Cooperstown, New York City Guide
For over 20 years, Pamela Lanier's Cooperstown, New York Travel Guide has been your connection to Cooperstown's tourism community with invaluable details on local attractions, restaurants, shopping, museums, history, outdoor recreation and more.
Cooperstown History
 In the early 1600’s, Dutch and English traders were the first to arrive on the shores of Otsego Lake. During the years that followed the land passed hands several times before William Cooper, a successful businessman from Burlington NJ, purchased the majority of the land at an auction in 1785. Without hesitation, Cooper put his vision to work and by the early 18th century, had developed this Otsego shoreline into the city of Cooperstown. The city soon became the county seat of Otsego County with William Cooper as the residing judge. His son, James Fenimore Cooper, later became a great American author whose "Leatherstocking Tales" are set in the hills surrounding Lake Otsego. His novels were so well revered that they were later cast into several motion pictures. Some very important figures, such as Samuel F.B. Morse, (the painter and inventor of the telegraph) spent summers in the small city. The entrepreneurial Clark Family, co-owners of the Singer Sewing Machine patent, also lived in Cooperstown. The generous family loved Cooperstown, donating money for education and land for preservation of the community. Today, the city celebrates and preserves its rich heritage while many self-employed entrepreneurs still live and work in Cooperstown. The Bassett Hospital and Otsego country are the largest employers, though tourism is the predominant industry. |
