The Village of McGraw

Introduction

The Village of McGraw is located in the center of Cortland County. New York State Route 41 runs from Interstate 81 to McGraw, a distance of approximately 5 miles. Like the rest of Cortland County, McGraw is primarily rural.

History of the Village

The Village was named in honor of its first settler, Samuel McGraw, who settled in 1806. His log cabin later became a store and post office. Early industries included farming, work in tanneries, saw mills, grist mills, and wagon and blacksmith shops.

In 1849, McGraw opened New York Central College. Coming before the war, it admitted young men and women of all colors and stations, and in its time was a famous college with far reaching impact.

McGraw was known as the "Corset City" in the late 19th Century because two doctors designed and produced a health corset there.

Population Characteristics

According to the most recent census, 1,006 people live in the Village of McGraw, in a land area of .99 square miles. The median age is 32.5. There are 294 families in McGraw.

Physical Characteristics

Natural Resources: Water is abundant in the Village of McGraw and is considered a major asset.

Developed Resources: Land use is primarily residential.

Industry Characteristics: Industries in the Village include manufacturing, retail, insurance, services, and education. Four industries employ from 25 to 100 people, including McGraw Box Company and Vesta Intimate Apparel. The remaining companies employ fewer than 25. Most of the latter are retail and service industries.

Transportation

US Route 41 runs through the town. 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.

Community Facilities and Services

Utilities: Nation Grid supplies electrical service. New York State Electric and Gas supplies natural gas.

Water and sewer: Most of the water is supplied by village wells. A sewage treatment plan is located in the City of Cortland.

Education: McGraw Elementary and McGraw Senior High School provide public education in the Village. SUNY Cortland, Ithaca College, Cornell University, and Tompkins Cortland Community College are all within an easy drive.

Fire/Emergency: Police protection is provided by the Village police department, the Cortland County Sheriff's department, and the State Police. McGraw Volunteer Fire Department provides fire protection. The Village is connected to the 911 emergency system.

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 in the City of Cortland.

Recreational and tourist attractions: The Village provides a year-round recreation program, including summer recreational programs. Important regional facilities are Greek Peak in Virgil, Song Mountain in Preble, and Labrador Mountain in Truxton, Yaman Park in Cortland, and Little York Park in Homer.

The McGraw Historical Museum is located in the Lamont Memorial Library on Main Street.

Land Use Plans and Regulations

The Village has a planning board, zoning ordinance, a master plan, subdivision ordinance, mobile home ordinance, a noise abatement ordinance, junk yard ordinance, flood plan regulations, and road building specifications.