South Valley, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
South Valley, New York
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 South Valley, New York
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Cattaraugus |
| Area | |
| • Total | 37.09 sq mi (96.06 km2) |
| • Land | 36.84 sq mi (95.42 km2) |
| • Water | 0.25 sq mi (0.64 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,411 ft (430 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 250 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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247 |
| • Density | 7.08/sq mi (2.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
14764 (never used)
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| FIPS code | 36-009-69870 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979510 |
South Valley is a small town in Cattaraugus County, New York. In 2020, about 250 people lived there. The town's name comes from its location in a valley.
It is located in the southwest part of the county. The town is also east of the city of Jamestown.
Contents
History of South Valley
Early Settlements and Quaker Influence
The first people to settle in South Valley were Quaker missionaries in 1798. They wanted to teach the local Native Americans about farming. They also taught them skills to live peacefully with non-native settlers.
The Quakers opened a school in 1803. They built a sawmill in 1812. However, the mill caused problems among the Native American tribe. Leaders like Cornplanter and Handsome Lake from the Seneca tribe asked for the mill to be taken down.
Cornplanter lived his last years just south of South Valley. He kept a good relationship with the Quakers. This was true even though they had different ideas about how cultures should mix.
Protecting Seneca Land
In 1838, the Quakers helped stop a company from taking Seneca land. This land deal was part of the Treaty of Buffalo Creek. In 1842, a new treaty was made. This allowed the Seneca people to keep their land.
The town of South Valley was officially formed in 1847. It was created from the southern part of the town of Randolph.
Lumber Industry and Population Changes
Like the nearby town of Red House, South Valley's early economy relied on lumber. The town's population grew a lot. It reached its highest point in 1890, with over 1,000 residents.
However, the population then started to decline. The creation of Elko as a separate town and a financial crisis in 1893 (called the Panic of 1893) cut the population by more than half. This decline continued for many decades.
The Kinzua Dam and Onoville
In 1965, much of the town was cleared out. This happened because the Kinzua Dam was being built. Many small communities along the Allegheny River were flooded. By 1970, South Valley's population dropped to just 164 people. Since then, the population has slowly grown back a little.
Maps of Cattaraugus County still show the mostly abandoned area of Onoville. You can even see signs for it on I-86. A marina was built where Onoville used to be.
The name Onoville has a funny story. People didn't like the town's old nickname, "Jugville." When someone suggested using "Jugville," residents said "oh, no!" Someone then jokingly suggested "Onoville," and the name stuck. The Onoville post office closed on June 30, 1964.
Geography of South Valley
Land and Water Areas
South Valley covers about 96.1 square kilometers (37.1 square miles). Most of this is land, about 95.4 square kilometers (36.8 square miles). The rest is water, about 0.6 square kilometers (0.25 square miles).
The southern border of the town is the border with Pennsylvania. The western border is with Chautauqua County. The Allegheny Reservoir flows through the town. A large part of the town is covered by the South Valley State Forest.
Neighboring Areas
South Valley is surrounded by several other towns and areas:
- To the south, it borders towns in Warren County, Pennsylvania. These include Pine Grove, Elk, and Mead. It also borders Corydon Township in McKean County, Pennsylvania.
- To the west, it borders the town of Carroll in Chautauqua County, New York.
- To the east, it borders the Allegany Reservation and the town of Coldspring.
- To the north, it borders the town of Randolph.
Main Roads
New York State Route 950A is the main road in South Valley. It's also called West Bank Perimeter Road. This road connects to I-86 and NY 394 to the northeast. It also leads into Pennsylvania to the southwest.
Other important roads include:
- County Road 33 (Bone Run Road) connects NY-950A to U.S. Route 62 in Carroll.
- County Road 89 (Sawmill Run Road) connects to NY-950A near the old community of Onoville. It leads directly to US 62 in Frewsburg.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 561 | — | |
| 1860 | 718 | 28.0% | |
| 1870 | 743 | 3.5% | |
| 1880 | 995 | 33.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,249 | 25.5% | |
| 1900 | 540 | −56.8% | |
| 1910 | 487 | −9.8% | |
| 1920 | 356 | −26.9% | |
| 1930 | 310 | −12.9% | |
| 1940 | 240 | −22.6% | |
| 1950 | 238 | −0.8% | |
| 1960 | 205 | −13.9% | |
| 1970 | 164 | −20.0% | |
| 1980 | 212 | 29.3% | |
| 1990 | 281 | 32.5% | |
| 2000 | 302 | 7.5% | |
| 2010 | 264 | −12.6% | |
| 2020 | 250 | −5.3% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 247 | −6.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 302 people living in South Valley. These people lived in 126 households, and 89 of these were families. The town had about 8.2 people per square mile.
Most of the people in the town were White (98.01%). A small number were African American (0.33%), Native American (1.32%), or Asian (0.33%).
Households and Families
Out of the 126 households:
- 22.2% had children under 18 living there.
- 58.7% were married couples living together.
- 5.6% had a female head of household with no husband.
- 28.6% were not families.
About 25.4% of all households were single people. About 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household had 2.40 people, and the average family had 2.83 people.
Age and Income
The population was spread out by age:
- 20.5% were under 18 years old.
- 4.3% were from 18 to 24.
- 25.5% were from 25 to 44.
- 34.8% were from 45 to 64.
- 14.9% were 65 years or older.
The average age in the town was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were about 125 males.
The median income for a household was $38,750. For a family, it was $47,188. Males earned more on average ($32,188) than females ($22,188). The average income per person in the town was $20,541. About 6.4% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 15.0% of those under 18 and 10.5% of those 65 or older.
Places in South Valley
- Allegany Reservation – This is a reservation for the Seneca Nation. It forms part of the eastern border of the town, along the reservoir.
- Allegheny Reservoir – This large body of water creates a lake in the southeast part of the town. It also separates some parts of the town.
- Highbanks – This is a campground and a place where people from the Seneca Nation Allegany Reservation have resettled.
- Onoville Marina – A marina is a place where boats are kept. This one is located where the Sawmill Run stream meets the Allegheny Reservoir. It's also where an old community used to be.
- Sawmill Run – This is a stream that flows east into the Allegheny Reservoir. The town government offices are located near where its two branches, North Branch and South Branch (Gurnsey Hollow), meet.
Local Economy
South Valley has a few businesses. There are two well-known restaurants: the Horseshoe Inn on West Bank Perimeter Road and the Nic-L-Inn on Bone Run Road. You can also find some small convenience stores and shops that sell boating supplies near the marina.
Famous People from South Valley
- Carrie B. Raymond – A musician and educator.
See also
In Spanish: South Valley (Nueva York) para niños
