Flax Island was an island located by Otego, New York, on the Susquehanna River below the mouth of Flax Island Creek. In a deed from 1807 it is called Flax Island, and also Vrooman's Island. It has since washed away. It was where Indians grew wild flax or hemp. The hemp was a necessity to the Indians, who called the surrounding area Otsdawa which translates to "the place of the big hemp".