Tioga, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tioga
Town
Tioga Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Tioga
Area
• Total	59.46 sq mi (154.00 km2)
• Land	58.63 sq mi (151.85 km2)
• Water	0.83 sq mi (2.15 km2)
Elevation	1,129 ft (344 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,455
• Estimate  (2021)	4,404
• Density	80.05/sq mi (30.91/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	13845
Area code(s)	607
FIPS code	36-73968
GNIS feature ID	0979548

Tioga is a small town located in Tioga County, New York, in the United States. In 2020, about 4,455 people lived here. The town is in the southwestern part of the county. It sits between the cities of Elmira and Binghamton. Tioga is part of the Southern Tier region of New York State.

Tioga's Early History

For many thousands of years, different groups of indigenous peoples lived in this area of New York. The most recent groups before European settlers were the Owasco people. They seemed to move here from southern regions. These groups lived in separate villages. They often had conflicts with each other. Over time, they started to join together into larger tribes.

The Iroquois Confederacy

The Iroquois Confederacy formed around the 15th century. These were historic tribes who spoke the Iroquoian language. They called themselves the Haudenosaunee. This group included five main nations.

• The Mohawk Nation has lands in northern New York. They also live along the St. Lawrence River. Some live in Canada.
• The Oneida Nation has a small area in central New York. They have a larger one near Green Bay, Wisconsin.
• The Onondaga Nation still lives on their traditional lands. These are in central New York.
• The Seneca Nation and Tuscarora Nation have lands in western New York.

Revolutionary War Impact

During the American Revolutionary War, the Sullivan Expedition happened in 1779. This military action passed through the Tioga area. The Seneca and three other Iroquois nations had sided with the British. They had been raiding colonial settlements. The expedition destroyed Seneca villages.

After the war, the Iroquois nations who supported the British had to give up their lands to New York. The first European-American settlers arrived around 1792.

Town Name Changes

The town was first set up in 1788. It was part of the "Old Town of Chemung." In 1791, it was renamed "Owego." This was the same year Tioga County was created. In 1818, the town's name changed again. It became the "Town of Tioga." This happened by switching names with the current Town of Owego. The Village of Owego then became part of the town with the same name.

Historic Buildings in Tioga

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Tioga Center is an important building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This means it is recognized for its historical value.

Tioga's Geography

The town of Tioga covers about 59.5 square miles (154 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. About 0.8 square miles (2.15 square kilometers) is water. This means about 1.31% of the town is covered by water.

The Susquehanna River forms the southern border of the town. New York State Route 17C is a road that runs along the north bank of the Susquehanna River.

Tioga's Population

In the year 2000, there were 4,840 people living in Tioga. These people lived in 1,849 households. About 1,362 of these were families. The population density was about 82.5 people per square mile. There were 2,041 housing units in the town.

Who Lives in Tioga?

Most of the people in Tioga in 2000 were White (97.95%). A small number were African American (0.14%). Some were Native American (0.19%) or Asian (0.31%). About 0.79% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 34.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (58.8%) were married couples. About 10.6% had a female head of household without a husband. About 20.8% of households were single individuals.

Age and Income in Tioga

The population of Tioga was spread out by age. About 27.5% were under 18 years old. About 7.5% were between 18 and 24. People aged 25 to 44 made up 29.0% of the population. Those aged 45 to 64 were 23.0%. About 13.0% of the people were 65 or older. The average age in the town was 37 years.

In 2000, the average income for a household was $36,960. For families, the average income was $46,650. The average income per person in the town was $17,813. About 6.5% of the total population faced economic challenges. This included 6.3% of those under 18.

Communities and Locations in Tioga

The Town of Tioga has several smaller communities and important places:

• Catlin Hill – A small village, called a hamlet, in the southeastern part of the town.
• Germany Hill – Another hamlet located near the northern border of the town.
• Goodrich – A hamlet in the southeastern corner. It is on County Road 23. It is near the Village of Owego. It is also close to where the Owego Creek meets the Susquehanna River.
• Halsey Valley – A hamlet on the western town line. Part of it is in Barton. It was started around 1825.
• Horton Crossing – A hamlet located on NY-17C, just east of Tioga Center.
• Owego Creek – A stream that forms part of the eastern border of the town.
• Smithboro – A hamlet west of Tioga Center. It is near the Susquehanna River on NY-17C.
• Straits Corners – A hamlet located near the northern town line.
• Tioga Center – A hamlet in the southeastern part of the town. It is on NY-17C, close to the Susquehanna River. The Tioga Centre General Store was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

See also

In Spanish: Tioga (Nueva York) para niños