Waterville, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Waterville, New York
Village
The Waterville Triangle Historic District.
Location in Oneida County and the state of New York.
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Oneida
Area
• Total	1.42 sq mi (3.67 km2)
• Land	1.42 sq mi (3.67 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,201 ft (366 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,473
• Density	1,040.25/sq mi (401.68/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	13480
Area code(s)	315
FIPS code	36-78663
GNIS feature ID	0968917

Waterville is a small village in Oneida County, New York, United States. The Haudenosaunee people, who lived here long ago, called this area Ska-na-wis, which means "long swamp." In 2020, about 1,473 people lived in Waterville.

A Look Back at Waterville's History

The land where Waterville now stands was traditionally home to the Iroquoian-speaking Oneida people. European Americans first settled here around 1792. This was after the United States won the American Revolutionary War. The US then took most of the Iroquois Confederacy's land in New York state.

The first settlement was known as "The Huddle." In 1808, it officially became Waterville. The village was named after Waterville, Maine.

Waterville: The Hops Capital

Around 1820, a plant called Hops started to be grown in the area. Hops are used to make beer. By 1875, Waterville was known as the "Hops Capital of the World." Many new ideas for growing and drying hops came from here. One important invention was liquid hop extract. The International Hop Stock Exchange was even set up here in the 1860s.

When railway service started in 1867, Waterville became a big shipping center for hops. "Waterville Hops" and hop extract were sent to brewers all over the world. The money from the hop industry helped people build beautiful Victorian-style homes.

However, by the 1920s, hop farming started to slow down. This was mainly because farming methods weren't improving much. By the late 1940s, all the hop farms in Waterville had changed to other types of farming. Some people in the area still grow hops today as a fun way to remember Waterville's past.

Interesting Stories from the Past

The Loomis Gang was a famous group of horse thieves. They lived and operated in the Waterville area in the mid-1800s. There are many old stories about the Loomis family. Some legends even say that ghosts haunt the Nine Mile Swamp area, which is just south of Waterville.

Another interesting fact is that George Eastman used to live here. He was the founder of the Kodak Company. Kodak is famous for making high-quality cameras. The parking lot across from St. Bernard's Church is about where Eastman's old home used to be.

Where is Waterville?

Waterville is located at 42°55′54″N 75°22′36″W / 42.93167°N 75.37667°W / 42.93167; -75.37667.

The village is on the edge of two towns: Marshall and Sangerfield. Both are in Oneida County.

Roads and Surroundings

New York State Route 12 goes through the middle of Waterville, running north and south. It crosses state route 315 there. About a mile south of the village, U.S. Route 20 runs east and west. It meets Route 12 in Sangerfield.

Waterville covers about 1.3 square miles (3.4 square kilometers) of land. Big Creek, a small stream, runs through the center of town. It goes under Sanger Avenue (Route 12) and next to Buell Avenue (Route 315). The area around Waterville has rolling hills, farmland, and forests. Other nearby water spots include Chittening Pond, Bailey Lake, Gorton Lake, and the Waterville Reservoirs. The Nine Mile Swamp is also close by.

The closest city is Utica, which is about fifteen miles north. Waterville is higher up than Utica, sitting at 1,200 feet (366 meters) above sea level. Utica is in the Mohawk River Valley. If you travel by Route 20, Waterville is about sixty miles east of Syracuse and eighty miles west of Albany.

To the east of the village is Tassel Hill. This is the highest point in Oneida County, at 1,945 feet (593 meters) above sea level. Tassel Hill is part of the Tassel Hill State Forest. This forest is a great place for outdoor activities all year round. You can go camping, hiking, biking, ATV-riding, and snowmobiling there. The Albert J. Woodford State Forest is also nearby.

Waterville's Population Over Time

According to the census from 2000, there were 1,721 people living in Waterville. The population density was about 1,298 people per square mile (501 people per square kilometer).

The population was spread out in terms of age. About 28% of the people were under 18 years old. About 19% were 65 years or older. The average age in the village was 38 years old.

How Waterville Works

Local Businesses and Farming

The Waterville Knitting Mill used to make fabrics until the early 1980s. In 1969, the Knitting Mill built a new building. The old building was taken down in 2009 because it was unsafe. In 1995, a company called C & H Plastics bought the newer building. They make plastic parts and are still operating today. Dairy farming is also a very important business in the Waterville area.

Making Waterville Better

Waterville has seen many improvements recently. A new Municipal Hall was built in 2002. A modern Waterville Public Library opened in 2006, with beautiful gardens. It even has solar panels that make electricity.

From 2005 to 2006, the village's main roads were rebuilt. This project added new sidewalks, decorative brick, and new trees along Main Street. Victorian-style street lamps now light up Main Street and Sanger Avenue. The Rotary Club of Waterville donated a decorative town clock. It stands at the corner of Main Street and White Street.

New sewer lines have also helped to keep the Waterville Creek cleaner. In 2009–10, a Victorian-era bandstand was built in the Village Park. This was paid for by donations. The Barton-Brown Observatory opened in 2012 at the Library. It has two large telescopes and hosts monthly stargazing events for everyone.

Fun and Culture in Waterville

Yearly Events and Festivals

The Waterville Volunteer Fire Department used to hold an annual "Field Days." This event usually happened in July. It included a parade, fun rides, and fireworks. Since 2005, the "Cruisin' Into Waterville" festival has been held every Fall. It celebrates the completion of the Route 12 road improvements in the village.

Exploring Waterville's Sights

The Waterville Triangle Historic District is a special area listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site. The Tower Homestead and Masonic Temple is also on this list.

The Waterville Public Library is a busy place for cultural activities. It offers many movies, music, art shows, and educational programs. The Waterville Historical Society on East Main Street has a museum. It shows exhibits about the local history of the area.

Schools and Learning

The Waterville Central School District serves the village and nearby communities. These include Deansboro, North Brookfield, Oriskany Falls, and Sangerfield. The district has two main buildings. Memorial Park Elementary School is for students in kindergarten through 6th grade. Waterville Jr/Sr High School is for grades 7 through 12.

There are also several colleges within twenty-five miles of Waterville. These include Hamilton College, Colgate University, Utica University, SUNY IT, and Mohawk Valley Community College.

Famous People from Waterville

• Frank Lusk Babbott (1854–1933), a successful merchant and supporter of the arts.
• Charlotte B. Coman (1833-1924), a talented painter.
• George Cushman (born 1991), a racing driver.
• George Eastman (1854–1932), the inventor and founder of Eastman Kodak.
• Claude Fuess (1885–1963), an author, historian, and educator. He was the 10th Headmaster of Phillips Academy.
• John Stoughton Newberry (1826-1887), who served as a U.S. Congressman.
• Charlemagne Tower (1809–1889), a lawyer, soldier, and industrialist.

Images for kids

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  A map of Waterville from 1885, showing important places.

See also

In Spanish: Waterville (Nueva York) para niños