Genesee County, New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Genesee County, New York | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of New York |
|
 New York's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | March 30, 1802 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Batavia |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
495 sq mi (1,282 km²) 1 sq mi (3 km²), 0.25% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
60,370 122/sq mi (47/km²) |
| Website: www.co.genesee.ny.us | |
Genesee County is a county located in Western New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 60,370.[1] Its name is from the Seneca Indian word Gen-nis'-hee-yo meaning "The Beautiful Valley."[2] Its county seat is Batavia.
Contents |
[edit] History
County history of man goes back to the Ice Age 10,000 to 12,000 years ago at the Hiscock Site, in Byron, New York. Mastodon jaw, tusks and teeth, bones, tools, ceramics, metal and leather from this era has been unearthed there. This site in Genesee County is considered among North America’s most important for archaeological artifacts from the Ice Age.[3][4]
When counties were established in New York State in 1683, the present Genesee 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 order to honor 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.
In 1789, Ontario County was split off from Montgomery.
All of the land of present day Genesee County was part of the Holland Land Purchase in 1793 and was sold through the Holland Land Company's office in Batavia, starting in 1801.
Genesee County was created by a Partition of 7,100 square miles (18,000 km²) of land from Ontario County. The County wasn’t fully organized so it remained under the supervision of Ontario County until it achieved full organization and separation during March of 1803 [5].
On 1806-04-07, Genesee’s area was reduced to 5,550 square miles (14,400 km²) due to a partition that created Allegany County [6].
On 1808-03-08, Genesee’s area was again reduced, this time to 1,650 square miles (4,300 km²) due to a partition that created Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties [7].
On 1821-02-23, Genesee’s area was again reduced, this time to 1,450 square miles (3,800 km²) due a complex partition that produced Livingston [8]. and Monroe Counties [9].
On 1825-04-15, another partition reduced Genesee’s area to 1,030 square miles (2,700 km²) in the creation of Orleans County [10] [11].
On 1826-05-01, the Orleans partition was again surveyed, with 10 square miles (26 km²) of land along the western half of the Orleans/Genesee border returned to Genesee [12].
On 1841-05-19, Genesee’s area was again reduced, this time to the 500 square miles (1,300 km²) it remains to this day due to the partitioning to create Wyoming County [13].
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 495 square miles (1,283 km²), of which, 494 square miles (1,280 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (3 km²) of it (0.25%) is water.
Genesee County is east of the city of Buffalo and southwest of the city of Rochester in the western portion of New York State.
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Orleans County, New York - north
- Monroe County, New York - east
- Livingston County, New York - southeast
- Wyoming County, New York - south
- Erie County, New York - west
- Niagara County, New York - northwest
[edit] Major highways
Interstate 90 (New York State Thruway)
U.S. Route 20
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 19
New York State Route 33
New York State Route 63
New York State Route 77
New York State Route 98
[edit] Genesee County watersheds[14]
- Black Creek
- Canaseraga Creek to Oatka Creek, excluding Beards, Conesus and Cayuga Creek
- Honeye Creeks
- Mud Creek
- Murder Creek
- Oak Orchard Creek
- Oatka Creek
- Ransom Creek to Mouth
- Tonawanda Creek, Middle
- Tonawanda Creek, Upper
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 60,370 people, 22,770 households, and 15,825 families residing in the county. The population density was 122 people per square mile (47/km²). There were 24,190 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile (19/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.69% White, 2.13% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 1.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.0% were of German, 15.2% Italian, 13.5% English, 13.1% Irish, 8.9% Polish and 5.6% American ancestry according to Census 2000 [2]. 96.5% spoke English and 1.5% Spanish as their first language.
There were 22,770 households out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.10% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 29.50% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.
The U.S. Census in 2000 showed the county had a 63.7% employment rate and 2.9% were unemployed. The median income for a household in the county was $40,542, and the median income for a family was $47,771. Males had a median income of $34,430 versus $23,788 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,498. About 5.60% of families and 7.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.00% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.[16]
[edit] Cities, towns, and villages[17]
- Alabama (town)
- Alexander (village)
- Alexander (town)
- Attica (village) [shared with Wyoming County]
- Batavia (city)
- Batavia (town)
- Bergen (village)
- Bergen (town)
- Bethany (town)
- Byron (town)
- Corfu (village)
- Darien (town)
- Elba (village)
- Elba (town)
- Le Roy (village)
- Le Roy (town)
- Oakfield (village)
- Oakfield (town)
- Pavilion (town)
- Pembroke (town)
- Stafford (town)
- Label in parentheses indicates official governmental level.
[edit] Indian reservations
[edit] Federal and state lands
- Darien Lakes State Park
- Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
- Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area
- Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area
[edit] County parks[18]
- Genesee County Park and Forest consists of 430 acres (1.7 km²) of forest and rolling hills.
- DeWitt Recreation Area is a 63 acre park that includes a 38 acre pond.
[edit] Educational institutions
The county has 8 public school districts:
- Alexander Central School District
- Batavia City School District
- Byron-Bergen Central School District
- Elba Central School District
- LeRoy Central School District
- Oakfield-Alabama Central School District
- Pavilion Central School District
- Pembroke Central School District
Several private schools at the primary and secondary levels are also maintained:
- St. Joseph Elementary School, Batavia, NY
- Notre Dame High School, Batavia, NY
- St. Paul Lutheran School, Batavia, NY
- Mary's Grace School, Batavia, NY
- Genesee Christian Academy, Batavia, NY
- Holy Family School, LeRoy, NY
Genesee Community College has its main campus in the Town of Batavia.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau, State & County QuickFacts, Genesee County, New York
- ^ THE AMERICAN REVIEW; A WHIG JOURNAL DEVOTED TO POLITICS, LITERATURE, ART AND SCIENCE. VOL. VI NEW-YORK: GEORGE H. COLTON, 118 NASSAU STREET, Published 1847, Wiley and Putnam, p. 628.[1]
- ^ Geology The Buffalo Museum of Science, Retrieved on 2007-12-05
- ^ Excavation pit at the Byron Dig The Buffalo Museum of Science, Retrieved on 2007-12-05
- ^ New York. Laws of New York.:1802, 25th Session, Chapter 64, Page 97.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York.:1806, 29th Session, Chapter 162, Section 1, Page 604.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York.:1808, 31st Session, Chapter 15, Page 254.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York.:1820, 44th Session, Chapter 58, Section 1, Page 50.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York.:1820, 44th Session, Chapter 57, Section 1, Page 46.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York.:1824, 47th Session, Chapter 266, Section 1, Page 326.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York.:1825, 48th Session, Chapter 181, Sections 1 & 2, Page 273.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York.:1826, 49th Session, Chapter 269, Page 302.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York.:1841, 64th Session, Chapter 196, Section 1, Page 169.
- ^ Genesee County All Hazard Multi-Jurisdictional Mitigation Plan, Chapter 4 Maps {1st Draft, May 2007)(See Watersheds-Genesee County, NY, Map 5), Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau, Selected Economic Characteristics: 2000, Genesee County, New York
- ^ Community Page, Genesee County, NY
- ^ Genesee County Park and Forest
[edit] External links
- Genesee County at the Open Directory Project
- Genesee County Chamber of Commerce website, includes tourist and area information
- Local history source
- 504 Biographies from Genesee County
- Genesee County Histories
- Museum Dedicated to the History of Genesee County, NY
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