Chemung County, New York

Chemung County is a county in the southern tier of the U.S. state of New York. The population was 88,830 as of the 2010 census and was estimated at 83,456 as of 2019.[1] Its county seat is Elmira.[2] Its name is derived from a Delaware Indian village whose name meant "big horn".

Chemung County
County
Chemung County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°08′N 76°46′W
Country United States
State New York
FoundedMarch 29, 1836
SeatElmira
Largest cityElmira
Government
 • ExecutiveChristopher J. Moss
Area
 • Total411 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Land407 sq mi (1,050 km2)
 • Water3.4 sq mi (9 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total88,830
 • Density218/sq mi (84/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district23rd
Websitewww.chemungcounty.com

Chemung County comprises the Elmira, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Elmira-Corning, NY Combined Statistical Area.

Many signs posted along roads in Chemung County refer to the area as "Mark Twain Country," because the noted author lived and wrote for many years in Elmira.

History
1869 map of Chemung County

For the history of Chemung County prior to its creation by partition, see Tioga County, New York.

Chemung County was formed from 520 square miles (1,300 km2) of Tioga County in 1836.[3]

In 1854, Chemung County was divided and 110 square miles (280 km2) became Schuyler County, reducing Chemung to 410 square miles (1,100 km2), its current size.[4]

In the late 1870s, the Greenback Party became prominent in Chemung and nearby counties in western New York. Here it was primarily allied with labor in a critique of capital, reaching its peak in 1878, the year following the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and the Scranton General Strike in Pennsylvania. There were also strikes that year in Albany, Syracuse and Buffalo, starting with the railroad workers. In Steuben and Chemung counties, Greenbackers were elected to county councils in 1878 instead of Democrats, and others were elected from there and nearby counties to the state legislature, gaining votes of more than 25 percent in several of the Southern Tier counties. It gradually declined after that, due to internal dissension and the strength of the two major parties.[5]

Flag of Chemung County, at the Chemung County Courthouse

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 411 square miles (1,060 km2), of which 407 square miles (1,050 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.8%) is water.[6]

Chemung County is in the southwestern part of New York State, along the Pennsylvania border, in a part of New York called the Southern Tier and is also part of the Finger Lakes Region.

The Southern Tier Expressway runs through the County east-west near the Pennsylvania border, between Waverly, New York and Corning, New York via Elmira, New York.

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways

Airport

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
184020,732—
185028,82139.0%
186026,917−6.6%
187035,28131.1%
188043,06522.1%
189048,26512.1%
190054,06312.0%
191054,6621.1%
192065,87220.5%
193074,68013.4%
194073,718−1.3%
195086,82717.8%
196098,70613.7%
1970101,5372.9%
198097,656−3.8%
199095,195−2.5%
200091,070−4.3%
201088,830−2.5%
Est. 201983,456[1]−6.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[11]

As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 91,070 people, 35,049 households and 23,272 families residing in the county. The population density was 223 per square mile (86/km²). There were 37,745 housing units at an average density of 92 per square mile (36/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.96% White, 5.82% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. 1.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.4% were of German, 15.7% Irish, 12.5% English, 11.8% Italian, 7.8% American and 6.3% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000 . Most of those claiming to be of "American" ancestry are of English descent and, in upstate New York, also in some cases of Dutch descent, but have family that has been in the country for so long, in many cases since the early seventeenth century, that they choose to identify simply as "American".[13][14][15][16][17] 96.2% spoke English and 1.6% Spanish as their first language.

There were 35,049 households of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.80% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.60% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

Age distribution was 24.40% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

The median household income was $36,415, and the median family income was $43,994. Males had a median income of $35,076 versus $24,215 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,264. About 9.10% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.40% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Before 1974, Chemung County was governed by a board of supervisors. On January 1, 1974, executive and legislative powers were split between a county executive and a 15-seat legislature.[18] All 15 members are elected from single-member districts. Chemung County is a part of the 23rd congressional district, currently represented by Republican Tom Reed.

Chemung County Executives
Name Party Term
John H. Hazlett Republican January 1, 1974 – 1975
Morris E. Blostein Republican 1975 – 1979
R. Stanley Benjamin Republican 1979 – 1983
Robert G. Densberger Republican 1983 – 1991
G. Thomas Tranter, Jr. Republican 1991 – 2000
Thomas J. Santulli Republican 2000 – 2019
Christopher J. Moss Republican 2019 -
Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 55.6% 20,097 38.1% 13,757 6.3% 2,265
2012 50.3% 17,612 48.0% 16,797 1.7% 601
2008 50.0% 19,364 48.8% 18,888 1.1% 443
2004 54.6% 21,321 43.7% 17,080 1.7% 674
2000 49.8% 18,779 46.2% 17,424 4.0% 1,507
1996 39.9% 14,287 47.4% 16,977 12.7% 4,549
1992 41.1% 16,088 38.6% 15,099 20.3% 7,948
1988 56.4% 20,951 43.0% 15,966 0.6% 222
1984 62.8% 24,909 36.9% 14,638 0.3% 100
1980 52.9% 19,674 39.1% 14,565 8.0% 2,970
1976 54.3% 20,640 45.3% 17,207 0.5% 179
1972 67.3% 26,200 32.5% 12,650 0.2% 94
1968 52.3% 20,693 40.0% 15,820 7.7% 3,040
1964 35.8% 14,716 64.1% 26,332 0.1% 34
1960 59.6% 26,469 40.3% 17,899 0.1% 28
1956 74.2% 33,270 25.8% 11,592 0.0% 0
1952 68.6% 30,188 31.2% 13,729 0.2% 79
1948 61.6% 22,754 36.2% 13,352 2.2% 813
1944 59.4% 22,198 40.3% 15,064 0.3% 97
1940 59.1% 22,156 40.5% 15,203 0.4% 140
1936 56.7% 20,515 42.9% 15,542 0.4% 138
1932 58.0% 20,152 39.8% 13,825 2.2% 773
1928 67.0% 25,029 32.6% 12,189 0.4% 136
1924 64.7% 18,599 24.9% 7,162 10.4% 3,004
1920 68.5% 17,864 27.1% 7,060 4.4% 1,144
1916 43.6% 6,409 50.7% 7,461 5.7% 834
1912 25.5% 3,317 46.3% 6,008 28.2% 3,660
1908 53.1% 7,410 42.8% 5,966 4.1% 576
1904 53.3% 7,282 41.3% 5,641 5.4% 741
1900 49.5% 6,921 46.7% 6,531 3.9% 545
1896 58.3% 7,926 38.7% 5,259 3.0% 401
1892 48.4% 5,410 41.7% 4,661 9.9% 1,104
1888 46.0% 5,467 50.7% 6,037 3.3% 394
1884 48.5% 5,198 44.0% 4,719 7.5% 798

In presidential elections, Chemung County tends to vote Republican. It voted for George W. Bush in 2004 by a 10.85% margin. In 2008, the margin was much closer, but voters still gave John McCain a 1.23% win over Barack Obama. In 2012, Mitt Romney carried the county by 2.33%. In 2016, Donald Trump carried Chemung County with 55.64% of the total vote compared to Hillary Clinton's 38.09%, giving Trump a margin of victory of 17.55%.

Education

Education in Chemung County is provided by various private and public institutions. High school students and adults have access to GST BOCES.[20] BOCES provides vocation-style training in a wide range of fields as well as adult education.

Public school districts

Private schools

Higher education

Public libraries

Chemung County Library District

  • Steele Memorial Library
  • Horseheads Free Library
  • Big Flats Library
  • West Elmira Library
  • Van Etten Library
  • Chemung County Bookmobile[31]

Communities

City

Towns

Villages

Census-designated places

Hamlet

Notable people
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See also

References
Specific
  1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Chemung County, New York". www.census.gov. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. New York. Laws of New York.1836, 59th Session, Chapter 077, Section 1, Page 102.
  4. New York. Laws of New York.1854, 77th Session, Chapter 386, Sections 1—4 & 6, Pages 913—915.
  5. Milton M. Klein, The Empire State: A History of New York, Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 2005, pp. 455-456
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 5, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  13. Sharing the Dream: White Males in a Multicultural America By Dominic J. Pulera.
  14. Reynolds Farley, "The New Census Question about Ancestry: What Did It Tell Us?", Demography, Vol. 28, No. 3 (August 1991), pp. 414, 421.
  15. Stanley Lieberson and Lawrence Santi, 'The Use of Nativity Data to Estimate Ethnic Characteristics and Patterns', Social Science Research, Vol. 14, No. 1 (1985), pp. 44-6.
  16. Stanley Lieberson and Mary C. Waters, 'Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites', Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 487, No. 79 (September 1986), pp. 82-86.
  17. Mary C. Waters, Ethnic Options: Choosing Identities in America (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990), p. 36.
  18. "3 MORE COUNTIES ADOPT CHARTERS", The New York Times, New York, New York, p. 59, 1973-11-25
  19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  20. "About GST BOCES Bush Campus". GST BOCES. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  21. "Chemung County New York School Districts". NewYorkSchools.com. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  22. "Chemung Valley Montessori School". Go Montessori. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  23. "Elmira Christian Academy". Elmira Christian Academy. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  24. "Welcome-Holy Family Junior High School (Elmira)". Diocese of Rochester. Archived from the original on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  25. "Welcome-St. Mary Our Mother School". Diocese of Rochester. Archived from the original on 15 August 2006. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  26. "Notre Dame High School". Notre Dame High School. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  27. "Twin Tiers Christian Academy Home". Twin Tiers Christian Academy. Retrieved 7 Nov 2014.
  28. "Arnot Health". Arnot Health. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  29. "Corning Community College Facilities". Corning Community College. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  30. "Medical and Technical Career Training Programs - EBI Career Institute". Elmira Business Institute. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  31. "Our Libraries". Chemung County Library District. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
General
  • New York: Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Compiled by Kathryn Ford Thorne and Edited by John H. Long.

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