Chautauqua County, New York

History When counties were established in New York State in 1683, the present Chautauqua County was part of Albany County. This was an enormous county, including the northern part of New York State as well as all of the present State of Vermont and, in theory, extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. This county was reduced in size on July 3, 1766 by the creation of Cumberland County, and further on March 16, 1770 by the creation of Gloucester County, both containing territory now in Vermont.

On March 12, 1772, what was left of Albany County was split into three parts, one remaining under the name Albany County. One of the other pieces, Tryon County, contained the western portion (and thus, since no western boundary was specified, theoretically still extended west to the Pacific). The eastern boundary of Tryon County was approximately five miles west of the present city of Schenectady, and the county included the western part of the Adirondack Mountains and the area west of the West Branch of the Delaware River. The area then designated as Tryon County now includes 37 counties of New York State. The county was named for William Tryon, colonial governor of New York.

In the years prior to 1776, most of the Loyalists in Tryon County fled to Canada. In 1784, following the peace treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War, the name of Tryon County was changed to Montgomery County in honor of the general, Richard Montgomery, who had captured several places in Canada and died attempting to capture the city of Quebec, replacing the name of the hated British governor.

Ontario County was split off from Montgomery County in 1789. In turn, Genesee County was split off from Ontario County in 1802. Genesee County was made smaller in 1806, by the splitting off from it of Allegany County.

Chautauqua County was formed in 1808, split off from Genesee County. However, until 1811, for record-keeping purposes Chautauqua County was treated as part of Niagara County.

Geography Chautauqua County, in the southwestern corner of New York State, is the westernmost of the counties along the New York-Pennsylvania border.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,885 km² (1,500 mi²). 2,751 km² (1,062 mi²) of it is land and 1,134 km² (438 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 29.20% water.

Demographics As of the census of 2000, there are 139,750 people, 54,515 households, and 35,979 families residing in the county. The population density is 51/km² (132/mi²). There are 64,900 housing units at an average density of 24/km² (61/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 94.04% White, 2.18% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.73% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. 4.22% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 54,515 households out of which 30.50% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.90% are married couples living together, 10.80% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.00% are non-families. 28.10% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.60% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.45 and the average family size is 2.99.

In the county the population is spread out with 24.50% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $33,458, and the median income for a family is $41,054. Males have a median income of $32,114 versus $22,214 for females. The per capita income for the county is $16,840. 13.80% of the population and 9.70% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 19.30% are under the age of 18 and 8.20% are 65 or older.

Cities and Towns

• Arkwright
• Bemus Point
• Brocton
• Busti
• Carroll
• Cassadaga
• Celoron
• Charlotte
• Chautauqua
• Cherry Creek[?]
• Clymer
• Dunkirk[?]
• Ellery
• Ellicott
• Ellington
• Falconer
• Forestville
• Fredonia
• French Creek
• Frewsburg
• Gerry
• Hanover
• Harmony
• Jamestown West
• Jamestown
• Kiantone
• Lakewood
• Mayville
• Mina
• North Harmony
• Panama
• Poland
• Pomfret
• Portland
• Ripley[?]
• Sheridan
• Sherman[?]
• Silver Creek
• Sinclairville
• Stockton
• Villenova
• Westfield[?]

Indian reservations

• Cattaraugus Reservation, Chautauqua County, New York