BlockBefore

Otsego County, New York

186 topographic sheets cover 122 settlements here, and 79 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

79 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

New York within the United States
Otsego County within New York
Explore by year 1856 1890

What the record shows

  • 2,104 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 79 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 50 buildings, 26 districts, 1 structure, 1 site and 1 object.
  • 1 of them is a covered bridge.
  • 8 of the 79 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 122 populated places in this county; 122 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

79

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
All Saints Chapel and Morris Family Burial Groundbuilding199797001455
Baker Octagon Barnbuilding198484002887
Bassett Family Housebuilding200404000823
Beardslee Farmdistrict200000000748
Bresee Hallbuilding198484002892
Chapin Memorial Churchbuilding200202001049
Cherry Valley Village Historic Districtdistrict198888000472
Church Street Historic Districtdistrict199797000532
Cooperstown Historic Districtdistrict198080002742
Cooperstown Historic District (Boundary Increase)building199797000937
Cornfield, Thebuilding200202001047
East Main Street Historic Districtdistrict199595001282
East Springfield Union Schoolbuilding199696000483
Evangelical Lutheran Churchbuilding2021100007081
Fairchild Mansionbuilding197474001294
Warren Ferris Housebuilding201616000063
Fly Creek Grange No. 844building200404000097
Fly Creek Historic Districtdistrict200606001004
Fly Creek Methodist Churchbuilding199696000859
Ford Blockbuilding198484002893
Gilbertsville Historic Districtdistrict197474001293
Gilbertsville Historic District (Boundary Increase)district198282001232
Gilbertsville Water Worksdistrict201111000290
Glimmerglass Historic Districtdistrict199999001136
Hartwick Historic Districtdistrict201313000610
House at 120 Balcom Roadbuilding2024100010480
Hyde Hallbuilding197171000555
Hyde Hall Covered Bridgestructure199898001539
Joseph Peck Housebuilding2025100010980
Kenyon Residencesbuilding200404000093
Lindesay Patent Rural Historic District (Boundary Increase)district199595001024
Lunn-Musser Octagon Barnbuilding198484002897
Major's Inn and Gilbert Blockbuilding197373001249
Andrew Mann Innbuilding198080002747
Mathewson-Bice Farmhouse and Mathewson Family Cemeterydistrict201313000331
Middlefield District No. 1 Schoolbuilding198787001363
Middlefield Hamlet Historic Districtdistrict198585001523
Morris Village Historic Districtdistrict201313000031
Morris-Lull Farmdistrict200505001389
Municipal Buildingbuilding198282001233
Benjamin D. North Housebuilding198585001499
Old Hartwick Village Cemeterysite201313000611
Old Post Officebuilding197878001895
Oneonta Armorybuilding199595000078
Oneonta Downtown Historic Districtdistrict200303001245
Oneonta Theatrebuilding200202000555
Otsdawa Baptist Churchbuilding200202000143
Otsego County Courthousebuilding197272000902
Roseboom Historic Districtdistrict199898001394
Rutherford Housebuilding2019100004733
Schuyler Lake Stone Churchbuilding2025100010979
South Worcester Historic Districtdistrict199292001563
Springfield Center Elementary Schoolbuilding201111000601
St. Mary's Episcopal Church Complexbuilding201515000094
St. Stephen's Chapelbuilding2021100006199
Stonehouse Farmbuilding198080002744
Sunnysidebuilding198888000211
Swart-Wilcox Housebuilding199090000817
Tepee, Thebuilding201111000543
Tianderahbuilding197878001894
Tunnicliff-Jordan Housebuilding201010000796
Tuttle-Peck Housebuilding2025100011420
Twentieth Century Steam Riding Gallery No. 409object199897001618
US Post Office-Cooperstownbuilding198888002473
US Post Office-Richfield Springsbuilding198988002422
Unadilla Forks Schoolbuilding199898001117
Unadilla Village Historic Districtdistrict199292001079
Unadilla Waterworksdistrict199292001080
Lemuel F. Vibber Housebuilding201616000393
Walnut Street Historic Districtdistrict198080002745
West Burlington Memorial Churchbuilding200100001661
West Main Street-West James Street Historic Districtdistrict199494000257
White House, Thebuilding201212000598
George I. Wilber Housebuilding200000001381
Women's Community Club of South Valleybuilding199998001617
Worcester Historic Districtdistrict197575001221
Roswell Wright Housebuilding198888001271
Zion Episcopal Church Complex and Harmony Cemeterydistrict199797001456
Zion Episcopal Church Complex and Harmony Cemeterydistrict199797001456

Covered bridges

1

Otsego County has 1 covered bridge on the National Register. Each is a listed structure with a federal nomination on file.

Hyde Hall Covered BridgeListed 1998, 17 map sheets show this crossing

Bird's-eye views and land ownership maps

6

Drawn when these were printed as single large sheets: the town seen from the air, and the county divided into its farms with every owner named. Each opens the original at the Library of Congress.

Bird's-eye view, 1890 - Cooperstown, N.Y.
Bird's-eye view (1890) - Cooperstown, N.Y.. Library of Congress.
Bird's-eye view, 1884 - Oneonta, N.Y.
Bird's-eye view (1884) - Oneonta, N.Y.. Library of Congress.
Bird's-eye view, 1885 - Richfield Springs, N.Y.
Bird's-eye view (1885) - Richfield Springs, N.Y.. Library of Congress.
Bird's-eye view, 1887 - Unadilla, N.Y. 1887
Bird's-eye view (1887) - Unadilla, N.Y. 1887. Library of Congress.
Land ownership map, 1856 - Map of Otsego Co. New York : from actual surveys
Land ownership map (1856) - Map of Otsego Co. New York : from actual surveys. Library of Congress.
Land ownership map, undated - Otsego County before 1850
Land ownership map - Otsego County before 1850. Library of Congress.

Photographs from libraries nationwide

15 of 37 shown

Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 37 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.

Airport obstruction chart, OC 5395, Oneonta Municipal Airport, Oneonta, New York, Boston Public Library - undated
Airport obstruction chart, OC 5395, Oneonta Municipal Airport, Oneonta, New York. United States. National Ocean Service, Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Maple Terrace Motel, Oneonta, New York, Boston Public Library - undated
Maple Terrace Motel, Oneonta, New York. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Sulphur Spring D.A.R. fountain, Richfield Springs, N. Y., Boston Public Library - undated
Sulphur Spring D.A.R. fountain, Richfield Springs, N. Y.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Richfield Springs Central School, Richfield Springs, N. Y., Boston Public Library - undated
Richfield Springs Central School, Richfield Springs, N. Y.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
The first clock of it kind in the United States, Richfield Springs, N. Y., Boston Public Library - undated
The first clock of it kind in the United States, Richfield Springs, N. Y.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Spring Park, Richfield Springs, N. Y., Boston Public Library - undated
Spring Park, Richfield Springs, N. Y.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Public library, Richfield Springs, N. Y., Boston Public Library - undated
Public library, Richfield Springs, N. Y.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Ostego Lake at Cooperstown, near Richfield Springs, N. Y., Boston Public Library - undated
Ostego Lake at Cooperstown, near Richfield Springs, N. Y.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Baker's Beach, Canadarago Lake, Richfield Springs, N. Y., Boston Public Library - undated
Baker's Beach, Canadarago Lake, Richfield Springs, N. Y.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Ostego Lake near Richfield Springs, N. Y., Boston Public Library - undated
Ostego Lake near Richfield Springs, N. Y.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
"The Monterey" -- Richfield Springs, N. Y., Boston Public Library - undated
"The Monterey" -- Richfield Springs, N. Y.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
"The Monterey" -- Richfield Springs, N. Y., Boston Public Library - undated
"The Monterey" -- Richfield Springs, N. Y.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Canadarago Lake and Cottages, Richfield Springs, N. Y., Boston Public Library - undated
Canadarago Lake and Cottages, Richfield Springs, N. Y.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Deowongo Island, Canadarago Lake, Richfield Springs, N. Y., Boston Public Library - undated
Deowongo Island, Canadarago Lake, Richfield Springs, N. Y.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Richfield Springs Hotel, view of porch, Richfield Springs, N. Y., Boston Public Library - undated
Richfield Springs Hotel, view of porch, Richfield Springs, N. Y.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

The county from the air

37 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 1,514 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 37 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-10-21, scale 1:60000
1959-10-21, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-10-21, scale 1:60000
1959-10-21, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-10-21, scale 1:60000
1959-10-21, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-05-03, scale 1:60000
1960-05-03, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-05-03, scale 1:60000
1960-05-03, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-05-03, scale 1:60000
1960-05-03, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2001-04-26, scale 1:14400
2001-04-26, scale 1:14400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2001-04-26, scale 1:14400
2001-04-26, scale 1:14400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2001-04-26, scale 1:14400
2001-04-26, scale 1:14400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2001-04-26, scale 1:14400
2001-04-26, scale 1:14400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-09-23, scale 1:35000
1958-09-23, scale 1:35000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-09-23, scale 1:35000
1958-09-23, scale 1:35000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-10-21, scale 1:60000
1959-10-21, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-05-03, scale 1:60000
1960-05-03, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-04-01, scale 1:76000
1974-04-01, scale 1:76000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-04-01, scale 1:76000
1974-04-01, scale 1:76000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-04-01, scale 1:76000
1974-04-01, scale 1:76000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1981-04-07, scale 1:80000
1981-04-07, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1981-04-07, scale 1:80000
1981-04-07, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1981-04-07, scale 1:80000
1981-04-07, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1981-04-07, scale 1:80000
1981-04-07, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1988-04-01, scale 1:28000
1988-04-01, scale 1:28000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1988-04-01, scale 1:28000
1988-04-01, scale 1:28000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1988-04-01, scale 1:28000
1988-04-01, scale 1:28000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1988-04-01, scale 1:28000
1988-04-01, scale 1:28000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1989-04-01, scale 1:28000
1989-04-01, scale 1:28000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1989-04-01, scale 1:28000
1989-04-01, scale 1:28000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1989-04-01, scale 1:28000
1989-04-01, scale 1:28000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1989-04-01, scale 1:28000
1989-04-01, scale 1:28000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1990-04-01, scale 1:28000
1990-04-01, scale 1:28000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1990-04-01, scale 1:28000
1990-04-01, scale 1:28000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1990-04-01, scale 1:28000
1990-04-01, scale 1:28000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1990-04-01, scale 1:28000
1990-04-01, scale 1:28000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2003-04-14, scale 1:14400
2003-04-14, scale 1:14400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2003-04-14, scale 1:14400
2003-04-14, scale 1:14400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2003-04-14, scale 1:28800
2003-04-14, scale 1:28800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2003-04-14, scale 1:28800
2003-04-14, scale 1:28800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

38 stations, 8 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

78 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 39-1Burlington town: Burlington town - That part north of State Highway 80
  • 39-2Burlington town - That part south of State Highway 80
  • 39-3Butternuts town: Gilbertsville village
  • 39-4Butternuts town - That part east of Butternut Creek outside Gilbertsville village
  • 39-5Butternuts town - That part west of Butternut Creek outside Gilbertsville village
  • 39-6Cherry Valley town: Cherry Valley village
  • 39-7Cherry Valley town - That part outside Cherry Valley village
  • 39-8Decatur town
  • 39-9Edmeston town: Edmeston town - That part north of State Highway 80
  • 39-10Edmeston town - That part south of State Highway 80
  • 39-11Exeter town
  • 39-12Hartwick town: Hartwick town - That part Bounded by Town line; Town line; County Highway 36, State Highway 28, County Highway 26; Town line
  • 39-13Hartwick town - That part Bounded by County Highway 26, State Highway 28, County Highway 36; Town line; Town line; Town line
  • 39-14Laurens town: Laurens village
  • 39-15Laurens town - That part outside Laurens village Bounded by Town line; Town line; County Highway 32, Laurens village limits, County Highway 30, State Highway 23; Town line
  • 39-16Laurens town - That part outside Laurens village Bounded by State Highway 23, County Highway 30, Laurens village limits, County Highway 32; Town line; Town line; Town line
  • 39-17Maryland town: Schenevus village
  • 39-18Maryland town - That part outside Schenevus village Bounded by Town line; Town line; Town line; Town line, State Highway 7, Schenevus village limits, Elk Creek Rd.
  • 39-19Maryland town - That part outside Schenevus village Bounded by Town line; Elk Creek Rd., Schenevus village limits, State Highway 7; Town line
  • 39-20Cooperstown village, comprising parts of Middlefield and Otsego towns: Cooperstown village - That part in Middlefield town
  • 39-21Cooperstown village - That part in Otsego town Bounded by Village limits; Town line; Main, W. Main
  • 39-22Cooperstown village - That part in Otsego town Bounded by Village limits, W. Main, Main; Pioneer, Elm, Chestnut; Village limits; Village limits
  • 39-23Cooperstown village - That part in Otsego town Bounded by Main; Susquehanna River; Susquehanna River; Susquehanna Ave., Elm, Pioneer
  • 39-24Cooperstown village - That part in Otsego town Bounded by Elm; Susquehanna Ave., Susquehanna River; Village limits; Chestnut
  • 39-25Middlefield town, outside Cooperstown village: Middlefield town - That part outside Cooperstown village Bounded by Town line; Town line; County Highway 31, Cherry Valley Rd., Cooperstown village limits; Town line
  • 39-26Middlefield town - That part outside Cooperstown village, excluding Otsego County Home Bounded by Cherry Valley Rd., County Highway 31; Town line; Town line; Town line, Cooperstown village limits
  • 39-27Otsego County Home (In Middlefield town)
  • 39-28Milford town: Milford village
  • 39-29Milford town - That part outside Milford village Bounded by Town line; Town line; Town line; State Highway 28, County Highway 45, County Highway 54, Milford village limits, State Highway 28
  • 39-30Milford town - That part outside Milford village Bounded by Town line; State Highway 28, Milford village limits, County Highway 54, County Highway 45, State Highway 28; Town line; Town line
  • 39-31Morris town: Morris village
  • 39-32Morris town - That part outside Morris village
  • 39-33New Lisbon town: New Lisbon town - That part east of Butternut Creek
  • 39-34New Lisbon town - That part west of Butternut Creek
  • 39-35Oneonta city: Oneonta city - That part of Ward 1 Bounded by Fair, Belmont Circle, S. Sand, Hudson, 8th, Main; City limits; City limits; Delaware Ave. extended, Delaware Ave., Lewis, Hickory
  • 39-36Oneonta city - That part of Ward 1 Bounded by Main; 8th; Hudson, S. Sand, Belmont Circle, Fair; Tilton Ave.
  • 39-37Oneonta city - That part of Ward 1 Bounded by Main; Tilton Ave., Fair, Hickory; Lewis; Otsego, Fair, Grand
  • 39-38Oneonta city - That part of Ward 1 Bounded by Main; Grand, Fair, Otsego, Lewis, Delaware Ave., Delaware Ave. extended, City limits; City limits; Ward line, Broad
  • 39-39Oneonta city - That part of Ward 2 Bounded by City limits; City limits; Main; Oneonta Creek
  • 39-40Oneonta city - That part of Ward 2 Bounded by City limits; Oneonta Creek; Center; East, Spruce, Union, Mary, Exit, State, Normal Ave., Elm, Ward line
  • 39-41Oneonta city - That part of Ward 2 Bounded by Norman Ave., State, Exit, Mary; Union; Spruce; Elm
  • 39-42Oneonta city - That part of Ward 2 Bounded by Spruce, East, Center; Creek; Main; Elm
  • 39-43Oneonta city - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by City limits; Ward line, Elm; Center, Ward line; Ward line
  • 39-44Oneonta city - That part of Ward 3 excluding Oneonta Hotel Bounded by Center; Elm, Main; Deitz, Washington, Church, Columbia; West
  • 39-45Oneonta Hotel (In Oneonta city, Ward 3)
  • 39-46Oneonta city - That part in Ward 4 Bounded by Washington; Deitz, Main, Broad, Ward line; Delaware & Hudson Railroad; Main, Chestnut, Church
  • 39-47Oneonta city - That part in Ward 4 Bounded by Center, West, Columbia; Church; Chestnut; Clinton
  • 39-48Oneonta city - That part of Ward 5 Bounded by City limits, Ward line; Clinton; Chestnut; City limits
  • 39-49Oneonta city - That part of Ward 5 Bounded by Chestnut; Main; Delaware & Hudson Railroad; City limits
  • 39-50Oneonta city - That part of Ward 6 Bounded by Delaware & Hudson Railroad; Ward line; City limits; Lyman Ave. extended, Lyman Ave., Neahwa Pl., River, Wilcox Ave., W. Broadway, Fonda Ave., Viaduct
  • 39-51Oneonta city - That part of Ward 6 Bounded by River, Neahwa Pl.; Lyman Ave., Lyman Ave. extended; City limits; Wilcox Ave.
  • 39-52Oneonta city - That part of Ward 6 Bounded by W. Broadway; Wilcox Ave.; City limits; Riverview Ave. extended, Riverview Ave., Miller
  • 39-53N/A
  • 39-54Oneonta town: West End, unincorporated Bounded by Southern New York Railway, Southern New York Railway spur line, Route 7, Unnamed Rd.; Oneonta city limits; County Highway 60; Otego Creek
  • 39-55Oneonta town - That part outside Oneonta city and West End, unincorporated, excluding Homer Folks Tuberculosis Hospital Bounded by Town line; Town line; Town line, New York Central Railroad, Oneonta city limits, Unnamed rural road, State Highway 7; State Highway 205 (See separate map for boundaries of West End)
  • 39-56Homer Folks Tuberculosis Hospital (In Oneonta town)
  • 39-57Oneonta town - That part outside Oneonta city and West End, unincorporated Bounded by Town line; State Highway 205, Branch of Southern New York Railway, Southern New York Railway, Otego Creek, County Highway 60, Oneonta city limits, New York Central Railroad, Town line; Town line; Town line (See separate map for boundaries of West End)
  • 39-58Otego town: Otego village
  • 39-59Otego town - That part outside Otego village Bounded by Town line Town line; Susquehanna River, Otego village limits; State Highway 417, County Highway 51, County Highway 56, Town line
  • 39-60Otego town - That part outside Otego village Bounded by Town line, County Highway 56; County Highway 51, State Highway 417, Otego village limits, Susquehanna River, Town line; Town line; Town line
  • 39-61Otsego town, outside Cooperstown village: Otsego town - That part outside Cooperstown village Bounded by Town line; Town line; Cooperstown village limits, State Highway 28; Oaks Creek, Town line
  • 39-62Otsego town - That part outside Cooperstown village Bounded by Town line; Oaks Creek, State Highway 23, Cooperstown village limits, Town line; Town line; Town line (Remainder of Otsego town is in Cooperstown village)
  • 39-63Pittsfield town
  • 39-64Plainfield town
  • 39-65Richfield town: Richfield Springs village: Richfield Springs village - That part east of Church and Lake
  • 39-66Richfield Springs village - That part west of Church and Lake
  • 39-67Richfield town - That part outside Richfield Springs village
  • 39-68Roseboom town
  • 39-69Springfield town: Springfield town - That part north of U.S. Highway 20
  • 39-70Springfield town - That part south of U.S. Highway 20
  • 39-71Unadilla town: Unadilla village: Unadilla village - That part Bounded by Village limits; Village limits; Village limits; Bridge, Main, Martin Brook St., Martin Brook Rd.
  • 39-72Unadilla village - That part Bounded by Village limits; Martin Brook Rd., Martin Brook St., Main, Bridge; Village limits; Village limits
  • 39-73Unadilla town - That part east of County Highway 57, outside Unadilla village
  • 39-74Unadilla town - That part west of County Highway 57, outside Unadilla village
  • 39-75Westford town
  • 39-76Worcester town: Worcester, unincorporated (See boundaries shown on aerial photo AJ-67-53)
  • 39-77Worcester town - That part north of Delaware & Hudson Railroad, outside the unincorporated place of Worcester (See aerial photo AJ-67-53 for boundaries of Worcester, unincorporated)
  • 39-78Worcester town - That part south of Delaware & Hudson Railroad, outside the unincorporated place of Worcester (See aerial photo AJ-67-53 for boundaries of Worcester, unincorporated)

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

632 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 632 of them, burning about 744 acres. 43 started naturally and 64 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined340
Debris and open burning103
Arson/incendiarism64
Natural43
Equipment and vehicle use26
Smoking21
Misuse of fire by a minor11
Recreation and ceremony10
Power generation/transmission/distribution7
Railroad operations and maintenance4
Other causes3

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
26 March 1995Debris and open burning45 acresNew York Forest Rangersnot named
29 October 1994Smoking22 acresNew York Forest Rangersnot named
1 May 2001Smoking12 acresNew York Forest Rangersnot named
11 May 1997Debris and open burning10 acresNew York Forest Rangersnot named
27 March 1995Smoking10 acresNew York Forest Rangersnot named
8 April 1999Debris and open burning9.0 acresNew York Forest Rangersnot named
3 October 2017Other causes8.2 acresNew York Forest RangersFISH AND GAME FIRE
17 April 2009Recreation and ceremony7.1 acresFire Department of New Yorknot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1958 to 2025

60 of 664 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 664 reports for this county, causing 2 deaths, 22 injuries and about $125,532,250 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind444
Hail134
Flash Flood67
Tornado13
Lightning3
Funnel Cloud2
Flood1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 1998Thunderstorm WindCooperstown1 killed, 5 hurt, $100,000Severe thunderstorms moved across the county during the afternoon. Trees and wires were blown down in Cooperstown and Laurens between 4:30 and 4:35 pm EDT. Numerous trees and wires were also downed by the wind in Schenevus at 4:45 pm and Oneonta at 4:50 pm EDT. Transmission towers and large signs were also toppled in Oneonta. Numerous roads were blocked due to the downed trees and many of them were closed for several hours. In Oneonta, a 32 year old man was struck and killed by a large tree limb. Several additonal injuries were sustained from flying debris.
June 1986Thunderstorm Windnot stated1 killedno account filed
May 1998Thunderstorm WindCooperstown10 hurt, $125,000Severe thunderstorms produced widespread damage across the county. Trees and wires were blown down in Cooperstown and northern Burlington Flats between 3:30 and 3:40 pm EDT. Several roads were blocked due to the downed trees and wires. People were trapped in their vehicles by falling trees and some sustained injury from flying debris, broken glass, or falling wires.
May 1998Tornado (F3)Laurens3 hurt, $800,000A supercell thunderstorm became tornadic as it crossed southern portions of the county around 6:30 pm EDT. The storm cut nearly a 5 mile path from Laurens eastward into Milford township. This twister incurred major damage to heavily forested areas. Thousands of trees were laid out with the width of damage varying up to nearly a half mile in spots. Trees were blown over in a chaotic and almost circular pattern as viewed from aerial damage surveys. Several homes within the path of the twister also sustained heavy damage. In the town of Laurens, a well built home was nearly destroyed with only the back and a portion of the side wall left in tact. Many local roads were closed for up to 3 days as fallen trees made them completely impassable. This included portions of routes 12 and 44. The cell appeared to weaken as it approached Interstate 88 just east of Milford. County emergency officials estimated damage totals in excess of three quarters of a million dollars from this twister. Most of it stemmed from deforestation, repair of utility poles, and other repairs to homes and public structures. Three minor injuries were sustained from falling tree limbs and flying debris.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindEdmeston1 hurt, $3,000Several trees were blown down including a tree that fell on a motorcyclist.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindSchenevus1 hurt, $2,500Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down a tree onto a vehicle, injuring the driver.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindLaurens1 hurt, $2,000Numerous trees were blown down in the town of Laurens. One tree fell on a golf cart, injuring one person.
July 1990Thunderstorm Windnot stated1 hurtno account filed
September 2011FloodUnadilla$58,000,000Major flooding occurred along the Susquehanna River near Unadilla, NY from September 7, 2011 to September 10, 2011. The river crested at 16.34 feet on September 8 at 9:15 PM. The hardest hit area was the village of Sidney, NY which incurred tens of millions of dollars in property damage.
June 2006Flash FloodCountywide$50,000,000no account filed
January 1996Flash FloodCountywide$5,400,000no account filed
July 1992Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
September 2011Flash FloodOtego$2,000,000Numerous roads were closed due to flooding. A state of emergency was declared in Otego.
April 2011Flash FloodGilbertsville$1,000,000Scattered roads were washed out and floods were reported throughout the county.
September 2004Flash FloodSoutheast Portion$1,000,000Heavy rain with amounts of 3 to 4.5 inches in the southeast half of the county caused flash flooding. The rain which fell from the 16th to the 18th was due to the remnants of hurricane Ivan. A trailer park near Oneonta started experiencing severe flooding around 4:30 AM. County highway 5 flooded in the town of Otego. Several other roadways also had water on them. Several creeks and streams, including Schenevus Creek, went out of its banks.
April 2005Flash FloodCountywide$500,000no account filed
June 1986Tornado (F0)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 1976Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 2025Flash FloodGilbertsville$100,000Numerous roads, bridges, and homes were flooded in and around the village.
August 2019Flash FloodOtego$100,000Wheaton Creek rapidly flooded and washed out a large section of Wheaton Creek Road at the bridge crossing. Heavy damage to the bridge forced closure of the road for several days.
August 2011Flash FloodCooperstown$100,000Flash flooding reported in many locations around Otsego county. At least 8 roads closed due to flooding.
April 2011Tornado (EF1)Gilbertsville$100,000A tornado touched down in woods near Route 51 between Mount Upton and Gilbertsville, producing EF0 damage until reaching Copes Corners Road where it strengthened to EF1, snapping and uprooting trees through a heavily wooded area. It moved up the hill and across the athletic fields of the Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School. Here, it threw metal bleachers several hundred yards to the north. It also tore a press box off steel beams, hurled a railroad tie used in a parking lot over a hundred feet into a fence, broke off metal poles used for hanging netting, and bent a soccer goal back in the southward direction. The field was littered with small tree missiles pointing in both directions with a southward direction on the left side of the path. A portable toilet was lifted and dropped about a half mile away and some other light material was found almost a mile away. The tornado continued to the northeast passing south of Gilbertsville, with damage primarily to trees. The path continued to narrow and weaken, ending a couple miles east of Gilbertsville.
June 2009Flash FloodOtego$100,000Flash flooding from heavy rain caused one structure to collapse and one home was flooded. Streets were flooded in Otego. Interstate 88 was closed temporarily due to mud flow. Radar indicated an area of 2.50 to 4.00 inches of rain fell as far as 4 miles north and east of Otego.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindWells Bridge$75,000A National Weather Service storm survey found straight-line wind damage across southern Otsego and northern Delaware counties. Tree damage occurred along an 8 mile long and 6 mile wide stretch from Otego and Unadilla through Wells Bridge in Otsego county, into Sidney and Franklin in Delaware county. Two homes were damaged along the path. Estimated wind speeds were between 85 and 95 mph, rating an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
May 1998Tornado (F0)Portlandville$75,000A severe thunderstorm briefly became tornadic early in the evening as it crossed over the ridges of the Crumhorn mountains and into the Portlandville/Maryland area. Damage consisted of tree tops twisted off in about a 30 yard wide area. The path of the twister was around three quarters of a mile with the intensity rated as F0. Just beyond Morehouse Brook in Maryland township, the tornado appeared to lift back into the cloud base with no visible signs of damage downstream.
July 1999Flash FloodEast Portion$75,000no account filed
May 1998Thunderstorm WindExeter Center$60,000A line of severe thunderstorms moved across Otsego County during the afternoon. Trees and wires were knocked down in Exeter Center at 2:55 pm, Hartwick at 3:20 pm, Morris at 3:27 pm, and Unadilla at 4:12 pm EDT.
August 2024Flash FloodWells Bridge$50,000A section of Route 7 between Wells Bridge and Unadilla was washed out by severe flash flooding.
July 2021Flash FloodMorris$50,000A bridge was flooded. Hay bales were blocking the creek underpass. The local fire department was flooded out.
July 2013Flash FloodOneonta$50,000Area roads were severely flooded. Oneonta City Hall was flooded.
June 2013Flash FloodCooperstown$50,000Water was flooding over most streets in the village. Some roads washed out.
August 2011Flash FloodCherry Vly$50,000Fifty people evacuated in Cherry Valley due to flooding. 5 inches of rain was reported.
September 2011Flash FloodOneonta$50,000Numerous roads flooded in the City of Oneonta. SUNY Oneonta was almost cut off on the hill above the flooding.
July 1999Thunderstorm WindOneonta$50,000Numerous cars and houses sustained minor damage throughout the city and surrounding areas of Oneonta as strong thunderstorm gusts uprooted trees and transmission poles and lines.
September 1998Thunderstorm WindSpringfield$50,000The southern tail end of a line of thunderstorms that produced wind damage upstream to the northwest also produced isolated wind damage in the far northern portions of Otsego county late in the evening. Strong winds damaged a door and blew in part of a small wall at a house along route 20 in Springfield Township around 1110 pm EDT. Only a short time later, the roof was blown off of a trailer in East Springfield.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindGilbertsville$50,000The same severe thunderstorm that produced widespread wind damage in northern Broome and southern Chenango counties ripped through southern Otsego county. Again, wind damage was the main story. To the southwest of Gilbertsville, trees and wires were blown down across Route 18. Further to the east, many additional trees and utility poles were toppled in both Otego and Oneonta.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindOneonta$50,000no account filed
July 1994Thunderstorm Windnot stated$50,000no account filed
July 1994Thunderstorm WindHartwick Seminary$50,000no account filed
August 1993Thunderstorm WindCooperstown$50,000no account filed
May 2011Flash FloodEmmons$35,000Heavy rain caused flooding in and around the Oneonta area. Main Street in Oneonta experienced flooding, from Main Street south on County Route 28 toward the Franklin Mountain area. Small streams and basements flooded, with water running down hillsides through some homes. An automated rain gauge east of Oneonta recorded 2.86 inches.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindOneonta$35,000A thunderstorm became severe across southern sections of the county. Many trees and wires were downed in Oneonta around 9 pm EDT. The storm then continued eastward into Milford and produced additional wind damage in the form of toppled trees and utility poles. One such tree fell across a house and damaged its front porch.
May 2014Flash FloodEdmeston$25,000A road washout occurred along State Highway 20 near Edmeston.
July 2013Flash FloodOneonta$25,000Heavy rainfall caused extensive urban and storm drain flash flooding throughout the City of Oneonta. Cars and people were stranded on local roadways.
June 2013Flash FloodSpringfield$25,000Widespread flooding of roads was occurring in the area. Some washouts were reported.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindWorcester$25,000Numerous trees down with two silos sustaining minor damage from thunderstorm winds.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindRichfield Spgs$25,000A thunderstorm became severe as it accelerated across northern sections of the county late in the afternoon. Trees and wires were downed in Richfield Springs around 410 pm EDT. Almost 30 minutes later in the northeastern corner of the county, the same cell was responsible for additional downed trees in Cherry Valley.
June 1996Flash FloodEdmeston$25,000no account filed
May 1995Thunderstorm WindUnadilla$25,000no account filed
July 1987Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1987Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
August 1961Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
August 1958Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 2021Thunderstorm WindOneonta$22,000Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down a tree onto power lines which then landed on a residence with smoke filling the house.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindOtego$20,000Strong thunderstorm winds snapped dozens of trees along a swath from Route 7 to Interstate 88. Roof shingles and a barn door was also ripped off a building on Route 48.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindRichfield Spgs$20,000Silo/grain elevator blown 500 feet into a house.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindOneonta$20,000Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees wires. Metal was pulled off a roof just south of Milford. Oneonta was particularly hard hit.
August 1999Thunderstorm WindOneonta$20,000Trees felled by thunderstorm wind gusts damaged a fence at a residence and tore down cables and electric lines leading to the home.
December 1996Flash FloodCountywide$20,000no account filed
July 1995Thunderstorm WindGilbertsville$20,000no account filed

Mines and quarries

6 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 6 workings inside this county. 5 still produce and 1 is closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction5
Stone, Crushed/Broken1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Springfield QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Colliersville PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Hemlock Road PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Robertson Number 1Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Unadilla Concrete Prods S & GSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Valley View RoadSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

122

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.