New York State Route 220
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 220 (NY 220) is a state highway
located in Chenango County, New York
, United States
. It is signed as an east–west highway, but its actual routing wanders considerably from north to south as it proceeds across the county. The western terminus of NY 220 is at an intersection with NY 41
near the western county line in the town of Smithville
. Its eastern terminus is in the town of Oxford, where it becomes County Route 32 (CR 32) east of the village of Oxford
. The stub of NY 220 east of Oxford serves as a signed connection between NY 12
and the New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford
located east of the village along the Chenango River
.
In 1916, the New York State Legislature created Route 8-a, an unsigned legislative route
connecting legislative Route 8 in the center of Oxford to the Relief Corps Home by way of the east bank of the Chenango River. The Route 8-a designation was removed in 1921 as part of a partial renumbering of New York's legislative routes. Its former routing became part of NY 220, a new route extending from Smithville Flats to Oxford, in the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York. NY 220 was rerouted near Oxford in 1982 to follow a new bridge over the Chenango River. The realignment created a short overlap with NY 12 on North Canal Street between the former routing of NY 220 on Main Street and the new river crossing to the north.
north of the hamlet of Smithville Flats in the Chenango County
town of Smithville
. It heads to the northeast, paralleling a small creek as it progresses through the rural town consisting mostly of cultivated fields. NY 220 passes into the town of McDonough
and enters a hamlet bearing the same name, where it turns eastward. The route winds its way through the eastern, forested portion of the town to the small community of East McDonough, located near the McDonough–Preston
town line. Here, NY 220 turns southeast and continues into Preston.
In Preston, the open fields return as NY 220 follows another waterbody, this time the slightly larger Mill Brook. The route crosses the stream just before entering the town of Oxford, where they split. While Mill Brook curves around the western extents of the village of Oxford
, NY 220 serves the village directly, entering it on Butler Street. It veers eastward at a junction with State Street and follows it to Washington Avenue. Here, State Street splits into a one-block long one-way couplet. Eastbound NY 220 shifts south to follow LaFayette Park; NY 220 westbound, meanwhile, is routed on State Street. At the end of the couplet, NY 220 intersects NY 12
(North Canal Street) on the western bank of the Chenango River
.
NY 220 turns north onto NY 12, overlapping the latter for just over 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) to an intersection with North Washington Avenue north of the village. The routes split here, with NY 220 turning southeast to cross the Chenango River and the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad (NYSW). Past the railroad, NY 220 heads through unimproved fields to a junction with East River Road. The route turns northeast here to follow East River Road. It heads through a small residential neighborhood to the New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford
, a large old soldiers' home
located adjacent to both the eastern bank of the Chenango River and the NYSW rail line. State maintenance of NY 220 ends just east of the driveway to the home, at which point the road continues onward toward Norwich
as CR 32.
The New York State Woman's Relief Corps Home (now the New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford
), an old soldiers' home
dedicated to the care of soldiers and their immediate families, nurses employed by the United States Army
, and widows and mothers of soldiers, was constructed on a 165 acres (66.8 ha) plot of land east of the village of Oxford
and opened April 19, 1897. In 1916, the New York State Legislature created Route 8-a, an unsigned legislative route
connecting the home to Route 8 (now NY 12
) in Oxford by way of pre-existing highways. That year, the state of New York
began a project to improve the 1.4 miles (2.25 km) long highway. In all, the improvements cost just over $26,150 (equivalent to $ in ). The improved roadway was accepted into the state highway system on March 20, 1919. Route 8-a left Route 8 in the center of Oxford and crossed the Chenango River
on Main Street. On the opposite side of the river, it followed Albany Street and East River Road to the home, where it ended. The Route 8-a designation was eliminated on March 1, 1921, as part of a partial renumbering of the legislative route system.
When the first set of posted routes in New York
were assigned in 1924, the portion of Route 8 in the vicinity of Oxford became part of NY 12; however, the former routing of Route 8-a was not given a designation at this time. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, the former routing of Route 8-a became part of NY 220, a new route extending from Smithville Flats to Oxford via McDonough. The entirety of NY 220 west of Oxford was closed to traffic in July 1935 as a result of damage caused by severe statewide flooding earlier in the month. The portion of the route from McDonough to Oxford took approximately three days to repair and was reopened by July 17. The remaining section from Smithville Flats from McDonough was reopened by the following year.
By 1980, plans to construct a new bridge for NY 220 over the Chenango River had been set in motion. As planned, a 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) stretch of NY 220 in Oxford would be rerouted to follow the new structure over the river and a Conrail (now New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad) line that ran along the riverbank. The initial price tag for the bridge was set at $2.262 million (equivalent to $ in ). Construction of the bridge was completed in 1982, at which time NY 220 was rerouted to overlap NY 12 north to the bridge, where it turned east to cross the river and rejoin its former alignment on the east bank.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
located in Chenango County, New York
Chenango County, New York
Chenango County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 50,477. The county's name originates from an Oneida word meaning "large bull-thistle." Its county seat is Norwich.-History:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is signed as an east–west highway, but its actual routing wanders considerably from north to south as it proceeds across the county. The western terminus of NY 220 is at an intersection with NY 41
New York State Route 41
New York State Route 41 is a north–south state highway in Central New York, United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the town of Sanford. Its northern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Route 20 in the village of Skaneateles...
near the western county line in the town of Smithville
Smithville, New York
Smithville is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The population was 1,347 at the 2000 census.The Town of Smithville is at the west border of Chenango County, west of the City of Norwich.- History :...
. Its eastern terminus is in the town of Oxford, where it becomes County Route 32 (CR 32) east of the village of Oxford
Oxford (village), New York
Oxford is a village in Chenango County, New York, USA. The population was 1,584 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Oxford, Massachusetts, the hometown of the landowner....
. The stub of NY 220 east of Oxford serves as a signed connection between NY 12
New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12 is a state highway extending for through central and northern New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 11 in the town of Chenango in the Southern Tier. The northern terminus is at NY 37 near the village of...
and the New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford
New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford
The New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford is an old soldiers' home located east of the village of Oxford in Chenango County, New York. The home was established for American Civil War veterans and their wives so they would not be separated in old age...
located east of the village along the Chenango River
Chenango River
The Chenango River is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in central New York in the United States. It drains a dissected plateau area in upstate New York at the northern end of the Susquehanna watershed....
.
In 1916, the New York State Legislature created Route 8-a, an unsigned legislative route
Legislative route
In United States, a legislative route or legislative highway is a highway defined by laws passed in a state legislature. The numbering of such highways may or may not correspond to the numbers familiar to the public as part of the state, U.S. highway, and Interstate highway systems...
connecting legislative Route 8 in the center of Oxford to the Relief Corps Home by way of the east bank of the Chenango River. The Route 8-a designation was removed in 1921 as part of a partial renumbering of New York's legislative routes. Its former routing became part of NY 220, a new route extending from Smithville Flats to Oxford, in the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York. NY 220 was rerouted near Oxford in 1982 to follow a new bridge over the Chenango River. The realignment created a short overlap with NY 12 on North Canal Street between the former routing of NY 220 on Main Street and the new river crossing to the north.
Route description
NY 220 begins at an intersection with NY 41New York State Route 41
New York State Route 41 is a north–south state highway in Central New York, United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the town of Sanford. Its northern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Route 20 in the village of Skaneateles...
north of the hamlet of Smithville Flats in the Chenango County
Chenango County, New York
Chenango County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 50,477. The county's name originates from an Oneida word meaning "large bull-thistle." Its county seat is Norwich.-History:...
town of Smithville
Smithville, New York
Smithville is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The population was 1,347 at the 2000 census.The Town of Smithville is at the west border of Chenango County, west of the City of Norwich.- History :...
. It heads to the northeast, paralleling a small creek as it progresses through the rural town consisting mostly of cultivated fields. NY 220 passes into the town of McDonough
McDonough, New York
McDonough is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The population was 870 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Thomas McDonough, a naval officer who served on Lake Champlain and other locations....
and enters a hamlet bearing the same name, where it turns eastward. The route winds its way through the eastern, forested portion of the town to the small community of East McDonough, located near the McDonough–Preston
Preston, New York
Preston is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The population was 928 at the 2000 census.The Town of Preston is an interior town of Chenango County. The town is west of the City of Norwich.- History :...
town line. Here, NY 220 turns southeast and continues into Preston.
Oxford (village), New York
Oxford is a village in Chenango County, New York, USA. The population was 1,584 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Oxford, Massachusetts, the hometown of the landowner....
, NY 220 serves the village directly, entering it on Butler Street. It veers eastward at a junction with State Street and follows it to Washington Avenue. Here, State Street splits into a one-block long one-way couplet. Eastbound NY 220 shifts south to follow LaFayette Park; NY 220 westbound, meanwhile, is routed on State Street. At the end of the couplet, NY 220 intersects NY 12
New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12 is a state highway extending for through central and northern New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 11 in the town of Chenango in the Southern Tier. The northern terminus is at NY 37 near the village of...
(North Canal Street) on the western bank of the Chenango River
Chenango River
The Chenango River is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in central New York in the United States. It drains a dissected plateau area in upstate New York at the northern end of the Susquehanna watershed....
.
NY 220 turns north onto NY 12, overlapping the latter for just over 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) to an intersection with North Washington Avenue north of the village. The routes split here, with NY 220 turning southeast to cross the Chenango River and the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad (NYSW). Past the railroad, NY 220 heads through unimproved fields to a junction with East River Road. The route turns northeast here to follow East River Road. It heads through a small residential neighborhood to the New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford
New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford
The New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford is an old soldiers' home located east of the village of Oxford in Chenango County, New York. The home was established for American Civil War veterans and their wives so they would not be separated in old age...
, a large old soldiers' home
Old soldiers' home
An old soldiers' home is a military veteran's retirement home, nursing home, or hospital, or sometimes even an institution for the care of the widows and orphans of a nation's soldiers, sailors, and marines, etc.-United States:...
located adjacent to both the eastern bank of the Chenango River and the NYSW rail line. State maintenance of NY 220 ends just east of the driveway to the home, at which point the road continues onward toward Norwich
Norwich (city), New York
Norwich is a city in Chenango County, New York, United States. Surrounded on all sides by the Town of Norwich, the city is the county seat of Chenango County. The name is taken from Norwich, Connecticut. Its population was 7,355 at the 2000 census.Lt...
as CR 32.
History
New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford
The New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford is an old soldiers' home located east of the village of Oxford in Chenango County, New York. The home was established for American Civil War veterans and their wives so they would not be separated in old age...
), an old soldiers' home
Old soldiers' home
An old soldiers' home is a military veteran's retirement home, nursing home, or hospital, or sometimes even an institution for the care of the widows and orphans of a nation's soldiers, sailors, and marines, etc.-United States:...
dedicated to the care of soldiers and their immediate families, nurses employed by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, and widows and mothers of soldiers, was constructed on a 165 acres (66.8 ha) plot of land east of the village of Oxford
Oxford (village), New York
Oxford is a village in Chenango County, New York, USA. The population was 1,584 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Oxford, Massachusetts, the hometown of the landowner....
and opened April 19, 1897. In 1916, the New York State Legislature created Route 8-a, an unsigned legislative route
Legislative route
In United States, a legislative route or legislative highway is a highway defined by laws passed in a state legislature. The numbering of such highways may or may not correspond to the numbers familiar to the public as part of the state, U.S. highway, and Interstate highway systems...
connecting the home to Route 8 (now NY 12
New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12 is a state highway extending for through central and northern New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 11 in the town of Chenango in the Southern Tier. The northern terminus is at NY 37 near the village of...
) in Oxford by way of pre-existing highways. That year, the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
began a project to improve the 1.4 miles (2.25 km) long highway. In all, the improvements cost just over $26,150 (equivalent to $ in ). The improved roadway was accepted into the state highway system on March 20, 1919. Route 8-a left Route 8 in the center of Oxford and crossed the Chenango River
Chenango River
The Chenango River is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in central New York in the United States. It drains a dissected plateau area in upstate New York at the northern end of the Susquehanna watershed....
on Main Street. On the opposite side of the river, it followed Albany Street and East River Road to the home, where it ended. The Route 8-a designation was eliminated on March 1, 1921, as part of a partial renumbering of the legislative route system.
When the first set of posted routes in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
were assigned in 1924, the portion of Route 8 in the vicinity of Oxford became part of NY 12; however, the former routing of Route 8-a was not given a designation at this time. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, the former routing of Route 8-a became part of NY 220, a new route extending from Smithville Flats to Oxford via McDonough. The entirety of NY 220 west of Oxford was closed to traffic in July 1935 as a result of damage caused by severe statewide flooding earlier in the month. The portion of the route from McDonough to Oxford took approximately three days to repair and was reopened by July 17. The remaining section from Smithville Flats from McDonough was reopened by the following year.
By 1980, plans to construct a new bridge for NY 220 over the Chenango River had been set in motion. As planned, a 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) stretch of NY 220 in Oxford would be rerouted to follow the new structure over the river and a Conrail (now New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad) line that ran along the riverbank. The initial price tag for the bridge was set at $2.262 million (equivalent to $ in ). Construction of the bridge was completed in 1982, at which time NY 220 was rerouted to overlap NY 12 north to the bridge, where it turned east to cross the river and rejoin its former alignment on the east bank.