Little Valley is a town located in Cattaraugus County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,788.

The Town of Little Valley was incorporated in 1818. There is also a village named Little Valley in this town. The town is centrally located in the county.

History

The town was formed from the Town of Perry (now Perrysburg). Little Valley was once an important rail station on the Erie Railroad and notable for its cheese and dairy industry. The Towns of Conewango, Napoli, Mansfield, New Albion, and Salamanca were all formed from Little Valley.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 77.5 km² (29.9 mi²). 77.5 km² (29.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 1,788 people, 688 households, and 462 families residing in the town. The population density is 23.1/km² (59.7/mi²). There are 845 housing units at an average density of 10.9/km² (28.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 95.92% White, 1.29% Black or African American, 1.23% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. 1.23% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 688 households out of which 30.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% are married couples living together, 11.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% are non-families. 28.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.42 and the average family size is 2.95.

In the town the population is spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 109.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 106.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $31,000, and the median income for a family is $37,361. Males have a median income of $30,100 versus $21,897 for females. The per capita income for the town is $16,191. 14.0% of the population and 8.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.5% of those under the age of 18 and 9.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Communities and locations in the Town of Little Valley

• Elkdale -- A hamlet near the south town line on Route 353.
• Little Valley -- The Village of Little Valley, the county seat, is in the northwest corner of the town.
• Little Valley Creek -- A stream that flows southward through the town at empties into the Allegheny River in Salamanca.

Adjacent towns and areas

Little Valley is north of the Town of Salamanca and south of the Town of Mansfield. The town is east of the Town of Napoli and west of the Town of Great Valley.