Editing Chautauqua, New York

{{Short description|Town in New York, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{distinguish|Chappaqua, New York}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Chautauqua, New York
|settlement_type          = [[Administrative divisions of New York#Town|Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = View on Simpson Avenue, Chautauqua, N.Y, by Walker, L. E., 1826-1916.png
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = View of Simpson Avenue
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|pushpin_map              = New York#USA
|pushpin_label            = Chautauqua
|pushpin_label_position   = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption      = 
|pushpin_mapsize          = 
|image_map                = Chautauqua County NY Chautauqua town highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 
|map_caption              = Location in Chautauqua County and New York state
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[New York (state)|New York]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New York|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Chautauqua County, New York|Chautauqua]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Town council]]
|leader_title             = [[Town supervisor]]
|leader_name              = Donald D. Emhardt ([[United States Democratic Party|D]])
| leader_title1           = [[Town council]]
| leader_name1            = {{Collapsible list
 |title       = Members' list
 |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 |title_style = <!-- (optional) -->
 |list_style  = text-align:left;display:none;
 |1           = • Kenneth W. Burnett ([[United States Democratic Party|D]])
 |2           = • David P. Ward ()
 |3           = • Thomas J. Carlson ()
 |4           = • James V. Kurtz ([[United States Republican Party|R]])
}}
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_cousubs_36.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 7, 2024}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 174.80
|area_land_km2            = 174.56
|area_water_km2           = .24
|area_total_sq_mi         = 67.49
|area_land_sq_mi          = 67.40
|area_water_sq_mi         = .09

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=060XX00US3601314069 |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Chautauqua town, Chautauqua County, New York |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 7, 2024}}</ref>
|population_total         = 4009
|population_density_km2   = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 59.48

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 409
|elevation_ft             = 1342
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|13|34|N|79|29|2|W|region:US-NY|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = {{ubl|14722 ([[Chautauqua (CDP), New York|Chautauqua]])|14728 ([[Dewittville, New York|Dewittville]])|14757 ([[Mayville, New York|Mayville]])|14781 ([[Sherman (village), New York|Sherman]])|14784 ([[Stockton, New York|Stockton]])|14787 ([[Westfield (village), New York|Westfield]])}}
|area_code                = [[Area code 716|716]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 36-013-14069
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0978815
|website                  = {{URL|townofchautauqua.com}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 2022
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2022">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 7, 2024}}</ref>
|population_est = 4014
}}
'''Chautauqua''' ({{IPAc-en|ʃ|ə|ˈ|t|ɔː|k|w|ə}} {{respell|shə|TAW|kwə}}) is a [[Administrative divisions of New York#Town|town]] and lake resort community in [[Chautauqua County, New York|Chautauqua County]], [[New York (state)|New York]].<ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Chautauqua|volume=6|page=19}}</ref> The population was 4,009 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020"/> The town is named after [[Chautauqua Lake]]. It is the home of the [[Chautauqua Institution]] and the birthplace of the [[Chautauqua]] movement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chautauqua Movement History |url=https://www.chautauqua.com/2021/chautauqua-movement-history/ |website=chautauqua.com |date=January 22, 2021 |publisher=The Colorado Chautauqua |access-date=January 8, 2022}}</ref>

==History==
===19th century===
Chautauqua was formed on April 11, 1805, from the town of [[Batavia (town), New York|Batavia]], while still part of [[Genesee County, New York|Genesee County]]. The first settler arrived the year before, near the current village of [[Mayville, New York|Mayville]]. When Chautauqua County was created on March 11, 1808, the town's territory was increased to include the eastern tier of townships, so that the town and the new county were coextensive. The town is the "mother of towns" in Chautauqua County since all other towns in the county towns were once part of it. The town is still one of the largest in the county.<ref>[http://history.rays-place.com/ny/chau-chau.htm History of Chautauqua, NY<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The meaning of the name Chautauqua remains unknown and a source of speculation, with two longstanding [[Folk etymology|folk translations]] being “bag tied in the middle” and “place where fish are taken out,”<ref name="Names">{{cite web|date=February 7, 2016|title=Stories behind names of many familiar places|url=http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/state-and-union-stories-behind-names-of-many-familiar-places/article_cd071cee-cd48-11e5-8153-67db9ca5a039.html|newspaper=Olean Times Herald|accessdate=August 29, 2016}}</ref> the latter having some support based on similar words in other [[Iroquoian languages]].<ref name="chq_history">{{cite book|author=John Phillips Downs|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofchautau02downs|title=History of Chautauqua County, New York, and Its People|author2=Fenwick Y Hedley|publisher=American Historical Society|year=1921|page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofchautau02downs/page/11 11]|accessdate=March 4, 2013}}</ref> In [[Seneca language|Seneca]] it is known as Dza’dáhgwëh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://senecalanguage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SENECA-DICTIONARY-FINAL.pdf|title=English-Seneca Dictionary|publisher=Seneca Language Department}}</ref>

===20th century===
In the years of the [[Chautauqua Institution]]'s heyday, rail transport was the chief mechanism by which long distance travelers accessed the town. To 1926, the Chautauqua Traction [[interurban]] operated several interurbans a day from Chautauqua to Mayville, and then to Westfield; to the opposite direction the interurban went to Lakewood and Jamestown.<ref>"Jamestown / Olean interurbans," http://www.vizettes.com/kt/ne-interurbans/ny/jw.htm</ref><ref>Helen G. Ebersole, "Lakeside Ledger," July 4, 2018, "The Chautauqua Traction, First Year-Round Navigable Land Route from Jmst. to CHQ."</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Chautauqua Traction Company |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume=54 |issue=1 |date=June 1921}}</ref> To the latter 1940s, Pennsylvania Railroad offered service at nearby Mayville, on a Pittsburgh-Buffalo route.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Pennsylvania Railroad, Table 160 |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume=78 |issue=12 |date=May 1946}}</ref> From prior to the interurbans to the waning years of interurbans, steamboats provided access to different parts of the lake from Mayville and Jamestown.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://jamestowntrolley.org/steamer/larges/lsteamb.html | title=The Jamestown Street Railway Trolley Car #93 Restoration Project }}</ref>

The [[Lewis Miller Cottage]] of the Chautauqua Institution was listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]] and as a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1966.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>  The [[Chautauqua Institution Historic District]] was listed in 1974.<ref name="nris"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|174.0|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|173.8|km2|disp=flip}}  is land and {{convert|0.2|km2|disp=flip}}, or 0.14%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US3601314069| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212162317/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US3601314069| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Chautauqua town, Chautauqua County, New York| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=November 5, 2014}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 2518
|1830= 2432
|1840= 2980
|1850= 2622
|1860= 2837
|1870= 3064
|1880= 3570
|1890= 3259
|1900= 3590
|1910= 3515
|1920= 3533
|1930= 3802
|1940= 3819
|1950= 4222
|1960= 4376
|1970= 4341
|1980= 4728
|1990= 4554
|2000= 4666
|2010= 4464
|2020= 4009
|estyear=2022
|estimate=4014
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2022"/>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,666 people, 1,881 households, and 1,269 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|69.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 4,174 housing units at an average density of {{convert|62.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 96.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.6% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.2% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 1,881 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.2 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,379, and the median income for a family was $41,923. Males had a median income of $30,767 versus $23,561 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $19,003.  About 7.5% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==
[[New York State Route 394]] and [[New York State Route 430]], which intersect in Mayville, are the two primary roads in the town. Route 394 comes from [[Jamestown, New York|Jamestown]] on the western side of the lake and continues on to [[Westfield, New York|Westfield]]. Route 430 comes from Jamestown on the eastern side of the lake and goes southwest from Mayville to the state line west of [[Findley Lake, New York|Findley Lake]], where it becomes [[Pennsylvania Route 430]].

==Places==
*[[Chautauqua (CDP), New York|Chautauqua]] &ndash; The [[Hamlet (New York)|hamlet]] (and [[census-designated place]]) of Chautauqua, located on the west shore of [[Chautauqua Lake]] and location of the [[Chautauqua Institution]] on Route 394
*[[Chautauqua Creek]] &ndash; A stream forming most of the town's boundary with [[Westfield, New York|Westfield]]
*[[Chautauqua Institution]] &ndash; a nonprofit education center and summer resort located on Route 394
*Chautauqua post pffice &ndash; [[USPS]] facility located on Bestor Plaza inside the gates of [[Chautauqua Institution]]
*Cottage Park &ndash; A lakeside hamlet south of Mayville on Route 394
*Dart Airfield (D79) &ndash; A grass runway [[airfield]] east of Mayville
*Dean &ndash; A hamlet in the northeast corner of the town on County Road 37
*Dewittville &ndash; A lakeside hamlet on the east side of the lake on County Road 52
*Dewittville Bay &ndash; A bay near Point Chautauqua
*Hartfield &ndash; A hamlet in the northeast part of the town
*Hartfield Bay &ndash; A [[bay]] at the north end of Chautauqua Lake
*Irwins Bay &ndash; A small bay between Lighthouse Point and Wahmeda
*Lakeside Park &ndash; A small lakeside community south of Mayville
*Lighthouse Point &ndash; A hamlet at a projection into the lake south of Mayville on Route 394
*Magnolia &ndash; A lakeside hamlet in the southeast corner of the town on Chautauqua Lake on Route 394.
*[[Mayville, New York|Mayville]] &ndash; The village of Mayville is the [[county seat]] and is located on the northern end of Chautauqua Lake
*Orchard Terrace &ndash; A lakeside community south of Chautauqua on Route 394
*Pleasantville &ndash; A hamlet near the east town line on County Road 54
*Point Chautauqua &ndash; A hamlet on a peninsula on the eastern side of the lake
*Point Pleasant &ndash; A projection into Chautauqua Lake south of Mayville
*Prendergast Point &ndash; A projection into Lake Chautauqua in the southeast corner of the town
*Shorelands &ndash; A hamlet on the east side of Chautauqua Lake, east of Mayville on Route 430
*Summerdale &ndash; A hamlet in the western part of the town on [[New York State Route 430|NY Route 430]]
*Wahmeda &ndash; A lakeside hamlet north of Chautauqua on Route 394.
*Wooglin &ndash; A lakeside hamlet on the east side of the lake on Route 430

==Notable people==
*[[Arthur Bestor]], historian, public education critic
*[[John Jachym]], businessman, philanthropist, sportsman
*[[Michael John LaChiusa]], musical theater composer
*[[Hiram Lawton Richmond]], former US Congressman from Pennsylvania
*[[Gar Samuelson]], original drummer of Megadeth (classic line-up)
*[[Glenni William Scofield]], U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania
*[[Garnet Sixsmith]], one of the first professional ice hockey players
*[[Heidi VanDerveer]], women's basketball coach, [[Sacramento Monarchs]]

==See also==
{{portal|New York (state)}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Chautauqua County, New York]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.townofchautauqua.com/ Official website]

{{Adjacent communities
|title=Surrounding towns
 | Centre    = Chautauqua
 | North     = [[Portland, New York|Portland]]
 | Northeast = 
 | East      = [[Stockton, New York|Stockton]], [[Ellery, New York|Ellery]] 
 | Southeast = 
 | South     = [[North Harmony, New York|North Harmony]], [[Sherman, New York|Sherman]]
 | Southwest = 
 | West      = [[Westfield, New York|Westfield]]
 | Northwest = 
}}
{{Chautauqua County, New York}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|42|12|35|N|79|28|00|W|type:city_region:US-NY|display=title}}

[[Category:1803 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1804]]
[[Category:Towns in Chautauqua County, New York]]
[[Category:Towns in New York (state)]]