Seneca County
County
Historic Seneca County Courthouse Complex at Ovid
Historic Seneca County Courthouse Complex at Ovid
Flag of Seneca County
Flag
Official seal of Seneca County
Seal
Map of New York highlighting Seneca County
Location within the U.S. state of New York
Map of the United States highlighting New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°47′N 76°50′W / 42.79°N 76.83°W / 42.79; -76.83
Country United States
State New York
Founded1804
Named forSeneca people
SeatWaterloo and Ovid
Largest CDPSeneca Falls
Area
 • Total390 sq mi (1,000 km2)
 • Land324 sq mi (840 km2)
 • Water67 sq mi (170 km2)  17%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total33,814 [1]
 • Density104.5/sq mi (40.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district23rd
Websitewww.co.seneca.ny.us

Seneca County is located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 33,814.[2] The primary county seat is Waterloo, moved there from the original county seat of Ovid in 1819.[3][4] It became a two-shire county in 1822, which currently remains in effect and uses both locations as county seats although the majority of Seneca County administrative offices are located in Waterloo.[5][6] Therefore, most political sources list only Waterloo as the county seat. The county's name comes from the Seneca Nation of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), who occupied part of the region.

Seneca County comprises the Seneca Falls, NY Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY Combined Statistical Area.

History

The area covered by Seneca County straddles the prehistoric territories of both Seneca and Cayuga Nations of the Haudenosaunee. When counties were established by Europeans in New York in 1683, the present-day Seneca County was part of Albany County. This was an enormous county, including the northern part of New York as well as all of the present state of Vermont and, in theory, extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. This county was reduced in size on July 3, 1766, by the creation of Cumberland County, and further on March 16, 1770, by the creation of Gloucester County, both containing territory now in 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 of Schenectady, and the county included the western part of the Adirondack Mountains and the area west of the West Branch of the Delaware River. The area then designated as Tryon County now includes 37 counties of New York State. The county was named for William Tryon, colonial governor of New York.

In the years prior to 1776, most of the Loyalists in Tryon County fled to Canada. In the fall of 1779 on orders from commander-in-chief General George Washington the Sullivan Expedition conducted a scorched earth campaign against the Iroquois who sided with the Loyalists in the Revolutionary War. Sullivan's path destroyed Cayuga and Seneca villages along the east shore of Seneca Lake.

In 1784, following the peace treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War, the name of Tryon County was changed to Montgomery County in honor of the general, Richard Montgomery, who had captured several places in Canada and died attempting to capture the city of Quebec, replacing the name of the hated British governor.

In 1789, Montgomery County was reduced in size by the splitting off of Ontario County. The actual area split off from Montgomery County was much larger than the present Ontario County, also including the present Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Steuben, Wyoming, Yates, and parts of Schuyler and Wayne counties.

Herkimer County was one of three counties split off from Montgomery County (the others being Otsego and Tioga counties) in 1791.

Onondaga County was formed in 1794 by the splitting of Herkimer County.

Cayuga County was formed in 1799 by the splitting of Onondaga County. This county was, however, much larger than the present Cayuga County. It then included the present Seneca and Tompkins counties and part of Wayne County.

In 1804, Seneca County was formed by the splitting of Cayuga County.[7]

In 1817, Seneca County was reduced in size by combining portions of Seneca and the remainder of Cayuga County to form Tompkins County. Part of this territory, the current towns of Covert and Lodi, were returned to Seneca County in 1819.

The original county seat of Seneca County was located in Ovid, where a court house was constructed in 1806. After southern portions of the county were removed in 1817 to become part of Tompkins County, the seat was moved to Waterloo as the village was more geographically centered at the time. In 1823, northern portions of the county were removed to form part of Wayne County. This put Waterloo in the same situation as Ovid with being on one end of Seneca County. A compromise was made to use both locations as county seats, becoming a two-shire county. It included the constitution of two county courts and jury districts under Chapter 137 of the New York State Laws of 1822.[3][4] In 1895, the Seneca County Board of Supervisors voted to abolish the setup of two jury districts. It later voted to remove the two-shire county system in 1921, making Waterloo the only county seat, but was reinstated two years later.[4] At least once a year, the County Board of Supervisors holds its monthly meeting in Ovid to maintain the two-shire status.

In 1823, Seneca County was reduced in size by combining portions of Seneca and Ontario counties to form Wayne County.

On April 6, 1830 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was founded in Seneca County. The event took place at the log home of a local farmer, Peter Whitmer. Although church headquarters moved out of the area shortly thereafter, a historical visitor’s center is still operated at that location.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 390 square miles (1,000 km2), of which 324 square miles (840 km2) is land and 67 square miles (170 km2) (17%) is water.[8]

Seneca County is in the western part of New York in the Finger Lakes Region, bounded on the east by Cayuga Lake and on the west by Seneca Lake.

The Finger Lakes National Forest is in the south part of the county.

Both the New York State Thruway and the Erie Canal cross the northern part of the county.

The former Seneca Army Depot occupies a portion of land between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. The former Willard Drug Treatment Center and Five Points Correctional Facility are two New York State prisons located in the county. Sampson State Park is located next to the former Army base.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
181016,609—
182023,61942.2%
183021,041−10.9%
184024,87418.2%
185025,4412.3%
186028,13810.6%
187027,823−1.1%
188029,2785.2%
189028,227−3.6%
190028,114−0.4%
191026,972−4.1%
192024,735−8.3%
193024,9831.0%
194025,7323.0%
195029,25313.7%
196031,9849.3%
197035,0839.7%
198033,733−3.8%
199033,683−0.1%
200033,342−1.0%
201035,2515.7%
202033,814−4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[2]

As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 35,251 people, 13,393 households, and 8,762 families residing in the county. The population density was 103 people per square mile (40 people/km2). There were 14,794 housing units at an average density of 46 units per square mile (18/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.7% White, 5.1% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.7% of the population. 18.9% were of Italian, 16.7% German, 14.6% English, 13.4% Irish and 8.9% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.3% spoke English and 1.6% Spanish as their first language.

There were 12,630 households, out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.80% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,140, and the median income for a family was $45,445. Males had a median income of $32,512 versus $24,320 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,630. About 8.00% of families and 11.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.80% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

2020 Census

Seneca County Racial Composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 29,273 86.6%
Black or African American (NH) 1,263 3.74%
Native American (NH) 151 0.45%
Asian (NH) 268 0.8%
Pacific Islander (NH) 3 0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,489 4.4%
Hispanic or Latino 1,367 4.04%

Government and politics

United States presidential election results for Seneca County, New York[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 8,329 53.28% 6,914 44.23% 389 2.49%
2016 7,236 51.76% 5,697 40.75% 1,047 7.49%
2012 5,889 44.39% 7,094 53.48% 283 2.13%
2008 7,038 47.74% 7,422 50.35% 281 1.91%
2004 7,981 52.08% 6,979 45.54% 365 2.38%
2000 6,734 46.97% 6,841 47.71% 763 5.32%
1996 5,004 35.86% 6,825 48.91% 2,126 15.23%
1992 5,432 36.28% 5,810 38.80% 3,732 24.92%
1988 7,221 53.21% 6,215 45.80% 135 0.99%
1984 9,420 65.84% 4,825 33.72% 62 0.43%
1980 7,174 52.40% 5,010 36.60% 1,506 11.00%
1976 7,659 56.70% 5,745 42.53% 104 0.77%
1972 9,368 67.68% 4,441 32.08% 33 0.24%
1968 7,083 54.46% 5,222 40.15% 700 5.38%
1964 4,473 33.44% 8,890 66.46% 13 0.10%
1960 8,741 60.55% 5,693 39.44% 1 0.01%
1956 10,417 74.20% 3,623 25.80% 0 0.00%
1952 9,669 69.01% 4,328 30.89% 15 0.11%
1948 7,266 58.05% 4,897 39.13% 353 2.82%
1944 7,424 63.52% 4,236 36.24% 28 0.24%
1940 8,364 66.39% 4,203 33.36% 31 0.25%
1936 7,919 63.59% 4,295 34.49% 240 1.93%
1932 6,502 56.61% 4,764 41.48% 220 1.92%
1928 7,911 66.27% 3,873 32.44% 154 1.29%
1924 6,598 66.15% 2,727 27.34% 649 6.51%
1920 6,260 64.56% 3,023 31.18% 413 4.26%
1916 3,307 50.84% 2,845 43.74% 353 5.43%
1912 2,336 34.57% 2,573 38.07% 1,849 27.36%
1908 3,749 52.80% 3,136 44.16% 216 3.04%
1904 3,823 52.53% 3,288 45.18% 167 2.29%
1900 3,787 51.18% 3,461 46.78% 151 2.04%
1896 3,853 53.53% 3,213 44.64% 132 1.83%
1892 3,112 46.40% 3,199 47.70% 396 5.90%
1888 3,576 48.07% 3,705 49.81% 158 2.12%
1884 3,309 46.51% 3,627 50.98% 178 2.50%

The county is governed by a fourteen-member Board of Supervisors, composed of the town supervisor representing each of the ten townships in Seneca County along with four additional at-large members from the towns of Waterloo and Seneca Falls (two per township).[16][17] The board normally meets every 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Seneca County Office Building in Waterloo with at least one meeting per year held at the old Seneca County Courthouse Complex in Ovid as honor of the two-shire system.[18][19] Each supervisor has a weighted vote based on the population of the town they represent.

Historically a Republican-voting county, Seneca has become more competitive in recent years and is now a swing county in Presidential elections. With the exception of 2000 and 2020, when Al Gore and Donald Trump, respectively, carried the county, voters here have opted for the winner of every Presidential election since 1980.

Communities

Larger Settlements

# Location Population Type Region
1 Seneca Falls 6,681 CDP North
2 †Waterloo 5,171 Village North
3 Interlaken 602 Village Cayuga
3 Ovid 602 Village Seneca
5 Romulus 409 CDP Cayuga
6 Lodi 291 Village Seneca

† - County Seat

Towns

Hamlets

Seneca county has a number of unincorporated communities. Most are considered hamlets.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "US Census 2020 Population Dataset Tables for New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Seneca County, New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  3. 1 2 William V.R. Erving, The Miscellaneous Reports, Cases Decided in the Courts of Record of the State of New York, Volume 114 (1921), page 636, Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Seneca County, New York - The County Seat Story Archived 2015-05-28 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  5. ↑ Office of the Seneca County Historian, Written History of Seneca County, New York – Unit Three: Establishment of Seneca County & Townships, Chapter 3: History of the Towns of Seneca County Archived 2015-05-28 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  6. ↑ Seneca County, New York Departments, Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  7. ↑ "A History of Seneca County Until About 1830" (PDF). Official Site of Seneca County. February 9, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  8. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Seneca County, New York".
  15. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  16. ↑ Finger Lakes Central - Seneca County Government, Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  17. ↑ Seneca County Board of Supervisors Roster, Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  18. ↑ Seneca County, New York - Board of Supervisors Meeting Schedule, Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  19. ↑ Town of Ovid, New York - History of Ovid, Retrieved May 29, 2015.

Further reading

42°47′N 76°50′W / 42.79°N 76.83°W / 42.79; -76.83

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