Niagara County, New York

Niagara County
County
Location within the U.S. state of New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°19′N 78°47′W
Country	United States
State	New York
Founded	1808
Seat	Lockport
Area
• Total	1,140 sq mi (3,000 km2)
• Land	523 sq mi (1,350 km2)
• Water	617 sq mi (1,600 km2)  54.12%
Population  (2000)
• Total	219,846
• Density	420/sq mi (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, and has many parks and lake shore recreation communities. In the Summer of 2008 Niagara County celebrated its 200th Birthday with the first town of the county, the Town of Cambria.

Niagara County is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.

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. The border 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 1,140 square miles (2,952 km²), of which, 523 square miles (1,354 km²) of it is land and 617 square miles (1,598 km²) of it (54.12%) is water.

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.

	North: Toronto, Lake Ontario
West: Niagara Falls, ON, Niagara River	Niagara County	East: Orleans County
Southwest: Erie County	South: Erie County, Erie Canal	Southeast: Genesee County

Major highways

• Interstate 190 (Niagara Thruway)
• U.S. Route 62
• 
  US 62 Business
• New York State Route 18
• New York State Route 31
• New York State Route 78

• New York State Route 93
• New York State Route 104
• New York State Route 265
• New York State Route 384
• New York State Route 425
• Robert Moses State Parkway
• LaSalle Expressway

Niagara County Routes

Niagara County Routes

County Government and Politcs

Leadership of the Niagara County Legislature:

• Legislature Chairman William L. Ross
• Legislature Vice Chairman Clyde L. Burmaster
• Legislature Majority Leader Richard E. Updegrove
• Legislature Minority Leader Dennis Virtuoso

Full membership of the Niagara County Legislature (Minority Caucus in ital):

• Legislator Jason Murgia (1st District--City of Niagara Falls)
• Legislator Renae Kimble (2nd District--City of Niagara Falls)
• Legislator Jason Cafarella (3rd District--City of Niagara Falls)
• Legislator Dennis Virtuoso (4th District--City of Niagara Falls)
• Legislator Sean O'Connor (5th District)
• Legislator Danny Sklarski (6th District--Town of Niagara)
• Legislator Gerald Farnham (7th District--Town of Lockport)
• Legislator William L. Ross (8th District--Town of Wheatfield)
• Legislator Andrea McNulty (9th District--City of North Tonawanda)
• Legislator Peter Smolinski (10th District--City of North Tonawanda)
• Legislator Paul Wojtaszek (11th District--City of North Tonawanda)
• Legislator John D. Ceretto (12th District--Town of Lewiston)
• Legislator Clyde L. Burmaster (13th District--Towns of Lewiston and Porter)
• Legislator Kyle Andrews (14th District--Towns of Cambria and Wilson)
• Legislator Anthony Nemi (15th District--City of Lockport)
• Legislator Wm. Keith McNall (16th District--City of Lockport)
• Legislator Richard E. Updegrove (17th District--Town of Lockport)
• Legislator John Syracuse (18th District--Towns of Newfane and Somerset)
• Legislator Michael A. Hill (19th District--Towns of Royalton and Hartland)

Structure of County Government

Niagara County is governed by the Legislature, with the Chairman of the Legislature as the de facto head of county government. A subordinate county manager reports to the County Legislature; currently, County Manager Greg Lewis holds this post.

Governing functions of the 19-member Legislature rely on a committee system; currently, there are five standing committees and one long-term ad hoc committee. The five standing committees are Administration, chaired by Murgia; Community Services, chaired by Sklarski; Community Safety and Security, chaired by Smolinski; Economic Development, chaired by Updegrove; and Public Works, chaired by Burmaster. An ad hoc Refuse Disposal District Committee, subordinate to the Public Works Committee, is chaired by Ceretto.

The Administration Committee has oversight of the following government departments: County Manager, County Attorney, Management & Budget, Treasurer, Audit, Real Property, Data Processing, Legislature, Printing/Mailing, Human Resources, Civil Service, Risk Management, and Board of Elections.

The Community Services Committee has oversight of the following government departments: Social Services, Employment & Training, Youth Bureau, Office of Aging, Public Health, Mental Health, NCCC, County Clerk/DMV, Historian, and Veterans Services.

The Community Safety and Security Committee has oversight of the following government departments: Sheriff, District Attorney, Public Defender, Probation, Fire Coordinator/Emergency Services, and Coroners.

The Economic Development Committee has oversight of the Niagara County Center for Economic Development and the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency.

The Public Works Committee has oversight of the following government departments: Public Works, Parks/Golf Course, Refuse Disposal District, Sewer District, Water District, and Weights & Measures.

Additionally, the ad hoc Refuse Disposal District Committee has oversight of that District.

Other County Government Entities

In addition to the areas mentioned above, much of Niagara County is serviced by a Water District and a Sewer District. Both bodies are subordinate to the County Legislature; the former has a direct relationship, while the latter is currently under limited oversight of the town supervisors within the district.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 219,846 people, 87,846 households, and 58,593 families residing in the county. The population density was 420 people per square mile (162/km²). There were 95,715 housing units at an average density of 183 per square mile (71/km²). 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. 23.6% were of German, 18.1% Italian, 11.3% Irish, 11.2% Polish and 8.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.5% spoke English, 1.6% Spanish and 1.0% Italian as their first language.

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

Map of Niagara County's municipalities.

• Barker (village)
• Cambria (town)
• Gasport
• Hartland (town)
• Lewiston (village)
• Lewiston (town)
• Lockport (town)
• Lockport (city)
• Middleport (village)
• Newfane (town)
• Newfane (CDP)
• 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.

Indian reservations

• Tuscarora Reservation
• Tonawanda Reservation

State parks and state lands

• De Veaux Woods State Park, north of the City of Niagara Falls.
• Devil's Hole State Park, immediately north of the City of Niagara Falls.
• Fort Niagara State Park, located at the mouth of the Niagara River.
• Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park, located north of the City of Niagara Falls.
• Four Mile Creek State Park, located on the shore of Lake Ontario.
• Golden Hill State Park, located on the shore of Lake Ontario.
• Hartland Swamp Wildlife Management Area -- a conservation area in the Town of Hartland.
• Joseph Davis State Park, along the Niagara River.
• Niagara Reservation State Park, in the City of Niagara Falls.
• Reservoir State Park, south of the power reservoir.
• Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area, located partly in the Town of Royalton.
• Wilson-Tuscarora State Park, located on the shore of Lake Ontario.

Educational institutions

Niagara University is located in Lewiston, New York. Niagara County Community College is located in Sanborn, New York. Many Niagara County residents also attend Erie and other Western New York County Schools. In the Buffalo Metro area there more than 20 public and private colleges and universities in Buffalo and its environs offer programs in technical and vocational training, graduate, and professional studies.

The Buffalo Metro is home to two State University of New York (SUNY) institutions. Buffalo State College, a comprehensive college, and the University at Buffalo, the flagship university center of SUNY, are each the largest institution of its type in the system. Combined, they account for roughly 40,000 students in the area.

Other academic institutions in the Western New York area include: Alfred University, Alfred State College, Bryant & Stratton College, Canisius College, D'Youville College, Daemen College, Empire State College, Erie Community College, Genesee Community College, Hilbert College, Houghton College, Jamestown Business College, Jamestown Community College, Medaille College, Niagara County Community College also known as NCCC, Niagara University, Northtown Technical, St. Bonaventure University, SUNY College at Brockport, SUNY Fredonia, The Center for Industrial Effectiveness (TCIE) - University at Buffalo, Trocaire College, UB Continuing Dental Education, Villa Maria College.

External links

• Niagara County webpage
• Niagara County at Curlie