Morris is a rural community with deep roots and scenic surroundings
Originally settled in 1770 and formally created in 1870, Morris is an established community in New York’s Butternut Valley that serves as a modest commercial hub for the surrounding rural area. The community’s age can be felt in its historic homes and farmhouses, and the area is also the home of the Otsego County Fair, which has taken place here since 1877. “Morris is a pretty historic town. … There are a lot of stone buildings in Morris, which is relatively unique for our area,” says Richard Santos, a licensed real estate salesperson with Keller Williams Upstate New York Properties who’s sold homes here since 2019. “It is a generally very appealing landscape and a slower pace of life.”
Historic village homes and farmhouses from the 1800s
From Victorian-era Italianate and Colonial Revival homes in the village to farmhouses on over 100 acres, Morris offers a wide variety of housing. “Being a historic village, it has some of these massive historic homes along South Broad Street,” Santos says. “It’s a very appealing little stretch of road.” These village homes often have spacious yards with room for a driveway, mature landscaping and a detached garage. Many of the farmhouses outside of the village were also built in the 1800s and have room to keep horses or chickens. Prices typically range from around $80,000 to $580,000, depending on condition and acreage. Properties near the area’s creeks can have a high risk of flooding.
Students in all grades attend Morris Central School in the village
Kids can go to Morris Central School, which earns a C-plus from Niche. Located in the village, the school teaches pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 8-to-1, according to Niche. High school seniors who want to go into a medical career can enroll in the New Visions Health Professions Program, where they spend a year working alongside health care professionals at the Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.
Restaurants and shopping in the village, with more options in Oneonta
A small commercial area sits at the intersection of Main and South Broad Streets in the village. Here, residents can hang out at The Gatehouse, which offers coffee, sandwiches and a wide selection of gifts. The space also hosts yoga classes and live music. Scotty’s Pizzeria and Restaurant serves classic Italian comfort food and American favorites like chicken wings and burgers. A Dollar General stocks essentials, and the Amish-owned Weaver’s Farm Market sells locally sourced groceries. “Most of these smaller towns are limited in their amenities, so you have to really travel if you’re looking for your Walmart and your Home Depot,” Santos says. More stores and restaurants are in Oneonta.
South Broad and Main Streets connect to nearby cities
Sidewalks make the village pedestrian-friendly, but residents will need a car to get around the area. State Route 23, called South Broad Street in the village, leads around 14 miles to Oneonta, while state Route 51, the village’s Main Street, heads toward Cooperstown, 24 miles away. Houses of worship here include Morris Baptist Church and Zion Episcopal Church. A.O. Fox Hospital is in Oneonta, and the Greater Binghamton Airport is a 62-mile trip.
The Otsego County Fair draws big crowds each summer
The Otsego County Fair highlights local agriculture for six days each summer. The fairgrounds are located on the edge of the village, and over 30,000 people attend the fair each year. The fair features events like tractor pulls, livestock shows and a demolition derby, and it also has carnival rides and a fireworks show.
Nearby natural areas provide year-round outdoor recreation
The nearly 1,200-acre General Jacob Morris State Forest and the over 700-acre Calhoun Creek State Forest are designated wilderness areas that allow hunting and primitive camping. Nearby, Gilbert Lake State Park is best known for its lake, which is open for swimming in the summer and is surrounded by over 12 miles of hiking trails that can be used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. At Colonial Ridge Golf, golfers can play 18 holes on the public course or practice their swings with an indoor golf simulator.
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Written By
Annie Franklin
