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Moving to Cortland, New York

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Cortland, New York is a small, vibrant city located in the heart of Central New York. With a population of just over 19,000 people, Cortland is the perfect size for those looking for a smaller-town feel with big-city amenities. From its rich history and culture to its many outdoor activities, Cortland has something for everyone.

The city of Cortland was founded in 1791 and is steeped in rich history and culture. The area was home to Native American tribes long before Europeans arrived and remains home to many historical sites such as 18th century houses and churches. The downtown area of Cortland also offers plenty of shopping opportunities with locally owned shops and boutiques that carry everything from clothing to antiques. In addition to these stores, there are various restaurants throughout the city featuring different cuisines from around the world.

When it comes to outdoor activities, Cortland offers plenty of options for those looking for an adventure. For those who enjoy hiking or biking, there are numerous trails throughout the city that offer stunning views of waterfalls and wooded areas. There are also several parks within the city limits that feature playgrounds, picnic areas and even disc golf courses. With its close proximity to both Lake Ontario and Cayuga Lake, Cortland also provides access to plenty of water activities such as fishing, boating or swimming.

Cortland is also home to several educational institutions including SUNY Cortland which offers students undergraduate degrees in a variety of fields such as education and business administration as well as graduate degrees in areas like public administration or sport management. In addition to SUNY Cortland, Tompkins-Cortland Community College offers associate degree programs in various fields including nursing or business management while providing students with an affordable college experience close to home.

Overall, Cortland is an ideal place for people looking for small town charm with big city amenities all within reach. With its rich history and culture combined with plenty of outdoor activities nearby plus numerous educational opportunities available at both SUNY Cortland and Tompkins-Cortland Community College; it’s no wonder why so many choose this charming little city as their home.

Population: 18,740. Estimated population in July 2024: 18,522 (-1.2% change)
Males: 8,792 (46.9%), Females: 9,948 (53.1%)

Cortland County

Zip code: 13045

Demographics

Median resident age: 27.8 years
Median household income: $26,478
Median house value: $71,000

Population by Race

Races in Cortland:

  • White Non-Hispanic (94.6%)
  • Hispanic (1.7%)
  • Black (1.6%)
  • Two or more races (1.3%)
  • American Indian (0.7%)
  • Other race (0.6%)

Ancestries: Irish (21.4%), Italian (18.4%), German (17.0%), English (16.5%), United States (6.3%), Dutch (4.2%).

Land area: 3.9 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Cortland

  • High school or higher: 79.6%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.0%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 7.9%
  • Unemployed: 12.8%
  • Mean travel time to work: 15.6 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Cortland city

  • Never married: 43.4%
  • Now married: 36.6%
  • Separated: 3.4%
  • Widowed: 7.7%
  • Divorced: 8.9%

3.5% Foreign born (2.6% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: -1,046 (-5.3%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Cortland:

  • CORTLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (134 HOMER AVE)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Cortland:

  • CAYUGA MEDICAL CENTER AT ITHACA (about 25 miles; ITHACA, NY)
  • COMMUNITY GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 28 miles; SYRACUSE, NY)
  • CROUSE-IRVING MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 31 miles; SYRACUSE, NY)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Cortland:

  • ITHACA TOMPKINS REGIONAL (about 21 miles; ITHACA, NY; Abbreviation: ITH)
  • GREATER BINGHAMTON/EDWIN A LINK FIELD (about 32 miles; BINGHAMTON, NY; Abbreviation: BGM)
  • SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTL (about 35 miles; SYRACUSE, NY; Abbreviation: SYR)

Other public-use airports nearest to Cortland:

  • CORTLAND COUNTY-CHASE FIELD (about 2 miles; CORTLAND, NY; Abbreviation: N03)
  • MAUS MARINELAND (about 16 miles; NEW HOPE, NY; Abbreviation: NK0)
  • SKANEATELES AERO DROME (about 27 miles; SKANEATELES, NY; Abbreviation: 6B9)

Colleges and Universities

College/University in Cortland:

  • SUNY COLLEGE AT CORTLAND (Full-time enrollment: 6,187; Location: PO BOX 2000; Public; Website: www.cortland.edu; Offers Master’s degree)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Cortland:

  • CORNELL UNIVERSITY-ENDOWED COLLEGES (about 24 miles; ITHACA, NY; Full-time enrollment: 12,036)
  • CORNELL UNIVERSITY-NY STATE STATUTORY COLLEGES (about 24 miles; ITHACA, NY; Full-time enrollment: 7,413)
  • ITHACA COLLEGE (about 25 miles; ITHACA, NY; Full-time enrollment: 6,052)
  • ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 28 miles; SYRACUSE, NY; Full-time enrollment: 5,132)
  • SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY (about 31 miles; SYRACUSE, NY; Full-time enrollment: 15,859)
  • LE MOYNE COLLEGE (about 31 miles; SYRACUSE, NY; Full-time enrollment: 2,517)
  • SUNY AT BINGHAMTON (about 40 miles; BINGHAMTON, NY; Full-time enrollment: 11,498)

Schools

Public high school in Cortland:

  • CORTLAND JSHS (Students: 1,296; Location: 8 VALLEY VIEW DR; Grades: 07 – 12)

Private high school in Cortland:

  • CORTLAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 97; Location: 15 WEST RD; Grades: KG – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Cortland:

  • FRANKLYN S. BARRY SCHOOL (Students: 416; Location: 20 RAYMOND AVE; Grades: KG – 06)
  • RANDALL SCHOOL (Students: 330; Location: 31 RANDALL ST; Grades: KG – 06)
  • F.E. SMITH SCHOOL (Students: 328; Location: 33 WHEELER AVE; Grades: KG – 06)
  • ALTON B. PARKER SCHOOL (Students: 323; Location: 89 MADISON AVE; Grades: KG – 06)
  • VIRGIL ES (Students: 154; Location: 1208 CHURCH ST; Grades: KG – 06)

Private primary/middle schools in Cortland:

  • ST MARY’S SCHOOL (Students: 411; Location: 61 NORTH MAIN STREET; Grades: PK – 6)
  • PARK SIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 42; Location: 78 HOMER AVE; Grades: PK – 11)
  • FINGERLAKES ADVENTIST SCHOOL (Students: 18; Location: 1304 FISHER AVE; Grades: KG – 8)
  • VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 8; Location: 2910 DOUGLAS ROAD; Grades: KG – 10)

Libraries

Library in Cortland:

  • CORTLAND FREE LIBRARY (Operating income: $362,268; Location: 32 CHURCH STREET; 119,635 books; 1,091 audio materials; 393 serial subscriptions)

 

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