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Otto

Otto is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York.   The name comes from Jacob S. Otto, an agent of the Holland Land Company.

Location

The Town of Otto lies on the northern border of the county.

The north town line is formed by Cattaraugus Creek and is the border of Erie County, New York, and the west town line is formed by South Branch (of Cattaraugus Creek).

The main highways through Otto are county roads. Cattaraugus County Route 12 is the main road through town, which extends southwestward Cattaraugus and northeastward toward East Otto, while Cattaraugus County Route 11 (North Otto Road) spurs northward from the hamlet of Otto through North Otto, and Cattaraugus County Route 13 (Maples Road) splits off east of the hamlet toward Ellicottville.

History

The town was first settled around 1816. The Town of Otto was formed in 1823 from part of the Town of Perrysburg. In 1854, the town was divided to form the Town of East Otto. Otto lost more territory to Perrysburg in 1823, and a to Ashford in 1835.

Communities and Locations in Otto, New York.

  • Otto (formerly "Waverly') – The hamlet of Otto is near the south town line at the junction of County Roads 11 and 12. It is the only significant settlement in the town.
  • North Otto – The sparsely populated and heavily agricultural area located along County Road 11 between the hamlet of Otto and Zoar Valley. Its residents are occasionally stereotyped as hicks, rednecks and hillbillies.
  • Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area – A conservation area in the northern part of the town.

Learn more about the Town of Otto.

Places in Otto

The stadial site in Otto is a place like no other as it is one of only two known places in New York to have preserved till layers from first three glacier movements (of four) during the Pleistocene Ice Age
The Zoar Valley Parking Area on North Otto Road has access to the Cattaraugus Creek.

Free Fishing Day in NY!

The NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation is hosting a FREE fishing day on February 17-18, June 29-30, September 28, and November 11th. There’s no fishing license required on those days for the fresh or marine waters of New York State, making it the opportune time for people of all ages to learn and enjoy the day. We especially encourage those with more experience to bring along the young people in your life to show them the value of patience, the anticipation of the bite and the exhilaration of the catch!