Chautauqua, New York
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- For other uses of "Chautauqua," see Chautauqua (disambiguation).
Chautauqua is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, USA . The population was 4,666 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a lake. Traditional legend says "Chautauqua" means "Place of Easy Death." This of course is not what is used in the area. The suggested meanings of this Seneca word has become numerous: the place where one is lost; the place of easy death; fish taken out; foggy place; high up; two moccasins fastened together; and a bag tied in the middle.
The Town of Chautauqua is in the northwest part of the county. It is northwest of Jamestown, New York.
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[edit] History
The Town of Chautauqua was formed in 1803 from the Town of Batavia, while still part of Genesee County. The first settler arrived the same year near the current Village of Mayville. This town is the "mother of towns" in Chautauqua County because many later towns were set up by partitioning its territory.
Chautauqua is famous as the home of the Chautauqua Institution.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 174.3 km² (67.3 mi²). 174.2 km² (67.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.10%) is water.
The town is one of the largest in the county and borders the north end of Chautauqua Lake.
New York State Route 394 intersects New York State Route 430 in Mayville.
[edit] Adjacent towns and areas
The southern town line of Chautauqua is formed with the Town of North Harmony. The east town line is shared with the Town of Stockton.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 4,666 people, 1,881 households, and 1,269 families residing in the town. The population density was 26.8/km² (69.4/mi²). There were 4,174 housing units at an average density of 24.0/km² (62.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.25% White, 1.59% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.
There were 1,881 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 105.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,379, and the median income for a family was $41,923. Males had a median income of $30,767 versus $23,561 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,003. About 7.5% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Communities and locations in Chautauqua
- Chautauqua -- The hamlet of Chautauqua, located on the west shore of Chautauqua Lake and location of the Chautauqua Institution on Route 394.
- Chautauqua Creek -- A stream forming part of the town's western boundary.
- Cottage Park -- A lakeside hamlet south of Mayville on Route 394.
- Dart Airfield (D79) -- A grass runway airfield east of Mayville.
- Dean -- A hamlet in the northeast corner of the town on County Road 37.
- Dewittville -- A lakeside hamlet on the east side of the lake on County Road 52.
- Dewittville Bay -- A bay near Point Chautauqua.
- Hartfield -- A hamlet in the northeast part of the town.
- Hartfield Bay -- A bay at the north end of Chautauqua Lake.
- Irwins Bay -- A small bay between Lighthouse Point and Wahmeda.
- Lighthouse Point -- A hamlet at a projection into the lake south of Mayville on Route 394.
- Magnolia -- A lakeside hamlet in the southeast corner of the town on Chautauqua Lake on Route 394.
- Mayville - The Village of Mayville is the county seat and is located next to the northern end of Chautauqua Lake.
- Orchard Terrace -- A lakeside community south of Chautauqua on Route 394.
- Pleasantville -- A hamlet neart the east town line on County Road 54.
- Point Chautauqua -- A hamlet on a peninsula on the eastern side of the lake.
- Point Pleasant -- A projection into Chautauqua Lake south of Mayville.
- Prendergast Point -- A projection into Lake Chautauqua in the southeast corner of the town.
- Shorelands -- A hamlet on the east side of Chautauqua Lake, east of Mayville on Route 490.
- Summerdale -- A hamlet in the western part of the town on NY Route 430.
- Wahmeda -- A lakeside hamlet north of Chautauqua on NY Route 394.
- Wooglin -- A lakeside hamlet on the east side of the lake on NY Route 490.
[edit] Additional information about the Town of Chautauqua
The famous Chautauqua Institution is located along the shore of the lake. It is one of the locations established by the Chautauqua Movement of educational, cultural centers, founded in this town.
[edit] External links
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County Seat: Mayville |
|---|---|
| Cities | |
| Towns |
Arkwright | Busti | Carroll | Charlotte | Chautauqua | Cherry Creek | Clymer | Dunkirk | Ellery | Ellicott | Ellington | French Creek | Gerry | Hanover | Harmony | Kiantone | Mina | North Harmony | Poland | Pomfret | Portland | Ripley | Sheridan | Sherman | Stockton | Villenova | Westfield |
| Villages |
Bemus Point | Brocton | Cassadaga | Celoron | Cherry Creek | Falconer | Forestville | Fredonia | Lakewood | Mayville | Panama | Sherman | Silver Creek | Sinclairville | Westfield |
| CDPs | |
| Hamlets |
Frewsburg | Laona | Hamlet | Irving | Maple Springs |
| Reservations |
