Oswego, New York, USA
1854 - Oswego

Osweoo, a city, port of entry, and semi- capital of Oswego county, New York, is situated on the S. E. shore of Lake Ontario, and on both sides of Oswego river, 35 miles N. N. W. from Syracuse, and 183 miles W. N. W. from Albany. Lat. 43° 28' N., Lon. 76° 85' W. It is the most populous and flourishing town (belonging to the United States) on Lake Ontario, and is very advantageously situated for trade. The harbor formed by the mouth of the river is one of the best on the lake, and has been improved by the United States Goverment, with a substantial pier about 1200 feet in length. It is defended by Fort Oswego, on the eastern bank of the river. The water within the pier is from 10 to 20 feet deep. The Oswego canal, and the Oswego and Syracuse railroad, of which this is the northern terminus, connect at Syracuse with the Erie canal and the Central railroad. A bridge about 700 feet long connects the opposite banks of the river. The city is handsomely built with streets about 100 feet wide, intersecting each other at right angles. Oswego contains 11 churches; the First and Second Presbyterian, built of red sand stone, are large and beautiful edifices; a court house, custom house, 2 banks, several large hotels, an academy, and other seminaries. There are 4 or 6 newspapers published here, 2 or 3 of which are dailies. The falls of the river supply abundant water- power to the manufactories of Oswego, among which are 10 or 12 large flouring mills, and a starch factory, which employs about 100 men. The building called Doolittle's Block is very large and handsome, and contains one of the most extensive halls in the northern part of the state. The shipping of the port, June 30, 1852, amounted to an aggregate of 26,107 tons enrolled and licensed, all of which was employed in the coast trade, and 3593 tons in steam navigation. The foreign arrivals for the year were 1784, (tons, 240,253,) of which 1140 (tons, 89,822) were by foreign vessels. The clearances for foreign ports were 1731, (tons, 234,625,) of which 567 (tons, 142,397) were by American vessels. During the year 10 vessels were built, with an aggregate burthen of 765. The reported value of exports and imports in 1846 was $9,502,980. In 1851. the imports coastwise amounted to $6,083,036 ; from Canada, $1,784,412 ; total, $7,807,448. The exports coastwise were $11,471,071; of domestic goods to Canada, $2,291,911; foreign goods to Canada, $915,900; total, $14,678,882. Entire trade of the port in 1851, $22,546,330. The Canadian trade of Oswego is nearly one-half of the entire commerce of the United States with Canada. Population in 1840,4665; in 1850, 12,205 ; in 1853, about 25,000.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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