Chenango County, New York

Chenango County is a county in New York, United States, centred on the Chenango River in the south-central part of the state. It had a population of 47,220 at the 2020 census and covers 894 square miles (2,320 km2) of land, centred near 42°30′N 75°37′W.

Norwich is the county seat; its postal code is 13815. The county has 8 incorporated villages, 21 towns, and 2 census-designated places, all in the Eastern time zone. Chenango’s FIPS code is 36017.

Towns & Villages in Chenango County

Chenango County contains 8 incorporated villages, 21 civil towns, and 2 census-designated places (CDPs), plus dozens of unincorporated hamlets and rural crossroads. The table below lists the county’s named places; Pop. is shown only where a verified 2020 figure is available.

Several smaller hamlets from older gazetteers — Adams Corner, Amblerville, Beaver Meadow, Bennettsville, Bettsburg, Blackesley Corner, Bonney, Brisben, Buckley Hollow, Button City, Chenango Lake, Columbus Quarter, Corbin Corner, Davis Crossing, Dibble Corner, East Afton, East Guilford, East McDonough, Fickles Corner, Five Corners, Galena, German Four Corners, Guilford Center, Harrisville, Hawley Corners, Haynes, Holmesville, Hydeville, Ives Settlement, Kelsey Brook Trailer Court, Kirk, Lakeview, Lakeville, Lathams Corners, Lower Genegantslet Corner, Maple Grove East, Mariposa, Middle Bridge, Nineveh Junction, North Afton, North Pharsalia, Northwest Corners, Page Brook, Parker, Pinewoods MH Park, Plasterville, Polkville, Rockdale, Rockwells Mills, Sages Crossing, Seventh Day Hollow, Sherburne Four Corners, Smithville Flats, South Oxford, Springvale, Stanbro, Sweets, Tallette, Tyner, Union Valley, Upperville, Valley View MH Park, White Store and Yaleville — are informal crossroads or trailer-park communities within the towns above, with no separate ZIP or census count. “Rhode Island” is a locally used name for a rural crossroads in the town of Plymouth, not the state.

ZIP Codes

• 13815 — Norwich (also serves North Norwich)
• 13730 — Afton (also serves East Afton)
• 13733 — Bainbridge (also serves West Bainbridge)
• 13332 — Earlville
• 13778 — Greene (also serves East Guilford)
• 13411 — New Berlin (also serves South New Berlin)
• 13830 — Oxford (also serves South Oxford)
• 13460 — Sherburne
• 13464 — Smyrna
• 13780 — Guilford
• 13801 — McDonough
• 13832 — Plymouth (also serves South Plymouth)
• 13136 — Pitcher (also serves North Pitcher)
• 13106 — Otselic Center
• 13155 — South Otselic

Smaller hamlets without a dedicated post office generally share the ZIP code of the nearest village listed above.

Geography

Chenango County sits on the Allegheny Plateau, drained north to south by the Chenango River, which joins the Susquehanna River at Binghamton just south of the county line. The terrain is hilly and largely forested, with the river valley carrying the county’s main road and rail corridors and its larger villages. Water covers a small share of the county’s 899 square miles, mostly the river and its tributary creeks; there are no large natural lakes.

Chenango County borders Madison County to the north, Otsego County to the northeast, Delaware County to the southeast, Broome County to the south, and Cortland County to the west.

Demographics

Chenango County’s population was 47,220 at the 2020 census, spread across a mostly rural county with one small city. Norwich, the county seat, is the largest place; Sherburne and Oxford are the next-largest incorporated villages. Median household income in the county runs below the New York median of $82,095, reflecting its rural, agricultural and light-manufacturing economy. Population density is about 53 people per square mile, well under the statewide average.

Economy & Local Life

Agriculture — dairy farming in particular — remains central to Chenango County’s economy, alongside manufacturing, healthcare and local government employment centred in Norwich. Chobani, the yogurt maker, was founded in Norwich in 2005 and remains one of the county’s largest private employers. The Chenango County Fair, held in Norwich each August, is the county’s biggest annual event.

History

Chenango County was formed on March 15, 1798, from parts of Tioga and Herkimer counties. Its name comes from an Oneida word for “large bull-thistle.” Before European settlement the territory lay within Oneida homelands; settlers arrived in growing numbers after the Revolutionary War, and the county’s towns were organized through the early 19th century as its river-valley farmland was cleared and settled.

Getting There

New York State Route 12 runs the length of the county along the Chenango River, connecting Norwich to Interstate 88 near Sidney and to Utica to the north. NY Route 220 and Route 41 link the eastern and western towns.

• Binghamton — 30 miles south
• Utica — 40 miles north
• Syracuse — 45 miles northwest
• Oneonta — 25 miles east

The nearest commercial airport is Greater Binghamton Airport, about 35 miles south of Norwich.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Chenango County?
It is in south-central New York, along the Chenango River between Binghamton and Utica.

What is the population of Chenango County?
47,220 at the 2020 census.

How big is Chenango County?
894 square miles of land (2,320 km2), plus about 5 square miles of water.

What is the county seat of Chenango County?
Norwich.

How many towns and villages are in Chenango County?
21 towns and 8 incorporated villages, plus 2 census-designated places and many smaller hamlets.

What ZIP codes are in Chenango County?
Norwich’s is 13815; other village ZIPs include 13730 (Afton), 13733 (Bainbridge), 13460 (Sherburne) and 13830 (Oxford).

What is Chenango County known for?
Dairy farming and, since 2005, Chobani yogurt, founded in a former Kraft plant in Norwich.

More counties in this state: Towns and villages in New York.