Bolivar (village), New York
Encyclopedia
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. The village is named after Simón Bolívar
.
The Village of Bolivar was incorporated in 1882.
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. By the early 1930's Bolivar village boasted an imposing new school, well-paved streets, a modern sewage treatment facility, and a thriving Main Street economy.
The village and town of Bolivar adopted the description "Land of the Deer and the Derrick" in the mid-1900's.
The village is home to the high school of the Bolivar-Richburg Central School District, which merged in the fall of 1994.
The Bolivar Free Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
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 the greater Bolivar N.Y. area (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.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.8 square miles (1.9 km²). Root Hollow Creek enters the village from the east, joining with Little Genesee Creek flowing north-south through the west edge of the village.
Bolivar is at the junction of New York State Route 275 and New York State Route 417.
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.
of 2000, there were 1,173 people, 451 households, and 294 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,560.3 people per square mile (603.9/km²). There were 500 housing units at an average density of 665.1 per square mile (257.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.55% White, 0.68% Black or African American
, 0.09% Native American, 0.17% Asian, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.
There were 451 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples
living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the village the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $29,286, and the median income for a family was $36,442. Males had a median income of $32,019 versus $20,735 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $12,804. About 18.2% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The village is in the northwest part of the town of Bolivar
Bolivar (town), New York
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...
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...
. The population was 1,173 at the 2000 census. The village 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...
.
History
The first building, a log cabin, had been erected on that location around 1820.The Village of Bolivar was incorporated in 1882.
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. By the early 1930's Bolivar village boasted an imposing new school, well-paved streets, a modern sewage treatment facility, and a thriving Main Street economy.
The village and town of Bolivar adopted the description "Land of the Deer and the Derrick" in the mid-1900's.
The village is home to the high school of the Bolivar-Richburg Central School District, which merged in the fall of 1994.
The Bolivar Free Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
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 the greater Bolivar N.Y. area (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
Bolivar is located at 42°4′2"N 78°9′59"W (42.067324, -78.166622).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 village has a total area of 0.8 square miles (1.9 km²). Root Hollow Creek enters the village from the east, joining with Little Genesee Creek flowing north-south through the west edge of the village.
Bolivar is at the junction of New York State Route 275 and New York State Route 417.
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.
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 1,173 people, 451 households, and 294 families residing in the village. 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 1,560.3 people per square mile (603.9/km²). There were 500 housing units at an average density of 665.1 per square mile (257.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.55% White, 0.68% 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, 0.17% Asian, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.
There were 451 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% 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, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the village the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $29,286, and the median income for a family was $36,442. Males had a median income of $32,019 versus $20,735 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 village was $12,804. About 18.2% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.