Oswego, New York
Encyclopedia
Oswego is a city in Oswego County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census
. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario
in north-central New York
and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York". It is the county seat of Oswego County
.
The city of Oswego is bordered by the towns of Oswego
, Minetto
, and Scriba
to the west, south, and east, respectively, and by Lake Ontario
to the north. Oswego lies within the Syracuse Metropolitan Statistical Area. Oswego Speedway
is a nationally-known automobile racing facility. The State University of New York at Oswego
is located just outside the city on the lake. Oswego is the namesake for communities in Montana
, Oregon
, Illinois
, and Kansas
.
established a trading post in the area in 1722 and fortified it with a log palisade later called Fort Oswego
. In 1755 they added Fort Ontario
on the northeast side of the river along with other fortifications. This strong point countered French efforts at Fort Niagara
to the west.
. Fort Ontario was rebuilt, but Fort Oswego was only used as a cannon emplacement. During the American Revolution, American forces captured Fort Monroe, but it was retaken by the British and remained in their hands until well after the war was over. During the War of 1812
, a weaker American garrison at Fort Oswego was overwhelmed by superior British forces, in order to stem the flow of supplies from the interior of New York state. Throughout the 19th Century, the U.S. military maintained a presence at Fort Ontario.
, a branch of the Erie Canal
, reached the area in 1829. The city was incorporated in 1848. When the city incorporated, its area and population were removed from the figures reported for the towns. In the 1850s, at the height of a popular water-cure movement occurring in the U.S.A., in turn stimulating growth, Oswego was the home of the Oswego Water Cure establishment, which Stonewall Jackson reportedly visited in August 1850.
Oswego is home to the port of Oswego and once was a major railroad hub for the New York Central, Lackawanna
/Erie Lackawanna, and NY Ontario and Western
railways. Three stations remain: two passenger (D&LW
and NYC
) and one freight (NYC) as does a rather large trestle over the Oswego River. The tunnel on a local hiking trail in the city was the north end of the NYO&W
.
Oswego was home to almost 1,000 Jewish refugees during World War II
. Fort Ontario
was the only attempt by the United States
to shelter Jewish refugees during the war. Oswego also has the Safe Haven Museum to commemorate the stories of the refugees.
, the city has a total area of 11.2 square miles (29.1 km2), of which, 7.7 square miles (19.8 km2) of it is land and 3.6 square miles (9.2 km2) of it (31.76%) is water.
Oswego is located on the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario
at the mouth of the Oswego River
, about 35 miles north of Syracuse, New York
and 69 miles east of Rochester, New York
.
New York State Route 481
(from Interstate 81
) runs north/south to Oswego from Syracuse and Fulton
. New York State Route 104
runs east/west from Rochester to Oswego. The nearest city is Fulton
, located south of Oswego and north of Syracuse.
As Oswego is located on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario
, in the center of the Snowbelt
, the region often sees prodigious lake effect snow
accumulations. Oswego is one of the snowiest towns in America, with some winters totaling over 300 inches. In 2007, Oswego gained national attention when approximately 130" (slightly less than 11 feet) of snow fell in a two-week timespan. This broke the record of the Blizzard of 1966
, which blanketed the city with 102" of snow. As a result of this storm, the school district closed all facilities for a week, effectively shifting the planned winter holiday.
of 2000, there were 17,954 people
, 7,338 households, and 3,977 families
residing in the city. The population density
was 2,343.4 people per square mile (905.0/km2). There were 8,080 housing units at an average density
of 407.3 persons/km2 (1,054.6 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 95.32% White, 1.04% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 1.07% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.80% of the population.
There were 7,338 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples
living together, and 45.8% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 16.5% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,248, and the median income for a family was $41,613. Males had a median income of $33,220 versus $21,729 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,558. 23.0% of the population and 13.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 24.2% are under the age of 18 and 12.5% are 65 or older.
and board
of aldermen
who are elected
from the city's seven wards.
The City of Oswego is a part of New York State's 48th Senate District, represented by Republican Patty Ritchie
. The city is also part of the 124th Assembly District, which is represented by Republican Will Barclay.
Oswego is located inside the 23rd Congressional District of New York, which is represented by Democrat Bill Owens.
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld
, ESPN
SportsCenter anchors Steve Levy
and Linda Cohn
and NBC's Today Show Weatherman Al Roker
all attended SUNY Oswego.
Oswego has a long history stretching back to the 15th century. Visitors can learn about the city's history by visiting museums such as the H. Lee White Marine Museum, The Richardson-Bates House
, and Fort Ontario
. Throughout the city and public parks, many historical monuments can be found honoring historical figures, and other forts that stood in what is now the historical district. The city includes a number of sites on the National Register of Historic Places including the Market House
, Oswego Armory
, Oswego City Hall
, Oswego City Library
, Oswego County Courthouse
, Oswego Yacht Club
, Tanner Block
, and U.S. Customhouse
.
The most notable historian was Rosemary Nesbitt, who is immortalized by a monument in the city's signature public park, Breitbeck Park. Every Halloween
, she would traditionally let down her long silver hair, dress in a ghostly gown, and tell ghostly haunted tales spanning across the entire history of the city. Nesbitt, who also founded the Marine Museum and wrote various books about the city's history, died on August 2, 2009 at the age of 84.
Ludwig Bemelmans
, the writer best known for his popular 'Madeline
' stories, was stationed at Fort Ontario, Oswego, N.Y. from 1917. From this experience he wrote the book "My war with the United States" published in 1937.
Boating, fishing, and hiking are also activities that are enjoyed by residents and visitors. Oswego also has three ice-skating rinks, a large public pool located on the Fort Ontario grounds, bowling, and the historic Oswego Theater
.
Every year the city hosts the Oswego Harborfest, a four-day festival of music, culture and food, centered around the Oswego Harbor, culminating in a fireworks display on the Saturday evening of the festival. The event is sponsored by local businesses, and the entertainment is mostly admission-free. The festival continues to draw approximately 150,000 to 300,000 attendees every year.
In 2007, SUNY Oswego Lakers men's hockey team won the NCAA Division III Ice Hockey Championship. Garren Reisweber's goal 12:55 into overtime gave Oswego State a 4-3 win over Middlebury on March 18, 2007. The Lakers captured the school's first ever national championship in a team sport. The 2006-07 season marked the first season Oswego played in the newly built, state-of-the-art Campus Center, located on Lake Ontario. The Campus Center replaced Romney Field House which opened in 1964, and is believed to be the first ice rink built within the State University of New York system.
, WSGO
, WTKV (TK105), WNYO and WMVN. Oswego also has its own television station, WTOP
, which is completely student-run, and is served by the Oswego High School television station, WBUC. Oswego is served by the Syracuse
TV market. Previous media included the Oswego Daily Times.
. The Oswego City School district has one high school
(grades 9 - 12), one middle school (grades 7 & 8) and five elementary schools (grades K - 6). The State University of New York at Oswego
(SUNY Oswego) is located just west of the city in the town of Oswego. Trinity Catholic School (formerly St. Paul's Academy) provides classes for K - 6. Oswego Community Christian School provides classes for Pre K - 8.
Oswego County, New York
Oswego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 Census, the estimated population was 122,109. The City of Oswego and the Village of Pulaski serve as the dual county seats in a two shire system of government...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
in north-central New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York". It is the county seat of Oswego County
Oswego County, New York
Oswego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 Census, the estimated population was 122,109. The City of Oswego and the Village of Pulaski serve as the dual county seats in a two shire system of government...
.
The city of Oswego is bordered by the towns of Oswego
Oswego (town), New York
Oswego is a town in Oswego County, New York, USA. The population was 7,287 at the 2000 census.The Town of Oswego is immediately west of the City of Oswego, with which it has a common border...
, Minetto
Minetto (town), New York
Minetto is a town in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 1,663 at the 2000 census.The Town of Minetto is located south of the City of Oswego, which it borders....
, and Scriba
Scriba, New York
Scriba is a town in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 7,331 at the 2000 census. The town is named after landowner George Scriba.The Town of Scriba is east of the City of Oswego...
to the west, south, and east, respectively, and by Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
to the north. Oswego lies within the Syracuse Metropolitan Statistical Area. Oswego Speedway
Oswego Speedway
The Oswego Speedway is a race track in Oswego, New York. It was built in 1951 and today is an asphalt race track. The track is the Labor Day Weekend home of the 200-lap, non-wing, big-block supermodified Budweiser Classic and Race of Champions...
is a nationally-known automobile racing facility. The State University of New York at Oswego
State University of New York at Oswego
State University of New York at Oswego, also known as SUNY Oswego and Oswego State, is a public university in the City of Oswego and Town of Oswego, New York, on the shore of Lake Ontario...
is located just outside the city on the lake. Oswego is the namesake for communities in Montana
Oswego, Montana
Oswego is an unincorporated community in Valley County, Montana, United States. It is located along U.S. Route 2 between the cities of Frazer and Wolf Point.-History:...
, Oregon
Lake Oswego, Oregon
Lake Oswego is a city located primarily in Clackamas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Small portions of the city are also located in neighboring Multnomah and Washington counties. Located south of Portland surrounding the Oswego Lake, the town was founded in 1847 and incorporated as Oswego in...
, Illinois
Oswego, Illinois
Oswego is a village in Kendall County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the village population was 30,355. Its population has more than doubled since the 2000 census count of 13,326...
, and Kansas
Oswego, Kansas
Oswego is a city in and the county seat of Labette County, Kansas, United States,, and situated along the Neosho River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,829.-History:...
.
Early history
The BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
established a trading post in the area in 1722 and fortified it with a log palisade later called Fort Oswego
Fort Oswego
Fort Oswego was an important frontier post for British traders in the 18th century. A trading post was established in 1722 with a log palisade, and New York governor William Burnet ordered a fort built at the site in 1727. The log palisade fort established a British presence on the Great Lakes....
. In 1755 they added Fort Ontario
Fort Ontario
Fort Ontario is a historic fort situated by the City of Oswego, in Oswego County, New York in the United States of America. It is owned by the state of New York and operated as a museum known as Fort Ontario State Historic Site....
on the northeast side of the river along with other fortifications. This strong point countered French efforts at Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in North America. It is located near Youngstown, New York, on the eastern bank of the Niagara River at its mouth, on Lake Ontario.-Origin:...
to the west.
Military base
In August 1756, French forces defeated the British in the Battle of Fort Oswego, capturing the fort during the French and Indian WarFrench and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
. Fort Ontario was rebuilt, but Fort Oswego was only used as a cannon emplacement. During the American Revolution, American forces captured Fort Monroe, but it was retaken by the British and remained in their hands until well after the war was over. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, a weaker American garrison at Fort Oswego was overwhelmed by superior British forces, in order to stem the flow of supplies from the interior of New York state. Throughout the 19th Century, the U.S. military maintained a presence at Fort Ontario.
Growth of the city
Oswego was incorporated as a village on March 14, 1828, and the Oswego CanalOswego Canal
The Oswego Canal is a canal in the New York State Canal System located in New York, United States. Opened in 1828, it is 23.7 miles in length, and connects the Erie Canal at Three Rivers to Lake Ontario at Oswego...
, a branch of the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
, reached the area in 1829. The city was incorporated in 1848. When the city incorporated, its area and population were removed from the figures reported for the towns. In the 1850s, at the height of a popular water-cure movement occurring in the U.S.A., in turn stimulating growth, Oswego was the home of the Oswego Water Cure establishment, which Stonewall Jackson reportedly visited in August 1850.
Oswego is home to the port of Oswego and once was a major railroad hub for the New York Central, Lackawanna
Lackawanna, New York
Lackawanna is a city in Erie County, New York, U.S., located just south of the city of Buffalo in the western part of New York state. The population was 18,141 at the 2010 census. The name derives from the Lackawanna Steel Company...
/Erie Lackawanna, and NY Ontario and Western
New York, Ontario and Western Railway
The New York, Ontario and Western Railway, more commonly known as the O&W or NYO&W, was a regional railroad with origins in 1868, lasting until March 29, 1957 when it was ordered liquidated by a US bankruptcy judge. The O&W holds the distinction of being the first major U.S...
railways. Three stations remain: two passenger (D&LW
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company was a railroad connecting Pennsylvania's Lackawanna Valley, rich in anthracite coal, to Hoboken, New Jersey, , Buffalo and Oswego, New York...
and NYC
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
) and one freight (NYC) as does a rather large trestle over the Oswego River. The tunnel on a local hiking trail in the city was the north end of the NYO&W
New York, Ontario and Western Railway
The New York, Ontario and Western Railway, more commonly known as the O&W or NYO&W, was a regional railroad with origins in 1868, lasting until March 29, 1957 when it was ordered liquidated by a US bankruptcy judge. The O&W holds the distinction of being the first major U.S...
.
Oswego was home to almost 1,000 Jewish refugees during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Fort Ontario
Fort Ontario
Fort Ontario is a historic fort situated by the City of Oswego, in Oswego County, New York in the United States of America. It is owned by the state of New York and operated as a museum known as Fort Ontario State Historic Site....
was the only attempt by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to shelter Jewish refugees during the war. Oswego also has the Safe Haven Museum to commemorate the stories of the refugees.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 11.2 square miles (29.1 km2), of which, 7.7 square miles (19.8 km2) of it is land and 3.6 square miles (9.2 km2) of it (31.76%) is water.
Oswego is located on the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
at the mouth of the Oswego River
Oswego River (New York)
The Oswego River is a river in upstate New York in the United States. This river is the second-largest river flowing into Lake Ontario. James Fenimore Cooper’s novel The Pathfinder, or The Inland Sea is set in the Oswego River valley...
, about 35 miles north of Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
and 69 miles east of Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
.
New York State Route 481
New York State Route 481
New York State Route 481 is a state highway in Central New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with Interstate 81 in North Syracuse, where the highway continues southeastward as I-481. Its northern terminus is located at an intersection...
(from Interstate 81
Interstate 81
Interstate 81 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island at the Canadian border, where the Thousand Islands Bridge connects it to Highway 401, the main freeway...
) runs north/south to Oswego from Syracuse and Fulton
Fulton, Oswego County, New York
Fulton is a small city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 11,855 at the 2000 census. The city is named after Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat.The city of Fulton is located in the western part of the county....
. New York State Route 104
New York State Route 104
New York State Route 104 is a long east–west state highway in Upstate New York, United States. It spans six counties and enters the vicinity of four cities—Niagara Falls, Lockport, Rochester, and Oswego—as it follows a routing largely parallel to that of the southern shoreline of Lake...
runs east/west from Rochester to Oswego. The nearest city is Fulton
Fulton, Oswego County, New York
Fulton is a small city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 11,855 at the 2000 census. The city is named after Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat.The city of Fulton is located in the western part of the county....
, located south of Oswego and north of Syracuse.
As Oswego is located on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
, in the center of the Snowbelt
Snowbelt
Snowbelt is a term describing of a number of regions near the Great Lakes in North America where heavy snowfall in the form of lake-effect snow is particularly common. Snowbelts are typically found downwind of the lakes, principally off the eastern and southern shores...
, the region often sees prodigious lake effect snow
Lake effect snow
Lake-effect snow is produced during cooler atmospheric conditions when cold winds move across long expanses of warmer lake water, providing energy and picking up water vapor which freezes and is deposited on the leeward shores...
accumulations. Oswego is one of the snowiest towns in America, with some winters totaling over 300 inches. In 2007, Oswego gained national attention when approximately 130" (slightly less than 11 feet) of snow fell in a two-week timespan. This broke the record of the Blizzard of 1966
Blizzard of 1966
The Blizzard of 1966 is to date the most famous blizzard to hit Oswego, New York, and held the record for the most snowfall in a single storm in Oswego until the Lake Effect snow storm of February 2007....
, which blanketed the city with 102" of snow. As a result of this storm, the school district closed all facilities for a week, effectively shifting the planned winter holiday.
Locations and communities near Oswego
- OswegoOswego (town), New YorkOswego is a town in Oswego County, New York, USA. The population was 7,287 at the 2000 census.The Town of Oswego is immediately west of the City of Oswego, with which it has a common border...
- the town of Oswego - MinettoMinetto (town), New YorkMinetto is a town in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 1,663 at the 2000 census.The Town of Minetto is located south of the City of Oswego, which it borders....
- the town of Minetto south of the city - ScribaScriba, New YorkScriba is a town in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 7,331 at the 2000 census. The town is named after landowner George Scriba.The Town of Scriba is east of the City of Oswego...
- the town of Scriba east of the city - Southwest Oswego - a hamlet located west of the city
- Fruit Valley - a hamlet located west of the city
Climate
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 17,954 people
People
People is a plurality of human beings or other beings possessing enough qualities constituting personhood. It has two usages:* as the plural of person or a group of people People is a plurality of human beings or other beings possessing enough qualities constituting personhood. It has two usages:*...
, 7,338 households, and 3,977 families
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,343.4 people per square mile (905.0/km2). There were 8,080 housing units at an average density
Density
The mass density or density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume. The symbol most often used for density is ρ . In some cases , density is also defined as its weight per unit volume; although, this quantity is more properly called specific weight...
of 407.3 persons/km2 (1,054.6 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 95.32% White, 1.04% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 1.07% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.80% of the population.
There were 7,338 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, and 45.8% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 16.5% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,248, and the median income for a family was $41,613. Males had a median income of $33,220 versus $21,729 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,558. 23.0% of the population and 13.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 24.2% are under the age of 18 and 12.5% are 65 or older.
Politics
The city is governed by a MayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and board
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of aldermen
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
who are elected
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
from the city's seven wards.
The City of Oswego is a part of New York State's 48th Senate District, represented by Republican Patty Ritchie
Patty Ritchie
-External links:*...
. The city is also part of the 124th Assembly District, which is represented by Republican Will Barclay.
Oswego is located inside the 23rd Congressional District of New York, which is represented by Democrat Bill Owens.
Notable current or former residents
- Neil BancroftNeil BancroftNeil Bancroft was an American soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 7th U.S. Cavalry during the Black Hills War. In 1878, he was one of 22 soldiers who received the Medal of Honor at the Battle of the Little Bighorn and who carried water "under a most galling fire" from the Little Bighorn...
, U.S. Army soldier in the Black Hills War - Joey BelladonnaJoey BelladonnaJoey Belladonna is a heavy metal singer and drummer, best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Anthrax...
(formerly Bellardini), singer (current singer of heavy metal band AnthraxAnthrax (band)Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
) - David BranshawDavid BranshawDavid Sean Branshaw is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.Branshaw was born in Oswego, New York. He turned professional in 1991, and competed on the Nationwide Tour in 1997, 2002, 2003, and 2005. In 2003, he earned his PGA Tour card by finishing...
, PGA TourPGA TourThe PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
golfer - Erik ColeErik ColeErik Cole is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He has played most of his career with the Carolina Hurricanes. He also played a brief stint with the Edmonton Oilers before returning to Carolina in 2009...
, NHL hockey player, Olympian - George GrantGeorge Franklin GrantGeorge Franklin Grant was the first African American professor at Harvard. He was also a Boston dentist, and an inventor of a wooden golf tee.-Biography:...
, doctor and inventor - John Porter HatchJohn Porter HatchJohn Porter Hatch was a career American soldier who served as general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He received a Medal of Honor for gallantry in action at the September 1862 Battle of South Mountain during the Maryland Campaign.-Early life and career:Hatch was born in Oswego, N...
, Union armyUnion ArmyThe Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
general - Robert M. HenselRobert M. HenselRobert Michael Hensel was born with the birth defect known as Spina bifida. He is also a Guinness World Records holder for the longest non-stop wheelie in a wheelchair, covering a total distance of 6.178 miles...
, disability advocate, poet and world record holder - Mike O'Brien, A Hereditary Disease Foundation advocate who died in 2005 climbing Mt. Everest with his brother
- Willard Dickerman StraightWillard StraightWillard Dickerman Straight was an American investment banker, publisher, reporter and diplomat.-Biography:...
, banker, diplomat, co-founder of The New RepublicThe New RepublicThe magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
magazine - Mary E. Walker, only female Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
doctorPhysicianA physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, and only woman to receive the Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her... - Leigh Allison WilsonLeigh Allison WilsonLeigh Allison Wilson, is an award-winning American short story writer, and teacher. Her work has appeared in Harper's, Grand Street, and the Southern Review. Her story "Bullhead" was read on National Public Radio in 2008....
, author - Curtis F. ShoupCurtis F. ShoupCurtis F. Shoup received the Medal of Honor for acts of bravery near Tillet, Belgium on January 7, 1945. He was a graduate of Oswego High School in Oswego, New York...
, Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient. Graduated in Oswego High School - Owen BenjaminOwen Benjamin-Early life:Owen Benjamin was born Owen Smith, son of John Kares Smith and Jean Troy-Smith, both professors at State University of New York at Oswego...
, (formerly Smith), Comedian, Actor.
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
SportsCenter anchors Steve Levy
Steve Levy
Steve Levy is a journalist for ESPN.-Early life and career:Levy was a 1987 graduate of the State University of New York at Oswego. He also attended John F. Kennedy High School...
and Linda Cohn
Linda Cohn
Linda Cohn is an American sportscaster. She regularly anchors ESPN's SportsCenter.-Early life and education:As a teenager, Cohn, a New Yorker, demonstrated talent at ice hockey, making her high school's boys team...
and NBC's Today Show Weatherman Al Roker
Al Roker
Albert Lincoln "Al" Roker, Jr. is an American television meteorologist as well as an actor and book author. He is best known as being the weather anchor on NBC's Today. On Monday, July 20, 2009, he began co-hosting his new morning show, Wake Up with Al, on The Weather Channel, which airs weekdays...
all attended SUNY Oswego.
Culture and recreation
Richardson-Bates House
Richardson-Bates House is a historic home located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It is constructed primarily of brick and built in three stages. The main section is a -story, brick structure with a gable roof and 4-story tower designed by noted architect Andrew Jackson Warner about 1867....
, and Fort Ontario
Fort Ontario
Fort Ontario is a historic fort situated by the City of Oswego, in Oswego County, New York in the United States of America. It is owned by the state of New York and operated as a museum known as Fort Ontario State Historic Site....
. Throughout the city and public parks, many historical monuments can be found honoring historical figures, and other forts that stood in what is now the historical district. The city includes a number of sites on the National Register of Historic Places including the Market House
Market House (Oswego, New York)
Market House, also known as The Market Hall and The D.L.& W. Hall, is a historic market building located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It was built in 1835 and is a massive brick and stone structure overlooking the Oswego River. The structure originally housed several government entites...
, Oswego Armory
Oswego Armory
Oswego Armory is a historic National Guard armory located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It is a brick and stone castle-like structure built in 1906–1908. It was designed by State architect George L. Heins. It consists of a -story administration building with an attached large, gable-roofed...
, Oswego City Hall
Oswego City Hall
Oswego City Hall is a historic city hall located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It was built in 1870 and is a -story masonry, mansarded structure with a distinctive central clock tower. It was designed by noted architect Horatio Nelson White .It was listed on the National Register of...
, Oswego City Library
Oswego City Library
Oswego City Library is a historic library building located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It was built about 1855 and is a two story brick structure over a full basement. It features a distinctive catellated style with exterior battlements, machicolations, tower, turrets, corbels, and...
, Oswego County Courthouse
Oswego County Courthouse
Oswego County Courthouse is a historic courthouse located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It was built in 1859-1860 and altered in 1891 and again in 1962. The two story building rises above a cruciform plan and is constructed of load bearing masonry walls faced with smooth ashlar limestone....
, Oswego Yacht Club
Oswego Yacht Club
Oswego Yacht Club, known now as the McCrobie Civic Center and for a time as the Naval Militia Building, is a historic clubhouse building located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It was built in two phases; the center section was bgeun in 1914 and completed in 1919 as the yacht club...
, Tanner Block
Tanner Block
Tanner Block is a historic commercial building located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It was built in 1890 and is a four story brick structure constructed in an eclectic Victorian style. It measures 44 feet wide and 100 feet deep. It originally housed a hardware store. It was updated in...
, and U.S. Customhouse
U.S. Customhouse (Oswego, New York)
U.S. Customhouse is a historic customhouse located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It is a three story, flat roofed, rectangular stone building flanked by identical two story wings. The original structure was built in 1858 and the wings added in 1935. It was designed by noted architect...
.
The most notable historian was Rosemary Nesbitt, who is immortalized by a monument in the city's signature public park, Breitbeck Park. Every Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
, she would traditionally let down her long silver hair, dress in a ghostly gown, and tell ghostly haunted tales spanning across the entire history of the city. Nesbitt, who also founded the Marine Museum and wrote various books about the city's history, died on August 2, 2009 at the age of 84.
Ludwig Bemelmans
Ludwig Bemelmans
Ludwig Bemelmans was an Austrian author, an internationally known gourmet, and a writer and illustrator of children's books. He is most noted today for his Madeline books, six of which were published from 1939-1961...
, the writer best known for his popular 'Madeline
Madeline
Madeline is a children's book series written by Ludwig Bemelmans, an Austrian author. The books have been adapted into numerous formats, spawning telefilms, television series and a live action feature film...
' stories, was stationed at Fort Ontario, Oswego, N.Y. from 1917. From this experience he wrote the book "My war with the United States" published in 1937.
Boating, fishing, and hiking are also activities that are enjoyed by residents and visitors. Oswego also has three ice-skating rinks, a large public pool located on the Fort Ontario grounds, bowling, and the historic Oswego Theater
Oswego Theater
Oswego Theater, now known as Oswego 7 Cinemas, is a historic movie theater located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It was designed in 1940 in the Art Deco style and opened in 1941. The front features bands of yellow, red, and dark red brick that create broad horizontal and perpendicular...
.
Every year the city hosts the Oswego Harborfest, a four-day festival of music, culture and food, centered around the Oswego Harbor, culminating in a fireworks display on the Saturday evening of the festival. The event is sponsored by local businesses, and the entertainment is mostly admission-free. The festival continues to draw approximately 150,000 to 300,000 attendees every year.
In 2007, SUNY Oswego Lakers men's hockey team won the NCAA Division III Ice Hockey Championship. Garren Reisweber's goal 12:55 into overtime gave Oswego State a 4-3 win over Middlebury on March 18, 2007. The Lakers captured the school's first ever national championship in a team sport. The 2006-07 season marked the first season Oswego played in the newly built, state-of-the-art Campus Center, located on Lake Ontario. The Campus Center replaced Romney Field House which opened in 1964, and is believed to be the first ice rink built within the State University of New York system.
Media
The city is served by The Palladium Times newspaper, Oswego County Today, the student-run newspaper The Oswegonian, as well as OswegoNYlion and is the home to the radio stations WRVOWRVO
WRVO 89.9 FM is a member-supported public radio station in Oswego, New York. Owned by the State University of New York at Oswego, it operates from studios in the Penfield Library on the SUNY Oswego campus.- Programming :...
, WSGO
WSGO
WSGO is a radio station broadcasting a sports format. Licensed to Oswego, New York, USA, the station serves the Syracuse area. The station is currently owned by Galaxy Communications and features programing from ESPN Radio....
, WTKV (TK105), WNYO and WMVN. Oswego also has its own television station, WTOP
WTOP-TV (SUNY Oswego)
WTOP 10 is a fully functioning Student television station located in Oswego, New York. Originating on the SUNY Oswego campus and seen on cable channel 10 on the on-campus cable system, WTOP 10 is the only local television station originating out of Oswego County, as well as on their Livestream...
, which is completely student-run, and is served by the Oswego High School television station, WBUC. Oswego is served by the Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
TV market. Previous media included the Oswego Daily Times.
Education
The city is part of the Oswego City School DistrictOswego City School District
The Oswego City School District is a school district in Oswego, New York, serving the students of the city of Oswego and the towns of Oswego, Minetto, and Scriba. The district promotes itself with the slogan "Where the Learning Never Ends," a play on the city of Oswego's slogan, "Where the Water...
. The Oswego City School district has one high school
Oswego High School (New York)
Oswego High School is a public coeducational four-year high school in Oswego, NY. It is the only public school serving grades 9-12 in the Oswego City School District. The executive principal is Brian Hartwell...
(grades 9 - 12), one middle school (grades 7 & 8) and five elementary schools (grades K - 6). The State University of New York at Oswego
State University of New York at Oswego
State University of New York at Oswego, also known as SUNY Oswego and Oswego State, is a public university in the City of Oswego and Town of Oswego, New York, on the shore of Lake Ontario...
(SUNY Oswego) is located just west of the city in the town of Oswego. Trinity Catholic School (formerly St. Paul's Academy) provides classes for K - 6. Oswego Community Christian School provides classes for Pre K - 8.