Editing Allegany County, New York (section)

==History==
For centuries, Allegany County was the territory of the [[Seneca people]], at the westernmost nation of the Five Nations of the ''[[Haudenosaunee]]'', a confederacy of [[Iroquoian languages]]-speaking peoples. [[European-American]] permanent settlement did not take place until after the [[American Revolutionary War]] and the forced cession by the Seneca of most of their lands in western New York. New York State sold off the lands cheaply to attract new European-American settlers and agricultural development.

Allegany County was created by the state legislature on April 7, 1806, when [[Genesee County, New York]], was partitioned to set aside some  {{convert|1570|sqmi|km2|sigfig=1}} to the new county. The first County Seat was established at [[Angelica, New York]], where it remained for half a century. It was later moved to [[Belmont, New York|Belmont]], a village located along the [[Genesee River]].<ref>New York. ''Laws of New York; 1806; 29th Session; Chapter 162; Section 1; Page 605.''</ref> On March 11, 1808, the borders were adjusted so that {{convert|230|sqmi|km2|sigfig=2}} of [[Steuben County, New York|Steuben County]] passed to Allegany County,<ref>New York. ''Laws of New York; 1808; 31st Session, Chapter 38; Page 263.''</ref> and {{convert|600|mi|km|sigfig=1}} of Allegany County passed to Genesee County.<ref>New York. ''Laws of New York; 1808; 31st Session; Chapter 40; Sections 1—2; Page 266.''</ref> This established the current border between Genesee and Steuben counties, and reduced the size of Allegany County to {{convert|1200|sqmi|km2|sigfig=2}}. On June 12, 1812, the legislature authorized the attachment of [[Cattaraugus County, New York]], to Allegany County for administration reasons, but for practical reasons this action did not take place at that time.<ref>New York. ''Laws of New York; 1812; 35th Session; Chapter 38; Page 263 .''</ref> However, on April 13, 1814, the eastern half of Cattaraugus County was so attached and administered from Belmont.<ref>New York. ''Laws of New York; 1814; 37th Session; Chapter 123; Page 146.''</ref> This attachment was ended on March 28, 1817.<ref>New York. ''Laws of New York; 1816; 40th Session; Chapter 115; Section 1; Page 107.''</ref> With continued settlement through the mid-nineteenth century, the legislature periodically adjusted county borders as new counties were organized in western New York. On April 1, 1846, Allegany County lost {{convert|120|sqmi|km2|sigfig=2}} to [[Wyoming County, New York|Wyoming County]], reducing the size of Allegany County to {{convert|1140|sqmi|km2|sigfig=2}}, and establishing the current border between Allegany and Wyoming counties.<ref>New York. ''Laws of New York; 1846; 69th Session; Chapter 51; Page 53.''</ref> On May 11, 1846, Allegany County lost {{convert|50|sqmi|km2|sigfig=1}} to [[Livingston County, New York|Livingston County]], reducing the total to {{convert|1090|sqmi|km2|sigfig=2}}, and establishing the western portion of the current border with Livingston County.<ref>New York. ''Laws of New York; 1846; 69th Session; Chapter 197; Section 1; Page 235.''</ref> On March 23, 1857, Allegany County lost another {{convert|40|sqmi|km2|sigfig=2}} to Livingston County, passing the [[Ossian, New York]], area to Livingston County, and establishing the current border between them.<ref>New York. ''Laws of New York; 1857; 80th Session; Chapter 166; Page 366.''</ref>