Census Data for Oswego
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Oswego a population of 17,249 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Oswego a population of 18,142 people.
The city of Oswego is located in Oswego County. The 2010 Census gave Oswego County; a population of 122,137 people. This means that Oswego had 14.85% of the county's total population, making it Oswego's most populous community.
At the same time, New York had a population of 19,378,102 people, meaning that Oswego had 0.09% of the total population of New York - making it the state's 136th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Oswego has a total area of 11.23 square miles [29.1 km²]. Of this total, 7.61 square miles [19.7 km²] is land, with the balance (32.19%) being water (3.61 square miles [9.4 km²]).
Oswego County has a land area of 951 square miles [2,464.8 km²]. At 7.61 square miles [19.7 km²], Oswego has 0.8% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Oswego, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Oswego reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Oswego might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 43° 27' 28" (or 43.46°)
- Lon: -76° 30' 13" (or -76.5°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Oswego had 8,068 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 18,142 people, this averages 2.25 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Oswego had a land area of 7.61 square miles [19.7 km²]. This translates to 718 Housing Units per square mile [277.4 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Oswego had 8,080 Housing Units, a population of 17,954 people and a land area of 7.66 square miles [19.8 km²]. This gives a density of 2.22 people per Housing Unit and 719 Housing Units per square mile [277.6 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Oswego and you need to be careful when comparing between the censuses. More information about these differences can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Oswego County ...
The community of Oswego is located in Oswego County<4> and is the County Seat for Oswego County.
The county had a population of 122,137 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 18,142 people, Oswego represented 14.85% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Oswego has a population density of 1,615 people per square mile [623 people/km²], Oswego County averages 128.3 people per square mile [49.55 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Oswego County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Oswego, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Oswego. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Oswego or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Oswego, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Oswego.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 43.458052° (or 43°27'28" N)
- Lon: -76.503689° (or -76°30'13" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 43.454612° (or 43°27'16" N)
- Lon: -76.506588° (or -76°30'23" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 1,470 feet to the northeast<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#979325) to Oswego. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Oswego. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 43.458402° (or 43°27'30" N)
- Lon: -76.502719° (or -76°30'9" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 286.7 feet to the southwest<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Oswego. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Oswego.
Miscellaneous Information for Oswego ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Oswego County or the city of Oswego:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 36 (New York)
- County Code: 075 (Oswego County)
- Place Code: 55574 (Oswego)
- State & County Code: 36/075 (New York / Oswego County)
- State & Place Code: 36/55574 (New York / Oswego)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Oswego is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #2 (the Middle Atlantic Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Oswego.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Oswego. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Oswego County: www.co.oswego.ny.us/
The official website for State of New York: https://www.ny.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of New York's counties, including Oswego, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 328 degrees and a distance of 1,470 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 116 degrees and a distance of 286.7 feet. |