Owego is one of only twelve villages in New York still incorporated under a charter; all other New York villages have incorporated or re-incorporated under the provisions of Village Law.[2]
History
The village of Owego was established in 1787. When the "Town of Tioga" was created from the Town of Union, Owego village was in Tioga. In 1813, Tioga and Owego switched names, putting the village in the same-named town. The current Town of Tioga is now just west of the village. The village is in the Owego-Apalachin Central School District. Three district buildings are within the village's limits: The District Office Building, the Owego Elementary School, and the combined Owego-Apalachin Middle School and Owego Free Academy building, all on Sheldon Guile Boulevard.
On September 27, 1849, a large conflagration now known as "The Great Fire of Owego" began in the Temperance Hall of the Ely building. 104 buildings within the business district were completely burned to the ground.[3]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km2) of it (8.12%) is water.
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 3,911 people, 1,664 households, and 978 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,566.7 inhabitants per square mile (604.9/km2). There were 1,913 housing units at an average density of 766.3 per square mile (295.9/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 95.42% White, 1.15% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.82% of the population.
There were 1,664 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $31,742, and the median income for a family was $43,139. Males had a median income of $27,299 versus $20,268 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,068. About 10.3% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those aged 65 or over.
Local government
Owego's historic Central Fire Station
The Village of Owego is governed by a Board of Trustees, which is composed of the Mayor and six Trustees.[7] Each member serves staggered two-year terms in a part-time capacity.[7]
The Owego Fire Department was founded in August 1828.[3] The all-volunteer organization is made up of five companies in four stations.[3]
Reputation
Mural welcoming visitors to Owego
Owego was named by Budget Travel magazine's readers as The Coolest Small Town in the United States in a poll. Results were announced on The Early Show, April 15, 2009 with Budget Travel's editor in chief, Nina Willdorf with Harry Smith.
Strawberry Festival
The Village of Owego is home to a popular annual strawberry festival which has occurred every year in June since 1980 (excepting 2020 and 2021). The festival regularly draws 20,000 visitors and includes a parade, community 5k run, live music and vendors of fresh produce and prepared strawberry based dishes. 2020 would mark the 40th anniversary of the festival, however, the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation. The 40th anniversary observance is scheduled to take place in 2022.[8]
Notable people
Austin Blair, 1818–1894. Politician, serving in the 40th, 41st, and 42nd U.S. Congress in the House of Representatives from 1867–1873 for Michigan's 3rd district. 13th Governor of Michigan, 1861–1865. Practiced law in Owego.
John R. Drake, 1782–1857. Local, state, and national politician. The First Judge of the Broome County Court. As a member of the Democratic-Republican party he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, 1817–1819 for New York's 15th district, serving simultaneously with fellow Owegan Daniel Cruger in the 15th United States Congress.
Mame Stewart Josenberger, 1868–1964. African American educator, businesswoman and clubwoman that was born and raised in the village.
Helen Dean King, 1869–1955. Celebrated biologist, professor, author. One of Dr. King's crowning achievements was the breeding of the Wistar rat which would greatly facilitate the future of biological, genetic, and medical research. In 1932, King was awarded the Richards Research prize, also known as the Women’s Nobel. Born in Owego.
Thomas Le Clear, 1818–1882. Famous visual artist. Le Clear is known for his portraits of Edwin Booth-as Hamlet, Presidents: Millard Fillmore, U.S Grant, and his genre scenes including Interior with Portraits. Born in the Town of Owego, he taught painting at the Owego Female Institute in 1844. Moving to New York City he was elected to full membership in the National Academy of Design in 1863. He was one of the most prominent portrait painters on the East Coast.
Stephen B. Leonard, 1793–1876. Local publisher, politician, and postmaster. Elected as a Democrat to the 24th and the 26th United States Congress. He represented New York's 22nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Lived in Owego.
Belva Ann Lockwood, 1830–1917, Attorney, politician, educator, author, and National Equal Rights Party U.S. presidential candidate (first woman to run for president – 1884), headed a girls' seminary in Owego for three years in the 1860s. Around this time she met Susan B. Anthony; nearby Lockwood is named for her.
Thomas C. Platt, politician. A two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1873–1877) and a three-term U.S. Senator from New York in the years 1881 and 1897–1909. He is best known as the "political boss" of the Republican Party in New York State. Born and lived in Owego.
Darryl Ponicsan, born 1938. American author and screenwriter. Taught high school English in Owego.
Raphael Pumpelly, 1837–1923. World renowned American geologist and explorer. Born in Owego.
George Raymond Sr. 1890–1967 grew up on McMaster street in the village, founder of the Raymond Corporation headquartered in Greene, NY
John D. Rockefeller, 1839–1937. American oil industry business magnate, industrialist, and philanthropist lived in the Owego, NY area as a young child and attended the Owego Free Academy. He is widely considered the wealthiest American of all time, and the richest person in modern history.
Richard Stout, 1836–1896. Union Navy sailor during the American Civil War. Recipient of the United States military's highest decoration-the Medal of Honor for his actions while serving on the USS Isaac Smith in an engagement with Confederate forces on the Stono River in South Carolina. Born, lived, and interred in Owego.
Benjamin Franklin Tracy, 1830–1915. Brigadier General in the U.S. Army-Medal of Honor winner. Lawyer, state politician, 32nd United States Secretary of the Navy. Considered the 'Father' of the modern American two ocean fighting Navy. Was educated and practiced law in the Village of Owego.
Gilbert Carlton Walker, 1833–1885. Lawyer, banker, politician. Served as the 36thGovernor of Virginia – 1869–1874, first as a provisional Republican then as a Democrat. He also served as a Democratic in the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth U.S. Congresses. He practiced law in Owego.
Nathaniel Parker Willis, 1806–1867. Nationally known author, poet, and editor, lived at his estate Glenmary (namesake of Glen Mary Drive), from 1837 to 1842, in the town just outside the present village. Founder of Town and Country (magazine). Lived on the border of the Village of Owego.
^ ab"Board of Trustees". Village of Owego. Village of Owego. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
^"Strawberry Festival". Historic Owego Marketplace. Historic Owego Marketplace. Retrieved January 9, 2021. The 40th Anniversary of the Strawberry Festival will be postponed until June of 2021!
