The Town of Cortlandville
Including Polkville and Blodgett Mills

Introduction

The Town of Cortlandville is located in Cortland County approximately 30 miles south of Syracuse and 40 miles north of Binghamton. The Town of Cortlandville is in a unique geographic setting. The City of Cortland is completely surrounded by Cortlandville. This setting has been conducive to the continued growth of Cortlandville because as the City expands, its growth spills over into Cortlandville. As a result, industrial, commercial and residential growth has extended throughout the Town. Cortlandville is blessed with some of the richest agricultural land in the State. Its topography is characterized by rolling hills with deep, narrow and very fertile valley areas in between. The Town possesses scenic open spaces, with viable agricultural land and areas suitable for industrial development.

History of the Town

The Town of Cortlandville was included in "The Military Tract" in 1789. After the Revolutionary War, New York State had little money and the soldiers were paid with grants of land for their services. Most of the early settlers of the Town of Cortlandville emigrated from New England. In the early days, the communities of Homer, Cortland, and Cortlandville were included in the Town of Homer and their destinies were so entwined that it is difficult to separate historical facts and personalities. The distinction of being the first permanent settler in the Town of Cortlandville belongs to John Miller, who settled at Loring's Corners. In the year, 1793, as soon as there were five or six families the town's religious worship was begun. When Cortland became the County Seat in 1810, it was necessary that it be separated from Homer. In the year 1829, with State Legislative approval, the Town of Cortlandville was formed.

Population Characteristics

The most recent census estimates are 8,290 people who live in the Town of Cortlandville with a median age of 34.7 years. The Census also counted 2,245 families with 3.06 persons per family. There are four municipalities that were considered urban areas in the 1990 Census of which Cortlandville was one.

Physical Characteristics

Cortlandville is located in the northern part of the Appalachian Mountain Range in an area known as the Allegheny Plateau. This name is somewhat misleading, however, because time has allowed the plateau surface to erode. The result is a fairly rugged topography in much of the Town, which is more like a hill and valley terrain as opposed to a plateau. Much of the bedrock which underlies Cortland County was formed millions of years ago and has gone through several cycles of uplift and erosion. Additionally, the County has been subjected to glaciation which was responsible for much of the topography that presently exists. The results of this past geological activity are important to the Town because of the types of soil that were produced. The Town has a mixture of physical characteristics ranging from the gently rolling lands in much of the southwest to the more rugged hill and valley topography in the east. In Cortlandville the two items of greatest importance are the soils and aquifers. Because of Cortlandville's heavy reliance on groundwater as the only source of potable water, it is extremely important to protect this valuable resource.

Industry Characteristics

Being located in the north-south transportation corridor has greatly helped industrial growth in the Town of Cortlandville. Generally there has been a high level of manufacturing, as well as agriculture that have contributed to Cortlandville's economy. Economic development programs have been created so that Cortlandville can continue to see growth in all of these areas.

Transportation Facilities and Access

The highway system is the lifeline of the Town; without the movement of people and goods, Cortlandville's growth would be constrained. The existing highway system of the Town consists of roads in State, County and Town jurisdiction. The State system consists of one interstate highway, one federal highway and five state highways. Interstate 81 enters the Town from the north at exit 12 near the Village of Homer. The exit is designed with an off ramp to the west which interchanges with US Route 11 and with State Route 281.

After entering the City of Cortland, Interstate 81 turns eastward, where it interchanges with State Route 13 and re-enters Cortlandville as it parallels the east branch of the Tioughnioga River, slightly turning southeastward around the steeply sloping sides of Carr Hill. At exit 11, Interstate 81 interchanges with US Route 11 and State Route 41 at Polkville, approximately midway between the City of Cortland and the Village of McGraw. From Polkville, Interstate 81 parallels US Route 11 to the southern Town boundary.

State Route 222 comes eastward from Groton and enters the Town at its western boundary. Roads under state jurisdiction have an approximate total mileage of 47.5 or 33 percent of the total road mileage within the Town of Cortlandville. County roads in Cortlandville total 28.7 miles or 20 percent of the total mileage in the Town. They are paved roads and generally in good condition. There are approximately 66.5 miles of town roads in Cortlandville or 47 percent of the total mileage of the Town. Most of the Town's roads are paved and in good condition, having an unbroken, level surface and compact shoulders.

Community Facilities and Services

Utilities: Electric service for the Town is provided by Nation Grid. The New York State Electric and Gas Company is the primary supplier of natural gas.

Water and Sewer: There is a public water and sewer system although many of the residents of Cortlandville have individually drilled wells.

Police: Law enforcement in the Town of Cortlandville is serviced by the Cortland County Sheriff's Department.

Fire/Emergency: Fire protection is provided by the Cortlandville Fire Department. The Department is comprised of volunteers from within the community.

Emergency service is provided by the Cortland County 911 program.

Health Care: There are numerous health care providers; medical, dental, optometry, chiropractic, etc. are all located a short distance from Cortlandville. Cortland Regional Medical Center is located within the City of Cortland and offers a full range of medical services. Home health care services are available and there are three nursing home facilities within the general area.

Schools and Colleges/Universities: Educational services are provided by the Cortland Enlarged School District and the Homer School District. The elementary, middle and high schools are located within the Town of Homer. State University of New York at Cortland, Tompkins-Cortland Community College, Ithaca College and Cornell University are all within driving distance.

Recreational and Tourist Attractions: Open space and recreational facilities are an integral part of land use. The Lime Hollow Nature Center is located in the Town of Cortlandville and offers a variety of ways to experience and learn about the beauty of nature. There are municipal parks available to the public with a variety of recreational facilities such as ball parks, tennis courts and pavilions. Public and private forest lands are available for hiking and biking.

Located nearby are two golf courses: Walden Oaks Country Club which features a 6,229 yard, 18 holes, 71 par course; and Willow Brook Golf Club which features a 5,590 yard, 18 holes, 70 par course.

There are several challenging ski resorts located within an easy driving distance.

Banks: The Town of Cortlandville has five banks: Alliance Bank, First Niagara Bank, KeyBank, M&T Bank and Bank of America.

Hotels/Motels: There is two motels within the Town of Cortlandville -- Days Inn and Country Inn & Suites.