The Town of Virgil

Introduction

The town of Virgil is located in the southern portion of Cortland County, approximately 6 miles south of the City of Cortland. Virgil is surrounded by farm land and residential land. This area has an agricultural atmosphere, although in recent years there has been a noticeable shift in patterns of land use from farming to residential purposes. The principal population center is the town of Virgil.

Like the rest of the outlying areas in Cortland County, the Town of Virgil is primarily rural.

There are four distinct seasons, with winters that provide enough snow for skiing at Greek Peak Ski Resort, colorful springs, temperate summers and an autumn that features colorful foliage on the rolling hillsides.

History of the Town

Virgil, named in honor of the Roman poet, was part of the Military Tract in Central New York State. Lots in the Tract were granted to Revolutionary War soldiers in payment for their services. To open up this wilderness area to the soldiers and other settlers, Joseph Chaplin, a surveyor, was hired to cut a road that would connect Oxford with Cayuga lake. Passing through Virgil from east to west, this was the first State road built in what became Cortland County. Chaplin built a cabin in the town and became the first settler. He was followed by John M. Frank, John Gee and John E. Roe who settled in Virgil somewhere between 1794 and 1797. From then, settlement was rapid into the 1800s. In 1805, Virgil set up its own government. Virgil celebrated its history at its Bicentennial Celebration in 1992, marking events from the settlement days of 1792 through 200 years.

Population Characteristics

According to the most recent census estimate, 2,376 people live in the Town of Virgil equating to 46.1 persons per square mile. The median age of the population is 32.4 years. There are 579 families with 3.29 persons per family.

Physical Characteristics

Farming is a major use of land in Virgil with 43.5 percent of total land in agricultural use. There are 61 farms in the Town of Virgil encompassing a total of 13,123 acres. Residential and Conservation/Public Parks and private forest lands are equally divided with approximately 18 percent each of the land use. Certain areas of the town are designated conservation areas. The conservation areas include those critical lands and waters which are vital to the life-giving food chains providing continuity for relatively wild natural areas and to maintain the Town's ecological balance.

Industry Characteristics: Commercial and light industrial development has had minimal impact on the rural character of the town. There are existing viable commercial and recreational/commercial operations within the Town particularly along NYS Routes 13 and 392. By designating areas for commercial/light industrial uses, such as the NYS Route 392 corridor between the Virgil Hamlet and Greek Peak Ski Resort, there is potential for increasing the economic viability of Virgil while protecting against conflict with the agricultural/residential areas of the Town.

Transportation

There are four main routes that are primary traffic carriers within and through the Town of Virgil. New York State Routes 392, 215, 13 and US Route 11 make up the main arteries for the town. There is limited access to Interstate 81.

There are ten county roads that are secondary traffic carriers within the Town. There are 56 local roads.

Utilities: Electric service for the town is provided by Nation Grid.

Water and sewer: There is a pubic water system as well as a public sewer system, although the majority of the population uses individually drilled wells and septic tanks.

Community Facilities and Services

Police: Law enforcement in the town of Virgil is provided by the Cortland County Sheriff's Department.

Fire/Emergency services: Fire protection is provided by a dedicated volunteer fire department. Emergency service is provided by the Cortland County 911 service. The Town contracts with MAVCAC and Dryden Ambulance for ambulance service.

Health Care: Cortland Regional Medical Center and Cayuga Medical Center provide medical resources for the Town.

Education: Educational services are provided by the Cortland City Enlarged School District. The elementary school grades K through 6 is located in the Town of Virgil. Grades 7 through 12 are educated at the Cortland Jr./Sr. High School located in the City of Cortland. SUNY Cortland, Tompkins-Cortland Community College, Ithaca College and Cornell University are within driving distance.

Recreational and Tourist Attractions: Conservation/Public & Private Forest lands are located on 5,445 acres of land and represent 18.5 percent of the total land use in the Town. There is access to hiking and biking trails on State lands. Greek Peak Ski Resort offers challenging downhill skiing with 28 slopes/trails with a 900-ft. vertical drop. Plans are underway to continue to develop the Resort for activities in the spring and summer months. The Elm Tree Golf course is located in Virgil, offering a 6,251 yard, 18 holes, 70 par course. The Skyline Raceway is a track that is open Saturdays during the summer months for racing stock cars and modified vehicles.