| Allegany 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 | 1806 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Belmont |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,034 sq mi (2,678 km²) 4 sq mi (10 km²), 0.41% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
49,927 49/sq mi (19/km²) |
| Website: www.alleganyco.com | |
Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2000 census, the population was 49,927. Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegany (Allegheny) River. Its county seat is Belmont.
Contents |
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,034 square miles (2,679 km²), of which, 1,030 square miles (2,668 km²) of it is land and 4 square miles (11 km²) of it (0.41%) is water.
Allegany County is in the southwestern part of New York State, along the Pennsylvania border. (Allegany County does not lie along the Allegany (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 canoists (as it was a favored route for Native Americans) and the river abounds in smallmouth bass, trout and panfish.
History
- Allegany County was created on 1806-04-07 when Genesee County, New York was partitioned so that 1,570 Square Miles was given over to the new county. The first County Seat was established at Angelica, New York where it remained for half a century. It was later moved toBelmont, New York on the Genesee River[1].
- On 1808-03-11, the borders were adjusted so that 230 Square Miles of Steuben County passed to Allegany County[2], and 600 Miles of Allegany County passed to Genesee County[3]. This established the current border between Genesee and Steuben Counties, and reduced the size of Allegany County to 1,200 Square Miles.
- On 1812-06-12, the legislature authorized the attachment of Cattaraugus County, New York to Allegany County for administration reasons, but for practical reasons the attachment failed to take place at that time[4]. However, on 1814-04-13, the eastern half of Cattaraugus County was so attached and administered from Belmont[5]. This attachment was ended on 1817-03-28[6].
- On 1846-04-01, Allegany County lost 120 Square Miles to Wyoming County, reducing the size of Allegany County to 1,140 Square Miles, and establishing the current border between Allegany and Wyoming Counties[7].
- On 1846-05-11, Allegany County lost 50 Square Miles to Livingston County, reducing the total to 1,090 Square Miles, and establishing the western portion of the current border with Livingston County[8].
- On 1857-03-23, Allegany County lost another 40 Square Miles to Livingston County, passing the Ossian, New York area to Livingston County, and establishing the current border between them[9].
Adjacent counties
- Livingston County, New York - northeast
- Steuben County, New York - east
- Potter County, Pennsylvania - southeast
- McKean County, Pennsylvania - southwest
- Cattaraugus County, New York - west
- Wyoming County, New York - northwest
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Wyoming County | Livingston County | |
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| Cattaraugus County |  |
Steuben County | ||
 Allegany County, New York  |
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| McKean County, Pennsylvania | Potter County, Pennsylvania |
Major highways
Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 (Southern Tier Expressway)
New York State Route 19
New York State Route 21
New York State Route 305
New York State Route 417
Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 1,942 |
|
|
| 1820 | 9,330 | 380.4% | |
| 1830 | 26,276 | 181.6% | |
| 1840 | 40,975 | 55.9% | |
| 1850 | 37,808 | −7.7% | |
| 1860 | 41,881 | 10.8% | |
| 1870 | 40,814 | −2.5% | |
| 1880 | 41,810 | 2.4% | |
| 1890 | 43,240 | 3.4% | |
| 1900 | 41,501 | −4.0% | |
| 1910 | 41,412 | −0.2% | |
| 1920 | 36,842 | −11.0% | |
| 1930 | 38,025 | 3.2% | |
| 1940 | 39,681 | 4.4% | |
| 1950 | 43,784 | 10.3% | |
| 1960 | 43,978 | 0.4% | |
| 1970 | 46,458 | 5.6% | |
| 1980 | 51,742 | 11.4% | |
| 1990 | 50,470 | −2.5% | |
| 2000 | 49,927 | −1.1% | |
| Est. 2007[10] | 49,637 | −0.6% | |
| Source[11] | |||
As of the census[12] 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
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This section requires expansion. |
Allegany County is considered a red 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.[13] It has been reported that in the last 170 years the only Democratic candidates to win were Franklin Pierce in 1852[14] and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.[15] 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.
Allegany is part of New York's 29th congressional district, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+5. The district is currently represented by Democrat Eric Massa who defeated Republican Randy Kuhl in the New York's 29th congressional district election, 2008. 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 much of it is District 147 and is represented by Republican Daniel Burling.
Additional information about Allegany County
The spelling Allegany County is used in Maryland as well as in New York; Pennsylvania spells a similarly-named county Allegheny County which is where the City of Pittsburgh is located, while Virginia and North Carolina spell theirs Alleghany County.
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.
Educational institutions
Higher education facilities include: Alfred University, Alfred State College, Houghton College.
Towns, villages, and other locations
- Alfred (village)
- Alfred (town)
- Allen (town)
- Alma (town)
- Almond (village)
- Almond (town)
- Amity (town)
- Andover (village)
- Andover (town)
- Angelica (village)
- Angelica (town)
- Belfast (town)
- Belmont (village)
- Birdsall (town)
- Black Creek
- Bolivar (village)
- Bolivar (town)
- Burns (town)
- Canaseraga (village)
- Caneadea (town)
- Centerville (town)
- Clarksville (town)
- Cuba (village)
- Cuba (town)
- Fillmore
- Friendship (town)
- Genesee (town)
- Granger (town)
- Grove (town)
- Houghton
- Hume (town)
- Independence (town)
- New Hudson (town)
- Richburg (village)
- Rushford (town)
- Scio (town)
- Stannards
- Ward (town)
- Wellsville (village)
- Wellsville (town)
- West Almond (town)
- Willing (town)
- Wirt (town)
- Label in parentheses shows official level of political organization.
Indian reservations
- Oil Springs Reservation (part)
See also
References
- ^ New York. Laws of New York; 1806; 29th Session; Chapter 162; Section 1; Page 605.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York; 1808; 31st Session, Chapter 38; Page 263.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York; 1808; 31st Session; Chapter 40; Sections 1—2; Page266.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York; 1812; 35th Session; Chapter 38; Page 263 .
- ^ New York. Laws of New York; 1814; 37th Session; Chapter 123; Page 146.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York; 1816; 40th Session; Chapter 115; Section 1; Page 107.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York; 1846; 69th Session; Chapter 51; Page 53.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York; 1846; 69th Session; Chapter 197; Section 1; Page 235.
- ^ New York. Laws of New York; 1857; 80th Session; Chapter 166; Page 366.
- ^ Population Estimates as of July 1, 2007 by U.S. Census Bureau
- ^ New York State Department of Economic Development
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ CNN: New York results by county
- ^ Geographie Electorale for 1852
- ^ Geographie Electorale for 1964
External links
- Allegany County at the Open Directory Project
- Alfred University
- Houghton College
- Allegany County Data and Information Resource
- Links to historical information about Allegany County
- Historical summary of Allegany County and its subdivisions
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