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1. Bainbridge, 1791.
2. Norwich, 1793.
3. Oxford, 1793,

TOWNS.

4. Greene, 1798.

5. Columbus, 1805. 6. Coventry, 1806.

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Rivers. II. Unadilla river. CC. Chenango. G. Susquehanna.

h. Otselic.

a. Geneganslette creek. e. Canasawacta.

Villages. NORWICH. Oxford. Sherburne.

BOUNDARIES. North by Madison county; East by Otsego and Delaware; South by Broome; and West by Broome and Cortland counties.

SURFACE. This county is comprised in the extensive table land, which occupies so large a portion of southern and western New York. The force and velocity of its principal streams, however, have cut deep and broad channels through the rocks, and thus formed wide and beautiful alluvial valleys, giving the county an apparently diversified surface. The table land between the Unadilla and Chenango rivers is 1630 feet above tide water.

RIVERS. The Chenango, a beautiful stream, and its tributaries, the principal of which are the Geneganslette and Canasawacta, drain the central portion of the county. The Unadilla washes its eastern border, while the Susquehanna crosses its southeastern, and the Otselic its northwestern corner.

CANALS. The Chenango Canal passes through the county in the broad valley of the Chenango river, furnishing a convenient outlet for its abundant produce.

CLIMATE. Mild, healthful, and pleasant.

GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. The western part of this county belongs to the Chemung sandstone group; the eastern part to the old red sandstone of the Catskill group, and a small tract at the north to the limestone of the Helderberg series.

There are few minerals in the county, the geological formations not being favorable to their production. There are two or three sulphur springs which have some reputation in the treatment of cutaneous diseases.

SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil on the table lands is admirably adapted to grazing; in the alluvial valleys it is a rich, gravelly loam, yielding abundant crops of grain. The principal forest trees are beech, maple, basswood, elm, butternut, black cherry, and in the south, hemlock and pine.

PURSUITS. Agriculture is the leading pursuit. Great attention is paid to the rearing of cattle, horses and sheep. Butter

and cheese are largely produced, particularly in the southern towns. The county ranks among the first in the state in the production of butter, cheese, wool and flax.

Manufactures are receiving increasing attention. At present, however, the most important are those of flour, lumber, leather, fulled cloths, and cotton and woollen goods.

The commerce of the county, through the medium of the Chenango canal, and the Susquehanna river, is large and constantly increasing.

STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. Butter, cheese, wool, flax and oats. SCHOOLS. In 1846, there were in the county 287 district school-houses, in which schools were maintained an average period of seven months, at an expense for tuition of $16,283; 14,750 scholars attended these schools. The district libraries contained 26,598 volumes.

There were also thirty-five select schools, attended by 658 pupils, and four incorporated academies, with 416 students.

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Baptists, Methodists, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Universalists, and Friends. The entire number of churches, is eighty-three; of clergymen, ninety-four.

HISTORY. Chenango was formed from the counties of Tioga and Herkimer, in 1798. The first settlement was made in Oxford, in 1790; another was made at Bainbridge, in 1791. The latter township was granted by the state of New York, to Vermont, as a compensation for losses of individuals who had suffered on account of grants made by the state of Vermont, before the settlement of her difficulties with New York. Most of the early settlers of the county were from New England, and a majority of them from Connecticut.

The first settlers in the village of Greene, were a party of French emigrants, some of whom were men of distinction in their own country. After some years, however, owing to pecuniary difficulties, they became discouraged, and removed to Pennsylvania. An academy was established and incorporated at Oxford, in 1794. The town of Sherburne was settled by a party of twenty families, from Connecticut, who organized themselves into a church before emigrating. They arrived at their location on Thursday, and by the succeeding Sabbath had erected a log meeting-house, in which they met for worship, and it is said that not a Sabbath has since passed without divine service.

ANTIQUITIES. In the town of Greene is a remarkable mound, which, before it was disturbed by the plough or spade, was about seven feet high, and nearly forty feet in diameter. It contained human bones, flint arrow-heads, and utensils of the natives; and was probably the place where the slain of some sanguinary battle had been entombed. In Oxford, are the remains of a fort, about three-fourths of an acre in extent. Trees of more than 200 years' growth were standing on this fort when it was first discovered. Its position was admirably calculated for defence. When or by whom it was erected is unknown. The Indian traditions on this subject are by no means definite.

VILLAGES. NORWICH, in the town of the same name, is the seat of justice for the county. It is pleasantly situated on a neck of land formed by the Canasawacta creek and the river. It is surrounded by a rich agricultural district, whose produce finds here a ready market. The Chenango canal connects it with Utica and Binghamton. It has a considerable number of manufactories. Here is a flourishing academy, and a female seminary. Population, 1600.

Oxford, in the town of the same name, is situated on both sides of the Chenango. It is in the midst of a fine agricultural country, and has considerable trade. The academy here is an old and flourishing one, founded in 1794. Population, 1300.

Sherburne, in the town of the same name, is a pleasant incorporated village, on the line of the canal. It has a chartered academy, and considerable trade. Population, 700.

Greene, in the town of the same name is a flourishing village, situated on the Chenango river and Canal. It has considerable manufactures. Population, 800.

New Berlin and Bainbridge, in the towns of the same names, are thriving and important villages.

Smithville and Smyrna, are also villages of some importance.

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Mountains. T. Matteawan. d. Closter. e. Nyack Hills. f. Dun

derberg.

Rivers. C. Hudson. c. Hackensack. a. Ramapo. Saddle.

Forts. Stony Point.

Villages. NEW CITY. Haverstraw. Piermont.

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