Katana VentraIP

Owego, New York

Owego is a town in Tioga County, New York, United States. The population was 18,728 at the 2020 census.[2] The name is derived from the Iroquois word Ahwaga, meaning "where the valley widens".

Not to be confused with Oswego.

Owego, New York

United States

New York

Tioga

1791

Donald Castellucci Jr.

105.74 sq mi (273.87 km2)

104.22 sq mi (269.93 km2)

1.52 sq mi (3.94 km2)  1.51%

18,728 Decrease

18,633

181.79/sq mi (70.19/km2)

[2]

UTC−5 (EST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

36-107-55893

www.townofowego.com

Owego is in the southeastern corner of the county, west of Binghamton. The village of Owego is in the western part of the town.

History[edit]

The town was first settled around 1786. The original town of Owego was created at the time Tioga County was formed in 1791. This original town was reduced by formation of later towns in the county. The town's name is a derivative of the Iroquois word "ahwaga", which means "where the valley widens".[3] This name came from the vast floods that run into the valley when the winter snows melt, which caused several deaths a year.


The current town of Owego was formed as the town of Tioga in 1800 from the town of Union (now in Broome County).


Confusion over the location of the village of Owego caused the legislature to have the towns of Owego and Tioga switch names in 1813 so that Owego village was within the same-named town.


The Hiawatha Farm, Waits Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery, and Vesper Cliff are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4]

– The hamlet of Apalachin is south of the Susquehanna River by the Southern Tier Expressway.

Apalachin

Campville – A hamlet on the northern side of the river on NY-17C. It was originally called East Owego until renamed after soldier and settler Asa Camp.

– A neighborhood and census-designated place near the eastern town line, north of the river.

Crest View Heights

Flemingville – A hamlet north of Owego village on . It was named after soldier and settler David Fleming.

NY Route 38

Foster – A location near the eastern town boundary, named after early settlers named Foster.

Gaskill Corners (or Gaskill) – A hamlet north of the river on County Road 39. It is named after early settler Joseph Gaskill.

Gibsons Corners – A hamlet south of the river near the western town line. It is named after Eli Gibson, an early settler.

Hiawatha Island – An in the Susquehanna River east of Owego village and west of Apalachin.

island

Hullsville – A location north of Gaskill on County Road 39.

Oakley Corners – A location in the northeastern section of the town, near Hullsville.

– The village of Owego is located on the north bank of the Susquehanna River by Owego Creek and the west town line.

Owego

Owego Creek – A stream that flows southward through the western side of the town and is joined by the Catatonk Creek before it enters the Susquehanna River.

South Apalachin – A location in the southeastern part of the town on County Road 41.

South Owego – A hamlet near the southern town line on County Road 27.

– A neighborhood and census-designated place east of Apalachin and south of NY-434.

Tioga Terrace

Waits – A hamlet in the southwestern corner of the town, named after early settler Henry Waits.

Whittemore – A location by the eastern town line, named after early settlers named Foster. A descendant, Reverend Whittemore, preached at the Whittemore Hill church until sometime around the 1980s.

Flood of 2011[edit]

On September 8, 2011, the town of Owego was badly damaged by flood waters. Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee dumped massive amounts of rain over the region, causing the Susquehanna River to rapidly overflow its banks.[9]

Official website

Village of Owego