After having gone bankrupt from a fire on his New Hampshire farm, Jedediah Sanger purchased 1,000 acres of land in Whitestown in 1788. This land, part of the Coxe Patent, came to be known as New Hartford. This new town was created when the town of Whitestown was divided in April 1827. The village of New Hartford was formed in 1870. Chadwicks, Middle Settlement, Washington Mills, and Willowvale also existed within the town. Throughout the early 19th century, industry flourished in New Hartford. The Sauquoit Creek supplied power to businesses, including tanneries, knitting mills, sawmills, and canning factories. Local farms provided adequate supplies of vegetables and meat. The installation of Seneca Turnpike boosted New Hartford's economy as it became the main thoroughfare west from Utica. Prosperity followed, especially after Commercial Drive was developed in the 20th century. Today, New Hartford is Oneida County's retail center.