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History · Ovid

Ovid dates to 1789, and 40% of its homes were built before 1940

3 places in town are on the National Register. Below: 4 old photos and papers, maps from 1887 on, and the census since 1820.

1789founded
3on the National Register
40%homes built before 1940
4old photos & papers
3famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Ovid’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Ovid began

When was Ovid founded?

1789

Ovid dates its founding to 1789 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1820.

First census: 2,654 in 18202020 census: 534237 years
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1802.The full story ↓

What stands out about Ovid’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 4 old photos are in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19023 editions of the USGS map, 1902 to 1970. Watch Ovid change.Mapped building by building4 fire insurance maps, 1887 to 1911, drew every building in Ovid.Old housesHalf of Ovid’s homes were built before 1951.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Ovid’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Ovid’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
1 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewTown & village of Ovid, Seneca Co., N.Y: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Ovid on the map, 1902 to 1970

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Ovid. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Ovid on the 1902 USGS mapOvid on the 1942 USGS mapOvid on the 1970 USGS map1902Ovid sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Ovid.

Every building

Ovid, building by building, 1887–1911

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Ovid fire insurance map, 1887, sheet 11887Sheet 1 of 2
Edition
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

The story

How Ovid came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Ovid.

Read it all →

The Sullivan Expedition passed through this area in 1779. The region was part of the Central New York Military Tract used to pay soldiers of the American Revolution. Andrew Dunlap, the first settler in the town, is believed to be also the first settler in the county.

The town was formed in 1794, while still part of Onondaga County. Part of Ovid was taken in 1802 to form the Town of Hector (now in Schuyler County). In 1817, part of Ovid was used to form the Town of Covert.

Ovid was, at times, on the south border of Seneca County as some of the other county towns were assigned to adjacent counties.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Ovid, 1789 to 1906

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 18th century
  2. 1789
    FoundingOvid is established
  3. 19th century
  4. 1810Born hereSilas M. Burroughs is born here
  5. 1838Born hereThomas Lounsbury is born here
  6. 1856Born hereEdwin S. Votey is born here
  7. 1858In the archiveTown & village of Ovid, Seneca Co., N.Y
  8. 1895In the archiveCayuga Lake Sheldrake L.V.R.R
  9. 20th century
  10. 1902On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  11. 1906In the archiveUntitled photo
By decade

Ovid, decade by decade

3 decades in the archive, from the 1850s to the 1900s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1850s1 item
Town & village of Ovid, Seneca Co., N.Y1858Town & village of Ovid, Seneca Co., N.Y
1890s–1900s3 items
Cayuga Lake Sheldrake L.V.R.Rc. 1895Cayuga Lake Sheldrake L.V.R.RCayuga Lake, Sheldrakec. 1895Cayuga Lake, SheldrakeUntitled photo1906Untitled photo
1910s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today1 recent
South Seneca High School In2007South Seneca High School In
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Town & village of Ovid, Seneca Co., N.Y
Retake this viewTown & village of Ovid, Seneca Co., N.Y, 1858

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Ovid’s page.

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

3 historic places in Ovid

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
3
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
5
each building in a district counts

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

People over time

Ovid, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0001850190019502000Peak: 3,734

Between 2,248 and 3,734 people in every census since 1820.

21 censuses, 1820–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Ovid’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

3 famous people were born in Ovid

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Thomas LounsburyAmerican scholar and Union officer · b. 1838
Silas M. BurroughsAmerican politician · b. 1810
Edwin S. VoteyAmerican entrepreneur · b. 1856

Questions about Ovid’s history

What year was Ovid founded?

In 1789, according to Wikidata. Ovid’s post office opened in 1802, and the census of 1820 counted 2,654 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (5), Wikidata (1), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.