The highland region, south of the Mohawk, has a soil composed of clay and sandy and gravelly loam, and is best adapted to pasturage. The soil consists of a fine quality of sandy and gravelly loam and alluvium, finely tempered with lime and gypsum. The central valley is one of the most fertile portions of the State. This region is more sparsely settled than other parts of the County, and is capable of supporting only a small number of inhabitants. In the north-east part, the soil, which is derived chiefly from the disintegration of the primitive rocks, is light and sandy, and produces scanty vegetation. Mineral springs are found in several places and will be noticed in the towns where they are situated. A great variety oi building stone of excellent quality is found in different parts of the County and is extensively quarried. Water-lime and gypsum quarries have been worked to some extent. Marl and peat have been found in some places. The useful minerals are not wanting in this County, but consist of the lenticular clay iron ore of the Clinton group, bog ore in the swamps near Oneida Lake and magnetic ore in the north-east part. The Trenton limestone, Utica slate, Oneida conglomerate and Clinton group, have received their names from being so distinctly developed in this County. ![]() The rocks of the County present a great variety of geological formations, including nearly the whole series lying between the gneiss, which covers the north-east part, and the Hamilton group, outcropping upon the southern hills. There are several small lakes and ponds in the extreme north-east corner. Oneida Lake extends for several miles along the west border and is the only large body of water in the County. The head branches of the Unadilla and Chenango drain the south border, and Oneida, Wood and Fish Creeks, the western part. Black River flows across the north-east corner of the County, and West Canada Creek forms a part of the eastern boundary. Nine Mile Creek and Lansing Kil are its chief tributaries from the north, and Sauquoit and Oriskany Creeks from the south. The Mohawk River rises upon the north border of the County and _ows in a southerly direction to Rome, thence south-east to the east border of the County. This valley affords a natural pass from the Hudson to the great lakes, and is the lowest pass through the great Appalach_n Mountain System. The east part of the central valley is drained by the Mohawk, flowing east, and the west part by Wood Creek which _ows west. ![]() North of the central valley, the surface rises abruptly to the height of eight hundred to twelve hundred feet and _oreads out into a nearly level plateau, broken only by the ravines of the streams. ![]() ![]() The highlands occupying the south part are arranged into edges extending north and south, the highest summits on the south order being from six hundred to one thousand feet above the valley of the Mohawk. The central part consists of a broad valley, nearly level, extending east and west, and from it the surface rises into a broken and hilly region. The County lies near the center of the State, is about one hundred miles from Albany and contains 1,215 square miles. In 1801 a part was annexed to Clinton County, and in 1836 a part was annexed to Madison County. Lewis and Jefferson were taken off in 1805, and a part of Oswego in 1816. ONEIDA COUNTY, named from the Oneida Indians, who owned and inhabited this and some adjoining counties, was formed from Herkimer, March 15, 1798.
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