Owego is a village in and the county seat of Tioga County, New York, United States. The population was 3,896 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Binghamton metropolitan area. The name is derived from the Iroquois word Ahwaga, meaning where the valley widens.
The Village of Owego is by the west town line of the Town of Owego and is west of Binghamton, New York.
Owego is one of only twelve villages in New York still incorporated under a charter; all other New York villages have incorporated or re-incorporated under the provisions of Village Law.
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History
The village of Owego was established in 1787. When the "Town of Tioga" was created from the Town of Union, Owego village was in Tioga. In 1813, Tioga and Owego switched names, putting the village in the same-named town. The current Town of Tioga is now just west of the village. The village is in the Owego-Apalachin Central School District. Five district buildings are within the village's limits: the district office building, the Owego Elementary School, the combined Owego-Apalachin Middle School and Owego Free Academy building, the district's bus garage, and the district's central maintenance facility, all on or just off of Sheldon Guile Boulevard. Several former school buildings throughout the village have been repurposed for other uses.
On September 27, 1849, a large conflagration now known as "The Great Fire of Owego" began in the Temperance Hall of the Ely building. 104 buildings within the business district were completely burned to the ground.
The Evergreen Cemetery, St. Paul's Church, Owego Central Historic District, Tioga County Courthouse, and United States Post Office are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The James C. Beecher House was listed in 2012.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km2) of it (8.12%) is water.
Owego is on the Susquehanna River where the Owego Creek flows into the Susquehanna from the north.
A bridge connects the village to the Southern Tier Expressway (New York State Route 17), which is on the south side of the river.
Owego is located on NY-17C, south of the junction of NY-96 and NY-38.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,911 people, 1,664 households, and 978 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,566.7 inhabitants per square mile (604.9/km2). There were 1,913 housing units at an average density of 766.3 per square mile (295.9/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 95.42% White, 1.15% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.82% of the population.
There were 1,664 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $31,742, and the median income for a family was $43,139. Males had a median income of $27,299 versus $20,268 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,068. About 10.3% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those aged 65 or over.
Local government
The Village of Owego is governed by a Board of Trustees, which is composed of the Mayor and six Trustees. Each member serves staggered two-year terms in a part-time capacity.
The Owego Fire Department was founded in August 1828. The all-volunteer organization is made up of five companies in four stations.
Education
The CDP is in the Owego Apalachin Central School District.
Reputation
Owego was named by Budget Travel magazine's readers as The Coolest Small Town in the United States in a poll. Results were announced on The Early Show, April 15, 2009, with Budget Travel's editor in chief, Nina Willdorf with Harry Smith.
Strawberry Festival
The Village of Owego is home to a popular annual strawberry festival which has occurred every year in June since 1980 (excepting 2020 and 2021). The festival regularly draws 20,000 visitors and includes a parade, community 5k run, live music and vendors of fresh produce and prepared strawberry based dishes. 2020 would mark the 40th anniversary of the festival, however, the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation. As such, the 40th anniversary observance occurred in 2022.
Notable people
Austin Blair, 1818–1894. Politician, serving in the 40th, 41st, and 42nd U.S. Congress in the House of Representatives from 1867–1873 for Michigan's 3rd district. 13th governor of Michigan, 1861–1865. Practiced law in Owego.
Isaac S. Catlin, 1835–1916. lawyer, Brevetted Major General in the Union Army. Awarded the Medal of Honor for his efforts in the Battle of the Crater in Petersburg, Virginia. Born and practiced law in Owego.
Daniel Cruger, 1780–1843. Soldier, newspaper publisher, lawyer, state and national politician. As a member of the Democratic-Republican party he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, 1817–1819 for New York's 20th district. 15th United States Congress.
Amasa Dana, 1792–1867. Studied and practiced law in Owego. Later, as a Democratic Party (United States) politician, he would serve New York's 26th and 22nd districts in the 26th United States Congress and the 28th United States Congress.
John R. Drake, 1782–1857. Local, state, and national politician. The First Judge of the Broome County Court. As a member of the Democratic-Republican party he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, 1817–1819 for New York's 15th district, serving simultaneously with fellow Owegan Daniel Cruger in the 15th United States Congress.
Washington Gladden, 1836–1918. Leading American Congregational Pastor and pioneer of the Progressive Era-Social Gospel Movement. Educated and lived in Owego.
Douglas G. Hurley, born 1966. Is an American engineer, United States Marine Corps Naval Aviator, and NASA astronaut. He was also the first Marine to fly the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. He is a pilot in the Space Shuttle program. Hurley attended Owego Free Academy.
Mame Stewart Josenberger, 1868–1964. African American educator, businesswoman and clubwoman that was born and raised in the village.