Editing Independence, New York (section)

==History==
The first permanent settlement occurred in 1819 at Whitesville, although an attempt was made to settle the town in 1798. The town of Independence was formed in 1821 from part of the town of [[Alfred (town), New York|Alfred]]. Independence was reduced by the formation of the towns of [[Andover, New York|Andover]] (1824) and [[Willing, New York|Willing]] (1851). Historians have found no particular reason as to why the name Independence was chosen.<ref>[http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/state-and-union-freedom-and-independence/article_05153eba-5ebe-11e7-981a-a7bac69ced2f.html State and Union: Freedom and Independence]. ''Olean Times Herald'' (July 2, 2017). Retrieved July 4, 2017.</ref>

From November 16, 1896, through June 1936 Whitesville was served by the [[New York & Pennsylvania Railway]] (and predecessors) as part of its [[Canisteo, New York|Canisteo]] to [[Ceres, New York|Ceres]] (via [[Greenwood, New York|Greenwood]], [[Genesee Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania|Genesee]], [[Oswayo, Pennsylvania|Oswayo]] and [[Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania|Shinglehouse]]) main line. Following severe floods in July 1935 the railroad was partially out of service, and its abandonment in June 1936 was readily approved by the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]] which from an early date approved railroad abandonment to promote highway truck use. The loss of railroad service did much to accelerate economic decline of the Whitesville area.