Genesee County, New York

Infobox U.S. County
county = Genesee County
state = New York




map size = 250
founded = March 30 1802
seat = Batavia
area_total_sq_mi =495
area_water_sq_mi =1
area percentage = 0.25%
census yr = 2000
pop = 60370
density_km2 =47
web = 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. [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36/36037.html U.S. Census Bureau, State & County QuickFacts, Genesee County, New York] ] Its name is from the Seneca Indian word Gen-nis'-hee-yo meaning "The Beautiful Valley."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. [http://books.google.com/books?id=T7brSqWusNkC&pg=RA4-PA628&dq=genesee+beautiful+valley] ] Its county seat is Batavia.

History

County pre-history of man goes back to the Ice Age 10,000to 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. [http://www.sciencebuff.org/geology.php Geology] The Buffalo Museum of Science, Retrieved on 2007-12-05] [http://www.sciencebuff.org/ftp_only/adopt_a_pit.pdf Excavation pit at the Byron Dig] The Buffalo Museum of Science, Retrieved on 2007-12-05]

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. All of the land in Western New York was in the newly created Genesee County, and all of that was in the single Town of Batavia.

Genesee County was created by a Partition of convert|7100|sqmi|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 1803 New York. "Laws of New York.":1802, 25th Session, Chapter 64, Page 97.] .

On 1806-04-07, Genesee’s area was reduced to convert|5550|sqmi|km2 due to a partition that created Allegany County New York. "Laws of New York.":1806, 29th Session, Chapter 162, Section 1, Page 604.] .

On 1808-03-08, Genesee’s area was again reduced, this time to convert|1650|sqmi|km2 due to a partition that created Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties New York. "Laws of New York.":1808, 31st Session, Chapter 15, Page 254.] .

On 1821-02-23, Genesee’s area was again reduced, this time to convert|1450|sqmi|km2 due a complex partition that produced Livingston New York. "Laws of New York.":1820, 44th Session, Chapter 58, Section 1, Page 50.] . and Monroe Counties New York. "Laws of New York.":1820, 44th Session, Chapter 57, Section 1, Page 46.] .

On 1825-04-15, another partition reduced Genesee’s area to convert|1030|sqmi|km2 in the creation of Orleans County 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.] .

On 1826-05-01, the Orleans partition was again surveyed, with convert|10|sqmi|km2 of land along the western half of the Orleans/Genesee border returned to Genesee New York. "Laws of New York.":1826, 49th Session, Chapter 269, Page 302.] .

On 1841-05-19, Genesee’s area was again reduced, this time to the convert|500|sqmi|km2 it remains to this day due to the partitioning to create Wyoming County New York. "Laws of New York.":1841, 64th Session, Chapter 196, Section 1, Page 169.] .

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.

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

Major highways

* (New York State Thruway)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

= Genesee County watersheds [http://www.gflrpc.org/Publications/GeneseeAllHazard/MitigationPlan/Chapter4MapsCombined.pdf 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] =

*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

Demographics

USCensusPop
1810 = 12588
1820 = 58093
1830 = 52147
1840 = 59587
1850 = 28488
1860 = 32189
1870 = 31606
1880 = 32806
1890 = 33265
1900 = 34561
1910 = 37615
1920 = 37976
1930 = 44468
1940 = 44481
1950 = 47584
1960 = 53994
1970 = 58722
1980 = 59400
1990 = 60060
2000 = 60370
estyear = 2007 [ [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2007-01-36.xls Population Estimates as of July 1, 2007 by U.S. Census Bureau] ]
estimate = 58122
footnote = Source [ [http://www.empire.state.ny.us/nysdc/StateCountyPopests/CountyPopHistory.PDF New York State Department of Economic Development] ] As of the censusGR|2 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 [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-context=dt&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&-CONTEXT=dt&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_PCT016&-tree_id=] . 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. [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP3&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&-_lang=en&-_sse=on&-geo_id=05000US36037 U.S. Census Bureau, Selected Economic Characteristics: 2000, Genesee County, New York] ]

= Cities, towns, and villages [http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/communitypage.html Community Page, Genesee County, NY] ] =

*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".

Indian reservations

* Tonawanda Reservation

Federal and state lands

*Darien Lakes State Park
*Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
*Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area
*Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area

= County parks [http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/dpt/parks/ Genesee County Park and Forest] ] =

*Genesee County Park and Forest consists of convert|430|acre|km2 of forest and rolling hills.
*DeWitt Recreation Area is a 63 acre park that includes a 38 acre pond.

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.

ee also

References

External links

*
* [http://www.geneseeny.com/ Genesee County Chamber of Commerce website, includes tourist and area information]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nygenese/index.htm Local history source]
* [http://history.rays-place.com/bios/ny-genesee/index.htm 504 Biographies from Genesee County]
* [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/cty-genesee.htm Genesee County Histories]
* [http://www.hollandlandoffice.com/ Museum Dedicated to the History of Genesee County, NY]