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Preble, New York
Location within Cortland County and New York
Location within Cortland County and New York
Preble, New York is located in the United States
Preble, New York
Preble, New York
Location in the United States
Preble, New York is located in New York
Preble, New York
Preble, New York
Location in New York
Country United States
State New York
County Cortland
Government
 • Type Town Council
Area
 • Total 27.56 sq mi (71.38 km2)
 • Land 26.84 sq mi (69.53 km2)
 • Water 0.71 sq mi (1.85 km2)
Elevation
1,181 ft (360 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 1,393
 • Estimate 
(2016)
1,327
 • Density 49.43/sq mi (19.09/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
13141
Area code(s) 607
FIPS code 36-023-59773
GNIS feature ID 0979397

Preble is a small town located in Cortland County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 1,357 people lived here. The town is named after Commodore Edward Preble, who was a brave naval hero.

Preble is found on the northern edge of Cortland County. It is also just north of the city of Cortland.

History of Preble

How Preble Was Formed

The area where Preble is located was once part of the Central New York Military Tract. This was a large piece of land set aside for soldiers after the American Revolutionary War. The first settlers arrived in this area around 1796.

The town of Preble was officially created in 1808. This was the same year that Cortland County was formed. Preble was originally part of the town of Tully, which is now in Onondaga County. Preble was one of the first towns in Cortland County. Later, the town of Scott was formed, which made Preble a bit smaller.

In 1865, the town had a population of 1,267 people.

Historic Places in Preble

Two important buildings in Preble are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the First Presbyterian Church and the Little York Pavilion. These places are recognized for their historical importance.

Geography of Preble

Land and Water Areas

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Preble covers a total area of about 27.56 square miles (71.4 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 26.84 square miles (69.5 square kilometers), is land. The remaining 0.71 square miles (1.9 square kilometers) is water, like lakes and rivers.

Roads and Rivers

Several important roads run through Preble from north to south. These include Interstate 81, U.S. Route 11, and New York State Route 281.

The West Branch of the Tioughnioga River also flows south through the town, passing by these highways. Most of the water in Preble eventually flows into the Susquehanna River. However, the northwestern part of the town drains into Otisco Lake. This lake is one of the Finger Lakes and its water eventually flows into Lake Ontario.

The northern border of Preble is also the border of Onondaga County, near the town of Tully.

Population in Preble

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 1,257
1830 1,435 14.2%
1840 1,325 −7.7%
1850 1,219 −8.0%
1860 1,274 4.5%
1870 1,150 −9.7%
1880 1,138 −1.0%
1890 885 −22.2%
1900 857 −3.2%
1910 757 −11.7%
1920 678 −10.4%
1930 642 −5.3%
1940 729 13.6%
1950 808 10.8%
1960 991 22.6%
1970 1,601 61.6%
1980 1,637 2.2%
1990 1,577 −3.7%
2000 1,582 0.3%
2010 1,393 −11.9%
2016 (est.) 1,327 −4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

How Many People Live Here?

In the year 2000, there were 1,582 people living in Preble. These people lived in 615 households, and 437 of these were families. The population density was about 58.7 people per square mile.

Many households, about 35%, had children under 18 living with them. Most households, around 54.6%, were married couples. About 22% of all households were people living alone.

The average household had about 2.57 people, and the average family had about 2.99 people.

Age and Income

The population in Preble was spread out by age. About 28.3% of the people were under 18 years old. Around 9.8% were 65 years old or older. The average age in the town was 37 years.

The typical income for a household in Preble was $41,908. For families, the typical income was $45,789. About 7.7% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included 7.0% of children under 18 and 7.0% of people aged 65 or older.

Communities and Places in Preble

Preble has several smaller communities and interesting spots:

  • Baltimore – This is a small village, called a hamlet, located east of the main Preble village on US-11.
  • Cummings Crossing – Another hamlet found on Route 11, close to the northern border of the town.
  • Goodale Lake – A small lake situated near the southern border of the town.
  • Preble – This is the main hamlet of Preble, located west of Interstate 81.
  • Slab City – A hamlet on US-11, southeast of the Preble village.
  • Song Lake – A small lake near the northern town and county lines, southwest of Tully Lake.
  • Song Mountain – A small mountain located along the northern town and county lines.
  • Tully Lake – A lake that is partly in Preble and partly on the northern town line.
  • Upper Little York Lake – A small lake found west of Goodale Lake.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Preble (Nueva York) para niños

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