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Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of 2000, 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.

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.

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.

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.

County Government

  • Legislature Chairman William Ross
  • Legislature Vice Chairman Clyde Burmaster
  • Legislature Majority Leader Malcolm Needler
  • 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 Richard Updegrove
  • Legislator John Syracuse
  • Legislator Michael Hill

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.

Cities, Towns, Villages, and other locations

=> designation in parentheses shows official political level.

Indian reservations

About Niagara County

Niagara County is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, as well as many parks and lakeshore recreation communities.

Educational institutions

Niagara University is located in Lewiston, New York. Niagara County Community College is located in Sanborn, New York.

Adjacent counties and areas

The southern boundary of Niagara County is Erie County with the boundary marked by Tonawanda Creek. The eastern boundary abuts on Genesee and Orleans Counties. The western boundary is the Niagara River, marking the international border with the Province of Ontario in Canada (abutting Niagara Regional Municipality). The northern boundary is Lake Ontario with Canada on the opposite shore.

See also

There is another unofficial Niagara County to the north. Niagara County, Ontario is not a regional division, rather was a Canadian federal Electoral district (Canada).

External links

New York counties | Niagara County, New York

Niagara County | Niagara County | Condado de Niagara | Hrabstwo Niagara

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Niagara County, New York".

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