Oneonta

Oneonta
—  City  —
Nickname(s): "City of the Hills"
Oneonta Location of Oneonta in New York
Coordinates: 42°27′21″N 75°3′44″W / 42.45583°N 75.06222°W / 42.45583; -75.06222
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Otsego
Incorporated (village)	1842
Incorporated (city)	1908
Government
- Mayor	John S. Nader (D)
Population (2000)
- Total	13,292
ZIP codes	13820
Area code(s)	607

Oneonta is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, had a population of 13,292.^[1] Its nickname is "City of the Hills." The word "oneonta" is of undetermined origin, but it is popularly thought to mean "place of open rocks" in the Iroquois language. This refers to a prominent geological formation known as "tablerocks" at the western end of the city.

The city is surrounded by the town of Oneonta, a separate municipal and political unit. Oneonta is home to the National Soccer Hall of Fame, State University of New York at Oneonta, Hartwick College, and the Oneonta Tigers baseball club of the New York-Penn League.

Oneonta Municipal Airport (N66) is north of the city.

History

Main Street, about 1909

Prehistorically, Algonquin and Iroquois Indians inhabited the land around the city of Oneonta, but the Iroquois gained exclusive control during the early historic period.

The early pioneers arrived around 1775 and consisted mainly of Palatine Germans and Dutch settlers moving out of the Hudson Valley. The army led by General James Clinton passed through the area in order to join the Sullivan Expedition in 1779.

The first hamlet appeared around 1800 and was later known as "Milfordville." In 1830, the town of Oneonta was formed from parts of two other towns in the county. Milfordville changed its name to Oneonta in 1832, and, in 1848, incorporated as a village within the town.

When the Delaware and Hudson Railroad reached Oneonta, the village began a growth spurt due to its role as a railroad center and its growing industries. Oneonta was once home to the largest locomotive roundhouse in the world.^[2]

The village incorporated as a city in 1908.

Geography

Oneonta is located at 42°27′21″N 75°3′44″W / 42.45583°N 75.06222°W / 42.45583; -75.06222 (42.456003, -75.062302)^[3]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.3 km²). None of the area is covered with water.

The city is in the northern foothills of the Catskill Mountains, lying between Binghamton and Albany.

The Susquehanna River flows westward past the south part of the city.

Interstate 88 follows the course of the Susquehanna River past Oneonta. New York State Route 7 and New York State Route 23 pass through the city, and New York State Route 28 and New York State Route 205 join south of the city.

Demographics

Oneonta, New York, as depicted on an 1884 panoramic map.

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,292 people, 4,253 households, and 1,913 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,032.6 people per square mile (1,171.7/km²). There were 4,574 housing units at an average density of 403.2 persons/km² (1,043.6 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 91.81% White, 3.87% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.38% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. 3.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,253 households out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.4% were married couples living together, 10.5% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 55.0% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city the population was spread out with 13.6% under the age of 18, 43.1% from 18 to 24, 17.6% from 25 to 44, 13.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,671, and the median income for a family was $40,833. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $25,338 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,640. 30.3% of the population and 13.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 20.8% are under the age of 18 and 12.6% are 65 or older.

Education

Oneonta is home to the State University of New York at Oneonta (often abbreviated to SUNY Oneonta) and Hartwick College. SUNY Oneonta began in Oneonta as a normal school and a teacher's college in 1889, and Hartwick College moved into the city in 1928.

Students from SUNY Oneonta (approximately 5,800) and Hartwick (approximately 1,500) make up a significant percentage of the population of Oneonta.

Parks and recreation

The city of Oneonta operates two major municipal parks, Neahwa Park and Wilber Park. Information regarding recreational opportunities within the city's parks can be obtained from the Department of Recreation.

Centennial

In 2008 the city of Oneonta celebrated its Centennial with monthly events throughout the year beginning with the New Year's Eve parade. For other events see [1]

Notable people

Oneonta is the birthplace of Henry E. Huntington (railroads), George Winthrop Fairchild (businessman and IBM chairman), Carleton E. Watkins (19th Century California nature photographer), Jerry Jeff Walker (country music singer), Sherman Mills Fairchild (inventor), Mark May (professional football player and TV Sports Caster), and Dylan Avery (creator of the Loose Change 9/11 conspiracy films). Actor Paul Reubens spent a significant amount of his childhood in Oneonta. Cartoonist Scott Adams attended Hartwick College. Tim Pidgeon, former captain of the football team at Syracuse University and former Miami Dolphin, resides in Oneonta.

Most recently, 21 year old and SUNY Oneonta student Jason Corrigan became the youngest candidate for city mayor, and the first student to run for office in Oneonta's history.^[4] Jason lost to Richard "Dick" Miller Jr. the former president of Hartwick College.^{[citation needed]}

References

External links

• Willard V. Huntington: Oneonta Memories and Sundry Personal Recollections of the Author, Bancroft, 1891
• Oneonta Yellow Pages | Business Listings (Covering Oneonta, NY and surrounding areas)
• Articles by Oneonta City Historian
• City of Oneonta, NY
• Future for Oneonta Foundation
• Greater Oneonta Historical Society
• Sweet Home Oneonta - Local Directory
• The Daily Star (The Newspaper covering Oneonta, NY)
• Oneonta, NY in WWII)
• Local Boy Scout Reservation

• Oneonta, New York is at coordinates 42°27′22″N 75°03′44″W / 42.456003°N 75.062302°W / 42.456003; -75.062302 (Oneonta, New York)Coordinates: 42°27′22″N 75°03′44″W / 42.456003°N 75.062302°W / 42.456003; -75.062302 (Oneonta, New York)

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