reservation covers about 9.3 square miles (24.1 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a small part, about 0.1 square miles, is water.
A main road, New York State Route 11A, runs through the reservation. The reservation shares its borders with the towns of Onondaga and LaFayette.
Who Lives on the Reservation?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 530 | — | |
| 1910 | 565 | 6.6% | |
| 1920 | 475 | −15.9% | |
| 1930 | 611 | 28.6% | |
| 1940 | 762 | 24.7% | |
| 1950 | 894 | 17.3% | |
| 1960 | 941 | 5.3% | |
| 1970 | 785 | −16.6% | |
| 1980 | 596 | −24.1% | |
| 1990 | 771 | 29.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,473 | 91.1% | |
| 2010 | 2,244 | 52.3% | |
| 2020 | 832 | −62.9% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 824 | −63.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The United States government counts people living in different areas. This is called a census. In 2000, about 1,473 people lived on the Onondaga Reservation. Most families living there had children under 18.
It's important to know that many Onondaga Nation members do not take part in the U.S. Census. This is because they do not see themselves as U.S. citizens. So, the numbers from the census might not show the full picture of who lives there. In 2001, a resident said that only Native people had lived on the reservation since 1973.
Learning and Schools
The Onondaga Reservation is part of the LaFayette Central School District. This district runs the Onondaga Nation School. This school teaches students from kindergarten up to 8th grade. After 8th grade, students go to LaFayette Junior/Senior High School.
The State of New York owns the Onondaga Nation School building. They are in charge of fixing it when needed. The school district provides the teachers and other staff. The Onondaga Nation School has been around since the 1850s. The current brick building opened in 1940 after an older wooden building burned down.
