The Town of Mexico was incorporated twice; the first time in 1792 and included parts of what are now Cortland, Onondaga, Oneida and Oswego Counties. The second time, in 1796, included parts of Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson and Oneida counties. Over the years, the boundaries were further refined, resulting in what we know as the current Town of Mexico.

The Village of Mexico, once called “Mexicoville,” was incorporated in 1851 and then became known as simply “Mexico.”

The first settlers arrived in Mexico around 1798 and lived in small, roughly built cabins. Winters were very tough on the early settlers. Disease took the lives of many, including children.

The early 1800s were a time of growth of farms, shops, mills, churches and the opening of the Mexico Academy. Fires shaped and re-shaped the buildings along Main Street during the mid-1800s and the first newspapers covered their stories. The first railroad came to the village in 1866 which allowed farmers to transport their crops. Telephones and streetlights were introduced in the late 1800s, and our water and sewer systems were developed in the early 1900s. Inside and outside the village, farming was the “way of life.” The mail was delivered by horse and carriage or sleigh until cars came to town in the early 1900s.

Fast forward through the 20th century into the 21st century and now businesses line Main Street, there are 5 schools in the centralized district, water and sewer systems have been enlarged, and a well-equipped fire department and ambulance service help those who need them throughout the town.

The job of the historian is to collect, preserve and interpret the history of the people of the town. I follow in the footsteps of previous historians who documented the past 300 years of Mexico’s history. I hope to do them justice and inspire the next generation of historians. 

-Susan Vaughn
Town of Mexico Historian