Syracuse, New York

Syracuse is a city in the state of New York which is the 170th largest city in the US. The city is considered one of the economic and cultural centers of New York. The city has several Expo and convention centers and enjoys a strategically important location which is right at the intersection of the 81 and 90 Interstates.

Offering the largest airport in the region, Syracuse sees a lot of tourist traffic throughout the year. Boasting of a vast and varied cultural and historical background, the city offers many tall buildings along with historic architecture. Be it parks, musical centers, lakes, museums, art galleries or even sports, the city provides for it all.

Whether football, local restaurants, or winter sports, Syracuse has something for almost anyone.

Syracuse has a lot to offer those who enjoy city life as well as the outdoors. There are intriquing options in entertainment, education, affordable living and many other benefits the city offers its residents. Many businesses in the city also thrive.

Syracuse History

The Village of Syracuse was incorporated in 1825 and it was by 1832 that this small village grew to boast of four wards. However, it was in the year 1847 that the city of Syracuse was incorporated owing to the phenomenal growth of settlers in the region. While in 1830, a mere 7000 people resided in the region, but by 1850 it had grown to 22,271.

The city's resource of salt and limestone goes back to 399 million years ago when the region was covered by the salty sea. The sea dried up leaving behind this immense resource of salt and limestone, which the city thrives on till date.

The Native Americans were the original settlers of the region, but they were pushed out by the French who landed in 1615. In fact, it was in 1654 that a Jesuit missionary by the name of Father Simon LeMoyne discovered that the so called "evil spirited" Onondaga Lake was in fact salty water. He went on to make salt from the water and even carried it back with him.

In the 1700s,  the area caught the attention of the British who bought the favor of the Onondagas by giving them guns. In time a British agent by the name of William Johnson was able to convince the Onondagas to sell an area of 3km to the British in order to guard against the French. This deal went through for a sum of £350 sterling and ensured that the British gained a foothold here.

Then came the Revolutionary war and this loosened the hold of the Native American tribes who were settled here. After  the war, the area seemed to invite more and more settlers. In 1789, Comfort Tyler arrived in the region and he was responsible for a lot of development in the area, which included roads and bridges.

The city was called by several names such as Salt Point, Webster's Landing, Bogardus Corners, Milan, South Salina and Cossits' Corners before settling down to Syracuse. The city's population was at an all time high in 1950 when there were about 221,000 people living here. However, with the collapse of the manufacturing industry in 1970s the city's population declined to its current level.

About Syracuse, New York

As the county seat of Onondaga County, Syracuse city is the fifth most populous city in this region. The 2010 census indicated a population of 145,170 people in the city and it has also been rated by the Forbes magazine as fourth in the top ten places to raise a family.

The city covers an area of 25.6 square miles of which 2.15% is water. The central part of the city is flat but the adjoining areas are hilly while the city itself is located on the northeastern corner of Finger Lake. The University Hill and Tipperary Hill are the hilly areas which lie towards the southern side of Syracuse. However, it's the 890,000 trees that cover 27% of the city's land, which convert the entire place into a green belt.

The water source of the city is the Skaneateles Lake. While the Onondaga Lake also lies nearby, its water is contaminated and therefore not used for drinking. Another interesting water body that runs through the city is the Onondaga Creek which flows with a huge force especially during the spring season and has also been the cause of a few teen deaths.

The ethnic makeup of the city is highly diverse as one can see from the varied religious places that Syracuse houses. There is a Buddhist temple, Zen Center, two cathedrals, a Hindu Mandir of Central New York as well as holy places of Sikhism, Islam and Judaism.

Having seen its fair share of history, Syracuse offers a large array of ancient architectural delights. The State Tower Building is the tallest tower in the city while the Gridley Building is another prominent landmark. The Niagara Mohawk Building, though more from the modern times, is a must see when visiting the city.

In terms of entertainment, the city has a lot to offer too. The Syracuse symphony orchestra founded in 1961 played in the city for several years with its complete 79 member troop. The city also offers the Syracuse Stage where various types of theater shows can be enjoyed. The Warehouse Gallery, the Everson Museum of Art and the Erie Canal Museum are some of the prominent museums of this culturally alive city.

About Onondaga County, New York

Located in New York state, the area of Onondaga County was one of the original five nations of the Haudenosaunee. The county seat is Syracuse. The county has been named after the people who inhabited this region and the term translates as 'people of the hills'.

The Onondaga County was founded in 1794 and originally comprised of 11 towns namely Homer, Pompey, Manlius, Lysander, Marcellus, Ulysses, Milton, Scipio, Ovid, Aurelius and Romulus. The county covers and area of 806 square miles and according to the 2010 census the population of Onondaga was 467,026. The median income of a household in the county was $40,847 according to the same census.

The county is known for it lovely lakes of which the Finger Lakes, Lake Ontario, Oneida Lake and Otisco Lake are a few. The famous Tully valley is also part of the county and the awesome ski slopes of the Appalachian hills are also housed by the Onondaga County. On the eastern side of the county is Madison County while on the north is Oswego County. The south is bordered by the Cortland County and the west has the Cayuga County.

The county was governed by supervisors till 1961 but then the people voted for the County Executive to be set up, which came into existence in 1968. The governance of the county is kept tight and law and order is under control.

The prominent towns of the county are Otisco, Salina, Tully, Clay and Cicero. The county also houses several villages of which Solvay, Liverpool, Baldwinsville and Camillus are a few. Vesper, Hart Lot and Apulia are a few hamlets of the county.

The historical places of significance in the county are the Alvord House, the Borodino Hall, the Brook Farm and the Church of the Good Shepherd. The Oran Community Church, Saint Mark's Church and the First Baptist Church of Camillus are a few important churches in the area.