Lewis County, New York

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


map size = 250
founded = 1805
seat = Lowville | area_total_sq_mi =1290
area_land_sq_mi =1275
area_water_sq_mi =14
area percentage = 1.12%
census yr = 2000
pop = 26944
cow pop = 50000 density_km2 =8
web = www.lewiscountyny.org
|

Lewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2000 census, the population was 26,944. It is named after Morgan Lewis, Governor of New York when the county was established. Its county seat is Lowville.

History

When counties were established in New York State in 1683, the present Lewis 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 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, the size of Montgomery County was reduced by the splitting off of Ontario County from Montgomery. 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.

Lewis County is part of Macomb's Purchase of 1791.

In 1791, Herkimer County was one of three counties split off from Montgomery (the other two being Otsego, and Tioga County). This was much larger than the present county, however, and was reduced by a number of subsequent splits. The first one of these, in 1794, produced Onondaga County. This county was larger than the current Onondaga County, including the present Cayuga, Cortland, and part of Oswego Counties.

Oneida County (as well as a part of Chenango County), was split off from Herkimer County in 1798.

Lewis County was split off from Oneida County in 1805.

In January 1997, much of the county was socked in a world record-breaking snowburst, with nearly 2 meters of snow in just a 24-hour period.

Geography

Lewis County is located in northwestern New York State, slightly east of due north from Syracuse. The eastern part of the county is in the Adirondack Park. A good portion of the Tug Hill Plateau is in the western part of the county. The county is home to the Black River Valley.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,290 square miles (3,341 km²), of which, 1,275 square miles (3,303 km²) of it is land and 14 square miles (37 km²) of it (1.12%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*St. Lawrence County, New York - north
*Herkimer County, New York - east
*Oneida County, New York - south
*Oswego County, New York - west
*Jefferson County, New York - northwest

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 26,944 people, 10,040 households, and 7,309 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 15,134 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.17% White, 0.39% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population. 28.8% were of German, 13.8% French, 13.1% Irish, 9.2% English, 6.5% American and 5.3% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.3% spoke English and 1.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 10,040 households out of which 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.80% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,361, and the median income for a family was $39,287. Males had a median income of $30,479 versus $21,115 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,971. About 10.10% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.40% of those under age 18 and 14.00% of those age 65 or over.

Towns and Villages

*Castorland (village)
*Constableville (village)
*Copenhagen (village)
*Croghan (town)
*Croghan (village)
*Denmark (town)
*Diana (town)
*Greig (town)
*Harrisburg (town)
*Harrisville (village)
*Highmarket (former town - merged with West Turin)
*Lewis (town)
*Leyden (town)
*Lowville (village)
*Lowville (town)
*Lyons Falls (village)
*Lyonsdale (town)
*Martinsburg (town)
*Montague (town)
*New Bremen (town)
*Osceola (town)
*Pinckney (town)
*Port Leyden (village)
*Turin (town)
*Turin (village)
*Watson (town)
*West Turin (town) : "=> Label in parentheses is official designation"

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.lewiscountyny.org Lewis County website]
*
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nylewis/frlewis.htm Early history notes of Lewis County]
* [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/state/his/bk4/ch2.html Early history summary of Lewis County]