The Town of Homer
Including the Village of Homer

Introduction

The Town of Homer is one mile north of the City of Cortland. Interstate 81, US Route 11, State Routes 13, 41, 41A, 90, and 281, the West and East branches of the Tioughnioga River, Factory Brook, and the New York Susquehanna and Western Railroad run through the Town. The principal population centers are the Village of Homer and Hamlets of Little York and East Homer. The Town consists of rolling hills, a number of small lakes, and two large fertile valleys.

History of the Town

Homer was originally part of the Central New York military tract, with the first settlers arriving in 1791 from New England. The Village of Homer has a large historic district which is on the National Register.

Population Characteristics

According to the most recent census estimates, there are 6,424 people in the Town, with 3,230 people living in the Village of Homer. About 13.3 percent of the County's total population lives in the Town of Homer, with 1,802 families in the Town, and 943 families in the Village of Homer. Median age of the Town is 34.7.

Physical Characteristics

Natural Resources: The Town covers 50.37 square miles, about 10.1 percent of the County. The primary natural resources include farmland (almost 75 percent of Town's acreage is classified as agricultural property, the most of any Town in Cortland County), gravel, the Tioughnioga River, and the Cortland Valley Sole Source Aquifer.

The Village of Homer is located at the intersections of US Route 11 and State Routes 41 and 90. The layout of the Village with its central Green surrounded by churches and schools, reflects the New England heritage of the first settlers. Throughout the large historic district of the Village which is on the National Register are dozens of elegant, well-maintained homes built in an array of 19th Century styles. There are also several handsome public and commercial buildings at the center of the Village.

Industry Characteristics

Agriculture is the main industry of Homer. Commercial and light industrial development is encouraged. Some current employers are: Albany International (industrial mono filaments; and Haskell Machine & Tool (general machining).

Transportation

The main highways serving Homer are Interstate 81, US Route 11, and State Routes 13, 41, 41A, 90, and 281. Major regional airports are located in Syracuse and Binghamton. 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.

The NY Susquehanna and Western Railroad system is used for freight and shipping.

Community Facilities and Services

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

Water and sewer: In the Village of Homer, there is a public water (Newton Water Works) and a sewer (Cortland Wastewater Plant) system that can be hooked up to. The rest of the Town is serviced primarily from individual drilled wells and septic tanks.

Police: The Village is covered by its own police department, and the rest of the Town is covered by the Cortland County Sheriff's Department and the New York State Police.

Fire/Emergency: The Town is covered by the Village of Homer Fire Department and is serviced by the emergency number 911.

Health Care: The nearest physicians and dentists are in the Village of Homer and the City of Cortland. Full hospital services are at the Cortland Regional Medical Center in the City of Cortland.

There are two adult care facilities located in the Village – Elizabeth Brewster House and Greenbriar. Home health care services are available from five organizations out of the City of Cortland.

Education: Educational services are provided by the Homer Central School District with two elementary schools, an intermediate school, a junior high school, and a senior high school. SUNY Cortland and Tompkins Cortland Community College are within driving distance. In the Village of Homer, there is the Homer Children's Center, Inc. which offers day care.

Recreational and Tourist Attractions: There are a number of events happening on the Village Green (band concerts, Holiday in Homer, antique auto show, Christmas on the Green, etc.). There are five Village parks (George Vernum, Durkee Memorial, Griggs Field, Newton Water Works, and Calale) and an abundance of other recreational opportunities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing within the Town.

Banks: There are two branch offices in the Village for KeyBank and First Niagara Bank.

Hotels/Motels: The Quagmire Manor Bed & Breakfast is just northwest of the Village on State Route 281.