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Jamestown, New York
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Jamestown is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the United States. The population was 30,726 at the 2000 census.
The City of Jamestown is adjacent to Town of Ellicott and is at the southern tip of Chautauqua Lake. The town of Chautauqua, home of the Chautauqua Institution, is 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Jamestown.
The city has been a center for the manufacture of wood products such as furniture as well as a major producer of mattresses.
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Encyclopedia
Jamestown is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the United States. The population was 30,726 at the 2000 census.
The City of Jamestown is adjacent to Town of Ellicott and is at the southern tip of Chautauqua Lake. The town of Chautauqua, home of the Chautauqua Institution, is 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Jamestown.
The city has been a center for the manufacture of wood products such as furniture as well as a major producer of mattresses. The town was once called the "Furniture Capital of the World." Although many of these industries have migrated away from the area in recent times, Jamestown still retains a few large manufacturing plants for various multinational corporations. The city has a large concentration of citizens of Swedish and Italian ancestry.
History
Jamestown, New York, is named after James Prendergast, an early Chautauqua County settler. His family had purchased in 1806, in the area now known as Chautauqua County. James Prendergast explored the area that is now Jamestown. Prendergast saw the area to be valuable, and so he purchased of land in the area in 1808. In the fall of 1809, Prendergast and an employee, John Blowers built a log cabin 1810, which became the first building in Jamestown. Another log cabin as well as mills and a dam were built later on.
Jamestown was incorporated into a village in 1827 and incorporated into a city on April 19, 1886. Oscar F. Price was elected as the first mayor of the city on April 13, 1886.
In 1887, Jamestown Electric Light and Power Company, Art Metal, and WCA Hospital were established. In 1888, Jamestown Woolen Spinning Co. established; cornerstone of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church laid. In 1889, the American Aristotype Co. was established. The first electric trolley car in Jamestown made it's appearance in 1890. In 1891, a fire destroyed the Old Homestead Hotel at Third and Pine Streets and four people died. James Prendergast Library and the Municipal Light Plant were established the same year. In 1892, Chautauqua Worsted mills was formed. In 1893, Jamestown Veneer Works was started by Nathan Wilson and Jamestown's first ice cream company started making Collins Ice Cream. In 1895, the cornerstone of City Hall was laid and the City Council decided to lay no more wooden sidewalks. Eleazer Green is elected mayor the same year. In 1896, Empire Worsted Mills was formed. In 1898, Chautauqua Towel Mills was opened. In 1899, Henry H. Cooper was elected mayor. In 1900, Tinkham Brothers established their business, the Furniture Index was published, and the Hall Textile Corporation was formed. In 1903, Jamestown purchased a water system and the J. P. Danielson Tool Co. was organized. In 1906, James L. Weeks was elected mayor. In 1907, the Crescent Tool Company was started by Karl Peterson and Charles F. Falldine. In 1908, Samuel A. Carlson was elected mayor. Music Study Club and Jamestown Symphony Orchestra began the same year.
In 1910, the excavation began for construction of Jamestown General Hospital, which still stands in the present day. In 1911, the Norden Club was started. On August 6, actress Lucille Ball was born in Celeron. The first plane to ever fly over Jamestown occurred on September 28, 1911. The Norden Clubhouse was completed in 1914. On April 8, 1917, Company E left for guard duty. The Emerson Glass Company started the same year. In 1918, Jamestown Corp. formed to make airplane propellers. A steam ship, the City of Pittsburgh sank at Boatlanding, also in 1918. On July 7, 1918, the death of Ira Lou Spring marked the first Jamestown man to die in France during World War I. In 1921, the Zonta Club was organized. In 1925, the Hotel Samuels was sold. In that same year, the Scottish Rite Temple was formally opened and taxpayers voted a $350,000 bond issue for the Third Street Bridge. The following year, Third Street Bridge was completed and it still stands today. In 1927, Jamestown celebrated the centennial of its incorporation as a village. Lars Larson was elected mayor the same year. Ine 1930, Samuel A. Carlson served as mayor once again. In 1931, a fire destroyed the old Martyn Factory. Also, the city purchases Niagara, Lockport and Ontario Power Company.
In 1932, the ground was broken for the new armory, the Erie Railroad station was dedicated, and the Community Chest was permanently formed. In 1933, Elk Furniture Company was sold. Also, Milton Carlson and Frederick Larson took over Jamestown Airport. The board of education assumed title to school forest. Also in 1933, city councilman Leon F. Roberts was elected mayor. In 1934, Jamestown Airport Corp. offered an airport to the city and the city secured the old armory as a relief center. As part of the New Deal program, the ground was broken for a new high school, which provided jobs during the Great Depression. In 1935, the Board of Education opened the new industrial arts building and City Council approved $314,000 airport for North Main Street site. In November, Jamestown High School was formally dedicated. In 1937, the Temple Hesed Abraham was dedicated and the Alfred Collegiate Extension Center opened with 80 students. In 1938, Harry C. Erickson became mayor and Jamestown General Hospital's maternity annex opened. In 1939, twelve local plans surveyed by the government to produce supplies in wartime. Also, the city's new airport formally dedicated.
In 1940, the PONY league baseball began and Co. E was inducted into federal service. In 1941, Jamestown Municipal Stadium was dedicated and Samuel A. Stroth was elected mayor. In 1942, East Second Street widening was ordered and flames destroyed the old state armory. In 1945, Jamestown was hit by a tornado. In 1946, Dr. Carlyle C. Ring was named superintendent of schools. C.C. Ring Elementary School presently stands, in his honor. In 1950, Jamestown Community College was opened.
In 1951, Stanley A. Weeks was elected mayor and the addition to the municipal power plant was opened. In 1954, Samuel A. Stroth was elected mayor and Allegheny Airlines began east-west flight via Jamestown. In 1955, Carl F. Sanford was elected mayor. In 1956, Lucy and Desi Arnaz visited Jamestown. In 1957, a $400,000 runway improvement to Jamestown Municipal Airport was added. In 1958, a new sewage disposal plant was opened, Buffalo Street pumping station was modernized, and a new wing opened at Jamestown General Hospital. In 1959, Jamestown's new post office was started. In 1960, Jamestown celebrated the sesquicentennial of first house erected here. That same year, Mohawk Airlines started to serve Jamestown.
In 1961, Jamestown Community College moved into new Falconer Street campus and William D. Whitehead was elected mayor. In 1963, the City's first parking ramp opened at Main and Second Streets and Frederick H. Dunn elected mayor. Additionally, Grandin Mills on Allen Street was destroyed by fire and singer Natalie Merchant was born in Jamestown. In 1964, the Washington Street Bridge was completed, which stil stands to this day. In 1967, an addition to Jamestown High School was completed. Also, Jamestown Community College opened a new Science and Engineering Building. In that same year, Charles B. Magnuson was elected mayor. In 1968, an addition to the James Prendergast Free Library was completed. In 1969, the Cherry Street parking ramp was opened, Rail service to Jamestown discontinued by Erie-Lackawanna Railway, Stanley N. Lundine was elected mayor, and the New Gustavus Adolphus Children's Home opened. In 1970, the Final approval was granted for the Brooklyn Square Urban Renewal Project. Throughout the 1970s, homes in Brooklyn Square were relocated as well as many stores and shops. In 1981, Burt Reynolds visited Jamestown while filming in Buffalo. A second Urban Renewal Project was proposed in 2006, and the project began in 2007.
Jamestown has hosted thirteen Babe Ruth World Series since 1980, and will host 13-Year-Old Babe Ruth World Series in 2008. The James Prendergast Library has regularly ranked in the top ten in the nation among those that service populations of 25,000-49,999, according to HAPLR, with a peak ranking of fourth in 2004.
Gallery
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,730 people, 13,558 households, and 7,904 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,364.3/km² (3,534.6/sq mi). There were 15,027 housing units at an average density of 646.1/km² (1,673.9/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 91.52% White, 3.39% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.94% of the population. 19.7% were of Italian, 18.1% Swedish, 12.8% German, 9.0% Irish, 8.7% English and 5.5% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 13,558 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,837, and the median income for a family was $33,675. Males had a median income of $30,003 versus $20,039 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,316. About 15.8% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.1% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The government of the City of Jamestown is a mayor-council form of government.
Executive branch
The executive branch consists of the mayor, (who is elected for 4-year terms without term limits), and the heads of the departments, most of them appointed by the mayor.
This section lists the mayors of Jamestown, New York.
| # | Mayor name | Term began | Term ended |
|---|
| 1 | Oscar F. Price | April 13, 1886 | May 7, 1894 | | 2 | Eleazer Green | May 7, 1894 | April 11, 1898 | | 3 | Henry H. Cooper | April 11, 1898 | 1900 | | 4 | J. Emil Johnson | 1900 | 1906 | | 5 | James L. Weeks | 1906 | 1908 | | 6 | Samuel A. Carlson | 1908 | 1928 | | 7 | Lars Larson | 1928 | 1930 | | 8 | Samuel A. Carlson | 1930 | 1934 | | 9 | Leon F. Roberts | 1934 | 1938 | | 10 | Harry C. Erickson | 1938 | 1941 | | 11 | Samuel A. Stroth | 1941 | 1951 | | 12 | Stanley A. Weeks | 1951 | 1954 | | 13 | Samuel A. Stroth | 1954 | 1955 | | 14 | Carl F. Sanford | 1955 | 1961 | | 15 | William D. Whitehead | 1961 | 1963 | | 16 | Frederick H. Dunn | 1963 | 1967 | | 17 | Charles B. Magnuson | 1967 | 1969 | | 18 | Stanley Nelson Lundine | 1969 | 1976 | | 19 | Steven B. Carlson | 1976 | 1990 | | 20 | Donald W. Ahlstrom | 1990 | 1992 | | 21 | Carolyn G. Seymour | 1992 | 1994 | | 22 | Richard Kimball | 1994 | 2000 | | 23 | Samuel Teresi | 2000 | present |
Legislative branch
The legislative body of Jamestown consists of nine council members, who are elected every two years without any term limits. Six council members represent each of the city's 6 wards, and 3 additional council members are known as councilmembers-at-large, representing the entire city.
Major employers
The Jamestown area has a few large manufacturing plants that are major employers in this region. These include (makers of ready-to-assemble furniture), (manufacturer of diesel engines; the heavy duty engine plant is located in the Town of Busti, just west of Jamestown, but still called the Jamestown Engine Plant or JEP), , and (makers of truck lighting systems).
Education
Jamestown has one campus of Jamestown Community College which provides a two-year education. Jamestown Business College now provides a four-year degree in business administration.
Jamestown also houses a high school, Jamestown High School; three middle schools, Persell Middle School, Washington Middle School, and Jefferson Middle School; as well as six elementary schools, C.C. Ring School, CV Bush School, Fletcher School, Lincoln School, Love School, and Rogers School.
Athletically the Red Raider Football team has competed in 4 NYS football championships, and won 3 in 1994, 1995, and 2000.
The Red Raider Marching Band from Jamestown High School is one of the most traveled high school marching bands in the country, having been as far as Hawaii, and appearing on such shows as The Late Show with David Letterman. They also played at the pregame show at the 2004 FedEx Orange Bowl. In December 2007 they traveled to Florida again, to play at the Citrus Bowl.
Sports
Jamestown is the home of the newly created Jamestown Chiefs , Semi Professional Football Team. The Jamestown Chiefs was founded by Shane Salter Jr. in August 2008, and is currently owned by Shane Salter Jr. and Joe Scapelitte. Initially, the Jamestown Chiefs were called the Jamestown Scorpions. To go along with the heritage of Chautauqua County, the team name was changed to the Jamestown Warriors in September 2008. In November 2008, the team’s Senior Administration decided to let the community vote on the team name and colors. At the end of November 2008, the voting ended and the team became the Jamestown Chiefs, and the colors became Navy Blue and Orange. The Jamestown Chiefs are in the NFA (Northeastern Football Alliance) . The Jamestown Chiefs will have their first regular season game in July of 2009.
This is the home city for the Jamestown Jammers baseball team of the New York - Penn League. The Jammers are the Single A Short Season affiliate of the Florida Marlins.
Jamestown was also home to the now-defunct Jamestown Vikings minor-league hockey team, whose home arena was the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena.
Jamestown will now be home to the Jamestown Jets of the United Junior Hockey League.
Jamestown will host its 14th Babe Ruth World Series when the 13-Year-Old WS is held at Diethrick Park from August 16-23rd in 2008.
Notable people from Jamestown
- Lucille Ball, the television legend whose birthplace was Jamestown, and whose childhood home is in nearby Celoron.
- Lorin Blodget, Climatologist and Financial writer.
- Mitchell Anderson, actor from Doogie Howser, M.D., among others.
- Nick Carter, a singer from Backstreet Boys, was originally from Jamestown, though he grew up elsewhere.
- Roger Goodell, the current NFL Commissioner, was born and raised in Jamestown.
- Junior Guilders, A singing group connected with the local Lucille Ball Little Theatre.
- Robert H. Jackson, a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, attended Jamestown High School.
- Jim McCkusker, former NFL lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Natalie Merchant, a musician.
- 10,000 Maniacs, rock band called Jamestown their home.
- Roger Tory Peterson, a naturalist, artist, educator, photographer and inventor of the Peterson Field Guides of birdwatching was born in Jamestown and is remembered through the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.
- Catherine "Kitty" Sweeney Hershey, wife of chocolate maker Milton S. Hershey and founder of the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
- Walter Washington, first African American mayor of Washington, D.C., and its first elected mayor, grew up in Jamestown.
- Milton J. Fletcher, Inspiration for Robert H. Jackson to go into law and former Jamestown Public Schools Superintendent.
- Jamestown is the Home of Hot Dog Franchise "Johnny's Lunch", founded in 1936.
Transportation
The Chautauqua County-Jamestown Airport (JHW) is north of the city and provides scheduled and charter air service.
Bus service is provided by Coach USA of Erie. Connections are available. to the Greyhound service in Buffalo. There is also a county wide bus service (CARTS) and taxi service through various companies.
Jamestown is on the mainline of the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad which provides freight service. Amtrak provides a daily Thruway Motorcoach service between its Buffalo-Depew Station and Jamestown. The old Erie Jamestown station still exists to this day.
From 1914 until 1947, the Jamestown, Westfield, and Northwestern (JW&NW) interurban railroad (the "Chautauqua Lake Route") provided frequent passenger and freight trolley service from Jamestown to the Lake Erie town of Westfield. From Jamestown the route was along the north edge of Lake Chautauqua with major stops at Greenhurst, Bemus Point, Dewittville, and Mayville. At Mayfield the climb through steep hills began, followed by the drop to Westfield. The Westfield terminal was at the west end of the New York Central Railroad station. This was the very active NYC main line New York to Chicago. In 1941, the JW&NW operated six scheduled daily trips from 6am to 9pm each way three hours apart to meet NYC passenger trains that stopped at Westfield. Jamestown to Westfield took one hour. The two lines had considerable interchange business both freight as well as passenger. The JW&NW operated bright red heavy steel passenger interurban cars (including one with an observation platform) and interurban freight-express cars capable of pulling two or three freight cars from to provide freight delivery between the two towns. The New York Central would set out cars to be taken to Jamestown and the JW&NW would set out cars for the NYC to pick up. At Mayfield, the JW&NW crossed a branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. There were interchange tracks with the PRR and some business moving coal and lumber to Jamestown. Interchange control and signaling was by the JW&NW tower at the interchange. This tower also contained the office of the JW&NW dispatcher. Dispatching was by written order and the interurbans stopped for these orders. Passenger business and frieght shipping for the line was at its greatest in the 1920s. For example, furniture was manufactured in Jamestown and was shipped to Westfield for the NYC. In a 1941 ad, the line offered 2 day LCL (less than full carload) shipping to New York City from Jamestown and three days to Chicago. The grade out of Westfield into the hills to reach the Jamestown valley was quite scenic but was steep, and the interurbans worked hard making the climb, particularly the freights. The thirty two mile JW&NW represented classic rural and small town 650 volt DC electric interurban operation similar to interurbans all over the 1920s United States. Its survival to 1947 was unusual and was due to the amount of freight that it hauled. Most interurban lines were abandoned during the 1930s due to better roads, better cars, and the Great Depression. After passenger abandonment in 1947, the line continued freight operation with diesels, but gradually that business was lost to trucks. Freight operation ended in 1950.
Museums
The Fenton History Center is named after former resident Reuben Fenton, the twenty-fifth governor of New York.
The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center is dedicated to the city's best-known daughter, Lucille Ball. The SaveLucyDesiCenter.org website is devoted to discussion of current controversies surrounding the Center.
The Robert H. Jackson Center exists to preserve the life and legacy of Robert H. Jackson.
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History continues the legacy of Roger Tory Peterson by promoting the teaching and study of nature, and to thereby create knowledge of and appreciation and responsibility for the natural world.
Sister cities
Jamestown has two sister cities, as designated by :
Radio stations
External links
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