Horseheads is one of those place names that makes you pause for a second. It is memorable, a little mysterious, and tied to a specific moment in local Revolutionary era history.
The story is closely connected to the Sullivan Expedition of 1779, also known as the Clinton Sullivan Campaign, and to the Battle of Newtown fought near present day Elmira on August 29, 1779.
The campaign behind the name
To tell this story honestly, we have to start with what the campaign was designed to do.
The National Park Service explains that the goal of the expedition was to completely destroy the principal villages and food supplies of the Cayuga and Seneca Nations. This is one of the most difficult truths in our local Revolutionary era history, and it is essential context for understanding why this landscape matters.
September 24, 1779
According to the Village of Horseheads, September 24, 1779 is the date connected to the origin story.
After a long march, military pack horses returning through the valley had reached the end of their endurance, and Sullivan’s forces disposed of them there. The Village history states that a few years later, returning Native Americans arranged the horses’ skulls along the trail as a warning to potential settlers. The area became known as “The Valley of Horses Heads,” and later simply Horseheads.
The Horseheads Central School District shares a similar account, adding that the first settlers entering the valley in 1789 found the skulls and named the place Horseheads.
The name changed, and came back
The Village history also notes that the Village was incorporated on May 15, 1837 as “Fairport” because of its location on the Chemung Canal, and that the name Horseheads was restored in 1845. It even notes another brief change in 1885, followed by a return to Horseheads one year later.
What you can visit today
One of the best parts of this story is that you can still visit places connected to it.
The Village of Horseheads notes that the bronze Pack Horse Statue stands in front of Village Hall at 202 South Main Street. It is a simple stop, but it brings the history into the present day in a powerful way.
A note on visiting with care
This story is often shared as a local origin tale, and it is also connected to a campaign that caused deep harm and displacement. America 250 is a chance to learn more, ask better questions, and hold space for more than one perspective, especially when the history involves Native communities.
If you visit Horseheads as part of an America 250 itinerary, consider pairing the stop with a visit to a museum or historical organization so you can place the story in its full context.
Closing
For more America 250 stories, events, and places to explore across Chemung County, visit our America 250 landing page.