Salamanca (city), New York
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Salamanca is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 6,097 at the 2000 census.
The City of Salamanca is within the Town of Salamanca. The city of Salamanca is the only U.S. city that was built on land leased from an Indian reservation. The lease from the Senecas is in effect until the year 2030. [1]
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[edit] History
Originally called "Bucktooth," a name supposedly derived from a past local inhabitant, the community was primarily supported by the lumber industry until the arrival of the railroads. The city grew up around the junction of four railroads: Erie, Atlantic and Great Western, Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh, and Pennnsylvania. The current name is derived from a major investor in the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad, the Spanish marquess Don José de Salamanca, who in turn took his name from the city of Salamanca in Spain.
The community became a village in 1870, and the City of Salamanca was incorporated in 1913.
In 1920 the population of Salamanca was 9,276.
[edit] Land lease changes
In the 1990's, the past land leases for houses built on Indian land expired. The previous amount paid had been very modest, and, when the new leases required substantial increases, the result was bitterness, lawsuits, and appeals to government officials. In the end, the new leases were put into effect, and a few people had to be evicted from their homes for refusing to pay.
The controversy was never over money, but over the fact that the old lease (which ended 1992) had a clause stating that there was a right to another 99 year renewal. The new leases were 40 year with the right to renew for another 40 years, then the land reverted to the Seneca Nation. The leases contained blank pages which the new leaseholders had to sign, to the effect that the improvements on the properties(houses, garages, buildings etc) were given to the Seneca Nation.
[edit] Casino gambling
The Seneca Nation of Indians opened a gambling casino in May 2004 in Salamanca. That facility is going to become an entertainment center attached to a larger casino under construction. About one thousand new jobs were created by the current casino operation, creating a housing shortage for the influx of workers. The 25% share of the revenue going to the city and county have enabled the city to refurbish its image.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.2 km² (6.2 mi²). 15.5 km² (6.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (3.69%) is water.
Salamanca is located on a reservation of the Seneca Nation of Indians (one of the six tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy), and the city population of about 6000 is about 13% Indian with the rest White and other ethnic groups. The city lies on the Allegheny River and is adjacent to the Allegany State Park.
The Southern Tier Expressway (Interstate 86 and New York State Route 17) passes south of the city, as does US Route 62 and New York State Route 417.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 6,097 people, 2,469 households, and 1,575 families residing in the city. The population density was 392.3/km² (1,015.6/mi²). There were 2,749 housing units at an average density of 176.9/km² (457.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.26% White, 0.66% Black or African American, 11.74% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 1.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.82% of the population.
There were 2,469 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,579, and the median income for a family was $30,996. Males had a median income of $25,549 versus $19,180 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,812. About 18.0% of families and 22.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
| Municipalities and Communities of Cattaraugus County, New York (County Seat: Little Valley) |
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|---|---|
| Cities | Olean | Salamanca |
| Towns | Allegany | Ashford | Carrollton | Coldspring | Conewango | Dayton | East Otto | Ellicottville | Farmersville | Franklinville | Freedom | Great Valley | Hinsdale | Humphrey | Ischua | Leon | Little Valley | Lyndon | Machias | Mansfield | Napoli | New Albion | Olean | Otto | Perrysburg | Persia | Portville | Randolph | Red House | Salamanca | South Valley | Yorkshire |
| Villages | Allegany | Cattaraugus | Delevan | East Randolph | Ellicottville | Franklinville | Gowanda | Limestone | Little Valley | Perrysburg | Portville | Randolph | South Dayton |
| CDPs | Lime Lake-Machias | St. Bonaventure | Weston Mills |
| Reservations | Allegany Reservation | Cattaraugus Reservation | Oil Springs Reservation |
