Editing Canastota, New York (section)

=== The Erie Canal ===
Construction of the Erie Canal through Canastota began in 1817. As the waterway was opened from 1819 through 1825, it caused a surge of growth and development in the area. Workers and their employers soon moved their families to the area, and eventually schools, businesses, and religious organizations sprung up.

As soon as this section of the canal was opened, a line of [[packet boat|packets]] was established, making regular trips between Syracuse and Utica, stopping at all intermediate towns. Trade sprang up at once between Canastota and other villages, making it one of the foremost villages in central New York. The first post office was established in 1829 with Ichabod S. Spencer as postmaster, and by 1831 there were three public houses, three stores and a hatter business in the village, and the population totaled 406.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History of the Erie Canal at the Canastota Canal Town Museum Canastota NY |url=https://www.canastota-canal.com/history |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=www.canastota-canal.com |language=en}}</ref>

When the canal was superseded by the construction of [[railroad]]s, and later the [[New York State Thruway]], some canal towns were cut off from the main lines of commerce.