Mexico combines lakeside parks, local restaurants and small-town charm
Mexico is one of many towns on the shores of Lake Ontario in Oswego County. The Little Salmon River links the central village, also named Mexico, to the Great Lake in western New York. There's plenty of space for the town's 5,000 residents to spread out and settle on a few acres, but locals still try to support local businesses and get to know their neighbors. “It’s very neighborly,” says Tabitha Cleveland, a broker with Keller Williams Realty. “If someone’s driveway isn’t plowed, a neighbor will come over and shovel it for them.” Many residents have their own gardens and small farms, and they'll sell produce at roadside stands. Likewise, some locals tap their own maple syrup, selling and giving away jars to their neighbors. Along with the small-town culture, Mexico still offers plenty of amenities, restaurants and grocery stores. “We try to stay the little town when we can,” Cleveland says, “but we’re also only 15 minutes away from bigger cities.”
Mexico's local American restaurants and pizza joints
“We have a lot of mom-and-pop shops in the village. We’re not franchised,” Cleveland says. “We do have McDonald’s and Dunkin Donuts in the last 10 to 15 years, but we’re very much the local pizza guys. Local restaurants are family-owned — people who have lived here forever.” The Eis House is a longstanding restaurant where locals often host events like wedding receptions and baby showers. For pizza, folks head to Stefano’s, an old Italianate building in the village center with big front windows letting in plenty of light. Dan’s Chicken Shack has more of a dive atmosphere, offering chicken entrees in a wooden shack with dollar bills stapled to the ceiling. Tops Friendly Market is the major grocery store in town, though Dollar General also has some grocery options. Walmart and Aldi are about 13 miles away in Oswego .
Single-family homes on multi-acre properties and local winter weather
In the village, narrow sidewalks pass Nationals, Italianate houses and ranch-style homes, many with front porches and flower gardens in front. Cars sit in detached garages or in the open on driveways beside homes. Further from the village center, streets get windier with more space between properties. Trees hug the roads, opening to narrow driveways or crop fields. Properties across Mexico span half an acre to over 30 acres. Prices typically range from $130,000 to $460,000. Mexico can have long winters with snowfall intensified by its proximity to the lake. “Everybody here’s got a snowplow,” Cleveland says.
Boating, salmon fishing and birdwatching along Lake Ontario
The town stretches toward Lake Ontario, making the area popular with boaters and fishermen. Along the shoreline, Mexico Point State Park includes a public beach and boat launch. Hiking trails also overlook the lake. In the fall, the Great Lake attracts anglers looking for salmon. “They stand in the water, they have big nets, and all these fish just fly into their nets,” Cleveland says. Also along the lake, Derby Hill Observatory is a stop for migratory birds, from blue jays and orioles to hawks and eagles. Mexico Community Park offers a playground, football field and baseball diamond.
Mexico High School is an important local landmark
Mexico Elementary School and Mexico Middle School both receive a C-plus rating from Niche. Mexico High School, rated B-plus, is in a large neoclassical building with a cupola that serves as an important landmark for the community. Through the Center for Instruction, Technology and Innovation, the high school offers courses in dental assistance, auto body repair, culinary arts and computer coding.
Local events and festivals hosted at the public high school
Mexico hosts many of its events in the local high school. On Wednesday evenings in July and August, the Mexico Farmer’s Market sets up booths with fresh produce, honey, eggs and dairy. It also includes different food trucks and live music each week. In late September, the Fall Festival also features local vendors, food trucks and music at the high school.
Driving to Oswego and Syracuse for health care and education
While Mexico has most of what residents need, bigger cities are nearby for more services and amenities. New York Route 104 links with Oswego and the nearest hospital, about 15 miles away. The city is also home to SUNY Oswego. Interstate 81 is just east of Mexico and heads south to Syracuse and Syracuse Hancock International Airport, about 30 miles away.
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Written By
Caroline Ernst
