The Town of Scott

Introduction

The Town of Scott is in the northwestern corner of Cortland County approximately seven miles northwest of the City of Cortland and fifteen miles south of the Village of Skaneateles. The Town is at the southern end of Skaneateles Lake. State Route 41, Grout and Factory Brooks run through the Town. The principal population center is in the Hamlet of Scott. The Town consists of rolling hills. The climate is typical of the latitude with some tempering because of the proximity to Skaneateles Lake and the other Finger Lakes.

Population Characteristics

According to the most recent census estimates, there are 1,190 people, or 52.4 persons per square mile, representing about 2.38 percent of the County's total population. There are 313 families, with a median age of 31.2.

Physical Characteristics

Natural Resources: The Town covers 22.26 square miles, about 4.5 percent of the County. The primary natural resources include farmland, the Grout and Factory Brooks, and Skaneateles Lake.

Developed Resources: Residential land use occupies about 12.10 percent of all land in the Town. Commercial land use occupies about .13 percent, Community Service land use (churches, schools, etc.) occupy about .10 percent, and Recreational and Seasonal land use occupies about .46 percent of the land. Agriculture land use uses 68.37 percent, Private Forest lands occupy 8.48 percent, and State/County owned forests, parks, and wetlands occupy 5.41 percent. Only 4.95 percent of the land is vacant.

The Hamlet of Scott is located at the intersections of Glen Haven Road and State Route 41. The Hamlet has a church, a restaurant, a senior center, Town Hall, and some commercial enterprises.

Industry Characteristics: Agriculture is the main industry of Scott.

Transportation

The main highway serving Scott is Route 41. 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.

Police: The Town is covered by the Cortland County Sheriff's Department and the New York State Police.

Fire/Emergency: The Town is serviced by the emergency number 911.

Health Care: The nearest physicians and dentists are in the Villages of Homer and Skaneateles. 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: Scott features Fair Haven Marina, High Vista Nature Preserve, Cold Brook Hunts (with big-game hunting available), two recreation areas, Graydon Haines Field and Scott Family Park, and a famous trout-fishing stream, Grout Brook, which is maintained by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Hotels/Motels – The Cottage at Glen Haven, a Bed & Breakfast, is located near Glen Haven.