Hamlets of Onondaga County
Small Communities with Local Charm
Onondaga County is best known for the City of Syracuse and its bustling suburbs, but scattered throughout the
county are several quiet hamlets—small, unincorporated communities that offer a glimpse into Central New York’s rural heritage. These
hamlets may not have formal governments, but each one has its own identity, history, and sense of place.
What Is a Hamlet?
A hamlet is a population center within a town that isn’t incorporated as a village. Services such as police, road
maintenance, and zoning are overseen by the town government, while the hamlet itself often develops around a crossroads, a former mill
site, or a cluster of early settlement homes.
Notable Hamlets in Onondaga County
Here are some of the best-known hamlets across the county:
- Apulia (Town of LaFayette) – A rural hamlet surrounded by rolling hills, known for its proximity to the LaFayette apple orchards
and scenic country roads.
- Cardiff (Town of LaFayette) – Once a nationally famous site in the 1800s when the “Cardiff Giant” hoax drew crowds from across the country.
- Jamesville (Town of DeWitt) – A well-known hamlet with historic stone buildings, Jamesville Reservoir, and the popular Jamesville Balloon Fest site.
- Nedrow (Town of Onondaga) – A residential hamlet located just south of Syracuse, serving as a gateway to the Onondaga Nation Territory.
- South Onondaga (Town of Onondaga) – A quiet, rural community with scenic farmland and a long tradition of town-centered civic life.
- Taunton (Town of Onondaga) – A suburban hamlet near Western Lights, known for its mix of residential areas and long-established local businesses.
- Skytop (Town of Onondaga) – A small elevated hamlet perched near the Bellevue Heights area with great views of the Syracuse skyline.
- Plainville (Town of Lysander) – A farming hamlet known historically for Plainville Farms and the agricultural heritage of Northwestern Onondaga County.
- Belgium (Town of Lysander) – A growing commercial hamlet near Baldwinsville, home to shops, restaurants, and the River Mall corridor.
Why Hamlets Matter
Onondaga County’s hamlets serve as reminders of the region’s earliest settlement patterns—places where trade,
farming, and community life flourished long before today’s suburbs existed. Many still feature historic buildings, family-run
businesses, and landmarks that give each one a unique story.
Whether you’re exploring the back roads or researching local history, these hamlets offer a quieter, more intimate look at life in Central New York.
Onondaga County Hamlet Listing
Apulia Station Hamlet
Picture of Tully Lake
Apulia Station on Wikipedia
Borodino Hamlet
Borodino Hamley on Wikipedia
Cardiff Hamlet
Cardiff Giant Video
The Cardiff Giant Video
The Cardiff Giant and CNY’s Biggest Hoax
Delphi Falls Hamlet
Delphi Falls on Wikipedia
Jack's Reef Hamlet
Jack's Reef Hamlet on Wikipedia
Jamesville Hamlet
Kirkville Hamlet
Kirkville Facebook
Memphis Hamlet
Marietta Hamlet
Marietta on Wikipedia
Nedrow Hamlet
Nedrow on Wikipedia
Onondaga Hill Hamlet
Onondaga Hill on Wikipedia
Plainville Hamlet
Plainville on Wikipedia
It is noted for the Plainville Turkey Farms, family owned from 1835 until sold in 2007 to Hain Celestial Group. The former Plainville turkey processing operations were relocated to Pennsylvania in 2009, and the Plainville plant was shut down in 2010.
Pompey Center Hamlet
Red Leaf is locally known as the 'Chute', one of the few remaining natural waterfalls in Skaneateles Falls hamlet.
Skaneateles Falls on Wikipedia
Split Rock Quarry, Split Rock, a hazardous munitions plant, unexpectedly exploded in 1918, brutally killing more than 50 men.
Split Rock Hamlet
Split Rock on Wikipedia
Taunton Hamlet
Taunton on Wikipedia
Warners Hamlet
Warners on Wikipedia
Also Check our Cookbook recipes put together by a small town Ladies Auxiliary in 1975.
