Records Center
Records Center hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please call 315-349-8461 for any questions. Records Center Location - 384 East River Road Oswego, New York 13126
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Oswego County has been settled for more than 180 years; there has been an Oswego County since 1816 when it was created by an act of the State Legislature. Prior to that time the territory now comprising Oswego was part of Massachusetts Bay Company's Grant of 1629; claimed by both Massachusetts and New York between 1681 and 1770; deeded by Massachusetts to New York in 1786 and 1787; part of Montgomery County - 1794; the towns of Oswego, Hannibal and Granby on the west side of the Oswego River were a part of the Military Tract in Onondaga County, including the original township of Hannibal and 33 lots from the north part of Lysander; the towns east of the Oswego River were taken from Oneida County.
Oswego County is one of three counties in the state that historically had two county seats. At the first Board of Supervisors meeting held in 1816, the law provided for two jury districts with a county seat and court house in each district. Needless to say, there were problems. By vote of the Supervisors and an Act of the Legislature in 1852, the permanent seat of the County Clerk was fixed in Oswego, but courts continue to be held in both the city of Oswego and the village of Pulaski to this day. Since 1852 the records have been kept in the County Clerk's office in Oswego.
Oswego County has always been important to the safety of the United States. It was the furthest frontier border during the Revolutionary War and the most important battle front in the War of 1812. Settlement started around 1800 slowly and slowed even further at the time of the War of 1812, not to start up again until after 1815. The actual impetus for settlement was the completion of the Oswego Canal in 1828. People, goods and news could travel on the canal & settlers came from eastern counties and New England where land was wearing out.
- County Seat: The City of Oswego
- Oswego County became New York State's 48th county in 1816.
- Size: 968 square miles
- Two cities - Oswego and Fulton
- 9 Villages - Central Square, Cleveland, Hannibal, Lacona, Mexico, Parish, Phoenix, Pulaski and Sandy Creek.
- 22 Towns - Albion, Amboy, Boylston, Constantia, Granby, Hannibal, Hastings, Mexico, Minetto, New Haven, Orwell, Oswego, Palermo, Parish, Redfield, Richland, Sandy Creek, Schroeppel, Scriba, Volney, West Monroe, and Williamstown.
- 755.79 miles of highway
- Population: Approximately 122,000
- Products: farm produce, dairy products, paper mill products, aluminum rolled products, wire, frozen vegetables, chocolate products, paper containers, baked beans, paper making machinery and electricity.
- Three nuclear power plants, several hydroelectric plants, oil and oil burning power plants with an installed capacity in excess of 4,300,000 kw output.
- Tourism: trophy fishing, boating, camping, festivals year-round, museum exhibits, historic sites including Fort Ontario, two state parks, two state fish hatcheries, three auto race tracks and a county fair.
- Education: nine public school districts, one vocational education center, one state university college, two college extension sites.
- Public Facilities: 11 public libraries, one hospital, several primary care centers and health care centers.
- Major waterways: Lakes Ontario and Oneida, the Oswego, Oneida and Salmon Rivers.
- Geography: Tug Hill Plateau has highest point in NE corner at 1550', Lake Ontario Plain, Oswego, Oneida and Salmon River Valleys.
- One town, Orwell, is "dry".
- Harbors: Oswego Harbor at the mouth of the Oswego River in City of Oswego and Port Ontario at the mouth of the Salmon River.
- The Port of Oswego Authority dock is the first major port of call on the Great Lakes.
As stated by emblem designer Madelyn Schmidt:
"In 1976, the Oswego County Legislature, as part of their participation in the Bicentennial Celebration, sponsored a contest to create a logo to be used as the Oswego County seal.
I attempted to choose symbols that would represent the many aspects of our county.
The outside five pointed shape is taken from historic Fort Ontario, located in the City of Oswego, which is the county seat.
The smoke stack and energy symbol signify the numerous industries in the county, giving employment to many.
The plow is emblematic of the importance of agriculture throughout our 22 towns - including dairying, much farming, and the growing of fruit, vegetables and other crops.
The graduation cap symbolizes the high quality of all education in our county, from programs such as Head Start and preschools through high school and in particular our widely acclaimed State University College at Oswego.
The sailboat and fish characterize the recreational pleasure derived by residents of the county - from its ponds, streams, rivers, Oneida Lake and Lake Ontario. In addition, many businesses thrive due to the tourists who flock to our attractive county."
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