Mexico (town), New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mexico | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
  Mexico
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| Coordinates: 43°27′48″N 76°12′29″W / 43.46333°N 76.20806°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Oswego |
| Population (Census 2000) | |
| - Total | 5,181 |
Mexico is a town in the northeast part of Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 5,181 at the 2000 census.[1] The town contains a village, also called Mexico. NY 104/Main Street passes through the village. NY 69 passes through the town of Mexico and comes to an end in the village, where it intersects with NY 104. US Route 11 also passes through the town.
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[edit] Early history
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This article may be too long to read and navigate comfortably. Please consider splitting content into sub-articles and using this article for a summary of the key points of the subject. (June 2009) |
In a history of Oswego county, Mexico may be appropriately termed "the mother of towns." It is the oldest civil division in this county, and has the unique distinction of having been twice formed by legislative enactment. The act originally creating it from Whitestown, Herkimer County, New York was passed April 10, 1792, and provided as follows:
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The first Mexico, as thus constituted, comprised the present counties of Onondaga and Cortland, and all of Oswego lying west of the before mentioned line, which would strike a point near the northwest corner of Williamstown. March 5, 1794, Onondaga county was formed from Herkimer, and an the same day Lysander, including that part of the county of Oswego lying west of Oswego River, was erected into a township. At this time nearly all of the settlers were located in Onondaga county, leaving but three or four families in this town, and consequently the erection and organization of the original Mexico was abandoned for a time. The second legislative act was passed February 26, 1796, and reads as follows:
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The second Mexico, thus formed, included all of Oswego county east of Oswego River and north of Oneida River and Lake, and portions of the counties of Jefferson, Lewis, and Oneida. These bounds remained intact until March 15, 1799, when Camden (including Vienna and Florence) was taken off. Lowville and Turin, forming the southwest part of Lewis county, and Champion and Watertown (including Rutland and Hounsfield), in Jefferson county were taken off on March 14, 1800, as was also Redfield in this county. Ellisburg, including Henderson, in Jefferson county, was set off February 22, 1803, and Lorraine (including Worth, in the same county), March 24, 1804. This left Mexico wholly within the present county of Oswego, of which it became an integral part on March 1, 1816. Williamstown (including Amboy, Richiand, Albion, Boylston, Orwell, and Sandy Creek), was set off. March 24, 1804; Volney (including Scriba, Schroeppel, and Palermo), on March 21, 1806; Constantia (including Hastings and West Monroe), on April 8, 1808; New Haven on April 2, 1813; and Parish on March 20, 1828. On March 31, 1817, lots 137 to 148 inclusive of survey township number 21 were taken from Richland and annexed to this town. On May 9, 1836, lots 24, 25, 26, and 27 of the nineteenth township were taken from New Haven, and lots 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, and 110 of the twenty-first township were taken from Richland and all annexed to Mexico, leaving Mexico with its present area of 28,217 acres divided into 184 lots. It comprises township 20 and parts of townships 19 and 21 of Scriba's Patent.
Mexico had a somewhat irregular outline, and lay near the center of the northwest boundary of Oswego county. The surface was gently rolling, and there was scarcely a foot of waste land in the town. Excellent drainage was afforded by several streams, the largest of which are Salmon and Sage Creeks. The soil was a clay, sand and gravelly loam, underlaid with a strata of gray sandstone, deeply covered with alluvial deposits. Quarrying is carried on to a limited extent along Little Salmon Creek, and peat exists in some localities. The soil is very fertile, and produces large crops of hay, grain and fruit. Strawberries are extensively cultivated. Dairying is now the chief industry. The first cheese factory in town was built at Colosse in 1863, and in 1864 another was located at Prattham. At present there are eight in operation, all doing an excellent business.
The town was originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, and for many years a number of saw mills did an extensive business. In 1858 there were nineteen in operation. The manufacture of barrels comprised at one time quite an important industry. But destruction of the primitive forests finally stopped these enterprises, leaving the inhabitants to pursue the steadier occupations of agriculture.
Experts claimed that Mexico lies within the great natural gas belt, which extends northeasterly from south of Potter County, Pennsylvania. In 1890 the Mexico Natural Gas, Oil and Mineral Company was organized, and in the following year a well was sunk. Gas was discovered, but not in sufficient quantities to induce further operations.
As early as 1795 Mr. Scriba had opened a road from what is now Mexico Point to the present village of Constantia. This was the first thoroughfare in the town. Soon afterwards a highway was established from the first named place to Oswego, following mainly the beach of Lake Ontario. Other roads were opened, as settlement increased and made them necessary. In 1847 the Rome and Oswego Plank Road Company was organized, and a plank road was completed between those points in the spring of 1848. It passed through Mexico, and did an immense business in through traffic; but its business was diverted when the railroad reached Oswego, and it was long since abandoned as a plank road.
Early in the present century a stage and mail route was established between Mexico and Oswego. It soon had daily stages which were continued until superseded by the railroad. In July 1861, Kenyon & Barrett, who were the proprietors of the line, put on a Concord coach "at a cost of $600", which created no little enthusiasm. In the fall of 1865 the Oswego and Rome Railroad (now part of the R. W. & 0.) was completed from Oswego to Richland Station, passing through Mexico, and regular trains commenced running on the first of January, 1866 This gave a new impetus to the town, and especially to Mexico village, the effect of which still continues.
On April 7, 1801, it was voted that "no hog shall run at large without a goose-poke" between May 10 and October 26. March 6, 1804, a bounty of $10 was placed on wolf scalps, which in 1812 was increased to $30, and Daniel H. Southard is said to have received $1,500 in bounties from this provision. In 1804 a bounty of six cents (formerly four cents) was voted on each "black, gray, or striped squirrel, blue jay, or blackbird killed in the town". On May 13, 1846, a special act of the Legislature authorized a tax levy of $500 to procure a town hall. On March 23, 1857, the town hail trustees were empowered to sell the same for $500, and the trustees, supervisor, and town clerk were authorized to buy or lease a new site aiid erect another building, which was erected, and was burned in 1862. On March 6, 1877, it was voted to build the present Washington Hall in Mexico village, but work was not commenced until June 12, 1878. It is of brick, and cost complete, including the lot, $6,000. It stands just east of the Mexico Hotel, and has a town clock in a sightly tower.
Mr. Scriba, like many another land proprietor, held somewhat visionary ideas regarding the future of the mouth of Little Salmon Creek, superinduced, no doubt, by the highly colored reports which he received from his agent, Benjamin Wright. Mr. Wright being a surveyor, was employed, as previously stated, to lay out Scriba's patent into townships and town lots, and was most favorably impressed with the excellent water power, valuable timber, and fertile soil of this particular locality, which he reported as being the best in all the patent. In 1796 he took up his residence at the mouth of the creek, surveyed a city into lots as far back as the present hamlet of Texas, and named it "Vera Cruz". He built a store, the first in town, and in November wrote to Mr. Scriba that it was "almost ready to hold goods." The entrance to the creek was improved and an immense amount of money and labor expended. For a few years the place promised a brilliant future, and efforts were made to make it one of the best harbors on the. lake. Mr. Scriba erected a tavern and five or six houses, and a little farther up the creek a saw and grist mill, the first in Mexico. He also reserved a site for a city park, and pushed the improvements with corn-mendable vigor.
In 1798 or 1799, a Captain Geerman established a ship yard at "Vera Cruz" and built a small schooner, and in the following autumn an event occurred which cast a gloom over the pioneer settlement. Food had become scarce, and with young Welcome Spencer, Captain Geerman volunteered to sail over to Kingston, Canada, for a supply. The two men set out in the new craft, and as the days slipped by the settlers began to look anxiously for their return. A report was circulated that a light had been seen on Stony Island; but weeks passed, and still no tidings came, and suspense and excitement finally culminated into action. Chipman Wheadon, Nathaniel Rood, Greene Clark, Miles Doolittle and the father of young Spencer volunteered as a search party, but after a fruitless absence they began the return trip. Their open boat encountered a terrific gale, capsized, and they found a watery grave. The scene was witnessed from the shore, but all were powerless to extend aid. Wheadon was the last man to go down. The fate of the brave mariners was never known and this had a depressing effect upon the infant "city" of Vera Cruz, and also upon the surrounding settlements. The former never fully recovered, and indeed it may be said that with that calamity began the period of its decline. Among the surviving male inhabitants of the place were Benjamin Wright and Archibald Fairfield. Soon afterward the number of families had dwindled to six. No more vessels were built here, but the store and mills were continued, and in a later year it is stated that more goods were sold at "Vera Cruz" than at either Oswego or Utica.[citation needed] The earlier settlers located along Scriba's road, and this was their most convenient trading point. It finally became the resort of successful smugglers, and tradition implicates some of the inhabitants in that illegal traffic.
The disaster on the lake, and President Jefferson's restrictive policy,[clarification needed] followed by the War of 1812, wholly extinguished the flattering prospects of "Vera Cruz". A fire about 1820 destroyed the business portion, and this, and the changes of three-quarters of a century, have obliterated all traces of the "city". In 1798 there were about twenty-five people in the present town of Mexico. Many of the pioneers came from eastern counties in this State, and from New England, and were characterized by principles of thrift, honesty and perseverance. The first building in the town that was destroyed by fire was the log house occupied by Calvin Tiffany. It stood half a mile northeast of the depot, and was burned in February 1801. Mr. Tiffany rebuilt on the site and was again burned out in 1807.
The war of 1812 checked the tide of immigration, and scarcely a settler came in until its close. Those who had braved pioneer life were in constant fear of molestation, and a few resolved to seek safer homes by removal. Many, if not all, of the able-bodied men in town were called out as soldiers, and the boom of cannon occasionally, reached the ears of those who were left. Added to this was an epidemic that strongly resembled Asiatic cholera. It raged severely during the year 1812, and many died for want of proper care. Before this, as well as afterwards, the settlers experienced the usual diseases arising from miasmatic swamps and decomposition of vegetable matter. In 1820, almost every family furnished one or more victims to the ravages of a fatal form of dysentery, and this and other diseases incident to a new country "probably carried off more than one-half of all who located here during the first twenty years".
The first burial place in town was the Primitive Cemetery, located on the hill west of Mexico village. The plot was given for the purpose by George Scriba. The first person buried therein was Samuel Cole, in January 1809. The first school in town was taught by Sanford Douglass at Colosse, in 1806, and the first in Mexico village by Harriet Easton in 1811 in Shuball Alfred's barn. The first school house was a log structure, erected near the site formerly occupied by the East Presbyterian church. The town now contains nineteen school districts.
Mexico Military Academy was formed on April 13, 1826. The first meeting took place on June 10, 1826, and the first election took place "at the Slack school house" on May 9, 1827. There was considerable rivalry between Mexico village and Prattham as to the location of the building. A site was finally selected between the two places and material procured, but the advocates of the present site secured a change. A brick structure was erected and school opened early in 1827 with John Howard, principal and Laura Fish, preceptress. In 1835 a wooden building was built in front of the old brick edifice, and thenceforward the academy was regarded as one of the most successful in the State. This frame structure did service until 1855, when it was removed and converted into, and ever since used as, a carriage factory by Lewis Miller. On the site the present brick structure was erected. It is 100 by 50 feet, three stories high, and heated by hot water, and lighted by electricity.
On May 9, 1845, the name was changed to the Mexico Academy, and in 1893 it was again changed to the Mexico Military Academy, latter being adopted in consequence of the addition of a military system of discipline. It was non-sectarian, and afforded five courses of study: English, Academic, Classical, Commercial, and Civil Engineering. The military department is under the inspection of the War Department, and instruction in military tactics is given by an officer of the United States Army. The library contains about 1,600 volumes, and there are also philosophical apparatus, geological cabinet, and chemical laboratory. The academy is under tile visitation of the Board of Regents, and at present has an attendance of about 125 students.
Old in settlement as well as in name, and possessing natural and picturesque advantages seldom found in similar communities, the village of Mexico, enjoyed a position, the importance of which is recognized throughout the county. The site early became the nucleus of a busy colony, and the place took the name of Mexicoville. In 1812 there were a dozen houses within its present bounds. Nathaniel Rood was the first settler-the Rood who lost his life in the lamentable lake disaster off "Vera Cruz" in The first frame house was built by Shubael Alfred in 1807. It was 20 by 24 feet, and in it the Masonic Lodge held one or more meetings in 1808. Both this and his barn were afterward sanctified by religious services, and in the latter were held several of the earlier sessions of school.
The first blacksmith in the village was Brainard Selby, who was born in Massachusetts in 1779. He settled at "Fort Eleazer", in this town, in 1804, but soon afterwards removed to Mexico village and located at the foot of Morton Hill, where he made scythes, forks, axes, plows, etc. Mr. Selby died in April 1870.
The first regular hotel was built by Matthias Whitney on the site of the Mexico House, in 1823. It was subsequently replaced by a better building, which burned July 22, 1864, under the proprietorship of Albin Meyer. Among the landlords previous to the latter, were A. S. Chamberlain, Chamberlin & Robbins, and J. B. Taylor. It was rebuilt in 1865, and opened by Ira Biddlecome as landlord, who was followed in 1886 by J. B. Davis. In January 1867, it passed to C. S. Mayo, who changed the name to the Mayo House. It later assumed its older and present appellation, and has had various proprietors.
About 1837 Judge Whitney erected a frame tavern on the site of the Boyd House, and in 1851 Dr. C. D. Snell built a brick structure, using the wood part as a wing. The whole, costing $8,500, was called the Empire House and block, and on June 29, 1866, was destroyed by fire, the proprietor at that time being J. B. Taylor. Previous to him I. L. Dillenbeck, L. Millington, C. Tickner, and others had conducted it as landlords. It was rebuilt as at present and opened as the Empire House, in March 1867, by J. B. Taylor and George Swanson. Afterwards J. B. Gilison was proprietor, and when Capt. David Boyd assumed charge, its name became the Boyd House.
As early as 1818 Mathew McNair and T. S. Morgan, of Oswego, built a store, ashery and distillery. The ashery stood on the west bank of the creek and on the north side of the road. The distillery was run by Simon Tuller. who was succeeded by Lamb, Webb & Tuller. In 1825, Bazaleel Thayer established a wool-carding and cloth-dressing mill, and Jabin Wood established a tannery. The latter soon after started the first shoe shop, and was succeeded in the tanning business by Archibald Ross, William Merriam and others.
The first merchant in the village was William S. Fitch, who kept the store built by McNair & Morgan. Around 1827 he erected a store building, and this, in a remodeled form, was the billiard room of William Simons. The upper part was used as a place for holding religious and Masonic meetings, and for a select school kept by Miss Eggleston, a sister of Mrs. Fitch. The first jeweler was Nathaniel Butler. The first drug store was opened by Dr. Levi F. Warner, who died in Boston a few years ago. Dr. Warner was associated for a time with a Mr. Elliott, and subsequently sold to Chauncey Sims, who sold to Rulison Brothers, one of whom afterward became a surgeon in the army. They were succeeded by George S. Thrall & Co., and the latter by Butler & Higgins. After Mr. Butler's death, Mr. Higgins continued alone until he sold to John C. Taylor. The latter died in 1887, and the business passed to his heirs.
The first newspaper was the Oswego County Democrat, founded by Thomas Messenger in 1837 or 1838. The name was soon changed to the Messenger, and was discontinued in 1839. It is said that another effort was made at an early day to establish a journal in the village, but like the Messenger venture, it was soon abandoned. On March 19, 1861, the first number of The Mexico Independent appeared. The Independent is non-political and ably represents the best public thought and general interests of its immediate field. The first banking business was instituted in a private way by O. H. Whitney, who was succeeded by Cyrus Whitney and Timothy W. Skinner.
From the first settlement of the town until August 1867, a total of seventy-six buildings had been burned in the village and vicinity, entailing an aggregate loss of about $179,000. Following this, three stores were destroyed by fire in November 1868; Homer Ames's saw mill and cheese box factory in August 1879; Homer Ames and Henry Cook's sash and door factory and heading mill in July 1880; Homer Ames's planing mill in February 1881; the Phoenix block, March 14, 1882; L. J. Clark's foundry in August, 1888; and Alnieron Thomas's old saw mill in May 1889.
During most of these years there was a regularly organized fire department which, in many instances, rendered valuable services. June 2, 1852, the sum of seventy dollars was voted to purchase a hook and ladder truck. On December 10, thirty firemen were appointed as members of Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, April 7, 1860, twenty-one men were designated to form Engine Company No. 1. In 1882 the department was reorganized and in 1887 a Silsby steamer and hose cart were procured at a cost of $4,000. During the latter year the last of a series of four reservoirs was completed.
In 1890 the Mexico Electric Light, Heat and Power Company was organized, and early in 1891 an adequate electric light system was placed in operation. On January 15, 1851, Mexico village was incorporated. On April 21, 1864, the village was authorized to raise by tax $2,000 to aid in building the Oswego & Rome Railroad through the town. In 1866 the corporate limits were enlarged to the present area, of nearly 636 acres.
On August 22, 1876, and again on June 24, 1881, new by-laws and ordinances were adopted, and in March of the latter year, a special act passed by the Legislature legalized all previous acts of the village trustees. [2]
[edit] Education
The school district is known as the Mexico Central School District. The sports program's mascot is the Tiger, and the music program's mascot is the Matador. Mexico High School was once called Mexico Academy, a military academy. The district's bus garage is located on State Route 104, next to the middle school. Schools included in the district are:
- Mexico High School
- Mexico Middle School
- Mexico Elementary School
- New Haven Elementary School
- Palermo Elementary School
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.0 square miles (121.7 km²), of which, 46.3 square miles (120.0 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.34%) is water. The northwest part of the town borders Lake Ontario.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 5,181 people, 1,934 households, and 1,388 families residing in the town. The population density was 111.8 people per square mile (43.2/km²). There were 2,211 housing units at an average density of 47.7/sq mi (18.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.15% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.
There were 1,934 households out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,773, and the median income for a family was $46,852. Males had a median income of $38,250 versus $22,183 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,498. About 9.0% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Communities and locations in the town
- Arthur – A hamlet northwest of Mexico village.
- Colosse – A hamlet in the southeast part of the town on Route 11.
- Deweys Corners – A location east of Mexico village.
- Graftons Square – A hamlet on Route 11 south of Maple View.
- Lambs Corners – A location south of Prattham.
- Maple View – A hamlet in the northeast part of the town at the junction of Routes 11 and NY-104.
- Mexico – A village in the west part of the town.
- North Church Corner – A hamlet in the northwest part of the town on Route 3.
- Prattham – A hamlet east of Mexico village or Route 104.
- Red Mill – A hamlet at the east town line, east of Colosse.
- Texas – A hamlet in the northwest part of the town on Route 104B.
- Wellwood – A hamlet on the south town line.
[edit] Sister cities
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ History of Mexico, New York
