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New York State...
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New York Counties
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New York Counties
There are 62 counties in the State of New York. The first twelve counties in New York were
created immediately after the British annexation of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, although two of these
counties have since been abolished. The most recent county formation in New York was in 1912, when Bronx County
was created from the portions of New York City that had been annexed from Westchester County. New York's
counties are named for a variety of Native American words, British provinces, cities, and royalty, early
American statesmen and generals, and state politicians. |
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Niagara County, New York
Niagara County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education
County Seat: Lockport
Year Organized: 1808
Square Miles: 523
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Court House: 175 Hawley Street
County Courthouse
Lockport, NY 14094-2740
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Etymology - Origin of County Name
from an Indian word meaning "bisected bottom lands"
Demographics:
County QuickFacts:
Census Bureau Quick Facts
History
Niagara County was taken from Genesee in 1808. Greatest length E. and W. 30; breadth N. and S. 21 miles. The word
Niagara is of Indian origin, and signifies across the neck or straight. The streams are few, and with the exception of
Eighteen Mile, Johnson's and Tonawanta creeka, and Niagara river, are inconsiderable. In 1796, exclusive of the
occupants of Forts Niagara and Schlosser, there was but one white family in the territory now forming this county. The
proposed line for a ship canal, from the Niagara river above the falls to Lewiston, lies wholly within the county,
commencing near Gill creek and the site of old Fort Schlosser. A railroad runs from Lockport aand another from Buffalo
to the Niagara Falls. A branch has been made from Lewiston to intersect the Lockport and Niagara Falls railroad, a
distance of about 2 miles. The Erie canal enters Tonawanta creek near its mouth. The creek is used for 12 miles as a
canal by a tow-path on its bank. At Pendleton village, the canal leaves the creek and turns in a northeasterly direction
across the mountain ridge, with a deep cut of about three miles through rock averaging 20 feet; and then descending 60
feet, by five double combined locks of 12 feet each, it passes out of the county south of the Ridge road. The county is
divided into 12 towns. (Historical Collections of the State of New York, Past and Present, John Barber, Clark Albien &
Co. 1851)
Niagara County’s geographic position is the reason for its geo-political prominence as an Outpost of Empires and as
stage for stories that are a significant part of American history. The international Niagara River borders Canada
and Western part of the county while Lake Ontario is the northern boundry. Tonawanda Creek is the Southern boundry
thus suggesting a peninsula feature.
Full History at NYSAC
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 kmē), of which, 523
square miles (1,354 kmē) of it is land and 617 square miles (1,598 kmē) of it (54.12%) is water.
Neighboring Counties:
- 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.
Cities and Towns:
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- Barker |
village |
Incorporated Area |
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- Cambria |
town |
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- Hartland |
town |
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- Lewiston |
village |
Incorporated Area |
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- Lockport
(County Seat) |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Middleport |
village |
Incorporated Area |
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- Newfane |
town |
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- Niagara |
town |
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- Niagara Falls |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- North Tonawanda |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Pendleton |
town |
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- Porter |
town |
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- Royalton |
town |
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- Somerset |
town |
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- Tonawanda Reservation |
Reservation |
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- Tuscarora Reservation |
Reservation |
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- Wheatfield |
town |
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- Wilson |
village |
Incorporated Area |
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- Youngstown |
village |
Incorporated Area |
County Resources:
Enter County Resources and Information Here
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County Resource Guide
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The history of our nation can be seen as a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names we've given our counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic
features of our country!"
But age, size and colorful names of our counties isn't the only reason to explore counties' role in American history, or the history of county government itself. In fact, the story of county government reflects the larger meanings of American history.
Today's counties are the most flexible, locally responsive and creative governments in the US. They are the most diverse, varying in size, population, geography, and governmental structure. In their politics and policies, they express a 1990's political slogan "Think globally,
act locally." |
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