Great Valley, New York
Encyclopedia
Great Valley is a town
in Cattaraugus County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 2,145 at the 2000 census. The town is named after its local geographical setting, a relative comparison of two tributaries (the other being the neighboring Little Valley
) of the Allegheny River
.
The Town of Great Valley is centrally located in the county, northeast of City of Salamanca
.
The Town of Great Valley was formed in 1818, taken from part of the Town of Olean
. In 1831, the Town of Allegany
was made from the southeast part of Great Valley, and in 1842 the Town of Carrollton
was made from the southwest part of Great Valley.
, the town has a total area of 50.2 square miles (130 km²), of which, 50.2 square miles (130 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.06%) is water.
The Allegheny River
flows through the southeast corner of the town, and the Great Valley Creek is an important stream in the town.
US Route 219 is a major north-south highway in the town and intersects New York State Route 98
in Great Valley village.
and north of the Town of Carrollton
. The west boundary is formed by the Towns of Salamanca
and Little Valley
, as well as the City of Salamanca and the Allegany Reservation. Great Valley's east boundary is formed with the Towns of Humphrey
and Allegany
. A very small part of southwestern Great Valley borders the Town of Red House
.
of 2000, there were 2,145 people, 843 households, and 596 families residing in the town. The population density
was 42.8 people per square mile (16.5/km²). There were 1,196 housing units at an average density of 23.8 per square mile (9.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.36% White, 0.79% African American, 1.17% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.47% from other races
, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 843 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples
living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 109.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,784, and the median income for a family was $42,209. Males had a median income of $31,581 versus $21,792 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,749. About 3.1% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
is located one nautical mile (1.85 km) southeast of the central business district
of Great Valley.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,317. The county seat is Little Valley.-History:...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,145 at the 2000 census. The town is named after its local geographical setting, a relative comparison of two tributaries (the other being the neighboring Little Valley
Little Valley (town), New York
Little Valley is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,788 at the 2000 census. The town is named after its local geographical setting, a relative comparison of two tributaries of the Allegheny River.The Town of Little Valley is centrally located in the county...
) of the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
.
The Town of Great Valley is centrally located in the county, northeast of City of Salamanca
Salamanca (city), New York
Salamanca is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States, located inside the Allegany Indian Reservation. The population was 6,097 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
History
The town was first settled around 1812.The Town of Great Valley was formed in 1818, taken from part of the Town of Olean
Olean (town), New York
Olean is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 2,029 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the Latin word "oleum" due to the discovery of crude oil in nearby Ischua....
. In 1831, the Town of Allegany
Allegany, New York
Allegany, New York may refer to:*Two locations in Cattaraugus County, New York:**Allegany , New York**Allegany , New York*Allegany County, New York...
was made from the southeast part of Great Valley, and in 1842 the Town of Carrollton
Carrollton, New York
Carrollton is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,410 at the 2000 census. The name comes from an early settler.The Town of Carrollton is on the south border of Cattaraugus County...
was made from the southwest part of Great Valley.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 50.2 square miles (130 km²), of which, 50.2 square miles (130 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.06%) is water.
The Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
flows through the southeast corner of the town, and the Great Valley Creek is an important stream in the town.
US Route 219 is a major north-south highway in the town and intersects New York State Route 98
New York State Route 98
New York State Route 98 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 219 in the town of Great Valley in Cattaraugus County...
in Great Valley village.
Adjacent towns and areas
Great Valley is south of the Town of EllicottvilleEllicottville (town), New York
Ellicottville is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,738 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Joseph Ellicott, principal land agent of the Holland Land Company....
and north of the Town of Carrollton
Carrollton, New York
Carrollton is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,410 at the 2000 census. The name comes from an early settler.The Town of Carrollton is on the south border of Cattaraugus County...
. The west boundary is formed by the Towns of Salamanca
Salamanca (town), New York
Salamanca is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 544 at the 2000 census. The name is from a major investor in a local railroad....
and Little Valley
Little Valley, New York
Little Valley, New York may refer to:*Little Valley , New York*Little Valley , New York, the county seat, in the northwest corner of the town...
, as well as the City of Salamanca and the Allegany Reservation. Great Valley's east boundary is formed with the Towns of Humphrey
Humphrey, New York
Humphrey is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 721 at the 2000 census. The town is named after politician Charles Humphrey....
and Allegany
Allegany (town), New York
Allegany is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 8,230 at the 2000 census.The Town of Allegany is on the south border of the county, west of the City of Olean. There is a village called Allegany inside this town....
. A very small part of southwestern Great Valley borders the Town of Red House
Red House, New York
Red House is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 38, making it the least populous town in the state. The name comes from a small stream, Red House Creek....
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,145 people, 843 households, and 596 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 42.8 people per square mile (16.5/km²). There were 1,196 housing units at an average density of 23.8 per square mile (9.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.36% White, 0.79% African American, 1.17% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.47% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 843 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 109.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,784, and the median income for a family was $42,209. Males had a median income of $31,581 versus $21,792 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $17,749. About 3.1% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Great Valley
- Allegany Reservation – Part of the IroquoisIroquoisThe Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
reservation is in the southwest corner of the town. - Allegany State ParkAllegany State ParkAllegany State Park is a state park in western New York State, located in Cattaraugus County just north of Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania. The park is divided into two sections: The Red House Area and the Quaker Run Area. It lies within the Allegheny Highlands forests ecoregion.The Red...
– A small section of the park is in the southwest corner of the town. - Great Valley – the hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Great Valley is centrally located in the town. The town is at the convergence of County Roads 18 and 38, NY-98New York State Route 98New York State Route 98 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 219 in the town of Great Valley in Cattaraugus County...
, as well as US 219U.S. Route 219U.S. Route 219 is a spur of U.S. Route 19. It runs for from West Seneca, New York at an interchange with Interstate 90, to Rich Creek, Virginia, intersecting at U.S. Route 460. U.S. 219 is found in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia...
. Great Valley Creek flows southward through the community. - Great Valley Airport (N56) - A general aviation airstrip with a turf runway, operated by and adjacent to Eddie's Restaurant (Runway 6-24, length 3800 feet). It is about one mile southeast of Great Valley village.
- Great Valley Creek – A stream that flows into the town at the north town line and out the southeast corner of the town to join the Allegheny RiverAllegheny RiverThe Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
in Salamanca, New York. - Holiday Valley Resort – A ski resort located on the town's northern border with EllicottvilleEllicottville (town), New YorkEllicottville is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,738 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Joseph Ellicott, principal land agent of the Holland Land Company....
. - Kill Buck – A hamlet east of Salamanca on Route 219, named after a chief of a local tribe.
- Peth – A hamlet southwest of Great Valley village on US Route 219, at the terminus of County Route 67.
- Pumpkinville – An autumn theme park, pumpkin patch and apple cider mill based in the hamlet of Sugartown.
- SalamancaSalamanca (city), New YorkSalamanca is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States, located inside the Allegany Indian Reservation. The population was 6,097 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
– A small part of the City of Salamanca overlaps the southwest corner of the town. - Sugartown – A hamlet northeast of Great Valley village, near the east town line on NY Route 98.
- Willoughby – A hamlet east of Great Valley village on County Road 18.
Transportation
Great Valley AirportGreat Valley Airport
Great Valley Airport is a privately-owned, public-use airport located one nautical mile southeast of the central business district of Great Valley, a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States.- Facilities and aircraft :...
is located one nautical mile (1.85 km) southeast of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Great Valley.