[5] While the name "Chittenango" is often thought by locals to mean "river flowing north" or "where the waters divide and run north", a reference to the direction of water flow from the creek's point of origin to Oneida Lake, there is no derivation for these alternatives.

On an 1825 map of the area, the village is called Chittening, a name used by early settlers which is thought to be derived directly from Chu-de-nääng′.

Because the canal connected to the Hudson River, boats were able to ship goods south to the metropolis of Manhattan.

[19] Chittenango is located in northwestern Madison County at 43°2′45″N 75°52′26″W / 43.04583°N 75.87389°W / 43.04583; -75.87389 (43.045901, -75.873785),[20] in the southern part of the town of Sullivan.

NY 173 has its eastern terminus at Chittenango and leads southwest 6 miles (10 km) to Manlius.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the village of Chittenango has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2), all of it recorded as land.

The 2010 Census used only a short form asking ten basic questions, including name, sex, age, date of birth, ethnicity, race, and homeownership status.

[25] Luther Airport is located 1.15 mi (1.85 km) southeast of the central business district of Chittenango.

[26] Interstate 90, the New York State Thruway, passes 3 miles (5 km) north of the village.

The Chittenango travel plaza (rest area)[28] serves westbound traffic on Interstate 90 4 miles (6 km) west of Exit 34.

[29] The weekend-long festival, usually held during the first Friday/Saturday of June and the weekend thereof, includes amusement rides, and a parade, which features many community groups.

The parade has also featured actors and actresses who played Munchkins in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, including Jerry Maren, Karl Slover, Meinhardt Raabe, and Margaret Williams Pellegrini.

The organization coordinates the annual Oz-Stravaganza festival and also the All Things Oz Museum located in the historic village downtown.

As part of a downtown Chittenango revitalization project in 2007, the sidewalks were replaced with concrete which was then stamped and colored to replicate the yellow brick road.

[33] In 2017, the village also added a yellow brick road sidewalk to Dr. West memorial park where the annual Oz-stravaganza festival is held.

Chittenango and its yellow brick road featured in episode 6 of Michael Portillo's Great American Railroad Journeys shown on the BBC.