Niagara County, New York
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| Niagara County, New York | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of New York |
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 New York's location in the USA |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1808 |
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| Seat | Lockport |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
2,952 km² (1,140 mi²) 1,354 km² (523 mi²) 1,598 km² (617 mi²), 54.12% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
219,846 162/km² |
| Website: www.niagaracounty.com | |
- See also: Niagara (electoral district)
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2000 census, the population was 219,846. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Indian word Ongiara, meaning "thunder of waters," referring to the sound of the famous waterfalls. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, as has many parks and lake shore recreation communities.
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[edit] History
When counties were established in the New York colony in 1683, the present Niagara 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 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. In turn, Genesee County was created from Ontario County in 1802.
Niagara County was created from Genesee County in 1808. It was, however, larger than the present Niagara County even though it consisted of only the Town of Cambria.
From 1814 to 1817, records of Cattaraugus County were divided between Belmont (the seat of Allegany County) and Buffalo (then in Niagara County).
In 1821, Erie County was created from Niagara County.
[edit] Geography
Niagara County is in the extreme western part of New York State, just north of Buffalo and adjacent to Lake Ontario on its northern border and the Niagara River and Canada on its western border. Its proximity to Canada leads to a substantial amount of traffic through the county, and Traffic tickets are not uncommon, especially to drivers from Ontario. The border also results in a fair number of Illegal Immigration cases, though these are more common to the east where the border is across land rather than a lake or river.
The primary geographic feature of the county is Niagara Falls, which has eroded seven miles south over the past 12,000 years since the last Ice Age. The Niagara River and Niagara Falls, are in effect, the drainage ditch for four of the Great Lakes which constitute the largest supply of fresh water in the world. The water flows north from Lake Erie, then through the Niagara River, goes over Niagara Falls, and then on to Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, eventually emptying into the North Atlantic Ocean. Today, tourists and visitors to the Falls only see half of the natural water flow over the Falls, since the other half has been taken for hydroelectric power purposes. Both the American and Canadian side of the Niagara River have massive electrical power plants.
The spectacular Niagara Gorge is the path Niagara Falls has taken over thousands of years as it continues to erode. Niagara Falls started at the Niagara Escarpment which cuts Niagara County in half in an East-West direction. North of the Escarpment lies the Lake Ontario plain, which is a fertile flatland that is used to grow grapes, apples, peaches and other fruits and vegetables.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,952 km² (1,140 mi²). 1,354 km² (523 mi²) of it is land and 1,598 km² (617 mi²) of it (54.12%) is water.
[edit] Adjacent counties and areas
- Orleans County, New York - east
- Genesee County, New York - southeast
- Erie County, New York - south - boundary is Tonawanda Creek
- Province of Ontario - west - International border - boundary is the Niagara River
- Lake Ontario - north - with Canada on the opposite shore.
[edit] County government
- Legislature Chairman Clyde Burmaster
- Legislature Vice Chairman William Ross
- Legislature Majority Leader Richard Updegrove
- Legislature Minority Leader Dennis Virtuoso
- Legislator Jason Murgia
- Legislator Renae Kimble
- Legislator Rebecca Cuddahhee
- Legislator Sean O'Connor
- Legislator Danny Sklarski
- Legislator Gerald Farnham
- Legislator Joseph Vacanti
- Legislator Peter Smolinski
- Legislator John Ceretto
- Legislator Kyle Andrews
- Legislator Harry Apolito
- Legislator Glenn Aronow
- Legislator Malcom Needler
- Legislator John Syracuse
- Legislator Michael Hill
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 219,846 people, 87,846 households, and 58,593 families residing in the county. The population density was 162/km² (420/mi²). There were 95,715 housing units at an average density of 71/km² (183/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.70% White, 6.15% Black or African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 1.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 87,846 households out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.30% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.70% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,136, and the median income for a family was $47,817. Males had a median income of $37,468 versus $24,668 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,219. About 8.20% of families and 10.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Cities, towns, villages, and other locations
- Barker (village)
- Cambria (town)
- Gasport
- Hartland (town)
- Lewiston (village)
- Lewiston (town)
- Lockport (town)
- Lockport (city)
- Middleport (village)
- Newfane (town)
- Niagara Falls (city)
- Niagara (town)
- North Tonawanda (city)
- Olcott
- Pendleton (town)
- Porter (town)
- Ransomville
- Rapids
- Royalton (town)
- Somerset (town)
- South Lockport
- Wheatfield (town)
- Wilson (village)
- Wilson (town)
- Youngstown (village)
- => designation in parentheses shows official political level.
[edit] Indian reservations
[edit] Educational institutions
Niagara University is located in Lewiston, New York. Niagara County Community College is located in Sanborn, New York.
[edit] External links
- Niagara County webpage
- Niagara County at the Open Directory Project (suggest site)
- Guide to Niagara County, historical and cultural institutions
- Directory of local courts in Niagara County
| Municipalities and Communities of Niagara County, New York (County Seat: Lockport) |
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|---|---|
| Cities | Lockport | Niagara Falls | North Tonawanda |
| Towns | Cambria | Hartland | Lewiston | Lockport | Newfane | Niagara | Pendleton | Porter | Royalton | Somerset | Wilson | Wheatfield |
| Villages | Barker | Lewiston | Middleport | Wilson | Youngstown |
| CDPs | Gasport | Olcott | Ransomville | Rapids | South Lockport |
| Reservations | Tonawanda Reservation | Tuscarora Reservation |
