Otselic, New York
Encyclopedia
Otselic is a town
in Chenango County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,001 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a river flowing through it, the Otselic, which is an Oneida word for "place of wild plums."
The Town of Otselic lies on the north border of Chenango County and is northwest of the City of Norwich
.
The Town of Otselic was founded in 1817 from part of the Town of German
.
The year 1833 was notable for a tornado that passed over the town that measured over a mile in width.
, the town has a total area of 38 square miles (98.4 km²), of which, 38 square miles (98.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.11%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Madison County
.
The Otselic River
(sometimes "Otselic Creek") runs through the town and later flows into the Tioughnioga River
.
New York State Route 26
intersects New York State Route 80
at Otselic hamlet.
of 2000, there were 1,001 people, 356 households, and 259 families residing in the town. The population density
was 26.3 people per square mile (10.2/km²). There were 484 housing units at an average density of 12.7 per square mile (4.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.70% White, 0.50% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.40% of the population.
There were 356 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,308, and the median income for a family was $34,886. Males had a median income of $30,298 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,105. About 11.2% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Chenango County
Chenango County, New York
Chenango County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 50,477. The county's name originates from an Oneida word meaning "large bull-thistle." Its county seat is Norwich.-History:...
, 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 1,001 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a river flowing through it, the Otselic, which is an Oneida word for "place of wild plums."
The Town of Otselic lies on the north border of Chenango County and is northwest of the City of Norwich
Norwich (city), New York
Norwich is a city in Chenango County, New York, United States. Surrounded on all sides by the Town of Norwich, the city is the county seat of Chenango County. The name is taken from Norwich, Connecticut. Its population was 7,355 at the 2000 census.Lt...
.
History
The first settler arrived around 1800.The Town of Otselic was founded in 1817 from part of the Town of German
German, New York
German is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The population was 378 at the 2000 census. The town is named after General Obediah German, the original land owner....
.
The year 1833 was notable for a tornado that passed over the town that measured over a mile in width.
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 town has a total area of 38 square miles (98.4 km²), of which, 38 square miles (98.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.11%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Madison County
Madison County, New York
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 73,442. It is named after James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America...
.
The Otselic River
Otselic River
The Otselic River is a tributary of the Tioughnioga River in central New York in the United States. It drains a mountainous area, mostly forested and agricultural, east of the Finger Lakes at the northern edge of the Susquehanna River watershed....
(sometimes "Otselic Creek") runs through the town and later flows into the Tioughnioga River
Tioughnioga River
The Tioughnioga River is a tributary of the Chenango River in central New York in the United States. It drains a dissected plateau area east of the Finger Lakes at the northernmost edge of the watershed of the Susquehanna River....
.
New York State Route 26
New York State Route 26
New York State Route 26 is a north–south state highway that runs for through Central New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is located at the Pennsylvania state line south of the town of Vestal in Broome County, where it becomes Pennsylvania Route 267...
intersects New York State Route 80
New York State Route 80
New York State Route 80 is a west–east New York State Route located within Onondaga, Madison, Chenango, Otsego, Herkimer, and Montgomery Counties in New York. Its western terminus is located at a junction with NY 175 in the city of Syracuse in Onondaga County, from which it...
at Otselic hamlet.
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 1,001 people, 356 households, and 259 families residing in the town. 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 26.3 people per square mile (10.2/km²). There were 484 housing units at an average density of 12.7 per square mile (4.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.70% White, 0.50% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.10% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.40% of the population.
There were 356 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% 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, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,308, and the median income for a family was $34,886. Males had a median income of $30,298 versus $20,625 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 town was $14,105. About 11.2% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Otselic
- Beaver Meadow – A hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in the southeast part of the town, located on County Road 16. The name is derived from low-lying ground often flooded due to beaverBeaverThe beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
dams. - Otselic – The hamlet of Otselic is near the north town line at the junction of NY Route 26New York State Route 26New York State Route 26 is a north–south state highway that runs for through Central New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is located at the Pennsylvania state line south of the town of Vestal in Broome County, where it becomes Pennsylvania Route 267...
and NY Route 80New York State Route 80New York State Route 80 is a west–east New York State Route located within Onondaga, Madison, Chenango, Otsego, Herkimer, and Montgomery Counties in New York. Its western terminus is located at a junction with NY 175 in the city of Syracuse in Onondaga County, from which it...
. The Otselic River passes close to the community. - Otselic Center – A hamlet between Otselic village and Seventh Day Hollow on NY-26.
- Rhode Island – A location by the west town line.
- Seventh Day Hollow – A hamlet northeast of South Otselic on NY-26.
- South Otselic – A hamlet in the southwest corner of the town on NY-26 and the Otselic River at the junction with County Road 13. It was home to internationally known Gladding Fishing Line and is also the resting place of Grace BrownGrace BrownGrace Mae Brown was an American skirt factory worker whose murder caused a nationwide sensation, and whose life inspired the fictional character Roberta Alden in the Theodore Dreiser novel, An American Tragedy, as well as the Jennifer Donnelly novel, A Northern Light...
. This spring Broadlawns B&B will open, across from the Fish Hatchery. In 1983, many of its historic buildings were included in the South Otselic Historic DistrictSouth Otselic Historic DistrictSouth Otselic Historic District is a national historic district located at South Otselic in Chenango County, New York. The district includes 60 contributing buildings. It encompasses the hamlet's historic core and includes commercial, residential, ecclesistical, and industrial buildings. Among the...
on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The Newton HomesteadNewton HomesteadThe Newton Homestead, built in 1860 by Leroy and Courtland Newton, is an historic octagon house located on Ridge Road in the South Otselic hamlet of the town of Otselic, New York. Today it is the Gladding International Sport Fishing Museum. On June 3, 1982, it was added to the National Register...
was listed in 1982 and the Holden B. Mathewson HouseHolden B. Mathewson HouseHolden B. Mathewson House is a historic home at South Otselic in Chenango County, New York. It is a large, Colonial Revival–style residence built in 1908-1909. It is a -story, frame structure on a rusticated stone foundation and surmounted by a tall hipped roof with gabled dormers.It was added to...
in 2009. - South Otselic State Fish Hatchery – A fish hatcheryFish hatcheryA fish hatchery is a "place for artificial breeding, hatching and rearing through the early life stages of animals, finfish and shellfish in particular". Hatcheries produce larval and juvenile fish primarily to support the aquaculture industry where they are transferred to on-growing systems...
south of South Otselic. - Stanbro – A hamlet northwest of Beaver Meadow.
- Upper Beaver Meadow – A former location north of Beaver Meadow.