General Info
Oneida County named in honor of the Oneida Indian tribe, one of the nations of the Iroquois Indians. The name Oneida itself is derived from the Oneida Indian tribe word meaning “granite people.” Oneida County was formed in 1885 from areas of Lincoln County. Like Lincoln County, Oneida County was known early on for its abundance of timber and fertile prairie lands. Logging camps, prairie and railroads attracted settlers to the area. Populations increased with the rise of the lumber industry. Agriculture expanded rapidly and became the biggest industry for the county after the decline of the logging industry in the early 1900s. Today Oneida County is a popular tourist destination because of the 1,500 miles of snowmobile trails and one of the largest chain of lakes in the world. In 1900 the population of Oneida County was 8,875 people. Today Oneida County is home to approximately 36,031 residents.
