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Cortland, New YorkCortland is a city in Cortland County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 18,740. It is the county seat of Cortland County. The City of Cortland occupies part of the Town of Cortlandville. The State University of New York at Cortland is on the west side of the city. History The City of Cortland, settled in 1791, was incorporated in 1900 as the 41st city in the State of New York. Known as the "Crown City" because of its location on a plain formed by the convergence of seven valleys, Cortland is situated about 1,130 feet above sea level, making it the uppermost city to crown the state. 40 stars, representing the 40 cities incorporated before Cortland, circle the State of New York and Crown on the Official City Seal. The seven points of the Crown create seven valleys depicting Cortland's seven surrounding valleys. The 41st star in the center of the Crown illustrates Cortland as the closest incorporated City to the geographic center of New York. The City of Cortland is the county seat of Cortland County, located in the glaciated Appalachian Plateau area of Central New York State, midway between Syracuse and Binghamton. This predominantly rural county is the southeastern gateway to the Finger Lakes Region. Scattered archaeological evidence indicates three different aboriginal cultures hunted the area beginning about 1500 A. D. What was to become Cortland County remained within Indian territory until the American Revolution. It became part of the Military Tract, when in 1781, more than 1 1/4 million acres were set aside by the State's Legislature to compensate two regiments formed to protect the State's western section from the English and their Iroquois allies, at the close of the Revolution. To encourage settlement in the upstate isolated wilderness, the State constructed a road from Oxford through Cortland County to Cayuga Lake in 1792-94. This, and construction of privately financed roads, were the major impetus to settlement. Eastern New Yorkers and New Englanders, wanting new land to farm, welcomed the opening of this frontier. The first white settlement in the county was made in 1791 by Amos Todd, Joseph Beebe and Rhoda Todd Beebe, emigrants from Connecticut who paddled up the Tioughnioga River from Windsor, to live near the head of navigation in the Town of Homer. Following them came a flood of settlers who, in 1808, petitioned the State Legislature for county status. Thus, Cortland County was created from the southern half of Onondaga County as part of the Boston Ten Towns on April 8, 1808, and was named in honor of the Pierre Van Cortlandt family - Pierre, Sr. having been the first lieutenant governor of the state. The 76th New York Volunteer Infantry was one of the most famous of the New York units in the Civil War. It was raised in 1861 primarily from Cortland County and the surrounding areas (about a third of the men were from the Cherry Valley area). The 76th was in most of the major battles the Army of the Potomac fought from Second Bull Run through Petersburg, at which time the three-year enlistment of most of the men ran out and the 300 or so men remaining from the 1,100 who left Cortland either returned home or transferred to other units. At the Battle of Gettysburg, the 76th New York was one of the first infantry regiments on the field, holding down the extreme right of the Union line on the first day. The regiment took huge casualties in that battle - nearly one-third of its strength - including its commander Major Andrew J. Grover, the first infantry officer killed in the battle. Today, Cortland county is noted for the production of CNC milling machines; medical instruments and components; textiles; electrical components; plastic consumer goods; components for NASA and a variety of other goods and services. International exporting is an integral part of many of the corporations in the area. The county's present reflects its past. Agri-business flourishes yet, consistent with the pattern elsewhere in New York State, the number of farms has declined while acreage per farm and yield per acre have increased. Continued growth in the service and light industry sectors is contributing to the growing strength of the Central New York region. The proximity to major highways, a diverse workforce and the influx of technological research and other resources from nearby Universities and Colleges contribute to the economic strength and potential of the region. Cornell University, Syracuse University, SUNY Binghamton and Ithaca College are all within an easy 35 minute drive of the City of Cortland. In addition the State University College at Cortland and local Community Colleges contribute to the cultural and economic fabric of central New York. It is currently the home of Mike Henry Geography The Tioughnioga River flows past the city, and Interstate highway 81 passes through the northeast side of the community. Cortland is located at 42°36'2" North, 76°10'53" West (42.600658, -76.181284). Cortland lies between Syracuse, New York and Binghamton, New York. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.2 km² (3.9 mi²). 10.2 km² (3.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.51% water. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there are 18,740 people, 6,922 households, and 3,454 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,845.8/km² (4,778.6/mi²). There are 7,550 housing units at an average density of 743.6/km² (1,925.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 95.72% White, 1.56% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. 1.72% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 6,922 households out of which 24.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% are married couples living together, 11.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 50.1% are non-families. 36.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.28 and the average family size is 2.95. In the city the population is spread out with 18.3% under the age of 18, 28.4% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 28 years. For every 100 females there are 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 84.5 males. The median income for a household in the city is $26,478, and the median income for a family is $39,167. Males have a median income of $29,857 versus $21,614 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,267. 24.7% of the population and 13.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.8% of those under the age of 18 and 15.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. External links
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