Stockton - Est. 1821
The town of Stockton and the village of Cassadaga - which is part of the town
- share similar histories.
Today, for the most part, the communities have joined the bedroom settlements
that make up a good share of the county's demographics. Both were established in
the early 1800s and were once thriving, self-supporting communities with
dairying among the residents' major occupations. Few of the dairy farms remain
and the many buildings that once housed the communities' businesses are gone.
One exception is the Stockton Hotel which has been located at the hamlet's four
corners for more than 100 years. It was recently refurbished and re-opened as an
establishment for fine dining.
Stockton was named after a signer of the Declaration of Independence and
contains a body of water known as Bear Lake. It was so named, according to a
history written by the town's late historian Cathryn Berndt, because two young
residents once encountered bears n
Arkwright - Est. 1849
December 20, 2007It was named for Sir Richard Arkwright, the inventor of a spinning ma » Full Story
Brocton - Est. 1867
December 20, 2007The arches were built in 1913 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the » Full Story
Busti - Est. 1823
December 20, 2007Busti was general agent and sole director from » Full Story
Carroll - Est. 1825
December 20, 2007Cassadaga
December 20, 2007Cassadaga's late historian Record Barris, who held a lifelong interest and love of Nat » Full Story
Celoron
December 20, 2007In September 1893, the Broadhead family purc » Full Story
Charlotte - Est. 1809
December 20, 2007Chautauqua County Has Seen It All
December 20, 2007Chautauqua/Mayville - Est. 1804
December 20, 2007
The town of Chautauqua was created on April 11, 1804, after William Peacock
was sent to survey the area by the Holland Land Company. Dr. Alexander McIntyre
became Mayville's first settler in 1804 » Full Story
Cherry Creek - Est. 1829
December 20, 2007
The town of Cherry Creek, situated in the northern and eastern part of the
county, was set off from the town of Ellington on May 4, 1829. When Joshua Bentley Jr., found the center of the » Full Story
Clymer - Est. 1829
December 20, 2007Community Listings (Page 1)
December 20, 2007Adoption Services - DSS 363-3500
Animals
Chautauqua County Humane Society 665-2209
2825 Str » Full Story
Dunkirk - Est. 1805
December 20, 2007
The city of Dunkirk was incorporated as a city in 1880, after being settled
around 1805 and incorporated as a village in 1837 in the town of Pomfret, until
1859 when a separate town of Dunkirk was » Full Story
Ellery/Bemus Point - Est. 1808
December 20, 2007Ellicott - Est. 1812
December 20, 2007
Ellicott, formed from Pomfret on June 1, 1812, received its name in
compliment to Joseph Ellicott, who was connected with the Holland Land Company.The town originally included Poland, Ca » Full Story
Ellington - Est. 1814
December 20, 2007Falconer - Est. 1840
December 20, 2007Robert Falconer, the first of that family, was a Scotchman who after a prosp » Full Story
Forestville - Est. 1808
December 20, 2007
In 1808, Jehiel Moore founded Walnut Falls and built a cabin and saw mill on
Walnut Creek near the falls. In 1809 he brought his family and erected a grist
mill near the saw mill. The » Full Story
Fredonia - Est. 1804
December 20, 2007
Fredonia was first settled in 1804. In 1821, William Hart dug the first
successful gas well in what is now the village of Fredonia. It supplied enough
natural gas for lights in two stores, two sho » Full Story
French Creek - Est. 1829
December 20, 2007
The Town of French Creek covers an area of 21,832 acres, was formed from
Clymer on April 23, 1829. The town is cut up into three valleys by the creeks
that drain them, and it is this valley sectio » Full Story
Gerry - Est. 1812
December 20, 2007
Gerry was formed from Pomfret on June 1, 1812, and was named after Elbridge
Gerry, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a vice president. It lies in the southeast corner of t » Full Story
Government Directory
December 20, 2007President George W. Bush 202-456-1111
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20500
comments@whitehouse.gov
www.whitehouse.gov
Sen. Hillary Clinton » Full Story
Hanover - Est. 1812
December 20, 2007
The area of present-day Hanover supported a large Native American settlement
- concentrated around Cattaraugus, Silver and Walnut creeks - long before the
township actually came into existence.» Full Story
Harmony - Est. 1816
December 20, 2007It's a hilly area, with much of its farml » Full Story
Jamestown - Est. 1806
December 20, 2007
The first man to seriously consider the place now Jamestown as a possible
site for settlement was James Prendergast, and it is from him the city takes its
name. The members of the Prendergast fami » Full Story
Kiantone - Est. 1807
December 20, 2007
Kiantone was first settled by Joseph L. Akin, who came from Rensselaer County
in Eastern New York, in 1807. The area consisted of about 11,228 acres, or 17.5
square miles. Not long after Akin came » Full Story
Lakewood - Est. 1870
December 20, 2007
Lakewood, which is in the northern end of Busti, began with the consolidation
of several farms, all originally part of the Holland Land Company. The village
extends along the shore of Chautauqua L » Full Story
Mina - Est. 1824
December 20, 2007
The Town of Mina covers an area of 22,028 acres, and was formed from Clymer
on March 23, 1824, and included Sherman until 1832. The town is favorably known
for its beautiful lake, Findley, being t » Full Story
Poland - Est. 1832
December 20, 2007Pomfret - Est. 1805
December 20, 2007
The first settler, Zattu Cushing, came to Pomfret in February 1805 to set up
his household. Cushing came here to settle because he had passed through the
area a few years earlier on his way home f » Full Story
Portland - Est. 1804
December 20, 2007During the fall months, when the grapes have ripened and before they are harvested, their sweet smell hangs heavy » Full Story
Ripley - Est. 1802
December 20, 2007
The first settler in Ripley, Alexander Cochran, came from Ireland in 1802 and
made his land purchase official two years later. Five generations later, his
descendant, A. James Cochrane, still owns » Full Story
School Directory
December 20, 2007
BEMUS POINT CENTRAL SCHOOLVernon Wetmore Jr., President 665-8264
Thom Shagla, Vice President 386-2009
Patrick Green 386-6310
Dustin Nelson 753-2128
Randy Oste 386-6288
D » Full Story
Sheridan - Est. 1802
December 20, 2007
In 1802, General Edward Paine had a rough road cleared along the path U.S.
Route 20 now takes through present-day Sheridan. Paine's road became known as
Erie Road and served as a main highway to t » Full Story
Sherman - Est. 1832
December 20, 2007
The Town of Sherman was formed April 7, 1832, from Mina, and has an area of
36 square miles. The first of the settlers was Dearing Dorman and near
relatives, who came in 1823. The region was well » Full Story
Silver Creek - Est. 1826
December 20, 2007
Silver Creek began as a small milling town when settlers - Abel Cleveland,
David Dickinson and John E. Howard - arrived from Massachusetts with their
families in 1803. More than 600 acres of land » Full Story
Sinclairville - Est. 1809
December 20, 2007
The village of Sinclairville, was originally named Sinclearvile in honor of
Major Samuel Sinclear, one of the town of Charlotte's earliest settlers. In
1809, Sinclear purchased a 'lot' in an area » Full Story
Stockton - Est. 1821
December 20, 2007
The town of Stockton and the village of Cassadaga - which is part of the town
- share similar histories.Today, for the most part, the communities have joined the bedroom settlements that » Full Story
Villenova - Est. 1809
December 20, 2007
Villenova was first settled around 1809. The town of Villenova was formed
from part of the town of Hanover in 1823. The town of Hanover was formed in 1812
from part of the town of Pomfret. The siz » Full Story
Westfield - Est. 1802
December 20, 2007
Westfield was first settled in 1802 and is considered the first permanent
settlement in Chautauqua County. The McMahan family established the settlement.
The Village of Westfield was inco » Full Story






