The Town of Preble is in the north central part of Cortland County, approximately seven miles north of the City of Cortland and twenty-six miles south of the City of Syracuse. Interstate 81, US Route 11, the Tioughnioga River, and the New York Susquehanna and Western Railroad run through the Town. The principal population center is the unincorporated Village of Preble. The Town consists of rolling hills, a number of small lakes, and a large fertile valley. The climate is typical of the latitude, with four distinct seasons, temperate summers, and winters that promote enough snow for skiing at Song Mountain Resort in nearby Tully, New York, and other winter recreational activities.
History of the Town
Preble was first settled in 1796 and the Town was officially formed in 1808 and named in honor of Commodore Edward Preble, a naval officer who fought against the British during the Revolutionary War. Its agricultural heritage has established its rural culture and helped to retain its natural beauty.
Population Characteristics
The population of the Town as a whole grew sharply until 1830 when it reached 1,435 residents. The population has remained relatively stable. According to the most recent census estimates, there are 1,549 people, or 56.7 persons per square mile, representing about 3.22 percent of the County's total population. There are 441 families, with a median age of 33.5.
Physical Characteristics
Natural Resources: The Town covers 27.8 square miles, or about 5.5 percent of the County. The primary natural resources include farmland, forests, the Tioughnioga River, several small lakes, and the Cortland Valley Sole Source Aquifer.
Developed Resources: Residential land use occupies about 4.05 percent of all land in the Town. Commercial land use occupies about .08 percent, Community Service land use (churches, schools, etc.) occupy about .38 percent, and Recreational and Seasonal land use occupies about 2.74 percent of the land. Agriculture land use uses 58.24 percent, Private Forest lands occupy 18.53 percent, and State/County owned forests, parks, and wetlands occupy 13.58 percent. Only 2.4 percent of the land is vacant.
The settlement pattern of the Town is nonagricultural rural residential settlement with any growth tried to be confined to those areas not suitable for farming.
The Hamlet of Preble is located at the intersections of State Route 281 and Preble Road. The Hamlet has a church, hotel/restaurant, supermarket, post office, fire station, day care center, and some commercial enterprises.
Industry Characteristics: Agriculture is the main industry of Preble. Commercial and light industrial development is encouraged as long as it does not conflict with the rural character of the Town.
Transportation
The main highways serving Preble are Interstate 81 and US Route 11. Major regional airports are located in Syracuse and Binghamton. The Cortland County Municipal Airport – Chase Field is useful for small private planes. Intra and interstate bus services are furnished by Greyhound, Trailways, Oneonta, and by Cortland County Bus Lines.
Community Facilities and Services
Utilities: Electric service is provided by Nation Grid.
Water and sewer: Water is supplied primarily from individual drilled wells and household sewage is primarily taken care of by septic tanks.
Education: Educational services are provided by the Homer School District. SUNY Cortland, Tompkins Cortland Community College, and Syracuse University are within driving distance. In the Village of Preble, the Preble Children's Center in the Preble Congregational Church offers day care.
Police: The Town is covered by the Cortland County Sheriff's Department and the New York State Police.
Fire/Emergency: There is a volunteer fire department in the Village of Preble, and the Town is serviced by the emergency number 911.
Health Care: The nearest physicians and dentists are in the Villages of Homer and Tully. 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: Dwyer Memorial County Park on Little York Lake is the home of the Cortland Repertory Theatre which puts on professional summer stock from June through August. Song Mountain Resort, located in nearby Tully, New York, with 24 slopes/trails with a 700 foot vertical drop. There is a boat launch site on Tully Lake and fishing for bass, chain pickerel, and panfish in the several lakes.