Jimerson Town, New York facts for kids

Jimerson Town (also called Jimersontown) is a special community built on purpose for the Seneca Nation of Indians. It's located on the Allegany Indian Reservation in Cattaraugus County, New York. Jimerson Town is one of two main centers for the Seneca Nation, where important decisions are made. The Seneca people also call it tsyo:nya:tih in their language.

When it was first built in the 1960s, Jimerson Town had 145 homes, each with a large yard. Since the 1980s, many more buildings and services have been added to the community.

About Jimerson Town

Jimerson Town is a modern community that was carefully planned. It was designed to be a home for many Seneca families. The community has grown over the years, adding different facilities to serve its residents.

A New Home: History of Jimerson Town

The name Jimerson Town might have come from "Jemison Town," named after the family of Mary Jemison long ago.

The Jimerson Town we know today was started in the 1960s. It was built next to the city of Salamanca. This new community was created to help over 600 Seneca people who had to move. They were displaced because of the construction of the Kinzua Dam. The dam caused the Allegheny Reservoir to form, which flooded their original homes. Jimerson Town was one of two new communities built for this reason.

The community was named after the Jimerson family, who were an important Seneca family in the area. An old road, Old Route 17, runs through Jimerson Town. For a while, even the stop signs and speed limit signs were written in both English and the Seneca language.

Jimerson Town is close to Salamanca, which means it has more services and a feel that's a bit like living near a city, rather than deep in the countryside. After 1967, it became the main place for the Allegany Reservation's government.

Life in the Community

Since the mid-1980s, Jimerson Town has developed many important services for its residents. These include a volunteer fire department to keep everyone safe. There's also a day-care center for young children and a Montessori school for their education.

The Seneca Nation has built several buildings for tribal administration here. There are also great sports facilities, including the Allegany Community Center. This center was built in the early 2010s and is a place for everyone to gather and be active.

Important Buildings and Services

Jimerson Town is home to two churches. One is a Presbyterian missionary church. The other is the Red House Memorial Chapel, which moved to Jimerson Town in 1967.

In 2017, the Allegany Council House in Jimerson Town was recognized as a very important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Nearby Seneca Nation Facilities

The Seneca Nation also has several facilities in nearby Salamanca that serve the community. These include the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, where you can learn about Seneca history and culture. There's also a branch of the Seneca Nation library.

The Seneca Allegany Casino opened just south of Jimerson Town in the early 2000s.