Owego (village), New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Owego
Village
Lake Street in downtown Owego
Owego Location in New York Show map of New York Owego Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Tioga
Settled	1785 (1785)
Incorporated	April 4, 1827 (1827-04-04)
Named for	Unami language word meaning "where the valley widens"
Area
• Total	2.78 sq mi (7.20 km2)
• Land	2.55 sq mi (6.60 km2)
• Water	0.23 sq mi (0.60 km2)
Elevation	814 ft (248 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,654
• Density	1,434.07/sq mi (553.68/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	13827
Area code(s)	607
FIPS code	36-55882
GNIS feature ID	0959672

Owego is a small village located in Tioga County, New York, in the United States. It is also the main town, or county seat, of Tioga County. In 2020, about 3,654 people lived there.

Owego is part of the larger Binghamton area. The name "Owego" comes from an Iroquois word, Ahwaga, which means "where the valley widens." This describes the area well, as it sits where a valley opens up.

The Village of Owego is located near the western border of the larger Town of Owego. It is west of the city of Binghamton. Owego is special because it is one of only twelve villages in New York that still uses an old type of official document called a charter to govern itself. Most other villages in New York have changed to a newer system.

History of Owego

The village of Owego was first settled in 1785 and officially became a village in 1827. The area has an interesting history with its name. When the "Town of Tioga" was first created, Owego village was inside it. Later, in 1813, the names were swapped. So, the village of Owego ended up in the Town of Owego. Today, the Town of Tioga is just west of the village.

The village is part of the Owego-Apalachin Central School District. Several school buildings are located within the village, including the Owego Elementary School and the Owego-Apalachin Middle School.

The Great Fire of 1849

On September 27, 1849, a huge fire, known as "The Great Fire of Owego," started in the village. It burned down 104 buildings in the main business area. This was a very difficult time for the community.

Historic Places in Owego

Several important buildings and places in Owego are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their historical importance. Some of these include:

• The Evergreen Cemetery
• St. Paul's Church
• The Owego Central Historic District (a whole area with many historic buildings)
• The Tioga County Courthouse
• The United States Post Office
• The James C. Beecher House

Geography of Owego

Owego is located where the Owego Creek flows into the Susquehanna River from the north. The village covers about 2.7 square miles (7.0 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

The Susquehanna River in Owego

A bridge connects the village to the Southern Tier Expressway (New York State Route 17), which is on the south side of the river. Owego is also on NY-17C, and it's close to where NY-96 and NY-38 meet.

Population Changes

In 2000, there were about 3,911 people living in Owego. The population was made up of different groups, with most people being White. About 23% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age in the village was 38 years.

Education in Owego

The schools in Owego are part of the Owego-Apalachin Central School District.

Owego's Reputation

Mural welcoming visitors to Owego

In 2009, readers of Budget Travel magazine voted Owego "The Coolest Small Town in the United States." This award was announced on a TV show, bringing a lot of attention to the village.

Strawberry Festival

Owego is famous for its annual Strawberry Festival. This popular event has been held every June since 1980, except for 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival usually attracts about 20,000 visitors!

The festival includes many fun activities:

• A lively parade
• A community 5K run
• Live music performances
• Vendors selling fresh strawberries and delicious strawberry-based foods

The 40th anniversary of the festival, which was postponed, is planned for 2022.

Notable People from Owego

Many interesting and important people have connections to Owego. Here are a few:

• Austin Blair (1818–1894): A politician who served as the 13th Governor of Michigan. He practiced law in Owego.
• Isaac S. Catlin (1835–1916): A lawyer and a Major General in the Union Army during the Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his bravery. He was born and practiced law in Owego.
• Douglas G. Hurley (born 1966): An American engineer, Marine Corps pilot, and NASA astronaut. He attended Owego Free Academy.
• Helen Dean King (1869–1955): A famous biologist and professor. She was known for breeding the Wistar rat, which helped a lot with medical research. She was born in Owego.
• Belva Ann Lockwood (1830–1917): An attorney, politician, and educator. She was the first woman to run for president of the United States in 1884. She ran a girls' school in Owego for three years.
• John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937): One of the wealthiest Americans in history and a famous businessman in the oil industry. He lived in the Owego area as a young child and attended Owego Free Academy.
• Henry Martyn Robert (1837–1923): A Brigadier General in the U.S. Army and author. He wrote the first edition of Robert's Rules of Order, which is still used today for meetings and discussions.
• Benjamin Franklin Tracy (1830–1915): A Brigadier General in the U.S. Army and a Medal of Honor winner. He later became the 32nd United States Secretary of the Navy and is known for helping create the modern American Navy. He studied and practiced law in Owego.
• Nathaniel Parker Willis (1806–1867): A well-known author, poet, and editor. He lived near the village of Owego for several years.

Village of Owego

See also

In Spanish: Owego (villa) para niños