Allegany County, New York

Allegany County, New York
Map of New York highlighting Allegany County
Location in the state of New York
Map of the United States highlighting New York
New York's location in the U.S.
Founded 1806
Seat Belmont
Largest town Wellsville
Area
 • Total 1,034 sq mi (2,678 km2)
 • Land 1,029 sq mi (2,665 km2)
 • Water 5.1 sq mi (13 km2), 0.5%
Population
 • (2010) 48,946
 • Density 48/sq mi (19/km²)
Congressional district 23rd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.alleganyco.com

Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946.[1] Its county seat is Belmont.[2] Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River.

History

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,034 square miles (2,680 km2), of which 1,029 square miles (2,670 km2) is land and 5.1 square miles (13 km2) (0.5%) is water.[12]

Allegany County is in the southwestern part of New York State, along the Pennsylvania border. Allegany County does not lie along the Allegheny River, as its name would suggest. The highest point in the county is Alma Hill with an elevation of 2,548' above sea level. This is the highest point west of the Catskill Mountains in New York State. The highest point of Interstate 86 is located in the Town of West Almond with an elevation of 2,110'. This is also believed to be the highest point of any Interstate in the New York.

The Genesee River bisects the county from south to north. In June 1972 the remnants of Hurricane Agnes stalled over the area, dropping more than 20 inches (510 mm) of rain. There was memorable flooding in Wellsville, Belmont, Belfast and other valley communities of the county. The Genesee River is extremely popular with canoeists (as it was a favored route for Native Americans) and the river abounds in smallmouth bass, trout and panfish.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18101,942—
18209,330380.4%
183026,276181.6%
184040,97555.9%
185037,808−7.7%
186041,88110.8%
187040,814−2.5%
188041,8102.4%
189043,2403.4%
190041,501−4.0%
191041,412−0.2%
192036,842−11.0%
193038,0253.2%
194039,6814.4%
195043,78410.3%
196043,9780.4%
197046,4585.6%
198051,74211.4%
199050,470−2.5%
200049,927−1.1%
201048,946−2.0%
Est. 201348,109−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 49,927 people, 18,009 households, and 12,192 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile (19/km²). There were 24,505 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.03% White, 0.72% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.3% were of German, 16.6% English, 13.8% Irish, 11.9% American and 7.0% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.5% spoke English and 1.3% Spanish as their first language.

There were 18,009 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 15.50% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,106, and the median income for a family was $38,580. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,466 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,975. About 10.50% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.20% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Allegany County is considered a 'red', that is, a conservative county. In 2004, it voted for George Bush over John Kerry by a margin of 63 to 34 and in 2008 it voted for John McCain over Barack Obama by a margin of 59 to 39.[18] It has been reported that in the last 170 years the only Democratic candidates to win were Franklin Pierce in 1852[19] and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.[20] In 2006, neither Eliot Spitzer or Hillary Clinton carried it in their landslide elections. Eliot Spitzer lost 48.98% to John Faso's 49.03%. Hillary Clinton lost the county by 3 points. In 2010, Andrew Cuomo lost by a wide margin while Senator Chuck Schumer carried it by a narrow margin of 49.46% to Jay Townsend's 48.86% a margin of 78 votes. It was one of only two counties Senator Kirsten Gillibrand lost to Wendy Long in 2012.

Allegany is part of New York's 29th congressional district, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+5. In the New York State Senate it is part of the 57th district and is represented by Republican Catharine Young. In the New York State Assembly the County is in the 148th Assembly District represented by Republican Joseph Giglio.

The Allegany Board of Legislators consists of 15 members from five three-member districts. As of 2010, the Board consists of 14 Republicans and one Independent. The current chairman is Curtis W. Crandall. The County Administrator is Mitchell M. Alger.

Allegany County is divided into 29 towns and 10 villages. There are no cities as designated by New York State Law. The Village of Almond has the distinction of residing in Two Countys: Allegany and Steuben. The towns and villages by County Legislative District are as follows:

District I: Angelica, Belfast, Caneadea, Centerville, Granger, Hume, Rushford and the Village of Angelica.

District II: Amity, Clarksville, Cuba, Friendship, New Hudson, Ward and the Villages of Belmont & Cuba.

District III: Alma, Bolivar, Genesee, Independence, Scio, Willing, Wirt and the Villages of Bolivar & Richburg.

District IV: Andover, Wellsville and the Villages of Andover and Wellsville.

District V: Alfred, Allen, Almond, Birdsall, Burns, Grove, West Almond and the Villages of Alfred, Almond & Canaseraga.

The Oil Springs Reservation is an Indian Reservation of the Seneca Nation shared with Cattaraugus County having a total area of only 1-square-mile (2.6 km2). This is the site of the famed spring described by the Franciscan Missionary Joseph DeLa Roch D'Allion in 1627, the first recorded mention of oil on the North American Continent. In 1927, the New York State Oil Producers Association sponsored the dedication of a monument at the site describing the history of the oil industry in North America. There is a small park with parking and a foot bridge to the monument. The remainder of the reservation is mostly utilized for cottages on Cuba Lake, Seneca run gas stations and woodlands.

Recreation

While fishing in the Genesee and other area streams is excellent, Wiscoy Creek in the northern part of the county (also in Wyoming County) is one of the most famous trout streams in the area, drawing fishermen from across northeastern USA. Both wild and stocked brown trout are to be found in various stretches of this stream.

Education

Higher education facilities include Alfred University, Alfred State College, and Houghton College.

Communities

Allegany County comprises 29 Towns and 10 Villages.

Towns

Villages

Census-designated places

Hamlets

Indian reservations

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ New York. Laws of New York; 1806; 29th Session; Chapter 162; Section 1; Page 605.
  4. ↑ New York. Laws of New York; 1808; 31st Session, Chapter 38; Page 263.
  5. ↑ New York. Laws of New York; 1808; 31st Session; Chapter 40; Sections 1—2; Page266.
  6. ↑ New York. Laws of New York; 1812; 35th Session; Chapter 38; Page 263 .
  7. ↑ New York. Laws of New York; 1814; 37th Session; Chapter 123; Page 146.
  8. ↑ New York. Laws of New York; 1816; 40th Session; Chapter 115; Section 1; Page 107.
  9. ↑ New York. Laws of New York; 1846; 69th Session; Chapter 51; Page 53.
  10. ↑ New York. Laws of New York; 1846; 69th Session; Chapter 197; Section 1; Page 235.
  11. ↑ New York. Laws of New York; 1857; 80th Session; Chapter 166; Page 366.
  12. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  17. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  18. ↑ CNN: New York results by county
  19. ↑ Geographie Electorale for 1852
  20. ↑ Geographie Electorale for 1964

External links

 Wyoming County Livingston County
Cattaraugus County Steuben County
   Allegany County, New York  
McKean County, Pennsylvania Potter County, Pennsylvania

Coordinates: 42°15′N 78°01′W / 42.25°N 78.02°W