Steuben County (/ˈstjuːbən/ STEW-bən or /stjuːˈbɛn/ stew-BEN) is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, its population was 93,584. Its county seat is Bath. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a Prussian general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same (German: [fɔnˈʃtɔʏbn̩]). The county is part of the Southern Tier region of the state.

Steuben County comprises the Corning, NY micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Elmira-Corning, NY combined statistical area.

History

Ontario County was established in 1789 to govern lands the state of New York had acquired in the Phelps and Gorham Purchase; at the time, it covered the entirety of Western New York. Steuben County, much larger than today, was split off from Ontario County on March 8, 1796. In 1823, a portion of Steuben County was combined with a portion of Ontario County to form Yates County. Steuben County was further reduced in size on April 17, 1854, when a portion was combined with portions of Chemung and Tompkins Counties to form Schuyler County.

In its earliest years, Steuben County was demographically and geographically linked to the Susquehanna River basin in Pennsylvania, leading to the port of Baltimore. The Canisteo River, navigable as far as Arkport, emptied into the Chemung River and it into the Susquehanna. No natural barriers, such as the Cohoes Falls on the Mohawk, existed to impede transportation, and timber and other agricultural products were easily shipped downriver from what are the towns of Addison, Canisteo, and Hornellsville. Prior to the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, followed by the railroads, communication with the Hudson Valley and New York City was difficult. Limited to horses, mules, and donkeys, using it to ship bulky agricultural products was far too expensive.

In 1892, a bill was introduced in the legislature to split Steuben County, with Canisteo, Corning, and "the south towns" becoming Lincoln County. It did not pass.

Geography

Former Steuben County Courthouse in Corning

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,404 square miles (3,640 km2), of which 14 square miles (36 km2) (1.0%) are covered by water.

Steuben County is in the southwestern part of New York, immediately north of the Pennsylvania border. The population of Steuben County according to the 2000 U. S. census was 98,726. The county is in the Southern Tier region of New York.

Adjacent counties

Government and politics

Steuben County is governed by a 17-member legislature headed by a chairman.

State and federal government

Steuben County is a Republican stronghold in national elections. The last Democrat to carry the county was Lyndon Johnson in his 1964 landslide.

United States presidential election results for Steuben County, New York
YearRepublicanDemocraticThird party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
188410,04848.78%9,06043.98%1,4917.24%
188811,63753.10%9,15441.77%1,1265.14%
189210,57750.61%8,30739.74%2,0179.65%
189612,85859.47%7,97136.87%7933.67%
190012,41155.51%8,87239.68%1,0764.81%
190412,68059.66%7,36434.65%1,2095.69%
190812,31356.33%8,36638.27%1,1805.40%
19125,98631.54%7,39638.97%5,59829.49%
191610,42453.99%8,03241.60%8524.41%
192018,33565.79%7,40126.56%2,1327.65%
192421,48166.79%7,19422.37%3,48510.84%
192828,02869.26%10,69926.44%1,7394.30%
193222,98662.19%13,21935.77%7542.04%
193624,98761.23%14,97836.70%8452.07%
194027,58765.12%14,65134.58%1270.30%
194425,53865.36%13,46134.45%730.19%
194822,93862.44%12,89535.10%9032.46%
195232,12374.14%11,15425.74%490.11%
195633,90278.22%9,44021.78%00.00%
196029,63868.06%13,89831.91%130.03%
196415,98839.34%24,63460.61%230.06%
196824,18962.52%12,22931.61%2,2725.87%
197228,70875.05%9,46224.74%830.22%
197623,16460.93%14,68538.63%1660.44%
198022,41858.73%12,82633.60%2,9267.67%
198428,84873.19%10,47126.56%980.25%
198825,35965.93%12,82433.34%2830.74%
199219,76147.72%12,04329.08%9,60623.20%
199617,71046.40%14,48137.94%5,98015.67%
200024,20059.66%14,60035.99%1,7634.35%
200426,98063.81%14,52334.35%7811.85%
200824,20357.75%17,14840.92%5601.34%
201221,95456.98%15,78740.97%7902.05%
201626,83163.88%12,52629.82%2,6456.30%
202029,47463.83%15,79034.19%9151.98%
202429,77765.34%15,41333.82%3850.84%
OfficeDistrictArea of the countyOfficeholderPartyFirst took officeResidence
U.S. RepresentativeNew York's 23rd congressional districtAllNicholas LangworthyRepublican2022Pendleton, Niagara County
State Senator58th State Senate DistrictAllThomas F. O'MaraRepublican2011Big Flats, Chemung County
State Assemblyman132nd State Assembly DistrictAll of the county not covered by the 133rd and 148th assembly districtsPhilip A. PalmesanoRepublican2011Corning, Steuben County
State Assemblyman133rd State Assembly DistrictThe north and northwest parts of the county (towns of Dansville, Cohocton, Hornellsville, Prattsburgh, Wayland)Vacant
State Assemblyman148th State Assembly DistrictThe southwest corner of the county (towns of Greenwood, Jasper, Troupsburg, West Union)Joseph M. GiglioRepublican2005Gowanda, Cattaraugus County

Steuben County is part of:

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18001,788—
18107,246305.3%
182021,989203.5%
183033,85153.9%
184046,13836.3%
185063,77138.2%
186066,6904.6%
187067,7171.5%
188077,58614.6%
189081,4735.0%
190082,8221.7%
191083,3620.7%
192080,627−3.3%
193082,6712.5%
194084,9272.7%
195091,4397.7%
196097,6916.8%
197099,5461.9%
198099,217−0.3%
199099,088−0.1%
200098,726−0.4%
201098,9900.3%
202093,584−5.5%
2025 (est.)91,855−1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020
Population density of Steuben County by census block (2020)

2020 census

Steuben County, New York – Racial and ethnic compositionNote: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)97,34196,63894,68993,47684,33898.11%97.53%95.91%94.43%90.12%
Black or African American alone (NH)8821,1351,3291,4871,4160.89%1.15%1.35%1.50%1.51%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1421972401932030.14%0.20%0.24%0.19%0.22%
Asian alone (NH)3215408891,1511,6160.32%0.54%0.90%1.16%1.73%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)xx151412xx0.02%0.01%0.01%
Other race alone (NH)1466048663010.15%0.06%0.05%0.07%0.32%
Multiracial (NH)xx7201,2323,980xx0.73%1.24%4.25%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)3855187961,3711,7180.39%0.52%0.81%1.38%1.84%
Total99,21799,08898,72698,99093,584100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, 98,726 people, 39,071 households, and 26,216 families were residing in the county. The population density was 71 people per square mile (27 people/km2). The 46,132 housing units had an average density of 33 units per square mile (13/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.43% White, 1.36% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population. About 18.6% were of German, 15.2% English, 14.4% American, 13.6% Irish, and 8.3% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000; 96.5% spoke English and 1.3% Spanish as their first language.

Of the 39,071 households, 31.8% had children under 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were not families. About 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the age distribution was 26.0% under 18, 7.40 from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,479 and for a family was $41,940. Males had a median income of $32,155 versus $24,163 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,197. About 9.9% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.7% of those under 18 and 5.8% of those 65 or over.

Industry

The largest employer in Steuben County is Corning, Inc. (formerly Corning Glass Works), the world headquarters of a large firm (34,000 employed worldwide), which manufactures specialty glass and related products. Related is the nearby Corning Museum of Glass. A wine industry is in Hammondsport, also the headquarters of the Mercury Corporation, a custom manufacturer, formerly of aircraft and aircraft components, and a museum of aviation, the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, is in Hammondsport. Former industries in Steuben County are the Steuben Glass Works, in Corning, now part of Corning Glass Works, and the Erie Railroad repair shops, in Hornell.

Education

The one institution of postsecondary education in Steuben County is Corning Community College. Alfred University and Elmira College are nearby.

School districts partially or entirely in the county include:

Transportation

Major highways

Airports

Steuben County contains the following public-use airports:

Public transportation

Local bus service is provided by Hornell Area Transit.

Communities

Larger settlements

#LocationPopulationTypeArea
1Corning11,183CitySoutheast
2Hornell8,563CityWest
3†Bath5,786VillageNortheast
4Gang Mills4,185CDPSoutheast
5Canisteo2,270VillageWest
6Wayland1,865VillageNorthwest
7Painted Post1,809VillageSoutheast
8Addison1,763VillageSoutheast
9South Corning1,145VillageSoutheast
10Avoca946VillageNorthwest
11Arkport844VillageWest
12Cohocton838VillageNorthwest
13Savona827VillageNortheast
14North Hornell778VillageWest
15Campbell713CDPSoutheast
16Hammondsport661VillageNortheast
17††Prattsburgh656CDPNortheast
18Coopers Plains598CDPSoutheast
19Riverside497VillageSoutheast
20‡Almond466VillageWest

† - County seat

†† - Former village

‡ - Not wholly in this county

Towns

Hamlets

Notable people

People born in Steuben County:

See also

Further reading

  • Clayton, W. W., History of Steuben County, New York. Philadelphia: Lewis, Peck & Co., 1879.
  • Hakes, Harlo (1896). . Syracuse, N.Y.: D. Mason & Co.
  • Sherer, Richard, (ed.) Steuben County: The First 200 Years, A Pictorial History. Virginia Beach, VA: The Donning Company, 1996.
  • Stromquist, Shelton, "'Our Rights as Workingmen': Class Traditions and Collective Action in a Nineteenth-Century Railroad Town, Hornellsville, New York, 1869-82," in David O. Stowell (ed.), The Great Strikes of 1877. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2008; pp. 55–75.
  • Sullivan, James; Williams, Melvin E.; Conklin, Edwin P.; Fitzpatrick, Benedict, eds. (1927), "Chapter VI. Steuben County.", History of New York State, 1523–1927 (PDF), vol. 2, New York City, Chicago: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., p. 643-52, hdl:, Wikidata Q114149636

External links

  • It contains a great deal of info on Steuben County.

42°16′N 77°23′W/42.26°N 77.39°W/ 42.26; -77.39