Yates County, New York

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




map size = 250
founded = February 5, 1823
seat = Penn Yan | area_total_sq_mi =376
area_water_sq_mi =38
area_land_sq_mi = 338
area percentage = 9.99%
census yr = 2000
pop = 24621
density_km2 =28
web = www.yatescounty.org
|

Yates County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2000 census, the population was 24,621. The county seat is Penn Yan. The name is in honor of Joseph C. Yates, who as Governor of New York, signed the act establishing the county.

History

When counties were established in New York State in 1683, the present Yates 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.

On January 27, 1789, convert|10480|sqmi|km2|-1 of Montgomery County was split off to create Ontario County, including the lands of the present Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Steuben, Wyoming, and Yates Counties, and part of Schuyler and Wayne Counties.

On March 18, 1796, convert|1800|sqmi|km2|-2 of Ontario County was partitioned to form Steuben County.

On April 3, 1801, Ontario County exchanged land with Cayuga County, and lost convert|190|sqmi|km2|-1 as a result.

On March 30, 1802, Ontario County lost convert|6540|sqmi|km2|-1 of land through the partition of Genesee County,including the present Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming Counties and parts of Livingston and Monroe Counties.

In 1821, Ontario County was reduced in size by combining portions of Genesee and Ontario Counties to create Livingston and Monroe Counties.

In 1823, Yates County was formed from portions of Steuben and Ontario Counties.

Geography

Yates County is in the western part of New York State, northwest of
Ithaca and southeast of Rochester. It has a total area of 376 square miles (973 km²), of which, 338 square miles (876 km²) of it is land and 38 square miles (97 km²) of it (9.99%) is water. Yates County is in the Finger Lakes Region.

Adjacent counties

*Ontario County, New York - north
*Seneca County, New York - east
*Schuyler County, New York - southeast
*Steuben County, New York - southwest

Major highways

*
*
*
*
*
*

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 24,621 people, 9,029 households, and 6,284 families residing in the county. The population density was 73 people per square mile (28/km²). There were 12,064 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile (14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.90% White, 0.56% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population. 21.3% were of English, 16.5% German, 11.4% Irish, 10.7% American, 5.3% Danish and 5.3% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 5.46% report speaking Pennsylvania German, German, or Dutch at home; a further 1.54% speak Spanish. [http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=36&county_id=123&mode=geographic&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r]

There were 9,029 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% 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 3.08.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.70% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,640, and the median income for a family was $40,681. Males had a median income of $29,671 versus $21,566 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,781. About 8.90% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.90% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Cities, towns, and settlements

*Barrington (town)
*Benton (town)
*Dresden (village)
*Dundee (village)
*Glenora (settlement)
*Italy (town)
*Jerusalem (town)
*Lakemont (settlement)
*Middlesex (town)
*Milo (town)
*Penn Yan (village)
*Potter (town)
*Rushville (village)
*Starkey (town)
*Torrey (town) : " => label within parentheses is official designation."

Additional county information

Keuka College is in ths county.

Penn Yan Airport (PEO), the principal airport in the county, is on a hill south of Penn Yan.

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.yatescounty.org Yates County, New York]
* [http://www.yatesny.com Yates County information]
*
* [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/yates/ Yates County historical information]
* [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/state/his/bk7/ch2.html Summary history of Yates County and its towns]