Cayuga County

Cayuga County is located in the west central region of New York State. It has a population of about 81,900 and is named after one of the tribes of Native Americans in the Iroquois Confederation.The towns of Cato, Conquest, Ira, Sterling, and Victory lie within the 25th Congressional District of New York.

The town of Cato is located between Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes. It consists of scenic, rolling drumlins separated by tranquil lakes, ponds and streams. Cross Lake, which forms the eastern boundary is approximately 4 miles long and is intersected by the Seneca River which forms the town’s southern boundary. Agriculture has been the primary industry for each of the last 200 years. The majority of farms today tend to specialize in dairy, fruits, beef or alpacas.

The town of Conquest, with a population of about 1,800, was formed in 1820. The name commemorates the victory achieved by those who favored a division of the Town of Cato over those who opposed it. The Town of Conquest includes the hamlets of Conquest Center, SpringLake (formerly Pineville) and Emerson (formerly The Pepper Mill).

Formed in 1821, the town of Ira has a population of about 2,200. There are several new facilities along the eastern edge of the town that train, board, and raise horses. Plainville Turkey Farm, Inc. has a growing facility for young turkeys at the junction of the Towns of Ira and Cato. Nutricuticals (formerly Incredameal, Inc.) makers of nutritional food bars, is the town's main industry.

The town of Sterling is located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Throughout its history this area has changed from a shipping port to a resort community and features some of the best fishing, swimming, boating and camping in New York State. Unique attractions include the Sterling Renaissance Festival, Fair Haven Beach State Park, Sterling Lake Shore Park & Nature Center, and the Little Red School House Museum.

The name of the town of Victory originated from the "victory" achieved by those who favored a division of the Town of Cato. The town was created in 1821 and has four state historical markers, the first honoring the settlement in the town in 1800 by John McNeal, John Martin, and James Gregory; the second in North Victory for the first settlement by Conrad Phrozine in 1812 at the site of the mill he built; a third in Westbury for the first settlement in 1806 by William and Jacob Burghdorf and for the Methodist Episcopal Church organized in 1816 and built in 1838; and a fourth for the Cobblestone house in Victory village built in 1836 by Joseph D. Woodford used as a select school with a second floor ballroom and a wooden addition on the rear used as a creamery.