Editing Onondaga County, New York

{{Short description|County in New York, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Onondaga County
 | state                = New York
 | type                 = [[List of counties in New York|County]]
 | seal                 = Seal of Onondaga County, New York.png
 | seal size            = 87px
 | founded              = 1794
 | seat wl              = Syracuse
 | largest city wl      = Syracuse
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 806
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 778
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 27
 | area percentage      = 3.4
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 476,516
 | density_sq_mi        = 600
 | website              = {{URL|www.ongov.net|ongov.net}}
 | ex image             = Syracusecountycourthouse3.JPG
 | ex image size        = 270px
 | ex image cap         = Onondaga County Courthouse at Columbus Circle in Syracuse
 | district             = 22nd
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | named for            = [[Onondaga people]]
 | flag                 = Flag of Onondaga County, New York.svg
 | flag size            = 113px
 | leader_name          = J. Ryan McMahon II ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
 | leader type          = [[County executive|County Executive]]
}}

'''Onondaga County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɒ|n|ə|n|ˈ|d|ɑː|g|ə}} {{respell|ON|ən|DAH|gə}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New York (state)|New York]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 476,516.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=US Census Bureau QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/onondagacountynewyork/POP010220|access-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The county is part of the [[Central New York]] region of the state.

Onondaga County is the core of the [[Syracuse metropolitan area|Syracuse Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
{{See also|History of Syracuse, New York}}

The name ''Onondaga'' derives from the name of the Native American [[tribe (Native American)|tribe]] indigenous to this area, one of the original [[Iroquois|Five Nations]] of the ''Haudenosaunee''. They call themselves ([[Endonym|autonym]]) [[Onondaga people|''Onoda'gega'']], sometimes spelled ''Onontakeka.'' The word means "People of the Hills." Sometimes the term is ''Onondagaono'' ("The People of the Hills"). The federally recognized Onondaga Nation has a {{convert|9.3|sqmi|km2|0}} [[Indian reservation|reservation]] within the county, on which they have self-government.

When counties were established in [[New York (state)|New York]] in 1683, the present Onondaga County was part of [[Albany County, New York|Albany County]]. This enormous county included the northern part of New York State as well as all of the present State of [[Vermont]] and, in theory, extended westward to the [[Pacific Ocean]]. It was reduced in size on July 3, 1766, by the creation of [[Cumberland County, New York|Cumberland County]], and further on March 16, 1770, by the creation of [[Gloucester County, New York|Gloucester County]], both containing territory now in Vermont.

On March 12, 1772, what was left of Albany County was split into three parts, one remaining under the name Albany County. One of the other pieces, [[Tryon County, New York|Tryon County]], contained the western portion (and thus, since no western boundary was specified, theoretically still extended west to the Pacific). The eastern boundary of Tryon County was approximately {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} west of the present city of [[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady]], and the county included the western part of the [[Adirondack Mountains]] and the area west of the West Branch of the [[Delaware River]]. The area then designated as Tryon County now includes 37 counties of New York State. The county was named for [[William Tryon]], colonial governor of New York.

[[Image:Oneida Lake seen from Yacht Club in Cicero New York.jpg|thumb|300px|left|[[Oneida Lake]] borders Onondaga County to the northeast. It is the largest lake wholly within the state of New York. This picture was taken from the town of Cicero, a northern suburban town in the northeast part of Onondaga County.]]

In the years prior to 1776, most of the [[Loyalists]] in [[Tryon County, New York|Tryon County]] fled to [[Canada]]. The Onondaga were among four Iroquois tribes that allied with the British against the American colonists, as they hoped to end their encroachment. Instead, they were forced to cede most of their land in New York to the United States after the war. Many Onondaga went with [[Joseph Brant]] and other nations to [[Canada]], where they received land grants in compensation and formed the [[Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation]].

In 1784, after a peace treaty ended the [[American Revolutionary War]], the [[name]] of Tryon County was changed to [[Montgomery County, New York|Montgomery County]]. It honored General [[Richard Montgomery]], who had captured several places in Canada and died attempting to capture the city of [[Quebec]], and replaced the name of the hated British governor.

In 1789, Montgomery County was reduced by the splitting off of [[Ontario County, New York|Ontario County]] from Montgomery. The actual area split off from Montgomery County was much larger than the present county, also including the present [[Allegany County, New York|Allegany]], [[Cattaraugus County, New York|Cattaraugus]], [[Chautauqua County, New York|Chautauqua]], [[Erie County, New York|Erie]], [[Genesee County, New York|Genesee]], [[Livingston County, New York|Livingston]], [[Monroe County, New York|Monroe]], [[Niagara County, New York|Niagara]], [[Orleans County, New York|Orleans]], [[Steuben County, New York|Steuben]], [[Wyoming County, New York|Wyoming]], [[Yates County, New York|Yates]], and part of [[Schuyler County, New York|Schuyler]] and [[Wayne County, New York|Wayne Counties]].

In 1791, Herkimer County was one of three counties split off from Montgomery (the other two being [[Otsego County, New York|Otsego]], and [[Tioga County, New York|Tioga County]]). This was much larger than the present county, however, and was reduced by a number of subsequent splits.

In 1794, Onondaga County was split off from Herkimer County. This county was larger than the current Onondaga County, including the present [[Cayuga County, New York|Cayuga]], [[Cortland County, New York|Cortland]], and part of [[Oswego County, New York|Oswego Counties]].

In 1799, [[Cayuga County, New York|Cayuga County]] was split off from Onondaga.

In 1808, [[Cortland County, New York|Cortland County]] was split off from Onondaga.

In 1816, parts of Oneida and Onondaga Counties were taken to form the new [[Oswego County, New York|Oswego County]].

At the time Onondaga County was organized, it was divided into eleven towns: Homer, Pompey, Manlius, Lysander, Marcellus, Ulysses, Milton, Scipio, Ovid, Aurelius and Romulus.<ref name="original">{{Citation|url=https://archive.org/stream/historyofonondag00clay/historyofonondag00clay_djvu.txt|title=History of Onondaga County|year=1878 |access-date=August 25, 2010|publisher=Professor W. W. Clayton, 1878|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927064946/http://archive.org/stream/historyofonondag00clay/historyofonondag00clay_djvu.txt|archive-date=September 27, 2012}}</ref>

[[Central New York]] developed rapidly after the [[Central New York Military Tract|New Military Tract]] provided land in lieu of payment to Revolutionary War veterans. Migration was largely from the east, mostly from New England states. The [[Genesee Road]], which became the [[Seneca Turnpike]] in 1800, provided access. Generally settlers preferred higher land, since they associated lowlands with disease. Over time, as early clearing and farming eroded hillside soil, valley lands were more fertile and highly prized for agriculture as well as for water power, which was the origin of many communities. An early settler of 1823 was [[James Hutchinson Woodworth]], a native of Washington County, NY. He helped clear land for his family's farm in this region before he moved to [[Chicago]] where he became Mayor. The completion of the [[Erie Canal]] across New York state in 1825 accelerated trade, development and migration.

The city of [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]], [[New York (state)|New York]] developed relatively late, due to its marshy situation. It was incorporated as a village in 1825 and as a city in 1847; by contrast, the [[Manlius (village), New York|Village of Manlius]], along the [[Cherry Valley Turnpike|Cherry Valley]] and [[Seneca Turnpike]]s, was incorporated in 1813. The population of these rural towns was greatest in the late nineteenth century, when more people cultivated land and farms were relatively small, supporting large households.

Since that time, agriculture has declined in the county. Some Onondaga County towns like [[Spafford, New York|Spafford]] were largely depopulated and many villages became veritable ghost towns. Onondaga County highlands now are more heavily reforested, with public parks and preserves providing recreation. Two [[Finger Lakes]] in the county, Skaneateles and Otisco, also attract visitors. The village of [[Skaneateles (village), New York|Skaneateles]] on scenic [[Route 20]] has become a major tourist destination.

At the turn of the twenty-first century, population declined in the City of Syracuse while suburban communities generally grew, particularly with tract developments north of the city. Elsewhere, scattered commuter houses appeared, generally on fairly large parcels. The rapid development of the village of Skaneateles and shores of Skaneateles Lake led to increased demand for property and property values.

[[Image:Onondaga Lake Park.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Onondaga Lake Park in the northern suburbs of Syracuse. Picture captures Onondaga Lake with the Syracuse skyline in the background. Onondaga Lake Park attracts over one million visitors each year.]]

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|806|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|778|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|27|sqmi}} (3.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_36.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 6, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519062322/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_36.txt|archive-date=May 19, 2014}}</ref> The geographic dimensions of the county are illustrated as approximately {{convert|35|mi}} in length and {{convert|30|mi}} in width, and comprising {{convert|25|mi}} of the New York State Barge Canal System, in combination with a number of lakes, streams and rivers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ongov.net/sheriff/|title=Onondaga County Sheriff's Office website, October 12, 2015|website=ongov.net|access-date=April 30, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105180424/http://www.ongov.net/Sheriff/|archive-date=November 5, 2016}}</ref> Onondaga County is in the central portion of New York State, west of [[Albany, New York|Albany]] and [[Utica, New York|Utica]], east of [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]] and northeast of [[Ithaca, New York|Ithaca]]. [[Onondaga Lake]] is bordered by many of the larger communities in the county. The highest point in Onondaga County is at 2057 feet, along Morgan Hill located just east of Morgan Hill State Forest on private property. The second highest point in Onondaga County is at 2019 feet elevation and on the summit of Fellows Hill which is located in Morgan Hill State Forest near Fabius and Apulia south of state route 80.

The northern part of the county is fairly level lake plain, extending northward to [[Lake Ontario]]. [[Oneida Lake]] three rivers, as well as the Erie and subsequent Barge Canals are in the lake plain. The main line of the [[New York Central Railroad]] and the [[New York State Thruway]] extend east and west across the county through the lake plain. The southern part of the county is [[Appalachian Plateau]], with high hills rising at the southern edge of [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]]. This is the eastern part of the [[Finger Lakes]] region. [[Skaneateles Lake]] and [[Otisco Lake]] are both in Onondaga County. [[U.S. Route 20 in New York|US 20]] extends east and west across the county, traversing dramatic hill-and-valley terrain. Between the lake plain and Appalachian highlands is a zone noted for [[drumlins]], smaller, scattered hills formed as mounds of debris left by the last glacier. [[Tully (town), New York|Tully]] is geologically noted for the terminal moraine deposited there by the glacier, filling the deep Tully Valley, which might have been another Finger Lake had the moraine been left closer to Syracuse, impounding water. Tully is at the divide between two major watersheds, one flowing northward to the Atlantic Ocean by way of the [[St. Lawrence River]] and the other southward to the ocean via the [[Susquehanna River]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ny.water.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wri014166/wrir01-4166.pdf|title=Hydrogeology of the Tully Lakes Area in Southern Onondaga and Northern Cortland Counties, New York|last1=Kappel|first1=William|last2=Miller|first2=Todd|publisher=U.S. Geological Survey|access-date=April 4, 2016|last3=Hetcher|first3=Kari|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221072029/http://ny.water.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wri014166/wrir01-4166.pdf|archive-date=December 21, 2016}}</ref>  Oneida Lake, the Finger Lakes, and smaller bodies of water provide recreation. The Appalachian hills have several ski areas, waterfalls and historic villages as well as large parks and forest preserves.

===Lakes and reservoirs===
[[File:Jamesville-Reservoir-2014-Nov.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Jamesville Beach Park|Jamesville Reservoir]]]]
* [[Jamesville Reservoir]]
* [[Oneida Lake]]
* [[Onondaga Lake]]
* [[Otisco Lake]]
* [[Skaneateles Lake]]

===Adjacent counties===
[[Image:Lysanderneighborhood2.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Lysander, a northwest suburb of [[Syracuse, New York]]]]
* [[Oswego County, New York|Oswego County]] – north
* [[Madison County, New York|Madison County]] – east
* [[Cortland County, New York|Cortland County]] – south
* [[Cayuga County, New York|Cayuga County]] – west

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Image:I-81.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 81 in New York|Interstate 81]]
* [[Image:I-481 (long).svg|22px]] [[Interstate 481]] (Veterans Memorial Highway)
* [[Image:I-90.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 90 in New York|Interstate 90]] (New York State Thruway)
* [[Image:I-690 (long).svg|22px]] [[Interstate 690]]
* [[Image:US 11.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 11 in New York|U.S. Route 11]]
* [[Image:US 20.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 20 in New York|U.S. Route 20]]
* [[Image:NY-5.svg|20px]] [[New York State Route 5]]
* [[Image:NY-31.svg|20px]] [[New York State Route 31]]
* [[Image:NY-41.svg|20px]] [[New York State Route 41]]
* [[Image:NY-92.svg|20px]] [[New York State Route 92]]
* [[Image:NY-481.svg|22px]] [[New York State Route 481]] (Veterans Memorial Highway)
* [[Image:NY-690.svg|22px]] [[New York State Route 690]]
{{div col end}}
{{clear}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1800= 7406
|1810= 25987
|1820= 41467
|1830= 58973
|1840= 67911
|1850= 85890
|1860= 90686
|1870= 104183
|1880= 117893
|1890= 146247
|1900= 168735
|1910= 200298
|1920= 241465
|1930= 291606
|1940= 295108
|1950= 341719
|1960= 423028
|1970= 472746
|1980= 463920
|1990= 468973
|2000= 458336
|2010= 467026
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 6, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|archive-date=August 11, 2012}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ny190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 6, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219161259/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ny190090.txt|archive-date=February 19, 2015}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 6, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218203824/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|archive-date=December 18, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2019<ref name="QF"/>
|2020=476516}}

[[Image:Skaneateles Lake seen from the village of Skaneateles, Onondaga County, New York.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Skaneateles Lake is one of the Finger Lakes in Onondaga County.]]

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, the county had 458,336 people, 181,153 households, and 115,394 families. The population density was {{convert|587|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 196,633 housing units at an average density of {{convert|252|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The county's [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] was 84.78% White, 9.38% African American, 0.86% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 2.09% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander]], 0.89% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|other races]], and 1.97% from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race were 2.44% of the population. About 17.5% were of [[Italian people|Italian]], 16.2% [[Irish people|Irish]], 12.4% [[Germans|German]], 9.4% [[English people|English]], and 6.0% [[Polish people|Polish]] ancestry according to the [[2000 United States census|2000 United States Census]], and 91.4% spoke [[English language|English]], 2.4% [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and 1.1% [[Italian language|Italian]] as their first language.

Of the 181,153 households, 31.90% had children under age 18 living with them, 46.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.30% were not families. About 29.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.07.

25.80% of the county's population was under age 18, 9.50% was from age 18 to 24, 28.80% was from age 25 to 44, 22.10% was from age 45 to 64, and 13.80% was age 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.70 males.

The county's median household income was $40,847, and the median family income was $51,876. Males had a median income of $39,048 versus $27,154 for females. The county's [[per capita income]] was $21,336. About 8.60% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.50% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

===2020 Census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Onondaga County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Onondaga County, New York|url= https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Onondaga%20County,%20New%20York&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|347,290
|73%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|54,410
|11.42%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|2,940
|0.62%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|20,119
|4.22%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|106
|0.02%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|25,079
|5.26%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|26,572
|5.57%
|}

==Education==
Onondaga County is home to [[Syracuse University]], a major [[research university]] and [[SUNY Upstate Medical University]], a [[Public university|public]] [[medical school]]. Upstate Medical University is the largest producer of jobs in the region with a direct workforce of 10,959 employees.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Economic and Community Impact of the State University of New York Upstate Medical University (Executive Summary)|url=https://www.upstate.edu/impact/pdf/executive-summary.pdf|author=Tripp Umbach|date=2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Economic and Community Impact of the State University of New York Upstate Medical University|url=https://www.upstate.edu/impact/pdf/SUNY-Upstate-EconomicCommunity-Impact-2019.pdf|author=Tripp Umbach|date=2019}}</ref>
{{clear}}

Other higher educational institutions include [[State University of New York at Oswego|SUNY Oswego]]’s Syracuse Campus,
[[Le Moyne College]],
[[State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry|SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry]],
[[Onondaga Community College]],
St. Joseph's College of Nursing, and 
several for-profit colleges.

K-12 school districts which cover parts of the county include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st36_ny/schooldistrict_maps/c36067_onondaga/DC20SD_C36067.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Onondaga County, NY|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-10-17}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st36_ny/schooldistrict_maps/c36067_onondaga/DC20SD_C36067_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Baldwinsville Central School District]]
* [[Cato-Meridian Central School District]]
* [[Cazenovia Central School District]]
* [[Central Square Central School District]]
* [[Chittenango Central School District]]
* [[DeRuyter Central School District]]
* [[East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District]]
* [[Fabius-Pompey Central School District]]
* [[Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District]]
* [[Homer Central School District]]
* [[Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District]]
* [[Jordan-Elbridge Central School District]]
* [[LaFayette Central School District]]
* [[Liverpool Central School District]]
* [[Lyncourt Union Free School District]]
* [[Marcellus Central School District]]
* [[Moravia Central School District]]
* [[North Syracuse Central School District]]
* [[Onondaga Central School District]]
* [[Phoenix Central School District]]
* [[Skaneateles Central School District]]
* [[Solvay Union Free School District]]
* [[Syracuse City School District]]
* [[Tully Central School District]]
* [[West Genesee Central School District]]
* [[Westhill Central School District]]
{{div col end}}

==Government and politics==
{{PresHead|place=Onondaga County, New York|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 30, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|archive-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
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{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|91,715|138,991|5,362|New York}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|83,649|112,337|12,454|New York}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|78,831|122,254|3,632|New York}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|84,972|129,317|3,950|New York}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|94,006|116,381|4,238|New York}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|83,678|109,896|10,069|New York}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|73,771|100,190|20,978|New York}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|77,642|90,645|46,620|New York}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|104,080|94,751|1,654|New York}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|121,857|81,777|680|New York}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|97,887|73,453|21,940|New York}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|115,474|76,097|1,007|New York}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|140,039|61,895|482|New York}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|95,806|83,576|10,483|New York}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|63,205|128,630|179|New York}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|107,170|90,836|150|New York}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|137,852|49,918|0|New York}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|119,268|64,022|302|New York}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|84,370|66,295|5,983|New York}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|80,507|73,562|569|New York}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|91,056|67,481|485|New York}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|80,498|62,945|2,827|New York}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|66,363|62,227|4,629|New York}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|76,278|54,706|2,732|New York}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|65,395|24,773|10,601|New York}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|57,008|23,308|5,731|New York}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|27,815|19,892|2,546|New York}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|16,202|15,827|13,888|New York}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|27,209|16,643|2,503|New York}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|27,115|14,633|1,569|New York}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|24,317|14,698|1,942|New York}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|25,032|13,695|1,414|New York}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|19,008|14,900|1,996|New York}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|20,144|14,001|796|New York}}
{{PresFoot|1884|Republican|16,892|13,166|700|New York}}

=== Government ===
Onondaga County was governed exclusively by a [[board of supervisors]] until 1961, when voters approved the creation of the [[county executive]].<ref>{{Citation
 | last = Onondaga County Charter Commission
 | publication-date = September 5, 1961
 | title = PROPOSED ONONDAGA COUNTY CHARTER ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SEPTEMBER 5, 1961 SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY REFERENDUM NOVEMBER 7, 1961
 | publication-place = [[Syracuse, New York]]
 | pages = 3–4
}}</ref>  In 1968, the board reorganized into a 24-seat county [[legislature]].<ref>{{Citation
 | last = Board Executive Office
 | publication-date = 1967
 | title = LOCAL LAW NO. 2—1966
 | periodical = Journal of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Onondaga for 1966
 | publication-place = [[Syracuse, New York]]
 | pages = 182–187
}}</ref>  In 2001, the legislature was reduced to 19 seats. In 2010, voters approved a measure to reduce the legislature to 17 seats. None of the legislative seats, nor the county executive's seat, are [[at-large]]. Currently, there are 11 [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 6 [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Onondaga County Legislature|url=http://www.ongov.net/legislature/members.html|access-date=January 4, 2022|website=www.ongov.net}}</ref> J. Ryan McMahon II ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]) is the current [[County executive|County Executive]].<ref>[https://www.syracuse.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/11/ryan_mcmahon_officially_sworn_in_as_onondaga_countys_4th_executive.html McMahon, Julie. (2018, November 1). "Ryan McMahon officially sworn in as Onondaga County's 4th executive,"] [[Syracuse.com]]. Accessed: November 2, 2018.</ref>

=== Politics ===
Historically, Onondaga County was a Republican stronghold, like most of Central New York. From 1856 to 1988, the GOP carried the county in all but one presidential election, [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s [[1964 United States presidential election in New York|landslide in 1964]]. Since 1992, the county has gone Democratic in every presidential election, much like many urban counties around the country. However, it is a swing county in congressional, state and local races. Onondaga is entirely located within [[New York's 22nd congressional district|New York's 22nd Congressional District]], represented by Democrat [[John Mannion (American politician)|John Mannion]]. Democratic strength is concentrated in Syracuse itself, while Republicans do well in the suburbs.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ '''Onondaga County Executives'''
! Name
! Party
! Term
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [[John H. Mulroy]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| January 1, 1962 – December 31, 1987
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [[Nicholas J. Pirro]]
| Republican
| January 1, 1988 – December 31, 2007
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [[Joanie Mahoney|Joanne M. Mahoney]]
| Republican
| January 1, 2008 – November 1, 2018
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| J. Ryan McMahon, II
| Republican
| November 1, 2018 –
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ '''Onondaga County Legislature'''<ref>[http://www.ongov.net/legislature/members.html Onondaga County Legislature], "Onondaga County Legislature Members". Accessed: May 5, 2024.</ref><ref>[http://www.ongov.net/legislature/district-maps.html Onondaga County Legislature], "Onondaga County Legislature District Maps". Accessed: July 4, 2024.</ref>
|-
! District
! Legislator
! Party
! Residence
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District1.pdf 1]
| Brian F. May, '''Majority Leader'''
| Republican
| [[Baldwinsville, New York|Baldwinsville]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District2.pdf 2]
| Kevin J. Meaker
| Republican
| [[Clay, New York|Clay]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District3.pdf 3]
| Timothy T. Burtis, '''Chairman'''
| Republican
| [[Cicero, New York|Cicero]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District4.pdf 4]
| Colleen A. Gunnip
| Republican
| [[Liverpool, New York|Liverpool]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District4.pdf 5]
|Debra J. Cody
| Republican
| [[North Syracuse, New York|North Syracuse]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District6.pdf 6]
| Julie Abbott
| Republican
| [[Skaneateles, New York|Skaneateles]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District7.pdf 7]
| Dan Romeo
| Democratic
| [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District8.pdf 8]
| Christopher J. Ryan, '''Minority Leader'''
| Democratic
| [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District9.pdf 9]
| Palmer Harvey
| Democratic
| Syracuse
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District10.pdf 10]
| Mark A. Olson
| Republican
| [[Fayetteville, New York|Fayetteville]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District11.pdf 11]
| Richard McCarron
| Republican
| [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District12.pdf 12]
| David H. Knapp
| Republican
| [[LaFayette, New York|LaFayette]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District13.pdf 13]
| Ken Bush Jr.
| Republican
| [[Jordan, New York|Jordan]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District14.pdf 14]
| Cody M. Kelly
| Republican
| [[Clay, New York|Clay]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District15.pdf 15]
| Maurice Brown
| Democratic
| Syracuse
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District16.pdf 16]
| Charles E. Garland
| Democratic
| Syracuse
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
|[http://ongov.net/legislature/documents/District17.pdf 17]
| Nodesia R. Hernandez
| Democratic
| Syracuse
|}
{{clear}}

The [[sheriff]] of Onondaga County is Tobias Shelley.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Onondaga County Sheriff's Office|url=https://sheriff.ongov.net/|access-date=October 31, 2021|website=Onondaga County Sheriff's Office|language=en}}</ref> Along with [[Broome County, New York]], Onondaga County was sued in 2017 over placing juvenile inmates in solitary confinement.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Feuer|first=Alan|date=July 31, 2017|title=Upstate County Jails Are Challenged for Sending Juveniles to Solitary|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/nyregion/upstate-ny-county-jails-juveniles-solitary-confinement.html|access-date=October 31, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Communities==

[[File:Towns in Onondaga County, New York.svg|thumb|A map of towns (white), the city (orange), and villages (yellow) in Onondaga County (Indian reservation colored purple)]]

[[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]], the county seat, is the only city in Onondaga County. The following is a list of official towns, villages, and [[Political subdivisions of New York State#Hamlet|hamlets]].<ref>{{Citation
| title = New York State Gazetteer
| publisher = New York State Department of Health
| location = Albany, NY
| year = 1995}} Available at [http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/scandoclinks/ocm35297616.htm New York State Library Digital Image Project] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061002165512/http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/scandoclinks/ocm35297616.htm |date=October 2, 2006 }}.</ref>

=== Population ranking ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!#
!Location
!Population
!Type
!Area
|-
|1
|†[[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]]
|148,620
|City
|Greater Syracuse
|-
|2
|[[Lysander, New York|Lysander]]
|23,074
|CDP
|West
|-
| 3
|[[De Witt (CDP), New York|De Witt]]
|11,247
|CDP
|Greater Syracuse
|-
|4
|[[Fairmount, New York|Fairmount]]
|10,248
|CDP
|Greater Syracuse
|-
|5
|[[Baldwinsville, New York|Baldwinsville]]
|7,898
|Village
|West
|-
| 6
|[[Radisson, New York|Radisson]]
|7,038
|CDP
|North
|-
|7
|[[North Syracuse, New York|North Syracuse]]
|6,739
|Village
|North
|-
|8
|[[Solvay, New York|Solvay]]
|6,645
|Village
|Greater Syracuse
|-
|9
|[[Mattydale, New York|Mattydale]]
|6,296
|CDP
|Greater Syracuse
|-
|10
|[[Westvale, New York|Westvale]]
|5,090
|CDP
|Greater Syracuse
|-
|11
|[[Manlius (village), New York|Manlius]]
|4,662
|Village
|East
|-
|12
|[[Galeville, New York|Galeville]]
|4,482
|CDP
|Greater Syracuse
|-
|13
|[[Lyncourt, New York|Lyncourt]]
|4,376
|CDP
|Greater Syracuse
|-
|14
|[[Fayetteville, New York|Fayetteville]]
|4,225
|Village
|East
|-
|15
|‡[[Brewerton, New York|Brewerton]]
|3,907
|CDP
|North
|-
|16
|[[Village Green, New York|Village Green]]
|3,834
|CDP
|West
|-
|17
|[[Minoa, New York|Minoa]]
|3,657
|Village
|East
|-
|18
|[[East Syracuse, New York|East Syracuse]]
|3,078
|Village
|Greater Syracuse
|-
|19
|[[Lakeland, New York|Lakeland]]
|2,556
|CDP
|Greater Syracuse
|-
|20
|[[Skaneateles (village), New York|Skaneateles]]
|2,533
|Village
|West
|-
|21
|[[Liverpool, New York|Liverpool]]
|2,242
|Village
|Greater Syracuse
|-
|22
|[[Nedrow, New York|Nedrow]]
|2,095
|CDP
|Greater Syracuse
|-
|23
|[[Seneca Knolls, New York|Seneca Knolls]]
|1,992
|CDP
|West
|-
|24
|[[Marcellus (village), New York|Marcellus]]
|1,745
|Village
|West
|-
|25
|‡[[Bridgeport, New York|Bridgeport]]
|1,389
|CDP
|East
|-
|26
|[[Camillus (village), New York|Camillus]]
|1,222
|Village
|Greater Syracuse
|-
|27
|[[Jordan, New York|Jordan]]
|1,192
|Village
|West
|-
|28
|[[Elbridge (village), New York|Elbridge]]
|921
|Village
|West
|-
|29
|[[Tully (village), New York|Tully]]
|904
|Village
|South
|-
|30
|[[Fabius (village), New York|Fabius]]
|309
|Village
|South
|}
† - County seat

‡ - Not entirely in Onondaga County

=== List of municipalities ===

====Towns====
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Camillus, New York|Camillus]]
* [[Cicero, New York|Cicero]]
* [[Clay, New York|Clay]]
* [[DeWitt, New York|DeWitt]]
* [[Elbridge, New York|Elbridge]]
* [[Fabius, New York|Fabius]]
* [[Geddes, New York|Geddes]]
* [[LaFayette, New York|LaFayette]]
* [[Lysander, New York|Lysander]]
* [[Manlius, New York|Manlius]]
* [[Marcellus, New York|Marcellus]]
* [[Onondaga, New York|Onondaga]]
* [[Otisco, New York|Otisco]]
* [[Pompey, New York|Pompey]]
* [[Salina, New York|Salina]]
* [[Skaneateles (town), New York|Skaneateles]]
* [[Spafford, New York|Spafford]]
* [[Tully, New York|Tully]]
* [[Van Buren, New York|Van Buren]]
{{div col end}}

====Hamlets====
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* Amber
* [[Apulia, New York|Apulia]]
* [[Borodino, New York|Borodino]]
* [[Cardiff, New York|Cardiff]]
* [[Delphi Falls, New York|Delphi Falls]]
* [[Jack's Reef, New York|Jack's Reef]]
* [[Jamesville, New York|Jamesville]]
* Kirkville
* [[Marietta, New York|Marietta]]
* [[Mattydale, New York|Mattydale]]
* [[Memphis, New York|Memphis]]
* [[Messina Springs, New York|Messina Springs]]
* [[Mottville, New York|Mottville]]
* [[Mycenae, New York|Mycenae]]
* Navarino
* [[Onondaga Hill, New York|Onondaga Hill]]
* [[Oran, New York|Oran]]
* Otisco
* Otisco Valley
* [[Plainville, New York|Plainville]]
* [[Pompey Center, New York|Pompey Center]]
* [[Rose Hill, New York|Rose Hill]]
* [[Shepard Settlement, New York|Shepard Settlement]]
* [[Skaneateles Falls, New York|Skaneateles Falls]]
* [[South Spafford, New York|South Spafford]]
* [[Spafford Valley, New York|Spafford Valley]]
* [[Split Rock, New York|Split Rock]]
* [[Taunton, New York|Taunton]]
* [[Warners, New York|Warners]]
{{div col end}}

====Native American [[Indian reservation|reservations]]====
* [[Onondaga Reservation]]

==See also==
{{Portal|New York (state)}}
* [[List of bus routes in Onondaga County, New York]]
* [[List of counties in New York]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Onondaga County, New York]]
* [[Onondaga Creek]]
* [[Timeline of town creation in Central New York#Onondaga County|Timeline of town creation in Onondaga County]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite Q|Q114149636|p=773-81|chapter=Chapter XI. Onondaga County.
 |editor=Sullivan, James
 |editor2=Williams, Melvin E.
 |editor3=Conklin, Edwin P.
 |editor4=Fitzpatrick, Benedict
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Onondaga County, New York}}
* [http://www.ongov.net Onondaga County, NY official site]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyononda/INDEX.HTM Onondaga County, NY US GenWeb Project]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110607014455/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36/36067.html Onondaga County, NY U.S. Census Page]
* [http://aerial-ny.library.cornell.edu/ny/ Onondaga County Historical Aerial Photographs of New York ], Cornell University Library & Cornell Institute for Resource Information Sciences

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Onondaga County
|North     = [[Oswego County, New York|Oswego County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Madison County, New York|Madison County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Cortland County, New York|Cortland County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Cayuga County, New York|Cayuga County]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{Onondaga County, New York}}
{{Navboxes
| list =
{{Syracuse, New York}}
{{Central New York colleges}}
{{New York}}
}}

{{coord|43.01|-76.20|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NY_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Onondaga County, New York| ]]
[[Category:Central New York]]
[[Category:1794 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Syracuse metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1794]]
[[Category:New York (state) placenames of Native American origin]]