Cortland was first settled in 1791 and was made the County Seat at the county's formation in 1808. In 1829, it gained the southern part of Homer and in 1845 it gained more land from part of Virgil. Cortland was incorporated as a village in 1853 and was not incorporated as a City until 1900. Cortland Village, McGraw, South Cortland, and Blodgett Mills were all part of Cortlandville, with the City of Cortland at it's center.