Wyoming County, New York | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNew York | |
 New York's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:42°50′N78°05′W / 42.83°N 78.08°W /42.83; -78.08 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| Founded | 1841 |
| Seat | Warsaw |
| Largest village | Warsaw |
| Area | |
• Total | 596 sq mi (1,540 km2) |
| • Land | 593 sq mi (1,540 km2) |
| • Water | 3.5 sq mi (9.1 km2) 0.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 40,531[1] |
| • Density | 68.4/sq mi (26.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 24th |
| Website | www |
Wyoming County is acounty in theU.S. state ofNew York in the state's western area. As of the2020 census, the population was 40,531.[2] Thecounty seat isWarsaw.[3] The name is modified from aLenape (Delaware)Native American word meaning "broad bottom lands". Wyoming County was formed fromGenesee County in 1841. Wyoming County is one of New York's mostly agricultural counties. With an estimated 47,500 dairy cows in the county, there are more cattle in Wyoming County than people.[4] The county is part of theFinger Lakes region of the state.
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As with the rest ofWestern New York, Wyoming County was part of disputed territory throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, claimed by theMassachusetts Bay Colony,Connecticut Colony,Province of Pennsylvania,New York Colony, andNew France. New York's claims were not recognized until theTreaty of Hartford was ratified in 1786 and were not actively asserted until theHolland Purchase.
In regard to New York's claim, as of 1683 the present Wyoming County was part ofAlbany County of the Province of New York. This was an enormous county, including the northern part of New York State as well as all of the present State ofVermont and, in theory, extending westward to thePacific Ocean. This county was reduced in size on July 3, 1766, by the creation ofCumberland County, and further on March 16, 1770, by the creation ofGloucester County, both containing territory now in the state of 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 ofSchenectady, and the county included the western part of theAdirondack Mountains and the area west of the West Branch of theDelaware River. The area then designated as Tryon County now includes 37 counties of New York State.
In the years prior to 1776, most of the Loyalists in Tryon County fled to Canada. In 1784, following the peace treaty that ended theAmerican Revolutionary War, the name of Tryon County was changed toMontgomery County in order to honor the general,Richard Montgomery, who had captured several places in Canada and died attempting to capture the city ofQuebec, replacing the name of the hated British governor.
In 1789,Ontario County was split off from Montgomery as part of the establishment of theMorris Reserve.
Almost all of the land west of theGenesee River, including all of present-day Wyoming County, was part of theHolland Land Purchase in 1793. It was sold privately to settlers through the Holland Land Company's office inBatavia, starting in 1801.
Genesee County was created by a splitting of Ontario County in 1802 to govern the land acquired in the Holland Purchase. This territory was much larger than the present Genesee County. It was reduced in size in 1806 by creatingAllegany County; again in 1808 by creatingCattaraugus,Chautauqua, andNiagara counties. Niagara County at that time also included the presentErie County.
In 1821, portions of Genesee County were combined with portions of Ontario County to createLivingston andMonroe counties.
Genesee County was further reduced in size in 1824 by creatingOrleans County.
Finally, in 1841, Wyoming County was created from the southern half of Genesee County, the northwest corner of Allegany County, and a small portion of the northeast corner of Cattaraugus County.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 596 square miles (1,540 km2), of which 593 square miles (1,540 km2) is land and 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5]
Wyoming County is in the western part of New York State, east ofBuffalo and slightly west of due south ofRochester. The county is in theHolland Purchase Region.
The county is largely rural, dotted with small towns. Even the county seat, Warsaw is quite small. The land surface is generally broken and hilly, and the soil fertile.[6] Much of the area is wooded, used for timber. Some that are predominantly maple are tapped each spring for the production of maple syrup.Agriculture dominates the county economy. Apple orchards were once a major agricultural endeavor, but only a few are left. The area is also well known for outdoor sports, being an excellent area for fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling.
An activegeologic fault runs down the Dale valley through Linden, to the east of Batavia and into Lake Ontario. Movement of the fault is an occasional source of minor earthquakes, which, at most, have toppled a couple chimneys. The Dale Valley has been developed as a source of salt by way of brine wells, for the chemical industry. Apipeline moves the brine toNiagara Falls.
The county is bounded on the southeast by theGenesee River, and drained bytributaries of that stream, as well asTonawanda,Buffalo, and other creeks.[6] An important tributary of the Genesee River,Oatka Creek, has its source in theTown of Gainesville within the county.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 31,981 | — | |
| 1860 | 31,968 | 0.0% | |
| 1870 | 29,164 | −8.8% | |
| 1880 | 30,907 | 6.0% | |
| 1890 | 31,193 | 0.9% | |
| 1900 | 30,413 | −2.5% | |
| 1910 | 31,880 | 4.8% | |
| 1920 | 30,314 | −4.9% | |
| 1930 | 28,764 | −5.1% | |
| 1940 | 31,394 | 9.1% | |
| 1950 | 32,822 | 4.5% | |
| 1960 | 34,793 | 6.0% | |
| 1970 | 37,688 | 8.3% | |
| 1980 | 39,895 | 5.9% | |
| 1990 | 42,507 | 6.5% | |
| 2000 | 43,424 | 2.2% | |
| 2010 | 42,155 | −2.9% | |
| 2020 | 40,531 | −3.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[2] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[12] | Pop 1990[13] | Pop 2000[14] | Pop 2010[15] | Pop 2020[16] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 38,399 | 39,442 | 39,330 | 38,042 | 35,579 | 96.25% | 92.79% | 90.57% | 90.24% | 87.78% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,010 | 1,840 | 2,309 | 2,233 | 1,852 | 2.53% | 4.33% | 5.32% | 5.30% | 4.57% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 71 | 87 | 98 | 103 | 83 | 0.18% | 0.20% | 0.23% | 0.24% | 0.20% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 86 | 117 | 153 | 156 | 217 | 0.22% | 0.28% | 0.35% | 0.37% | 0.54% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[17] | x[18] | 1 | 7 | 6 | x | x | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 36 | 17 | 18 | 80 | 77 | 0.09% | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.19% | 0.19% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[19] | x[20] | 237 | 290 | 1,227 | x | x | 0.55% | 0.69% | 3.03% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 293 | 1,004 | 1,278 | 1,244 | 1,490 | 0.73% | 2.36% | 2.94% | 2.95% | 3.68% |
| Total | 39,895 | 42,507 | 43,424 | 42,155 | 40,531 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
At the 2000census,[21] there were 43,424 people, 14,906 households and 10,717 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 73 per square mile (28/km2). There were 16,940 housing units at an average density of 29 units per square mile (11/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.84%White, 5.52%Black orAfrican American, 0.27%Native American, 0.37%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 1.32% fromother races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 2.94% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 31.7% were ofGerman, 12.5%English, 10.9%Irish, 10.2%Polish, 9.3%American and 7.7%Italian ancestry according toCensus 2000. 97.1% spoke English and 1.8% Spanish as their first language.
There were 14,906 households, of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% weremarried couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.08.
Age distribution was 24.10% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 118.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.40 males.
The median household income was $39,895, and the median family income was $45,088. Males had a median income of $31,973 versus $22,252 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,248. About 5.80% of families and 8.40% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 11.60% of those under age 18 and 5.80% of those age 65 or over.
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Wyoming County is somewhat unusual among New York counties in that it remains governed by a 16-memberBoard of Supervisors, consisting of the town supervisor of each town in its territory.[22]
| Office | District | Area of the county | Officeholder | Party | First took office | Residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congressman | New York's 24th congressional district | All | Claudia Tenney | Republican | 2021 | New Hartford,Oneida County |
| State Senator | 57th State Senate District | All | George Borrello | Republican | 2019 (special) | Fredonia, New York |
| State Assemblyman | 133th State Assembly District | Perry | Marjorie Byrnes | Republican | 2019 | Caledonia, Livingston County |
| State Assemblyman | 147th State Assembly District | All (exceptPerry) | David J. DiPietro | Republican | 2013 | East Aurora, Erie County |
Wyoming County is part of:
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 14,112 | 73.63% | 4,929 | 25.72% | 125 | 0.65% |
| 2020 | 13,898 | 71.52% | 5,073 | 26.11% | 461 | 2.37% |
| 2016 | 12,442 | 71.93% | 3,904 | 22.57% | 952 | 5.50% |
| 2012 | 10,348 | 63.35% | 5,661 | 34.66% | 326 | 2.00% |
| 2008 | 10,998 | 62.25% | 6,379 | 36.11% | 290 | 1.64% |
| 2004 | 11,745 | 64.64% | 6,134 | 33.76% | 290 | 1.60% |
| 2000 | 10,809 | 61.30% | 5,999 | 34.02% | 825 | 4.68% |
| 1996 | 7,477 | 47.26% | 5,735 | 36.25% | 2,609 | 16.49% |
| 1992 | 7,324 | 44.73% | 4,045 | 24.70% | 5,006 | 30.57% |
| 1988 | 9,451 | 63.59% | 5,228 | 35.17% | 184 | 1.24% |
| 1984 | 11,199 | 71.69% | 4,381 | 28.04% | 42 | 0.27% |
| 1980 | 8,108 | 55.72% | 5,234 | 35.97% | 1,210 | 8.32% |
| 1976 | 9,726 | 62.59% | 5,737 | 36.92% | 76 | 0.49% |
| 1972 | 11,184 | 71.75% | 4,365 | 28.00% | 39 | 0.25% |
| 1968 | 8,459 | 61.45% | 4,477 | 32.52% | 829 | 6.02% |
| 1964 | 6,099 | 40.71% | 8,866 | 59.19% | 15 | 0.10% |
| 1960 | 10,793 | 66.19% | 5,508 | 33.78% | 6 | 0.04% |
| 1956 | 12,499 | 78.63% | 3,397 | 21.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 12,154 | 75.05% | 4,038 | 24.94% | 2 | 0.01% |
| 1948 | 9,871 | 67.78% | 4,508 | 30.95% | 185 | 1.27% |
| 1944 | 10,219 | 69.57% | 4,455 | 30.33% | 15 | 0.10% |
| 1940 | 11,323 | 71.87% | 4,393 | 27.88% | 39 | 0.25% |
| 1936 | 10,253 | 69.09% | 4,420 | 29.78% | 168 | 1.13% |
| 1932 | 9,377 | 66.33% | 4,490 | 31.76% | 270 | 1.91% |
| 1928 | 10,830 | 71.48% | 3,992 | 26.35% | 330 | 2.18% |
| 1924 | 10,148 | 74.05% | 2,512 | 18.33% | 1,045 | 7.62% |
| 1920 | 9,134 | 75.48% | 2,442 | 20.18% | 525 | 4.34% |
| 1916 | 4,952 | 62.14% | 2,783 | 34.92% | 234 | 2.94% |
| 1912 | 2,838 | 35.79% | 2,541 | 32.05% | 2,550 | 32.16% |
| 1908 | 5,308 | 62.32% | 2,885 | 33.87% | 324 | 3.80% |
| 1904 | 5,456 | 65.76% | 2,477 | 29.85% | 364 | 4.39% |
| 1900 | 5,032 | 60.31% | 2,896 | 34.71% | 415 | 4.97% |
| 1896 | 4,967 | 62.28% | 2,706 | 33.93% | 302 | 3.79% |
| 1892 | 4,430 | 55.61% | 2,948 | 37.01% | 588 | 7.38% |
| 1888 | 4,899 | 57.04% | 3,166 | 36.86% | 524 | 6.10% |
| 1884 | 4,441 | 54.38% | 3,189 | 39.05% | 536 | 6.56% |
Wyoming County is extremely conservative. In state and national politics, Wyoming County is one of the mostRepublican counties in New York, a state that characteristically votesDemocratic. In both the2004 and2008 U.S. presidential elections, it was the second-reddest county in New York, behindHamilton County. In fact, the only Democrat to carry the county sincethe Civil War has beenLyndon Baines Johnson in1964, during an election when no county in the Empire State supported RepublicanBarry Goldwater.[24] In2004,George W. Bush carried Wyoming County by a 30.9 percent margin overJohn Kerry, with Kerry carrying the state by an 18.3 percent margin. However, SenatorChuck Schumerconcurrently won the county very narrowly; this was the last time that Wyoming County voted Democratic in a statewide federal election. In2008,John McCain won the county by a 26.1 percent margin overBarack Obama, with Obama defeating McCain statewide by 26.7 percent. InNew York's 2006 U.S. Senatorial election, Wyoming County voted forJohn Spencer by a 4% margin overHillary Clinton, with Clinton being re-elected by a 36% margin over Spencer.[25] In2010, Wyoming County was one of only three counties to favor Republican Jay Townsend over Schumer. In theSenate Special election that same year, the county favored RepublicanJoe DioGuardi over the Democratic incumbent,Kirsten Gillibrand. In2012, Wyoming County again selected a Republican for this seat, being one of only two counties (the other being neighboringAllegany County) to vote in favor of Republican candidateWendy Long rather than Gillibrand. In2016, Wyoming County once again favored Long as she lost statewide to Schumer. In2018, the county once again rejected Gillibrand by favoring Republican Chele Farley. From 2012 onward, Wyoming has been the most Republican out of all New York's counties at the federal level; in 2024,Donald Trump won the county with over 73% of the vote, the best Republican performance sinceDwight Eisenhower in 1956.[26]
In 2017 Jon Campbell of theDemocrat & Chronicle wrote that the county "is solidTrump Country."[27]
| # | Location | Population | Type | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Perry | 3,536 | Village | Northeast |
| 1 | †Warsaw | 3,646 | Village | Northeast |
| 3 | ‡Attica | 2,547 | Village | Northwest |
| 4 | Arcade | 2,071 | Village | Southwest |
| 5 | Castile | 1,015 | Village | Southeast |
| 6 | Silver Springs | 782 | Village | Southeast |
| 7 | Strykersville | 647 | CDP | Northwest |
| 8 | Bliss | 527 | CDP | Southwest |
| 9 | Wyoming | 434 | Village | Northeast |
| 10 | Pike | 371 | Hamlet/CDP | Southeast |
| 11 | Gainesville | 304 | Village | Southeast |
School districts include:[28]
Places adjacent to Wyoming County, New York | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofWyoming County, New York,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Towns |  | |
| Villages | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other hamlets | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
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