Chemung County, New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Chemung County, New York | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of New York |
|
 New York's location in the USA |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | March 29, 1836 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Elmira |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,064 km² (410.81 mi²) 1,057 km² (408.11 mi²) 7 km² (2.7 mi²), 0.64% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
91,070 86/km² |
| Website: www.chemungcounty.com | |
Chemung County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses all of Chemung County. As of the 2000 census, the population was 91,070. Its name is derived from the name of a Delaware Indian village (meaning "big horn"). Its county seat is Elmira. Chemung County likes to refer to itself as "Mark Twain Country" because of the many years the author lived and wrote in Elmira. The Chemung County Chamber of Commerce has represented business and Industry in Elmira and Chemung County in such diverse areas as local, State and Federal legislation, small business concerns, tourism promotion and economic development.
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[edit] History
When counties were established in New York State in 1683, the present Chemung County was part of Albany County. This was a large 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.
In 1789, Montgomery County was reduced in size by the splitting off of Ontario County. The actual area split off from Montgomery County was much larger than the present county, also including the present Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Steuben, Wyoming, Yates, and part of Schuyler and Wayne Counties.
Tioga County was one of three counties split off from Montgomery County (the others being Herkimer and Otsego Counties) in 1791.
Chemung County was formed from Tioga County in 1798, but the county at that time was rather larger than the present county.
In 1854, a portion of Chemung County was combined with areas taken from Tompkins and Steuben Counties to create Schuyler County.
[edit] Geography
Chemung County is in the southwestern part of New York State, along the Pennsylvania border, in a part of New York called the Southern Tier and is also part of the Finger Lakes Region.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,064 km² (411 mi²). 1,057 km² (408 mi²) of it is land and 7 km² (3 mi²) of it (0.64%) is water.
The Southern Tier Expressway runs through the County east-west near the Pennsylvania border.
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Schuyler County, New York - north
- Tompkins County, New York - northeast
- Tioga County, New York - east
- Bradford County, Pennsylvania - south
- Tioga County, Pennsylvania - southwest
- Steuben County, New York - west
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |
|---|---|
| Census year |
Population |
|
|
|
| 1840 | 20,732* |
| 1850 | 28,821* |
| 1860 | 26,917* |
| 1870 | 35,281* |
| 1880 | 43,065* |
| 1890 | 48,265* |
| 1900 | 54,063* |
| 1910 | 54,662* |
| 1920 | 65,872* |
| 1930 | 74,680* |
| 1940 | 73,718* |
| 1950 | 86,827* |
| 1960 | 98,706* |
| 1970 | 101,537* |
| 1980 | 97,656* |
| 1990 | 95,195* |
| 2000 | 91,070 |
| * Source document from Chemung County, not Census Bureau. Document here. | |
As of the census² of 2000, there were 91,070 people, 35,049 households, and 23,272 families residing in the county. The population density was 86/km² (223/mi²). There were 37,745 housing units at an average density of 36/km² (92/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.96% White, 5.82% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. 1.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 35,049 households out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.80% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.60% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,415, and the median income for a family was $43,994. Males had a median income of $35,076 versus $24,215 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,264. About 9.10% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.40% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Cities, towns, villages, and other locations
- Label in parentheses shows official political designation.
- Ashland (town)
- Baldwin (town)
- Big Flats Airport
- Big Flats (town)
- Catlin (town)
- Chemung (town)
- Elmira Heights (village)
- Elmira (city)
- Elmira (town)
- Erin (town)
- Horseheads North
- Horseheads (town)
- Horseheads (village)
- Millport (village)
- Southport (town)
- Van Etten (town)
- Van Etten (village)
- Veteran (town)
- Wellsburg (village)
- West Elmira
[edit] External links
- Chemung County, New York site
- Chemung County Chamber of Commerce
- Chemung County at the Open Directory Project (suggest site)
- Early brief history of Chemung County
- Elmira College
- Courts in Chemung County
[edit] References
- New York: Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Compiled by Kathryn Ford Thorne and Edited by John H. Long.
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Chemung County, New York County Seat: Elmira |
|---|---|
| Cities | |
| Towns |
Ashland | Baldwin | Big Flats | Catlin | Chemung | Elmira | Erin | Horseheads | Southport | Van Etten | Veteran |
| Villages |
Elmira Heights | Horseheads | Millport | Van Etten | Wellsburg |
| Hamlets |
