Otisco, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Otisco, New York
|
|
|---|---|
Otisco countryside
|
|
Location in Onondaga County and the state of New York.
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Onondaga |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 31.16 sq mi (80.71 km2) |
| • Land | 29.53 sq mi (76.49 km2) |
| • Water | 1.63 sq mi (4.22 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,460 ft (445 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 2,368 |
| • Density | 75.995/sq mi (29.340/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
13159
|
| Area code(s) | 315 |
| FIPS code | 36-55651 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979328 |
Otisco is a small town located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 2,368 people lived there.
Otisco is in the southwestern part of Onondaga County. It sits at the northern edge of the Appalachian Highlands. This area has a steep slope that goes down to the flat land near Lake Ontario. The city of Syracuse is just five miles north of Otisco.
Contents
Discovering Otisco's Past
The town of Otisco was once part of a larger area called the Central New York Military Tract. This land was set aside for soldiers after the American Revolutionary War.
People from outside the area first started settling here around 1798. However, permanent settlements began a few years later, around 1801. The town of Otisco was officially formed in 1806. It was created using parts of three other towns: Pompey, Marcellus, and Tully.
The name "Otisco" might come from the Iroquois language. One idea is that it comes from Us-te-ke, which means "bitter-nut-hickory." This was the name for Nine Mile Creek.
Another idea is that the name comes from ostickney, meaning "waters much dried away." Or it could be from the Onondaga word ostick, meaning "the water is low." An old map from 1825 even spelled the name "Ostisco."
Exploring Otisco's Geography
Otisco covers a total area of about 31.2 square miles (80.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 29.6 square miles (76.5 square kilometers). The rest is water, about 1.5 square miles (4.2 square kilometers).
The town is located in the Finger Lakes District of New York. It is right next to Otisco Lake, which is one of the beautiful Finger Lakes.
New York State Route 80 is a main road that runs north and south through the town. A small part of US Route 20 also crosses the northeastern corner of Otisco.
Understanding Otisco's Population
The population of Otisco has changed over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived in the town:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 1,726 | — | |
| 1830 | 1,938 | 12.3% | |
| 1840 | 1,906 | −1.7% | |
| 1850 | 1,804 | −5.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,848 | 2.4% | |
| 1870 | 1,602 | −13.3% | |
| 1880 | 1,558 | −2.7% | |
| 1890 | 1,326 | −14.9% | |
| 1900 | 1,202 | −9.4% | |
| 1910 | 1,066 | −11.3% | |
| 1920 | 914 | −14.3% | |
| 1930 | 871 | −4.7% | |
| 1940 | 873 | 0.2% | |
| 1950 | 975 | 11.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,188 | 21.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,470 | 23.7% | |
| 1980 | 2,112 | 43.7% | |
| 1990 | 2,255 | 6.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,561 | 13.6% | |
| 2010 | 2,541 | −0.8% | |
| 2020 | 2,368 | −6.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 2,561 people living in Otisco. The population density was about 86 people per square mile. Most of the people living in Otisco were White (97.27%).
About 42% of the households in 2000 had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.78 people. The median age in the town was 36 years old.
Famous People from Otisco
Some notable people have connections to Otisco:
- Caroline Congdon – A poet who lived in Amber for a long time.
- R. Walter Riehlman – A former US Congressman.
Communities and Places in Otisco
Otisco is made up of several smaller communities and interesting locations:
- Amber – A small village (hamlet) in the northwestern part of Otisco, right by Otisco Lake.
- Amber Brook – A small stream that flows into Otisco Lake near Amber.
- Bay Shores – A lakeside village located north of Rice Grove.
- Bear Mountain (the blue hole) – A high point in the northeast. It was once known for having many bears. The "blue hole" is a water hole on the mountain with a strong current and waterfalls.
- Case – A spot in the northeastern part of Otisco, south of Maple Grove.
- Gamble Mill – A village found between the main Otisco village and Rice Grove.
- Heath Grove – A location south of Amber.
- Maple Grove – A village in the northeastern part of Otisco.
- Otisco – This is the main village within the town of Otisco.
- Otisco Valley – A village near the town border in the southwestern part of Otisco.
- Rice Grove – A village in the southwestern part of the town, located on Otisco Lake, west of the main Otisco village.
- Williams Grove – A lakeside village south of Rice Grove.
See also
In Spanish: Otisco (Nueva York) para niños
