The town of Lapeer is located in Southern, Central Cortland County. State Route 221 runs through the town and intersects with Interstate 81 in Marathon. Like the rest of Cortland County, Lapeer is primarily rural. The climate has mild summers; winters can be cold with significant snowfall. Land area is 25.06 square miles.
History
Lapeer, formerly part of Virgil, was laid out in military tracts for veterans of the Revolutionary War, but most of the early settlers were émigrés from New England who purchased the land in the early 1800's.
Lapeer has always been a farming community, but at different times, various industries thrived. In the mid to late 19th century there were a blacksmith shop, a cheese factory, and a creamery.
Today, Lapeer is primarily a residential and agricultural area.
Population Characteristics
According to the most recent census estimates, 625 people live in the town of Lapeer. The median age is 31.8; there are 175 families.
Physical Characteristics
Natural Resources: Forest and agricultural land are the primary natural resources; ponds and small lakes dot the town.
Developed Resources: Lapeer has 232 occupied housing units. Farms and rural homes not used for farming make up the largest part of developed resources.
Transportation: State Route 221 runs through the town and connects to Interstate 81 in the Village of Marathon. Major regional airports are located in Syracuse and Binghamton. The Cortland County Municipal Airport is useful for small private planes. Greyhound and Trailways provide bus transportation, as does Cortland Transit.
Community Facilities and Services
Utilities: Nation Grid and New York State Electric and Gas provide gas and electric service. Most water is supplied by individual wells.
Education: Students attend Marathon Elementary and High School. SUNY Cortland, Cornell University, Tompkins Cortland Community College and Ithaca College are within driving distance.
Fire/Emergency: The State Police and the Sheriff's department provide police protection. Fire protection is provided by Marathon or Harford volunteer fire companies. The area is served by the emergency number 911.
Health Care: For full hospital services, the nearest location is the Cortland Regional Medical Center in the City of Cortland. Home health care services are available from five organizations out of the City of Cortland.
Recreational and Tourist Attractions: Because of its rural character, Lapeer affords opportunities for outdoor recreation. In addition, it is near Greek Peak Ski resort.
Land Use Plans and Regulations
The Town of Lapeer has no land use plan, zoning ordinances, or mobile home ordinance.