Chautauqua County

The county was created in 1808 and organized in 1811. The county is part of the Western New York region of the state. County comprises the Jamestown–Dunkirk–Fredonia, NY Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is located south east of Lake Erie and includes a small portion of the Cattaraugus Reservation of the Seneca.

• County — Chautauqua County • State — New York • Type — County • Founded — February 9, 1811 • Seat Wl — Mayville • Largest City Wl — Jamestown • Area Total Sq Mi — 1500 • Area Land Sq Mi — 1060 • Area Water Sq Mi — 440 • Area Water Percent — 29 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 127657 • Pop Est As Of — 2025 • Population Est — 124126 • Population Density Sq Mi — 117 • District — 23rd • Time Zone — Eastern • Named For — Chautauqua Lake

Prior to European colonization, most of what is now Chautauqua County was inhabited by the indigenous Erie people prior to the Beaver Wars in the 1650s. French forces traversed the territory beginning in 1615. The Seneca Nation conquered the territory during the Beaver Wars and held it through the next century until siding with the British crown, their allies for most of the 18th century, against the American revolutionaries in the American Revolutionary War. Chautauqua County was organized by the state legislature during the development of western New York after the American Revolutionary War and the ratification of The Treaty of Canandaigua, between the United States and the Council of the Six Nations. It was officially separated from Genesee County on March 11, 1808. This partition was performed under the same terms that produced Cattaraugus and Niagara counties. The partition was done for political purposes, but the counties were not properly organized for self-government, so they were all administered as part of Niagara County. On February 9, 1811, Chautauqua was completely organized, and its separate government was launched. This established Chautauqua as a county of 1,100 mi2 of land. Chautauqua has not been altered since. The first New York Chautauqua Assembly was organized in 1874 by Methodist minister John Heyl Vincent and businessman Lewis Miller in the county at a campsite on the shores of Chautauqua Lake.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1500 sqmi, of which 1060 sqmi is land and 440 sqmi (29%) is water. Chautauqua County, in the southwestern corner of New York State, along the New York-Pennsylvania border, is the westernmost of New York's counties. Chautauqua Lake is located in the center of the county, and Lake Erie is its northern border. Part of the Eastern Continental Divide runs through Chautauqua County. The area that drains into the Conewango Creek (including Chautauqua Lake) eventually empties into the Gulf of Mexico; the rest of the county's watershed empties into Lake Erie and via Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway into the North Atlantic Ocean. This divide, known as the Chautauqua Ridge, can be used to mark the border between the Southern Tier and the Niagara Frontier. It is also a significant dividing point in the county's political scene, with the "North County" being centered on Dunkirk and the "South County" centered on Jamestown each having their own interests. The county is generally composed of rolling hills and valleys, with elevations ranging anywhere between 1100 and 2100 feet, although the land within a few miles of Lake Erie is generally flat and at an elevation of 1000 feet or lower. The lowest point in the county is Lake Erie, at 571 ft, and the highest point is Gurnsey Benchmark at 2180 ft.

• Erie County - northeast • Cattaraugus County - east • Warren County, Pennsylvania - south • Erie County, Pennsylvania - southwest Chautauqua County is one of the few counties in the US to border two counties of the same name in different states (Erie County in New York and Pennsylvania).

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Chautauqua County, New York – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. • Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) — Pop 1980 — Pop 1990 — Pop 2000 — Pop 2010 — Pop 2020 — % 1980 — % 1990 — % 2000 — % 2010 — % 2020 • White alone (NH) — 141,879 — 134,436 — 128,481 — 120,463 — 106,063 — 96.57% — 94.74% — 91.94% — 89.29% — 83.08% • Black or African American alone (NH) — 1,869 — 2,297 — 2,820 — 2,763 — 2,891 — 1.27% — 1.62% — 2.02% — 2.05% — 2.26% • Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) — 357 — 534 — 558 — 576 — 497 — 0.24% — 0.38% — 0.40% — 0.43% — 0.39% • Asian alone (NH) — 374 — 506 — 493 — 676 — 796 — 0.25% — 0.36% — 0.35% — 0.50% — 0.62% • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) — x — x — 29 — 31 — 49 — x — x — 0.02% — 0.02% — 0.04% • Other race alone (NH) — 180 — 67 — 187 — 90 — 363 — 0.12% — 0.05% — 0.13% — 0.07% — 0.28% • Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) — x — x — 1,281 — 2,065 — 5,229 — x — x — 0.92% — 1.53% — 4.10% • Hispanic or Latino (any race) — 2,266 — 4,055 — 5,901 — 8,241 — 11,769 — 1.54% — 2.86% — 4.22% — 6.11% — 9.22% • Total — 146,925 — 141,895 — 139,750 — 134,905 — 127,657 — 100.00% — 100.00% — 100.00% — 100.00% — 100.00%

As of the 2000 census, there were 139,750 people, 54,515 households, and 35,979 families in the county. The population density was 132 /mi2. There were 64,900 housing units at an average density of 61 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 94.04% White, 2.18% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.73% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. 4.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In terms of ancestry, 17.3% were German, 15.1% were Italian, 11.6% were Swedish, 10.9% were English, 9.3% were Polish, 9.2% were Irish and 5.6% were of American ancestry according to Census 2000. 93.0% spoke English and 3.8% Spanish as their first language. Of the 54,515 households 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.90% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.00% were non-families. 28.10% of households were one person and 12.60% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99. The age distribution was 24.50% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males. The median household income was $33,458 and the median family income was $41,054. Males had a median income of $32,114 versus $22,214 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,840. About 9.70% of families and 13.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.30% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2010 census, there were 134,905 people in the county. The population density was 127 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 92.57% (124,875 people) white, 2.37% (3,197 people) African-American, 0.51% (688 people) Asian, 0.51% (689 people) Native American/Alaskan, 0.03% (34 people) Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 1.98% (2,669 people) other, and 2.04% (2,751 people) two or more races. The Hispanic/Latino population of any race was 6.11% (8,241 people). In terms of ancestry, 25% were German, 16% were Italian, 12.8% were Swedish, 16% were English, 10.6% were Polish, 14.9% were Irish and 3.2% were of American ancestry according to the 2010 Census. 92.9% spoke English and 4.1% Spanish as their first language. The age distribution was 21.83% of the population under the age of 18, 3.82% (5,155 people) ages 18 and 19, 7.50% (10,113 people) ages 20–24, 10.37% (13,985 people) ages 25–34, 18.83% (25,406 people) ages 35–49, 21.07% (28,419 people) ages 50–64, and 16.59% (22,381 people) over the age of 65. Of the population, 49.3% (66,509 people) were male and 50.7% (68,396 people) were female.

All of the county is in the 150th New York State Assembly district, represented by Andy Goodell, and the New York State Senate 57th district represented by George Borrello. The entire county is within the bounds of New York's 23rd congressional district which is represented by Nick Langworthy. The 2012 redistricting process moved all of Chautauqua County into Goodell's assembly district, while the county also rejoined the former 31st (renumbered again as the 23rd) congressional district along with Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties. Prior to 2013, the county was part of New York's 27th congressional district. Prior to 2003, the county was part of New York's 31st congressional district, but it was controversially redistricted out of that district and into what was the 27th, and was replaced in the 29th district (the old 31st) by Rochester suburbs that had never before been part of the district. Chautauqua County, at the same time, joined southern Erie County and portions of the City of Buffalo in the 27th, areas that had also never been in the same district with each other. In both cases, the suburban additions had significantly more Democratic populations than before, leading to Democrats winning both districts, which led to accusations of cracking-based gerrymandering. Though the Republican Party has historically been dominant in Chautauqua County politics, the county had been a perfect bellwether county from 1980 to 2008, correctly voting for the winner of each presidential election in all eight elections during that time. However, in 2012, it voted for Republican Mitt Romney even as Democrat Barack Obama won re-election, marking its first miss since 1976. In 2016 the county reverted back to being solidly Republican, as Donald Trump won the county by the largest margin since Ronald Reagan in 1984. Chautauqua County is one of nineteen “charter counties” in New York, which grants the county greater leeway in conducting its own affairs. A board of supervisors governed Chautauqua County until 1975, when a new county charter went into effect with provisions for a county executive and a 13-seat county legislature. The county council currently consists of 19 members each elected from single-member districts. As of 2024, there are 14 Republicans and 5 Democrats. Chautauqua County Executives • Name — Party — Term • Joseph Gerace — | Democratic — January 1, 1975 – May 10, 1983 • David Dawson (acting) — | Democratic — May 10, 1983 – November 25, 1983 • John A. Glenzer — | Republican — November 25, 1983 – December 31, 1989 • Andrew W. Goodell — | Republican — January 1, 1990 – December 31, 1997 • Mark W. Thomas — | Democratic — January 1, 1998 – December 31, 2005 • Gregory J. Edwards — | Republican — January 1, 2006 – November 15, 2013 • Stephen M. Abdella (acting) — | UKN — November 15, 2013 – December 31, 2013 • Vincent W. Horrigan — | Republican — January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2017 • George M. Borrello — | Republican — January 1, 2018 – November 26, 2019 • Stephen M. Abdella (acting) — | UKN — November 26, 2019 – December 31, 2019 • Paul J. Wendel — | Republican — January 1, 2020 – present Chautauqua County Legislature • District — Legislator — Party • 1 — Kevin Muldowney — | Republican • 2 — Robert Bankoski — | Democratic • 3 — Bob Scudder — | Republican • 4 — Christine Starks — | Democratic • 5 — Terry Niebel — | Republican • 6 — Thomas R. Harmon — | Republican • 7 — Mark Odell — | Republican • 8 — Pierre Chagnon Chairman — | Republican • 9 — Chuck Nazzaro — | Democratic • 10 — Ken Lawton — | Republican • 11 — Robert Whitney — | Democratic • 12 — Elisabeth Rankin — | Republican • 13 — Paul Whitford — | Democratic • 14 — Daniel Pavlock — | Republican • 15 — Lisa Vanstrom — | Republican • 16 — John Davis — | Republican • 17 — Frank Jay Gould — | Republican • 18 — Bill Ward — | Republican • 19 — John Hemmer — | Republican

Prior to changes in representation of the New York State Assembly, each county had a given number of representatives. The following were representatives of Chautauqua County. • Name — Term start — Term end — Legislatures — Notes • Ebenezer Walden — July 1, 1811 — June 30, 1812 — 35th — Represented Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties • Jonas Williams — July 1, 1812 — June 30, 1814 — 36th, 37th — Represented Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties • Joseph McClure — July 1, 1814 — June 30, 1815 — 38th — Represented Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties • Elias Osborn — July 1, 1815 — June 30, 1816 — 39th — Represented Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties • Jediah Prendergast Richard Smith — July 1, 1816 — June 30, 1817 — 40th — Represented Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties • Robert Fleming Isaac Phelps — July 1, 1817 — June 30, 1818 — 41st — Represented Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties • Philo Orton Isaac Phelps — July 1, 1818 — June 30, 1819 — 42nd — Represented Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties • Elial T. Foote Oliver Forward — July 1, 1819 — June 30, 1820 — 43rd — Represented Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties • Jediah Prendergast William Hotchkiss — July 1, 1820 — June 30, 1821 — 44th — Represented Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties • Thomas B. Campbell — July 1, 1821 — December 31, 1822 — 45th — Represented Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara Counties • David Eason — July 1, 1821 — January 5, 1822 — 45th — Represented Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara Counties • Isaac Phelps — January 5, 1822 — December 31, 1822 — 45th — Represented Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara Counties • James Mullett Jr. — January 1, 1823 — December 31, 1824 — 46th, 47th — First to only represent Chautauqua County • Nathan Mixer — January 1, 1825 — December 31, 1825 — 48th • Elial T. Foote — January 1, 1826 — December 31, 1827 — 49th, 50th • Samuel A. Brown — January 1, 1827 — December 31, 1827 — 50th • Nathaniel Fenton — January 1, 1828 — December 31, 1828 — 51st • Nathan Mixer — January 1, 1828 — December 31, 1829 — 51st, 52nd • Abner Hazeltine — January 1, 1829 — December 31, 1830 — 52nd, 53rd • Squire White — January 1, 1830 — December 31, 1832 — 53rd, 54th, 55th • John Birdsall — January 1, 1831 — December 31, 1831 — 54th • Theron Bly — January 1, 1832 — December 31, 1832 — 55th • Nathaniel Gray — January 1, 1833 — December 31, 1833 — 56th • Alvin Plumb — January 1, 1833 — December 31, 1833 — 56th

Jamestown Community College has two campuses in the county at Jamestown and Dunkirk. The State University of New York at Fredonia is located in the northern part of the county. Jamestown Business College offered two year degrees, certificates, and a four-year degree in Jamestown, prior to its decision to cease new enrollments in 2024.

The Northern region of Chautauqua County is served by Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk, New York. Most of Chautauqua County is served by UPMC Chautauqua in Jamestown, New York. The rural southwest region is served by Corry Memorial Hospital in Corry, Pennsylvania. Westfield, New York is home to the Westfield Memorial Hospital. Westfield Memorial Hospital is a Rural Emergency Hospital without an inpatient department. The closest Trauma center s to Chautauqua County are UPMC Hamot, the Level II Trauma Center for Erie, Pennsylvania, and Erie County Medical Center, the Level I Trauma Center in Buffalo, New York.

• # — Location — Population — Type — Area • 1 — Jamestown — 31,146 — City — Southeast • 2 — Dunkirk — 12,563 — City — Lake Shore • 3 — Fredonia — 11,230 — Village — Lake Shore • 4 — Westfield — 3,224 — Village — Lake Shore • 5 — Lakewood — 3,002 — Village — Southeast • 6 — Silver Creek — 2,656 — Village — Lake Shore • 7 — Falconer — 2,420 — Village — Southeast • 8 — Ripley — 2,415 — CDP — Lake Shore • 9 — Jamestown West — 2,408 — CDP — Southeast • 10 — Frewsburg — 1,906 — CDP — Southeast • 11 — †Mayville — 1,711 — Village — Southwest • 12 — Brocton — 1,486 — Village — Lake Shore • 13 — Celoron — 1,112 — Village — Southeast • 14 — Sherman — 730 — Village — Southwest • 15 — ††Forestville — 697 — Hamlet/CDP — Lake Shore • 16 — Sunset Bay — 660 — CDP — Lake Shore • 17 — Cassadaga — 634 — Village — Southeast • 18 — Sinclairville — 588 — Village — Center-East • 19 — Panama — 479 — Village — Southwest • 20 — Kennedy — 465 — CDP — Southeast • 21 — ††Cherry Creek — 461 — Hamlet/CDP — Center-East • 22 — Busti — 391 — CDP — Southeast • 23 — Bemus Point — 364 — Village — Southeast • 24 — Chautauqua — 191 — CDP — Southwest † - county seat †† - former village

• Arkwright • Busti • Carroll • Charlotte • Chautauqua • Cherry Creek • Clymer • Dunkirk • Ellery • Ellicott • Ellington • French Creek • Gerry • Hanover • Harmony • Kiantone • Mina • North Harmony • Poland • Pomfret • Portland • Ripley • Sheridan • Sherman • Stockton • Villenova • Westfield

• Ashville • Findley Lake • Forestville • Hamlet • Irving • Laona • Lily Dale • Maple Springs • Van Buren Bay

• Cattaraugus Reservation

• Chautauqua Lake