Aurelius, once a township in Onondaga County, encompassing almost all of what today is the northern half of Cayuga County, now a much smaller township, covering less than 32 square miles. Originally the land was occupied by the Iroquois until in the Sullivan Expedition came through in 1779, destroying the region. It was first settled by European-Americans in 1789. Aurelius was later divided to form Auburn (1793), Brutus (1802), Weedsport (1802), Cayuga Village in modern-day Aurelius (1857), Sennett (1827), Fleming (1823), Owasco (1802), Mentz (incorporated as Jefferson in 1802 and name changed to Mentz in 1806), Montezuma (part of Mentz until 1859), Throop (part of Mentz, Aurelius and Sennett until 1859) and Ira (part of Mentz until 1821). Part of Mentz now called Port Byron, was called Bucksville until 1832. Port Byron was incorporated as a village in Mentz in 1837. Montezuma was part of the Cayuga Indian Reservation. Part of Aurelius was also given to form Springport in 1848 and Ledyard in 1837.