Town of Onondaga

Located in central New York, the town of Onondaga was incorporated in 1798 and currently consists of eight hamlets within a 65-mile radius. Each hamlet has contributed specifically to the town,s rich history and development over the years. Originally part of the Onondaga and Salt Springs Reservations, the region was not part of the Military Tract of Central New York after the Revolutionary War. Individuals arrived for its farmlands, mills, quarries, salt production, and vast topography. A particularly fruitful crop in South Onondaga and Navarino is the apple. The first Onondaga County Courthouse was established here, as was the first county home for the poor. Onondaga Community College (OCC), built on a hilltop, has become an identifiable and highly respectable educational landmark in the,town.

Mary J. Nowyj has been a resident of Onondaga Hill for 37 years and has watched the main corridor of the area change from a sleepy little town to a bustling community. She taught communication skills at OCC for 25 years, has authored articles and books on inspirational reflections, and is the current town historian. In Town of Onondaga, she captures the diverse, rich history of the various hamlets and important areas of growth over 200 years of establishment.