The City of Hornell was first chartered in 1888 as the City of Hornellsville. It was changed to Hornell in 1906. Earliest yearbooks from the collection reflect the name Hornellsville. Earliest yearbooks in this collection also reflect several high school fraternities at Hornell High School.
Hornell is nicknamed the "Maple City" after the large maple trees that once grew throughout the town and covered the surrounding hills of the Canisteo Valley. The high school yearbook has been named the Maple Leaf since 1933.
