Cayuga County, New York

Cayuga County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 76,248.[2] Its county seat and largest city is Auburn.[3] The county was named for the Cayuga people, one of the Native American tribes in the Iroquois Confederation.

Cayuga County
County
Cayuga County Courthouse
Cayuga County Courthouse
Flag of Cayuga County
Flag
Official seal of Cayuga County
Seal
Map of New York highlighting Cayuga County
Location within the U.S. state of New York
Map of the United States highlighting New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°00′N 76°34′W
Country United States
State New York
Founded1799
Named forCayuga people
SeatAuburn
Largest cityAuburn
Area
 • Total864 sq mi (2,240 km2)
 • Land692 sq mi (1,790 km2)
 • Water172 sq mi (450 km2)  20%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total76,248[1]
 • Density110.3/sq mi (42.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district24th
Websitewww.cayugacounty.us

Cayuga County comprises the Auburn, NY Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Syracuse-Auburn, NY Combined Statistical Area.

History

When counties were established in the Province of New York in 1683, the present Cayuga County was part of Albany County. This was an enormous county, including the northern part of the present state of New York and all of the present state of Vermont and, in theory, extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. This county was reduced in size on July 3, 1766, by the creation of Cumberland County, and further on March 16, 1770, by the creation of Gloucester County, both containing territory now in Vermont.

On March 12, 1772, what was left of Albany County was split into three parts, one remaining under the name Albany County. One of the other pieces, Tryon County, contained the western portion (and thus, since no western boundary was specified, theoretically still extended west to the Pacific). The eastern boundary of Tryon County was approximately five miles west of the present city of Schenectady, and the county included the western part of the Adirondack Mountains and the area west of the West Branch of the Delaware River. The area then designated as Tryon County now includes 37 counties of New York State. The county was named for William Tryon, colonial governor of New York. In the years prior to 1776, most of the Loyalists in Tryon County fled to Canada.

In 1784, following the peace treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War, the name of Tryon County was changed to Montgomery County in honor of the general, Richard Montgomery, who had captured several places in Canada and died attempting to capture the city of Quebec, replacing the name of the hated British governor.

In 1789, Montgomery County was reduced in size by the splitting off of Ontario County. The actual area split off from Montgomery County was much larger than the present county, also including the present Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Steuben, Wyoming, Yates, and part of Schuyler and Wayne Counties.

Herkimer County was one of three counties split off from Montgomery County (the others being Otsego and Tioga Counties) in 1791.

Onondaga County was formed in 1794 by the splitting of Herkimer County.

Cayuga County was formed in 1799 by the splitting of Onondaga County. This county was, however, much larger than the present Cayuga County. It then included the present Seneca and Tompkins Counties.

In 1804, Seneca County was formed by the splitting of Cayuga County. Then in 1817, in turn, a portion of Seneca County was combined with a piece of the remainder of Cayuga County to form Tompkins County.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, this region attracted European immigrants who developed farms or took over existing ones, particularly from Italy and Poland.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 864 square miles (2,240 km2), of which 692 square miles (1,790 km2) is land and 172 square miles (450 km2) (20%) is water.[4]

Cayuga County is located in the west central part of the state, in the Finger Lakes region. Owasco Lake is in the center of the county, and Cayuga Lake forms part of the western boundary. Lake Ontario is on the northern border, and Skaneateles Lake and Cross Lake form part of the eastern border. Cayuga County has more waterfront land than any other county in the state not adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
180015,871—
181029,84388.0%
182038,89730.3%
183047,94823.3%
184050,3385.0%
185055,45810.2%
186055,7670.6%
187059,5506.8%
188065,0819.3%
189065,3020.3%
190066,2341.4%
191067,1061.3%
192065,221−2.8%
193064,751−0.7%
194065,5081.2%
195070,1367.1%
196073,9425.4%
197077,4394.7%
198079,8943.2%
199082,3133.0%
200081,963−0.4%
201080,026−2.4%
202076,248−4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010–2020[2]

2020 Census
Cayuga County Racial Composition[9]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 66,313 86.97%
Black or African American (NH) 2,727 3.57%
Native American (NH) 224 0.29%
Asian (NH) 379 0.49%
Pacific Islander (NH) 54 0.07%
Other/Mixed (NH) 3,915 5.13%
Hispanic or Latino 2,636 3.45%

2000 Census

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 81,963 people, 30,558 households, and 20,840 families residing in the county. The population density was 118 people per square mile (46 people/km2). There were 35,477 housing units at an average density of 51 per square mile (20/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.34% White, 3.99% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 1.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.3% were of Irish, 16.0% English, 15.7% Italian, 11.3% German, 9.5% American and 6.3% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.[11] 94.9% spoke English, 2.0% Spanish and 1.0% Italian as their first language.

There were 30,558 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.00% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,487, and the median income for a family was $44,973. Males had a median income of $33,356 versus $23,919 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,003. About 7.80% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.90% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

At 2.3%, Cayuga County has the highest share of Ukrainian Americans of any county in New York State.[12] The Ukrainian-American population in Cayuga County is heavily concentrated in the Auburn area.

Government and politics
United States presidential election results for Cayuga County, New York[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 19,632 53.33% 16,359 44.44% 818 2.22%
2016 17,384 52.41% 13,522 40.76% 2,266 6.83%
2012 13,454 43.18% 17,007 54.58% 700 2.25%
2008 15,243 44.80% 18,128 53.28% 651 1.91%
2004 17,743 49.22% 17,534 48.64% 775 2.15%
2000 14,988 44.11% 17,031 50.12% 1,959 5.77%
1996 11,093 34.78% 15,879 49.79% 4,922 15.43%
1992 12,065 33.82% 13,088 36.69% 10,518 29.49%
1988 16,934 52.45% 15,044 46.60% 307 0.95%
1984 21,451 63.50% 12,207 36.14% 121 0.36%
1980 17,945 54.78% 11,708 35.74% 3,103 9.47%
1976 19,775 59.31% 13,348 40.03% 220 0.66%
1972 22,774 67.08% 11,097 32.68% 81 0.24%
1968 16,167 49.49% 14,604 44.71% 1,895 5.80%
1964 11,453 32.20% 24,090 67.73% 23 0.06%
1960 20,437 54.18% 17,257 45.75% 28 0.07%
1956 26,503 72.08% 10,268 27.92% 0 0.00%
1952 25,037 68.08% 11,695 31.80% 46 0.13%
1948 19,017 56.35% 14,317 42.42% 413 1.22%
1944 18,680 57.25% 13,849 42.44% 100 0.31%
1940 21,032 59.80% 13,985 39.76% 156 0.44%
1936 20,203 60.85% 12,158 36.62% 839 2.53%
1932 17,280 55.66% 12,989 41.84% 774 2.49%
1928 20,202 62.11% 11,787 36.24% 536 1.65%
1924 17,252 63.66% 7,369 27.19% 2,479 9.15%
1920 15,234 67.68% 6,343 28.18% 933 4.14%
1916 7,831 53.31% 6,391 43.51% 467 3.18%
1912 5,788 42.01% 4,691 34.05% 3,298 23.94%
1908 9,699 58.34% 5,789 34.82% 1,136 6.83%
1904 10,708 62.88% 5,707 33.52% 613 3.60%
1900 10,328 59.99% 6,330 36.77% 559 3.25%
1896 10,024 61.38% 5,846 35.80% 460 2.82%
1892 8,341 53.95% 5,999 38.80% 1,121 7.25%
1888 9,646 57.78% 6,380 38.22% 668 4.00%
1884 9,205 56.62% 6,041 37.16% 1,012 6.22%
1880 9,372 58.90% 5,976 37.56% 564 3.54%
1876 8,967 58.91% 6,120 40.21% 134 0.88%
1872 7,994 62.35% 4,782 37.30% 46 0.36%
1868 8,261 62.86% 4,880 37.14% 0 0.00%
1864 7,534 63.09% 4,408 36.91% 0 0.00%
1860 7,922 66.71% 3,954 33.29% 0 0.00%
1856 7,035 65.28% 1,818 16.87% 1,923 17.85%
1852 4,838 46.91% 4,552 44.14% 923 8.95%
1848 4,318 45.99% 1,034 11.01% 4,037 43.00%
1844 4,908 46.81% 5,202 49.61% 376 3.59%
1840 5,172 51.17% 4,863 48.12% 72 0.71%
1836 3,724 46.50% 4,284 53.50% 0 0.00%

Cayuga County is considered a swing county in national elections. In 2000, Democrat Al Gore won Cayuga County with 50% of the vote to George W. Bush's 44%. In 2004, however, incumbent President Bush defeated John Kerry by a narrow margin of only 0.58%, or 49.22% to 48.64%. In 2008, it was won by Democrat Barack Obama, with 53% of the vote to Republican John McCain's 45%. In 2012, Obama won the county again by a slightly larger margin over Republican Mitt Romney.

However, like most of upstate New York, Cayuga County swung right in 2016. Republican Donald Trump carried it with 52.41% of the vote to Hillary Clinton's 40.76%, the largest Republican vote share since 1988 and the largest margin of victory for a Republican since 1984. In 2020, Trump carried the county again, this time taking 53.49% of the vote (the largest vote share for any Republican since 1984) to Joe Biden's 44.27%. Biden became the first Democrat to win the presidency without carrying Cayuga County since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

In statewide elections it has gone for Democrats: both Eliot Spitzer and Hillary Clinton won it in 2006 with more than 60% of the vote. In 2010, Democrat Andrew Cuomo defeated Republican Carl Paladino 53% to 40% for the governorship, with 3% going to Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins. Also in 2010, both Democratic U.S. Senators, Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, carried Cayuga County. Gillibrand won 54% of the vote, while Schumer won 61%.

The Cayuga County Legislature consists of 15 members, each of whom are elected from single-member districts.

Voter registration as of February 21, 2022[14]
Party Active voters Inactive voters Total voters Percentage
Republican 17,415 822 18,237 36.46%
Democratic 14,809 733 15,542 31.07%
Unaffiliated 11,479 745 12,224 24.44%
Other[nb 1] 3,753 259 4,012 8.02%
Total 47,456 2,559 50,015 100%

Communities
A map of the towns and villages in Cayuga County

Larger Settlements
# Location Population Type Sector
1 †Auburn 27,687 City Center
2 Melrose Park 2,294 CDP Center
3 Weedsport 1,815 Village North
4 Port Byron 1,290 Village North
5 Moravia 1,282 Village South
6 Union Springs 1,197 Village Center
7 Aurora 724 Village South
7 Fair Haven 724 Village North
9 Cayuga 549 Village Center
10 Cato 532 Village North
11 Meridian 309 Village North

† - County Seat

Towns

Hamlets

Notable people
Marker at the burial site of Helmer and his wife on the north side of Cottle Road in the Town of Brutus, New York. Their grave stones were moved to the Weedsport Rural Cemetery.

See also

Notes
  1. Included are voters affiliated with the Conservative Party, Green Party, Working Families Party, Independence Party, Women's Equality Party, Reform Party, and other small parties.

References
  1. "US Census 2020 Population Dataset Tables for New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  2. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Cayuga County, New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  9. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cayuga County, New York".
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  12. ""'It's just a tragedy': Auburn's Ukrainian community reacts to invasion"". Auburn Pub. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  14. "NYSVoter Enrollment by County, Party Affiliation and Status". New York State Board of Elections. May 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.

Further reading
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