It is the location ofNiagara Falls andFort Niagara, and has many parks and lake shore recreation communities. In the summer of 2008, Niagara County celebrated its 200th birthday with the first settlement of the county, ofNiagara Falls.
When western New York became part of theNew York colony in 1763, the present Niagara County was part ofAlbany County. Prior to the British, the area was part ofNew France.
Albany 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 Vermont.[4]
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. The county was named forWilliam Tryon, colonial governor of New York.[5]
In the years prior to 1776, most of the Loyalists in Tryon County fled toCanada including the likes of local judgeJohn Butler and militia commanderSir John Johnson.[6] In 1784, following the peace treaty that ended theAmerican Revolutionary War, the name of Tryon County was changed 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.[7]
Niagara County was created from Genesee County in 1808. It was, however, larger than the present Niagara County even though it consisted of only the Town of Cambria.[9]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,139 square miles, of which 522 square miles (1,350 km2) is land and 617 square miles (1,600 km2) (54%) is water.[13]
Niagara County is in the most western part of New York State, just north ofthe city Buffalo and1,140 square miles (3,000 km2) borderingLake Ontario on its northern border, and theNiagara RiverCanada on its western border.[14]
The county's primary geographic feature isNiagara Falls, the riverbed of which has eroded seven miles south over the past 12,000 years since thelast ice age. The Niagara River and Niagara Falls, are in effect, the drainage ditch for four of theGreat Lakes which constitute the world's largest supply offresh water.[15] The water flows north fromLake 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.[16] Today, tourists and visitors to the Falls see a diminished flow of water over the Falls, since a portion of the flow has been diverted for hydroelectric power purposes. Both the American and Canadian side of the Niagara River have massive electrical power plants.[17]
TheNiagara Gorge is the path Niagara Falls has taken over thousands of years as it continues to erode.[18] Niagara Falls started at theNiagara Escarpment which cuts Niagara County in half in an east–west direction. North of the Escarpment lies the Lake Plain, which is a fertile flatland used to grow grapes, apples, peaches and other fruits and vegetables. The grape varietyNiagara, source of most American white grape juice but not esteemed for wine, was first grown in the county, in 1868.Viticulture, or wine culture has begun to take place, with several wineries below the escarpment. This has helped to improve the depressed economy of the region.
Niagara County is governed by a 15-member Legislature, with the Chairman of the Legislature as the de facto head of county government. The 2024 Legislature, consists of 12 members of the Republican-led Majority Caucus and three members of the Democratic-led Minority Caucus. The Legislature formerly consisted of 19 members, but was downsized to 15 seats effective January 1, 2012, based on the results of a public referendum.
A subordinate county manager reports to the County Legislature. Governing functions of the Legislature rely on a committee system. There are five standing committees and one long-term ad hoc committee: Administration; Community Services; Community Safety and Security; Economic Development; Public Works; and thead hoc Refuse Disposal District Committee.
The dominant political party in the Niagara County Legislature is currently the Republican Party, which is ancestrally the dominant party in Niagara County.
Chairman: Rebecca J. Wydysh Vice Chairman: Anthony J. Nemi Majority Leader: Randy R. Bradt Minority Leader: Christopher A. Robins
1st District:Irene M. Myers 2nd District:Rebecca J. Wydysh 3rd District:Christopher J. McKimmie 4th District:Jeffrey Elder 5th District:Christopher A. Robins 6th District:Christopher Voccio 7th District:Jesse P. Gooch 8th District:Richard L. Andres 9th District:Randy R. Bradt 10th District:David E. Godfrey 11th District:Anthony J. Nemi 12th District:Carla L. Speranza 13th District:Richard E. Abbott 14th District:Shawn A. Foti 15th District:Michael A. Hill
In addition to the areas mentioned above, much of Niagara County is serviced by a Water District and a Sewer District. Both bodies are subordinate to the County Legislature; the former has a direct relationship, while the latter is currently under limited oversight of the town supervisors within the district.
Baker, Cambria, Hartland, Lewiston (both city and town), Lockport (part of both city and town), Middleport, Newfane, Porter, Royalton, Somerset, Wilson (town), Youngstown[21]
Niagara 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.
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 216,469 people, 87,846 households, and 58,593 families residing in the county. The population density was 420 inhabitants per square mile (160/km2). There were 95,715 housing units at an average density of 183 units per square mile (71/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.70%White, 6.15%Black orAfrican American, 0.94%Native American, 0.58%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.40% fromother races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 1.33% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 23.6% were ofGerman, 18.1%Italian, 11.3%Irish, 11.2%Polish and 8.3%English ancestry. 94.5% spokeEnglish, 1.6%Spanish and 1.0%Italian as their first language.
There were 87,846 households, out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.30% weremarried couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.70% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,136, and the median income for a family was $47,817. Males had a median income of $37,468 versus $24,668 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,219. About 8.20% of families and 10.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.
^W, Eric (March 2, 2012)."Senate District 62"(PDF).View 2012 Senate District Maps.Albany, New York: The New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. RetrievedJanuary 6, 2013.
^W, Eric (January 25, 2012)."Assembly District 140"(PDF).View Proposed 2012 Assembly District Maps.Albany, New York: The New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. RetrievedJanuary 16, 2013.
^W, Eric (January 25, 2012)."Assembly District 144"(PDF).View Proposed 2012 Assembly District Maps.Albany, New York: The New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. RetrievedJanuary 16, 2013.
^W, Eric (January 25, 2012)."Assembly District 145"(PDF).View Proposed 2012 Assembly District Maps.Albany, New York: The New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. RetrievedJanuary 16, 2013.
^W, Eric (January 25, 2012)."Assembly District 146"(PDF).View Proposed 2012 Assembly District Maps.Albany, New York: The New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. RetrievedJanuary 16, 2013.
John Theodore Horton, Edward Theodore Williams, and Harry Stevens Douglass,History of Northwestern New York: Erie, Niagara, Wyoming, Genesee and Orleans Counties. Lewis Publishing Co., 1947.
Robert D. Kostoff,A History of Niagara County, New York. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 2001.
Niagara County Pioneer Association,Souvenir History of Niagara County, New York: Commemorative of the 25th Anniversary of the Pioneer Association of Niagara County. Lockport, NY: The Lockport Journal, 1902.
Samuel T. Wiley and Winfield Scott Garner,Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York. Philadelphia: Gresham Publishing Co., 1892.
Edward T. Williams,Niagara County, New York: A Concise Record of Her Progress and People, 1821-1921, Published during Its Centennial Year. In Two Volumes. Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1921.
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