Bolivar (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Bolivar is a town
in Allegany County
, New York
, USA. The population was 2,223 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Simón Bolívar
.
The Town of Bolivar is on the south border of the county and is east of Olean, New York
. There is also a village called Bolivar
in the town.
As "the heart of the Allegany Oil Field" the Bolivar-Richburg area rose to significance during the oil boom era of the late 1800's. During the brief initial oil boom of the 1880's it was purportedly the wealthiest locale, per capita, in the United States. By the early 1900's the initial boom, with its economic and population impacts, had significantly faded, but secondary oil recovery techniques applied to the oil fields (starting around 1920) drastically rejuvenated the industry in the area.
A VERY EXTENSIVE REPOSITORY of photos and documents (over 6,000 items) related to the history (including the area's oil industry dating from 1879), schools and other institutions, and people of Bolivar N.Y. (including current and former residents) is maintained on Facebook as the "Bolivar New York Fan Page." The items are organized into dozens of albums, by topic.
, the town has a total area of 35.9 square miles (92.9 km²), of which, 35.9 square miles (92.9 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.
The south town line is the border of Pennsylvania
.
New York State Route 275
terminates at New York State Route 417
in the Village of Bolivar.
Bolivar was served (1881–1947) by the Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad (PS&N) and predecessors, (1881–1893) by the Bradford, Eldred & Cuba Railroad System (BE&C), and (1903–1926) by the Olean, Bradford & Salamanca Railway (OB&S) and predecessors. The early PS&N predecessors and the BE&C were 36" narrow-gauge railroads while the PS&N and OB&S were standard-gauge railroads, the latter being electric-powered.
, Pennsylvania. The east town line is shared by the Town of Alma
and the west town line is shared with the Town of Genesee
. The Town of Wirt
is to the north.
of 2000, there were 2,223 people, 844 households, and 602 families residing in the town. The population density
was 62.0 per square mile (23.9/km²). There were 5,300 housing units at an average density of 28.1 per square mile (10.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.83% White, 0.36% Black or African American
, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.09% from other races
, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.13% of the population.
There were 844 households out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples
living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,017, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $30,449 versus $18,889 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,766. About 13.9% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Allegany County
Allegany County, New York
Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946. Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River. Its county seat is...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA. The population was 2,223 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
.
The Town of Bolivar is on the south border of the county and is east of Olean, New York
Olean, New York
Olean is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. Olean is the largest city in Cattaraugus County, and serves as the financial, business, transportation and entertainment center of the county. It is one of the principal cities of the Southern Tier region of New York.The city is...
. There is also a village called Bolivar
Bolivar (village), New York
Bolivar a village in Allegany County, New York, United States. The village is in the northwest part of the town of Bolivar and is east of Olean, New York. The population was 1,173 at the 2000 census...
in the town.
As "the heart of the Allegany Oil Field" the Bolivar-Richburg area rose to significance during the oil boom era of the late 1800's. During the brief initial oil boom of the 1880's it was purportedly the wealthiest locale, per capita, in the United States. By the early 1900's the initial boom, with its economic and population impacts, had significantly faded, but secondary oil recovery techniques applied to the oil fields (starting around 1920) drastically rejuvenated the industry in the area.
A VERY EXTENSIVE REPOSITORY of photos and documents (over 6,000 items) related to the history (including the area's oil industry dating from 1879), schools and other institutions, and people of Bolivar N.Y. (including current and former residents) is maintained on Facebook as the "Bolivar New York Fan Page." The items are organized into dozens of albums, by topic.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 35.9 square miles (92.9 km²), of which, 35.9 square miles (92.9 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.
The south town line is the border of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
New York State Route 275
New York State Route 275
New York State Route 275 is a north–south state highway in Allegany County, New York, United States. It connects the village of Bolivar and NY 417 at its southern end with the hamlet of Friendship to the north, where it intersects the Southern Tier Expressway...
terminates at New York State Route 417
New York State Route 417
New York State Route 417 is an east–west state highway located in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It begins at exit 20 of the Southern Tier Expressway in the city of Salamanca and ends at a junction with NY 415 in Painted Post, west of the city of Corning...
in the Village of Bolivar.
Bolivar was served (1881–1947) by the Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad (PS&N) and predecessors, (1881–1893) by the Bradford, Eldred & Cuba Railroad System (BE&C), and (1903–1926) by the Olean, Bradford & Salamanca Railway (OB&S) and predecessors. The early PS&N predecessors and the BE&C were 36" narrow-gauge railroads while the PS&N and OB&S were standard-gauge railroads, the latter being electric-powered.
Adjacent towns and areas
To the south is Potter CountyPotter County, Pennsylvania
Potter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is in the Allegheny Plateau region. As of 2010, the population was 17,457. Its county seat is Coudersport. Potter County was named after James Potter, who was a general from Pennsylvania in the Continental Army during the...
, Pennsylvania. The east town line is shared by the Town of Alma
Alma, New York
Alma is a town in Allegany County, New York, USA. The population was 847 at the 2000 census. The source of the town name is uncertain. It may come from the Latin word for "nourishing", or it may be named for a city in Germany....
and the west town line is shared with the Town of Genesee
Genesee, New York
Genesee is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,803 at the 2000 census.The Town of Genesee is in the southwest corner of the county, southeast of Olean, New York.-History:The first settler arrived around 1823...
. The Town of Wirt
Wirt, New York
Wirt is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,215 at the 2000 census.The Town of Wirt is in the southwest part of the county and east of Olean, New York.- History :The town was first settled around 1812....
is to the north.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,223 people, 844 households, and 602 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 62.0 per square mile (23.9/km²). There were 5,300 housing units at an average density of 28.1 per square mile (10.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.83% White, 0.36% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.09% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.13% of the population.
There were 844 households out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,017, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $30,449 versus $18,889 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $13,766. About 13.9% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the Town of Bolivar
- BolivarBolivar (village), New YorkBolivar a village in Allegany County, New York, United States. The village is in the northwest part of the town of Bolivar and is east of Olean, New York. The population was 1,173 at the 2000 census...
– The Village of Bolivar is in the northwest corner of the town at the junction of Routes 275 and 417. - Hoben – A hamlet east of South Bolivar on County road 18 (Brimmer Brook Road) near the south town line.
- Honeoye Creek – A stream in the south part of the town.
- Kossuth – A hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
on Route 417 in the center of the town. - Little Genesee Creek – A stream flowing through the northwest part of the town past Richburg and Bolivar village.
- RichburgRichburg, New YorkRichburg is a village in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 448 at the 2000 census.The Village of Richburg is partly within the boundaries of the Towns of Wirt and Bolivar...
--The south part of the Village of Richburg is on the north town line and northeast of Bolivar village on Route 275. - Sawyer – A hamlet by Route 417 east of Kossuth.
- South Bolivar – A hamlet at the junction of County roads 33 (South Bolivar Road) and 18 near the Pennsylvania border. The community was also known as "Honeoye Corners" and "Honeoye Forks" due to its location near the Honeoye Creek.
- Vosburg – A location on Route 417 at the east town line.