Owego (village), New York
Encyclopedia
Owego is a village
in and the county seat
of Tioga County
, New York
, USA. The population was 3,911 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Binghamton
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The name is derived from the Iroquois
word Ahwaga, meaning where the valley widens.
The Village of Owego is by the west town line of the Town of Owego
and is west of Binghamton, New York
.
Owego is one of only twelve villages in New York still incorporated under a charter
; all other New York villages have incorporated or re-incorporated under the provisions of Village Law.
, Owego village was in Tioga. In 1813, Tioga and Owego switched names, putting the village in the same-named town. The current Town of Tioga
is now just west of the village. The village is in the Owego-Apalachin Central School District. Three district buildings are within the village's limits: The District Office Building on Talcott Street, the Owego Elementary School on Christa McAuliffe Lane, and the combined Owego-Apalachin Middle School and Owego Free Academy building on Sheldon Guile Boulevard.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (8.12%) is water.
Owego is on the Susquehanna River
where the Owego Creek flows into the Susquehanna from the north.
A bridge connects the village to the Southern Tier Expressway (New York State Route 17
), which is on the south side of the river.
Owego is located on NY-17C
, south of the junction of NY-96
and NY-38
.
of 2000, there were 3,911 people, 1,664 households, and 978 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,566.7 people per square mile (604.0/km²). There were 1,913 housing units at an average density of 766.3 per square mile (295.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.42% White, 1.15% Black or African American
, 0.46% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.33% from other races
, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.82% of the population.
There were 1,664 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples
living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the village the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $31,742, and the median income for a family was $43,139. Males had a median income of $27,299 versus $20,268 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $17,068. About 10.3% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in and the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Tioga County
Tioga County, New York
As of the census of 2010, there were 51,125 people residing in the county, with 22,203 housing units, of these 20,350 occupied, 1,853 vacant. The population density was 98 people per square mile...
, 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...
, USA. The population was 3,911 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Binghamton
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Binghamton metropolitan area
The Binghamton Metropolitan Statistical Area, also called Greater Binghamton, is a region of southern upstate New York in the Northeastern United States, anchored by the city of Binghamton...
. The name is derived from the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
word Ahwaga, meaning where the valley widens.
The Village of Owego is by the west town line of the Town of Owego
Owego (town), New York
Owego is a town in Tioga County, New York, USA. The population was 20,365 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the Iroquois word Ahwaga, meaning where the valley widens....
and is west of Binghamton, New York
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
.
Owego is one of only twelve villages in New York still incorporated under a charter
Municipal charter
A city charter or town charter is a legal document establishing a municipality such as a city or town. The concept developed in Europe during the middle ages....
; all other New York villages have incorporated or re-incorporated under the provisions of Village Law.
History
The village of Owego was established in 1787. When the "Town of Tioga" was created from the Town of UnionUnion, New York
Union is a town in Broome County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 56,298. The name derives from the town having served as a rendezvous for the Sullivan Expedition....
, Owego village was in Tioga. In 1813, Tioga and Owego switched names, putting the village in the same-named town. The current Town of Tioga
Tioga, New York
Tioga is a town in Tioga County, New York, United States. The population was 4,840 at the 2000 census. The town is in the southwest part of the county and lies between Elmira and Binghamton. Tioga is in the Southern Tier District of New York.- History :...
is now just west of the village. The village is in the Owego-Apalachin Central School District. Three district buildings are within the village's limits: The District Office Building on Talcott Street, the Owego Elementary School on Christa McAuliffe Lane, and the combined Owego-Apalachin Middle School and Owego Free Academy building on Sheldon Guile Boulevard.
2009 America's Coolest Small Towns
Owego was named by Budget Travel magazine's readers as The Coolest Small Town in the United States in a poll. Results were announced on The Early Show, April 15, 2009 with Budget Travel's editor in chief, Nina Willdorf with Harry Smith.Geography
Owego is located at 42°6′15"N 76°15′48"W (42.104374, -76.263436).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 village has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (8.12%) is water.
Owego is on the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
where the Owego Creek flows into the Susquehanna from the north.
A bridge connects the village to the Southern Tier Expressway (New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
), which is on the south side of the river.
Owego is located on NY-17C
New York State Route 17C
New York State Route 17C is a state highway in the Southern Tier of New York. Its western terminus is at an intersection with NY 34 in Waverly, Tioga County while its eastern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11 in Binghamton, Broome County...
, south of the junction of NY-96
New York State Route 96
New York State Route 96 is a northwest–southeast state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the Southern Tier village of Owego, Tioga County. Its northern terminus is at a junction with...
and NY-38
New York State Route 38
New York State Route 38 is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 96 in the town of Owego in Tioga County. The northern terminus is at a junction with NY 104A in the town of...
.
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 3,911 people, 1,664 households, and 978 families residing in the village. 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 1,566.7 people per square mile (604.0/km²). There were 1,913 housing units at an average density of 766.3 per square mile (295.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.42% White, 1.15% Black or African American
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...
, 0.46% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.33% 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 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.82% of the population.
There were 1,664 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% 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, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the village the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $31,742, and the median income for a family was $43,139. Males had a median income of $27,299 versus $20,268 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 village was $17,068. About 10.3% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.