Oneida County 471 



DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY 



In Oneida County the natives cultivated small patches of 

 ground devoted principally to the production of corn and apples. 

 Larger clearings were made by the early settlers, where corn, 

 wheat, and vegetables were grown. Oats also became an impor- 

 tant crop. Excellent water power being available, asheries, dis- 

 tilleries, saw mills, woolen mills, and tanneries were important 

 factors in the early development of the county. The first woolen 

 factory in the state was erected at Oriskany, probably in 1809 

 At about that time the first Merino sheep in the state where im- 

 ported from Spain and were kept on a farm north of the Mohawk 

 opposite Oriskany. The first cotton mill erected in the state was 

 the Oneida factory, also established in 1809, not far from the 

 canal in Yorkville. This was the beginning of an industry which 

 has since become very prominent, both in Utica and New York 

 mills. The dairy industry has been important in Oneida County 

 since the early settlements. Dairying was at first of greater 

 importance north of the Mohawk, although at the present time it 

 is very prominent in all parts of the county. Many pure-bred 

 cattle are kept, a large proportion of which are Holsteins. 



With the opening of the railroads dairying developed rapidly, 

 and large quantities of cheese and butter were manufactured. 

 The first cheese factory was opened in the town of Rome, and 

 at about the time of the Civil War Utica was the largest cheese 

 market in the world. The greater part of the milk produced is 

 now shipped to New York City, although at points distant from 

 the railroads, in the towns of Western, Lee, Ava, and Boonville, 

 cheese factories are still numerous. 



Hops were first grown in the county at about 1820. This 

 crop steadily increased in importance and for many years Oneida 

 County led in hop production. 



The hay crop is extensive, Oneida County ranking third in 

 the state. 



Gardening is a prominent industry in the vicinity of Rome 

 and Utica. In several towns a relatively large acreage is devoted 

 to raising peas, beans, corn, and pumpkins for canning factory 

 purposes, placing Oneida County at the head in the production 

 of these crops. 



