Cortland

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When Cortland was incorporated as a village in 1853, its population was mainly transplanted New Englanders and Irish immigrants, and it encompassed territory 1 mile from east to west. By 1871, two rail lines crossed the village, and their cargos of coal encouraged the development of industries, particularly carriages and sleighs. The 1890s brought Cortland’s first urban renewal with industrialists replacing wooden mansions with ones of brick, stone, and Queen Anne designs. The 20th century opened with full employment in industries that not only served the country but also the world. This encouraged Italians, Ukrainians, and Lebanese to settle in Cortland and share their heritage. Photographs from the archives of the Cortland County Historical Society illustrate how life was lived in Cortland before the 21st century.