Otsego County, New York Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Otsego County

County

Original Otsego County Bank, in Cooperstown

Flag

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of New York

New York's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

New York

Founded

February 16, 1791

Seat

Cooperstown

Largest city

Oneonta

Area

• Total

1,016 sq mi (2,630 km²)

• Land

1,002 sq mi (2,600 km²)

• Water

14 sq mi (40 km²) 1.4%

Population

(2020)

• Total

58,524

• Density

58.4/sq mi (22.5/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional districts

19th, 21st

Otsego County is a special area called a county in the state of New York. In 2020, about 58,524 people lived here. The main town where the county government is located is Cooperstown. The biggest city in the county is Oneonta.

The name Otsego comes from an old Mohawk or Oneida word. It means "place of the rock." This county is part of the Mohawk Valley area of New York State.

History of Otsego County

Otsego County has a long and interesting history. It was created a long time ago, even before the United States was fully formed.

How Otsego County Was Formed

Otsego County was one of the first counties created after the American Revolutionary War. It was officially started on February 16, 1791. At that time, it was split off from a much larger area called Montgomery County.

When Otsego County was first formed, it had three main areas called townships:

Cherry Valley in the northeast.
Otsego in the northwest.
Harpersfield in the south.

Governor George Clinton chose the first leaders for Otsego County. These leaders helped set up the county government. For example, William Cooper became the chief judge. He was also the person who founded the town of Cooperstown.

Changes to County Borders

Over the years, Otsego County's shape changed a few times.

By 1793, the original townships were divided into smaller towns. This made it easier to manage the growing population.
In 1795, a part of Otsego County was used to help create Schoharie County.
In 1797, another part of Otsego County was used to help create Delaware County.
Much later, in 1843, a county in Michigan was named Otsego County, Michigan after this county in New York.

Geography of Otsego County

Otsego County is located in the middle of New York State. It is west of Albany and northeast of Binghamton.

The county covers about 1,016 square miles (2,631 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a small part being water. Otsego County is part of the Central New York Region and the Mohawk Valley Region. It is also considered the northernmost county of the Appalachian Region.

Neighboring Counties

Otsego County shares its borders with several other counties:

To the north: Herkimer County
To the northeast: Montgomery County
To the east: Schoharie County
To the south: Delaware County
To the southwest: Chenango County
To the northwest: Oneida County and Madison County

People and Population

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1800	21,343	—
1810	38,802	81.8%
1820	44,856	15.6%
1830	51,372	14.5%
1840	49,628	−3.4%
1850	48,638	−2.0%
1860	50,157	3.1%
1870	48,967	−2.4%
1880	51,397	5.0%
1890	50,861	−1.0%
1900	48,939	−3.8%
1910	47,216	−3.5%
1920	46,200	−2.2%
1930	46,710	1.1%
1940	46,082	−1.3%
1950	50,763	10.2%
1960	51,942	2.3%
1970	56,181	8.2%
1980	59,075	5.2%
1990	60,517	2.4%
2000	61,676	1.9%
2010	62,259	0.9%
2020	58,524	−6.0%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

In 2020, the population of Otsego County was 58,524 people. The county has a mix of different cultures and backgrounds.

Population Makeup

Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Otsego County, based on the 2020 census:

Otsego County racial composition
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (not Hispanic)	51,490	88%
Black or African American (not Hispanic)	1,189	2.03%
Native American (not Hispanic)	109	0.2%
Asian (not Hispanic)	813	1.4%
Pacific Islander (not Hispanic)	7	0.01%
Other/Mixed (not Hispanic)	2,524	4.31%
Hispanic or Latino	2,392	4.1%

Media and Television

Depending on where you are in Otsego County, you might get TV channels from different cities. The northern part of the county is often considered part of the Utica television market. The southern part, including Oneonta, is usually in the Binghamton television market.

Economy and Jobs

The economy in Otsego County is supported by several important industries.

Tourism in Cooperstown

The village of Cooperstown is a big draw for tourists. It is located at the southern end of Otsego Lake. Many people visit to see the Baseball Hall of Fame. There are also museums run by the New York State Historical Association. Another popular attraction is the Glimmerglass Opera, which has summer shows.

Healthcare and Education

Healthcare is a major part of the economy. Bassett Medical Center, which is the main office for Bassett Healthcare Network, is located here. It employs over 3,000 people.

The city of Oneonta is home to two colleges: Hartwick College and the State University of New York at Oneonta. Oneonta also has A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital, which is part of the Bassett Network. The city has many shops and small businesses.

Farming and Rural Life

Overall, Otsego County is still quite rural. Dairy farming is an important industry. Even though the number of farms has changed, dairy production remains steady.