Incorporated in 1842, the small but noted village of Chittenango’s initial growth is largely attributed to the construction of the Erie Canal, which officially opened in 1825. The Erie Canal passes just north of the village and the Chittenango Canal Company, incorporated in 1818, constructed a canal 1.5 miles in length connecting Chittenango to the Erie Canal.


The village became a virtual canal town upon the construction of the Chittenango Canal Boat Landing, which featured a three-bay dry dock where canal boats were built and repaired, bringing prosperity, growth and expansion to the small village.
 

The village’s major attractions include the beautiful Chittenango Falls waterfall in Chittenango Falls State park, the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum, the Yellow Brick Road Casino  and The Wild Animal Park. But its most notable claim to fame is that it is the birthplace of L. Frank Baum, author of many children’s books including the popular Oz series. His first and most famous Oz book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” was made into the 1939 MGM classic film the “Wizard of Oz,” starring Judy Garland, and is chronicled at the All Things Oz Museum.


Each year, the village holds its three-day festival “Oz-stravaganza,” to celebrate its noted author and the village itself is alive with many Oz-themed establishments such as Auntie Em’s Place, Over the Rainbow Crafts, Tin Man Construction Co. and Emerald City Grill. In fact, the town also features an Old Things Oz museum and even a “yellow brick road” located in the village’s downtown!