Cortland County 's breathtaking vistas resulted from
glaciers, which carved its valleys, shaped its hills, and watered the region through rivers, lakes, and creeks. It was virgin territory until just after the Revolutionary War, when New York State designated thousands of acres to be compensation for enlistees in two post-war regiments. By 1808, the population approached 8,000, and people began to
petition the state legislature to create a county separate from Onondaga. They named Cortland County after the state 's first lieutenant governor. As you delve into Cortland County, the...